“But I must admit, I find myself coveting you.”

“What do you mean…”

“For now, I ask not as an emperor but as a father. My son is lacking in many ways, but I hope you consider him favorably.”

Had he seen through everything? Helia inwardly clicked her tongue. The Emperor even knew she wasn’t enthusiastic about the engagement. But that wasn’t the main issue at the moment.

Fortunately, the Emperor was merely speculating about her abilities and hadn’t reached certainty. Perhaps it was because he was a descendant of Alexander, who was said to have built the empire with a similar gift. He seemed to sense something, but denying it firmly would suffice.

Above all, she had no intention of revealing her secret, especially to the leader of another nation. Now was the time to *rect an unyielding wall. Having decided on her course of action, Helia adopted an aloof expression and feigned ignorance.

“I don’t understand what Your Majesty is saying.”

“Is that so.”

The Emperor lifted his teacup again and replied. Hidden by the teacup, Helia couldn’t see the faintly bitter smile that crossed his face.

To the Emperor, the princess before him was the epitome of nobility. Her demeanor revealed no weaknesses to a foreign emperor, yet she carried herself with unwavering confidence, saying precisely what was needed. He thought regretfully if only she could open her heart a little more.

Watching Helia maintain her composure and build walls around herself, the Emperor instinctively understood it was time to stop. He resumed their tea time without further probing, turning to mundane topics. Even so, Helia remained on high alert to the end.

Once the private audience with the Emperor concluded, Helia was utterly exhausted. She returned to her guest quarters, dismissed her attendants, and collapsed onto the bed. Burrowing into the soft bedding, she finally felt a semblance of calm.

It was the first time anyone had recognized her ability. Though the Emperor was still unsure, she couldn’t hide her surprise. Even more so at his unexpectedly favorable attitude.

His reaction was unexpected for someone like Helia, who was convinced her ability brought nothing but misfortune. Hasn’t it always been so? Her power had driven her mother to her death, brought disgraceful ends to Marquis Klein, and plunged her father into madness. All of it had begun with her ability. The Emperor could afford such carefree remarks only because he knew nothing. Helia let out a weak, sardonic laugh.

She dragged herself to the mirror and studied her reflection carefully. As always, she could discern no light within herself. But it wasn’t hard to imagine: she was likely blacker than anyone. Considering all that her existence had wrought, there was no room for doubt.

That’s why the foreign Emperor’s positive interpretation of her presence, though refreshing, felt uncomfortable. She couldn’t shake the thought: would he still view her so kindly if he knew everything?

Besides, the Emperor’s words had been veiled, but his intentions were clear. If she genuinely possessed abilities akin to Alexander’s, he would seek to exploit them. Cloaked in pleasant words, his remarks ultimately boiled down to his desire for her as the Crown Prince’s empress—someone with those abilities. Helia sighed deeply. It was all so tiresome. Truly tiresome.

***

The next day, Cedric came rushing to see Helia with a look of urgency. He had wanted to go immediately after hearing about her private audience with the Emperor. Still, he had been bogged down by a mountain of diplomatic tasks imposed by Basen, as if in retribution. It wasn’t until the following day that he could finally meet her. Facing Helia, who appeared unbothered, Cedric asked:

“What did His Majesty discuss with you?”

Helia stared at Cedric intently. His face betrayed genuine anxiety as if he were worried the Emperor might have said something strange. Lowering her gaze, Helia spoke with indifference.

“I’m not sure.”

“Won’t you tell me?”

“There’s nothing worth mentioning to Your Highness.”

Cedric grew more agitated at her detached response. Pressing her, he asked:

“Then just answer this—did His Majesty behave disrespectfully toward you?”

Now, that was indeed a statement disrespectful to the Emperor. Watching Cedric’s unabashed words, Helia’s expression turned peculiar. What an odd father and son they were.
 
“Not at all.”

“Then that’s a relief,” Cedric said, exhaling deeply. Only then did he sink into the chair prepared for him.

“Did you really come rushing here just to ask that?”

The sun had barely risen. Helia hadn’t even had her morning stroll or breakfast yet and was already entertaining him. But Cedric refuted her words with a resolute tone.

“It was a fundamental matter to me.”

Helia almost burst into laughter. How peaceful could the empire be for its emperor and crown prince to fuss over such trivial concerns? She had heard it was an unprecedented golden age, but judging by how they fixated on the most minor things, it seemed peaceful and dull. It was a stark contrast to Bailey’s tense atmosphere. Helia swallowed a bitter smile.

“Have you had breakfast?”

“No.”

“Then let’s eat together.”

Though it wasn’t planned, the two ended up having breakfast together. Their conversation ranged from trivial topics to discussions about the continent’s political landscape. Cedric mostly led the conversation, with Helia responding in turn, but the dialogue flowed seamlessly without pause. Though she couldn’t fully let her guard down around him, Helia felt much more at ease with Cedric compared to when she had first arrived in the empire. Was that a good thing? As they conversed, the thought occasionally crossed her mind. She didn’t know the answer herself.

After breakfast, Cedric departed as unexpectedly as he had arrived without setting up another meeting. But by afternoon, he showed up again unannounced. For two days, it went on like this. Cedric, busy with his duties, would apologize that he never knew when he might have free time, yet whenever he could, he sought out Helia for meals or tea. Since Helia had little else to do, she spent time with him when he came by.

Time flew by quickly, and soon, only one day remained before Helia was to return to Bailey.

Reflecting on the past few days, Helia realized it had been a peaceful time. Being with Cedric, she felt a sense of calm wash over her. Or it was something about the empire itself. Here, she didn’t need to play the role of a foolish princess, nor was she weighed down by the harsh realities pressing in on her. Sure, there were minor skirmishes with the empire’s nobility, but they were trivial compared to what she had endured.

The war zone she had been living in felt like a distant memory. Part of her questioned whether it was okay to feel this at ease, while another dismissed the thought—why not? Maybe it was the comfort that had numbed her, making her unwilling to reflect too deeply. She even entertained the idea of permanently sinking into this tranquil, grave-like peace.

“What are you thinking so deeply about?”

Cedric’s voice suddenly intruded into her line of sight as he leaned into her view. Helia, who had been lounging in a garden chair gazing at the sky, straightened up. Cedric motioned for her to stay as she was.

“You look comfortable. Please, remain as you are.”

“Do I?”

“Yes.”

Without hesitation, he answered, taking the seat beside her. Helia looked at him quietly. Sensing her gaze, Cedric turned to meet her eyes and smiled faintly.

“Is there something you want to say to me?”

Helia didn’t reply. Her silence confirmed that she indeed had something to say. Over the past ten days of being around Helia, Cedric had come to know her somewhat. She chose her words carefully, but every one of them carried weight. She used a few gestures, but every movement had significance. Helia Bailey was that kind of person.

“What can you do for me?”

For instance, as with her current question.

Cedric was momentarily at a loss for words. He couldn’t even ponder what answer she might be looking for. His mind had gone blank. He now understood something else about her: she had an uncanny ability to catch others off guard.

“Anything.”

It was a spontaneous response without deliberation over her intentions or reasons. Only after saying it did Cedric realize it was his truth. He could do anything for Helia if he wanted to. He was in a position to make that happen, and she deserved such treatment.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

This time, Cedric didn’t exaggerate or playfully demand she take him seriously as he often did. He simply met her gaze with sincere, unwavering eyes.

Looking into them, Helia asked another question.

“What if I wanted to destroy a country?”