The journey lasted five days. During that time, Lukas and his party rode without rest, pausing only to take half-day breaks at inns scattered through passing territories when exhaustion caught up with them.
And so, seven days after their departure from Rantschka, they finally arrived at Crown Castle. It had been exactly three years since they had returned from the war and immediately departed for Rantschka.
“It’s been three years, Your Highness.”
Riding beside him, Keaton turned to look at Lukas.
“So it has.”
Lukas answered calmly, his gaze fixed on Crown Castle draped in black flags and mourning banners. He couldn’t help but picture someone inside that somber place raising a toast.
Then again, it wouldn’t just be one person celebrating. The entire Theonan family, led by Agmund, would likely be toasting the emperor’s death.
Three years.
He couldn’t deny that it had felt like a long wait.
Xerses, the absolute emperor who had unified Rodia, had finally succumbed to death—unable to defy it, despite all his power.
Had he spilled all that blood across the empire only to return to dust?
He hadn’t even ruled over Tehevia—the territory won in the war—before his end.
“Somehow, the black flags and banners draped across the castle look like another color to me.”
“Another color?”
When Keaton muttered skeptically, Joe, riding close beside him, asked curiously.
“How could you be this dense?”
Clicking his tongue, Keaton shook his head in dismay.
Another color…
Keaton, too, must have thought of the people raising toasts behind those black banners. But thinking and saying it aloud were two very different things.
“Mind your words, Keaton. This isn’t Rantschka.”
“Indeed, Your Highness. This is not Rantschka, but the heart of Rodia—Crown Castle.”
Keaton raised his left hand with theatrical flair, and Joe, who had just passed him with a pout, began glancing nervously toward Lukas.
“Be on your guard, Joe. As His Highness said, this is not Rantschka.”
“I’ve heard that enough to wear out my ears from Commander Jackson. Don’t worry.”
Joe shouted back toward Keaton’s retreating figure.
“We’ll be at Crown Castle soon.”
Lukas, who had fallen silent, now spoke to Adrienne, who was gazing out the window. Catching the movement of his lips, she nodded resolutely.
[Are you all right?]
“You’re asking if I’m all right?”
[Yes, Your Highness.]
Adrienne offered him a gentle smile. Somehow… it felt like she was trying to earn praise. The absurdity of the thought made one of Lukas’s eyebrows twitch upward.
[Your Highness?]
“I’m fine. Of course I am.”
He answered firmly.
The death of the father who gave him life… the possibility that his half-brother might be the danger… All of it was fine.
Such threats and dangers were nothing new to Lukas Ken Rahel.
And yet…
‘You… are what worries me.’
Ridiculous as it was, that thought crossed his mind.
Avoiding Adrienne’s clear, transparent gaze, Lukas stared up at the massive castle gates.
They unpacked their things in the same annex Adrienne had stayed in before heading to Rantschka. In fact, it was a place Lukas himself had once resided in years ago.
Compared to the rest of the castle, the old annex remained untouched—as if time had stopped. It felt almost like stepping into the past.
— “I ran into a familiar maid on the way in.”
Adrienne took out a parchment scroll and showed him what she had written with her pen.
“Familiar?”
— “She was assigned to me by Her Highness the Crown Princess. She was kind and got along well with Yuria.”
“The Crown Princess?”
— “Yes. She’s a kind person.”
Among the Theonan family, Reina was the one Lukas was closest to. No—she was closer to him than anyone in any family.
Despite being born a noble to the bone, she was the only one Lukas knew who never used that as a measuring stick.
The first female knight of the empire. A close friend. And now, the future empress. Though she no longer remembered it, Reina had also been his first love—the one who once made his heart race.
“Does that maid know sign language?”
— “To some extent. She learned it from Yuria back then.”
“Really? That’s good.”
Everyone already knew Adrienne couldn’t speak. Few would attempt to converse with her. But having someone to interpret her sign language would be a great help.
“I’ll have her summoned. Get ready—we’re going to request an audience with His Highness the Crown Prince.”
Nod.
Adrienne set down her pen and nodded toward Lukas.
“Come to the garden when you’re ready.”
Nod, nod.
As she nodded again, Lukas turned and left the room. As he closed the door behind him, a maid bowed her head.
“You must be the girl sent by the Crown Princess?”
“Yes, Your Grace. My name is Jane.”
“Go on in.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Leaving the creaking door behind, Lukas strode down the corridor. Through the arched windows, he could see the annex garden.
In spring, the garden would bloom in full. Lukas thought of his mother, who had found solace in a single blossom even while tending to Empress Belloria’s endless demands.
The garden had been her creation. She planted wildflowers, nurtured trees, and transformed the barren earth with her gentle hands. Bees would come, butterflies would flutter.
‘I’ve come, Mother.’
Lukas stepped into the garden. It was winter now, and the frost-covered garden was not as beautiful as before. But even when she had tended it, winter had always dulled its splendor.
In winter, she had always longed for spring—to see flowers bloom, bees arrive, butterflies flutter.
With numb hands in cold water, she had smiled while blowing warm air on her fingers, waiting for spring. But even that one small wish had gone unfulfilled.
“You always liked this garden.”
At the sudden voice, Lukas turned sharply. There stood Reina—the Crown Princess of Rodia and his old friend.
“…Your Highness.”
He stared at her for a moment before collecting himself and bowing.
“It still sounds strange hearing that from you, Luke.”
Reina took a step, then another, closing the distance between them.
“If I were only the Crown Princess, I’d have waited until you came with the Crown Prince. But I stand before you now as Reina, your friend. Can’t you see that?”
Smiling, she looked at him warmly. Her eyes were full of welcome.
“My friend Reina Theonan vanished the moment she became the Crown Princess, Your Highness.”
“Vanished… That’s a rather sad thing to say, isn’t it?”
Her smile faltered slightly.
“…Pfft.”
“Heh.”
But then, as if nothing had happened, the two of them burst into quiet laughter.
“Jackson sends his regards.”
“He’s still the same, I take it?”
“Yeah. That guy doesn’t change, no matter how old he gets.”
Jackson Biorra was the only person who had stayed by Lukas’s side. More than a friend—he was family. There was no better way to describe him.
“I miss him. Jackson, too.”
“You’ll see him again one day.”
“I hope so.”
Reina nodded. But neither of them could say when that day might come. First, the barbarians had to be completely subdued. And after that, good relations with this place had to be maintained.
Of the two, the more likely was subjugating the barbarians.
‘Good relations with Agmund…’
Just thinking about it made Lukas shake his head. That was no easy feat.
“Your Grace, the Grand Duchess is ready.”
Jane’s sharp voice suddenly cut between them. Adrienne, having just changed into a gown, appeared in their line of sight.
She approached quickly, lifting her skirts, and bowed before Reina.
“It’s been a while, Adrienne.”
[Yes, Your Highness. It’s an honor to see you again.]
“She says it’s an honor to see you again.”
When Adrienne turned to her, Jane leaned forward and interpreted her signs.
“Without Yuria here, I’ll leave her to you.”
[Thank you, Your Highness.]*
“That’s enough. I understood that much.”
As Reina raised her left hand, Jane, who had been about to interpret again, closed her mouth.
“Your Highness! His Highness the Crown Prince is asking for you!”
At that moment, Reina’s lady-in-waiting, Lien, burst into the garden. Spotting Lukas and Adrienne, she bowed hastily.
“His Highness?”
“Yes. The Crown Prince’s chief attendant just came by.”
Lien was breathless as she spoke. Reina’s smooth brow creased slightly before slowly relaxing.
“You should go, Your Highness.”
“Yes. I suppose I must, Luke.”
No doubt, Agmund had summoned her to present a united image of the Crown Prince and Princess to Lukas. He probably wanted to show they were thriving.
‘Surely he’s not still suspicious of me and Reina after all this time…?’
Lukas’s expression hardened as he watched Reina’s retreating figure disappear from the garden.
