The Saintess Returned to the Emperor's Arms

Crocodile tears 

“No, no, no. You don’t have to go!”

Asion shouted so loudly, his voice echoing off the high ceiling of the study. The other members of the staff gathered in the room, though not as excited as Asion, all had the same idea.

“That’s right, we already have the victory.”

“Until this is all settled, Riella Blinite is safe with us.”

“You shouldn’t fall for emotional provocations. Of course, I didn’t expect the princess to be so brazen…”

At the words of the last staff member, the rest of the members clucked their tongues, recalling what had happened earlier. 

In the garden earlier, Princess Greta was aggressive, as if she were going to snatch Riella right away. It was Riella, not the emperor or the member of the imperial, who calmed Greta.

Her voice was so much calmer and more direct than Greta’s, who had been demanding her to come out right away.

That seemed to irritate Greta. As if she was worried about her dignity, Greta glared at Riella a little and went back quickly, saying she would tell her by the end of the day.

”Princess. Don’t worry. I’ll go to your palace. When and what time do you want me to go?“

The situation in the garden ended like that, but the problem started now.

“I’m sorry. It was a situation where I shouldn’t have stepped forward as a sinner.…” 

“Riella Blinite. We all know you’re innocent.”

“yes?”

“On His Majesty’s orders, we have completed our reinvestigation. Of course, since you belonged to the mercenary group at that time, you cannot completely avoid responsibility, but I know that you did not plan an assassination or commit a crime that deserves death. So don’t be so shrunken.”

“ah….”

A hundred words would not be enough, but only a short exclamation came out.

When Riella looked up again, the eyes of those sitting around her were quite warm. 

The tears welled up in her eyes as they said they believed in her innocence, that she had been through a lot.

“Uh, you shouldn’t be crying already, we haven’t processed this publicly yet.”

“We are preparing an international complaint against the royal family of Riotta. Miss Riella will be called as our witness at that time. you can proclaim your innocence then. We have prepared everything, so there is nothing to worry about.”

“However, this operation is only known to the staff gathered here, the royal family shouldn’t know about it, so….”

So it means that you’ll have to stay as invisible as possible until it’s done.

Riella nodded her head, saying that she would understand anyway.

It was then that the emperor, who had been lost in thought all along, got up and gave a single command. 

“It’s okay. You can go.”

“What?”

Asion asked in surprise.

Riella and the other aides all raised their heads and looked at Herhan.

After surprising everyone, Herhan answered calmly.

“Go. Riella Blinite. Go and meet the princess.”

“Ah, haha. Your majesty. That’s a little….. We might get in trouble with the royal family…” 

“We can stop that.”

“Something dangerous could happen to Miss Riella.….” 

“We can protect her from that.”

‘I wonder if it’s okay to cut off the worries, prudence, and attention poured out by the staff for more than an hour with such a single blow.’

“I know you want to go. You said you had something to tell the princess.”

Among the gazes directed at him, the emperor lowered his head and made eye contact with Riella.

She had already seen the emperor dozens of times, but every time their eyes met, Riella’s heart fluttered.

“There must be a story on your side that we don’t know about. So, if there are still knots left to untie with the princess, you can do as you please. Riella Blinite.” said the emperor.

He said he would only ask, but would not give her a choice. In the end, he went against the words he had spit out, asking her what she wanted and giving her a choice.

So Riella answered. “Thank you”

Instead of saying sorry,  now she decided to say thank you more.

Asion and the staff rose without regret. To begin preparations to send Riella to the Princess Palace.

* * * 

Princess Greta’s letter arrived right away. It was an unknown letter with only the time and place written down, whether it was an invitation, a challenge, or just an order to follow. 

It was about a 20-minute walk to East Palace. Riella was followed by two imperial knights on both sides. They were a guard for sinners, but secretly, they were an escort guarding Riella.

The scenery of the East Palace where Princess Greta lives was unusual.

Unlike the annex with a wide field-like yard and various flower trees, it was an elegant and enchanting place.

It wasn’t until she reached the courtyard of the Palace that Riella realized that it was because of the roses blooming everywhere. Red roses, white roses, and blue roses were abundant on every wall.

Princess Greta was drinking tea under a gazebo next to a fence lined with pink roses.

‘Vivian Rose.’ Riella swallowed a laugh.

She probably chose that spot on purpose.

As she guessed Greta’s clear intentions, Riella felt that she had become very dull. 

Princess Greta was probably trying to make her cry.

‘I’m sorry, but instead of crying, I laughed.’

“Oh, my God. That’s her….”

“What’s she wearing, is she here for a social gathering or something? Wasn’t that woman under investigation as a sinner?”

“No matter how much she has won the favor of His Majesty the Emperor. Doesn’t she have to be handcuffed to be brought before the princess?”

The voices of the maids surrounding Greta reached Riella’s ears from afar. They were deliberately raising their voices to be heard.

But none of their intentional words hurt Riella. Because There’s someone over there who knows the truth.

Having at least one person who believes in you is more powerful than you think. As if she had become a completely different person than when she thought she was abandoned alone.

“Riella.”

“yes, princess.”

“Your dress is pretty. I heard that the tailor of the royal palace is busy making and carrying new clothes to the annex these days. Are those all Riella’s clothes?”

The maids next to Greta sipped tea and giggled at Greta’s words. 

Riella kept her posture straight and answered them.

“Yes. Thankfully, His Majesty has taken care of every detail.” 

“What?”

“He chose this outfit himself. He said it would go well with the rose garden of the East Palace.” 

The maids laughed.

They had planned to crush Riella as if she were the emperor’s mistress, but now that she was so confident, they only made themselves look ridiculous.

‘The emperor himself even picked out her clothes? Wasn’t it like she was just selling her body to avoid execution?’

“Okay. I’m glad you look good.”

“Thank you. But, I am still recovering.”

“Oh. Under the extreme care of His Majesty, and you are still recovering?” 

“yes. unfortunately. The poison left in my body must have been too strong.” 

At that, Greta stopped her hand holding the teacup.

The maids beside her looked dumbfounded. 

‘Poison?’

‘Did she say “poison”?’

Greta put down the teacup with a click and glared at Riella. 

The reason Riella brought up the poison was probably to embarrass Greta on purpose. 

In the old days, she couldn’t even say anything when she was subjected to worse things, but now Riella is not easy anymore.

But the game hasn’t even started yet.

Greta took a short deep breath and regained her smile. 

“Okay. don’t overdo it, Riella. Don’t stand like that. Sit here. Emma, will you give Riella a cup of tea?”

“What? Oh, Yes, princess…”

“And everyone, please stay away. I need to talk to Riella alone. I’d like the knight over there to stay back a little bit. You’re not going to overhear the ladies, are you? I won’t hurt Riella, so don’t worry about that.”

Greta’s maids whined, but immediately left, and the imperial knights took a few steps back on condition that they were only within sight.

Finally, the scent of roses wafted around the outdoor table where only the two of them remained. 

‘Just like that day. The day I saw Greta hug Fabian.’

“It’s been half a year since then since we’ve seen each other at the palace, but we haven’t been able to talk like this together.”

Greta seemed to remember that day too.

It was terrible for Riella. That she was sharing some of the same memories with Greta.

“You must have a lot to say to me. Riella.”

Of course, it was. In all of Riella’s nightmares, Greta appeared. How many questions she asked every time.

‘Why? Why did you do that to me? Why me? Why Fabian? when you had so much already. Once you’ve driven me to death, why do you do that again? Why are you doing this to me?’

“But I will tell you first. Riella.”

But Greta didn’t even give Riella time to bring up just one of those many questions. 

“Sorry. Riella.”

And she didn’t even give Riella time to curse and blame her.

“I’m really… I’m so sorry for you. I’m just sorry. I’m horrible, too. What are you going to do? You hated me a lot, didn’t you?”

Before coming to the East Palace, Riella had been trained, but not by Asion.

Don’t get involved with Queen Greta in any way. Don’t get carried away, and even if she is so heinous that you can’t stand her, don’t grab her by the hair…

Riella felt the same way when she came here.

‘Even if you can’t argue with her, don’t cry. Don’t be afraid if you’re backed into a corner.’

That’s what she thought. 

‘But what should I do if this happens? If the princess apologizes.’

‘I have nothing left in my heart but resentment for her.’

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have done that…” 

Greta burst into tears.

For a moment Riella seemed to have sunk deep in those few tears.

She felt like an idiot, speechless and unable to respond.

“I couldn’t help it either. Riella. I’m really sorry to you for saying this….” 

“….”

“I really loved Fabian. That’s why I do that.” 

Fabian.

Riella’s eyes widened at the name.

While alone with the princess, she didn’t think that Fabian’s story wouldn’t come out. 

She’d expected it, even prepared for it. Still, hearing the name ‘Fabian’ in Greta’s voice was more heartbreaking than she thought.

“Fabian was worried about you, too. You know him, his personality, and how much he cares about you. Knowing all of that,… I shouldn’t have done that to you.” 

“Don’t talk to me about Fabian.”

“If the royal family falls, Fabian will die.” 

“What?”

“Riella. I deserve to be punished. But what about Fabian, are you okay If he dies?” 

Greta now began to sob loudly.

Riella tried to calm herself.

It was not a matter of logic. This was a question with a definite answer. She didn’t need to think about what had happened between her and Fabian, or what had happened in the half year she hadn’t known.

Fabian was already out of Riella’s life. Or, more accurately, he’d thrown her out first.

“I don’t care.”

“What?”

Greta stopped sobbing.

She lifted her head from where it was buried between her palms. Her eyes were red as she looked up at Riella, tears streaking the corners of her eye.

“If Fabian dies, it doesn’t matter?”

There was no bitterness in Greta’s voice when she asked back. She was rather creepy as if she had never been so pathetic.

“Yes, she says she doesn’t.” 

Her answer was interrupted by Herhan.

Greta’s eyes widened at his unexpected appearance.

Without hesitation, Herhan walked over to Riella and put his arm around her shoulders.

When he whispered in her ear, “You’re doing great,” Riella finally closed her eyes and smiled.

* * *