Chapter 48
Thanks to Berthas’ words, Isilis was able to avoid the imperial wedding and focus on finding the rebels who were targeting her child.
“Then, did you gather that many people together and talk nonsense?”
“What do you mean nonsense.”
Usman Khalifa had been visiting her since morning and talking to her.
“Bertas Hillenton is Larchen’s benefactor who saved the princess. The benefactor didn’t ask for an imperial wedding with me. He only asked to postpone the marriage for a year, so how could I not listen?”
“Isilis!”
“Be careful. I am the Empress of Larchen.”
Hearing him calling her name, Isilis snorted back. Usman, who had been looking at her cold smile, soon hardened his expression and spoke.
“I will hold you guilty of mocking the prince of the desert empire.”
“I have never been fooled. It’s not that I’m not going to welcome a consort, I just won’t do it in a year.”
“Ha! Isn’t that why you’re trying to wait for him? That Berthas Hillenton.”
“Where did you get such stupid…”
“Is that because he is the child’s father?”
Her breath stopped at his words.
Looking at her cold, hard expression, Usman was a little relieved. Silence passed between the two without saying anything, and after a time that even the sound of falling dust could be heard, Usman spoke first.
“There is no reason otherwise.”
“The Princess is my child.”
“If Berthas Hillenton is the father of the child, the conditions are different. He is not Larchen’s benefactor, he just did what he was supposed to do.”
“What?”
“He did what he had to do, and he shouldn’t get anything in return from Larchen.”
“Usman Khalifa.”
“Am I wrong?”
Isilis spoke again, eyes sunken at Usman’s words as she raised her chin.
“There are parents who do not save their children.”
This time Usman’s mouth was shut. He could not refute her sunken face. Isilis, who had been staring at him without saying anything, turned her gaze to the papers.
“If you’re done talking, go out.”
“I’m not done.”
“Usman. I think my relationship with you ended in the ancestors.”
“What nonsense…!”
“Since I decided that… it will be so.”
He couldn’t find anything in Isilis’s expression as she raised her eyes to look at him. Severing the ties of their childhood and seeing her with the face of an Empress, Usman felt exasperated. This woman intended to really sever his ties with him completely.
“So, go back to your country. The New Year’s festival just ended.”
“Isilis Larchen!”
“I’m done forgiving rudeness ends.”
In the end, he had no choice but to back down at Isilis’s stern voice.
Even though he thought his turn would come if he let Berthas Hillenton go back to Hillenton, it didn’t. Blaming himself for making the wrong decision, Usman walked down the aisle.
‘…No, Berthas must be above average.’
Still, he couldn’t just admit it and move on. His heart was too deep and deep to give up on Isilis. He intended to return to his country and find a way. If Berthas Hillenton earned a year, he himself earned a year as well.
“At least she won’t marry Pillaire Cyrka.”
She would not even marry Marquis Cyrka, the strongest rival in the Larchen Empire, so Usman decided to take it easy. He was sick of waiting.
“Your Majesty. It is urgent.”
“Urgent?”
As he was just about to put his thoughts to rest, his lieutenant Haliman hurriedly ran to him.
“Berthas Hillenton has crossed the border!”
“What?”
Usman thought Berhas had returned to the Hillenton Empire, but he was taken aback when hearing the news that he was touching the borders of the Khalifa Empire. Meanwhile, Haliman continued despite his reactions.
“There is a local war going on at the border with the army of the Hillenton Empire. It’s nothing serious, but if our land is lost to Hillenton again, public sentiment could be bad.”
“The people of the Empire hate losing.”
“Isn’t that the same for Your Highness?”
“Yes.”
“How did he get in?”
“They said they accepted Berthas Hillenton’s terms, so I guess I’ll have to wait another year.”
“Do you think Berthas Hillenton can come back in the meantime?”
“His behavior is strange.”
“What?”
“I know that the Imperial Court in Hillenton called him… though he appeared on the borders of the Khalifa? Isn’t something strange?”
Haliman’s gaze turned at Usman’s words.
“Then…”
“There is something. It’s clear he’s trying to do something.”
“Then, shouldn’t you go to the border as well?”
“I have to go. Wouldn’t that be enough to give Berthas Hillenton a blow?”
“I thought you already had one blow.”
“He left the imperial castle, but the imperial wedding was postponed, so as a result, I did not get what I wanted. I need a place to unleash this anger. I will go to the border.”
Usman said to Haliman as he untied the cloak from his shoulders with a ‘flutter’ sound.
“Bring my sword. I will wait outside the castle.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Other warriors were following Usman, who proudly walked out of the Larchen castle with their upper bodies exposed.
In the hallway, Marquis Cyrka quietly watched.
“Marquis.”
“Even Usman Khalifa is stepping down.”
“Isn’t it a good thing since only the Marquis remained as a candidate?”
“Is it really so?”
“I think it went well since the only one left is the Marquis.”
Pillaire laughed at the Count’s words. Feeling strange that his eyes were smiling but his mouth was not laughing, the Count shrank his body.
“You can go.”
Pillaire, who beckoned the Count who was looking at him and kicked him out, was lost in thought.
‘Berthas bought Isilis time… what is the reason?’
“Don’t tell me he’s really aiming for the position of Empress Larchen’s consort.”
It was not an easy position for a half-blooded imperial family like Berthas Hillenton to aim for. The nobles of Larchen, the nobles who valued their lineage, would not stand still.
“Is there any other reason?”
There must have been another reason for Usman’s withdrawal. Pillaire was curious about that. There must have been a special reason for that reckless man to back down, and it seemed that the reason would be a weakness that would cling to Isilis’ leash.
“Marquis.”
Wizards stood before him.
“What is it?”
“You must come with me.”
“Me?”
“That’s right.”
“For what?”
“Her Majesty is calling.”
“Her Majesty, me?”
Wizards under the direct control of the Empress surrounded him. Feeling puzzled, Pillaire immediately straightened his expression and asked.
“Where should I go?”
“You can follow me.”
He felt strange as he followed the wizard ahead. The wizards surrounding him were not dispersing.
“What is this?”
“I think you just have to come quietly.”
His eyebrows twitched at the wizard’s words.
“To have such an attitude toward me, the son of the Margrave and a Marquis of this country. It looks like you have about ten lives.”
“Wizards do not bow except at the orders of the Empress.”
“This loyalty…!”
At Pillaire’s words, the wizard’s eyebrows rose but he said nothing.
“I will follow you at once, so there is no need to be so vigilant.”
“Let’s go.”
The wizard urged Pillaire, who did not move.
‘Could I have been caught?’
It couldn’t be. In the first place, everything he did leave no evidence. Even though there may be trails, there would be no physical evidence. Besides, as long as Isilis believed in him, that trail would not be easy to catch.
While he said nothing as he walked, so did the wizards as well.
‘There is evidence somewhere… no, no.’
The place he was summoned to was neither an audience room nor an official guest room but one of the countless rooms. With a cup of tea in front of her, Isilis was lost in thought. Responding to his movements, she turned her gaze to him.
“Are you here?”
“I heard you called. Your Majesty.”
“Sit down.”
At those words, Pillaire asked as they sat across from each other.
“What can I do for you?”
“Do you think I call you only when something happens? I was going to have tea time, but I called you because I was lonely.”
The maid came over and set the teacup down in front of him. On the one hand, the tea was brewing. The scent of roses wafted through the room.
“Pillaire.”
“Yes. Your majesty.”
“Do you like roses?”
“I do. Isn’t it the queen of flowers?”
“Right.”
Pillaire, who was staring at Isilis as she lifted the teacup and passed a sip of the tea, opened his mouth.
“It’s a flower that looks good on Your Majesty.”
“Is it?”
“Yes.”
The temperature in the room changed. Even though it was a subtle difference, Pillaire could feel it.
“By the way, Marquis. I have a question for you.”
“What is it?”
As the tea brewed and his teacup filled, Isilis opened her mouth again.
“Why did you hang around the Princess’s room last night?”
“I have already told you. My father has arrived, and I have come to inform you directly.”
“It’s too coincidental for that.”
“What do you mean by coincidental?”
“Dangerous energy emanated from you, and the Princess’s room was overflowing with that familiar energy.”
Pillaire immediately caught his breath for a moment at Isilis’ words. He didn’t expect that he couldn’t hide his energy last night. It was a problem as he was distracted after receiving a call that his father had arrived in the middle of the job.
“You must have seen it wrong. There’s no way I could do something to the princess.”
“Is that so?”
“That’s right. And even if I did something, I wouldn’t be so easily found out.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Your Majesty.”
When Pillaire, who had been looking at Isilis, was about to lower his eyes, she spoke again.
“By the way, Marquis, What is this?”
As she beckoned, the video stone placed on one side of the room played. When he saw what he had done, Pillaire’s eyes fluttered.
“Do you have anything to say about this?”
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