❖ ❖ ❖

“You were so angry yesterday, as if you couldn’t let it go – why do your eyes look so soft now? At times like this, Your Majesty doesn’t seem like yourself.”

After a round of nagging, Kider suddenly turned to his lord and asked.

“That aside… when are you going to reveal the truth?”

“Reveal what?”

“You’re really asking that? Don’t tell me you want to keep it a secret forever?”

“Hmm… I don’t know.”

“Excuse me?”

“To be honest… I’m scared.”

He had never imagined that he would set foot on the land of the Havern Kingdom again – as its invading emperor, no less.

Though he justified it by saying it was the will of the High Priestess and the Oracle of the Goddess, Rabion couldn’t bring himself to be cruel in the place filled with memories of the woman he had loved.

“Avoid unnecessary bloodshed! They don’t have the strength to resist anyway.”

“But find the high priest and the saint – make sure they’re killed. The rest will come with me to the palace.”

A face he had only barely been able to see in dreams—now finally before him after six long years.

Still as beautiful as ever, yet devastated by shock and sorrow—seeing her like that made his heart sink.

‘I am sorry. Just a little longer… if you can hold on a little longer, I’ll save you. So please, just hold on.’

He could barely resist the urge to rush forward and grab her. Then his eyes fell on the seat next to the throne – the envoy’s.

And at that moment, an overwhelming rage, filled with murderous intent, consumed him.

Perhaps that’s why, even as Freya stifled her sobs and put down the crown, Rabion’s gaze remained cold as ice.

“She lost her country because of me.”
That time—when even he had been shocked by how cruel he had become—kept returning to him as a painful memory, relentlessly crushing his heart.

“She lost the country she cherished so deeply.”

“……”

“Could she ever truly forgive me?”

“Your Majesty…”

“If she finds out I was Ray… I fear her resentment may only grow stronger.”

“……”

Kider parted his lips, as if to say something—anything—but no words would come.

The emperor turned and began to walk away, and his retreating figure looked unbearably lonely.

❖ ❖ ❖

Freya silently took in the view outside the window. The clear glass, with the curtains drawn, revealed a bright blue sky and lush green trees – just looking at it seemed to clear her mind.

“The garden attached to Hebe’s palace is quite beautiful. If you’re feeling suffocated, I’d be happy to take you for a walk.”

Estel offered.

Freya nodded without hesitation. Whether it was the skill of the doctor or the attentive care of the maids, she had regained much of her strength in just a few days.

But as her body recovered, her mind became more and more taxed. The things she now had to do began to crowd her thoughts, and she realised she needed time to clear her head – some fresh air to help her think.

‘When I meet the emperor, the first thing I must discuss is the safety of my people and the treatment of my citizens.’

Although the Emperor had visited her twice just yesterday, for some reason there had been no word from him all day today, even as the afternoon wore on.

“Which one do you want to wear?”

At some point Estel had filled the room with several dresses from the wardrobe.

“This one will do.”

Freya said, choosing a bright white dress made of a cool, breathable fabric. It didn’t expose her neck or shoulders, which was ideal as her wounds hadn’t fully healed yet.

“It fits you perfectly!”

Estel gasped in admiration as she looked at Freya in the new dress. Although Freya had always had a naturally graceful figure with soft curves, the recent weight loss had given her a more delicate appearance, making the light, airy simplicity of the dress even more flattering.

Led by Estel, Freya stepped out of the annex. In the distance, a towering spire pierced the sky. The sight of it made her think of the underground prison below, and a sudden tightness gripped her chest. Averting her gaze, she looked around to both sides. Several palaces dotted the landscape, near and far.

“There are five side palaces beside the main palace. The one you are staying in is called the Hebe Palace.”

Now that she thought about it, the grand building she had visited to meet the Emperor must have been the main palace. Compared to the one she was currently staying in, it was immense in both size and splendour.

“The summers here are very hot, but the winters are also famously harsh.”

The earth, saturated with the heat of the sun, gave off its warmth to the full. As Freya walked slowly, taking in her surroundings, beads of sweat began to form on her forehead.

‘It’s beautiful.’

The garden of the annex blended seamlessly with the forest behind the building, as if a piece of the forest had been transplanted there.

Continuing along the forest path, lined with trees and flowers of all kinds, they came to a shady area under a green canopy. In the middle was a wooden swing, big enough for two or three people.

‘Maybe I’ll try the swing.’

Just as she was about to sit down, a large black dog suddenly leapt out from the forest.

“Hmm?”

“What’s wrong?”
Freya’s eyes widened as she stared intently at the black dog. The dog, seemingly startled as well, had frozen in place and was now staring back at her.

“Kamangi…?”
“Pardon?”
“I’m sure it’s Kamangi…”

“Lady Freya, what are you talking about?”

Estel asked, her expression puzzled.

“Kamangi, what are you doing here?”

The dog didn’t move an inch, as if frozen in place.

Watching the scene, Estel added helpfully.

“Ah, the dog’s name is Derki. His Majesty raises him. He often wanders around like that, but he’s not dangerous, so you can just ignore him.”

“What? That can’t be right. I’m sure this dog belonged to someone I know…”

Whichever way she looked at it, it was Kamangi.

Brown hair, gentle eyes the colour of the warm night – the boy who always smiled brightly, but carried a hint of shadow within: Ray.

Kamangi had always been by Ray’s side.

“Kamangi! You are Kamangi, aren’t you?”

The sight of Freya walking straight up to the big dog – which she called by a strange name – left Estel visibly flustered.

The reason such a huge dog was allowed to roam freely around the palace was because it belonged to the Emperor. Although there had never been any reports of it attacking anyone, its sheer size was enough to make Estel nervous.

“P-please be careful, Lady Freya.”

Watching Freya approach the dog without hesitation, Estel quickly picked up a few stones from the ground – just in case. She was worried that the dog might suddenly bite Freya.

Estel kept her eyes open, ready to throw a stone if necessary.

Unaware of her frightened maid’s thoughts, Freya continued to call to the dog in a desperate voice.

“Kamangi, come here! You are Kamangi, aren’t you?”

The glossy black fur, the white diamond-shaped mark on her chest, the big floppy ears, the huge frame that rivalled that of a grown man, and the adorably droopy eyes – no matter how many times she blinked and looked again, Freya was sure. This was the Kamangi she knew.

Even the way it stared at her, as a human would, was exactly the same.

“Kamangi!”

Unable to hold back any longer, Freya cried out and spread her arms wide.

To everyone’s surprise, the black dog leapt into her arms.

Estel, who was about to throw a stone, froze.

Freya’s bright laughter echoed around them.

“Ah! That tickles – stop it!”

One moment she was calling him over, the next she was telling him to stop.

Holding the big dog tightly in her arms as he excitedly licked her face, Freya gently ran her hands over his smooth, shiny coat.

Watching the scene, Estel quietly put down the stones she had been holding.

“It’s really strange. This dog never lets anyone near him except His Majesty.”

So it really was Kamangi – the same dog Ray had raised.

Freya, rubbing her cheek against the dog and basking in the joy of their reunion, suddenly let out a soft sigh.

“Kamangi…”

The large black dog blinked its jet-black eyes and looked up at her.

As she gently patted his head, Freya asked softly.
“Where’s Ray? Why are you here all alone without him?”

“Woof!”

“Your master is Ray, isn’t he?”

“Woof!”
The dog barked enthusiastically and wagged its tail.

“Right… you can’t speak, can you…”

“Woof!”

No matter how clever, a dog was still a dog.

“Estel, are you absolutely certain this dog belongs to His Majesty?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Do you happen to know how long His Majesty has been raising this dog?”

“I’m not sure of the exact time, but I believe it’s been quite a while. As far as I know, that dog has been roaming freely around the palace for some time now.”

‘Why is the emperor raising Ray’s dog?’

The dog, seemingly pleased by the strokes on its head, closed its eyes in contentment and nestled its face into the hem of Freya’s dress.

‘Could it be… the emperor did something to Ray?’

Freya shook her head quickly. If the Emperor had harmed Ray, there would have been no reason for him to take the dog and raise him.

Besides, Kamangi was an exceptionally clever dog. He wasn’t the kind of animal who would loyally follow someone who had killed his master.

‘Perhaps the Emperor and Ray knew each other.’

She didn’t know the Emperor’s exact age, but she guessed he was about the same age as Ray now.

Since Ray came from a noble family in the Karl Empire, it was possible that they had known each other.

Now lying on his back with his belly exposed, Kamangi seemed completely at ease. As Freya gently stroked his belly, she remembered the old friend buried deep in her memory for the first time in a long time.