“Whoa, whoa.”

The carriage, which had been galloping along with a clattering sound, slowly came to a stop. The heavily loaded baggage carts following behind also stopped at the side of the road.

“Everyone, organise the procession!”

“We’ll take a short break!”

From the front, the knights quickly mounted their horses and passed the message on to the back of the procession. As the convoy was longer than usual, it took some time for the order to be fully relayed.

“We’ll regroup here in 30 minutes!”

“Everyone, take a break before you come back!”

The servants began to dismount from the carriages, stretching their tired and stiff bodies. Meanwhile, the knights who had remained on horseback to guard the convoy also relaxed and moved into the shade to rest.

Soon a figure emerged from the largest and sturdiest of the carriages, positioned at the centre of the procession.

The young apprentice knights and squires, who had not yet scattered to the shade or the water’s edge and were still tending to the knights’ horses, watched with eager eyes.

“Is that him?”

“Shh. He might hear you.”

“Where is he? I really want to see him. That’s why I volunteered for this procession.”

“Over there, that way.”

He stood where the young apprentice pointed.

Even without his armour and dressed only in his uniform, the imposing presence that naturally emanated from his large frame surrounded him like a radiant aura.

His deep black hair, like steel, fluttered in the warm breeze, unlike the cold northern winds. His icy eyes, reminiscent of the frost of the North Sea, held only gentle ripples.

“This is the first time I have seen the viscount.”

“Viscount? You should address him as His Grace, the Grand Duke.”

“But hasn’t he officially taken the title of Grand Duke yet?”

“It doesn’t matter. Once he arrives in the capital, he will not only officially assume the position of Grand Duke, but will also become the Imperial Prince Consort…”

While the apprentices continued to murmur, Kallian put his hand into the carriage.

Soon, someone gently took his hand and stepped down, her noble and elegant presence instantly silencing the apprentices and leaving them gaping in astonishment.

“Then… is this really…?”

The flowing skirt of her sky-blue gown swayed gently in the breeze, like a flower in bloom. Her delicately braided, pale pink hair shimmered in the sunlight.

A shadow cast by the trees swept briefly across her pale skin, like a fleeting glimmer of light passing by.

As her long lashes fluttered slightly, revealing pale green eyes, the young apprentice knights froze, staring as if they had just witnessed something truly magical.

“If you don’t take a break now, don’t blame me if you get motion sickness later.”

“Ugh!”

“Sir Reuben!”

In private, Ruben was usually quite affable. This time, he casually patted the apprentice knights on the backs and shoulders, urging them to disperse and take a break.

Once everyone was quiet, he glanced at Kallian – a sign that no one else was listening.

Seeing this, Kallian slowly lifted Elliope into his arms.

In the past, he hadn’t cared if others saw him carrying her or openly displaying his affection. Lately, however, Elliope had begun to be more aware of the looks around her.

Though Kallian never saw it that way, Elliope seemed to feel that clinging to him so easily and letting him carry her made her appear weak and overly dependent.

“Right now it is not appropriate for me to appear that way.”

“My lady.”

“I must not appear unreliable.”

Her worries seemed to intensify as the procession began.

So Kallian deliberately sent everyone away while he carried Elliope. The thought of reducing the moments he could touch or hold her had never occurred to him.

Whenever there were no prying eyes, Elliope allowed him to embrace her freely.

It was clear from her eyes that she too longed to feel his presence. She seemed uncomfortable whenever they weren’t physically connected.

“Are you all right, my lady?”

“Yes… just a little…”

“I’ll take you somewhere to rest.”

Only after the others’ eyes had faded did Elliope reveal her pale complexion, her forehead resting weakly against Kallian’s neck.

Kallian gently lowered his chin and brushed his cheek against Elliope’s forehead and crown.

Not far away, he noticed an old bench that seemed to have been abandoned for some time, with a small pond in front of it.

Still holding Elliope in his arms, he walked slowly towards it.

Even with just a slight descent to the south, the air was noticeably warmer, carrying the sweet scent of grass – quite different from the cold winds of the north.

Elliope often said that Kallian smelled of wood, but in Kallian’s opinion, such a fresh and vibrant scent suited her far better than him.

The further south they travelled, however, the paler Elliope’s complexion became.

Elliope’s once composed face began to show subtle cracks, and at night, when she lay down in her quarters, she would often toss and turn as if caught in a nightmare – perhaps reliving some distant memory from the past.

“Are you afraid to go to the palace?”

“I didn’t realise it myself… but I think I am.”

Elliope replied weakly.

Still holding her, Kallian slowly sat down on the bench and gently pushed a few strands of her hair away from her face. Elliope let out a deep sigh before finally lifting her eyes to meet Kallian’s.

“I thought I was fine.”

The Emperor’s urgent letter summoning her to the capital had arrived several months after Seor’s invasion had been suppressed and the Grand Duchy had ceased its defensive posture.

[Viscount Kallian Elsen, husband of Princess Elliope Kartan, is to enter the capital with the princess. I wish to discuss the restoration of Elsen with you.]

It was a matter that could have been conveyed by words alone, but the Emperor had sent a formal letter summoning both Elliope and Kallian.

Moreover, the fact that the Emperor referred to Elliope in the letter as ‘Elliope Kartan’ instead of ‘Elliope Elsen’ made his intentions glaringly obvious.

‘He must be feeling pretty desperate.’

Leaning against Kallian, Elliope tried to steady herself and found herself thinking about it with a touch of cynicism – something that surprised her. In the past, she would never have thought that way.

And the man who had undoubtedly taught her to think like that was the one who now said exactly what was on her mind.

“His Majesty the Emperor must be feeling pretty desperate.”

“Ah…”

Elliope let out a small sigh and closed her eyes. Perhaps it was from thinking too much in the carriage, but a lingering dizziness still swirled in her head.

Kallian quietly placed his palm over her closed eyes.

“It’s only natural that he feels rushed.”

“……”

“After all, the great tower he has built is about to collapse.”

And indeed, he was right.

After the war, while Kallian returned to the Grand Duchy to reorganise his territory, the Imperial family took time to mourn the deaths of the two princes and the Empress.

As the war had only recently ended, the funeral was short and simple. Both Leanne and Elliope were absent.

Leanne had already cut all ties with the Imperial family, so her absence was expected. As for Elliope, she cited the recent lifting of the blockade of the Grand Duchy and the considerable distance from the capital as reasons for not being able to attend in time.

As for the Emperor, Leanne’s absence was expected, as she had long since cut ties with the Imperial family. Elliope’s absence, however, was something he could not easily ignore.

‘He must be eager to know my decision.’

She knew the Emperor was watching her, waiting to see if she would accept the name of the Empire. Her absence from the funeral could easily be interpreted as a silent refusal.

Now the Emperor seemed completely fixated on preserving the Kartan name.

The Empire itself had a short history, and even its ruling dynasty had yet to last three full generations.

Just when it seemed that his reign was finally on a firm footing and he had the chance to leave his mark on history, all his heirs to the throne were lost – along with his wife.

The Empress’s only daughter, whom he once cherished, has been sold for a pittance by his own hands and cast out of the family. 

Now there was only Elliope – the very child he had discarded as if she were to be thrown away. 

To think that all his children would perish before her… That the name of Kartan would end with her reign! How could there be such a great sin?

“Your Majesty, please compose yourself!”

“This cannot be. It cannot end like this!”

Rumours had spread in the north, where Elliope resided, that the Emperor was losing his mind – weeping like a madman every night and constantly seeking priests for prayers and advice.

He was also frequently taken seriously ill, often confined to his bed, and lately there had been whispers that he might not survive the year.

As a result, the Emperor had sent Elliope numerous letters since the North had reopened its borders.

Some of the letters were even ridiculous, written in the tone of an ordinary father to his daughter. But Elliope could only smile bitterly.

She had always ignored those letters with no real interest, but now she was forced to go to the capital on a matter concerning Kallian.

Why did he have to use the restoration of Elsen as a bargaining chip?

The Emperor was determined to perpetuate the Imperial bloodline by recognising Elliope’s right of succession, and he sought to persuade her to do so.

The Emperor’s weapon of choice was none other than the restoration of the Elsen family.

“Such an important matter cannot possibly be discussed without the party involved, right?”

“You are quite right, Your Majesty.”

“Write a letter at once. Summon Princess Elliope Kartan and Viscount Kallian Elsen.”

It was obvious what he intended to do by summoning them to the capital.

He wanted Elliope to inherit the Imperial throne and ensure that the child she bore would be the next Emperor.

The Emperor was greedy by nature. He refused to give the Empire to a distant relative or a minor branch of the family. And so he now clung desperately to the very daughter he had once cast aside.

‘I wonder.’

If he were to find out that she could not bear a child, would he still be so eager to summon her?

She had deliberately chosen not to reveal this fact to the Emperor.

The only people who knew of Elliope’s infertility were herself, Leanne and Kallian.

The Emperor would never believe anything Leanne said – not after their relationship had been destroyed in the worst possible way.

As Elliope considered the Emperor’s situation once more, she couldn’t help but smile in amusement.

In the immediate aftermath, she felt as if she had become a much colder person.

“What are you thinking about that makes you smile like that?”

She knew it was a bitter smile, one that probably didn’t look pleasant, but instead of frowning, Kallian looked at her as if he found it endearing.

Elliope smiled weakly and replied.

“It’s nothing, really. I was just…”

But before she could finish her sentence, a sudden wave of nausea washed over her.