Declan was the first to step back. He maintained eye contact while smiling politely.
“If Your Majesty insists so strongly, how could I possibly refuse?”
“……”
“However, convincing the nobles should be your priority.”
His meaning was clear: could she persuade the nobles before even asking for his consent? It was quite a provocative question, but the Empress showed no sign of offense as she asked:
“If I convince them, will you accept?”
“On the condition that the Princess’s safety is guaranteed.”
His voice dropped noticeably, creating a chilling effect. When the Empress shifted her gaze to look at him, Declan met her eyes directly and continued in a clear tone.
“I will follow Your Majesty’s wishes.”
By this point, Declan had a vague idea of what the Empress was thinking.
While “regent” might sound good, it was obvious she intended to use him as a shield. But if the Empress successfully bent the nobles to her will, it wouldn’t be a bad deal for him either. Whatever happened, it would at least guarantee Sienna’s safety.
Given her earlier behavior, her animosity toward him was evident, yet she still reached out to him—which suggested the Empress herself didn’t view the current situation very optimistically.
‘She wouldn’t personally visit a prison like this unless circumstances were dire.’
Declan, watching the Empress with an expressionless face, shifted his gaze to the Marquis who stood awkwardly nearby.
Was bringing the Marquis meant to prevent him from backing out? When this thought occurred to him, a faint, bitter smile escaped his lips.
Though she was putting on a brave face before him now, the Empress’s position within the imperial palace must be quite precarious.
If that was the case, there was no reason to refuse. After all, all that remained for both of them was a desperate desire to protect someone.
****
Jeremiah, who had been having tea with officials in the palace’s back garden, fixed his gaze on something in the distance. Philip was crossing the garden with urgent steps.
“Your Highness, I believe you need to visit the border right away.”
Despite the lack of explanation, Jeremiah understood the situation from Philip’s expression alone. Although his tea was still half full, Jeremiah immediately rose from his seat.
He postponed all his afternoon appointments and headed straight to the border with the Empire. And there, as expected:
Sienna, looking utterly devastated, appeared before his eyes.
While Jeremiah stood there in stunned silence, Sienna abruptly spoke.
“I brought it. The real will.”
She approached him with unsteady steps and handed him a document. Only then, as he slowly accepted it in his dazed state, did he notice her hands covered with angry blisters. While Jeremiah stared at her hands, speechless, Sienna suddenly gripped his clothing tightly.
“You promised. If I brought this, you would protect me… and Ricata.”
Hearing those faint, barely connected words, Jeremiah looked up.
“Keep that promise. Without fail.”
After studying her bloodshot eyes carefully, Jeremiah let out a slight sigh. Even though it was only early winter and Parma’s climate wasn’t particularly cold, Sienna was trembling all over. Her labored breathing was also concerning.
“I understand, so for now…..Princess!”
Just as Jeremiah received the document, Sienna’s body collapsed downward.
Thanks to Jeremiah’s quick reaction in catching her, she didn’t fall to the ground, but she had already lost consciousness.
Looking at her with a startled expression, Jeremiah finally raised his hand to her forehead. Her entire body was burning hot.
Immediately upon arriving at the royal palace, Jeremiah summoned the court healer to examine her, but there was no noticeable improvement. While Jeremiah attended to Sienna with a worried expression and arranged for various renowned healers to care for her, the situation around them continued to develop.
Even as he looked after the unconscious Sienna, Jeremiah did not neglect to discuss future actions with Count Monches and Philip, who had accompanied the Princess from the border.
“What is the situation in the Empire?”
“We haven’t received any communications yet, but judging by the inactivity of their soldiers, it doesn’t seem to be the worst-case scenario.”
The Count had remained vigilant until they departed from the eastern border, but for some reason, things were unusually quiet.
The Count recalled the Princess’s appearance. After reaching the border, she had maintained a pale complexion and barely spoke. She was almost in a state of panic.
Despite Theo’s reassuring words, she had only given brief responses, and the first complete sentence she uttered was after meeting Jeremiah.
Meanwhile, there was still no news from the Grand Duke.
The atmosphere was unsettling on many fronts.
According to information obtained by Parma, there were no unusual developments within the Empire, but this only fueled the Count’s suspicions.
With the Princess having fled to a forbidden territory, the Emperor, who would normally have immediately deployed soldiers to capture her, was being suspiciously quiet. Moreover, if nothing serious had happened, there should have been at least a brief communication from the Grand Duke, but there was complete silence on that front as well.
At the same time, the Emperor had not made any public appearances since the Hunting Festival. The only definite news they had received was that Dahlia had been completely disowned by her family.
That alone was enough to indicate that something serious was happening.
“Our priority should be to have the Princess renounce her original identity and swear to live as a citizen of Parma.”
“I agree, but that will have to wait until the Princess regains consciousness. For now, we must do what we can.”
The Count rationally organized the situation.
“Given the circumstances, it would be best to arrange a meeting with the Empire’s representatives based on the will she brought. We can’t just wait indefinitely for the Princess to wake up.”
No sooner had Jeremiah nodded in agreement than the Count said:
“I will go personally.”
“There’s no need to take such a risk.”
Jeremiah immediately frowned. Philip shared the same concern.
“Are you sure that’s wise? To them, you would be little more than a traitor.”
While it was true that the Empire was showing unexpectedly calm behavior, it was no reason to let their guard down.
The fact that they were taking no action suggested that something significant had happened internally. If it was serious enough to prevent the mobilization of troops, the only conclusion was that something was wrong with the Emperor himself.
If that was the case, now was their opportunity.
The crack wouldn’t last long. It was right to resolve the situation before the Emperor returned to normal or someone was appointed to act in his stead.
The possibility for compromise might only exist right now.
“Besides, we still don’t know what has happened to His Grace the Grand Duke.”
“But Count, this is no time for such gambles.”
Philip and Jeremiah joined forces to dissuade him. Jeremiah preferred a more stable approach. He believed they had already passed through the dangerous sections; there was no need to take another difficult path.
But the Count would not yield.
“This is the only way to firmly establish our position.”
At least now, they had a chance of succeeding.
They couldn’t wait indefinitely for communication. Not knowing what schemes might be unfolding in the imperial palace, it was better to take the initiative before being caught by surprise.
In the end, they had no choice but to knock on the door themselves.
****
The white-haired healer checked Sienna’s pulse for a long time, looking puzzled, before suddenly asking Jane who stood nearby:
“By any chance, did the Princess have a man?”
The unexpectedly personal nature of the question caused Jane to stare at him with wide eyes.
“Her pulse seems a bit unusual.”
Compared to the blunt directness of his initial question, his follow-up was rather vague. Nevertheless, Jane understood his meaning perfectly, and her eyes darted about in confusion. As soon as she grasped the situation, Jane hastily waved her hands.
“Th-that’s impossible. It’s absolutely impossible. Isn’t it just because her body is so weakened?”
“Well, severe physical exhaustion can certainly cause irregular pulse patterns. I just thought I should ask. Don’t worry about it.”
Although Jane’s denial seemed excessive, the old man dismissed it casually. Without asking anything further, he completed his examination and left the bedroom.
But Jane, left alone in the room, had turned as white as a sheet.
What should I do?
She had managed to deflect the court healer’s question, but this wasn’t something that could be resolved with lies. Even if it wasn’t noticeable yet, it would become increasingly difficult to conceal as time passed.
No, before that—does she herself know?
Lost in confusion, Jane tilted her head slightly. The Princess was still unconscious, breathing rapidly as she slept. Though her condition had improved considerably, her slight fever hadn’t completely subsided.
As Jane gazed at her quietly, her expression grew complicated.
She had heard that Theo and the Eastern Border Officer had encountered her just below the border. She had traveled through uninhabited ruins for days to reach the border.
She had come with such determination.
But even in Parma, her situation didn’t look optimistic at all. This fact weighed heavily on Jane’s heart.
