The next day, Cedric invited Helia to join him on a hunt. Although it was the imperial hunting grounds and thus unsuitable for catching large beasts, it was an enjoyable leisure activity. Before departing, Cedric approached Helia, who was enjoying the scenery at a table on the lawn. He asked her for a handkerchief, stubbornly insisting he couldn’t move a step without one. Helia scoffed at his theatrics but eventually tossed her handkerchief to him as if discarding it. 

Cedric carefully tied it to his sword sheath and departed leisurely. Watching him leave, Helia wondered fleetingly whether every day with him would feel this peaceful. But she quickly ridiculed her naive imagination. The idea of a serene life didn’t align with the position of the imperial crown princess. This tranquility was only possible because she was temporarily a guest— a brief, gift-like moment, a mirage destined to disappear. She decided to stop overthinking. If it was a mirage, she might as well enjoy it while it lasted, free from ulterior motives. It was akin to being aware that one was dreaming, allowing one to explore the dream freely.

For the next two days, Cedric was unable to attend to her. He sent her numerous gifts of jewels and flowers, but the sender himself was nowhere to be seen. In retrospect, the previous few days had been unusual—for the crown prince of a nation to spend three consecutive days with her, neglecting all his other duties.

It seems he reached his limit, she thought nonchalantly as she returned to the palace after her morning stroll.

There was a letter waiting for her. It was wrapped in red wax, and a gold ribbon, and its sender was evident even without opening it. Helia used the letter opener Beth handed her to break the seal.

As expected, Cedric had written in elegant script to inquire about her well-being. It was the first time she’d received a love letter, and it was a refreshing experience. She was reading the letter with a light heart when Beth approached, her face tense, and spoke cautiously.

“Your Highness, a messenger from His Majesty the Emperor has arrived.”

“…What?”

Helia, unsure if she had heard correctly, asked again.

“Did you say His Majesty the Emperor?”

“Yes. He has requested a private audience after today’s luncheon.”

Helia’s face hardened instantly. It was strange. The Emperor had only exchanged greetings with her briefly at a banquet, and they had no other connection. While it made sense that he might be curious about the woman his son, the future Emperor, was interested in, requesting a private audience was excessive.

Even after the messenger departed, Helia spent a long time pondering his intentions. What could he want? Was he planning to reject her without Cedric knowing? But the Emperor had no need to tread lightly around the crown prince. If she didn’t have his approval, no matter what Cedric did, the marriage would not proceed. Did he have another purpose? No matter how much she speculated, she couldn’t find a reason for the Emperor to request a meeting. Ultimately, she decided she had no choice but to meet him and find out what he had to say. Helia hastily prepared herself.

After barely touching the grand luncheon prepared for her, Helia headed to the imperial palace. The Emperor’s palace was grand and resplendent, easily recognizable from a distance. While the imperial capital was known for its practicality, the Emperor’s residence alone stood out with its majesty and opulence. Under the scorching sunlight, the palace seemed to embody the Emperor’s unshakable authority.

The attendants escorted her to a greenhouse in one corner of the imperial garden. Vibrant flowers bloomed as if they had forgotten their seasons, and a small fountain at the center flowed with clear water like a stream. The Emperor was seated there. Following the attendant’s guidance, Helia slowly approached.

“You’ve arrived,” the Emperor said, welcoming her. His manner of greeting was peculiar. Remaining cautious, Helia took a seat. Soon, an assortment of desserts and tea was served at the table. As the tea was set, the attendants retreated quietly. Warmed by a gentle heat, the greenhouse felt like it contained only the two of them.

“I was told you requested to see me,” Helia began.

“There’s no need to be nervous. I just wanted to confirm something,” the Emperor replied.

Confirm what? Helia wanted to ask, but she refrained. If he intended to elaborate, he would have done so already. There was no need for someone of his stature to be kind to her.

Helia met the Emperor’s gaze, which was fixed on her intently, almost burdensome. A pale red hue flickered in his eyes— the same color Cedric’s eyes held.

The Emperor’s color. Though Helia didn’t know what that red signified, she felt it suited him. It exuded an unyielding resolve and a commanding presence befitting someone who had never bowed to another. While it wasn’t a color that invoked pure affection, it seemed appropriate for the Emperor of an empire. After all, his position demanded that he crush opposition when necessary.

The light in his eyes was relatively subdued. Given his preference for moderate governance, this made sense. Cedric’s color was more substantial, suggesting that as Emperor, he would be more daring and challenging than his predecessor. But that was a matter unrelated to her. After staring at the Emperor’s eyes for a while, Helia lowered her gaze and lifted her teacup to her lips.

Helia instinctively recognized dangerous colors. The closer to black, the more repelled she felt, as though her stomach churned simply by facing them. Yet such people were not uncommon around her. There were also those with bright colors, but their presence was often faint, providing little comfort.

But there had been exceptions. Someone with the brightest, purest light, a radiant individual. Rain-soaked sunlight, the moon in the night sky, a candle in the darkness—none of these metaphors could adequately describe them. At times, their brilliance was so overwhelming that she wanted to avert her gaze.

Such a vivid person. A pure person. I wanted to keep looking at you until the day I went blind.

“Have you confirmed what you needed?” Helia asked, pulling herself out of her thoughts.

The Emperor had been staring at her all this time. Her question seemed to bring him back to himself; he blinked and cleared his throat before breaking eye contact to lift his teacup.

“Indeed, I have.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“Aren’t you curious about what I was confirming?”

The Emperor asked. She merely bowed her head, offering no reply. She wasn’t curious. Whatever he saw in her was irrelevant. She didn’t care.

However, when the Emperor spoke again, Helia realized it was far from irrelevant to her.

“Your eyes struck me as very unique.”

The Emperor hesitated. He was a man who held a position where hesitation had no place. What could he possibly mean to say? Helia’s curiosity and wariness grew simultaneously.

“When I look into your eyes, I feel as though the very core of my being is bare.”

“……”

“The strange thing is, it doesn’t feel unpleasant.”

“……”

“An emperor should never allow his mind to be read by others. Yet with you, I find myself conceding to something.”

The Emperor spoke freely, following his heart. Helia remained frozen, unable to respond or move, merely listening to his words.

“Standing before you feels like having my soul probed.”

“……”

“There’s a passage in the private journal of Emperor Beriv, the son of Alexander, the founding Emperor. It recounts a similar sentiment about his father. Of course, it’s an imperial family record not disclosed publicly, so you wouldn’t know it.”

“No, it’s the first I’ve heard.”

“I thought it might have been an embellished description, but seeing you, I wonder if he meant this.”

Helia feigned indifference, responding with a calm demeanor, though her heart raced. The Emperor had caught a glimpse, however faint, of her ability. That was dangerous. As her grandfather had warned, people might go to great lengths to exploit or eliminate such an ability, especially when the person in question was the Emperor—someone skilled at maneuvering people like chess pieces.

The Emperor glanced at the stiffly frozen Helia and smiled warmly as if to put her at ease.

“Relax. Whether or not you accept the Crown Prince’s proposal, I have no desire to harm you.”

“……”

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