* * *
I didn’t even bother to reply to Raios’s letter. For some reason, there was no further movement from Raios either.
Do whatever you want with the date. Because I would never walk down that aisle. Before that day comes, I would annul our engagement somehow.
Several days have passed since that day. Lethe had left, saying he would investigate the emperor while I managed the work Viego had entrusted to me. Viego was away on a business trip. And then,
[Rumie Windsor’s Macriro Fleet Secures Yet Another Glorious Victory!]
I saw Rumie’s name in the newspaper for the first time in a while. As expected, another victory. Of course, I knew it would be this way.
I smirked to myself. He wins all the time, yet he always makes such a fuss about it.
When was the last time I saw him? Was it at the imperial banquet? I think we danced together then…
Even back then, he was spouting nonsense about how he might die before going to the front lines. Still, a win is good. Good for him.
I turned my head without much emotion. Then, I noticed the snow falling outside the window.
It’s still snowing.
Was it because the heavy snowfall period has arrived? I began to worry.
When will Lethe return?
It had already been days, and there was no news from my secretary. Lethe always contacted me promptly, even if he was running late. This was the first time something like this had happened.
Could something have happened to him?
Was it because of the bad weather? I became even more worried.
Come to think of it, my first meeting with Lethe was on a day like this. In the biting cold of winter, a skinny, starving boy had been buried in the snow, barely clinging to life. That was Lethe.
What if he’s like that again now? Though he’d become robust enough that it was hard to remember his frail past, still… Given his striking look could make him a target for trouble.
If there’s still no news from him by tomorrow, I’ll send people out to search for him. Just as I was steeling myself with that thought,
“Milady, I’m sorry for the delay.”
My secretary finally returned.
“Lethe!” My voice rose, a mix of relief and anger. “Why are you only showing up n—”
My scolding abruptly stopped. It was because my secretary’s face was a mess. Lethe’s already lean face looked even gaunter, and there were scratches scattered across his cheeks…
“I’ll explain later, Milady. But first,” Lethe spoke urgently. “I’ve brought a guest.”
“A guest?”
“Yes. He’s waiting in the parlor, but if it’s alright, I’ll bring him here.”
“Do so.”
There must be a reason for his haste. Instead of questioning further, I nodded.
Moments later, Lethe returned with a man. The man was wearing a worn-out robe pulled low over his face.
Why did you bring a wanderer… As I thought like that,
The man pulled back the hood that had been tightly drawn over his head. For a moment, I squinted as if staring into the sun.
The man’s dazzling golden hair gleamed like molten gold—a hallmark of the Geranze imperial family. There was only one person I knew with such hair…
The emperor.
Yes, Emperor Yustio.
“…”
The man looked exactly like the emperor.
As I stared quietly, the man raised an eyebrow, seemingly irritated.
He’s really the emperor!
I scrambled to my feet and bowed hurriedly. “Greetings to Your Majesty the Emperor.” Even as I spoke, I found it hard to believe.
Is he truly the emperor?
When I dared to glance up, there was no doubt. It was him. But why? Why was the emperor here, wearing a worn robe, without servants or guards? It was clear he had come in secret, but why, suddenly, in my room, like this?
Lethe, what in the world did you do? I told him to investigate the news about the emperor, but I didn’t expect him to bring the emperor here in person…
As I cast a questioning look at Lethe, thud! Lethe collapsed.
Huh?
I rushed to his side immediately, grabbing his shoulders. Lethe’s body was burning with a high fever.
“Lethe, Lethe! Get a hold of yourself!”
As I shook Lethe’s body, I saw it. His body was covered in black spots… Spots?
I ripped open Lethe’s shirt and gasped. Contamination!
The symptoms of those contaminated by the Rotten Land. Black spots were spreading all over Lethe’s body.
What happens to those who end up like this? Their whole body rots, and eventually… They met a miserable death.
I lost my composure. By the time I came to my senses, my hands were pressed against Lethe’s chest, pouring out purification power into him desperately. Sweat dripped from my brow, and my vision blurred.
No.
I was terrified. Terrified that something might happen to Lethe.
No. Not you.
How much time has passed like that?
“Stop.”
A firm hand gripped my shoulder. I flinched in shock.
“It’s enough. Stop now.”
Drip, drip. Only then did I realize that my nose was bleeding. I had overused my purification power.
Without even having time to respond to the emperor, I urgently checked on Lethe. And then, I sighed in relief. Thank goodness.
The black spots were completely gone, leaving no trace. Lethe was perfectly purified.
He’s alive.
Though his body was still feverish, that was just a side effect. Lethe would recover soon.
“Your Majesty.”
My mind finally cleared. I wiped the blood from my nose and spoke calmly. “What is the meaning of this?
Emperor Yustio looked at me with a slightly curious expression before answering. “As you can see, your secretary was contaminated by the Rotten Land.”
“Where? How did this happen?”
“While he is secretly following me.”
At those words, I flinched. The emperor’s sharp eyes seemed to pierce through me.
“…I’m sorry. It was my order. I was curious whether Your Majesty had verified the scripture’s authenticity.”
“…”
“Your Majesty hadn’t returned for so long. I just wanted to know where you were. I had no ill intentions.”
I had a premonition. Maybe I would be strangled again. Or perhaps I would receive a severe punishment for spying on the emperor.
As I braced myself for the worst, Emperor Yustio made an unexpected offer.
“If you purify my guards,”
“…”
“I’ll pretend this never happened.”
I clenched my fists tightly. So, even the emperor’s guards were contaminated too!
What should I do? I feel sorry… For a moment, I was just relieved to be alive.
Swallowing my emotion, I nodded cautiously with a serious expression. “Of course. It’s my duty to do so.”
* * *
Afterward, Emperor Yustio briefly explained what had happened. He, along with 15 theologians, 3 cardinals, and 2 holy mages, verified the scripture’s authenticity.
It was deemed genuine. I felt relieved.
Emperor Yustio promised to honor his word and convene the Holy Trial. But on his way back to the capital, taking the shortcut through the Rentil Forest, the land began to rot.
Emperor Yustio was unharmed, thanks to the divine blessing of the sun god, Ramun. Except for me, the Geranze imperial family were the only ones who remained uncontaminated by the Rotten Land. However, his guards, and Lethe, who had been secretly following him, were contaminated. And worse yet…
“The guards… became aggressive?”
An even more unbelievable story followed.
The guards had turned into something like carnivorous beasts and tried to attack the emperor. So, they had been tied up in a cabin found in the forest. Since they had gone berserk, it was impossible to bring them along.
That’s strange. Until now, no one contaminated by the Rotten Land had shown such symptoms. It wasn’t a mutation, so why had this happened?
* * *
I immediately set off with the emperor. The destination was Rentil Forest—since the forest path was too narrow for a carriage, we had to ride horses.
Wow, he’s really fast.
I struggled to keep up with him. Although I was quite confident in my riding skills, Emperor Yustio rode at the speed of light like some nomadic tribe. As a result, the distance between us gradually widened.
Emperor Yustio stopped his horse midway to wait for me. When I got close, he spoke sharply. “There’s no time to waste. Get on my horse.”
“…”
The emperor was right. Since his guards were contaminated, if we missed the golden time, I might not be able to save them. I silently agreed. However,
“I’ll ride behind Your Majesty.”
“As you wish.”
The emperor spoke coldly, then reached out to grab my shoulder as if to embrace me. He then lifted me and seated me behind him.
“Hold on tight.”
“…”
I silently clung to his coat.
The moment he whipped the reins, I realized that Emperor Yustio had been riding slowly out of consideration for me until now. The horse ran so fast that my whole body shook violently, making my heart ache as if it would burst. Moreover, the freezing cold made my fingertips gradually go numb.
“…!”
Just as my numb fingers were about to lose their grip on his coat, Emperor Yustio grabbed my wrist. He then pulled me forward to hug his waist.
“I told you to hold on tight.”
I was startled. In fact, I had wanted to hold onto his waist from the beginning but was afraid that he would be disgusted. I never expected he would allow it first.
“We’ll be going even faster from now on.” Emperor Yustio spoke as if giving a warning. “Endure it.”
From then on, all I could do was endure.
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