Come to the Empire with me
Greta nervously walked back and forth in the room biting her nails.
Frustrated, she occasionally looked out the window, but it was useless. There’s no way she can see an annex from here.
‘Have they met by now?’
Greta thought as she sat down on the sofa.
It was last night that Greta, who had been suffering from the humiliation bestowed upon her by the emperor, suddenly got up from her bed.
Greta secretly rode out of the palace.
The place she arrived at by horse all night was a castle owned by Greta in an area not far from the royal palace.
Greta opened the locked door of the castle and entered. A spacious and lonely old castle. Fabian was in it.
“Fabian. You don’t have to hide anymore. I signed a compensation treaty with the Empire. Now you are free from all charges.”
“What happened to Riella?”
‘At least you were free. I personally came to pick you up!’
Even so, Riella was the first thing Fabian was looking for.
“Is she okay? Was she treated badly while being held captive in the palace? I was wrong. The princess would protect her, but I shouldn’t have relied on that. I should have gone to—”
“It’s over now. Fabian. Riella is safe.”
‘It’s a disaster because she is too safe.’
Greta, who was gritting her teeth, Suddenly had an idea in her mind.
After hiding her venomous inner feelings, Greta said with tears in her eyes with a sad and sympathetic expression as much as possible.
“That’s…Riella is fine…but…”
“Why? What’s going on?”
“His Majesty the Emperor of the Empire… and Riella….”
Fabian’s face gradually became contemplative at Greta’s tearful explanation.
It was painful to watch the man you love break down from worrying about another woman.
However, as much as it is painful, it will have a strong effect.
Because of the damn treaty the emperor made, Greta couldn’t touch Riella anymore. If she couldn’t threaten Riella’s life with a knife, she could break her soul.
“Let’s go. Fabian. I’ll let you meet Riella.”
That’s how Greta led Fabian to the palace.
He even put on servant’s clothes so that others wouldn’t notice anything suspicious and showed him the way to the annex, so all that was left was to hope that Heaven would help him.
‘You think I can’t touch you if the emperor stands and protects you? Don’t worry, Riella. I’ll shake you until you want to die again.’
* * *
“Riella. Are you safe? How have you been? Riella. I’m so glad. I’m so glad you’re okay…”
Fabian stretched out his trembling hand, but Riella only backed away with a frightened face.
‘Why? How did you get here? Why are you in front of me?’
“Riella, don’t do that. Don’t walk away like that. Please…”
Tears began to fill Fabian’s green eyes.
Bigger than when she saw Greta cry, Riella was shocked to the point of earth-shaking.
‘Why are you crying?’
“Riella. You don’t know how much I’ve been looking for you.”
“No…Don’t lie. Don’t come near me.”
“Really. There hasn’t been a day I haven’t thought of you since the day you left.”
Riella gritted her teeth.
She hadn’t been this angry when she realized everyone had used her as an arrow.
“You have been with the princess until now. Do you think I don’t know that?”
“It was the only choice I had. The failed operation made me a criminal. The princess is protecting me…”
“He tried to kill me to protect you.”
“what…?”
“He tried to kill me to protect you. She knew where I was, too, because she had me arrested as soon as she found out.”
“No way… No. Riella. The princess couldn’t have done that.”
‘See? You trust her more even at this moment.’
Riella burst into laughter.
‘I had no desire to laugh. Rather, I wanted to cry, but I couldn’t figure out why I was laughing in vain.’
‘Is it because it’s so absurd or maybe it was because this moment was unbelievable? Yes, that would be better. ‘
So Riella began casting spells to deceive herself.
‘It’s not Fabian in front of me now, it’s just some idiot saying ugly things, not the man I loved, who I loved in my life….’
“Riella, just answer this. Are you okay now, are you hurt? I’ve missed you so much, I’ve been so worried about you…”
“You were always talkative in the past. But even now, it’s just a talk.”
“What?”
“If you were so worried…”
Riella was devastated.
Apparently, her desperate spell hadn’t worked. Looking at him silently, he really was Fabian.
“If you were so worried, you should have come to see me sooner!”
‘how scared I was and how hard it was…’
Then she burst into tears.
It was a deep cry that had been piled up one by one since the day she turned away from Fabian.
* * *
“Your Majesty, look at this. What do you think? Does it look good on me?”
“What is that?”
“This is a farewell gift from Miss Riella. She cut the leather bag she had and made it into a leather belt. What is it? She asked for the size and she made it and brought it to me in two days.”
“What?”
Herhan raised his eyes. The eyes, which had been exhausted from dealing with the kingdom’s nobles all day, began to glisten with vicious energy at once.
However, Asion, who moved around only made herhan angry.
‘Did you leave your senses on the ground or are you acting obtusely on purpose?’
“The workmanship is really amazing, isn’t it? Doesn’t the design just suit me? There is also a hook on this side to hang a sword sheath…”
“Give it to me.”
“Eh, What?”
“The leather bag was from me, so it is mine too. So give it to me.”
“What? Where is that nonsense? Actually, it was not given by His Majesty. It was prepared with public money for this expedition.… Argh, wait, your majesty! Argh!”
Herhan’s attacks were indiscriminate. It was a more sincere physical fight because he knew exactly all his weaknesses, including the part where he was tickled, and there was no need to hide his childish inner thoughts from Asion.
Asion finally fell on the floor in vain and looked up at Herhan, who had taken the belt from him.
Do people know? That the young new emperor of the Elschweig Empire was actually such a narrow-minded and sneaky man.
Besides, how cowardly he is, contrary to what he looks like.
At other times, he’s a bold thinker, but when it comes to this woman, he’s infinitely cautious and hesitant.
“If you’re going to take her, take her.”
‘So what’s the big deal.’
A vassal of the Emperor. First lieutenant. The only one who can see into his master’s heart, so he has no choice but to push his back.
This wasn’t a punch at all because he took his belt.
“What?”
“I mean Riella Blinite. Let’s take her to the Empire. You want to do that. You have enough ability to do that.”
“That….”
“Your majesty. Do you know why Miss Riella didn’t give you a farewell gift?”
‘That’s because I look difficult and hateful.’
Herhan thought so, but couldn’t answer.
“Maybe because she’s not ready for you to go?” Asion answered instead.
Then, he even added words that he didn’t know whether he was trying to appease his master or to make him angry again.
“With us, we shook hands, shared souvenirs, and even exchanged good wishes. Carnel even hugged her.”
‘What, a hug?’
Herhan, who wanted to look far away for a while, blinked his eyes again.
Asion flinched. He wondered if that shouldn’t have been said. To save Carnel, Asion immediately continued.
“But she still hasn’t properly greeted you. It is the same with Your Majesty. So, Your Majesty. If you’re not ready to send her back, just don’t do that. There is another option, right? just as we chose the second option in our dealings with the royal family.”
“the second option…”
Riella was a woman who had already lived her entire life as a stranger.
‘I can’t make her do that again.’
She’d been dragged from place to place, and he didn’t think she should be driven to another strange place.
He didn’t want to be that person. Perhaps it was greed. The desire to be different from anyone she had ever met.
Because of that, Herhan couldn’t tell Riella that he would take her to his country.
Unable to say it himself, he hoped she would cling to him first.
‘I wondered why I’d put such pressure on that cowardly woman, but when I thought about that again, I realized I’d gotten a little carried away.’
“Well, if she says she doesn’t like it, then you can just stop. How is it? Let’s just ask her. It’s free to just ask, right?”
‘It was something that hurt my pride a little. I can’t believe I’m being taught by Asion.’
However, even though it was a little embarrassing, the advice Asion gave was often right.
“Where is Riella now?”
“Probably where she’s always been…”
‘Right. She’s always been there.’
Herhan nodded and hurried his steps.
‘Is it this far from the main palace to the annex?’
He felt uncomfortable facing Riella until a while ago, but once he made up his mind, he became impatient.
When he finally reached the annex, he walked almost as if he were running.
It was then that Herhan found Riella arguing with someone in the garden.
“Riella!”
It was the first time that Herhan had called Riella’s name out loud like that.
Riella recognized the voice and turned her head towards Herhan.
She was crying. She bit her lips tightly, her face frowning.
The moment he saw that face, Herhan forgot why he had rushed back to the annex and what he was trying to ask Riella about. He just ran with his big strides and hugged Riella.
“your majesty…!”
“Riella. What’s going on?”
After asking What was going on, he was about to ask who the person next to her was. But before he could let out a voice, his mouth was blocked.
It was the man who had been bothering Riella. That man, standing there with a crying face like Riella.
It was a familiar face. He had seen it through Greta’s memories.
“Are you His Majesty, the Emperor of the Elshweig Empire…?”
Fabian, or something. It’s a name he doesn’t even want to remember.
Herhan frowned at him.
Suddenly, Fabian’s expression changed to a stern expression, and he jumped at Herhan and grabbed him by the collar.
“You….. You made Riella.…!”
“Fabian, what the hell do you think you’re doing? Get your hands off him!”
“How insolent, who do you think you are!”
Riella shouted and Asion drew his sword.
It was Herhan who stopped them.
Herhan remained silent, coldly staring at the man holding his collar. Just to see what he can do.
Herhan’s calculation was correct.
Fabian couldn’t do anything to Herhan. In fact, it was the opposite. Fabian let go of his hand after holding onto Herhan’s collar for a long time, then took two steps back and knelt on the spot.
Asion and Riella also covered their mouths and gasped. Only Herhan watched his actions with narrowed eyes.
“Please let Riella go.”
Strangely, Herhan’s heart sank at those words.
“Please…Please do that…Let go of Riella. She may be one of the women you take for a night’s entertainment. but it shouldn’t be Riella. Please let her go…”
‘It was more certain after hearing it a little. It’s a bullshit word that comes from hearing rumors from somewhere.’
‘So, I should have taken it lightly and laughed it off. But why isn’t that happening? Why are my teeth clenched and a heavy feeling rise to the top of my head?’
“Your majesty! sorry. Don’t listen to Fabian. Fabian knows nothing— ”
“Riella. Come with me to the Empire.”
So Herhan deliberately spoke as if he wanted to hear.
Riella, who went out to explain about Fabian with a lot of tears, widened her eyes.
Herhan stared at her, then reached out and wiped the tears from her eyes. He didn’t want to see her cry for another man.
“I am not asking. It is a command. You don’t have a choice and you know it.”
‘I had no intention of saying this. Also, I didn’t want to force Riella, who was finally free, to come under such force…’
‘But everything didn’t matter anymore.’ thought Herhan.
‘Riella’s eyes, which were still looking up at me, were shaking like fireworks.’
Herhan took Riella’s hand and stepped away. Riella hesitated a little, but she soon moved in his direction.
“Your Majesty! No! Your Majesty, please…! Riella! Please…!”
She heard Fabian shout behind her.
“Get rid of him.”
Herhan ordered Asion. Then she tightened his grip on Riella so that she wouldn’t look back at him.
* * *
