To You, Who Are Not My Enemy

Originally, they had planned to stay in Porto Territory for about four days before moving on to their next destination but Ahazan’s injury was far from minor, so they ended up remaining for several more days.

Though he could move his arm slightly and manage simple tasks, traveling long distances would place considerable strain on his body.

At the house where they were staying, the Prince of Desalon had come to visit.

When Ahazan and Clodine returned to the village, the prince had looked like a walking corpse, his face pale, completely at a loss.

After all, it had been the people of Desalon who had spent the entire night tending to the imperial horses feeding them, giving them water, even bathing Ahazan’s own horse, which had been driven into madness by poison.

If interpreted wrongly, it could easily be seen as yet another scheme to harm the emperor.

It seemed the prince had spent the entire night in distress, unable to rest.

Clodine excused herself, leaving Ahazan and Hamon Desalon alone to speak.

She had long sensed that there were matters between them

she wasn’t meant to know and decided it would be best to leave their resolution to Ahazan.

“Your Majesty, the sun is quite harsh. Wouldn’t it be better to rest in the shade instead of walking? I fear it may exhaust you.”

Since it had only been a few hours since their return from the accident,

Merian followed closely behind Clodine, her face full of concern.

Clodine had already bathed, but the dark stains of medicine scattered across her body made her look even more injured than before.

“I’m fine, Merian. My body and mind are both at ease.”

And truly, compared to before they left for Porto Plateau, Clodine’s expression had visibly brightened.

The same was true for the emperor.

If anything, Merian couldn’t help but wonder what had happened out there?

How could two people, who returned in such terrible condition after just one day, now look at each other so tenderly, smiling and exchanging lighthearted words?

“Merian… now that I look at it, this house is truly beautiful.”

Pretending not to notice Merian’s curious gaze, Clodine slowly looked around the house.

It was far from a grand estate there weren’t even separate rooms, just a small, modest dwelling.

But it was surrounded by colorful flowers and lush green trees, and the building itself was clean and simple, as though newly built.

It was the perfect place for a young couple to live quietly together.

Of course, the real reason it had been chosen as their lodging was because it was isolated from the village making it easier to guard.

Still, Clodine couldn’t help but imagine. If Ahazan hadn’t been an emperor…

If he had simply been a young man born and raised in a quiet village like this perhaps they would have married, lived together in a house like this, and built a peaceful life.

“…How strange. Only now do I realize how beautiful this place is.”

She leaned closer, breathing in the scent of the yellow flowers blooming in the yard.

When she had resented and hated Ahazan, she hadn’t noticed any of this.

But now, every small detail seemed vivid, lifting her spirits.

Even knowing he was injured, she found herself almost looking forward to spending a few quiet days here with him, caring for him like an ordinary married couple.

As she stood there enjoying the moment, a thought suddenly came to her and she called for Cal Regerson.

He, like her, had been waiting outside the house for Ahazan and the Desalon prince to finish speaking.

“You called for me, Your Majesty?”

With Valoran glaring at him from behind, still visibly displeased, Cal bowed politely.

Clodine dismissed Valoran and Merian, wanting to speak with Cal alone.

“What you said yesterday… gave me a lot of courage.”

She was referring to how Cal had spoken on Ahazan’s behalf before they left for Porto Plateau.

Cal replied that he was simply glad to have helped though inwardly, he couldn’t hide his satisfaction, knowing that, just as he had expected, the emperor and empress had finally spoken honestly with one another.

“I suppose I have no choice but to admit… you know more about His Majesty than I do.”

That was only natural it was a requirement for someone in his position.

But once, Clodine had wanted to be the one who knew Ahazan best.

Back then, she hadn’t wanted to accept that fact.

Now, however, it was nothing more than a lighthearted remark and the two of them shared a quiet smile.

For the first time since coming to the empire, Clodine felt as though she could speak comfortably with Cal.

Then, as if something had just occurred to her, she raised her brows slightly and asked.

“When His Majesty has no appetite… is there a particular food he prefers?”

From the night before until now, Ahazan had barely eaten, claiming he had no appetite.

Worried, Clodine sought Cal’s advice.

Having spent years beside Ahazan in war, perhaps he would know something some way to restore his appetite.

It seemed she had asked the right person.

Without much thought, Cal rubbed his chin and answered.

“There is, indeed.”

And so, Clodine listened intently, her face full of interest, as Cal explained how to prepare it.

***

“I understand it clearly now. He was the one behind all of this… orchestrating everything and using us.”

Ahazan, his arm tightly wrapped in bandages and further immobilized with a splint, thanks to Clodine’s insistence looked more like a patient than ever.

Yet, sitting across from him, with only a table between them, Hamon Desalon looked far more shaken.

Under Ahazan’s presence, he shrank back, his posture more subdued than ever before.

“…We nearly ended up being falsely accused of attempting to assassinate the emperor without any way to defend ourselves.”

“Is that so? Or were you, in fact, falsely accused?”

Ahazan asked, his tone sharp with suspicion. Hamon replied, his voice thick with frustration.

“We truly had nothing to do with this. We’re not mad enough to scheme again when we could so easily be framed and destroyed. I, too, have people I must protect, Your Majesty.”

“But if I had died because of this, you would have considered it a fortunate outcome.”

“No—now, at least…!”

Ahazan fixed him with a gaze as sharp as a drawn blade, without the slightest hint of softness.

“Prince. I already know you didn’t orchestrate this to kill me.”

“Then why…?”

Why doubt him, if he already knew the truth?

At that question, Ahazan let out a dry, incredulous laugh.

“I am only obligated to trust those who have chosen to stand by my side.”

“…Your Majesty.”

“And the one who has consistently refused to earn that trust has been you.”

Only then did Hamon realize that what he had rejected all this time was the very shield they now desperately needed.

His expression fell blank.

“You are the enemy who joined hands with the murderer of my stepmother and took part in rebellion.”

“I swear—we didn’t know.”

Hamon’s voice trembled, yet he pressed on.

“I only began to suspect anything after hearing the truth from you a few days ago. We were completely deceived by that man. If we had known the truth… we would never have been fooled by his lies, nor taken up arms against the empire.”

His teeth clenched tightly, as he spoke of the one he had once trusted without question now an unseen enemy.

“Empress Elizabeth… was not only Your Majesty’s stepmother, she was my mother’s only sister… my aunt.”

His voice cracked.

“How could I… how could I ever help the one who killed her? I regret it deeply being deceived by him… standing on his side like a fool. Please… believe me, Your Majesty.”

Until recently, Hamon had believed that it was the current Emperor Lernando, Ahazan, who had driven Elizabeth to her death.

That was what he had told him.

And the blood that man carried made his words impossible to doubt.

So Hamon had believed him completely.

He had followed that man’s instigation, persuaded his father, the king who trusted him and joined the rebellion.

And in the end, he paid the cruel price losing both his kingdom and his parents.

He had burned with the desire for revenge yet was forced to bow his head to Ahazan, his supposed enemy, for the sake of saving his people.

It was unbearable.

Because he had believed he was carrying out rightful vengeance.

Because he had believed he was protecting the honor of his house.

He had never once felt ashamed of committing treason.

‘But now…’