#72. I Will Make You My Empress
The walk to the Central Palace felt unusually short today. Maybe it was because her head was filled with too many thoughts. Her tangled emotions refused to settle.
Erze had promised to return at the appointed time after sightseeing in the capital that morning. By now, she was probably waiting at their meeting spot.
Though she had asked for Belia’s help to visit the greenhouse, after hearing so many things through the maids, Belia could no longer see it as a request made with pure intentions.
Belia let out a small sigh.
“Look, there she is. But…”
The maid walking alongside her trailed off, unable to finish her sentence.
Belia had already seen the same thing.
Why was Erze standing together with Raul?
“…I can’t imagine what she’s thinking, meeting with His Highness like that.”
“Enough.”
Belia cut off the maid’s grumbling in a low voice.
“Don’t add fuel to unproven rumors. The imperial palace is a place where one must always guard their tongue.”
“Yes, Princess. Forgive me.”
Even so, Belia couldn’t deny that the scene before her unsettled her.
Her eyes grew cold as she slowly approached them.
“We meet again, Your Highness.”
“Haha, it’s been a while.”
“…You seem to have been in conversation.”
“Indeed. On my way back from paying respects to His Majesty, I happened to meet Lady Erze of House Kinetra. She mentioned she was headed to the greenhouse…”
“That is correct.”
No sooner had Belia replied curtly than Erze brightened with a radiant smile.
“Princess! In fact, His Highness said he would personally guide me through the greenhouse!”
“…Is that so? Surely you must be busy. Still, I am grateful.”
“It is no trouble to spare a little time for a guest who came all the way to the palace.”
Belia found it almost laughable, this absurd situation—Raul and Erze standing together, saying such things to her.
And yet, once again, she had no desire to get entangled with the two of them.
“If His Highness is kind enough to accompany you, then my task is done. I shall take my leave.”
“What?”
“Your request was to see the greenhouse. Since you cannot enter alone, you asked for my help. But now that His Highness has offered to guide you, I needn’t remain.”
“P-Princess!”
Erze’s eyes went wide in shock at Belia’s cool explanation. She didn’t seem to be scheming—yet in the end, her actions always brought Belia nothing but trouble. Even unintentional, an encounter like this with Raul could never leave Belia with good feelings toward Erze.
“You’ve come this far. Why not go together?”
“My apologies, Your Highness. I made time despite my busy schedule.”
Even when Raul urged her, Belia deflected with a polite excuse. Raul only smiled more warmly and spoke in a gentle tone.
“Belia.”
At the sound of her name, Belia turned a sharp gaze on him.
He was doing this deliberately, trying to put her in a difficult position.
Yet with Erze present, she could not snap at him in open rudeness.
Belia lowered her voice.
“Please, watch your words, Your Highness.”
“Wouldn’t it be discourteous to send a princess away after bringing her here?”
Raul stepped closer, leaning toward her ear, whispering so softly only she could hear:
“Besides, it was you who made the promise to Lady Erze. If you walk away here, at the main gates where all can see, would it not make you look foolish?”
The smile in his voice was chilling.
“So, for now, do as I say.”
Belia bit her lip hard.
“Wow! It’s even more beautiful than the rumors!”
Though winter was near, the air inside was pleasantly warm, maintained year-round by magic stones.
The glass greenhouse, pride of the palace, overflowed with vibrant greenery of every kind. Belia had always loved its lively atmosphere.
At least, she once had.
“It’s a shame it’s reserved for royalty, else more could enjoy it. Don’t you agree?”
Raul glanced back at Belia, who trailed behind him.
“Yes.”
Her answer was flat.
Raul didn’t seem to mind. Watching Erze flit happily about, he remarked,
“So pure and lovely, isn’t she?”
Belia had no idea why he would say such a thing to her. Was he expecting her to join in his praise?
“…It seems Lady Kinetra has caught Your Highness’s fancy.”
“Haha. Is that jealousy I hear?”
“A dangerous joke, should someone overhear. Why on earth would I?”
“For me, there has only ever been you.”
“…If Your Highness intends to continue with such nonsense, I have no wish to remain here.”
She cut him off in irritation and turned away, but Raul stepped in front of her, smiling tenderly.
“Belia.”
She couldn’t simply storm off now.
Suppressing her annoyance, she exhaled heavily and spoke in a weary tone:
“Enough, Your Highness. The one who looks pitiable here isn’t me—it’s you.”
There was only one reason she endured this tiresome exchange.
I need to know for certain.
Was Raul’s sudden change of attitude because he had regained memories of his past life?
Belia decided to gamble.
“What is it that Your Highness thinks you know of me? Do you imagine a fleeting moment in Ronica was enough to understand me completely?”
“I may not know all of you, but I know with certainty you will take my hand.”
“And why would I, when Khalid exists?”
Raul opened his mouth, then shut it again, dropping his gaze with a bitter expression. Belia’s lips curved faintly as she pressed him.
“You’re hardly so remarkable that I would choose you over Khalid.”
Her pointed comparison struck his pride—his lips twitched.
“Is there something you desire? Whatever it is, I will give it to you.”
“Then…”
Belia slipped a particular test into her words—something the Raul of the past would surely know.
“Can you gift me a Duisita, the flower that grows only in the far northern reaches?”
Duisita bloomed solely in the frozen northern mountains, a rare flower indeed.
By asking this, Belia meant to test Raul’s knowledge—and his truth.
She had a reason for naming this flower.
Because you killed me with it.
The symptoms after she drank that poisoned tea, its unusual fragrance, and her own secret investigation had revealed it: the dried root of the Duisita, when brewed, released a deadly toxin that burned through the organs.
That was what Raul had once slipped into her cup.
Even if Raul pretends ignorance, I know his tells when he lies. This will prove whether he remembers or not.
If he had no past memories, he would not connect the flower to poison. If he did remember, he would feign ignorance.
“For you, nothing is impossible. But just a ‘Duisita’? Belia, I could lay all the treasures of the world at your feet. I can give you what Khalid never could.”
“…Anything at all?”
“Of course. The only reason you chose Khalid before was because you couldn’t trust my heart then. You’re perceptive. So I will speak plainly.”
Raul humbled himself, pleading openly.
It was a stranger before her—not the Raul she once knew.
“At first, yes, I sought you for your background. I hid my feelings and approached with false intent. But when I saw you choose another man’s hand over mine… I realized my heart was true.”
How laughable.
When she had once longed for him, he had cast her aside. Only now, when her love had long since turned to hatred and the hunger for revenge, did he claim sincerity.
“You must still doubt me. But Belia, you were right—hearts do change. And mine has. I cannot live without you. You alone belong at my side.”
Belia studied his face carefully.
His usual tic when lying—a faint squint of one eye—was absent.
The subtle tilt of his head whenever he concealed something also never came.
…Was I mistaken?
Confusion tore at her. Why had he changed so completely, if not for his memories?
The possessive gleam in his eyes now was nothing like the man she once knew. Back then, he was a beast cloaked in civility. Now, he bore the air of a seasoned ruler.
If he did remember, he would’ve reacted at the name ‘Duisita’…
But she saw none of the tells she knew so well.
Could it really be that losing her to Khalid alone had changed him this much?
Raul cupped her cheek gently and whispered,
“Belia. I love you.”
“…Ha.”
Love? How absurd.
She slapped his hand away.
Then, refusing to dignify him with a reply, she moved to walk past. But Raul seized her arm.
“It’s the truth.”
“…Release me.”
“I can wait. Even if you take the wrong path, you’ll circle back to the destination. You’ll return to me—I’ll be ready.”
“What nonsense—!”
Belia ground her teeth, anger ready to spill, when Erze’s bright voice rang out:
“Your Highness! Princess! There’s a little pond over here!”
Belia jerked back from Raul, looking toward the sound. Erze came skipping toward them with a carefree smile.
Had she seen?
Heard?
Belia let out a sharp breath.
“Don’t speak to me again. Next time, I won’t let it pass.”
And with that, she brushed past Raul and walked straight toward Erze.
