Chapter 86
Kaiden’s breath hitched at Reina’s thought process.
She was razor-sharp when it came to imperial politics or the North’s situation, yet when it came to him, she always got the address wrong.
He wasn’t the only romance-blind one. Reina was worse—she didn’t even recognize it.
“No, I—”
Kaiden tried to explain slowly, but Reina was faster.
“I already told Ben to move both your things and mine. So let’s sleep together.”
Good lord, she moves fast.
Kaiden let out a quiet sigh at Reina’s thoroughness.
He couldn’t exactly order the luggage moved back.
That would spark rumors that the Crensia duke and duchess were on bad terms.
Unlike the North, the capital residence was crawling with spies.
Ones he had allowed in. No matter how hard he tried, catching them all was impossible—so he kept them where he could watch.
‘Ha, this is properly twisted.’
He had zero confidence he could share a bed with her and do nothing.
Even now, just looking at her face made his body react.
How the hell was he supposed to sleep chastely in the same bed?
If he refused, Reina would definitely be hurt.
Her logic was airtight—zero flaws.
So the oblivious princess would surely misunderstand that he disliked her.
And that was worse than death. Kaiden’s mouth went dry.
“Who are you trying to kill…”
At his quiet mutter, Reina leaned in.
“Hm? What? I didn’t catch that.”
Her pale blue eyes sparkled beautifully today, too.
The pert nose and dainty lips beneath looked like the ripest fruit.
His gaze clouded. He barely restrained the instinct to crash his lips into hers and gently pushed her back.
“…Nothing. Fine. We’ll do that, Reina.”
Kaiden washed his face with his hands, foreseeing the ordeal ahead.
* * *
Returning to the Crensia residence, Rose immediately sought Reina.
“Madam, I’m back.”
She handed over the note and the jewel case. Reina tilted her head at the case.
“What’s this?”
“They said it’s from the Holy Kingdom.”
“Ah.”
At the mention of the Holy Kingdom, Reina nodded at once.
A few days ago, she had told Isadal she was heading to the capital—he had promised to send what she needed.
‘Didn’t expect it to be jewelry, though.’
Reina set the case aside and checked the note first.
[Information obtained: A person resembling J in appearance is participating as a fighter in the duel arena.
A special VIP match is scheduled soon at the arena.
Plan to make contact at the small reception afterward.
Routes to obtain the invitation are as follows.
Destroy after reading.]
“!”
News of Jeffery—after so long.
Over the past year, Reina had narrowed down several places he might be imprisoned.
With Kaiden’s help, she had searched—but failed every time.
The only places left were inside the imperial palace.
The paranoid emperor would likely keep him somewhere within reach.
Especially the underground chamber where she had been imprisoned in her previous life.
If she hadn’t gone blind, she could have located it.
That was her greatest regret.
The idea of walking back into the place she’d been trapped for ten years terrified her—but if it meant finding her brother, she would do anything.
Then came the welcome news of someone resembling Jeffery.
‘I thought he was locked away.’
A person with no trace for a year suddenly appeared.
Right after she arrived in the capital.
The note detailed the arena’s location, its operator, and encrypted routes to obtain an invitation—using ancient Holy Kingdom script to prevent leaks.
Reina decoded it and blinked.
‘This person is from the Julid family?’
The arena operator was from Julid, of all places.
Simon Zieg.
A notorious usurer in Lunin, skilled in illegal money laundering.
He managed Julid’s slush funds—later executed for embezzlement.
He ran the duel arena. And being Julid-affiliated lent credibility to the intel.
Julid was also Crown Prince Siegfried’s maternal family.
The emperor called Siegfried his greatest masterpiece—his spitting image.
They could be accomplices.
Even if Julid had set a trap, she couldn’t ignore the first lead on her brother.
‘Julid family… then the way to get the invitation…’
Reina hurriedly pulled something from the invitation basket.
“Isabel being useful for once.”
Fortunately, Lavender’s invitation hadn’t been discarded yet.
She could use other methods if unwilling, but there was no reason to take the hard way when an easy one existed.
Reina took out stationery and began writing a reply accepting the Lavender meeting—elegantly formal, tailored to Isabel’s taste.
Unaware that Isabel would collapse with rage upon receiving it.
Next, Reina opened the jewel case—and doubted her eyes.
“This is…”
Inside was a charm that could be added to a bracelet.
A gem radiating Isadal’s divine power.
Definitely a holy relic.
Confused by a gift whose use she didn’t know, she spotted a card inside.
[Have you arrived safely in the imperial capital?
I send an item essential for your beginning.
As long as you possess this, no one will know the divine beast is manifested.
Even if you use foresight. Unless they have dragon-like senses, only you will see the beast’s true form.
It will also serve as a gauge for how much life force is required when you use your power.
You will naturally understand how to use it upon wearing it.
May God’s blessing be with you until we meet again.
— Isadal]
A gauge?
That’s possible?
‘I was just worrying about what to do with Ritsi…’
Unlike the past, Ritsi was always manifested now.
Michael had warned it wasn’t normal.
She had wondered how to hide it—and Isadal remembered and sent this.
‘I thought he’d forgotten. He remembered everything.’
Despite his cold face and stiff speech, he had a surprisingly delicate side.
From the moment she resolved to become emperor, he had supported her with everything he had.
Sometimes she wondered if Isadal had lived her previous life with her—he knew so much about her.
She was grateful he didn’t just help hide her power, but enabled her to use it well.
Being able to wield Ritsi’s power at will—unlike before—made her happy.
Reina fiddled with the charm.
He had modified the relic into a bracelet charm, considering she was a noble lady.
She attached it to the bracelet Kaiden had given her for her birthday.
The moment she did, the charm glowed, and something flashed through her mind.
At the same time, she saw Isadal’s divine power form a barrier around Ritsi’s body.
“Wow…”
Reina whispered in awe.
As Isadal said—it was exactly what she needed.
* * *
The Holy Kingdom, land blessed by God.
In the main hall of the Grand Temple, Isadal finished his prayer and looked out the window.
The full moon cast a dim glow; the sky, clear as if foretelling the calm before the storm.
He glanced at the bracelet on his wrist. The golden gem sparkled.
A sign that its pair had safely reached its owner.
