Chapter 16
(16) I Will Protect Your Majesty (8)
“Huh?” Cecily’s pupils shook.
“W-What is this?”
“It makes the skin peel off.”
“Ah…”
“Apply it, and in a few minutes the skin melts.”
Cecily swallowed dryly.
“Aren’t you excited? To see how Eleanor reacts when that pretty face falls apart.”
“B-But Lady Calliope, if I get caught putting something like this in…!”
“You said there’s no one in the Tulip Palace right now, right? You just need to be careful going in. There are so many people in the imperial palace.”
“Still… I’m the only maid who goes in and out of there.”
“Which is exactly why they won’t suspect you. Think about it, who would be stupid enough to put something like this in a face tonic while being in a position to be suspected? As long as you keep denying it, no one will blame you.”
***
She had everything prepared—dress, coat, shoes, gloves. Then they visited a high-end dress shop and ordered several custom gowns.
Each time Eleanor picked out a fabric, she would ask Heraith,
“What do you think?”
And each time, Heraith would reply: “Beautiful.”
Only after the two left the store did the clerks exhale and whisper excitedly about what they had just witnessed.
“Did I… Did I hear that right? His Majesty said it was beautiful?”
“He did, didn’t he? He really said ‘beautiful,’ right? I thought I was hallucinating.”
“It must be a dream. This is definitely a dream.”
“No way. Seriously, isn’t this unbelievable? Has His Majesty ever come to the city with a woman before?”
“Not even with former empresses…”
“Who on earth is that woman with him?”
Eleanor and Heraith were both well aware the rumors would spread quickly from the clerks’ lips.
Though the street was crowded, wherever Heraith walked, people parted and bowed their heads. As they walked in this quiet corridor within the bustle, Heraith spoke softly,
“Greatly exaggerated rumors will soon wrap around your neck. I’m not sure the guards I assigned to you can block them all.”
“That’s what I want.”
“Why would you want that?”
“People make mistakes when they’re anxious and nervous. I just hope those who oppose me don’t have too much patience.”
Heraith chuckled.
“I’m curious what kind of education Count Snow gave you.”
“Father taught me never to entrust my life to others.”
“Really? He must have been a good father. I had to learn everything through experience, since no one taught me anything.”
Heraith didn’t know why he was talking like this.
Eleanor turned to look at him quietly before facing forward again.
“Perhaps that’s why you’ve grown up to be so noble and admirable.”
“Hahaha!”
Noble. At that unexpected word, Heraith couldn’t help but laugh aloud.
Everyone around heard the laughter that burst out uncontrollably.
“You have a hearty laugh, Your Majesty.”
“That’s because I heard something I thought I’d never hear in my life.”
“If such words can make Your Majesty laugh, then I must work harder to improve my vocabulary.”
Eleanor’s tone remained calm throughout. Her expression held the same faint smile as always.
But why?
Why did he not want to leave this woman who made him laugh?
What was it that he wanted to do with her?
A strange desire surged in his chest. Heraith barely suppressed the unfamiliar emotion and looked away from Eleanor.
“You must be wondering why I haven’t done anything yet. Maybe you even suspect that I’m using civilians to draw out my enemies.”
“I do wonder. But I don’t suspect.”
“Did you pay attention to the route we just walked?”
“Yes. It seemed like the busiest area.”
“Right. If the enemy strikes, it’ll be here. Look into my eyes, Eleanor Snow.”
When Eleanor looked up at him, Heraith’s eyes shifted.
She followed his gaze… in five directions.
“I’ve placed mana stones that form protective barriers. Thirty-seven in total.”
“Then if something happens, people can evacuate safely.”
“Exactly. I’ve placed them throughout the city. As long as they’re guided properly, the damage won’t be too severe.”
“Then the issue is timing. You’ll need knights to guide people, but if you tell them in advance, word might reach the enemy…”
“Because we don’t know where the enemy’s ears are.”
Eleanor looked at the people bowing on both sides of the street and took in the buildings lining the district.
“Don’t tell anyone. You don’t even need to prepare the knights.”
“Do you have a better plan?”
“I’ll do it.”
That caught Heraith off guard.
“What?”
“I’m enough. From tomorrow until the festival ends, I’ll come here every day and make preparations myself.”
Heraith was momentarily speechless.
Was she serious?
Even with the Black Knights, fighting monsters that spilled from the rift was difficult.
Those monsters appeared in strengthened form, overflowing with demonic energy.
“The knights in the palace can probably get here in ten minutes. I’ll hold them off for ten minutes. If you tell me the locations of the barrier stones, I can evacuate people there.”
“Is that supposed to be a joke?”
“I’m perfectly serious, Your Majesty.”
Eleanor smiled as she looked up at him.
“Can’t the fourth empress do at least that much?”
“I never expected that from an empress.”
“Then watch closely. The fourth empress will do what Your Majesty never expected.”
He couldn’t take his eyes off her, as if under a spell.
A gust of wind blew, and Eleanor’s silver hair fluttered.
Before he realized it, he had tucked her loose hair behind her ear.
People who briefly lifted their heads out of curiosity saw the scene: The emperor brushing hair behind a beautiful woman’s ear.
“Ah…”
Someone let out a gasp of awe at the enchanting moment.
Heraith looked down at the fingers that had touched her hair.
‘What have I just done?’
Another breeze passed. This time, Eleanor swept her own hair back and looked around.
“The capital’s winter is warm.”
It was not warm at all. Maybe warmer than the North, but still cold enough to freeze lips.
“And Your Majesty is warm too.”
Eleanor smiled.
“I think I’ll do fine living in the palace.”
***
When Heraith tucked her hair back, to be honest, she was surprised. She never expected a man who reeked of blood at their first meeting to do something so gentle.
His fingers had brushed her ear only for a moment, but the warmth left behind was undeniable.
So warm that it made her heart thud.
As Heraith started walking again, Eleanor followed his pace.
“Warm? That’s a first.”
“Seems people in the palace don’t express much.”
“But Northerners are expressive.”
“Someday, I hope to take you to Arlan Mountain in the North. It’s dangerous with monsters, but the flowers that bloom in such danger are unbelievably vibrant.”
“Really? I’ll look forward to it.”
Today, the sharp edge Eleanor always sensed in Heraith’s presence wasn’t there. She didn’t think he already trusted her, but at least he no longer looked at her like a threat.
“You won’t have to walk this road alone. Starting tomorrow, I’ll go with you. Two are better than one, don’t you think?”
Had she been too quick to think he was letting his guard down?
She wasn’t naïve enough to mistake this for a date.
“Do you think I can’t handle it alone? Or are you afraid I have ulterior motives?”
“Both.”
Heraith smiled at her, but unlike the warmth in his fingers, his smile was cold.
“We’re not at the point where we can trust each other, are we?”
“Of course not. But Your Majesty, if you come out here every day, the enemy might take caution and change their plans.”
“Hmm. That’s something I’ll find a solution for.”
Looking around, Heraith motioned with his chin toward a nearby teahouse.
“Ten o’clock tomorrow morning. I’ll be waiting in that teahouse.”
