Chapter 8
“You’re just trying to seduce a high-ranking man to turn your life around, aren’t you? They say daughters follow in their mothers’ footsteps—don’t get too greedy, or you might just lose your head.”
In the past, such words from Kadelia might have wounded Ophelia, or perhaps she would’ve just laughed bitterly at Kadelia’s tantrum.
More likely the former.
Especially because right now, Kadelia was mocking the fact that Ophelia’s mother had died in a so-called “accident” after giving birth to her.
It would’ve been easier if she felt angry.
‘How annoying…’
It was nearly time to leave—she didn’t have the luxury to waste time on this.
She needed to send Kadelia away quickly.
Ophelia let out a quiet sigh and opened her mouth.
“I don’t know where you heard that saying about daughters inheriting their mothers’ fates, but you’d be wise not to throw it around so lightly. You’re a daughter too, remember? What will you do if you end up in an unwanted political marriage, just like someone else?”
“…What?”
Kadelia’s brow furrowed at Ophelia’s cold tone.
“Do you really think you and I are the same? His Majesty promised me—he swore he wouldn’t sell me off in some political marriage!”
“We’ll see…”
But I already know what your future holds.
Promises are easy to make—especially when you have a daughter perfectly suited for selling off like now.
Even love that seems eternal can be reversed—why wouldn’t a simple promise to a daughter be?
Watching Kadelia cling to such a flimsy promise was almost laughable. Ophelia gave her a cold smile.
Her blind belief resembled her past self too closely.
Back when she thought words would always be kept.
So, she decided to extend one final kindness.
“Think carefully, Kadelia. It’s true that His Majesty cherishes you. But if a dire situation arises—between the nation and his daughter, who do you think he’ll choose?”
“…Stop it.”
“Don’t assume you’ll be the choice. You’ll just end up crying later.”
“Stop it! I said stop it! What do you know, running your mouth like that!”
Kadelia, who had gone momentarily silent, suddenly screamed and raised her hand.
Children often resort to violence when their tantrums don’t work.
I really shouldn’t have bothered being kind.
Thinking that, Ophelia moved to swat Kadelia’s hand away—
But then a voice interrupted.
“What’s going on here?”
She didn’t need to anymore.
Aleigh had appeared, holding Kadelia’s wrist.
“You didn’t come back for a while, so I came looking…”
Aleigh, with his usual indifferent expression, glanced between Kadelia and Ophelia before speaking again.
“…Is this how you usually spend your time?”
Was it just her imagination, or was there a subtle edge to his tone?
Ophelia tilted her head slightly, then waved a hand.
“No, it’s nothing serious. Is everything ready outside?”
“We’ll depart as soon as Your Highness boards. Have you finished packing?”
“Of course. Just need to wrap up… Are you not going to let Kadelia go?”
Ophelia turned her gaze to Kadelia, still struggling in Aleigh’s grip.
But Aleigh didn’t seem even slightly fazed by her resistance.
Kadelia’s face was red with fury as she shouted and kicked at Aleigh’s shin.
“Do you even know who I am? How dare you behave so rudely! Let me go!”
“Judging by your attitude, you must be nobility—or maybe royalty? You look similar to Her Highness over there. Are you perhaps of royal blood?”
Aleigh, completely unbothered by her kicks, held her wrist casually and continued.
“That’s right! I’m the Crown Princess of the Empire—how dare you treat me like this! My father will never forgive you!”
“How strange. From what I know, the Crown Princess is standing right over there. Isn’t everyone of the Emperor’s bloodline technically royal?”
Aleigh feigned ignorance, then straightened from where he’d bent to Kadelia’s height.
“To claim you’re the princess when she’s right here… Suspicious, isn’t it? I can’t let someone this questionable stay near Her Highness.”
“I am the only daughter of His Majesty and Her Majesty—Kadel—!”
Kadelia shouted indignantly, but she didn’t even get to finish.
Before the words were out of her mouth, Aleigh snapped his fingers, and she disappeared.
Eyes wide, Ophelia stared at the spot where Kadelia had vanished.
“That was teleportation, wasn’t it?”
“Seems like it.”
“Only a handful of people in the Empire can pull that off. Where did you send her?”
“No idea. Somewhere far, I’d guess. Somewhere in the palace—she’ll find her way eventually.”
As Aleigh brushed dust off his pants where she had kicked him, Ophelia gave a small smile.
“Why are you smiling? I’m right here.”
“It’s just… you’re the first person I’ve seen treat Kadelia like that.”
“Well. She did seem worse than the rumors.”
“But… is it really okay to treat her like that?”
Ophelia’s voice held a note of concern, the earlier amusement fading slightly.
Despite nearly being slapped just moments ago, she was worrying about him.
Aleigh knew Kadelia wouldn’t be able to find him.
He had used high-tier teleportation magic, deliberately.
Sure, if she searched just by appearance, maybe. But if she were to investigate by magical skill…
Well, his name wasn’t even on the official list of high-rank mages.
Though, it wouldn’t matter even if they did find out.
High-tier mages were too valuable to be discarded easily.
And if word got out that he could teleport, the Empire wouldn’t dare kill him.
Of course, Ophelia probably wasn’t thinking that far ahead.
Still, is she just naïve… or indifferent to herself?
Most people would be worried after nearly getting hit, but she was focused on him.
That mysterious look of kindness again.
Every time he received that gaze, it made something inside him uncomfortable.
“…”
Aleigh stared at Ophelia for a moment before turning away.
“…At worst, they’ll try to kill me. Now, let’s go. They’re waiting outside.”
“Oh, right. Are we late?”
Ophelia furrowed her brow slightly.
Lilith, her direct subordinate accompanying her to Radeen, never liked Ophelia.
More importantly, she was placed there by the royal family to monitor her—and always found fault with whatever Ophelia did.
If Ophelia was late, she’d be questioned thoroughly and endlessly.
Luckily, Aleigh was with her.
He noticed her concern and said,
“We’re not too late. I just got lost trying to find the palace.”
At least the return trip will be easy.
“I’ll take you quickly—so make sure you’re ready to explain everything, as promised.”
With that, Aleigh snapped his fingers.
And Ophelia learned, for the first time, just how nauseating teleportation could be.
A brief thought crossed her mind:
Maybe dealing with Lilith would’ve been easier.
The port city of Radeen, located in the southern part of the Milesset Empire.
There were two reasons why Ophelia was assigned as an inspector in Radeen.
First, because the lord of Radeen was unmarried.
The Emperor’s goal was to use Ophelia for a strategic marriage—and a lord of a trade port like Radeen would be a politically advantageous match.
Second, because of Radeen’s geographical features.
Despite being a coastal city, it was surprisingly isolated.
Not only was it surrounded by mountains, but the main road had collapsed one day.
The road ran alongside a canal, and during the flooding season, the ground weakened until it finally gave out—cutting off access completely.
As a result, Radeen became a perfect place to avoid the royal family’s gaze.
And the cunning Emperor couldn’t let that slide.
He ordered reconstruction of the canal-side road this year—and sent Ophelia to oversee the inspection.
But from another angle, that meant:
“Radeen is the best place in the Empire to escape from.”
Anywhere else, avoiding imperial surveillance would be nearly impossible—but Radeen was different.
And most importantly, it was close to the place Ophelia actually wanted to go.
I want to leave immediately… but…
There’s still much to prepare.
And the first of those things was the person she’d recently roped in—
Aleigh.
As they rode the carriage toward Radeen, Ophelia began.
“Before I explain anything, let me make this clear. Aleigh, helping you wasn’t out of pure kindness.”
At her declaration, Aleigh nodded as if he’d expected it.
“…I assumed as much. You reached out because you want something in return.”
“Disappointed it wasn’t a pure gesture?”
“No. Relieved, actually. If it had been pure, I’d have been uncomfortable.”
His firm, slightly bitter response made Ophelia blink, then quickly move on.
She remembered—Aleigh had always been blunt.
“Well, that makes things easier. It’s a give-and-take relationship, after all.”
“Wouldn’t expect anything less.”
Aleigh chuckled dryly and tapped the floor of the carriage with his toe, as if thinking.
“So, what exactly do you want me to do for you?”
