Chapter 10
Rizeana clenched her fists at the moment she could no longer accept her fate—then a loud shout echoed from beyond the doors.
“Your Majesty! The ones who went to harvest poppy have returned!”
“…!”
‘Poppy?!’
Rizeana quickly lifted her head.
A wide smile curved across her lips.
But no one noticed it except Ian standing beside her.
It seemed the goddess Laura was on her side after all.
“The final ingredient of Gwanggak grass is…”
Now that the last piece had come to her mind—
“It is poppy.”
The hall instantly fell silent.
Poppy was a poisonous herb that grew only in the hot, humid climate of the Tenzel Empire.
It was known to cause hallucinations and seizures, but in small amounts it could be used as a medicinal herb.
In fact, Tenzel exported poppy for medical use.
And yet that same poppy was the final ingredient of Gwanggak grass.
“Suddenly… poppy?”
After Rizeana’s words, silence fell over the audience chamber as if cold water had been poured over it. Then the Emperor’s voice echoed again.
“That is correct, Your Majesty. It is indeed poppy!”
“This poppy, which only grows in Tenzel, is used in our empire for medical purposes. Of course, it is also exported to your empire, Avid.”
“That is correct.”
“Then are you saying that Avid is secretly using our own goods to create Gwanggak grass and cause this incident?”
For a moment, a strange tension filled the space again.
Rizeana could not answer lightly.
Using Tenzel’s special product illegally—and even smuggling it into Tenzel—could lead to diplomatic conflict, or in the worst case, war.
“I cannot speak for something I am not involved in. However, what Your Majesty should focus on is the final ingredient of Gwanggak grass.”
“….”
The Emperor said nothing.
Taking the moment, Rizeana continued.
She did not know where she found the courage, but she had to push this conversation forward.
“I also know part of the manufacturing process of Gwanggak grass.”
“Speak.”
“Before that.”
Rizeana cut off the Emperor’s words.
Ian looked at her in shock.
But she ignored him completely and continued.
“I would like you to keep your promise first. I am a prisoner of an enemy nation, after all. I would like to secure my life.”
It was a bold tone.
Almost arrogant.
It would normally have offended the Emperor’s pride, but instead, it sparked his interest.
“You are a rather interesting prisoner.”
The Emperor stroked his thick beard for a moment, then nodded.
“Now that I think about it, Nerua recently went with the harvesters for an experiment, did she not?”
The Emperor kept his eyes on Rizeana while asking Ian.
Nerua was a herbal mage from the Magic Tower.
Recently, she had shown interest in poppy and had followed the harvesters.
Ian nodded as he recalled this.
“Yes, that is correct, Your Majesty.”
“Perfect.”
A loud clap echoed through the hall.
“Send the harvesters away and bring in Nerua with a small amount of poppy.”
The Emperor’s gaze sharpened.
“Let’s see whether the hostage’s words have value or not.”
The Imperial Audience Chamber
“May we greet His Majesty, Adam Tenzel Tiberah, the Sun of the Empire.”
When the Emperor allowed Nerua’s entrance, the massive doors of the audience chamber opened with a heavy sound.
A woman walked in with light steps—wearing a white shirt and trousers, her orange hair neatly tied up high.
It was a completely different style from the Avid Empire.
‘A woman with tied hair and trousers… In Avid, she would be called improper.’
Rizeana was once again reminded that she was truly in the Tenzel Empire.
“How was the harvest?”
“With Your Majesty’s grace and the harvesters’ help, I learned a great deal.”
Nerua smiled brightly as she looked between the Emperor and Ian.
But her warm gaze turned cold the moment she saw Rizeana.
‘What is this? Why is she looking at me like that?’
Before Rizeana could react, a cold voice struck her.
“Your Majesty… forgive my rudeness, but who is this woman?”
‘Oh no.’
Ian inwardly sighed, noticing Nerua’s attitude.
Nerua was one of Ian’s closest aides. He had taken her in when she was abandoned as a child.
At first, she had been extremely wary of him, but now she was fiercely loyal and would rush to anything involving Ian.
The problem was that she sometimes crossed the line when it involved him.
Ian quickly redirected her attention before it turned toward Rizeana.
“You know about the Gwanggak grass incident happening in the northern slums of Harhaje, correct?”
“Yes.”
Nerua nodded slowly.
It was the issue that had been troubling Ian lately, so of course she knew.
She had even analyzed the confiscated Gwanggak grass, but its structure was too complex and the final ingredient remained unknown.
“This lady has provided information about the final ingredient.”
“…What? No way. Even I couldn’t find it.”
Nerua raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
“I understand your feelings, but it is true, Nerua.”
The Emperor backed Ian’s words.
“This young lady says that poppy leaves complete Gwanggak grass.”
“…Poppy? You mean the same poppy I’ve been researching?”
Nerua had recently been studying herbs with the harvesters, trying to cool her mind after being stuck on this mystery.
But now this sudden woman—clearly a prisoner—was claiming that poppy was the final ingredient.
It felt like a bolt from a clear sky.
“Nerua. You are in the presence of His Majesty.”
Ian warned her.
“Hm. If even His Majesty says so, then it must already be verified.”
“No. That is why we called you.”
Nerua looked at the Emperor, confused.
“I don’t understand.”
“Prepare the ingredients. Right now, in front of me—can you create Gwanggak grass?”
At the Emperor’s sudden command, Rizeana flinched.
‘Right here… right now?’
She bit her dry lip and swallowed hard.
Her memory was clear—but she was not certain.
Nerua was also stunned by the sudden order.
“Your Majesty, the requested ingredients have been brought.”
The Emperor’s aide arrived at the perfect moment, carrying the materials.
“Good.”
The Emperor gestured for Nerua to approach.
“You know how to make it, correct?”
“Yes.”
It was a process she had repeated countless times.
Carefully, Nerua handled the ingredients, ensuring they would not crumble.
“Then I will begin, Your Majesty.”
The process itself was not difficult.
The only difficulty was identifying the ingredients and using a small amount of magic to fuse them.
Tenzel, lacking many mages, struggled with this step.
“First, I will seal the scent. These hallucinogenic herbs can be dangerous to those without resistance.”
‘Is she a mage?’
As if answering Rizeana’s thought, Nerua began chanting.
She placed her hands over each leaf, and pink light flowed briefly before disappearing.
Then she crushed the sealed ingredients one by one.
After mixing the various components evenly, she added the final ingredient—poppy.
Rizeana watched calmly.
‘It has to succeed. It must.’
Her life depended on it.
All eyes turned to Nerua’s hands.
When everything was ready, she covered it with her palms and whispered:
“Coalescență (Fusion).”
Whoooosh.
Orange light burst from her hands.
A soft wind echoed briefly through the chamber before disappearing.
Gulp.
Someone swallowed hard in the silence.
“…It is done, Your Majesty.”
Ian, the Emperor, Rizeana, and Nerua all stared at the newly formed leaf.
“That is Gwanggak grass…”
‘It worked.’
The Gwanggak grass she had seen in her past life was right before her eyes.
“Advisor! Take Nerua and test it on a prisoner in the dungeon.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
After a short while, they returned.
Nerua stepped forward and knelt.
“It was a success, Your Majesty.”
Success should have been satisfying—but strangely, it was not.
Even though she had created it, the decisive ingredient had come from the prisoner.
Nerua bit her lip tightly, unable to hide her frustration.
“It is finally complete!”
The Emperor tapped the armrest of his throne in satisfaction.
Rizeana looked up at him.
He had red hair like Ian, and sharp gray eyes filled with authority.
His slightly upturned eyes carried an unmistakable pressure.
“Well done, Lady Delisa.”
A faint smile appeared on his wrinkled face.
To him, this was both a solution to a national crisis and a form of entertainment.
“Thanks to you, Nerua will have an easier time creating the antidote. Isn’t that right, Nerua?”
The Emperor smiled at her, applying silent pressure.
“Y-Yes, Your Majesty. I will bring good news soon.”
Nerua replied, forcing herself to comply.
The Emperor’s smile deepened.
‘Now.’
Rizeana seized the moment as the mood relaxed.
“Your Majesty.”
She called out to the ruler of the enemy nation.
“This is the result of betraying my homeland. Since I have helped Your Majesty, may I assume you will grant my request?”
Ian’s gaze turned to her.
It was sharp, almost accusing.
He likely thought she was being hasty.
But she was tired of relying on others to speak for her will.
At least in this life, she wanted to claim her freedom herself.
She had decided to change.
“What do you want?”
“Asylum, Your Majesty.”
Rizeana’s eyes gleamed.
“Please allow me to stay in the Tenzel Empire.”
“Hm… asylum, is it…”
The Emperor stroked his beard again.
He tapped his crossed leg slowly.
“Now then… is there any reason I should grant such a request from a mere prisoner?”
