Chapter 36
“Thank you. You really are kind.”
Who else would thank a mere maid? The person she currently served was clearly different.
Unlike that woman—who was said to be Her Majesty the Empress’s sister. They didn’t even seem like siblings. That woman was cruel and malicious. She considered herself noble and spoke harshly to maids and attendants without hesitation.
That was why Laura had been so anxious on her way here. What if the long-awaited mistress of Liat Palace turned out to be the same kind of person?
But she was completely different.
So utterly opposite that the contrast alone made Laura’s heart warm.
“Please take good care of my sister from now on. She’s sensitive and treats people roughly, but…”
She wanted to say, She’s a good person, but those words didn’t come easily from Pri’s mouth.
“If she ever makes things hard for you, just let me know. I might not have much influence, but I’ll speak to him and help you go wherever you wish.”
“You’d do that… personally, for me?”
“Yes!”
“Th-Thank you so much. I’m just waiting for the day I can return to Her Majesty’s side.”
Even if hardships came, she’d never leave this guest. For Her Majesty’s sake. Laura couldn’t hide her joy.
“I’ll look forward to that day too.”
Pri’s eyes curved softly in a gentle arc.
“Then I’ll call for you again when I need you. You may go back for now.”
“Yes, Head Maid.”
As Laura turned to leave after finishing her tasks, Pri spoke again.
“Wait… just one thing.”
“Yes, Your Grace. Please command me.”
“Does he… Does he go to see my sister often?”
“Do you mean His Majesty the Emperor? …Yes. He visits regularly. But we attendants aren’t allowed in when the two of them are together, so I don’t know the details…”
“It’s fine. I was just wondering if he went. Thank you, Laura.”
A complex feeling rose again in her chest.
Argent never came looking for Pri. Even though she was his wife… At this point, it felt like he was intentionally avoiding her.
And yet he visited Gaia often.
Strangely, she resented him for it. If that was what he wanted, why had he brought her here? He should’ve chosen Gaia from the start. If he didn’t want her, he should’ve refused when she offered to come and taken Gaia instead. Why had he accepted her provocation?
Suppressing the ugly emotions that kept bubbling up, Pri nodded quietly.
“Then I wish you a good night, Your Grace.”
“Yes.”
Laura left, and even Seth told her to rest and exited the room. Left alone, Pri walked silently to the window.
The moonlight tonight felt unusually sorrowful—just like her heart. Somehow, she knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight.
She unwrapped and ate the candies Seth had brought back from his visit to the palace physician, Zeren, passing the night that way.
She even wrote a few entries in her diary, but sleep never came.
Seth entered the room at Pri’s usual waking hour, just as always.
“You’re up early.”
“Oh. Seth.”
But her voice was a little hoarse. Noticing even the slightest change, Seth handed her a warm towel and gazed at her closely.
“Your eyes are red.”
“They are?”
“And your voice sounds a bit off.”
“Hmhm.”
“You stayed up all night.”
Seeing that he had guessed correctly, Pri awkwardly shook her head.
“No, I didn’t stay up….”
“Are you sure?”
“……”
“Then I’ll have to inform His Majesty you can’t attend breakfast today. If he asks why, I’ll tell him about yesterday…”
“Seth. Don’t.”
Because then he’ll pretend to care again.
And nothing feels more miserable than that.
Pri looked at Seth with a sullen expression.
“What are you so afraid of? What is it that worries you so much?”
“Seth…”
“I understand. I won’t force you to talk if you don’t want to. But please try to rest, even just until it’s time for breakfast.”
Instead of handing her the towel on the silver tray he brought, Seth gently laid it over her eyes.
As the warmth spread across her face, Pri leaned back slightly.
“Seth…”
“Just rest for a bit.”
At her firm tone, Pri had no choice but to lean back on the sofa. The warm towel soothed her swollen eyes, and her overstimulated mind slowly calmed as she closed her eyes.
“Seth.”
“Yes.”
“Could you tell me a story? Any story.”
“Any story, hmm…”
After a moment of thought, Seth began to tell an old tale.
Presumably from her childhood—back when this place wasn’t yet the Intellia Empire, when it was still a small barbarian nation.
Focused on the story, the worries tormenting her faded one by one.
Listening to the soft, whispering voice, Pri fell into a peaceful sleep.
By the time she opened her eyes again, the towel had been changed several times.
“Mmm…”
“You’re awake.”
“How long was I asleep…?”
Startled, Pri quickly looked around. Seth, as if it were nothing, gently fixed her hair.
“It’s almost time for breakfast. I was just about to wake you, since I figured you wouldn’t want to miss it.”
“I’m not late, am I?”
“No. If you go now, you’ll be just on time.”
Imagining how Argent and Gaia might react if she didn’t show up, Pri hastened her preparations more than usual.
Thankfully, she only needed to fix her hair and clothes, having already washed up earlier. Once ready, she headed straight to the dining room.
But there, she found Argent alone.
Caught off guard, she momentarily froze—but then walked over to the table as if nothing were amiss.
“You’re alone? I thought my sister would be here since you said you wanted to eat together for a while.”
“She said she wasn’t feeling well.”
“Is that so? Something even I didn’t know—but you already did.”
Sitting in her usual spot, Pri stared at him.
“Is that so.”
“Aren’t you going to check on her?”
“……”
Argent slowly lifted his head. Behind his mask, his red eyes gazed at Pri.
Princess Gaia. He didn’t care what happened to her. He’d never had any interest in her to begin with. But seeing the suspicion in Pri’s eyes regarding him and Gaia… he had to steel himself and speak coldly.
Recently, watching Pri’s emotional shifts, he realized—it was time to end everything.
For the first time ever, the man who had only tried to possess her decided to let her go.
Argent hardened his resolve.
Everything was already prepared.
As long as Pri took Ian’s hand and left, she’d have all she needed to live. In the Holy Empire of Ruhphelina, a place that welcomed anyone, he had arranged a small house just for her.
Near the national library, so she could read in a garden surrounded by flowers.
A modest, two-story home with a red roof, a wide garden, and low fences. Not lavish—but peaceful.
“Live there, free from the gaze of others. Pri.”
“Now that I hear it, I suppose I should go see her.”
With his decision made, Argent finished his meal with a sip of red wine.
“Enjoy the rest of your breakfast.”
“Was this meal really meant just for her?”
“I wanted her to adjust quickly.”
“Is she a guest? Or a hostage?”
“What do you mean?”
“My sister. Did she come as a guest? Or was she kidnapped?”
Argent stood up at that, looking a bit flustered.
“No matter how I try, I just don’t understand. What exactly do you gain by bringing her here? Do you want the Emperor of the Behport Empire to use this as a reason to invade?”
“I have no intention of allowing that.”
“Then why bring her here? And why did she so easily agree to come?”
His eyes looked at her emotionlessly.
“What exactly do you want to hear from me?”
“Tell me it’s not what I think. Tell me you didn’t bring her because you wanted her.”
Her glistening eyes looked up at him.
Emotions she couldn’t explain welled up in her eyes.
Even she didn’t understand how she felt.
What was it she wanted to hear from this man? Hatred would have been easier. But what hurt most was his indifference. And he was always indifferent. That was why every time she looked at him, her heart ached.
Even so, Pri didn’t look away from him.
“How long… is my sister staying here? Are you really planning to make her your wife in my place?”
The questions tumbled out quickly. Her voice trembled. Her heart pounded with fear that he might notice.
Argent’s reply didn’t take long.
“If I didn’t intend that, there would’ve been no reason to bring her or treat her well.”
“…So you really do intend to make her your wife. After making me Empress.”
“I didn’t want you to become Empress. But in the end, you chose it yourself.”
“You said I’d be your first and last. That was a lie too, wasn’t it?”
Argent fell silent.
What excuse could he offer now?
All he wanted was for Pri to be happy, unhurt. For that, she couldn’t remain by his side.
But unable to express that truth, his eyes wavered.
Pri looked into those red eyes for a long time. Maybe that gaze made him avert his own.
“Don’t trust me,” he said.
