ITETP Chapter 11

The man who walked in looked like he had come from eternal snow, so fair and cold.

 

“I-It’s truly His Majesty.”

 

“Why is His Majesty…”

 

Amidst the stunned crowd, the emperor took his seat on the throne. His golden hair shimmered as he tilted his head. “Crown Prince.” Then he spoke in a voice cold as frost. “What are you doing right now?”

 

“…Your Majesty.”

 

“I asked what are you doing, Crown Prince?”

 

Raios’s eyes trembled with a sense of betrayal.

 

Watching his surprised face, Dana smiled brightly. His uncle, the emperor, is the one he fears the most in this world. After all, he was the one who took the throne that was supposed to be Raios’s and became the emperor.

 

Yes, Dana made a deal with such a person. With the person who threatened his throne.

 

What did he say earlier? That he wouldn’t stop her if she wanted to be miserable?

 

It’s him. He was the one who should be miserable now. Because she abandoned him too.

 

* * *

“Your Majesty.”

 

But that was all.

 

“I didn’t expect you to attend.”

 

Raios, momentarily shaken, quickly regained his composure as if nothing had happened. His face appeared calm, almost indifferent.

 

“We were just in the middle of an engagement ceremony, Your Majesty.” Raios’s expression was flawlessly composed, showing no signs of turmoil. “I hope Your Majesty would also bless us.”

 

“Engagement ceremony.” The emperor gazed intensely at Raios with inhumanly piercing blue eyes. Then he muttered again. “An engagement ceremony, you say.”

 

Meanwhile, Allice was trembling in fear and shock. She couldn’t believe it. Why?

 

Why did His Majesty here? How could this happen? Why? Could it be that he was granting Sister Dana’s request?

 

Tears welled up in her eyes. Allice bit her lip, trying not to cry from the sheer unfairness of it all. It was just too much. For Sister Dana to resort to such disgraceful measures to stop the engagement ceremony—truly, it was—

 

“I see.”

 

“…”

 

Huh?

 

Allice’s eyes widened in shock. A tear trickled down her cheek at the very moment.

 

“Continue.” The emperor gestured lazily.

 

The high priest, who had been frozen in place, flinched and stammered as he began speaking again. “T-Then, let us continue the engagement ceremony.”

 

In the midst of bewilderment, the high priest dutifully recited scripture. It was a passage symbolizing eternal love before God. Then, at the end, he asked, “Allice Windsor, do you vow eternal love before the Sun God, Ramun?”

 

“Y-Yes.” She answered for now.

 

The high priest immediately turned his gaze to the crown prince. “Raios Geranze, do you vow eternal love before the Sun God, Ramun?”

 

“…I do.”

 

“And thus, the two have pledged eternal love before the Sun God, Ramun.”

 

As the vow of eternal love, a bond that could never be broken was vowed, Dana just calmly observed. Allice found it strange.

 

It’s certain that sister summoned His Majesty to the banquet hall. But why… didn’t she stop the engagement ceremony? And why? Why doesn’t she look envious?

 

“Now, let us begin the main event.” At that moment, the emperor stood up. “Lady Danae Windsor, please step forward.”

 

Dana stepped forward. A servant approached the emperor with a box and opened it. It was the same box Raios had sent to Dana. A box for the honorary medal.

 

“Danae Windsor. You have purified the Rotten Land and brought peace to the continent.” With those words, Emperor Yustio raised the medal. It was a radian gold necklace that shone brilliantly.

 

Dana’s eyes sparkled as she gazed at it. Yes, this is it. It was to ensure she didn’t lose that medal that she had made a deal with the emperor. From the start, she had no intention of ruining Raios’s engagement ceremony. She even hoped for its success. Only then would there be a narrative of her annulment.

 

“In recognition of your achievements and to honor your name, I bestow this medal upon you.”

 

As Dana stretched her neck forward, the emperor placed the medal around her neck. At that moment, his cold fingers brushed her nape. Dana flinched in shock but clenched her teeth to endure.

 

“Do you have a death wish?”

 

The memory of last night; the emperor’s hand that had choked her neck; his voice. Pushing it all down, Dana smiled calmly.

 

“It is an honor, Your Majesty.”

 

The dice were cast. Now, there was nothing that could be stopped anymore.

 

* * *

“What’s your scheme?”

 

As she went to the terrace to take a breather, Raios followed her.

 

“What kind of trick did you pull?”

 

Expecting this, Dana wasn’t surprised. She turned around and smiled faintly. “Where is your partner? Why did you come alone, Your Highness?”

 

“Danae Windsor. Answer me.”

 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

 

“What deal did you make with His Majesty—my uncle, last night?”

 

“A deal? What deal?”

 

“Don’t beat around the bush. Tell me the truth.” Raios spat his words like venom, cold flames flickering violently in his eyes. “What did you do with my uncle last night?”

 

Rage surged through his every breath. He seemed incredibly angry.

 

“What on earth did you do to make my uncle grant your request?”

 

Dana only smiled smoothly, just like Raios had watched her fury days ago. Well, of course, he’d be curious. It must seem absurd that the emperor—who despises humans and has no interest beyond religion—would act according to her will.

 

“Who knows what I offered to him?”

 

“I told you to answer!”

Raios was so angry that thick veins bugled on the back of his neck.

 

“Why don’t you ask your uncle directly if you’re so curious?”

 

“Danae!”

 

“I don’t know why Your Highness is so angry.”

 

“You don’t know? Is that what you call an answer?”

 

“Yes. I really don’t know.” Dana tilted her head as if genuinely curious. “I didn’t stop the engagement ceremony, so why is Your Highness so angry?”

 

“…”

 

“Are you angry that I received a medal?”

 

“…You ruined my engagement ceremony.”

 

“Think of it as a compromise. It was supposed to be my medal award ceremony in the first place.” Dana shrugged. “And if I really intended to ruin it, I would have asked His Majesty to prevent the engagement ceremony.”

 

It was true. Dana could have made that request. The emperor would have gladly complied. It was because they made a deal, after all.

 

“But I didn’t make such a request. Because,” Dana smiled broadly. “I support your love.”

 

For a moment, Raios’s jaw tightened. He seemed to clench his teeth. After a while, he uttered in a low, cracked voice. “You’re good at saying things you don’t mean…”

 

“I mean it.”

 

“No, stop pretending. I’ve seen through your facade long ago. You act gentle, but you’re unyielding to the core. Do you know how tiresome that is?”

 

Saying so, Raios stepped closer, narrowing the distance between them. Dana tried to back away but found the terrace railing behind her.

 

“Danae Windsor.”

 

At that moment, Raios suddenly called her name affectionately. It was just like a few days ago, just like when he whispered his love. The moment a chill ran down her spine, he already grasped her shoulder.

 

“I know I’ve made you feel neglected.”

 

“Let go.”

 

“But shouldn’t you reflect on why I’ve changed like this?”

 

Let go of me! Dana wanted to scream but held it in.

 

Raios’s large hand gripped her shoulder, his warmth and skin making her want to claw it off. The thought of him touching her with the same hands that had touched Allice made her feel sick.

 

“You should learn from Allice.”

 

“…”

 

“Allice is younger than you, but in many ways… she surpassed you. Especially when it comes to handling men.” Raios slowly lowered his head, whispering in her ear. “Allice makes me exhilarated.”

 

For a moment, Dana felt dizzy. Her breathing felt like it would stop.

 

“Who not take lessons from Allice? Who knows? Maybe I’ll fall for you again.”

 

Dana bit the inside of her mouth hard. The humiliation burned like fire in her chest, rising to her throat, making her want to scream. But she knew this was what Raios wanted—his obvious provocation. That was why she was determined not to lose her composure.

 

Dana mustered out all her strength to let out a calm voice. “Next time…”

 

Ah. Fortunately, her voice was calm. It even carried a faint note of mockery as if she found him amusing. Relieved by the steadiness of her voice, Dana went all in with her sarcasm.

 

“I’ll make sure to do that with my next man.”

 

“What?”

 

“My last relationship failed, so why bother trying again?”

 

Seeing Raios’s eyes turn cold, Dana finally felt like she could breathe again. Taking a leisurely breath, she smiled brightly.

 

“Thank you for the advice. I’ll do better with my next man, Your Highness.”

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