Etern glanced anxiously at her father, Emperor Wintier, but his expression was unreadable. It was as though he hadn’t even heard Ziggkart’s words.
A long silence followed. Even Ziggkart, who was usually composed, turned to Etern with a slightly uneasy look.
Finally, Wintier broke the silence with a heavy voice.
“Did the Grand Duke send you?”
“…Pardon?”
“I asked if it was your father, the Grand Duke of Randster, who sent you with this herb.”
Wintier’s sharp gaze flicked toward the herb in Ziggkart’s hand. Ziggkart stared back at him, his young face fearless, before calmly shaking his head.
“No, my father has nothing to do with this. He doesn’t even know I came to the Empire.”
“Then you brought it here yourself?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“And why?”
This time, Ziggkart didn’t wait for Etern’s signal. He answered with steady resolve.
“I heard rumors about the Empress of Sidernell and felt great sympathy for her.”
“Watch your tongue!”
The loud slam of Wintier’s hand on the desk startled Etern so much that she jumped and hurriedly grabbed her father’s arm.
“D-Daddy! Please don’t get angry. He’s only trying to help Mother!”
Though Wintier seemed to calm slightly at Etern’s pleading, his eyes remained fixed on Ziggkart with unrelenting hostility.
After glaring silently for a while, Wintier finally spoke again.
“I know full well how rare and valuable this herb is. Even as a Young Lord, you wouldn’t be able to acquire it with just a few gold bars. So, who gave it to you, and what do they want in return?”
“……..”
“Who came with you?”
At that, Etern whipped her head toward Ziggkart, blinking rapidly—a silent plea for him not to answer. However, Ziggkart betrayed her expectations with his unflinching composure.
“I came alone.”
“Don’t lie. Do you think I won’t interrogate you just because you’re a child?”
“Interrogate me if you must, Your Majesty, but the truth will not change. I traveled here from the Grand Duchy alone, carrying this herb to wake the Empress. I admit it’s a difficult herb to obtain, but…”
Ziggkart rolled his eyes slightly and shrugged.
“I’m good at climbing mountains. I’ve been doing it since I was young.”
A hollow laugh escaped Wintier’s lips. Hearing her father laugh sent chills down Etern’s spine.
‘That idiot! How could he say something so reckless?!’
Letting out a brief sigh, Wintier lifted Etern from his lap and set her down.
His piercing gaze fixed on Ziggkart, who remained standing upright, unflinching under the Emperor’s intense scrutiny.
Finally, Wintier leaned back in his chair with a dismissive posture, resting his chin on his hand.
“So, Young Lord, according to your words, you risked your life to bring this herb here to wake my wife. Is that correct?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Then, I suppose I must offer you a reward in return. What is it you want?”
Wintier’s eyes gleamed like a lion about to strike.
Etern instinctively stepped back, forming a circle with her fingers and placing it over her eye to read her father’s thoughts.
— Wintier Sergel Rislumon
The Emperor, Age 31.
1. This [expletive] brat is quite amusing.
2. He’s smart; it would be dangerous to leave him in the Grand Duchy, but keeping him could be useful.
3. I’ve tried multiple times to acquire this herb myself and failed.
‘Huh?’
Etern stared at the clear sentences forming among the swirling clouds of her father’s thoughts. For the first time, she noticed something new.
‘The third thought is visible?’
Previously, whenever she used her ability to observe her father, she could only see two layers of thought. But now, she could see three.
‘Is it because I’ve gotten closer to Father? Or has he started to open up to me?’
She hoped it was the latter, and the thought warmed her heart. But there was no time for sentimentality.
‘Keeping him here would be dangerous! We should send him back immediately!’
Determined to send Ziggkart back to the Grand Duchy as soon as the conversation was over, Etern slipped between the two and spoke up.
“Since the Young Lord has brought such a rare and precious gift, I think we should reciprocate with an equally valuable gesture, Daddy. We could assign escorts to ensure his safe journey back to the Grand Duchy.”
Etern glanced at Ziggkart with an expression that said, ‘What do you think of that?’
Ziggkart blinked his large eyes before letting out a soft smirk and looking away.
“Such generosity. It’s touching to think you’re already considering my departure.”
Etern’s jaw nearly dropped.
What’s wrong with him? Why not just announce that he plans to live here?!
Caught off guard, Etern let out an awkward laugh.
“Well, even if you don’t leave immediately, you’ll have to return eventually, right? Maybe tomorrow? Surely your parents are worried about you.”
Etern, so desperate to resolve the situation, accidentally forgot that she was standing before Emperor Wintier.
But Ziggkart remained unfazed, his posture unwavering as he responded.
“Well, Your Highness, while I came here alone, my parents likely sent escorts who remain hidden from my sight. They wouldn’t be anxiously waiting for me to return, so there’s no need to worry.”
“Wait… does that mean you don’t plan to leave? Are you planning to live here permanently?”
“I hadn’t thought about staying indefinitely, but surely His Majesty would permit me to remain for a few days.”
His last statement wasn’t directed at Etern but at Wintier. His confidence bordered on audacity, leaving Etern stunned.
‘This boy was trembling just moments ago!’
Etern elbowed Ziggkart in the side, frustrated by his fearless attitude, but she froze when Wintier let out a low chuckle.
It wasn’t a pleasant laugh, but it wasn’t entirely hostile either.
“Very well. I can allow that much.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“But you had better pray that herb of yours works as you claim.”
Ziggkart shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly and nodded.
“It will work. However, Your Majesty, you must understand something. This herb will not fully cure the Empress. It will only awaken her temporarily—a very short awakening.”
“What?”
Wintier’s voice hardened again, brimming with sharp tension. His gaze became fierce, and the room felt as if a storm was brewing.
“Are you mocking me?”
“Not at all, Your Majesty. Based on your knowledge of the herb, I assumed you understood its limitations.”
This time, it was Wintier who was rendered speechless.
Ziggkart’s statement wasn’t wrong, and his composure—standing firm before such an enraged Emperor—was astonishing.
