Enemies Meet at the Engagement Ceremony

 

 

***

 

‘The Shadow.’

 

She realized that Enoch Gray had the ability to track even the smallest traces.

 

Once she discovered that, erasing her tracks perfectly became an easy task.

 

The main party left behind too many traces on the slopes of the Lowes Mountain range. No matter how excellent Enoch’s eyesight might be, distinguishing her traces from others’ would not be simple.

 

“……….”

 

As expected, Enoch stood frozen at the spot where her trail abruptly ended, biting his lip.

 

From afar, she quietly observed Enoch as he examined the surroundings for a while before eventually giving up and returning to the main party. Only then did she leave her position.

 

She ran and kept running. With each powerful step, the ground where her feet landed sank slightly.

 

She had long surpassed the speed any human could achieve, allowing her to safely return to the imperial palace.

 

[The fifteenth shadow.]

 

[What color?]

 

[Silver.]

 

Using the code assigned to her that day, she entered the imperial palace through a secret passage leading directly to the room where she could meet the emperor alone.

 

“You’re here?”

 

As she entered, the emperor greeted her with a smile from his seat.

 

“……….”

 

Without a word, she took long strides toward the emperor and knelt on one knee.

 

The uniform of ‘The Shadow’ was an artifact passed down through the ancient history of the Lutinas Empire’s royal family. Anyone wearing this uniform was forbidden from speaking.

 

Moreover, unless the emperor personally removed it, the uniform adhered to the body and could not be taken off.

 

The ‘Shadow’s Ring,’ worn on the emperor’s ring finger, was the only tool capable of removing the uniform.

 

When the emperor touched the Shadow’s uniform, the texture of the fabric seemed to transform, and her original figure was revealed.

 

As she removed the headpiece of her uniform, her radiant silver hair cascaded down, scattering light like glitter.

 

“So, how was it? Seeing your son after such a long time?”

 

The emperor’s fifteenth shadow was none other than Diana Gray, the former Commander of the Gray Knights, who was reported missing in the Kratyn Forest 11 years ago.

 

“………..”

 

Though she could now speak after removing her uniform, Diana did not respond to the emperor’s question.

 

The emperor did not blame her for this.

 

“Even without an answer, it feels like I’ve already heard it.”

 

Diana’s tear-streaked face told him everything.

 

Her eyes were clouded with pain, and tears, which wouldn’t stop falling, clung to her trembling chin.

 

But despite it all, her face betrayed a small smile—a joy she couldn’t suppress. The sight made the emperor close his eyes in silent resignation.

 

“If I end up in hell after I die, I believe it will be because of my fifteenth sin.”

 

Understanding the emperor’s bitter words as an apology, Diana wiped her face with her hand and replied:

 

“I am fine. I am just grateful you let me see Enoch.”

 

“All I did was order you to monitor the situation in the Lowes Mountain range.”

 

“Even in the Shadow Council, there was opposition to sending me to the Lowes Mountains. Yet, Your Majesty insisted on sending me despite the objections.”

 

At her words, the emperor let out a deep sigh.

 

“You attended that council meeting?”

 

“Of course.”

 

The Shadow Council was a gathering attended by some of the emperor’s fifteen shadows who were available. It was held to assign their missions, share classified tasks, and prepare against potential mishaps.

 

Even during these meetings, the shadows wore their uniforms to conceal their identities, making it impossible for the emperor to distinguish one from another.

 

“Like the other shadows, I also voted against it.”

 

Diana Gray was the only shadow whose identity was exposed.

 

This was due to her renown and the fact that her identity had been revealed to the commander of the Emblem Knights shortly after she became a shadow. To prevent potential complications, the identities of all fourteen other shadows were made known to her.

 

As a result, both Diana and the other shadows opposed her participation in the Lowes Mountain mission, fearing unforeseen consequences due to her family ties with Enoch Gray.

 

“It’s understandable why the other shadows voted against it, but why did you?”

 

As Diana had said, sending her despite the opposition placed a great burden on the emperor as well. And yet, to hear that even she opposed it left the emperor’s face painted with betrayal.

 

“If I were to see Enoch…”

 

Diana spoke in a voice tinged with bitter anguish.

 

“I would inevitably regret my choice.”

 

As expected, from the moment she first laid eyes on Enoch’s face until now, Diana felt as though her heart was being ripped apart with unbearable regret, driving her to the brink of madness.

 

“What right or decency does a mother who abandoned her child have to even dare to long for him?”

 

Diana had to swallow this pain as well. It wasn’t hers to bear.

 

She had no right to yearn for her child or her family.

 

“…You didn’t have a choice. It was inevitable.”

 

The emperor’s face twisted with anguish, and he denied Diana’s words with a sharp tone.

 

“What choice did you have? If you hadn’t become a shadow, not just the Gray Duchy but your husband and son would have all been in danger.”

 

“To either die and return to Enoch and Edward, or survive as a shadow—those were the only choices laid before me.”

 

At Diana’s response, the emperor bit his lip tightly, unwilling to believe that she had once contemplated death.

 

“To keep the promise made to Enoch, I should have returned to that child’s side, even if it meant dying. Only then, Enoch would have…”

 

Even if he had grown up in the shadow without a mother, he wouldn’t have had such hollow eyes.

 

Diana instantly recognized the darkness that had taken root in her child’s heart—a darkness she had caused.

 

She had no right to place the word ‘longing’ next to Enoch’s name when she was the one who had plunged such a cold blade into his heart.

 

“So yes, this was my choice. A choice I will regret and continue to regret for the rest of my life.”

 

Tears, which had stopped for a moment, began to flow from Diana’s eyes once again.

 

Seeing her son after 11 years had stripped away whatever numbness she had built up, leaving her with an even sharper pain tearing at her heart.

 

[I want to live by my son’s side, sharing swords together.]

 

How deeply she regretted leaving such words for Enoch.

 

The swordsmanship Enoch displayed when they finally crossed blades was beautiful.

 

It was the elegant yet sharp swordsmanship of the Gray family—a style she had never had the chance to teach him, yet it flowed seamlessly from his hands.

 

Diana, forgetting her duty as a shadow, had been swept away in a trance.

 

Though the dreamlike moment was brief, it felt eternal.

 

Until the instant she unconsciously left a mark on Enoch’s cheek, snapping her back to reality, Diana had wanted to stay in that dream forever.

 

“So, Your Majesty, you must protect the Grays.”

 

“…Of course.”

 

The emperor nodded without hesitation. The imperial family owed an immense debt to the Gray family.

 

It was a debt he could not hope to repay in his lifetime, no matter how much he devoted himself to the task.

 

“I swear to you, Diana. The Gray Duchy will remain safe.”

 

At the emperor’s words, Diana took a deep breath.

 

Her tear-streaked eyes shone coldly as she began to report everything she had seen and heard as a shadow.