WCMT 07

<Episode 7>

All the valuable treasures were gone — only small, insignificant jewels rolled around like pebbles.

There were still some gold coins scattered about, but the mountain-sized heap I’d once had was now barely enough to reach my hips.

Who the hell… Who dares to rob the great Emperor’s treasury?!

I stood there for a long time, fuming.

No matter how I thought about it, there was only one person capable of opening this vault.

“That bastard Pellion!”

It had to be him.

Rafail also knew about the vault’s existence, but he had never once shown interest in my wealth.

Besides, I’d never told anyone else the obnoxious, self-indulgent password I’d set up!

That meant someone had dispelled the magic and opened the vault—which should have been impossible.

Pellion always used to brag that no sorcerer in the world could surpass him. And honestly, he wasn’t wrong.

Even if someone could, what lunatic would dare sneak into the imperial palace and rob the Emperor’s vault?

Well… Pellion would. Because that bastard is a lunatic.

“Do you have any idea! How hard! I worked! For this treasure?!”

Grinding my teeth, I roughly stuffed the few remaining gems into a sack.

“Just wait till I see you again. You’re dead.”

Sorcerers live long lives—he might still be alive somewhere.

Sure, he’s probably a wrinkled old man by now, but who cares? He stole the Emperor’s treasure—he’s not getting away with that. I’ll show him what it means to attack a senior citizen.

Even after filling the sack, a few gold coins were left scattered, but compared to what I’d originally gathered, they were nothing but dust.

I thought about grabbing another sack—but decided to leave the rest as an emergency fund.

Damn it, now I’m angry all over again just thinking about my secret stash!

I stomped and shouted as I packed the gems, but my anger didn’t cool down.

Still, an Emperor must always act with purpose. Without forgetting my main objective, I shoved my autobiography into the top of the sack.

History must be corrected.

Still seething, I gripped the sack’s mouth like someone’s hair and dragged it along the floor.

Gods, this thing’s heavy.

Thudding steps echoed as I climbed back to the surface, circling around the palace’s outer walls—when I noticed small lights approaching rapidly from the garden.

I froze, trying to see who would be wandering the palace grounds this late at night.

The figures wore hoods. Suspicious.

Should I call the guards?

I hesitated—then suddenly heard my name being called from afar.

“Ria!”

The person leading the group hastily reined in their horse and leapt down.

The hood fell back, revealing her face—

—and I froze on the spot.

In the flickering crimson light, that face…

Yulcian?

She looked exactly like my son.

If not for being a girl, I would’ve mistaken her for him.

So she really is of my bloodline…

Lost in that strange feeling, I let the girl approach and throw her arms around me.

“Ria! What are you doing out here this late? Were you waiting for me?”

Even in my daze, my sharp mind quickly identified her.

“Kynesia?”

“Mm-hm! What, don’t believe your sister’s back already?”

I just nodded, roughly pretending that was the case, and steadied myself. The nostalgia that had flickered inside me began to fade as I looked at her closely.

When I pulled my hand from her grasp, Kynesia’s eyes drifted toward the sack.

“What’s that?”

“You’ll find out tomorrow.”

“Wait, is it a gift? For me?”

“…You could say that.”

Kynesia smiled brightly, hugged me once more, then turned to the knights behind her.

“You’ve all done well hurrying the schedule for my return. Go and rest now.”

“Yes, Princess.”

The knights saluted neatly and withdrew.

Kynesia took my hand again and started toward the main palace—then noticed the charred ruins of the annex.

“What happened there?”

“It burned down. Guess there wasn’t enough money to fix it.”

“So they just left it like that? The envoys will be here soon—people will look down on us if they see it.”

Finally—someone who makes sense. No wonder she seems smart; she takes after my son.

I looked at her with satisfaction as she reached toward my sack.

“Ria, it looks heavy. Let me carry it for you.”

“I’ve got it.”

She smiled awkwardly, pulled her hand back, and walked on.

“What about the kids and our parents?”

“Sleeping, probably.”

When I said it flatly, Kynesia blinked in surprise.

“What?”

“It’s just… You’ve changed, Ria. You used to be so cute a few years ago.”

“Kids grow up fast.”

She reached to pinch my cheek, but I dodged and stepped inside.

We stood facing each other with a bit of distance between us.

“Well then, see you in the morning.”

“You’re not begging to share a bed with me? Not even asking me not to leave again?”

“Please. I’m not a kid anymore.”

I snorted and turned toward the stairs.

Royal bedrooms were on the second floor, so I expected to hear her footsteps following—but silence lingered behind me.

I turned back instinctively. She stood still, staring right at me.

“Forgot which room is yours?”

“No… of course not.”

Kynesia shook her head, took a few steps forward, and gave me a soft smile.

“Good night, Ria.”

I just nodded and headed to my room.

The Next Morning

“Kynesia!”

As soon as she entered the dining hall, Floretta rushed into her arms. Kynesia gently patted her little sister’s back.

Fonent stood up awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.

“Oh, you’re back.”

“Yeah. How’ve you been?”

“Eh, same old.”

Kynesia glanced around as she walked toward him.

“Where’s Ria?”

“She’s not down yet,” Floretta replied, stepping out of her embrace.

Kynesia thought back to last night’s encounter.

It was late… but surely someone woke her up and got her ready by now. Strange.

She frowned slightly at the empty seat. Fonent, noticing her expression, pouted and leaned on the table with his chin in his hand.

“Just leave her be. She’s been weird lately. Slammed her head into a tree out of nowhere.”

“Her tone’s changed too…”

“Yeah, and she’s gotten kind of cranky, don’t you think?”

“Totally. She doesn’t smile much anymore.”

“She skips meals, too.”

“The other day, she locked herself in the archive and read royal records all night. That was the same day the annex burned down! We thought she’d been kidnapped or something.”

Kynesia’s face turned serious.

“Since when?”

“About a week ago?”

Expression unreadable, Kynesia turned to look out the large window, sunlight pouring in.

Then movement at the entrance caught her attention—the King and Queen entered the dining hall.

They spotted Kynesia immediately and hurried toward her, pulling her into a tight embrace.

“Kynesia! We missed you so much.”

“You’ve been well? No injuries?”

Luxor cupped her face, his lips pressed tightly as if to hold back tears while he checked her over.

Not wanting to worry him, Kynesia smiled brightly.

“I learned a lot and lived comfortably in Faradon.”

“That’s good to hear—but it must’ve been hard living abroad.”

“It’s really fine. You don’t need to worry at all.”

Queen Otilie kissed her daughter’s forehead and hugged her again.

Luxor spread his arms wide and pulled all three—Kynesia, Floretta, and Fonent—into one big embrace.

“My daughter… You have no idea how empty it’s been without you. Welcome home.”

“I’m happy to be back.”

Her voice trembled with emotion as she leaned into him.

Luxor beckoned for Floretta and Fonent, wrapping all his children in a family embrace.

At that moment, Iralenaria entered the dining hall and muttered under her breath.

“Well, isn’t that touching.”

Unlike everyone else—who had greeted Kynesia with hugs and tears—Iralenaria only gave her a passing glance.

It was a flat, almost indifferent reaction for someone who’d supposedly waited up all night to see her sister.

Luxor noticed and gently scolded, before she could sit down.

“Ria. Aren’t you going to greet your sister properly? It’s been so long.”

“It hasn’t been that long. I saw her at dawn.”

Luxor looked questioningly at Kynesia, who nodded faintly.

Meanwhile, Iralenaria snapped her fingers at a servant and tapped the table.

The servant approached, carrying a dusty-looking sack—but hesitated, unwilling to place something so filthy on the royal dining table.

Clicking her tongue, Iralenaria grabbed his arm and made him set it down. Then she picked up a dining knife and sliced the string open in one swift motion.

Fonent, who had been eyeing the sack curiously since it appeared, couldn’t resist asking:

“What’s that?”

Iralenaria smirked and tipped the sack over.

A cascade of sparkling gems, gold, and silver coins spilled across the table.

Everyone gasped, stunned by the dazzling sight.

“Ria, what on earth is this…”

Kynesia scooped up a handful of jewels, staring in awe. The others were too shocked even to touch them.

Leaning back smugly, Iralenaria crossed her arms.

“I found them in Emperor Iralen’s vault. Sell them—use the money to support the household.”

If they’d looked closely, they might’ve noticed the autobiography buried among the jewels—but Luxor just stared blankly, speechless.

Sighing, Iralenaria dug her hand into the pile and rummaged around until she pulled out a thin book.

But everyone’s eyes were still glued to the treasure; not a soul cared about the autobiography she’d spent all night writing.

Her small lips twisted in irritation, her still-round cheeks puffing up.

Even after a few deliberate throat-clearing sounds, no one looked her way.

So she slammed the book down hard on the table.

Only then did everyone turn to her.

She held the book out to Luxor.

“Don’t sell this one,” she said.