IBYSRHML | Chapter 29

#.29

At the sudden presence, Leopold pulled Regina behind him to protect her.

At the same time, footsteps echoed from the darkness within the garden.

Just as Leopold placed his hand on the sword at his waist, readying himself for any threat, Regina stepped forward. She grabbed his arm, shaking her head to stop him.

“Emilia. What were you doing there?”

Step. Step.

Under the yellow light emitted by the moonstone lamps, Emilia appeared.

Leopold relaxed, and Regina swallowed a sigh.

She was supposed to be working at the Mage Tower, yet she looked as disheveled as a common laborer. Her hair was a tangled mess, and her clothes were covered in dust.

What on earth has she been doing?

Regina felt a fresh surge of irritation toward Emilia, who had abandoned a perfectly good research lab to follow her all the way to the empire.

Leopold, caught between the two coldly distant sisters, hesitated before greeting her first.

“Good evening. I heard you started working at the Mage Tower, but your face looks quite haggard after just a week.”

“That’s how work is. Have you been well?”

“Ah, yes. But what brings you to the garden?”

“I needed some materials for an experiment. They asked for gorgon tree sap and white rose thorns… I have a collection permit.”

To prove her words, Emilia held up several small pouches.

After giving Regina and Leopold a quick once-over, she cleared her throat awkwardly.

The twin sisters had been in a silent war for over a month.

“I haven’t seen you properly in a while, and I was worried. How’s work?”

“Busy.”

Both were stubborn, but Regina was the first to offer a faint smile and extend her hand.

There was no point in arguing any further—it wouldn’t change anything. More than that, she wanted to make amends.

“Let’s have a meal together soon, all of us, including Liliana. She’s been looking for you.”

“I won’t have time until this weekend. How about next week?”

“What time do you even finish at night? You seem to come home at dawn. Isn’t it dangerous to work that late?”

“You’re one to talk… Hold on, I need to borrow her for a moment. We have something to discuss as sisters.”

Checking her pocket watch, Emilia took Regina by the arm and led her to a secluded corner.

Only when they were far enough that Leopold couldn’t overhear did she finally speak.

“That man… He’s a duke. He likes you without knowing anything, but you need to end it before trouble starts.”

“If things work out, great. If not, he’s the type to let go cleanly—he’s not someone who would make a problem out of it. Do you think I haven’t considered this?”

“Regina, it’s because of your power.”

Emilia frowned in frustration, glanced around, and then whispered in a hushed voice.

“This isn’t just a romance. You could get entangled in political issues. What if he finds out about your power and changes completely? You’ll get hurt, and our eldest sister will be put in a difficult position.”

Regina took a deep breath.

Under the moonstone light, her wounded expression was clearly visible.

Emilia ran a hand over her face, regretting her words. She hadn’t meant to hurt her, but she had struck a painful nerve.

Still, considering Regina wasn’t involved with just any man, but a powerful noble from the empire, she couldn’t ignore the issue.

“I…”

Regina hesitated, avoiding eye contact.

Her power was mental domination—hypnosis, illusions, emotional control.

Because her abilities affected people’s minds, those who knew about them often feared her.

Friends, lovers—it didn’t matter who. The moment they found out, they suspected she had been manipulating their thoughts all along.

One day, they would be close as ever. The next, they would distance themselves in fear.

‘Did you use your power to make me love you?’

Some lovers, when they fell out of love and wanted to break up, accused her of having controlled their emotions from the start.

Because of this, Regina had been deeply wounded, crying countless tears.

In a trembling voice, she replied,

“I just want to have a normal relationship.”

“I know. I do….”

“He seems like someone who could understand and accept me. I know the risks… But he feels like someone I can’t afford to lose.”

Drip.

A tear slid down her cheek and fell to the ground.

Seeing this, Emilia let out a long sigh.

She knew all too well the pain Regina had suffered in past relationships, and it pained her.

But it wasn’t just Regina at risk. Their eldest sister and youngest sibling could be affected too.

Torn between concern and guilt, Emilia’s eyes reddened. She opened her arms and pulled Regina into a hug.

“Why are you crying? Don’t. It’s not your fault.”

“…..”

“The ones who ran away after chasing you first are the real fools. There’s nothing wrong with you.”

“…Even though I’ve only ever been a burden to him, he still says he likes me. Don’t you think that means he can accept me?”

Regina mumbled, as if hoping for affirmation.

Emilia had no answer for her.

“Regina! Emilia! Are you there?”

Leopold’s voice called out in concern.

Until he found them, Emilia simply held Regina in silence.

When Leopold approached, Regina quickly wiped away the traces of her tears and composed herself.

As if she had never cried, she greeted him with a radiant smile.

Emilia, unable to shake her troubled thoughts, ruffled her own hair before bowing to Leopold.

“Please take Regina to the palace. I need to leave right away.”

“Don’t worry about me, Emilia. Just go.”

“Regina, I didn’t mean to make things harder for you.”

“It’s fine. Let’s talk later.”

“…I’m sorry.”

And with that, Emilia turned away, her heart heavy.

Leopold watched Regina as she gazed at her departing twin with hollow eyes.

Her eyes are red and swollen. Something must have happened…

He wasn’t sure what they had discussed, but it was clear their conversation had not been lighthearted.

Noticing his presence, Regina turned to him with a bright smile—so bright that it hurt to look at.

“When you have time, let’s go on a picnic with Lilliana and the young duke. This place is so beautiful.”

“That sounds wonderful. Let’s do it before summer arrives.”

Regina showed no intention of revealing what troubled her.

So, Leopold played along, responding warmly to the topic she had chosen.

With time, as their relationship deepened, if he put in the effort—

She would surely open her heart to him.

Leopold firmly believed that day would come.

Just a few days ago, I had told my sisters that I wouldn’t play with Edgar unless he agreed to be my subordinate.

And yet…

Somehow, I found myself exploring the imperial palace with him.

“Kya-ha-ha-hak!”

As I ran through the palace with Edgar, I let out an unrestrained laugh.

Seeing me so delighted, Edgar grinned in satisfaction.

We had snuck into the royal stables, leaving our hair and clothes covered in hay.

But at our age, we didn’t care about such things.

“Edgar, did you see? The horse ate the carrot I gave it!”

“I saw! Next time, let’s check out the knight’s stables. They have dogs there.”

“Okay!”

For some reason, secretly filling an empty trough with food was incredibly fun.

After running away from the stable hands, we collapsed onto the ground, laughing breathlessly.

Then, suddenly, Edgar seemed to remember something.

Jumping to his feet, he grabbed my hand and pulled me up.

“The gardeners should be done by now. Let’s go check if they planted the olive and lemon trees you wanted.”

I had only mentioned in passing that I wished the garden had olive and lemon trees.

Yet, he had remembered.

Feeling excited, we strode confidently into the garden—

Only to…

“The garden is being planted today, so entry is not allowed.”

Once again, the gardener blocked our way.

“You’re planting flowers now? It’s not even winter or early spring.”

Edgar narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

I was sure I had a higher mental age than him, but Edgar’s sharp observations made him seem far from an ordinary six-year-old.

Do all children who grow up in the imperial palace develop such keen insight?

“We’re planting a large number of flowers this time, so the work has been extended.”

“Then can we enter tomorrow?”

“Huh? Well…”

The gardener rolled his eyes anxiously before shrugging apologetically.

He kept bowing his head, repeatedly saying that entry was not allowed.

I was a little disappointed that we still couldn’t go into the garden, but there were plenty of other places in the imperial palace to explore, so I wasn’t too upset.

“I’m fine! Let’s go somewhere else.”

“You wanted to see the olive trees, though… Fine. Let’s go there today.”

“There?”

“I know a place you’ll like.”

“Where? Where is it?”

“You’ll see when we get there.”

Edgar suddenly took off running, and I subtly pulled my hand away.

I was out of breath and didn’t want to run anymore.

Edgar snapped his head toward me with a frown and grabbed my hand again.

When I tried to pull away once more, he tightened his grip, making it impossible to escape.

“Why? My hand hurts.”

“…The imperial palace is complicated. What if we get separated?”

“Then let’s just walk. I’m out of breath.”

“Alright. I suppose there’s no choice.”

Surprisingly, Edgar accepted my request without protest.

Still, I couldn’t quite understand him.

The imperial palace was vast, but it wasn’t a crowded marketplace.

Was it really necessary to hold hands?

Feeling uncomfortable, I wiggled my fingers, but Edgar showed no intention of letting go.

Maybe I was the only friend he had to play with, and he didn’t want to lose me.

“By the way, Liliana, why do you want to be a hero?”

“Heroes are strong.”

“But aren’t dragons stronger?”

“Dragons are bad, so heroes are better.”

“What do you want to save when you become a hero?”

“Um…”

I wasn’t sure.

I had just always wanted to be a hero.
A hero who rescues a princess trapped in a tower.

“Maybe it’s because my eldest unnie is a hero.”

“Alice?”

“Yeah. My sister catches pirates and is really strong.”

“Then why are you so weak?”

“Just wait ten years! I’ll have a hammer fist like my unnie!”

While I puffed up my cheeks in frustration, Edgar just laughed as if he found me amusing.

As we bickered, Edgar suddenly stopped walking.

We had apparently arrived at our destination.

“Cool, right?”

Edgar pointed at a tower.

It was a tall spire with a sharp roof that soared into the sky.

Unlike the other buildings in the imperial palace, which boasted extreme beauty, the tower was unrefined and rough.

I stared blankly at its peak.

Unlike the lower floors, the top had a single small window, bathed in the midday sunlight.

“Princesses are usually trapped in towers, not castles. This is the Western Tower. It’s where the imperial mages conduct their research.”

A sickening feeling churned inside me.
I didn’t know if it was fear or déjà vu, but an eerie sensation made my head spin and my stomach lurch.

“Are you okay?”

Seeing me suddenly crouch down and gag, Edgar asked with concern.

I wanted to say I was fine, but I couldn’t open my mouth.

I knew better than anyone what that place was.

The Western Tower was where François Cassel had imprisoned not only the original heroine, Rebecca Marchione, but also her maid—me.