Retina watched the back of the chamberlain who had come to fetch her.
‘Something feels off.’
Unable to defy the emperor’s order, Retina hurriedly dressed and followed the chamberlain, rubbing the back of her neck.
For the chamberlain of the main palace to come all the way here was unusual. As someone responsible for the entire imperial palace, he didn’t usually guide anyone unless they were a highly esteemed guest of the imperial family.
‘I understand why they specifically sent the chamberlain, but…’
Watching the chamberlain walk with a straight posture despite his wrinkled hands, Retina straightened her own posture.
Had it not been the chamberlain from the emperor’s residence, no one from the emperor’s staff would have been able to enter the crown prince’s palace. If the crown prince had been present, the chamberlain would have left without even catching a glimpse of Retina’s hair.
‘It’s a good thing I prepared an outdoor dress when buying clothes, avoiding the disaster of appearing before the emperor in my nightwear.’
Despite being barely allowed to leave the bedroom, they had been meticulous in their preparations. Pushing aside distracting thoughts, Retina looked at the back of the chamberlain’s head.
“……”
“……”
No words were exchanged as they passed through several corridors and hallways. Only the sound of footsteps from the chamberlain walking steadily, Retina following him, and Teuton following her echoed off the walls.
‘Is it really okay for me to follow along like this?’
Retina secretly turned her head and looked at Teuton, seeking help with her eyes. However, Teuton avoided her gaze and did not provide a clear answer.
Judging by his uncomfortable expression, it seemed even the crown prince was unaware of the chamberlain’s visit. Unless the crown prince refused, they had no grounds to reject the chamberlain, who had brought the emperor’s order.
Retina rubbed her sweaty palms on her dress. It was awkward enough to roam the palace without wearing a wig, and she grew more nervous as they neared the main palace.
‘How do I greet the emperor as a grand duke?’
She had reluctantly taken the lead at the equestrian club, but it still didn’t feel real. Despite being a noble lady, Retina, who had grown up almost like a commoner, had no idea how to present herself before the emperor as the head of her family.
Though it was a reality she had to face someday, she wanted to flee even now.
Contrary to her wish that the path to the main palace would never end, the chamberlain soon entered the audience chamber where the emperor was waiting.
“Your Majesty, I have brought Grand Duke Ignis.”
When the chamberlain announced their arrival, the doors of the audience chamber opened. The room, which even high-ranking nobles could not stand before, was illuminated by the white walls adorned with golden decorations.
“I am Retina Ignis of the Grand Duchy of Ignis, greeting His Majesty the Emperor of the Empire. I apologize for not greeting you sooner due to personal circumstances.”
Retina walked five steps into the audience chamber and bowed her head before the emperor. The emperor was positioned in the center of the sunlight streaming through the tall windows, making it hard to see his face clearly.
“You don’t need to be so formal. I heard you haven’t fully recovered yet. Please, sit down.”
The emperor gestured to the seat before him. His warm and kind voice dispelled all the worries Retina had on her way here. She grasped the hem of her skirt and sat in the indicated spot, facing him.
“I heard you were unwell. Are you alright? I heard the crown prince fussed over you so much that you couldn’t even go outside.”
“Yes. Thanks to His Highness the Crown Prince’s care, I recovered quickly.”
“That boy’s overprotectiveness is the problem. He didn’t show his face until you woke up.”
The emperor turned towards Retina with a gentle smile. Despite being bathed in the same light, the warmth felt from the emperor and Retina was different. Even though his golden hair had lost its luster, it still radiated a warm glow.
“The envoys will be arriving soon, and since the crown prince is so protective of you, I couldn’t find an opportunity to meet you before now. I hope you don’t take it too negatively.”
“It’s alright. I should have formally visited you first, but it’s my fault for not coming after my sudden greeting.”
“How could it be your fault? It’s because of Herald’s fussiness. I heard he didn’t let you step outside his bedroom?”
Retina bit her lip, her head lowering in embarrassment. Despite hearing that no one knew what was happening in the Crown Prince’s palace, the emperor spoke as if he knew everything.
“Haha, as the master of the imperial palace, I’m privy to such things. But don’t worry, others only know that you’re staying in the Crown Prince’s palace.”
Sensing Retina’s embarrassment, the emperor added reassuringly.
“The very fact that the Crown Prince brought a woman into his palace is shocking enough; whatever happens inside would be no surprise.”
The emperor laughed heartily and leaned back in his chair. As he reclined and began coughing, he couldn’t stop, causing his body to shake. Alarmed, a servant quickly brought him water, but even after drinking, his coughing persisted, and he gasped for breath in a raspy voice. Embarrassed at showing such a weak side before Retina, the emperor raised his hand in apology.
“Ahem, ahem. As you can see, my health isn’t the best either. Once I start coughing, it’s hard to stop.”
Equally startled but not showing it, Retina nodded. She had heard that the emperor’s health was declining, but seeing him now, he seemed even more frail than she had imagined.
“We’ve wasted time with unnecessary matters. I called you here because I have something to discuss with you.”
The emperor waved off his condition and leaned back against the armrest. In contrast, Retina straightened her back, sitting upright.
“It’s not about trade, so don’t worry. We will handle that once the envoys arrive and your title is officially recognized.”
The emperor’s attempt to ease Retina’s tension had the opposite effect. She felt more anxious, sensing the gravity of what he was about to say, stripping away the warm impression he initially gave.
“First, I must apologize for the empress’s excessive actions. If not for your quick thinking, you would have faced greater difficulties. Regardless of your status, it was my failure to prevent the empress from using her power to oppress a powerless young lady.”
The emperor offered a belated apology to Retina. To maintain the friendly relations between the two nations, he needed to apologize.
“When I heard you carried the blood of the North, I was quite surprised. It was as surprising as when Herald told me he wanted you as his crown princess. I felt ashamed of our ancestors’ persecution of those with silver hair, but at the same time, I was relieved that you are a descendant of the Grand Duchy.”
Given that Retina was born and raised in the Empire, he thought that apologizing well for the incident at the equestrian club might make negotiations easier. And he had no intention of hiding this.
“You might think I’m being too calculative, but I’ve been in politics for over thirty years, so I hope you understand.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Indeed, you communicate well, just like the Duke of Deneuve’s bloodline.”
As an emperor, he prioritized the Empire’s benefit over personal feelings. Retina, having seen her father lead their family, understood the emperor’s mindset and didn’t feel hurt by it.
The emperor’s straightforwardness alone showed her how much he cared for her.
“I hope you can also understand what I am about to say next.”
The emperor stroked his curly beard, nodding slightly. He hesitated, not directly getting to the point, letting his thin lips stay sealed.
“…You’ve decided to abandon the Deneuve name and become Ignis. Since you’re to take on the Grand Duke title of Ignis, you can no longer remain an Imperial citizen.”
After dragging out the moment, the emperor finally spoke. Retina, sensing what was coming, clenched her fists tightly on her lap.
It was clear why the emperor, whom she would soon face often as a Grand Duke, sought her out secretly without the Crown Prince’s knowledge.
Even so, Retina avoided thinking about it because she didn’t want to accept reality.
She closed her eyes to avoid the emperor’s unwavering gaze. If possible, she wanted to deny reality by not listening to his words. But that alone couldn’t shield her from his voice.
“I hope you part ways with the Crown Prince.”
