Chapter 41
“It seemed impolite to speak with food in my mouth…”
“It’s fine. It’s just a small candy. Besides, isn’t it delicious?”
“Yes! It’s very sweet and tasty. It feels like my mouth is filled with the scent of grapes.”
Looking pleased, Seth covered her mouth with her hand and showed her delight.
“That’s why I keep reaching for more.”
“I’m glad.”
“By the way, have you told him about the meal?”
“Yes, I have.”
Pri swallowed nervously, as if worried about what she might have said. A small fear crept in—what if it had been something unpleasant?
“What did he say?”
“He told me to do as you wished, Lady Pri. But he also said he would come by later…”
“…Ah.”
“He absolutely did not say you were unwell or anything like that.”
“I know. Seth isn’t the type to say such things. But why does he want to come?”
Seth let out a deep sigh. She shook her head after pondering for a while, clearly unable to understand.
“It’s not as if Lord Jeren told him anything.”
“Maybe he just feels like coming. Well, if he does, I’ll see him. I have something to say, anyway.”
“What do you mean, something to say?”
“It’s nothing important. More importantly, when did he say he’d come?”
“…Well…”
Seth, who had been speaking normally just moments before, now looked a little awkward and bowed her head deeply.
“My apologies. He’s outside.”
“…So that’s why you said earlier you hadn’t been able to ask Lord Jeren when you saw him—because he came with you.”
Looking flustered, Seth pressed her lips together tightly.
After all, she was from the Intellia Empire—a person who received the emperor’s orders from the closest proximity.
If the emperor commanded it, she would have to obey, whether she wished to or not.
Pri stood and patted her shoulder.
“It’s not your fault, Seth. I was planning to see him anyway, so don’t let it trouble you. Since I’ll be meeting him now, would you prepare for it?”
With that gentle lie to comfort her, Pri tilted her head slightly to meet Seth’s gaze.
“Seth.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Look up. This isn’t your fault.”
“…Understood.”
Once permission was given, everything moved quickly.
Barely seconds after Seth stepped outside, Argent walked in. It was the first time he had entered her room since that day, and Pri tensed.
“I hear you’ve decided not to eat.”
Like a door opening and closing automatically, the door shut quickly behind him as he entered.
“Yes.”
“Is it just for tomorrow, or indefinitely?”
“I won’t be eating at all.”
“Why?”
“Do I have to give a reason? Must there be a justifiable cause for my decision?”
“No. But I am curious to know the reason.”
She abandoned all expectations.
Just thinking about Gaia being at his side made her give up entirely.
Pri’s heart was like that—dulled, as if she had barely survived a fever that nearly killed her. Or rather, she pretended to be dulled, hiding her true feelings.
Because only that way could she survive.
“I’ve grown to dislike it.”
“…What?”
“I’ve grown to dislike doing anything in front of you.”
“…”
Like a fool, watching you look so tenderly at my sister…
“I’ve grown to dislike even seeing you.”
Feeling confused by emotions she didn’t understand, searching again and again for answers…
“I’ve grown tired of it.”
Asking questions again and again because of feelings she’d never experienced before…
“I’m exhausted now.”
Pri hid her heart and quietly looked at him.
In the end, she would have to admit it—this was the first time she had truly felt something for him.
But he was a man who held feelings for someone else, for her sister no less. She couldn’t bear to show him her heart.
Because of a foolish sense of pride.
“…I didn’t realize I was making you suffer so much.”
At those words, Argent felt both relief and the sensation of his heart being torn to shreds.
He had been hated countless times before, yet each time it ripped his heart apart, like thorny vines wrapping tightly around it.
And still, Argent could not bring himself to show any emotion.
At this rate, she would soon leave him. Her hatred was too strong. This time, he vowed that he would not kill anyone connected to Pri.
At least until Pri has settled somewhere safe.
Until she could no longer hear news from this place.
Then it will be enough. Then everything will finally be over.
Pri did not know that his hands, out of her sight, were trembling.
He had to pretend it didn’t hurt. He had to get used to her words. This time, he had to survive. The left side of his face, hidden behind a mask, felt even more numb today.
The wounds I take are nothing compared to the many times I’ve stolen your life. So, Pri… leave. Stop getting hurt. Live the life you’ve always wanted.
“But you know… hearing that almost sounds funny. If others heard, they might think there was something between us.”
Something I wished for countless times.
His eyes calmly studied her.
I wished you would love me. That your tender gaze would turn to me. That your lovely voice would call my name. But, Pri… now I finally understand that it could never be.
“True. There’s nothing between us. I only became empress because you pushed me to it.”
“Yes. So don’t expect anything. We’re only returning to where we were.”
“Right.”
We could never be together, no matter what. No matter what I said, you always rejected me, as if something stood between us. I’m sorry it took me this long to realize it.
“Eat or don’t eat—do whatever you please. You’re still the empress, so you may do as you wish.”
“How gracious, that I’m still the empress.”
Have you been eating?
Why is your face so thin?
I thought you were doing well…
He had thought she would be fine after he gave her the title of empress. Yet here she was, looking like this.
He’d heard that Lord Jeren had been visiting often lately—could it be because her health wasn’t good?
Countless questions and doubts filled his eyes.
“Do we have anything more to say to each other?”
“…No, I suppose not.”
“At least… she’s my blood. Take good care of my sister.”
“You speak as if you’re leaving.”
“I won’t leave. I don’t give up my duties so easily.”
Even as she said that, Pri’s eyes trembled faintly.
Argent looked at her in silence, unable to guess her true thoughts, then turned and walked out.
After he left, Pri stood frozen for a long while.
“Your Majesty.”
“Seth. Today… I’d like to rest.”
Whether she knew something or simply chose not to ask, Seth quietly withdrew.
Several days passed.
Pri spent her meals alone. She didn’t go to see her sister. Her daily life flowed on just as it had when she first came to the Intellia Empire.
Sometimes she went out into the back garden, sometimes climbed the hill to look at the sea. She never skipped Jeren’s medical check-ups, and most days—like today—were spent in the library.
“It seems you’ve been looking for many books lately.”
Ian, as always, set the tea set on the table and looked at her.
“A little, I suppose. But I can’t find what I’m looking for.”
“May I ask what it is you’re searching for?”
Pri, who had deliberately not asked him for help because she wanted to search alone, finally gave up and pressed her lips together.
If she hadn’t found it after searching for days, it meant she couldn’t do it on her own.
“Well, I’m curious about birds… and whether I could find books here about my own country. Also, astrologers… and diamond mines.”
Ian stroked his chin thoughtfully as he looked at her.
“An astrologer…”
Pri hadn’t even known such a thing existed.
She had read about them in a book long ago, but for some reason, it had always been difficult to find information.
Now that I think about it, I never found anything about astrologers… It must be because of that incident.
Suddenly, her sister Gaia’s words came back to her.
Knowing King Ezann’s personality, he would not have let it pass quietly after what happened. Especially regarding the astrologer who had supposedly cursed him—he might have tried to erase their very existence from the world.
At that moment, Ian spoke slowly after some thought.
“I’ve heard of them. Long ago, astrologers were people who read the stars and understood the truths of the world, but I heard they disappeared. People didn’t want the truths of the world.”
“Is that so.”
“Yes. And people didn’t like astrologers who could see unfavorable futures. They spoke the truth, and because of that, they were hated.”
“So, their existence was erased entirely.”
“Yes, that’s what I heard. Still, there are many books about them here. I didn’t place them in plain sight since I thought you wouldn’t be interested, but if you wish, I can bring them to your room.”
Ian’s sharp gaze swept over the library.
“Thank you.”
“As for the Ezann Kingdom… we do have some records, but far fewer than the Ezann royal library you would have known.”
“I thought so.”
And if the man who erased everything about astrologers was the same one in charge there, there’s no way he’d have left much about Ezann, either.
