ILBTD20

Chapter 20

During dinner, Kastian moved dangerously between ambition and kindness — enough that anyone overhearing might think he was an aspiring rebel and report him. Still, thanks to the continent’s strongest man promising her safety, Lydia felt a little more at ease.
Well… aside from being plagued by nightmares all night.

The next morning, simply waking up left her whole body aching. Groaning, she crawled out of bed — and blinked at something so dazzling it made her swollen eyes fly wide open.

“What… is that?”

It was a dress — pink and crimson in a flashy mix-and-match, the skirt studded with tiny jewels that glittered under the light.
While she was still gaping, the woman she had seen yesterday with the pincushion reappeared.

“Lady Lydia, did you sleep well?”
“Ah… yes. And you?”
“What do you think? Isn’t it just so pretty? I thought it would suit you perfectly, so I even added a ribbon here.”
“Yes, it’s very—”
“Now! Try it on right away! We need to check the fit.”

Since yesterday, Lydia had thought this lady seemed bright and pleasant — but also someone who didn’t listen much to others. She tried protesting that her current bedraggled state was unworthy of such a dress, but it was no use.

Before she knew it, she was standing before the mirror wearing it.
The dress was stunning. Gorgeous, yet sweet — and somehow even her stubborn, black-cat-like face looked radiant. So the saying is true: clothes really do make the person.

“Oh my! It suits you so well. I knew it! Now, if we add this—oh, you’re beautiful!”
“W–what is this?”
“Lady Ellicia has also provided jewels to match the dress. Look — perfect, isn’t it?”

Without asking, the woman — who introduced herself as Catherine, Ellicia’s personal maid — clasped a diamond-encrusted necklace around Lydia’s neck. Even if it were cubic zirconia, it would be expensive, but these were clearly real. Suddenly, her throat felt tight.

When Catherine fastened a bracelet on her wrist, both her neck and wrist felt bound, and even breathing deeply seemed risky.
What if the necklace slipped and shattered? Lydia didn’t have the confidence to repay it — even if she commanded a hundred undead soldiers in forced labor for life.

“Please thank the Duchess for her kindness, but I don’t think I should be wearing something like this.”
“Oh? Lend it to you? Lady Lydia, these are a gift.”
“What?”
“The dress and the jewels — they’re all yours now.”

All mine? Really?
Her lips wanted to curl upward of their own accord — but Lydia was, after all, a woman who knew humility despite poverty. She bit them down and shook her head.

“I can’t possibly accept such a precious gift.”
“You’re the Duke’s savior. This is Lady Ellicia’s heart — please take it. Besides, if you meet His Majesty without at least this much, he might look down on House Bernstein.”
“…Is that so?”
“It is.”

It seemed the nobility had their own rules Lydia didn’t understand. Well then, she couldn’t help it — she couldn’t risk bringing shame to House Bernstein. How could she reject the Duchess’s goodwill?

Her repressed smile began creeping back. Catherine chuckled quietly as she helped her change out of the dress, but Lydia found it hard to control her lips. Even during breakfast and preparations to meet the Emperor, quiet giggles escaped her.

Before long, it was time to leave. She donned the dress and jewelry again. In the mirror, she saw a sharp-eyed woman in beautiful clothes smiling wickedly.

“Ahem, ahem.”

She cleared her throat and smoothed her expression. A knock came.

“Lydia. It’s time to go.”
“Yes, I’m ready.”

Opening the door, she stepped before Kastian. He reached out a hand — then froze. Lydia felt awkward; though Kastian had bought her fine clothes before, she had never dressed up this much.

“Do I… look strange?”
“No. I’m just surprised… because you’re so beautiful.”

The earnest tone made her blush. Kastian smiled warmly, as if he had been complimented.

“Shall we?”
“Let’s go.”

She took his hand firmly, drawing strength from its warmth.
Finally — she was going to meet the Emperor.

The Bernstein ducal residence had been a cultural shock, but the Heimnad Empire’s imperial palace was beyond imagination. Walking across white marble that looked like it would stain at a touch, they were guided to a small audience chamber.

It wasn’t large, but the high ceiling made even breaths echo. Simply standing still made her legs tremble. Without Kastian holding her hand, she might have collapsed.

At last, Emperor Mikael appeared.

“We greet Your Majesty.”

Kastian knelt on one knee, right hand over his left chest, head bowed. Lydia hastily lowered herself as well, bowing as she would in a hanbok.

“G–greetings, Your Majesty.”

A small, derisive chuckle made cold sweat run down her back.

“Rise.”

She straightened in sync with Kastian and stole a glance. The Emperor appeared to be in his mid-fifties — thin, with a sharp, irritable face. Perhaps it was the frown, but he looked unwell… and his temperament seemed worse.

“I heard you were ill, yet you look fine.”

His tone made it sound like Kastian’s health annoyed him. Kastian reacted as if used to it, but Lydia pouted discreetly where the Emperor couldn’t see.

“After the recent expedition failed, strange rumors reached me — that you fled in fear of fighting black mages.”

Who’s spreading that nonsense? Lydia nearly snapped back but kept her head lowered.

“Of course, I don’t believe such rumors. A loyal Duke Bernstein would never defy my orders and abandon an expedition — would he?”
“I apologize for troubling you, Your Majesty. I will resume the expedition at once and carry out your will.”
“Yes, as you should. But… I’ve heard an even stranger rumor.”

His lazy, grating tone set her on edge. Kastian lifted his head to meet his gaze. The Emperor’s eyes narrowed as they shifted toward Lydia.

“I heard that it was that necromancer who saved you from dying to black magic… Is it true?”

Lydia’s heart dropped with an audible thud — or so it felt. She glanced down to check the floor, relieved to see nothing had literally fallen. Sweat dripped from her brow.

“Speak for yourself, necromancer. Your name was Lydia, wasn’t it?”

It felt like her heart had lodged in her throat. How does he know I’m a necromancer? Only the expedition members knew what had happened that day — and the fact that Kastian had brought two black mages into the party was also supposed to be secret.

“I… I…”

She managed to open her mouth, but no words came. Kastian took her trembling hand.

“As Your Majesty said, she is my savior.”

“So the rumor is true? This necromancer really saved you?”
“Yes.”

Kastian’s blue eyes locked on the Emperor. Mikael studied Lydia with a strange expression; his black, glassy eyes reflected no emotion, and that made them all the more frightening.

Kastian’s gaze flicked briefly around the room — assessing the number of imperial guards and the position of the doors. Lydia realized with horror that if Mikael’s next words posed a threat, Kastian was ready to grab her and escape.

She shook her head slightly to tell him not to.

“Hrrm… Mrmm?”

He only smiled dazzlingly in return, tightening his grip. He’s crazy, she thought.

“Necromancer Lydia,” the Emperor said at last.

Lydia quickly pulled her hand free and looked up.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Whatever happened, she had to stop Kastian from drawing his sword in front of the Emperor. She had already steeled herself for prison if it came to that. But instead, the Emperor said something bizarre.