DIH Chapter 9

(9) I Will Protect Your Majesty (1)

 

Heraith had been silent for a very long time. Eleanor didn’t pressure him and simply waited in silence. Even in that moment, the assassin was slowly dying.

‘What tenacious vitality. Seems like he’s quite a strong one.’

The assassin weighed on her mind. ‘Maybe I can make good use of him…’

In a palace made of nothing but blades, she needed someone on her side. She could summon someone from Snow, but…

‘If I bring in someone from my family now, the enemies won’t sit quietly. They’ll do anything to keep Snow’s influence out of the Imperial Palace.’

The problem was that this assassin had targeted Heraith’s life. She had to find a way to persuade Heraith regarding the assassin’s future.

“If you’re willing to risk your life to protect me,” Heraith finally broke the silence,

“Can you break this one’s brainwashing?”

“If he doesn’t die during the process, it may be possible.”

“Good. If you can undo his brainwashing and extract a proper answer, I’ll allow him to remain by your side in secret.”

At those words, Eleanor was flustered. How did he know what I was thinking…? Seeing her reaction, Heraith smirked.

“So, you do get flustered.”

“How did you know I wanted him?”

“You were looking at him with a greedy gaze the moment you walked in.”

Eleanor lifted a hand to touch the corner of her eye.

“Was I really that greedy?”

“For the woman who will become my wife to look at another man with such heated eyes—I felt a tinge of jealousy.”

Eleanor pressed her lips together, then relaxed and spoke.

“I need someone of my own.”

“You can’t bring in someone from Snow. Even if I allowed it, there are factions that wouldn’t stand for it.”

“Yes, but if I make this man mine…”

“You could choke the life out of our enemies. They’d be restless, worrying about when this man might talk.”

“Also, I could divert their attention to him. Killing someone who might talk is much easier than trying to kill Your Majesty.”

“You’re not worried that your hard-won person might die?”

“If he can’t avoid at least that level of danger, he doesn’t deserve to be mine.”

“You’re cold.”

“Northern winters are a bit chilly.”

Heraith narrowed his eyes.

“Hmm. But you seem warm, despite that.”

“…”

“If he stays by your side, the enemies will target your life and blame everything on him. Only if you die will they finally have a reason to kill him.”

Eleanor smiled.

“Do you think I would die so easily to a blade like that?”

“You sound confident.”

“Just determined. My future husband doesn’t protect me, after all.”

“Oh dear. And yet you still want to become the wife of such a cold man?”

“Because I want true power. There are people I wish to strike down with my own blade.”

“Frightening. I’d better hope that blade doesn’t turn on me.”

“My blade will never be turned against my family, no matter the circumstance.”

“Even if that family stabs your heart?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Even if they tear my heart out.”

Heraith stared at Eleanor for a moment, then averted his gaze and nodded toward the assassin with his chin.

“What shall we do? Shall I have him transferred to your palace?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. If you could move him to my quarters without anyone knowing, I’ll soon bring you the answer you seek.”

 

***

 

Upon hearing Cecily’s report, Calliope’s eyes widened.

“Eleanor Snow went to the Imperial Palace?”

“Yes, Lady Calliope.”

“What was she wearing? Did she dress up nicely?”

“No, she was in her usual clothes.”

“So? His Majesty let that woman into the Imperial Palace?”

“That part, I’m not sure…”

“You fool! You should have found that out!”

Calliope smacked Cecily on the head with her palm. Cecily cradled her head and mumbled an apology.

“Surely His Majesty didn’t actually let her in, right? Huh? Even the Empress couldn’t enter the Imperial Palace so easily. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes, that’s probably true. She must’ve been turned away at the door.”

“Right, that’s how it should be. You know what kind of man His Majesty is.”

But she couldn’t shake her unease.

None of the previous empresses had particularly attractive looks, but Eleanor was beautiful. As much as she hated to admit it, she was stunning, enough to stir jealousy.

Her radiant silver hair, those large, soft lilac eyes…

Though there were some faint scars on her face, they weren’t enough to be considered flaws.

Even I can see that, and I’m a woman…

‘No, no. His Majesty isn’t the kind of man to be swayed by appearances. If he were, would he have left me alone like this all this time?’

Calliope had confidence in her own looks.

‘Men don’t just go for beauty, right? They like women with charm—like me. Cute, affectionate…’

Before she became a consort, she had received countless letters filled with affection. When she first became a royal consort, she was overflowing with confidence.

‘I’ll bear His Majesty’s child before the empress does.’

But Heraith had never once visited the Rose Palace. He never summoned Calliope to the Imperial Palace.

“What about the other consorts? Any movement from them?”

“At the moment, everyone seems to be just watching. His Majesty hasn’t made any official announcement yet.”

Rumors were circulating that Eleanor Snow of the Tulip Palace might become the next empress, but Heraith hadn’t said so himself. With the empress seat vacant and a new woman entering the palace, people could only speculate.

“Why is everyone just sitting back and watching? Once His Majesty makes an announcement, it’ll be too late. We have to nip this in the bud beforehand.”

Cecily considered saying that even if they got rid of Eleanor, a new empress candidate would just show up anyway, but she held her tongue.

Calliope would never accept such reasoning.

“The third consort, that cunning thing, will play it safe anyway… The fourth consort is too stupid and soft-hearted to be of any help… I guess that leaves only the first consort?”

Calliope didn’t particularly like the First Consort, Aurelia, but with a common enemy in the potential new empress, she had no choice but to consider joining forces.

‘She’s annoying, but she gets things done when it counts.’

Up to now, Heraith had never elevated a consort to empress. Still, Calliope hadn’t given up on her dream of becoming the most honored woman in the Empire—on the continent, even.

If there were no viable candidates for empress, wouldn’t Heraith have no choice but to choose one of the consorts?

Three empresses had already died, so she thought no noble house would dare send another woman to the palace.

And yet, out of nowhere, Eleanor Snow appeared. Not just anyone, but the daughter of the Snow family from the North.

Snow was no ordinary household.

Calliope feared that Eleanor might become empress and keep that position for life.

‘Our Rhiannon family isn’t one to be underestimated either. Sure, the past empresses all died, but things will be different if I become empress.’

She was confident she could survive even as empress. More than that, she believed she could win Heraith’s heart.

Up to now, the only reason she hadn’t was because she’d hardly had any chances to even meet him.

‘That’s why…’

Eleanor had to be taken down, before she ever sat on that throne. No matter what it took.

 

***

 

As Eleanor stepped into the garden of the Tulip Palace, she paused when she saw a man standing in the middle of it.

A man with brown hair, unremarkable in appearance. He wasn’t dressed like a knight or an attendant.

“What business do you have in the Tulip Palace?”

Assuming he was a commoner, she spoke down to him.

The man bowed. “Ah, I’m sorry for entering without permission. I was just having a look around the garden…”

“Are you the gardener?”

“Excuse me? Oh—yes. Something like that.”

Eleanor looked around at the desolate garden.

She’d be leaving this palace if she became empress anyway, but the sight of a garden overgrown with withered brown weeds was still unpleasant.

“Then show me what you can do. I like begonias, I’d like to see them everywhere I look.”

She didn’t intend to talk to the gardener for long. Eleanor turned on her heel and went inside the palace.

The man watched her go with an awkward expression and ran a hand through his hair. As his fingers brushed through the brown strands, they briefly shimmered gold.

“Begonia… Is that a flower?”

He glanced around at the garden, which was a complete mess beyond help, shook his head, and walked toward the entrance.

As he stepped into the corridor that led to the main palace, he ran a palm down his face.

In that instant, his plain brown hair turned a radiant blonde, his brown eyes shifted to a deep violet, and his unremarkable face transformed into one of noble elegance and grace.

Walking down the corridor, he motioned to a passing attendant.

“The Tulip Palace garden is in terrible condition. How about sending a proper gardener to plant begonias everywhere?”