Chapter 13

“So, to summarize, you handle merchant group business while tracking lost magic tools across the continent, recovering them before they cause harm.”

“That’s right.”

“You were about to return home after your term ended, but then you received information that a ‘forced sleep’ magic tool had flowed from the underworld market to the capital of Delva Kingdom, so you rushed back and found yesterday’s situation?”

“Correct. You’ve understood well.”

“I didn’t say it because I understood…”

Irien pressed her temples.

She needed to return quickly, but a meeting was necessary to resolve the incident.

In a room with a large table, Irien sat with Hilde and Senri behind her, while Usher sat across with his subordinate Janak, wearing an unreadable smile.

Throughout the conversation, his gaze lingered on her in a strangely persistent way. Irien knew why.

She was once again wearing a wig and appearing as Camellia. Senri, who had waited for Irien to wake from the magic tool’s spell, assisted her. The loyal maid, who had served Irien for a long time, said nothing about the marks left on Irien’s body, instead preparing a new dress and makeup kit to disguise her perfectly.

Even though she had shown Usher her real self last night, she had no intention of revealing everything in front of his subordinates.

‘…He probably suspects something, though.’

Queen Irien’s appearance was the pride of Delva Kingdom. No one but the royal painter could paint her portrait, but unofficial sketches secretly traded in the underworld couldn’t be completely stopped.

Even without portraits, she appeared once a year at the founding festival, standing atop the tower overlooking the capital square, so the people knew her features from afar.

Hair like melted platinum.

A figure as graceful and elegant as a dew-laden flower.

Eyes clear as a cloudless sky.

He wasn’t a fool; he’d surely guessed her identity.

‘What’s done is done. I need to avoid provoking him and get what I need.’

Irien ignored his ticklish gaze and spoke as rationally as possible.

“I have a proposal.”

“A proposal?”

“By law, any magic tool found in this land must be reported immediately and then belongs to the state.”

Whether found by a commoner, noble, or even a foreigner, there were no exceptions. But Irien recalled Usher’s skill from his clash with Hilde.

‘Extraordinary abs… No, skill. I need to minimize friction.’

She cleared her throat and continued.

“But I’ll pretend I never saw the magic tool you were searching for. In return for quietly resolving last night’s disturbance… as a gesture of thanks.”

Irien, aided by Senri, learned about the aftermath of the previous day’s events. Brandon was detained after fainting, and those who fell asleep due to the magic tool had awakened safely. Except for Senri, no one remembered what happened the previous day.

So, the people of the capital were welcoming the first day of the birthday festival without knowing about last night’s incident.

It was only speculation, but perhaps the power of other magic tools these people possessed was at work.

“Lady Camellia, though grateful for your rescue, these people aren’t mere merchants. You must be careful.”

“I know.”

They handled magic tools expertly and dealt with her side effects with suspicious familiarity. Perhaps Usher, and even the true nature of the faraway Irinna Empire, were very different from what she knew.

‘Don’t provoke him recklessly. We’re at a disadvantage…’

Irien hid her tension and waited for his reply.

“Hm…”

Usher’s smile deepened as he tapped the table with his fingers.

“Sounds like you’re telling me to take what I want and leave.”

“Ahem…”

Janak, quietly panicking in the background, coughed at his boss’s undignified remark.

Usher ignored his subordinate and stared at Irien.

“Whether you allow it or not, it’s our right to recover our nation’s property. But let’s hear what you want in return for that ‘gesture of thanks.’”

“I’d like you to hand over the person who had the magic tool. And…”

Irien requested politely without appearing too submissive.

“May I borrow the magic tool for about a week?”

“Why?”

“I need it to prove his crime.”

“Ah, for violating the country’s law you mentioned?”

Usher tilted his head.

“But wouldn’t that reveal the magic tool’s existence to the public? Isn’t that contrary to your offer to overlook it?”

“It’s fine. I plan to create a fake.”

If she only used the magic tool’s power to prove Brandon’s guilt, it would later be stored in the royal treasury. No one could see or use anything in the treasury without the king’s permission.

“A week is the time needed to replicate the magic tool.”

“I see.”

She’d barely just woken up, yet she could think of such a method. Usher stroked his chin and nodded, then grinned.

“So that means I have to wait a week to get it back?”

“…Of course I don’t intend to borrow it without compensation. I’ll offer a fair reward…”

“There’s no guarantee you’ll return it after taking it.”

He was bound to say that.

‘But he hasn’t refused.’

Irien looked at him calmly.

“What do you want?”

“You already know.”

“…”

“The thing I truly wanted, after coming to this country, was you.”

Irien felt her throat dry. She spoke quietly, avoiding his gaze that seemed to pierce her through the thick makeup.

“…I can’t give you that. Not that.”

Irien lowered her eyes.

She was the queen of this country. After a long civil war, with the invention of the railroad, unimaginable numbers of people traveled between countries, but she could not.

“Irien… Don’t live like me. Go far, far away and live freely. Please…”

She couldn’t.

“…Ah. I didn’t mean it for you to make that kind of expression.”

Suddenly, warmth touched her face. Irien’s eyes widened, and she saw him leaning over her.

His large hand, enough to cover her whole face, gently stroked her cheek.

“Of course you’re not a bargaining chip. What I want is time.”

“…Time?”

“Yes. Time to meet you.”

He placed something before her. On the table lay the hourglass—the very magic tool Brandon had held.

“I’ll lend it for a week, or a month. But in exchange, you must meet me during that time.”

Usher met her surprised eyes and smiled.

“Even better if it’s just the two of us.”

Irien’s lips parted slightly.

‘Just that?’

As a Merchant Group Leader, he could have demanded much more from a queen.

For example, the railroad technology coveted by foreign countries, or favorable tariffs.

‘No, no, this is an opportunity.’

Irien quickly regained her composure and asked,

“How often?”

“How often can you?”

“Wait, Irien… Camellia.”

As Usher approached, Hilde, who had instinctively grabbed her sword hilt, interrupted nervously.

To meet him, Irien would have to leave the palace again. But after what happened last night, she should refrain for a while.

But Hilde’s voice didn’t reach Irien.

“Can we meet at the tavern as usual?”

“Haha.”

He laughed lightly, then leaned closer and whispered in her ear.

“Do you think I’ll be satisfied with just ‘as usual’ now?”

“…!”

Her cheeks flushed at the sudden remark. While she hesitated, Usher slowly withdrew.

“You’ll be busy sorting things out today, so let’s end here. Go where you need to be. I’ll come find you later.”

“…You’ll come? But—”

“Then.”

His hand lingered near her lips, then slowly fell away.

“I want to hear your real name from your own lips.”

Irien swallowed.

The place where his hand had touched burned.

***

“[Why did you hand over the magic tool so easily?]”

Irien, now in possession of the magic tool and Brandon, departed with her group. Janak, who had been itching to speak, immediately questioned Usher.

“[How much longer will you stay here? The return ship will arrive soon. What should I report?]”

“[Report exactly as it is.]”

“[What?]”

“[Say I need time to woo a woman I fell for.]”

“[…]”

Janak’s jaw dropped at the bold answer. Usher gazed out the window at Irien’s group disappearing down a dark alley.

“[Long ago, His Highness the Crown Prince stayed two years in a foreign land to woo a woman, right? Compared to that, a month is short. How conscientious am I.]”

“[If I report that directly, I’ll lose my head.]”

“[Well, you’ll have to phrase it nicely.]”

“[Sir Usher…]”

“[Why the long face? You cared more about my marriage than I did before.]”

“[That was before I knew her true identity…]”

Just an hour earlier, Janak had rushed in to stop Hilde’s sudden attack and saw Camellia’s true self.

She had all the features known of the queen.

He thought it was a mistake.

But the female knight who attacked also had the characteristics of the famous Captain of the Knights in this country.

Janak fell into panic.

‘Why is the queen working as a dancer in a shabby tavern… Wait, isn’t today the queen’s birthday? The palace must be packed with envoys for audiences! But the queen is here? Is this okay? Uh…?’

When he came to his senses, Usher had already made up his mind about the situation.

Janak felt like crying.

“[Would marriage even be possible in the first place? That woman—no, that Lady—is the queen of this country, and you are…!]”

Janak, who had been raising his voice, suddenly drew in a breath. Usher, standing by the window, slid his gaze toward him.

Under half-lowered eyelids, his sand-colored eyes held a sharp light.

It was only a silent look, but Janak’s complexion turned pale.

He quickly dropped to his knees.

“[I-I’m sorry. I overstepped.]”

“[…No one knows myself better than I do. There’s no need for anyone to remind me.]”

“[That’s right. I was rude.]”

An intangible pressure weighed on Janak’s shoulders.

He sweated coldly and bowed even lower, apologizing. It seemed his long disguise under a false identity while staying in this land had made him careless.

If this were his homeland, it would have been impossible to speak to that person as an equal, even on the same ground.

Usher, Merchant Group Leader of Tefnu Merchant Group.

His body carried the strongest magic born in Irinna, the noble blood of the divine clan.

The blood of the Hartmann Imperial Family.

And in Irinna, anyone with that noble blood was revered, whether direct or collateral, and honored with a royal title.

“[…Your Highness, Usher.]”

He, Usher Kartsch Senard, was no exception.

He was the Crown Prince’s most trusted cousin, and the Grand Lord governing the fertile southern territory of Senard in Irinna Empire.

“[Report to the homeland as I said, Janak. The Crown Prince will take responsibility.]”

The imperial family member, Usher, who had crossed over as a merchant by imperial order, smiled crookedly.

“[And there’s something else you need to do for me.]”

Janak shivered even before hearing what it was.