Episode 7
Lady Tanibera and Baron Akina were waiting for Sevia to come out after the audience with the emperor.
As soon as they saw Sevia walk out of the audience chamber, both of them were shocked. Lady Tanibera even covered her mouth in surprise.
“Oh my! What happened to you, Your Grace?”
Her dress was in complete shreds, and Lady Tanibera couldn’t help but react.
Sevia motioned for them to stay quiet and spoke calmly, as if nothing had happened.
“It’s nothing. Let’s go back first. I’ll explain later.”
Baron Akina also looked surprised, but he simply took off the cloak he was wearing and gently placed it over Sevia’s shoulders.
Of course, people stared at them the whole way back to the Southern Palace, but Sevia remained calm and unbothered.
There was no need to talk about what had happened in front of others, so the three of them returned quietly.
When they arrived at the palace, Marquis Temian—who had been waiting—was just as shocked.
“What on earth happened?”
“Something… did happen. But first, I need to change.”
Sevia went into the dressing room with Lady Tanibera and changed out of the torn dress.
She came back wearing her usual comfortable clothes—white shirt and pants—and returned to the sitting room.
Tea was already prepared, so Sevia took a sip.
Only then did the tension in her body begin to ease.
Lady Tanibera and the others patiently waited until Sevia could finally relax.
Sevia, sensing their concern, told them what had happened during the audience.
“…You went through a lot,” Marquis Temian said after hearing her out.
“Sounds like Casar Juan has already figured out you’re planning rebellion.”
“Yes, it seems so. I didn’t think he’d push that hard right away.”
“And meeting him at dawn—that was quite the coincidence.”
“Ah.”
Sevia briefly recalled the image of his bare upper body, then quickly shook it out of her head.
“…Bad luck. Of all people to run into, it had to be him.”
“What kind of person was he?”
“He was really different from what I expected. I thought he’d be an older, sly man obsessed with power…”
Sevia set her teacup down, her expression thoughtful as she tried to judge the man named Casar.
“But he was actually young, tall, and handsome. And despite his power, he treated me with respect.”
Unlike the emperor, who had acted arrogant toward Sevia, Casar didn’t seem like someone who enjoyed flaunting power.
He was sharp and hostile, like a blade, but he never belittled her or demanded submission.
“I don’t know why someone like him is serving that arrogant emperor, but he didn’t come off as greedy or arrogant himself.”
Then she frowned slightly.
“He was more threatening because he was so rational. I never imagined he’d try to kill me the moment he found a weakness.”
As Sevia calmly shared her thoughts, Marquis Temian sipped his tea and replied.
“If that’s how Your Grace feels, he must really be a dangerous man.”
He added to her analysis.
“I heard the emperor is deep into alcohol and luxury these days. Apparently, it’s Casar Juan who handles all the government affairs and policies on his behalf.”
“Then he must be quite skilled.”
“Yes, he’s young, but very capable. We can’t afford to let our guard down.”
Sevia nodded.
“That was close. If I hadn’t torn my dress, I would’ve been accused of treason and executed on the spot. I have to be very careful not to give him any more excuses.”
For Sevia, who was planning a rebellion, Casar was proving to be a big obstacle.
At this rate, not only would it be hard to take down the emperor—it might even be hard to stay alive in the palace.
While sipping her tea and thinking, something occurred to her.
“He’s scary, yes… but isn’t he someone who’s already made an emperor before?”
“Well, that’s true.”
“Then wouldn’t it be a huge help if I could bring him to our side?”
“…What?”
“Excuse me?”
Marquis Temian and Baron Akina both looked at her with wide eyes.
Baron Akina, in particular, seemed shocked.
“He tried to kill you, Your Grace. Do you really think he’d ever switch sides?”
“I know, but he was quick and made sharp decisions. He seemed good at eliminating enemies in a short time.”
“How is that something to admire? You could’ve died!”
“If he helps me, then it doesn’t matter.”
“What?”
Baron Akina just couldn’t understand why Sevia would want to recruit someone who had nearly killed her.
But Sevia didn’t care and continued talking about Casar.
“Of course he tried to kill me—he’s under the emperor right now. It makes sense he’d see me as a threat. But since he’s so skilled, I’d like to have him on our side if possible.”
It was an outrageous idea, but Marquis Temian—ever the seasoned politician—tried to understand her logic.
“…I get what you’re saying. But that won’t be easy.”
He reminded Sevia of an important point.
“He already has power under the emperor. Why would he help you instead?”
“…True.”
Sevia thought for a moment, then admitted he had a point.
Seeing her lose a bit of her earlier confidence, the marquis gently added:
“If Your Grace really values Casar Juan’s abilities, you can try to persuade him.”
Sevia’s eyes lit up.
“How should I persuade him?”
“If someone who almost got killed suddenly asks to work together, anyone would be suspicious. So it won’t work right away… But it won’t hurt to drop some hints later.”
Sevia considered his words carefully and then nodded.
The marquis watched her and said,
“Your Grace has always respected talent. You once recommended a skilled low-ranking official, remember?”
“Yes. That was a long time ago. Not long after I recommended him, my brother had him killed.”
Sevia raised her teacup again.
As the warm tea spread through her chest, she added softly,
“It just feels like a waste for someone so talented to be stuck under a brutal emperor.”
“…Even if that person tried to kill you?”
Baron Akina still sounded like he didn’t get it.
“Or is it just because he’s handsome?”
“…No.”
Sevia slammed her cup down slightly, sounding a bit flustered, and started bickering with Akina like usual.
Lady Tanibera felt a bit relieved—Sevia still had her spark.
But the one who stopped their back-and-forth wasn’t the marquis or the lady.
It was a messenger from the crown prince.
Three days later.
Sevia arrived at the Crown Prince’s palace.
She had struggled with what to wear. A dark, flashy dress felt wrong now.
She had already played the part of a powerless hostage. Wearing something bold would seem strange.
So she chose a light sky-blue dress.
Since she was basically a political hostage, she thought it was best to look quiet and calm. She even walked softly and politely.
And since she didn’t know why the crown prince had summoned her, it made sense to be cautious.
Why would he call a duke who was basically a hostage?
It felt suspicious, but refusing wasn’t an option.
Following the servant’s guidance, she arrived at the reception room of the crown prince’s palace.
The crown prince, whom she’d only seen briefly in the audience chamber, was sitting there.
Back then, she’d been too focused on the emperor and Casar to notice him properly.
He had striking silver hair and blue eyes like sapphires.
His face was delicate, like it had been drawn with fine lines, but his eyes held something unsettling.
Sevia tried to judge whether he was dangerous, but his eyes were so strange that she couldn’t figure him out.
She looked around and saw several attendants nearby—one of them was Casar.
His red eyes and sharp features were a sharp contrast to the crown prince’s.
Seeing the calm but intense look in Casar’s eyes, Sevia tightened her focus even more.
Determined not to make any mistakes, she gracefully spread her dress and bowed.
“I greet the Crown Prince, Your Highness.”
The crown prince was sitting in a luxurious chair with one leg crossed.
He rested his chin on his right hand, looking completely arrogant.
The crooked smile on his thin lips showed just how full of himself he was.
Without changing his posture, he raised his other hand and gestured for Sevia to sit.
Sevia carefully took her seat.
Then, without any greeting, the crown prince suddenly asked:
A question she had never expected.
“You’ve killed someone before, haven’t you?”
His twisted smile hit her like a slap to the back of the head.
