Chapter 38
It had been such a short meeting?
Hearing Ian’s words, Pri’s face showed only puzzlement.
He had brought Gaia here almost as if abducting her because he had feelings for her, hadn’t he?
And he had been concerned about her too, hadn’t he?
Even showing kindness he had never shown to Pri before.
“Are you saying he really left so quickly?”
“Yes.”
“…I see…”
She wanted to ask.
This man, who acted like he knew Argent better than anyone—what was truly in his heart? Did he know something?
But when she saw the faintly forlorn look on his face, Pri swallowed the question.
“More importantly, Ian—did something happen?”
“Yes.”
“…Something serious?”
“…No. It’s just… I’m worried about you, Lady Pri. Out of all the days I’ve seen you, your face looks the worst today, yet you’re pretending to be the most cheerful. That’s what worries me.”
In that moment, Pri felt his gaze fixed solely on her, and as always, she turned away from it.
“…I’m fine, Ian.”
“…Yes. You always say you’re fine, and I’ll just have to watch over you like this. That’s my role. So today as well, I’ll pretend not to notice when you’re struggling, and guide you as if nothing’s wrong.”
Ian’s voice was more heated than usual.
Then his expression hardened.
“My apologies, Lady Pri. I’ve overstepped.”
“…Ian.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t want to ruin your life.”
“……”
Ian furrowed his brows slightly, as if wondering what she meant, and met her eyes. Pri murmured in a faint voice.
“Whenever people get involved with me… it’s always been that way. Nothing good ever comes of being around me. That’s the kind of person I am. And… and I…”
Pri bit down on her lip and didn’t finish.
Ian… I’ll be driven out of here soon. That’s why—because I’m afraid that just by being connected to me, misfortune will taint your life too.
Her family had always been quick to say that the fall of the Ezan Kingdom was because Pri was born.
A child who should never have been born. A child whose very existence was a mistake.
And whenever people became involved with her, bad things happened. Pri knew it too. The closer someone got, the more certain it was that trouble would come. She was lucky that the few maids and servants she had weren’t caught up in it, but now was the time to keep that line.
It was ridiculous, really—keeping Seth and Ian so close all this time, only to push them away now—but Pri felt she had to reject him firmly.
I hate it when the people I like get hurt because of me.
Ian stood there, quietly looking down at her, as if waiting for an answer.
And Pri gently took his hand.
“For my sake… will you stay as my friend? The kind of friend I can talk to with complete ease, more than anyone else.”
“…Understood.”
“Are you upset…?”
“No, Lady Pri.”
Finally, a smile appeared on his face.
It was an act of consideration—reading Pri’s tentative heart and putting her at ease. And Pri hated this about herself.
She had often wished she were more like Cassie—bright, lively, and able to speak her mind plainly. But she wasn’t Cassie. She was Pri, a completely different sort of person.
Even after coming here, she had tried to act cheerful like Cassie, but in the end, she was just a useless presence.
“Well… shall we go, then?”
“Yes.”
Leaving behind only the regret of not finding the book she was looking for, Pri walked alongside Ian.
“By the way, Ian.”
“Yes.”
“It’s about that bird.”
Pri carefully took the protective doll from her pocket and fiddled with it.
“Does a bird like this really exist?”
“Of course. It does.”
“But I can’t find it anywhere. I’ve gone through every record of birds on the continent…”
The shape might have been crude, but the bird’s colors were a clear clue. And yet, she couldn’t find it.
“Especially those red eyes…”
“That’s why I told you to search. If it were easy to find, I wouldn’t have asked you to look.”
“Can I ask someone else?”
“If you wish, but… there’s probably almost no one who knows about it.”
What kind of bird could it be, then?
Seeing the faint smile on Ian’s lips, Pri put the doll back in her pocket.
“Alright. Since you put it that way, Ian, I’ll definitely find it.”
Before long, they arrived at the secondary palace where Gaia was staying.
Since it wasn’t far from the main palace library, they arrived sooner than Pri expected, and she stopped for a moment outside.
The place was still unpleasant.
And yet she was going in—because they were family.
If she didn’t visit after hearing what she had, she was sure her sister’s wrath would fall on her.
There was no way she could feel cheerful about it.
After what had happened last time, Pri stood in front of the palace for a long while, unable to go in.
“If you don’t wish to enter, you don’t have to.”
“No, I should. Don’t worry.”
Pri took a small deep breath and stepped inside with her usual composed face.
“Your Majesty the Empress, you’re here.”
“Where is my sister?”
“She said she was feeling confined today, so she’s in the rear garden.”
“Will you take me to her?”
The maid, whom she had never seen before, smiled softly and led Pri along.
Everyone smiled at Pri. Everyone treated her as the Empress.
But—
Soon, I’ll be thrown out.
And so, even when faced with their smiles, Pri couldn’t return one.
They reached the small rear garden connected to the secondary palace. There, Gaia was leisurely drinking tea.
“Sister.”
But she was different from usual.
In the past, Gaia would have scolded or snapped at Pri the moment she saw her. Today, she turned with a gentle smile.
“You’re here.”
As if she had become someone else entirely.
In fact, it was this smile and demeanor that made Pri feel even more uneasy.
Had her brief meeting with Argent changed her sister so much? Or was it because she had gotten what she wanted? Or… was she acting? Why?
“Yes… Are you feeling well?”
“…Of course.”
“I was worried since you didn’t come to the meal. I thought of visiting, but then he said he would come to you…”
At that, Gaia’s eyes trembled.
Memories of her meeting with Argent came back—his strange words, his irritation, his warning that if she misbehaved in front of Pri, there would be consequences.
The only reason he was letting her live quietly here was because of Pri.
—At the very least, if you want that pretty neck to stay where it is, don’t do anything foolish. This is the land of barbarians. I make the laws here. Pretend to get along with me. If you want to live.
Gaia had even skipped meals to avoid seeing Pri and Argent together. Yet that man had gone out of his way to come to her palace and issue such threats. Even now, the memory of the fear she felt made her body tremble.
And so, she had no choice but to act before her sister—pretend kindness that was anything but genuine.
“There’s nothing to worry about. I simply woke up late and made an excuse.”
“You weren’t ill?”
“No.”
Looking at her sister’s benevolent smile, Pri raised a hand.
“Could we have the room, please?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Ian and Laura, who had been serving Gaia tea, quickly left.
Normally, Gaia would have added some biting remark to such an order, but today she only sipped her tea without a word.
“Will you have some tea?”
“No, thank you.”
Instead, Pri sat down across from her.
Though her voice and manner seemed different, Gaia’s face, when up close, was twisted with cruelty.
Her expression radiated hostility toward Pri, yet her voice remained gentle.
Something must have happened. She’s forcing herself to act kind to me.
There was no way Pri wouldn’t recognize it.
“Truly, nothing happened? If it’s because of them… with no one else here, you can tell me.”
“I said no. Why do you keep asking? Do you not believe me?”
Gaia’s patience was fraying at Pri’s persistent questions despite her reassurances.
She and that man are on the same side. I have to be careful.
If she treated Pri the way she had last time, the girl might run straight to him and tattle again. And this time, it might not end with just threats—her head could really roll. She was going to be Empress of the Behfort Empire; she wasn’t going to die in this barbarian land.
“No, I believe you. I’m just glad. I was worried you were unwell.”
“There was no need to worry or to come here. Seems I’ve made you come for nothing.”
“For nothing? Of course I should come.”
Pri spoke carefully, wary of her sister’s true temper surfacing.
“Yes, thank you for coming. But you don’t need to worry about me. You can go. We’ll see each other again at tomorrow’s meal anyway.”
“You’ll come out tomorrow?”
“Yes. He insisted on it.”
Pri’s face darkened briefly at those words. He… told her to come out?
When Pri looked at her sister again, Gaia’s hand, which had been gently stroking her teacup as if acting a part, tightened around it.
Something happened.
