“Dian, take it easy.”
Empress Psirias spoke with concern as she served the emperor tea. The emperor’s concern was not just about the spreading epidemic. It was somewhat fortunate that the epidemic had not spread widely in the capital.
Most of the cases occurred in poor areas, leading the nobles and the wealthy to dismiss it as a “poor’s disease.” But it was clear that both nobles and wealthy merchants in the provinces were affected. While it might have a correlation with poverty, it wasn’t the cause.
The Emperor pressed his temples together, closed them, and opened his eyes firmly. His eyes were puffy from not sleeping for days.
“Rias, as always, thank you.”
“What for? By the way, have you heard anything about Rohiriel?”
Psirias seemed more interested in Rohiriel than in his own son, Julion. She thought knowing Rohiriel’s whereabouts might naturally lead to knowing Julion’s.
The emperor leaned back, closing the documents he was reading.
“It seems she’s in Mormic.”
“Mormic… That’s possible.”
“You don’t seem surprised, Rias.”
“If it’s hers, then it’s possible.”
Rohiriel, who prioritizes others over her own safety, would have gone to Mormic if she had known about the epidemic outbreak there. Thanks to her selfless sacrifice, both the empress and the emperor were saved.
“The people of Mormic Territory will survive now.”
Even in the midst of a plague, if Rohiriel was there, she would find a way to cure it. The empress showed a subtle smile, contrasting with the seriousness of the situation. A slight curiosity crept into the emperor’s brown eyes, seeing her like that.
“It’s rare for you to put so much trust in someone, and the more I know her, the more amazed I am.”
“Are you talking about the crown princess?”
“Yes. How surprised I was at first to hear that the one who treated me was a lady from Cassian…”
The emperor’s gaze seemed to drift as he reminisced about that time. When he woke up, he was disoriented. Back then, he didn’t know who had treated him. He just assumed she was a skilled physician. But later, he was surprised to learn that it was a lady from Cassian, and he was even more surprised that she became the crown princess.
“Looking back, I can only be grateful.”
The Empress refilled her now-empty teacup. Even though Rohiriel was Cassian’s blood, the favors she received from her were too many.
That’s why it hurt even more. She left because of her Cassian heritage.
“Julion and she were really close… and she was so good to me, but with the people abhorring Cassian so much, it’ll be difficult for Rohiriel to come back.”
Psirias sighed again, her expression darkening as if she hadn’t smiled in a while.
The image of the prince and his wife walking hand in hand flashed before her eyes. But with Cassian committing such a complete betrayal, Rohiriel would not easily return.
Seeing Psirias’s dark expression, the emperor let out a small chuckle.
“That’s why you acted so quickly. Very much like you, Rias.”
“Oh, my. Did you know that?”
Psirias widened her eyes and covered her mouth with her hand. Her gesture was endearing, deepening the emperor’s smile.
“Of course I did. If the princess truly quells the epidemic, your plans will shine.”
As soon as Psirias learned of Rohiriel’s departure from the palace, she discreetly dispatched people. They were dispersed throughout the empire to perform specific tasks.
She hadn’t told the Emperor, so he told her how he knew.
With a knowing look, Psirias replied confidently.
“Just wait a bit. Surely news will come that that child has solved the epidemic.”
The look in Psirias’s eyes held unwavering faith. Observing her deep trust, the emperor silently admired Rohiriel.
Then, Pailson’s voice was heard along with a knock.
“Your Majesty, Liliana Cassian, has arrived at the palace.”
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
Hemion seems to be in the late stages of depression these days. Nothing brought her joy anymore. Even when she laughed, it was fleeting, and sometimes tears would flow unexpectedly when she was alone in her room.
‘Why didn’t she say anything to me?’
Was it because she had ruined her first impression?
Throwing an egg at a bride at her wedding was a hateful thing to do. Furthermore, she insulted the lady of Cassian by using informal language.
‘No, how compassionate Her Highness is.’
Of course, if she didn’t do her homework, she would scold her severely, but she still owes her life to Rohiriel. She had saved her life many times, and now she was her teacher.
‘The physician licensure exam… I’ll definitely pass it.’
The exam is scheduled for the first month of next year. She wanted to pass with confidence and boast to Rohiriel first.
If she becomes an official physician and continues to save people, she might meet Rohiriel again someday. That alone was Hemion’s current motivation to continue her life and studies.
So today, while she was studying until the last hour, someone came looking for her.
“Hemion! Liliana Cassian has been escorted here!”
It was Rulot, a maid who had been close to her since her time as Rohiriel’s maid at Garnet Palace. She had heard that Liliana had been captured, but it seemed she had already arrived at the palace.
Hemion pushed aside her books and got up from her seat.
“Where? I need to go see her right away.”
In Hemion’s eyes, which had always been dark since Rohiriel disappeared, a glimmer of hope returned.
Following Rulot to where Liliana was, Hemion bit her lip.
‘Your Highness. You told me to repay double for what I suffered.’
Back when Roxis stormed into the palace, she encountered Liliana in the hiding place. Despite her parents being insulted, she couldn’t do anything. For fear of being discovered, she had to silently smile like a fool. Despite shedding tears of blood inside, she continued to smile.
Later, Rohiriel told her.
Wait, prepare, and seize the opportunity to repay double.
Even though she hadn’t captured Liliana herself, if she didn’t repay her past grievances now, she would never have the chance.
So she rushed to the front of the palace’s trial hall.
Liliana, who had been dragged there, was waiting for the Emperor. Her posture, kneeling on the cold floor with her head bowed deeply, was pitiful beyond measure.
As they gathered around her, people whispered and gossiped. Pushing through them, Hemion slowly approached Liliana.
“…Liliana Cassian.”
Her disheveled purple hair was no longer beautiful. Her body was covered in bruises, and a nauseating smell emanated from her.
When her name was called, Liliana reflexively lifted her head. Her purple eyes, visible between strands of hair, met Hemion’s olive-green eyes. For a moment, Liliana didn’t recognize her, but then she remembered and smirked.
“Oh, Hemion Martin?”
Her voice was rough, scratching like a throat being cleared. Liliana scanned Hemion up and down with empty eyes, then sneered.
“You’re still alive? Well, you traded your parents’ names for your life, so I guess you’d better take care of it until the end—”
Before Liliana could finish her sentence, Hemion raised her hand and struck her mercilessly.
Snap!
The rough sound echoed, and Liliana’s head jerked back. Liliana, as if her mouth had burst, spat out blood-stained saliva, glaring menacingly at Hemion.
“What are you doing…”
But before she could finish her sentence, Hemion’s hand moved again. With her hands bound and unable to resist, Liliana was slapped once again, causing her body to tremble.
Hemion spoke.
“You should be grateful I can’t kill you, Liliana Cassian. If I had the authority, I would have given you the most dreadful and painful death.”
“I haven’t even had a trial yet; how dare you lay a hand on me?”
“A trial? Do you still think you’re a noble lady?”
Hemion struck the trembling Liliana again.
Then again, and again, and again.
Despite Liliana’s cheeks reddening and blood flowing, Hemion’s hand didn’t stop.
“Cough, cough… You’ll regret… this, Hemion Martin!”
Liliana, with her will to live still burning, didn’t take her eyes off Hemion, her eyes red with rage.
“You should be the one to regret. Apologize for insulting my parents. Then I’ll stop.”
Hemion clenched her fist and took a deep breath. Her hand, swollen from the strikes, didn’t grip well.
Liliana, still taunting, continued to speak despite bleeding profusely.
“The only mistake I made back then was not ripping your throat out.”
“Until the end…!”
Hemion raised her hand again. But she didn’t strike. A hand grabbed her from behind.
Surprised, she turned around to see the black-haired emperor standing solemnly.
