ITTW CH 06

The military officer lowered his head.

If that was the case, he should have requested more troops earlier. What was the point of saying it only now?

That man’s head would be gone today. If he was lucky, it would end with nothing more than dismissal from his post.

The ministers closed their eyes. Some even covered their ears in advance, bracing themselves for the coming thunderous wrath.

The officer pressed his forehead against the floor and waited for the emperor’s words. But no punishment came, no furious shout fell.

“Good.”

“Pardon my death-worthy— …What?”

“I said good.”

The officer jerked his head up. The emperor was smiling—rarely so.

He blinked rapidly, wondering if he had seen wrong.

But the emperor’s expression did not change. He even leaned back leisurely, as if completely at ease.

“How many troops do you need?”

“Thirty thousand. Thirty thousand will be enough.”

“Understood.”

The officer bowed deeply again. It was an uncommon mercy granted by the emperor.

As he left the chamber, he unconsciously touched his neck.

“Was he in a good mood for some reason?”

The ministers were just as bewildered. They were relieved to have escaped with their lives, but none could understand the emperor’s sudden leniency.

“I wonder.”

They all tilted their heads at the same time.

But no answer came. Their heads remained tilted in confusion for a long while.

* * *

“Rhelan.”

Bastian sighed outside the door.

Rhelan was pacing around her room. It was a habit she had when she had something to think about or was troubled.

When she realized the door had opened, she stopped moving.

Bastian gestured toward the table.

Rhelan sat down and lowered her head immediately. A heavy exhale fell to the floor.

“When did you start seeing that man?”

“About a year and a half ago.”

“I’m surprised. That I was the only one who didn’t know such a long-kept secret.”

Rhelan kept her head down.

Bastian called for a servant to bring cold water. Even after drinking it in one go, his agitation did not settle.

If anything, it only boiled hotter.

How anxious must Lillian have been after learning this first?

She must have been thinking hard, trying to find a solution with her small head. She probably hadn’t slept properly for quite some time.

“If something like this happened, you should have told me first.”

Then they could have found a solution together.

Honestly. Both Lillian and Rhelan were far too foolish.

“Sorry, brother.”

“Fine. I understand.”

Bastian sighed.

Rhelan’s silence must have been because she feared their father.

He had ruled this house like a tyrant for a long time.

If something displeased him, he would shout, skip meals, or even raise his hand.

Even young Bastian had feared him.

To his younger self, their father had been a giant—an unshakable fortress, an insurmountable wall.

Living like that for so long, he had forgotten.

That they were already adults. That their father was no longer what he used to be. That they were now strong enough to stand against him.

“We stayed too long in our father’s shadow.”

The day Lillian left with the emperor, their father collapsed.

He had always been in poor health. He had clung to life with sheer ambition.

But the moment the thread holding him together disappeared, he simply broke.

Even a few hours ago, Bastian had gone to see him.

He was lying alone in his room. The physician said the chances of him getting up were extremely low.

“It was that child who pointed out our mistake.”

Nothing in this world is eternal.

He used to say it as if it were obvious truth—but why had he never applied it to their father?

“…Yes.”

Rhelan finally looked up.

“Then forget about Father. What do we do now?”

But her face was still drained of strength. She sighed again.

“Lillian is still in the Imperial Palace.”

“We bring her back.”

Rhelan had chosen her lover on her own. Lillian, too, should choose freely—not under coercion.

There was no reason for her to act as anyone’s substitute.

“That would be nice, but… do you have a plan? Lillian was taken directly by His Majesty.”

“It’s simple.”

Bastian smiled slightly.

Seeing Rhelan lift her head from despair always made the next steps feel easier.

“We storm the Imperial Palace.”

He tightened his grip on the palace pass issued to imperial knights.

* * *

As soon as the imperial council ended, Kael interrogated his attendant.

The attendant, as if expecting it, immediately revealed Lillian’s location.

The garden. The same place where he had met her that morning.

And indeed, Lillian was there.

She seemed to like flowers. Her face was bright as she looked over the colorful blossoms.

She stood before a red flower. When she noticed Kael, she straightened.

“Do you like that flower?”

“Yes.”

Lillian nodded. Kael reached for the stem.

“Shall I give it to you?”

“No. Please leave it. It’ll wither quickly if you pick it.”

She stopped his hand by holding it gently. Kael obediently let go.

Lillian smiled brightly. It was a smile without fear, without greed.

He found her strange. It was the first time anyone had shown him such an expression.

“If she had obvious desire, I could use it.”

Then he would have made a deal and bound her.

But that wasn’t possible. It made him uneasy. He didn’t know how to hold onto someone who wanted nothing from him.

Kael forced down the hand he almost reached toward her with.

“I promised. I wouldn’t leave. I would stay by your side.”

She had promised to let him sleep again tonight.

He must not act recklessly. If Lillian left again, he would return to sleepless nights with no end in sight.

So he must avoid doing anything she disliked.

Especially now, when he didn’t even know what she liked.

“Do you like flowers, Your Majesty?”

“Me? Not at all.”

Kael folded his arms and looked around. Then he noticed the head maid.

She gestured toward Lillian.

The emperor must treat Lady McKellion properly!

This morning, the head maid had insisted he needed to win Lillian’s favor.

You are currently at a disadvantage! You practically abducted her to the palace, you held her and fell asleep next to her—she is only fortunate she didn’t refuse to ever come back! This is a blessing from heaven!

Kael had listened in silence. She was not wrong.

In the past two days, his mind—clouded with fatigue and irritation—had only focused on when he could sleep again.

If there truly was no way to sleep forever, then fine—but once he experienced that sweetness, he wanted it again.

Then he saw the note Lillian had sent. He nearly lost his composure.

He moved the moment the appointed time arrived.

He went to the ducal estate and saw Lillian.

After that… he couldn’t remember what he did.

If Lady Lillian stays in the palace, Your Majesty can keep sleeping.

The maid kept pressing him.

Kael also wanted to do well—if possible.

A moment later, for the first time in his life, he corrected himself.

“No. I actually do like them.”

“Really?”

Lillian smiled faintly. The maid buried her face in her hands.

Something had gone wrong.

Kael understood the signal—but whether it referred to flowers or something else, he couldn’t tell.

He had no idea what he was supposed to say.

This is difficult.

The Duke of McKellion had been easy to deal with. A bit of gold, a nod or two, and he would be pleased.

But Lillian was different.

Even her clothes were simple indoor wear—not luxurious at all.

“Then is there anything you want besides flowers?”

“No. Others already take care of what I need.”

“Then…”

What should I give to keep you by my side?

Kael anxiously licked his lips.

“Greetings, Your Majesty.”

A rustle of grass. A familiar voice followed.

“May I ask what brings you here?”

Kael frowned.

A man bowed deeply.

“I’ve come to take my sister home.”

“Home?”

When Kael tilted his head—

“Yes. Home.”

The man smiled brightly.

* * *

“You’re taking her back?”

The emperor’s eyes wavered as he glared at Bastian.

His expression was—surprisingly—like a child whose mother refused to buy him a toy.

“Lillian is my sister, but she is also a McKellion noble. Your Majesty, she is still unmarried.”

Bastian tightened his grip on my hand as he spoke clearly, word by word.

“Forgive my disrespect, but unless Lillian formally belongs to the imperial family, even Your Majesty cannot restrict her freedom.”

“…Will you go?”

Before Bastian pulled me away, the emperor grabbed my other hand.

His throat bobbed.

If I said yes, he looked like he might lie down right there.

“You promised me.”

His voice lowered.

“That you would come to my chamber tonight as well.”

I flinched.

It was true—but still.

“Is that true?”

Bastian’s eyes widened. He looked at the emperor as if he were a thief.

“Yes, to put him to sleep.”

Bastian took a deep breath.

“Of course. His Majesty needs to sleep at night.”

His shoulders finally relaxed.

I waved my arm slightly in Bastian’s grip, signaling him to let go.

But he didn’t.

Instead, he stepped even closer. So close that my breath nearly brushed his chin.