TRETTHD 57

#57. Purpose, Means, and Sincerity

When she opened her eyes, the dark night had already passed, and dawn was breaking with a faint light.

At some point, Khalid had come and was lying beside her, holding her tightly in his arms. Belia squirmed gently and slipped out of his embrace. Then she got down from the bed and headed for the terrace.

After a bit of sleep, her body felt refreshed.

“Beautiful.”

It had been a long time since she’d been this relaxed, quietly admiring the scenery from the terrace.

The quiet, cool air of dawn began to wrap around the world.

The damp air of the night gradually dried under the morning sun, crackling softly.

Feeling reluctant to let it pass, Belia let out a deep sigh.

At that moment, a blanket draped over her shoulders.

“You’ll catch a cold like that. The mornings and evenings are chilly now.”

“Thank you.”

Belia clutched the blanket tightly.

And then Khalid, without removing the blanket, pulled her fully into his embrace.

“Are you feeling less tired?”

“Yes. I must have fallen asleep yesterday like I’d fainted.”

To his gentle question, Belia responded kindly, as she always did.

Khalid rested his chin on the crown of her head and laughed softly.

The thought that she had been like a child, whining because she was sleepy, was so endearing that it made him smile helplessly.

“So yesterday really was just you being fussy about sleep.”

“…What?”

“I think I can imagine what you were like when you were little.”

“…What’s that supposed to mean?”

Khalid only kept smiling without answering.

Belia, bewildered, tried to turn her head to look at him, but his face pressed firmly against her hair left her unable to move.

He held her for a long time, and only when the sun had risen fully, brightening the world, did he finally let her go.

“Let’s go in now. People will see.”

Belia turned away.

Following her back into the room, Khalid asked,

“How was the tea party yesterday?”

“Ah…”

Knowing the story would be long, Belia sat down on the sofa.

Khalid took the seat across from her.

“We’re going to hold a large charity bazaar.”

“A bazaar?”

“Yes. Many ladies said they wanted to participate.”

“That’s good. Who decided to join?”

Belia smiled at him with a deliberately triumphant expression.

“Hm? That’s quite the victorious look.”

“Hehe.”

“Was it Lady Caprié, the Marquis’s daughter?”

Oh?

Belia’s eyes widened in surprise.

How did he know when she hadn’t even mentioned it?

“You wouldn’t be smiling that smugly for nothing. And the only one who could make you look like that is the Marquis of Caprié’s family, isn’t it?”

He even listed off answers she hadn’t asked for, blinking playfully as if asking her opinion on his deduction.

“Wow. You’re right. Correct.”

How had this man managed to live acting like some idle libertine all this time?

Belia chuckled softly.

“Lady Caprié said she wanted to fully support me. And Lady Sapio and Lady Juberk also expressed interest in joining.”

Not only the Marquis of Caprié’s family, but the Sapio and Juberk households were also immensely wealthy. What’s more, they were actively investing their accumulated wealth into businesses, growing even richer.

They were never families to be underestimated.

“Several others also said they wanted to contribute, even in small ways.”

Belia’s expression was bright with satisfaction.

“That’s good. It seems your reputation has spread widely in society.”

Belia had begun her charitable works and consistently made appearances at various places.

She visited the orphanages she supported every month, met many aspiring artists to help discover new talent, and even personally toured impoverished areas to see conditions firsthand.

While the medical clinic was being built, she arranged for healers to continue providing free care to struggling citizens of the empire.

And all of those costs were borne by Belia herself.

“The rumors spread faster than I expected.”

“Seems you don’t realize how popular you are right now.”

The streets of the empire resounded with praise for Belia.

Never before had a foreign princess received such genuine goodwill from the citizens.

“If you walked through the streets right now, everyone would be trailing behind you, scattering flower petals.”

“Oh, come on. That’s an exaggeration.”

But Belia, in truth, had already sensed it.

Whenever she visited the orphanage, more and more people gathered just to catch a glimpse of her.

Still, she thought such attention would fade soon enough, so she only shrugged.

“I’m just a little more popular than before. Don’t exaggerate.”

Khalid felt wronged.

It wasn’t an exaggeration at all.

“Anyway, having the healers volunteer made a big impact.”

“Yes, I think that was really the right choice. They’re enthusiastic since it’s for a good cause.”

Belia answered lightly.

The healers had been inspired from the very moment Belia personally explained the purpose of the medical aid.

It wasn’t just that they were helping with good deeds. They were deeply moved that Belia—crown princess-to-be, princess of Ronica—had met each of them individually and spoken with them.

Suddenly, another thought came to Khalid, and he said,

“You always speak as though everything is just a means to an end. But when you face people, you’re always sincere.”

Supporting orphanages.

Starting medical aid.

Sponsoring artists.

Preparing for heavy snow…

And—

“Even me—you tried to use me as a means once. But was that really only ever just a means to an end?”

Khalid’s gaze clung tightly to her.

Belia was never a cruel person to begin with.

Though her resolve for revenge was strong, she was not cold enough to treat those unrelated with such harsh indifference.

“The future you know keeps changing.”

And so, in changing time, it was only natural that the hearts of those she had treated with sincerity would change as well.

But Belia would still doubt, again and again.

“All the people you’ve unconsciously faced with sincerity…”

Khalid paused.

“They’re living in this moment. Not ghosts lingering from the life you once endured.”

Belia’s bright smile slowly hardened at his words.

She had changed, and so, of course, the world around her changed too.

But Belia had been denying that obvious truth.

“…I know.”

Her voice trembled as she answered faintly.

But Khalid pressed on.

“No. You don’t.”

His eyes were heavy.

“So don’t look away, as though you can’t believe the citizens’ affection for you is sincere.”

Belia had to realize that she was no longer the empress abandoned by the emperor, mocked by nobles, and shunned by the people.

Khalid pressed the truth firmly again.

“You’re not the same as before.”

Every small step she had taken—determined not to let tragedy repeat—had already opened up a vast difference.

Standing here now was not a powerless, fragile empress, but a strong, resolute Belia.

“Am I really… different from back then?”

Belia’s pupils trembled faintly.

Like cracks spreading through a mirror, the lingering fragments of her past self shattered slowly.

The foolish empress who once believed another’s glory could become her light broke into pieces and scattered away.

“You believe in your own abilities, so why do you doubt the goodwill of others? Isn’t it all something you yourself created?”

To lighten the stiff mood, Khalid softened his expression and added teasingly,

“If you really don’t believe me, why don’t we walk through the streets together next time?”

He whispered that if they did, people would follow behind them, showering flowers.

“Let’s become like the Pied Piper together. How about it? A trail of cheers and flower petals behind us.”

His bright grin gradually loosened the stiffness in Belia’s expression as well.

“I’d like to ride on your popularity too, to feel that flower rain. Doesn’t that sound fun?”

Left unchecked, he looked ready to take her hand and head into the streets that very moment.

A faint smile finally returned to Belia’s face.

“And what if nothing happens?”

“Then we’ll just turn it into a date for the two of us.”

Khalid flashed her a mischievous grin.

“Forget it. You’re too busy these days.”

“Mm, what a shame.”

He stood with mock sulkiness—then suddenly lifted Belia up and hugged her tight.

“Belia, you will be the most beloved empress in the empire’s history. I promise you that.”

Such endlessly gentle words.

But Belia’s lips could not easily part in reply.

Those words were so utterly different from the curses once heaped upon her.

“Didn’t I promise to return what was taken from you?”

Khalid asked, though he didn’t wait for an answer before continuing,

“Even if it was in a time I never knew, I’ll return the glory that was stolen from you.”

Khalid’s words lingered in her mind.

The stolen glory…

Her heart felt restless.

But there was still much work to be done today.

Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Belia forced the distractions aside.

“…Sigh.”

Straightening her posture, she picked up her pen. She needed to send word to those who had promised to join the bazaar, to invite them to the palace.

It seemed best to meet them next week to discuss schedules and plans.

She had already prepared an outline, but their input would finalize it.

And above all, it was important to build closer ties with them.

After writing several letters with care, Belia leaned back against the chair, tilting her head far back. Her neck felt stiff.

The most beloved empress in the empire…?

A laugh slipped from her lips.

The phrase seemed far too ill-suited to her.

And yet, here in the Ingot Empire of all places, people were supposedly offering her unconditional goodwill.

“…Unbelievable.”

But Khalid had told her to remember that what existed now were not the ghosts of her memories, but things living in this very moment.

Belia covered her eyes with both hands as her heart grew faint and distant.

Human emotions are fleeting. They’ll surely change and falter easily.

And yet—she wanted to believe Khalid’s words.

She wanted to believe him.

…

She hated that she still doubted—thinking his affection would soon vanish, that all of this was only temporary.

In her mind, she could almost hear Raul’s mocking voice: asking her how, after all she had endured, she could still want to love again, still want to trust someone wholly.

Belia was still bound to her past life. Piece by piece, she was shaking it off, but erasing it entirely was not so easy.

Khalid is not Raul.

And yet—

“…Sigh.”

She cut off the sprouting unease with a sharp exhale.

Then, hiding her face in her hands, she laid it down against the desk.

“…No. He’s different.”

He won’t change.

It’s okay to trust him.

He is not Raul.

“Don’t be afraid, Belia.”

She whispered the words to herself over and over.

Don’t be afraid, Belia.