Chapter 3

Tasha had probably tattled. She must have looked like a drowned rat, crying and saying Aura had almost killed her.

“Drowning? The bath didn’t even come up to her waist.”

Aura decided not to make excuses. She knew no one would listen anyway.

Aura crossed her arms and slowly walked toward him. No matter how many times she saw him, his imposing build always overwhelmed her. His eyes still looked like they belonged on the battlefield—sharp and alive.

“It’s really hard to see Your Majesty’s face. I thought you were bedridden with an injury.”

Aura pointed to Karl’s side with her chin. It was the spot she had stabbed.

“I just gave you some quiet time to think. But I guess it didn’t help.”

“Are you saying I’ve gone mad?”

“You must be. Otherwise, why would you stab me?”

Silence fell. Aura didn’t want to argue emotionally. She had something to say, and she was going to say it.

“Karl. I have no intention of becoming your empress.”

“So all that chaos was just to say that?”

“Yes. If you understand—”

“Aura.”

Karl cut her off and stared at her with his usual bluntness.

“Aren’t you curious? Why the Crown Prince kept you alive all this time?”

“I probably wasn’t worth killing. The royal family of Xenia is gone, and you abandoned me.”

“How naïve.”

He took a step closer. Her head tilted up instinctively.

“Three years ago, I made a deal with the Emperor. In exchange for stopping the Crown Prince from killing you, I agreed to subdue Debla.”

“……”

“I fought like a beast for three years just to save you. And how did you repay me? You stabbed me.”

“…Ha.”

Aura let out a hollow laugh. Naïve? It sounded like he wanted her to be naïve.

If that were true, he wouldn’t have sent a sword to kill her.

She didn’t even feel like arguing. There was only one conclusion anyway.

“I don’t trust you, Karl.”

At those words, a cold smile formed on Karl’s lips.

“Your trust doesn’t matter. I saved you, so you owe me something. That makes the math work.”

“Math…?”

“Right. Become my empress. Like I said, I need you.”

Of course. It was all calculated. He abandoned her three years ago, and now he wanted to keep her by his side—for a reason.

She felt like an object. Something that could be discarded at any moment.

Fury surged within her. Aura clenched her fists tightly.

“You want my True Blood that badly? Why? Are you not confident in your mother’s bloodline?”

“How dare you.”

Karl grabbed her by the back of the neck and pulled her close. Aura flinched at how fast it happened. His dark eyes looked like they would devour her.

And his hand—
It was huge and hot, threading through her hair. A neck like hers could probably snap in an instant under that grip.

But Aura had no intention of backing down.

“Subjugating Debla isn’t just about killing monsters, right? It’s basically a land grab in the lawless zone. They say Imperial knights are committing slaughter there. Impressive, really. Conquering land like that.”

Aura asked sweetly.

“How many people have you killed?”

Karl’s brow twitched. Aura seized the opening.

“Hundreds? Thousands? One more like me wouldn’t matter to you, right?”

“That’s enough, Aura. That was your last warning.”

“Monster.”

“……”

“You smell like blood.”

Karl’s eyes darkened. All traces of anger vanished, and his face became expressionless. He wrapped his long arms around her waist.

“W-What are you doing…!”

Aura instinctively pushed him with all her strength, but it was useless. His body felt like stone, and she could feel it pressing against her.

“Let go! I said no!”

She screamed, and he only held her tighter. Their bodies pressed together with no space between. Aura could barely breathe and forced out a word.

“…Let go.”

Karl looked down at her like her weak resistance was amusing. He grabbed her hair and pulled her head back. Her chin lifted naturally.

He slowly moved closer. Aura’s eyes widened. Their lips were just about to touch—

“……”

Karl paused, then leaned toward her ear instead.

“You’re right, Aura. I am a monster.”

His low whisper sent chills through her entire body. If Karl hadn’t been holding her, she might’ve collapsed.

“But all you have left is that precious bloodline of yours.”

Blood filled Aura’s eyes. The words were painfully accurate, stabbing at her situation.

“So if I use that bloodline out of desperation, is that so wrong?”

“……”

“You’re nothing without me now.”

Aura couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. She turned her head to face him, forgetting even her fear. Her eyes began to fill with tears.

Only then did Karl release her.

“If you understand, then get ready for the coronation. Eat, sleep, get treated. Everything’s behind schedule because of you.”

He walked out of the room. The door slammed shut behind him.

“…Hhk.”

Aura sank to the floor, choking on her breath.

Every place he had touched filled her chest with despair. She held back the tears that threatened to fall. She couldn’t afford to be weak. If she stayed by his side, she would drown in despair. Like a doll labeled “precious bloodline.”

Aura leaned on the sofa and stood up with difficulty. Outside the window, the snowy palace grounds stretched before her.

“…I have to leave the palace.”

She was planning to escape—no matter what it took.

The next day.

Aura couldn’t get Karl’s words out of her head.

“You’re nothing without me now.”

Cruel words. But they stuck because they were true.

She had no family to return to. No country. Being Karl’s wife was her only remaining status.

That’s why she had to leave the palace as soon as possible. Being used only as his wife was unbearable. She’d rather start over as nothing at all.

“First, I need to find the people of Xenia. I need to make sure they’re okay after the fall of the royal family.”

When it was mealtime, Tasha entered with the maids. They placed food on the table.

Aura asked Tasha,

“What happened to the people of Xenia? Are they being treated as citizens of Casa?”

“Please eat, Your Highness.”

It was basically ignoring her.

“I asked what happened to my people.”

“The food is getting cold, Your Highness.”

Aura let out a short laugh and gracefully swept the table with her arm.

Clatter!

Plates fell and shattered on the floor. The maids rushed to clean up the mess.

Tasha, unfazed, ordered the maids calmly.

“Bring a new meal.”

“Wait.”

Aura flicked the coffee cup with her fingernail. A clear sound rang out.

“The coffee’s cold too. Brew a fresh one.”

The maid quickly took the cup.

“Make sure it’s hot. Unless you want to see your head maid fall into a pot of coffee.”

Tasha’s lips twitched as she held back her anger.

The maid brought the food and coffee again. Steam rose from the new cup.

Aura picked it up—and then let it drop “accidentally.”

Clink—

The coffee spilled over her dress and ankle. The burn made her scream without thinking.

“Ah!”

“Your Highness! Are you all right?”

A maid rushed over to wipe her ankle with a towel.

Aura clenched her eyes shut, enduring the pain. The heat felt like it was piercing to her bones.

She glared at the motionless Tasha.

“What are you doing? Go get a doctor!”

Soon, the royal physician hurried in. He placed his bag on the table, laid down a wooden stool, and sat in front of her.

“Please place your foot here, Your Highness. I’ll take a look.”

Aura lifted her bare foot. Blisters were already forming. The doctor clicked his tongue.

“It’s a bad burn. You’ll have some pain for a while.”

He reached into his bag for medicine. At that moment, Aura subtly pushed the bag off the table.

It spilled open, scattering tools everywhere. The doctor, looking only at her foot, was startled.

“Oh dear! I’m so sorry, Your Highness! Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

The doctor and maids scrambled to pick everything up. In the chaos, Aura spotted something shiny near her foot—a small surgical scalpel.

She nudged it with her heel. The scalpel slid under the sofa beside the table. The doctor didn’t even realize it was gone as he bandaged her ankle and left.

Tasha, as if waiting for that moment, said,

“You should finish your meal, Your Highness.”

The food was placed in front of her again. Aura picked up the soup spoon.

“Tasha.”

“Yes, Your Highness?”

“I’ll ask one last time. What happened to the people of Xenia?”

“Please eat, Your Highness.”

A maid happened to be pouring water into a glass. Aura grabbed the maid by the collar and shoved her.

“Kyaa!”

The maid fell backward. Aura climbed on top of her.

“Y-Your Highness!”

Just as everyone tried to stop her, Aura held the spoon near the maid’s eye.

“Take one more step. I’ll gouge her eye out.”

The maids froze. The girl under Aura trembled.

“P-Please… please spare me…”

“Talk. Where are the Xenians?”

“I-In Ansena…”

Ansena. A barren wasteland outside the capital. It was dry, with no water for farming.

“Why are Xenians in Ansena?”

“T-They were slaves… just got promoted to second-class citizens…”

“What? Slaves?”

Something snapped in Aura’s mind. She brought the spoon even closer.

“…Who? Who did this?”

“T-The late Crown Prince, Your Highness…”

Aura couldn’t believe it. Had they really suffered that much?

“There were mages! How could this happen when there were mages?!”

“T-Those mages were—!”

At that moment—

Bang!

The door burst open. Karl stormed in and grabbed Aura’s hand.

He shouted to everyone:

“Get out!”