Chapter 4: The Captured Empress (2)

There was a quiet rage in the footsteps headed toward the Great Hall.

Though his pace was firm and unhesitant, Terian wasn’t sure where exactly this anger was directed. Was it toward those who forced him to walk to the hall when he should have been witnessing her arrival at the Empress’s Palace? Or was it toward her, who had fled and birth another man’s child?

“How is the state of the Empress’s Palace?”

“Everything has been prepared to serve Her Majesty without the slightest fault.”

The chamberlain, who had hurried to his side, answered promptly. It was the expected reply, but something about it still didn’t sit well with Terian, and he gave a curt nod.

After ascending the throne, one of the first things Terian focused on was the Empress’s Palace.

Thanks to the previous emperor’s depraved behavior in the name of securing an heir, the former empress had long since retreated to her family’s homeland under the pretense of illness. As a result, the Empress’s Palace had been practically abandoned and was in a disgraceful state.

Not knowing when Larie might return, Terian had always ordered the palace to be maintained in perfect readiness. Since it was a place he had continuously managed, there shouldn’t be any major issues now either.

Setting his worries aside for the moment, Terian walked down a corridor that was unnaturally spotless.

Having stayed up all night and traveled far, fatigue clung to him. Or rather, it was the grime clinging to his body that now felt intolerably unclean.

“I shall order the bath to be prepared immediately.”

The chamberlain, well-versed in Terian’s temperament, bowed deeply without hesitation. Though he knew the emperor was heading to the Great Hall, he also seemed to anticipate that Terian might soon change course.

At that moment, another attendant approached hastily from afar, stopping three steps ahead and bowing low to deliver his report.

“Your Majesty, the ministers are gathered in the Great Hall.”

Though Terian had already been heading there, it seemed the ministers had acted with greater urgency. With a cold gaze, Terian slowly ran a hand through his hair.

He would deal with this matter first.

“I will go at once.”

The chamberlain looked momentarily puzzled but quickly masked his expression. Ignoring it, Terian resumed his brisk pace toward the Great Hall.

Larie’s flinching at his touch lingered vividly in his mind. Even now, with her so close by, the moment she vanished from view, a strange sense of urgency clutched at him.

“We greet the Lord of the Radiant Lake.”

“We greet Your Majesty.”

As soon as he entered the hall, the ministers all rose hurriedly. Five had rushed over upon hearing news of Larie’s return—all of them Terian’s closest aides.

“Your Majesty… is it true that she has returned?” the marquis asked hesitantly, his tone desperate.

Though these men were treated nearly as royal confidants, their demeanor toward Terian had grown increasingly cautious of late.

“If you’re referring to the Empress—yes. Mind your words and show proper respect.”

“We shall be careful.”

The marquis quickly bowed, chilled by Terian’s sharp warning. They had all witnessed the emperor’s relentless search over the past two years—and now he had finally found her.

Still, there’s always one fool in every group.

“B-but! I heard… a newborn was with her. Could it be—something improper…!”

Before the flustered earl could even finish, Terian had drawn his sword.

“H-hiiik!”

“I warn you. If you insult my wife one more time, I will not let it go.”

Startled by the blade pressed beneath his chin, the count stumbled back in disgrace.

Despite countless objections, Terian had continued his marriage with Larie—deliberately ignoring reasons that would have more than justified divorce.

Yet Larie had ultimately borne another man’s child.

Thus, Terian’s fury was not unfounded. Muddled emotions, now directionless, roared inside him.

Terian wielded that fury like a bleeding weapon, because his frantically turning reason told him one thing:

This situation must be resolved first.

“Khk…”

“If such vile remarks ever reach the Empress’s ears, your house will be held responsible.”

Terian issued a stern warning. What he sought to eradicate now were precisely these unchecked liberties.

“P-please, calm yourself…”

The marquis nearby, agitated, tried to dissuade Terian. After a disinterested glance around the chamber, Terian finally sheathed his sword.

Then, he gave the order for what was the most “appropriate” course of action for the ministers in this moment:

“The Empress, along with the Imperial Prince, went into hiding until I secured the empire after my ascension.”

“……”

“I-Imperial Prince, Your Majesty…?”

The mention of an ‘Imperial Prince’ shifted the ministers’ expressions subtly.

Larie and Terian had been a lawful couple before she vanished. The circumstances behind her absence might vary, but if the child she returned with was the Emperor’s legitimate heir, the matter could not be taken lightly.

Even the count who had rashly spoken earlier wore a look of panic, gauging the mood of the nobles around him.

To Terian, of course, it was sheer madness. He knew that.

And yet, he no longer cared.

Because he couldn’t think of any other way to keep her by his side.

“Captain of the Guard.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Arrest the one who dared falsely brand the Empress a criminal and relayed the order.”

At Terian’s chilling command, the Captain of the Guard nodded to two knights nearby. They moved swiftly, seizing the baron who had quietly stood at the back.

“Y-Your Majesty… this is a misunderstanding…”

Pale with panic, the baron pleaded to Terian, who looked down at him and gave a sharp rebuke.

“I will hold you accountable for twisting my will and relaying it to the lord of the territory.”

The lord of the village where Larie had hidden had received a falsified imperial decree to search for a ‘criminal.’ It was the baron’s sly manipulation that had twisted the truth.

“Your Majesty, this was only for your benefit—”

Feigning loyalty, the man began his excuse solemnly. But Terian had no intention of listening to his nonsense.

His imperial power had now solidified. Though there were still embers of conflict among the empires, Terian had erased the incompetence of the former reign with his own capability.

At first, the ministers had objected to his pursuit of Larie, but one by one they’d fallen silent. Tromperie’s collapse played a part, but more than that, none had the strength to oppose Terian anymore.

And yet, Terian still felt it wasn’t enough.

She had no reason to stay here. Even the slightest speck of dust in her path must be wiped clean. Anything that might hinder keeping her at his side must be uprooted—

Down to the very roots.

“Do not dare speak of loyalty. You acted on nothing but political self-interest. Do not pretend you didn’t know my intention to receive her again as Empress was already firm.”

“……”

At his cold rebuke, the ministers all dropped their gazes to the floor.

It had been reckless from the start to interfere with even a vacant Empress’s seat. Let alone suggesting a new Empress to a sovereign who already had a lawful wife—such counsel had clearly crossed the line.

More than anything, what mattered most was that, even if problems did exist, Terian had the power to ignore them and enforce his will.

“And if it hadn’t been the Empress there, but merely a woman who resembled her, you would have nearly killed an innocent.”

“Ah…!”

The order the lord had given to his soldiers was to bring in a “criminal.” Had that been a commoner dragged away in Larie’s place, the kind of abuse inflicted by a lord desperate to display loyalty was all too easy to imagine.

“Take him away.”

At Terian’s cold assessment, the baron lowered his head in resignation and was dragged off.

Quickly calculating how best to dismantle the baron’s foundation, Terian turned to the remaining ministers and issued another command.

“Dismissed. The Empress’s return will remain classified for the time being.”

“As Your Majesty wills.”

The ministers bowed stiffly. They had now fully grasped Terian’s firm stance. Even the slightest careless word regarding Larie would no longer be tolerated.

One by one, with furrowed brows and heavy thoughts, the ministers withdrew. In the silence of the great hall, Terian stood alone for a moment without speaking.

For now, he intended to keep Larie’s presence strictly hidden.

To buy time.

“The Empress has just been served a meal.”

“…I see.”

The sharp-eyed chamberlain approached and informed him of Larie’s condition. Terian, suddenly wearied, slowly sank into the throne.

“……”

There were other complications in keeping her in the position of Empress. The disgrace tied to her family name, and her reputation in high society.

The ideas already entrenched in people’s minds would continue to threaten Larie’s place by his side. Even if she were to stay willingly now, wouldn’t she eventually long to run again?

So he would need to lay the groundwork in advance. Ensure that her return as Empress would be received with celebration.

Make it so that no one—no place—could seem better than by his side.

“…Hoo…”

Not having completely destroyed Trompérie was one of the reasons. It wasn’t just the risk of her shutting him out due to her deep ties with her family—an Empress with no foundation at all would be equally problematic.

Even if he had to replace the head with a distant relative, the family itself needed to remain. It had to be there, always ready to serve as her backing.

Of course, Terian had not let go of his hatred toward Trompérie. So this was merely the best interim solution—for Larie alone.

Suddenly, he recalled the place where Larie had been hiding.

No matter how he thought about it, it didn’t seem like a Trompérie hideout. It made no sense that the Baron, who had doted on his daughter so much, would leave her that unguarded. Not to mention, with a child bearing no surname.

Could it be that something had happened, and her relationship with the family had broken?

The Baron was known for his staunch bloodline pride. Perhaps something had gone wrong during her escape, and Larie had completely cut ties with them. If so, it was the ideal situation for Terian’s plans.

He became even more determined to ask her directly.

“Haa…”

His mind, turning desperately, now throbbed with pain. As if he were a statue carved into the throne, Terian let out a sigh and covered his face with his hand.

“I will order the bath prepared.”

“Very well.”

Only then did the steward, who had been standing silently so as not to interrupt, leave the hall to carry out the command.

He had thought so long that darkness had already claimed the world outside.

“……”

Staring into the black sky, Terian suddenly recalled Larie’s face.

‘The princess of the Rassium Empire… I heard she sent a marriage proposal. If you’re going to use me for political gain, I beg you to let me go.’

It was the first time he’d seen Larie meet his gaze so directly.

Those green eyes, striking as they pierced into him, left a lingering image. Even in her tension, Larie hadn’t avoided the question—her resolve now haunted his thoughts.

Then, Terian was suddenly tormented by a violent emotion.

A black, burning hatred toward the nameless man who must have seen that face—so many times—while Terian had been absent.

“Find out in detail how the Empress has lived until now.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“And who the child’s real father is.”

“Yes.”

The knight commander standing by his side answered crisply. He was someone who knew the full story and could be trusted.

First, he needed information. If he could keep Larie here, Terian intended to seize whatever he could reach. No matter how prettily he dressed it up, it was no different from an abduction—but he didn’t care.

Legally, they were still husband and wife. He had simply reclaimed what he was rightfully owed.

“……”

Moonlight, drifting in unnoticed, shattered against the imperial throne.

A half-lost moon hung in the sky.