Chapter 76. Haven’t You Tasted It Before?
The disgust radiated most strongly from the western nobles.
They clearly remembered what the crown prince had said not long ago, that the collapse of the northern fortress was due to aging infrastructure.
Didn’t they all see the delighted expression on the prince’s face as he reported this to the emperor, assuring him there was no problem? It was supposed to be over, and now there’s a hearing? And isn’t it during the Wave right now?
‘…Madman.’
Marquis Pameson, the leader of the western nobles, didn’t bother hiding his scorn.
That man was clearly insane. He’d always suspected he wasn’t in his right mind, but this… this was on another level. Yet, they were Terminas—the blood of the empire’s founder, those who had even earned the favor of dragons.
Despite the harsh terrain of the northern hemisphere, the Termina Empire was stronger than anywhere else. They withstood the monster-infested Ice Wall and endured half a year of blizzard-filled winters.
The nobles, thinking of the one who built the empire, tolerated Eclipse Termina. But wasn’t this too much? How long had it been since Sylas Baloch was purged, and now this?
If not for Jillian Baloch, it wouldn’t have been just the fortress falling, but the empire itself might have shattered. So what was the emperor thinking? The more they thought, the more revolted they became.
Pameson slowly turned his eyes and realized the expressions of those around him were no different from his own. And then, when he looked back at the emperor, he was shocked.
Even the crown prince standing by the emperor’s side couldn’t hide his expression of contempt.
Hadn’t he always groveled at the emperor’s every word? On the day Sylas Baloch was executed, on the day the princess was promised to Baloch, he had always been the picture of obedience.
A pathetic dog, Pameson had thought…
‘Is that not quite the case anymore…?’
Just then, the tension broke.
“Your Majesty, Duke Baloch has arrived at the palace gates. Please grant him permission to enter,” shouted a knight who had received the messenger’s news.
“He’s only just arrived?”
The emperor grumbled, clearly annoyed. But before he could say more, the crown prince stepped forward.
“What are you waiting for? Will you make His Majesty wait even longer? Lower the drawbridge immediately and bring in the Duke!”
The crown prince’s scolding sounded respectful, but it was artful. While it seemed he was protecting his father, he had effectively robbed the emperor of his chance to show his displeasure toward Baloch.
Still, the emperor couldn’t openly object. There was no fault to find, and he couldn’t just leave the duke waiting outside like before—not during the Wave.
If the emperor acted petty toward the duke now, he risked losing public favor. So though clearly annoyed, the emperor said nothing.
‘Interesting…’
Marquis Pameson’s gaze toward the crown prince grew more intense.
***
Now that’s what you call a sprint. The knights from the north had crossed the long distance to the imperial capital in just two hours, a staggering speed.
Despite the frequent snowfall and frozen roads of the capital, which no amount of clearing could keep clear, they had ridden like a storm.
Only the northerners could manage such a thing.
The knights, upon spotting the glistening ice, let out a long whistle, some kind of signal, and from there the terrifying rush began.
The carriage slipped often. With every swerve across the ice, it felt like their hearts slammed into the ground.
By the time they arrived, Bianca was pale. Even after dismounting, she still felt like she was in motion, her body lurching unexpectedly.
“This way, please.”
Bianca suppressed her unease, keeping her face calm as she walked alongside Jillian.
This was the imperial palace—the place where she had once wished to die. And now, she had returned alive. To stand before the one who had ordered her death.
Her stomach churned, and she bit down hard on the soft inside of her cheek to steady herself. Just then, something slipped between her fingers and grasped her tightly.
“It’s okay.”
Jillian had stopped and was looking down at her.
With the imperial palace behind him, she suddenly recalled the first day they met. It was not long ago, yet it felt like a distant past.
‘Were you abandoned?’
He had approached her, wounding words first, then offered to take her ‘home.’ A suspicious man in many ways…absurdly devoted, implausibly kind. And yet, she had fallen for him.
It was thanks to him that the imperial palace didn’t seem so suffocating anymore.
“Jillian.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Had the word lady always sounded so sweet? Her eyes couldn’t leave his lips as he said it.
“Let’s finish this quickly and go home.”
A smile bloomed on Jillian’s face as he looked at her. He had always looked at her with eyes full of sunlight but never had he looked so radiant.
“Yes. Let’s go home quickly.”
“Okay.”
Bianca thought the golden gaze upon her felt like sunlight.
Crunch.
As she took a step forward, the sound beneath her feet made her forget her anxiety and smile.
It was the familiar sound of thin ice cracking—one she had heard every day in the north. Followed by the sound of snow melting and the sound of gentle winter.
Crunch.
With each step, the familiar noise followed, and Bianca no longer feared the day ahead. Soon, the two were granted entry into the Sun Hall.
***
“Duke Baloch, I trust you understand why I summoned you today.”
At the emperor’s words, Jillian stared back at him without moving.
Not quite three months had passed, and the emperor’s face had noticeably brightened.
His complexion was better, and the deep furrows between his brows had lightened. Perhaps killing Duke Sylas Baloch had pleased him greatly.
Jillian entertained this rather shocking thought calmly as he studied the man before him.
“You are the shield and sword of Termina. For generations, the Dukes of Baloch have protected this empire from the Ice Wall with their shields and swords. That service is held in high regard. But…”
The emperor paused subtly, then exhaled deeply. He appeared burdened with grave concern, but no one truly believed the emperor was worried about this situation.
Though he called it a “hearing,” this was just like the day he executed Duke Sylas Baloch.
Surrounding the accused with nobles, the emperor put on a show—making sure everyone clearly remembered who held the power. Just like that day.
To prove that even the great House of Baloch now knelt before Eclipse Termina.
As the emperor passionately continued, Jillian gently twisted his hand and brushed the back of Bianca’s hand beside him.
A gentle warmth spread from the soft contact of their bare hands. The point of contact was small, yet the sense of satisfaction was immense.
Jillian was no longer listening to the emperor. What he heard instead was the sound of Bianca’s eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings, and the quick, cute rhythm of her heartbeat—thump, thump, thump. Along with that, he could faintly hear the nobles’ hushed curses.
The scene from that scorching day was being reenacted perfectly. The only difference was the name of the person standing at the center.
As Bianca’s heartbeat quickened, Jillian realized she was silently anxious. He had thought she had composed herself, but it seemed the location was the issue.
The Sun Hall, this was where Sylas Baloch had bled. Standing here, she was projecting that day onto the present.
Jillian subtly moved his hand more boldly. When the soft sensation of her skin brushing against his became more distinct, Bianca’s composed expression finally cracked.
‘…!’
A glance from her revealed an adorably reproachful look.
Why are you doing this here?!
Even without hearing it, her cute scolding echoed in his mind. Trying not to laugh out loud, Jillian turned his gaze to the emperor, who was now red-faced and shouting.
“This is deeply regrettable. For the first time since the founding of our nation, a fortress has collapsed. I can’t help but think perhaps this is due to a failure in Duke Jillian Baloch’s leadership.”
Jillian locked eyes with the blue gaze fixed on him. The faint smile he wore vanished, replaced by a chilling calm.
“Are you saying the collapse of the fortress is due to my incompetence?”
“No other dukes in history have had issues with the strongholds! None before you. What kind of wave handling led to its collapse? Unless you lost your mind, drunk on the title of ‘Dragon of Termina’—!”
“Haven’t you already experienced it yourself?”
The emperor, who had been roaring theatrically, was abruptly silenced.
“What?”
Jillian calmly repeated in a flat tone, “I assumed you remembered. Was one palace not enough for you?”
“Duke Baloch! You dare speak of that! You dare—!”
The emperor’s face turned crimson in rage, not expecting that day to be mentioned.
“I reminded Your Majesty, didn’t I?”
Step.
Jillian seized Bianca’s hand beside him, gripping it tightly as he took a step forward.
“That destroying half a palace is nothing to me.”
Step.
“Don’t forget what Baloch fights against.”
Step.
With each of his steps, the color drained from the emperor’s face.
“My wife is enough. I already said—there won’t be a second time.”*He means he won’t take a second sacrifice.*
The Sun Hall was now wrapped in a deathly silence.
“Insolent!”
“If Your Majesty finds it insolent, then by all means, throw us into prison.”
“What?”
The emperor’s jaw dropped.
“The two masters of Baloch will not avoid responsibility. If the collapse of the fortress is Baloch’s sin, then I will gladly accept imprisonment.”
“Y-you…!”
He had intended to scold him just enough and then send him off. But the emperor had forgotten something:
This wasn’t Sylas Baloch.
Jillian Baloch was even more ruthless and dangerous than Sylas. The duke, smiling sweetly with his beautiful face, whispered,
“If the fall of ‘Baloch’s fortress,’ which I built with my personal wealth, is a crime worthy of a hearing, then so be it.”
Ah…
A murmur of faint admiration spread.
People had forgotten. Baloch lacked nothing—wealth, strength, or influence—and had used his own fortune to build the empire’s seven fortresses.
Was it reasonable to summon a man to a hearing because the wall of his own house had crumbled?
The nobles’ eyes all turned to the emperor.
