Chapter 18
Looking back, Lisa Tyrell, the shop owner who sold cloth and fabric, always wore high-collared clothes that hid her neck and long sleeves that covered her hands.
“That looked like a bruise from being strangled.”
Hasollan remembered the time Akelans briefly touched Lisa’s neck. He hadn’t used any real force, but if he had, the mark on Lisa’s neck would’ve looked just like that bruise.
“Judging by the color, it’s been there a while.”
Hasollan thought deeply. Come to think of it, Lisa never showed any curiosity about Hasollan, Akelans, or any of the people from the castle who followed her. She never asked questions, never seemed interested, and just sat back down if she realized they weren’t customers. Was she always that quiet?
“Are you listening to me?”
“Nope.”
Hasollan cut off Akelans, who had come by again to chat. He stared at her, speechless. Behind him, busy workers and carriages rushed, trying to follow his orders.
“…How long are you going to stay here?”
A knight stood guard nearby, and Akelans came to pick Hasollan up every evening. She always followed without protest. Still, it was odd—why would the emperor’s consort be working in a fabric shop?
“It’s none of your business.”
“It’s my choice.”
Those words were enough to get someone in big trouble. Even though Akelans wasn’t acting as emperor now, he still was the emperor. In the past, Hasollan would never have dared say such things. In fact, she would’ve punished anyone else for it.
“Funny how I’m getting used to this.”
She didn’t want to think about why Akelans kept looking at her or why he wouldn’t leave her alone. She had learned to block out those thoughts. If she thought about it, she’d start hoping for things—and hopes, big or small, always led to disappointment.
“Is that so?”
Akelans modded like it didn’t matter.
“Can I place a large order here?”
Hasollan wasn’t sure and called for Lisa. The fabric was always in demand—for tablecloths, curtains, chair covers, cushions, and blankets, not just clothes. Hasollan looked at the well-organized books she had arranged and felt proud. After all, she had once run an empire. Running this small shop was already in her control.
“Is this order for Roetingen Castle?”
Lisa already knew who Akelans was, but didn’t act overly respectful. Hasollan liked it here. She wanted to work hard and get a good recommendation to move on to a better job. She felt confident in her skills.
“Let’s go with that then. Solan.”
Except for that annoying black dragon who kept following her around.
“I’ll come pick you up later.”
“You really don’t have to.”
She still couldn’t tell him outright not to come—but she would, soon.
“I’m coming anyway.”
Akelans said it firmly and left. Rumors were already spreading that the lord of Roetingen had been visiting a new shop worker. There were also rumors that she had played a big role in defending the city during the recent attack. Curious people crowded the shop—except when Akelans came by.
“…Are you open?”
A woman peeked in as soon as Akelans left.
“Yes, come on in.”
“Mrs. Tyrell is amazing. That was him, wasn’t it?”
Hasollan pretended not to hear, pretending to organize a drawer.
“How do you stay so calm? I couldn’t even go near him—I was too scared. Dragons are just different, I guess.”
“Everyone’s just a customer here.”
Or maybe Lisa just cared about something entirely different. Hasollan thought so.
“Everyone must be inspected!”
The road into Roetingen became more heavily guarded. Crowds of merchants and travelers came despite the recent attack. Even more people came now because word had spread that the border lord had handled the attack skillfully.
“He has a consort, doesn’t he?”
“Then why isn’t he emperor?”
“Isn’t that strange?”
Rumors spread fast and could even shake an emperor’s claim to the throne. Akelans didn’t try to stop them. Watching them spread was like lighting a fire under Emperor Usman’s seat. Why stop it?
“Your Highness, the stonemasons are here. They’re ready to begin.”
Akelans nodded, watching from the castle. People in Roetingen were slow to work—or maybe just not as capable as Hasollan. Or maybe she had just worked too hard to meet his expectations. Now, he had to adjust his orders to match a normal pace. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t apply pressure.
“Even if the budget’s tight, pay the workers properly.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
He looked at a large map of Roetingen and beyond, smoking quietly. His cold gaze traveled from the north of the empire to the south, finally resting on Impel. Even inside Roetingen, people whispered about him.
“Why is the lady working at that shop?”
“She even talks to the common folk and cleans!”
“Why does His Highness allow it? She’s supposed to be an empress.”
Maids whispered among themselves.
“She’s a perfect shot with a bow!”
“Stance was flawless.”
“But the emperor in Impel doesn’t have a consort, right?”
“Then isn’t our lord the real emperor?”
After shedding blood together, people naturally called these two outsiders “ours.” Akelans looked across the empire like a great dragon watching over its domain.
“Your Highness, there are rumors the emperor will issue a decree to find a consort.”
It was ridiculous. A true consort couldn’t just be “found.” But Usman and Countess Bessa Wiffred were desperate. Meanwhile, everyone already believed Akelans had a consort. The dragon Usman was starting to feel threatened.
“I hope he finds one soon,” Akelans muttered.
Usman would remain emperor only for as long as Akelans allowed it. Akelans had decided—that he would reclaim the throne only when Hasollan became empress. This time, for sure.
“Miss O’Dare, leaving a little early today?”
Lisa asked carefully. She still seemed a bit intimidated by the new employee.
“That depends on when you close the shop.”
Hasollan replied gently. After 14 years by the emperor’s side, she had an air of elegance and dignity that made her hard to approach—an elegance that came from the capital.
“I was thinking of staying open late tonight…”
Lisa looked pale. Hasollan remembered the old bruise on her neck.
“You can leave after your shift. That’s fine.”
But Lisa’s face still didn’t look right.
“Okay.”
Hasollan nodded, then stepped outside. Sir Gidmong, who often guarded her, sat nearby.
“Sir, can I ask something?”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Have you seen anyone suspicious around lately?”
His face changed.
“Actually, yes. There’s a man I’ve seen a few times—he even caught His Highness’s attention.”
“I should’ve noticed sooner.”
“No, that’s my job.”
Still, Hasollan insisted.
“What’s he like?”
“Short, dark-looking. Watch the shop a lot, even from the back.”
“Maybe he’s not after me. Could you look into it?”
“Of course.”
She nodded and went back inside. The shop was still bustling.
“Welcome.”
The greeting came naturally now. When she looked up, it was already getting dark. Roetingen’s winter nights came early. Lisa seemed nervous.
“I came to look at some fabric.”
A large man walked in. He wasn’t from the empire—he looked like a foreign merchant.
“What kind of fabric?”
Hasollan stepped in, seeing Lisa flinch.
“What’s most popular these days?”
He was pretending, but Hasollan could tell something was off. She quietly prepared herself in case she needed to use her powers.
“Right this way.”
This man was Tyrell McQueen, the fifth prince of Soruk.
“Ah, these?”
“Yes.”
She nodded. She didn’t expect someone so important to show up personally.
“Women buy these a lot?”
“They do. Are you a merchant?”
“Yes.”
“You speak rather arrogantly for a merchant.”
Tyrell smirked, clearly amused.
“You figured it out?”
Should she turn him in? Hasollan considered it.
“I came to see you.”
That caught her off guard.
“Me? Why?”
“I was worried about you.”
Lisa seemed uninterested and just kept glancing outside.
“I didn’t expect you to be working in a shop after selling those jewels. You always surprise me.”
Hasollan looked sideways at the fearless prince and muttered:
“Funny how you showed up again after that attack on Roetingen.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
He acted innocent.
“Try that line on the townspeople, not me.”
After he left last time, the enemy attacked the weakest part of the castle—almost as if someone tipped them off. Hasollan had nothing more to say and returned to her work.
“Didn’t know you were the consort.”
She almost blurted out “I’m not,” but stopped. Lisa suddenly turned pale and looked out the window.
A man—short and shadowy—was staring right at them.
Tyrell noticed too.
“…What’s that?”
He muttered, clearly unsettled.
