CHAPTER 45…………………………………………………….
Zenya found herself naturally riding in the carriage even though no one had told her to.
‘It’s become a habit. Completely ingrained.’
She didn’t even bother worrying about such trivial things anymore. Carrying the tea she had roughly brewed, Zenya approached Lumiere, whom she had forced onto the sofa, and set the cups down in front of each of them.
“To be granted the honor of entering the room where Your Majesty resides—”
“Let’s get to the point.”
The Demon King smoothly cut off Leraje’s words. Zenya watched him closely as he didn’t even spare her a glance.
After taking a sip of tea, the Demon King spoke.
“Our final destination is the capital of the Empire.”
“…The capital?”
“Yes. Something I’m looking for is there.”
There were many things she wanted to ask. How did he plan to enter the Empire’s capital, where the most priests resided, as a demon? What exactly was he looking for once they got there? And why was he saying all of this in front of Lumiere?
But pushing all those questions aside, Zenya asked the most important one.
“Where in the capital is that item?”
The Demon King raised an eyebrow and replied,
“Beneath the Imperial Palace.”
“What?”
Zenya doubted her ears, but he did not change his answer.
“It’s under the Imperial Palace.”
Clutching her throbbing head, Zenya forced a smile.
“Are you perhaps planning to invade the palace?”
The Demon King looked at her as if she were an idiot.
“I said I’d retrieve it quietly.”
The capital of the Empire—and beneath the Imperial Palace at that. Was that even possible? Zenya’s smile stretched further.
“You’re talking about the impossible.”
But the Demon King looked utterly confident.
“That’s why we prepare.”
His face showed not the slightest concern. Zenya asked,
“Do you have a plan?”
“It’s not like I don’t.”
The moment he finished speaking, Leraje eagerly added,
“Shall we simply knock out some humans and take it?”
“That works too.”
A curse nearly slipped out. Zenya glanced at Lumiere to gauge his reaction. When their eyes met, he gently pushed her teacup toward her and whispered that she should drink before it cooled.
Smiling faintly, Lumiere showed no sign of shock at the Demon King and Leraje’s words.
‘Is he really the Hero?’
Zenya turned back to the Demon King.
“That’s what you call handling it quietly?”
“As long as we eliminate only those who interfere without causing a commotion, isn’t that quiet enough?”
“Ha.”
In the end, it meant humans would be dealt with regardless. Narrowing her eyes, Zenya asked,
“If that’s your plan, why bother gathering information here? Why not just go straight to the Imperial family?”
The Demon King shrugged.
“Unless you have another sure method?”
Resting his cheek against the hand draped over the sofa, he looked at her meaningfully—expectation and hidden schemes filling his gaze. Zenya squeezed her eyes shut.
‘Did Count Vine tell him?’
No, the Count only knew she was a princess of a fallen kingdom. But the moment the capital was mentioned, the answer had been obvious.
Of course he would know.
‘You really are shameless.’
The Demon King had intended to use her from the very beginning. Opening her eyes again, Zenya let out a deep breath.
“…If there’s another method, you’ll follow it?”
“If it’s reasonable.”
She felt like she’d have no greater wish than to punch that smirking mouth. Rubbing her face dryly, she glared at him.
“I’ll take back what I said about it being inefficient. It’s incredibly efficient, actually.”
At her sarcastic tone, Leraje stared at her in surprise, but Zenya didn’t look at him and made no effort to fix her crooked expression.
‘Despicable.’
He’d made her feel uncomfortable by pretending they had grown close, only to end up trying to use her bloodline.
Aside from being the princess of a ruined kingdom, there was another title that defined her—more precisely, the man who had now become one of the most powerful figures in the human world. Her maternal uncle.
The one who had never stopped rising until the day Zenya was kidnapped by the Demon King.
The story could be heard the moment one entered the city. The head of a prestigious imperial house who had finally taken the position he desired.
The Emperor.
Zenya glared coldly at the Demon King.
“Even if I’m the Emperor’s niece, that doesn’t mean I can just walk into the Imperial Palace.”
She forced strength into her voice as her throat tightened. The Demon King, who had been watching her leisurely, suddenly looked startled.
“…What?”
His expression turned blank, as if he truly hadn’t known. His eyes widened. His lips parted. Watching him, Zenya’s own eyes gradually grew round as well.
“…What?”
The Demon King and Zenya stared at each other in mutual confusion.
When she handed over the black rag she had never once touched before, the answer she received was cold.
“I don’t want to.”
You were darker than me, yet you always shone.
Perhaps that was why—when you fell to the very bottom, the first emotion I felt was joy.
That was why I wanted to drag you even deeper into the mud.
The beloved princess was gone. Ahead of you lay only a cliff, while I would continue climbing higher and higher.
So Jeremiah sent the rag to Astria once more through a servant.
“Do it even if you don’t want to.”
“Why should I?”
Jeremiah snapped sharply.
“Because you’re living under our roof.”
“What?”
Jeremiah smiled brightly.
“You know it too, don’t you? You’re living in our house.”
The girl who had once only looked up to you, who had envied you, was gone.
“So you don’t get a choice.”
Seeing the way her eyelashes trembled in shock sent a thrill all the way to Jeremiah’s fingertips.
But at the same time, somewhere in her heart—
Flash.
Jeremiah looked up at the white ceiling, gauging the time. Judging by the sounds beginning to stir outside the door, it seemed the day was starting.
She must have woken earlier than usual, but that always happened when that child appeared in her dreams.
“It’s been so long. Why do you keep appearing in my dreams?”
Why did a girl who had died and disappeared—whose face she couldn’t even remember unless she dreamed of her—keep appearing?
Because you resent dying like that?
“I’m not happy either….”
She had thought only ascent awaited her future. Instead, all that remained was a bottomless pit.
“Your Highness, did you cough?”
Jeremiah let out a bitter laugh and turned toward the door that opened before she could answer. A servant bowed deeply without meeting her eyes.
“His Majesty the Emperor summons you.”
It was both notice and command.
Grinding her teeth, Jeremiah threw the surge of emotion rising within her into that deep pit.
Then she nodded calmly.
“Very well. Prepare me.”
As soon as she finished speaking, servants flooded into the room. Jeremiah watched them with cold eyes.
Even if she refused, they would have forcibly dressed her and taken her before the Emperor. Her position had changed, but nothing else had.
No—perhaps there was one change. The shining girl was gone, so there was no one left to envy.
Receiving reports from early morning, the Emperor showed no sign of fatigue.
“There’s no trace?”
The man bowed even deeper.
“The occasional rumors we hear are either complete nonsense or stories leaked from the temple.”
When the Emperor said nothing, the man added cautiously,
“I apologize.”
“No, that’s fine.”
After tapping his desk in silence, the Emperor spoke meaningfully.
“Whatever it is, enough time has passed. Shouldn’t there be a result by now?”
Dead—or fled on his own.
Muttering quietly, he continued as if organizing his thoughts.
“The Saintess will soon look for a new replacement as well.”
The man remained silent, as though he hadn’t heard. After a long pause, the Emperor stopped tapping his desk.
“Before the temple acts, we’ll spread a rumor. Say the Hero was gravely injured.”
“Ah.”
It was only a single sentence, but the man, who had long served beneath the Emperor, immediately understood.
As he nodded, the Emperor rubbed his hands together.
“What about our person in the temple?”
“We’ve secured about half the target amount.”
“Move faster.”
The man rose at the dismissive gesture but hesitated.
“Your Majesty, if the Hero were to return alive….”
He already knew the answer.
“The chances are slim, but if such a miracle were to happen… then we’ll kill him.”
The kindly smile the Emperor once wore while holding the Hero’s hand—thanking him and saying he would save the world—was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, his eyes gleamed cunningly with greed.
“I understand.”
Swallowing dryly, the man bowed deeply to hide his disgust and fear. Just then, another visitor arrived.
“Your Majesty, Her Highness the Princess has arrived.”
“Send him out.”
Delighted at the dismissal, the man quickly exited. As he passed, he briefly met the expressionless gaze of the Princess but calmly offered his greetings and withdrew.
“Your Majesty.”
He heard the Princess greet the Emperor from behind. Even nobles maintained dignity—but to be so devoid of emotion, even between family.
Ignoring the goosebumps rising on his arms, the man walked away as the Princess’s flat voice echoed behind him.
