Chapter 15
After the affair, Karl fell asleep almost immediately. Because he hugged Aura from behind, she had to feel his heartbeat all over her body.
Thump, thump, thump, thump…
‘Does a big body mean a big heart? Is that why his heart beats so powerfully?’ Aura thought aimlessly.
She removed his arm and got out of bed. Heavy legs and a stiff waist. Marks left on her body here and there. She put on her gown, trying to ignore them.
It was the first time for her to enter the Empress’s room. It was incomparably larger and more luxurious than the Crown Princess’s room.
‘Karl’s room must be this big too.’
Not only the room. His office, private study, reception room, and so on. Everywhere was spacious, with plenty of room to hide something. Whether the hairpin was in there was unknown, but it was definitely the first place to look.
Aura went to the balcony, thinking of getting some fresh air. And at that moment, she stopped.
The towering North Tower was visible in the distance. Unfortunately, the Empress’s room window faced north.
Aura stood there as if possessed. It was the tower that had caused her so much suffering, but strangely, she couldn’t take her eyes off it. It was as if she had finally realized the existence that had been watching her.
She could almost hear the tower’s voice mocking her.
‘Even if you’re in the Empress’s room, haven’t you already fallen into hell? No matter how many fine dresses and jewelry you wear, the memory of confinement will follow you forever, won’t it?’
Aura yanked the curtains shut and turned around. All she could see was Karl sleeping soundly.
Looking at Karl, Aura reaffirmed her resolve.
‘I will definitely, absolutely, break the hairpin and get out of this imperial palace.’
Early in the morning, Karl woke up in bed.
The seat next to him was empty, and when he asked a servant, he was told that the Empress had gone for a walk alone. Karl sat there blankly for a moment.
‘That’s strange. How can I sleep so well?’
It was the same on the day Aura ran away to Ansena. The moment he held Aura, he fell asleep, and he couldn’t wake up until she left. Even though he was wary of Aura having some ulterior motive at the time.
He got dressed and came out, and Theo was waiting.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes. Surprisingly.”
“How would you like your meal? It seems the Empress has already eaten.”
“I have no appetite. I’ll go straight to the office.”
He had no time to enjoy a leisurely breakfast. Since he had not formally inherited the throne, there was much to sort out.
As they headed to the office, Grand Duke Lyon appeared before them.
“Your Majesty.”
“Grand Duke Lyon.”
Lyon smiled and paid his respects. His unique silver hair shone in the morning sunlight.
Silver hair was a characteristic of the northern natives. Lyon’s mother was a commoner from Sutra, and he had lived in Sutra for most of his life.
However, he was once a member of the Crown Prince’s faction. The second hidden hand of Issen that Karl was thinking of.
‘Duke Taine is trying to prove his innocence by putting forward his nephew. But Lyon… he doesn’t show his true colors easily.’
Karl reached out his hand first and asked for a handshake.
“Thank you for coming to the Empress’s coronation. I didn’t get a chance to properly greet you yesterday.”
Lyon took his hand.
“When else would I get to see the Imperial Palace if not at a time like this? The capital has a warm breeze, which is nice.”
“Indeed. Sutra’s winter must be truly harsh.”
“Haha… I suppose so. By the way, the Empress seemed even more beautiful yesterday.”
Lyon smiled with an interested expression.
“I’ll pass it on.”
“What should I say… she seems like a very interesting person.”
Karl glanced at him.
“Interesting?”
“She has a charm that draws people in. Has she finally shed her girlishness?”
“Grand Duke.”
Only then did Lyon realize his mistake. When he got caught up in something, he sometimes couldn’t control himself like this.
“It was just a joke between men.”
“A joke between men.”
Karl cast an unpleasant gaze out the window.
“So you saw me as the kind of guy who throws his wife into men’s jokes. That’s unexpected.”
“…I misspoke. I apologize, Your Majesty.”
Lyon abandoned his pride and immediately bowed his head. He was thick-skinned in this regard.
Karl decided to stop there. It wouldn’t do for the imperial family to be at each other’s throats the day after the coronation.
“Are you going straight back to your territory?”
“No. I’m thinking of staying a little longer for a vacation.”
“The North is crucial in winter, so there must be a lot to do.”
“I’ve taken care of everything. This kind of opportunity is rare.”
‘So you’re going to stay in the Imperial Palace.’
That was good. He also had business with Lyon.
“I’ll call you soon. I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t back out and come to see me then.”
“Of course.”
Lyon regained his smile. As if that was what he wanted, he paid his respects coolly.
Peaceful days followed after the coronation.
Aura was not looking for either Issen or Karl. Both sides were sure to be watching Aura, so she had to wait for a more opportune time.
Aura was having breakfast and reading today’s newspaper. As she flipped through the newspaper, she paused when she spotted familiar faces.
‘Aren’t these… the protesters who stormed the coronation?’
[…They disappeared overnight. They are known to be the leaders of a purist group and have been committing crimes against foreigners on a regular basis.]
‘Five strong men disappeared overnight…’
Aura suddenly recalled her conversation with Karl at the founding festival.
‘What kind of punishment would you like me to give those guys?’
‘Do whatever you want. I don’t care anymore.’
‘Then I’ll kill them all.’
‘Surely… you didn’t kill them.’
Aura folded the newspaper. Just then, Mina entered the room.
“Your Majesty. I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“My younger brother has been admitted to the Imperial Academy. Should I tell him to come by soon?”
It was welcome news. It seemed the letter of recommendation she had written recently had been accepted.
“Don’t have him come right away, but have him secretly find out a few things. As soon as possible.”
“Yes. How should I tell him?”
Aura hesitated a little, but decided to be honest. She couldn’t use her subordinates without trust.
“All the information he can find out about a crystal ball named Pin. Especially who made it and how to break the seal.”
“Yes. I’ll tell him.”
Mina hesitated about something.
“Is there anything else you want to say?”
“Well… it might not be a big deal, but I heard an unsettling rumor.”
“An unsettling rumor?”
“Tasha has become the nanny of Princess Riel.”
Riel Casa. Riel was the seven-year-old only daughter of the deceased Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince, who wanted a son to support his power, was greatly disappointed when a daughter was born. To make matters worse, the Crown Princess died giving birth to Riel, so the Crown Prince abandoned his daughter in a separate palace.
Karl didn’t bother to kill Riel, who was a girl. The gender that had brought misfortune to Riel ended up saving her life.
“Did Karl assign the nanny?”
“No. Tasha volunteered.”
That was strange. Tasha was too old to be a nanny. There was no reason to give up her position next to the Emperor and go to a separate palace.
‘If there’s anything Riel has that’s better than Karl… it’s that she’s a True Blood.’
“Mina.”
“Yes.”
“What does Tasha look like in your eyes? Anything noticeable?”
“Hmm, she seems more frugal than necessary. She must have made a lot of money, and I heard she doesn’t have much family, but her clothes are always shabby.”
“Is that so…?”
Considering Tasha’s ostentatious personality, it was not something to overlook. Aura took off one of the earrings she was wearing and gave it to Mina.
“Have the children who clean Tasha’s room search it. Have them report anything strange.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Mina took the earring.
Just then, the sound of someone’s light footsteps was heard in the hallway. Aura immediately recognized him.
“Josh.”
“…Ah. Your, Your Majesty the Empress.”
Aura looked at his gold epaulettes, which symbolized the commander of the Knights.
‘I heard he was recently appointed commander of the Imperial Knights. It seems Karl intends to keep using Theo and Josh as his hands and feet.’
The Imperial Knights were a small elite force selected from the best of the Imperial Army. They moved only for the Emperor.
Josh bowed to Aura. He still seemed afraid of Aura.
“I’m sorry about last time, Josh. I’ll send you a new button soon.”
“Yes? Ah, no. It’s okay. My clothes changed when I got promoted.”
“Then I’ll send it to you to celebrate your promotion.”
Josh swallowed hard. He didn’t want to get involved with this scary person if possible.
Aura smiled, as if she could see his heart.
“Perhaps you don’t want to get involved with me?”
“!”
‘…A ghost.’
Sweat beaded on Josh’s temples.
‘I have to think of another reason. A plausible reason!’
Then, an idea flashed through his mind. It was a story he had often shared with Theo lately.
“It’s not that… I have something to thank you for.”
“Thank you?”
“Well, it might sound strange, but… His Majesty the Emperor sleeps well when he’s by Your Majesty the Empress’s side, doesn’t he?”
“…? Doesn’t His Majesty always sleep well?”
The Karl she had seen always slept like a log. She even thought he slept more than he should.
Josh waved his hand as if to say not to say such a thing.
“No. His insomnia is so severe. In Debla, we were more worried about His Majesty’s insomnia than the monsters.”
“…That’s strange.”
“Anyway, as a servant who serves him, I wanted to express my gratitude.”
Josh bowed his head. Aura was suspicious, but decided to let it go.
“I see. Anyway, thank you for accepting my apology.”
“Ah, no. Don’t mention it, Your Majesty the Empress.”
It was when Josh was swallowing a sigh of relief. Suddenly, a little girl popped out from the corner of the hallway. The child bumped into Aura’s leg with a thud.
“Ouch!”
The child fell down with a shrill cry. And she looked up at Aura standing in front of her and shouted.
“A witch!”
Aura seemed to know who the child was. The only young girl running around the Imperial Palace was Riel.
