Chapter 8: The Final Fragment of Truth (1)

Everything had been exposed.

The misfortune she had long expected had come to find her, just as always. Larie hated herself for once again being the cause of such misery.

But soon even that emotion dispersed into futility.

As she sat helplessly on the floor, not knowing what to do, Terian had unexpectedly approached and lifted her into his arms. Without even giving her time to be startled by the touch, he had left behind incomprehensible words and disappeared.

“The child… and you… will never be in danger.”

He left just as he’d placed her on the bed, Larie hadn’t moved the entire night. She had thought guards would come to seize her if she waited long enough—but nothing happened.

What had Terian meant by those words?

Her dazed mind lingered on, dulled from lack of sleep and food. She had always prepared herself for tragedy, but his reaction was something she hadn’t anticipated.

Should she now flee blindly into the forest with Rui?

“Your Majesty. You’ll harm yourself at this rate.”

“…”

At that moment, Charelle approached and spoke to her.

Last night, Terian had appeared so suddenly—and since then, Larie had remained like this. From Charelle’s point of view, her concern was inevitable.

But Larie couldn’t offer any reassuring words. She herself felt utterly lost.

“Would you at least take a look at the paper? I saved an article I thought Your Majesty might find interesting.”

“…”

She had already refused food several times. As a last resort, Charelle had apparently chosen the newspaper.

What article could possibly interest her now? Larie had no idea.

As she blankly stared at her own hands, Charelle gently approached and placed a folded newspaper into them.

Her touch was incredibly warm.

“It’s about the envoy. That’s been bothering me as well.”

That warmth, like fuel to a dormant fire, made Larie quietly lower her gaze to her hands.

Within the neatly unfolded newspaper, crisp lines of print filled the page.

…The Alfrang War has ended. Which is precisely why the Rassium envoy’s true intentions must be called into question…

She had already heard that the Alfrang War was nearing its conclusion—it seemed now it had officially ended.

Still, Larie couldn’t yet grasp Charelle’ intention. But her eyes caught on a particular sentence that stirred doubt.

…Most notably, His Majesty the Emperor’s continued search for the missing Grand Duchess serves as a clear indication that he has no interest in any other marriage alliances…

…He was looking for me?

“Is something bothering you?”

Charelle had swiftly picked up on the change in her expression and asked without hesitation.

Larie hesitated, but the way Charelle looked at her—expecting an answer—compelled her to speak.

“Has… Has His Majesty truly been searching for me all this time?”

What if I sound like a fool? Like those maids back in the Grand Duke’s estate?

But instead, Charelle looked rather puzzled.

“Of course… you didn’t know?”

As if it were the most natural thing—that of course, he had been searching for her.

Why?

Larie truly didn’t understand. Even now, not a single knight had come to arrest her.

To conceal royal blood was a crime punishable by death. And as a Trompérie, she would be judged even more harshly.

She had pleaded, yes—but it still made no sense that he had said he would protect both her and Rui.

“If only the Rassium Empire had clearly stated their envoy’s purpose… but they didn’t. Sending another delegation after being refused once already, and without even clarifying their intent… Of course, I’m sure His Majesty must have deeper reasons.”

Charelle murmured softly, sounding slightly anxious.

And upon hearing that, Larie realized something unexpected once again.

So the Rassium Empire had sent word twice.

‘Who else but you could be my Empress?’

She remembered those words Terian had once spoken when he came looking for her.

Then… were those words sincere?

Why?

“…”

Her troubled heart only grew more restless—like a whirlpool in the deepest part of the lake. Caught helplessly in that current, Larie quietly closed her eyes.

Just for a brief moment, she wished she had the strength to truly think through everything that was happening.

❖ ❖ ❖

Under a fading moon, Terian stood silently, gazing at the Empress’s palace. The grass by the lakeside swayed gently in the night breeze.

It had been exactly this time, the night before, when he had learned the truth.

He had loathed himself so much that he couldn’t bear to face her. Even the way he fled from her had been nothing short of cowardice.

He’d heard that she, who stayed up all night, had only just fallen asleep. Terian, however, still could not close his eyes.

Everything about this reality seemed cruel only to her.

All day, he had been haunted by the urge to throttle himself. But he clenched his teeth and endured. With his already shattered soul, there was only one thing left for him to do.

“The child… and you… will never be in danger.”

That was all he could say. That was the best he could offer.

So he had to protect her. No matter what.

Even so, he had to drag his hand down his face, hollow and broken.

For the first time in his life, Terian felt truly lost.

Standing at the edge of the vast lake, he simply stared endlessly in the direction where she lay.

❖ ❖ ❖

“Mama, loshu, ovah dher?”

“Yes, do you want to go to the lake?”

Rui’s speech had become noticeably clearer. It was hard to believe he was once just babbling—he now quickly learned new words and used them to express himself.

“Loshu!”

Understanding Larie’s words, Rui beamed brightly as he pointed out the window.

Looking at his adorable face, Larie managed a faint smile.

Another day passed, yet the knights never came. No one tried to stop Rui from taking his walks.

Everything was just as it had been a few days ago.

“…”

“Mama?”

Larie carefully examined Rui’s knee. That morning, the palace physician had once again applied ointment with great care.

It was an excessive treatment for such a minor scrape. But to Larie, even this small wound was deeply upsetting.

It was Rui’s first injury.

“That must’ve hurt, my baby.”

“Owie? Baby?”

“Yes. That must’ve hurt.”

Beside her, the nanny lowered her head apologetically again.

Larie motioned with her eyes that it was fine and gently pulled Rui into her arms. The child, unfazed by his scraped knee, wrapped his arms around her neck with cheerful energy.

Holding him tightly, Larie whispered softly. Though it was a wound that would heal in just a few more days, for some reason, it felt like her own heart was more wounded.

“…I hope you’ll never have to feel pain, my baby.”

More than just the injury, her wish held another meaning.

Because once today passed, the new moon would rise again.

The terrible pain would return. The cursed condition she had borne all her life—she desperately hoped Rui had not inherited it.

If she could, she wanted to go to the forest in advance. But this time, the knights would surely pursue her.

She even thought of simply running away with Rui into the forest. But ever since the guards had been reinforced, even the forest had the occasional knight or soldier passing through.

As the thoughts swirled, Larie slowly closed her eyes, overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness. At the very least, she had to endure this night of the new moon, even if she had to flee afterward.

Like a beast trained by pain, Larie curled into herself. That familiar weakness began to take hold of her once more.

“…”

So she failed to notice that Rui, nestled in her arms, was staring up at her intently.

❖ ❖ ❖

“What do we do now, huh? Emma! What are we supposed to do?”

Anna was pacing nervously, trembling with anxiety. Everyone in the village who had been even slightly close to Rahel had gathered in Emma’s home.

“What can we even do right now! Sit down, you’re making us dizzy!”

“Jean, have you heard anything? What are they saying at the lord’s estate?”

It was eating Anna alive—what if Rahel had been captured because she’d called her down to the village? That thought alone was enough to drive her mad. And poor Rui was still so young… how could the gods be so cruel?

“The lord was suddenly imprisoned… Damn it! I should’ve fought back and won when I had the chance!”

Jean, who had been taken by the knights and later released, slammed the table in frustration.

Seeing him, Anna shouted with a face on the verge of tears.

“You little fool! How could a brat like you win against knights? Do you want to give Grandma another scare? Just try being reckless like that again!”

All the villagers were safe, except for the lord and his private soldiers. Usually, it was the other way around.

Whether Rahel had done something to protect them or not, Anna didn’t know. Regardless, she knew Jean had been in real danger too.

As the two bickered, others tried to calm them down while Emma let out a long sigh.

“Oh, you foolish boy. If anything had happened to you, not only would I be heartbroken, but Rahel would be devastated too!”

“Ugh…”

Only after the scolding did Jean silently swear to himself never to act so recklessly again.

It was then that Hans, who had been sitting in a corner with a grave expression, finally spoke.

“What in the world is going on…”

Everyone shared the same sentiment, heaving heavy sighs.

The Emperor, of all people.

It was like a bolt from the blue.

Everyone had vaguely suspected that Rahel might be a runaway noble. Her natural grace and composed demeanor made it clear she wasn’t just some country woman.

But no one had ever imagined it would be the Emperor himself who was chasing her.

At first, they had all assumed Rahel was as good as dead. It didn’t make sense, but if the Emperor himself was looking for her, they figured she must’ve committed a crime worthy of such pursuit.

But then, the situation started to shift in strange ways. The Emperor’s knights remained stationed in the village, and even went so far as to punish the very lord who had been chasing Rahel in the first place.

After that, they began questioning the villagers—but not in an aggressive or forceful way. They were surprisingly courteous.

“I still can’t believe it. That Rahel’s from Tromperie…”

The words that followed from the knights were hard to accept. Rahel, they said, was the daughter of the infamous Tromperie family—the missing Grand Duchess herself.

Anna had spoken up boldly to the knight captain, insisting they must have the wrong person. After all, no one in the village had even heard rumors that the Emperor was searching for his lost wife.

But in the end, it seemed it was all true.

Even though the villagers had tried to keep quiet about the timing of Rui’s birth, the knights still managed to uncover everything. And after the knights finally left, it felt like the entire village had been swept up by some dreamlike spell.

“We’ve grown so attached to her… it doesn’t sit right just letting this go.”

They all trusted Rahel after the time they’d spent together.

“Maybe we should send someone to check on her…”

At Emma’s aged voice, Jean immediately stood and raised his hand.

“I’ll go.”

“You can’t! You’re still just a kid!”

“Are you going to keep calling me a kid? Who else is going to go?”

Anna, who had started to protest, found herself speechless. Honestly, there really wasn’t anyone else fit to make the long journey to the capital.

She glanced at Emma, silently pleading for guidance.

“If you promise not to do anything reckless, we’ll let you go. Just think of it as a trip to see the capital.”

Even though she was sending her only grandson, Emma’s wisdom from a lifetime of experience helped her reach this decision.

The more she had observed the knights combing through the village, the more she had felt it in her gut—though Rahel had been taken away, the Emperor’s intentions didn’t seem malicious.

“I have a relative in the capital. I’ll write a letter—if you deliver it, they should be able to help you.”

Once Emma had made up her mind, Hans nodded and added,

“Thank you, Uncle Hans.”

“Think nothing of it, Anna. I’d go myself if I could, but with the lord gone, I can’t leave the mill unattended… Jean, wait a little. I’ll send a letter first to see if the capital’s situation is safe.”

“Yes, Uncle Hans.”

As the conversation came to a close, Anna let out a deep sigh.

She couldn’t shake her worry for kind-hearted Rahel and little Rui.