Chapter 40

“And now, with time having passed, the boy had become the Emperor, and he was headed to the problem-ridden Nopthal.”

Bardi tilted his head back, recalling the past, which had resurfaced after so long, with a bitter smile.

In a room filled with the red velvet that symbolized the imperial family of the Ardgold Empire, the Emperor was seated with his legs propped up on a black marble table trimmed with gold.

“Is it time to stop playing the charade now?”

At that moment, footsteps could be heard from afar.

“Your Majesty, there are many documents that require your review.”

Bardi looked at Gregory with disinterested expression.

“Are you talking about that?”

Budier, who followed next, bowed politely, his face anxious.

“Your Majesty, have you reviewed the military report?”

The Emperor’s blue eyes lazily swept over the two.

“Well… did I?”

“Your Majesty! You can’t do this. You are no longer the Crown Prin—”

Thud.

A thin report flew through the air with the sound.

“Review it.”

“Excuse me?”

Budier, flustered, picked up the report with trembling hands.

The report the Emperor handed over was a perfectly organized roadmap for temporarily relocating the imperial palace to Nopthal.

“No… what is this?”

Bardi, who had risen from his seat, narrowed his bright blue eyes. His broad, thick shoulders made the white fox fur draped over them appear small.

The Emperor let out a deep sigh. Budier, already a frequent sweater, began to perspire even more.

“Let’s stop treating me like a child.”

Bardi stretched his arms as if trying to relieve some stiffness.

“Still, I must admit that working after such a long time has left me a bit tired.”

Gregory lowered his gaze.

“Then… did Your Majesty handle this personally…?”

“Let’s head over there first.”

The Emperor’s tone was nonchalant but resolute.

“We need to find out what kind of schemes are at play for them to be causing such trouble.”

“Does that mean, Your Majesty, that this is Nopthal’s—”

No, it couldn’t be that simple.

As Bardi recalled Kaiden’s face, his expression hardened.

In truth, his real reason for wanting to go there was something else entirely, but no one needed to know that.

***

It was still dark, early before dawn.

Below the two people standing atop a high tower, a large workshop was visible. Most of those present were magic users, fully engrossed in their work even at the crack of dawn.

“They said it was a bird that could fly.”

“One that could drop bombs.”

Kaiden responded.

“Size-wise, it must have been at least as big as you.”

Kaiden spoke to Iz, whose bright platinum hair swayed as she nodded.

“But to carry bombs of that weight, it wouldn’t be able to move that fast.”

“What were your own attempts?”

“Failures so far. But even so, it’s strange that it’s impossible for me.”

If that ‘beast’ wasn’t a magic user like Iz, there was only one guess. But even Iz was unaware of that top-secret information.

Seeing Kaiden’s serious face, Iz added,

“Even for R.D., that much would be impossible, right?”

“We must consider all possibilities.”

Kaiden replied curtly.

“Yes.”

In any case, it was necessary to speak with them. Especially their leader.

“Get in touch with R.D.”

“Your Grace, that’s…”

“They must want something. The fact that their earlier attack was half-hearted could have been a message in itself.”

Iz’s gray eyes flickered with concern at Kaiden’s words.

“Understood.”

Dawn was already breaking. The two descended the tower in silence.

“How is Lady Rohana? I heard from Sirirul that Countess Trudy is still suffering from the smoke.”

As they were almost down the tower, Iz asked. Kaiden thought of Rohana.

“Well.”

Even if she was in pain, she wasn’t the type to show it easily.

“I’m not sure.”

“Is there something even the Duke doesn’t know?”

“I’ve assigned Heath to her, so there’s no need for any major concern for the time being.”

So that’s why Heath wasn’t around. Iz muttered absentmindedly and then paused, hesitating as a thought crossed her mind.

“Lady Aurelia… no, the Empress, is also a concern. What if it gets out that she was originally from Kark? R.D. and Nopthal are already in an uproar, calling her a traitor.”

Kaiden let out a low groan. On the other hand, there were people in Hanover who wanted to eliminate Rohana just for being the Duke’s daughter, even setting fires in their rage.

“She returned as the Empress of the Rentworth royal family, no less.”

“Were you close with Aurelia?”

Kaiden asked, and after some thought, Iz slowly shook her head.

“If anyone was close to her, it would have been Your Grace.”

Kaiden narrowed his eyes.

“She never got close to anyone else.”

Iz recalled about Aurelia.

***

“You’re already awake?”

Rohana was startled by the sudden voice and turned around. She had woken up early again, unable to sleep due to the smoke. It was cold, but pleasantly so—a crisp winter air.

Suddenly, she started coughing, and she covered her mouth. Her low-tied hair swayed in the breeze.

“You’re coughing and breathing this cold air.”

The scolding came with a bit of irritation, and Rohana sheepishly shrugged.

The capital stayed quite warm, even in winter, so this chill was unfamiliar. It reminded her of her past life.

“I’m fine.”

Kaiden looked down at her, clearly displeased.

“You’re out and about this early in the morning?”

Rohana subtly changed the subject, and Kaiden frowned as he looked at her.

“I was at the tower. Visiting the military department.”

As he spoke, Kaiden took off his thick cloak and placed it over her, even though she was already wearing one.

“Sirirul told me. He said you’re quite curious—not just reading books but wanting to understand the situation.”

“Oh, that… I thought I was quite informed about things, helping my father back in the capital, but…”

Rohana explained.

“Everything feels so different here. Armed groups trying to take down Hanover—that would be unimaginable in the capital. I figured reading something might help.”

Though she said that, the truth was, Rohana was more curious about Kaiden’s past. The eyes of the black-haired boy were unmistakably his. Kaiden didn’t seem to realize that she had recognized him.

Rohana pondered again. If Kaiden had any hint of goodwill toward her, could she use it?

Instead of just running away, was there a way to avoid the death that was planned for Mid-Summer?

“If you have questions, you can ask me.”

Rohana laughed softly and looked up at Kaiden.

“Tell Hanover what you want, as per the contract.”

Kaiden hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“I need the records of Hanover’s weapon exports and imports. But… can you handle that from here?”

“If you thought I couldn’t, then marrying me would’ve been a very unfavorable deal, wouldn’t it?”

Rohana smiled as she looked up at him.

“Of course I can. It’ll just cost a bit of money.”

“As much as you need.”

As she smiled and turned her gaze away, she could feel Kaiden’s eyes on her.

“And it’s not unfavorable at all.”

Her confused gaze met his dark eyes.

“What?”

A small, surprised question escaped her.

Kaiden stepped closer and firmly fastened the cloak around her, though it was heavy, it was warm.

“Let’s head inside. It’s cold.”

Rohana’s heart raced for no reason, as it always did when he got close.

“And…”

But his voice darkened suddenly, changing the atmosphere. Rohana looked up at him again.

A calm smile. Whenever that shadow of gloom settled on him, Kaiden would wear that very smile.

To see his face more clearly, Rohana tilted her head back and looked up at him.

“I have bad news.”

Kaiden’s deep eyes met her curious violet ones.

“We have a guest coming.”

Just as she was about to ask who, Heath’s voice echoed from a distance.

“Your Grace, it’s urgent.”

Kaiden turned his head toward the voice, still calm.

“What is it?”

“Apologies, but it’s truly a matter of urgency.”

Though Heath’s voice was composed, his expression didn’t match.

After a brief pause, Heath spoke.

“The Emperor and Empress are coming to Nopthal.”

“Yes, well.”

Rohana, without realizing, was shocked and looked back and forth between the two men.

“The issue is… due to security concerns, they’ve already left, much sooner than we were informed. They are expected to arrive by noon tomorrow.”

Heath added the last part, frowning.

“And reports indicate they are accompanied by the central imperial military forces.”