Chapter 44

Chapter 44

It was something like a prophetic remark, so he could have ignored it. However, Elliot didn’t. It was none other than his sister.

In fact, Elliot didn’t like Lilles very much. That bastard was always impure, and that’s why he thought he was a dangerous factor.

Elliot, who had many things on his mind, stayed up in the evening to study. Instead, he said that he was so nervous that he quickly noticed the commotion they were causing.

As Idina listened to those words, she thought of the things Lilles had shouted last night.

<F*ck, it’s because of that damned crown prince’s son, Killian!>

<Idina. The guy you danced with at the banquet was him, right?>

<That bastard, he planned it all out in advance. To take you! To steal you from me!>

She doesn’t know what he’s basing his words on, but Lilles seemed really real.

‘But… is this a true story?’

There was nothing between Idina and Killian. They had met a few times, but it was so short that it was hard to even call it a meeting. There wasn’t anything particularly notable.

So she thinks it’s definitely speculation, but…….

<That bastard took advantage of my weakness and threatened me. He said he’d ruin my family if I didn’t break off the engagement with you!>

That statement was very specific.

However, there was still something missing.

‘Why.’

The reason was missing.

Why?

Why did Killian threaten him and encourage him to break off the engagement?

‘Just because you don’t get along with Lilles?’

Killian said that he ‘hates’ people like Lilles. So maybe the cause is not her but Lilles.

Although the nuance of Lilles’s words sounded a little different, Idina didn’t want to get her hopes up and be disappointed.

She calmed herself down and looked across from where she was sitting. It was still empty.

The place she was currently sitting was the reception room of the palace.

The Emperor had ordered Idina and the Duke and Duchess of Bride to visit this morning. It seemed to be to talk about marriage.

First, the Duke and Duchess were called to the audience room, and Idina was waiting for them in the reception room.

Clatter.

Idina leisurely enjoyed the refreshments brought by the maids, thinking that she might get hungry while waiting.

Thanks to that, the wait wasn’t that boring. The Emperor showed up not too long ago. Contrary to the guess that the Empress, the Duke and Duchess would come together, it was only him who came in.

A private meeting?

It was the first time that she had seen the Emperor alone, so Idina got up in a nervous manner. However, the Emperor entered the reception room and smiled leisurely.

After the door to the reception room closed, several knights surrounded him and began to talk.

“Lady Idina Bride, it’s been a while.”

“I greet the sun of the empire, Your Majesty the Emperor of Escass.”

“Please sit comfortably.”

Idina sat down obediently, although the situation was not very comfortable. The Emperor looked at the child who would soon become his daughter-in-law for a moment in silence.

Idina froze at the lingering gaze and swallowed quietly.

After a while, the Emperor opened his mouth and the conversation began.

“I heard that Lady Idina had her first dance with the Crown Prince that night. What should I say, congratulations?”

 “….Your Majesty must have been surprised.”

Although it was the Emperor who declared that they would hold a masquerade Show, he probably didn’t expect that the Crown Prince would bring her to dance.

Since he had already prepared a different wedding with the Bride Family, it must have been quite embarrassing for him.

The Emperor agreed briefly.

“That’s why many things went wrong.”

“…….”

“But it’s already happened, so there’s nothing we can do. Furthermore, we can’t go back on what I said.”

“Yes….”

Seeing that he came in alone, it seemed that the Emperor had something else he wanted to say. But for now, he was just talking about the basics.

“Lady Idina.”

However, he probably wouldn’t keep making excuses. As the one leading the Empire, he must be a very busy person.

Idina slowly raised her head that had been tilted at his call. When their eyes met, he asked with a benevolent smile on his lips, as befitting a father to the people of the Empire.

“Would you listen to my old story for a moment?”

It was a somewhat unexpected request, but Idina nodded. The Emperor relaxed a little. He leaned back against the backrest and began to make a somewhat hazy expression as if he was recalling his memories.

“The story I’m about to tell is about a certain foolish young man.”

Whose story was he trying to tell?

Himself? Or Killian’s……? Idina’s curiosity soon grew. It was resolved.

“It’s probably a story from nearly 30 years ago.”

It was the Emperor’s own story. Killian wasn’t even thirty yet.

She didn’t know why he wanted to tell Idina about his past, but she would listen for now.

Maybe she could figure out what he mean after listening to him. 

***

The young man’s name was Romain Escas.

At that time, he was attending the Imperial Academy.

Romain, who inherited the royal bloodline, was a dominant alpha. Not to mention, he was a very beautiful young man, just like Killian now. His intelligence was a given.

However, he, who seemed perfect, was said to have an unrequited love at the time. It was for a girl who attended the same academy.