“That can’t possibly…”
Etern couldn’t even finish her sentence. Instead, she pressed her small hand to her increasingly aching forehead.
The Emperor was already eagerly anticipating Ziggkart’s arrival. If he learned that the boy had made it all the way here alone, without any attendants, it would be a huge issue.
‘He might find him intriguing and decide to keep him here.’
In her past life, Ziggkart had been brought to the Empire because his intelligence had caught the Emperor’s attention.
Of course, the circumstances were slightly different then, as the Empire had already begun crushing countless nations across the continent.
After much internal deliberation, Etern clenched her fists and trembled. Finally, she made her decision and declared firmly.
“Fine. I’ll go with you and explain everything.”
“Really?”
“Do you think I’d lie about this? No, you’ll be the one providing the details. I’ll just make sure Daddy listens to you. Understood?”
Ziggkart pondered her words briefly, tilting his head in thought. After calculating the risks, he nodded.
“Alright.”
“Good. Let’s go. Oh, wait—promise me one thing.”
Etern held out her index finger, her eyes sharp and determined. Ziggkart, looking at her small hand with a puzzled expression, asked.
“What promise?”
“Promise me you won’t say anything until I give you the signal.”
Ziggkart hesitated for a moment but eventually tapped her finger with his own, sealing the promise.
‘If Mother wakes up, even for a moment, then Father won’t try to do anything to him.’
Etern prayed silently as they walked toward the central palace, hoping that the herb Ziggkart brought would work.
***
“What did you just say?”
The Emperor, Wintier, who had been working in his office, fixed his piercing gaze on his secretary, Glych. The icy sharpness in his stare was chilling enough to send shivers down anyone’s spine.
“Repeat that.”
“Your Majesty, the Princess has brought the Young Lord of the Grand Duchy of Randster here. She says they have something important to discuss with you.”
“The Princess brought the Young Lord herself? Personally?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Wintier was stunned into silence for a moment. Then, he remembered hearing something about the Young Lord in a report earlier that morning.
The Emperor Wintier, already tense from repeated rejections by the magicians, had little patience to deal with anything else.
But now his daughter had brought the Young Lord into the palace? What kind of absurd nonsense was this?
“Let them in.”
After Glych stepped out, Etern entered first. Seeing his daughter’s cheerful smile slightly softened the thorns in Wintier’s heart.
“Etern.”
“Daddy, what were you doing?”
“I was working. The Emperor is always busy.”
Etern, seemingly unbothered—or perhaps unaware—scampered over to her father’s side. Wintier, now accustomed to such antics, picked her up and placed her on his lap.
“Wow! Is all of this your work, Daddy?”
“It is. Why? Do you want to learn?”
“Ugh, no. Not at all.”
‘Taxes, embezzlement, corruption… Just reading these gives me a headache. How does he handle it all?’
Etern, under the formidable shadow of her father, thought about how to eventually expose and eliminate all those who dared to commit such acts.
“But Etern.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t you have something to tell your father?”
Of course, he noticed. Etern stuck out her tongue playfully and gave her cutest expression, though inside she felt conflicted.
“Father, um…”
“Who’s trembling like a coward outside? I suppose I should see their face.”
When Wintier raised his voice, the attendants quickly ushered Ziggkart inside. Wintier frowned, his gaze landing on the small boy, who didn’t look much older than his daughter.
“So, you’re truly the Young Lord of Randster?”
“Yes, it is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty, Emperor of Sidernell.”
Ziggkart’s calm demeanor left Etern feeling anxious. If he had shown any signs of fear or hesitation, it would have been much easier for her to mediate the situation.
But instead, Ziggkart stood tall, meeting the Emperor’s piercing gaze without flinching. His crimson eyes, glowing under the light, carried an almost defiant intensity.
“Leave my sight at once. Return to your homeland immediately.”
The Emperor’s command was so resolute and abrupt that Etern’s eyes widened in shock.
‘What is this? Shouldn’t he at least ask why Ziggkart is here? Isn’t he even slightly curious?’
However, Ziggkart remained unfazed by the harsh words. Without reacting, he calmly retrieved the bundle tied to his waist, even though its presence might have seemed ridiculous.
Boldly, he placed it on the Emperor’s desk.
Just as Wintier’s expression grew even colder, and he began to rise from his chair, Etern clung to him tightly.
“Daddy! Please calm down and listen to him first. And look at what’s inside the bundle.”
“Etern, I’m not in the mood for games right now.”
‘When have you ever been in the mood to play…?’
Although she wanted to retort, now was not the time. Etern hugged her father’s neck tightly, throwing a tantrum with all her might.
“I’m not asking you to play! This is important! Just open it first and take a look. Please?”
Defeated by his young daughter’s insistence, Wintier sighed and reluctantly pulled the bundle closer. To Ziggkart, watching from below, the Emperor almost seemed… amused.
Every time Etern acted playful or clingy, the corners of Wintier’s lips twitched ever so slightly, as if he was suppressing a smile.
Ziggkart noticed this subtle change and felt a slight relief. Perhaps persuading the Emperor wouldn’t be as impossible as he had thought.
Of course, to achieve this, he would first need to bring this mischievous princess over to his side.
‘This is only the foundation. There’s no need to rush.’
Without knowing what Ziggkart was thinking, Wintier unfolded the bundle as Etern had insisted. A faintly bitter scent wafted through the room as the herb was revealed.
Wintier, unimpressed, gave Ziggkart a cold stare.
“You bring me weeds and expect me to do what with them?”
“That is not a weed, Your Majesty.”
Wintier picked up a small stalk of the herb with only two fingers before letting it drop back into the bundle.
“Then explain what this is.”
Ziggkart glanced at Etern, silently seeking her support in case something went wrong. Etern, catching his glance, nodded subtly, signaling him to proceed.
After letting out a small sigh, Ziggkart spoke in a clear, steady voice.
“This is an herb called ‘Berimare’ in the Grand Duchy. The name means ‘the herb that revives the dead.’ It is particularly effective in waking individuals who have lost consciousness.”
