Chapter 43
There wasn’t even a simple cup of tea between us. If this were a sincere apology, the Emperor would’ve at least offered that much out of courtesy. The bluntness of it all was unbelievable.
I carefully observed the Emperor.
I told myself to be subtle, but she surely already knew. She must’ve noticed I was watching her. Yet, she wore a calm expression the entire time—that arrogant face of someone who knows she’s the absolute power in the room.
Just as I observed her, she studied me as well. After several seconds that felt like minutes, the Emperor finally spoke.
“This must be your first time in the palace. I’m sorry it began with such a bad experience.”
“It’s alright.”
“I’m sure your parents must be terribly worried.”
Was that a test? Why bring up my parents now?
I worked to stay composed.
“It’s alright. My parents passed away a long time ago.”
“Oh my. You lost them young? What happened?”
“They were caught in a storm while out at sea.”
That was a lie Calix and I had made up long before I came here. I added smoothly,
“I nearly died too, but the nearby villagers saved me.”
“How fortunate.”
The Emperor leaned back lazily into the sofa. I kept my eyes trained on a spot just beneath her chin, determined not to make direct eye contact.
My heart was pounding so hard it hurt. If she had been sitting any closer, she might have heard it.
I couldn’t tell why she brought up my parents. If it was to gauge my reaction, then she half-succeeded. My mind had gone blank the moment she said “parents.”
Damn it. I was awful at politics. Conversations like this, where people circled around the truth trying to dig up each other’s secrets—I was terrible at them. If not for my fear that rejecting this meeting would somehow hurt Calix, I wouldn’t have come at all.
I suddenly regretted not insisting on bringing Calix with me, but quickly brushed it off. Letting the Emperor see how special I was to Calix wouldn’t help me.
“And is that how you ended up with Duke Hertrio? I heard your magical talent caught his attention.”
She asked in a strangely suggestive tone.
“How would you feel about becoming a royal mage instead? We’d treat you well, of course.”
Is she insane?
Had she just decided to throw all subtlety out the window?
My lips were dry. I barely found my voice.
“Rumors always get exaggerated. I worry my lack of skill might only bring shame to Your Majesty.”
“Ah, humility—another virtue of a scholar. Still, a talented mage should take pride in her skill.”
Calix. The Emperor really might be crazy.
Now more than ever, I should’ve brought him. At least then someone could’ve pushed back against this nonsense.
But since I hadn’t, I had only one card left to play—Calix.
“That’s not something I can decide alone. I’ve already pledged loyalty as a knight under the Duke…”
“I’ve always had an interest in talented people. That hasn’t changed.”
She cut me off mid-sentence.
“Surely you haven’t developed that much loyalty in just three months.”
“…”
“Is there another reason?”
“I don’t quite understand what you mean…”
“There are rumors you’re the Duke’s lover.”
I didn’t expect the Emperor to be this shameless. Calix needed to be here to hear this.
I’d assumed she had at least some sense of dignity. Apparently not—openly throwing around words like “lover”?
“Perhaps you don’t know, but I was very close to the late Duke Hertrio and his wife. I hold their son in special regard.”
What?
Was that a lie? I had no way of knowing here.
Well… maybe she didn’t know about the Duke’s ties to Troxia. Maybe she just saw him as a good man.
After all, she was interested in Troxia’s dragon—not the Duke’s role as a “guide.”
I tried to respond neutrally.
“I would never presume to think of myself as the Duke’s lover…”
“And then there’s Troxia.”
That came out of nowhere. Even the attendant behind her flinched. I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep myself from shaking.
“Before they were branded traitors, that family was also close to me.”
“…I see.”
She watched me carefully, then continued.
“As a mage, you’ve heard of the Troxia family, haven’t you?”
“Yes. I’ve heard they produced many great mages.”
“And that’s it?”
“…Yes. That’s all.”
By now, the inside of my mouth was shredded from biting down so hard. I could taste blood.
“Hasn’t the Duke said anything to you?”
“We’ve never talked about that sort of thing…”
“You resemble the missing daughter of Troxia quite a bit. Has the Duke ever mentioned that?”
Why was she asking all these questions if she wasn’t even listening to my answers? Why bring up Troxia in front of me?
To provoke me?
“I heard the entire Troxia family was executed for treason. There was a missing daughter?”
“The house burned down. They never found her body, so it was ruled a disappearance.”
“Then I would assume she’s dead. Are you concerned I might be her because of a resemblance? I assure you, I have no connection to the Troxia family. My parents were fishers for generations…”
“Yes, yes. I know that.”
Then what was she even trying to do? Was she probing to see if I really was Troxia’s daughter? Was all this some kind of psychological strategy?
“I don’t understand why you’re telling me all this.”
I said honestly, hoping she’d see me as just a clueless girl.
She propped her elbow up and looked at me—the gaze of a monarch weighing a subject.
“I only meant to say that perhaps the Duke sees you and thinks of the daughter he lost.”
What the hell are you saying? Are you his mom or something?
“I’m not sure what Your Majesty is trying to imply…”
The attendant behind her gave me a warning look, but I ignored it and kept going.
“There’s nothing between the Duke and me. I’m just grateful he took me in.”
“What nonsense.”
She scoffed.
“Did you see the Duke’s face when you collapsed from the poison?”
“…”
“Anyone who saw him then would never believe what you just said.”
My hands were damp with sweat. I had to grip my skirt tightly to hide the trembling.
I couldn’t understand what the Emperor was thinking.
If she truly thought I was important to Calix, then maybe that earlier claim that I wasn’t Troxia meant nothing.
Had she already decided I was Troxia and was just playing a game?
What I really want to know is whether she knows who’s behind the poisoning.
But what did she want from me?
She wants to know how to get to the dragon. That’s obvious.
Ah… So that’s why she offered me a place as a royal mage. So she could keep me close and extract the information.
But if I were really Troxia’s daughter, she had to know I’d never tell her anything. Surely she wasn’t dumb enough to overlook that.
It was all so confusing. My mind was exhausted. I just wanted this conversation to end.
“The Duke treats his people well. I think he was just startled by what happened. As I’ve said, there’s nothing between us.”
“…I see.”
The Emperor finally responded after a long pause.
“Yes, I understand.”
“…”
“Well, we’ll find out for sure in time.”
Is that a threat…?
“The party will resume tomorrow, now that the culprit’s been caught.”
“…”
“I hope you’ll enjoy it like everyone else. You didn’t get to, after all.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“Hans, show Miss Rena out.”
Her attendant finally moved. Until then, he’d been like a statue behind her.
“This way, please.”
I bowed. She waved me off like she couldn’t care less. Just as I turned to follow the attendant, her voice stopped me.
“Miss Rena. Do you know anything about dragons?”
My heart dropped.
I barely held on to my last shred of composure.
“…No. I don’t.”
There was no time to look back. The door shut behind me.
The moment it did, I thought I might faint. I forced strength into my trembling legs.
I need to go somewhere—anywhere—to think.
I was going to ask the attendant to take me to a secluded garden.
But instead, when I looked up, I saw Calix.
I gasped.
“Cal…”
“Returning from your audience with Her Majesty?”
He didn’t even look at me—he addressed the attendant directly.
“Yes, sir. Did you also come to see the Emperor? If you’ll wait just a moment—”
“I did. But I heard Her Majesty had a prior engagement, so I’ve been waiting.”
“Ah, I see. Well, then right now—”
“No, that’s alright. I don’t need to see her anymore. And since you’re escorting Miss Rena, I’ll take her from here. She’s with me, after all.”
Without waiting for a reply, Calix grabbed my hand and pulled me away. The attendant seemed to call something after us, but we were already far down the corridor.
The moment we turned a corner where no one could see us, I let out the breath I’d been holding.
My legs buckled. Calix caught me as I collapsed.
