“It was eighteen years ago.”

Ahazan began quietly.

Eighteen years…

Helario searched his memory, recalling what had happened around that time. Then his expression stiffened.

“Do you remember when Clodine nearly died after falling from her horse?”

How could he forget? She had been gravely injured and confined to her bed for a long time.

Helario did not answer aloud, but his face spoke for him. Ahazan continued.

“My father did not inform you, but when the imperial household investigated the accident… it was the marquis’s eldest daughter who was responsible.”

“What?”

Helario had never known. Had he known, he would never have let the Langham family go unpunished.

“She was the strongest candidate for Crown Princess after Clodine, was she not? Had she not died of plague, she would have been considered instead of Charlotte.”

“So she did that to Clodine…?”

“Yes. She tampered with the horse that the marquis’s household gifted to her. Clodine rode it without suspicion, and fell.”

“How could such a thing…! But at the time Clodine clearly—”

“She claimed she had begged Charlotte to switch horses. Said Charlotte nearly met with the accident, and that it was better she herself had fallen instead.”

Because of that lie, the Langham household escaped suspicion of attempting to harm the future Crown Princess. Their reputation remained untarnished to this day.

Helario felt dizzy hearing what had been hidden all these years.

“Helario.”

Ahazan called him calmly.

“Yes, Your Majesty…”

Helario steadied himself.

“I am not bringing this up now to reopen the matter.”

“I understand.”

Even if Ahazan had intended to, Helario would have been the first to stop him.

“When Clodine hovered between life and death, I realized many things.”

Ahazan was no longer looking at Helario, but beyond him, at something only he could see.

“All my life, I faced danger simply for being Crown Prince. I fought countless enemies. I lived prepared to die at any moment. As a child, I thought it cruel. As I grew older, I grew resentful. Why me? Why only me?”

Helario remained silent, not even daring to nod.

“But it wasn’t only me. Clodine was standing there with me.”

Ahazan’s voice lowered.

“Simply because she was mine. Simply because she was to become Empress. Her life was threatened too. And yet she never complained. Even in that state, she protected her own people. At that age.”

Eighteen years ago, Clodine had not switched horses.

The horses had looked similar, but they were different breeds. The marquis would have known that.

She lied deliberately.

If she had not suspected something, she would never have done so. She risked her life to shield Charlotte.

Ahazan resumed speaking.

“That was when I swore. If no one else, at least that child, Clodine, I would protect her no matter what.”

Helario’s brows drew together.

Ahazan smiled faintly, almost sorrowfully.

“As you know, many wished for my life back then. But few were willing to risk theirs for mine. And Clodine was the youngest… the most fragile among them.”

Ahazan had lost his mother shortly after birth. Emperor Geskel had quickly taken Elizabeth of Lyrgaon as Empress, and the following year Prince Yuri was born.

Empress Elizabeth was wise and kind, uninterested in politics. But Lyrgaon itself had other ambitions.

From the moment Yuri was born, with the powerful backing of Lyrgaon, factions emerged within the court arguing he should become Crown Prince. Ahazan’s birth mother, Empress Selena, though of royal blood, was not from a reigning queen’s line. Her support base was weak.

Ahazan grew up constantly scrutinized, tested, even targeted by extremist factions.

That he survived to ascend the throne was no small feat.

And through it all, Clodine had stood beside him.

His life had been like a flickering oil lamp, ready to go out at any moment. Yet she had always been there.

Even though she could have chosen otherwise.

When the girl destined to become Empress held his hand, the boy destined to become Emperor found himself becoming exactly that.

Only later did he realize—

It had been comfort.

Ahazan finished as though placing a final period upon the matter.

“Now Clodine is the most fragile among those for whom I would stake my life, Helario.”

So I will protect her.

Helario met Ahazan’s fathomless gaze, eyes deep as the ocean, and let out a trembling breath. He knew now with certainty that no one could overturn the Emperor’s will.

If he could neither oppose nor restrain him, then only one path remained.

Slowly, Helario bent one knee and lowered himself. Bowing as deeply as he could, he spoke with desperate sincerity.

“Please… do not wound her a second time, Your Majesty.”

He suppressed his fear and pleaded earnestly. He had witnessed how deeply his precious daughter had loved Ahazan, and how she had been cast aside. Though he could not bring himself to speak of it aloud, he believed he at least had the right to beg that she not be abandoned again.

But Ahazan misunderstood.

He thought Helario spoke of the husband he had slain, the husband Clodine had loved.

Understanding only that a father feared for his daughter’s heart, Ahazan answered gravely.

“I will not.”

His voice was low and steady.

“Even if it means she casts me aside.”

Before such a vow, Helario dared not add another word.

***

“Father?”

Clodine, seated in her chamber with a book open in her lap, looked up sharply at Marian’s words.

“Yes, my lady. Count Ramier is currently in audience with His Majesty.”

Though she had agreed to marry, Ahazan had not granted her full freedom. She was allowed to move about the annex, but no farther. In quiet defiance, she had kept herself confined anyway.

But upon hearing this, she could not remain still.

“I must see Father at once.”

“The dressmaker will arrive shortly, my lady. Today you are to finalize the wedding gown.”

Clodine’s eyes sharpened.

“Then I suppose I should not say I am going to see Father?”

She paused only a heartbeat.

“I am going to see His Majesty.”

“My lady…”

“Stop me if you can.”

The servants, so quick to restrain her before, said nothing. Recognizing their silence as permission, Clodine passed Marian and left.

The distance from the annex to the main palace was considerable. Though she nearly ran, it took time to reach the Emperor’s office.

She paused outside the doors, steadying her breath. The guards glanced at her with concern.

Father is inside.

The thought alone threatened tears. She had become far too prone to crying since returning to the Empire.

Just as she gathered her resolve and reached for the door—

It opened.

Ahazan stepped out.

Clodine waited silently for her father to follow.

The door shut.

No one emerged.

“Clodine.”

Ahazan called her softly as she stared at the closed doors.

“I heard Father came…”

She could not hide the sweat beading at her brow. Ahazan’s gaze lingered there before he answered, reluctant.

“It seems word reached you too late.”

Her father had already left.

Clodine’s shoulders drooped before she could stop herself. A faint crease formed between Ahazan’s brows as he watched.

“I’m sorry. I should have arranged for you to meet him. That was my oversight.”

She wanted to say it was fine.

But disappointment weighed too heavily.

After moistening her lips, she managed.

“It’s alright. I’ll return now.”

She turned before her composure could falter.

“Wait, Clodine.”

Ahazan followed and gently turned her back toward him.

“Come.”

She blinked, slow to understand.

“Where?”

“To your home. I’ll take you.”

The offer was so unexpectedly generous that she could only stare.

Ahazan’s lips curved slowly at her expression.

“Unless you’d rather die than go with me… come. With me.”

And as always, he handed her a reason she could not refuse.