D-day
Early in the morning, Herhan sat down in front of Riella like any other day and opened his mouth when he saw that Riella had finished eating breakfast without any trouble.
“The princess will be returning to the Kingdom of Liotta today.”
“What?”
Herhan chuckled quietly as he looked at Riella, whose eyes were wide open.
‘See, I knew this would be the reaction.’
“Why? Do you feel sorry?”
“No. Rather than that,….”
Riella trailed off. Not because she was deliberately being quiet, but because she found it difficult to explain these complex emotions.
Does it feel refreshing? It also feels a bit awkward.
Part of her felt like she shouldn’t have let him go, and part of her couldn’t think of anything else to say when he asked her if she had any further revenge to seek.
“I know. I know what you’re thinking. The princess probably feels the same way. That’s probably why she doesn’t want anyone to see her off. She said she’ll leave quietly, so there’s no need for a farewell party and don’t send an entourage with her.”
The emperor was right.
In the afternoon when the princess was scheduled to leave, Riella and Herhan stood on the watchtower overlooking the castle gate and quietly watched as Princess Greta left the palace.
Greta went out alone, on a single horse, without any attendants, just as she had announced.
“Can we just send her like this?”
Herhan hugged Riella from behind as she couldn’t shake off her worries.
The soldier on duty at the watchtower immediately turned around and hid his reddened face under his helmet.
But Herhan didn’t stop and placed his lips on Riella’s ear.
“Your Majesty, there are soldiers.…!”
“Why? I have something to tell you secretly.”
“Ah….”
Herhan, who had locked Riella, told her a short story in a voice that only Riella could hear.
In fact, he had visited her shortly after Fabian’s departure and read her mind, but she had been so devastated by the loss of Fabian that she had lost all focus. That was why he decided not to press or question the princess any further and just send her back to the kingdom.
“She probably won’t threaten you further in her condition. The princess has no way of doing it alone.”
Riella nodded.
Meanwhile, the princess who had passed through the gate had become so distant that she was now invisible like a dot.
“But Riella.”
“Yes?”
“What did you expect earlier? What did you expect when you said it couldn’t be done because there were soldiers there?”
At those words, Riella immediately escaped from Herhan’s arms and went down the stairs of the watchtower without looking back.
“Riella! Where are you running off to again? Are you expecting something great and I’m the one disappointing you? Huh?”
Herhan followed Riella, laughing heartily and tirelessly.
No matter how fast Riella was when she ran away, there was no way she could shake off Herhan who was determined to catch up.
It was at the door to the first floor of the watchtower that Herhan finally caught her.
“Don’t go, Riella. I still have more to tell you.”
“Then don’t tease me!”
Riella was puffing out her flushed cheeks.
She was furrowing her brows hard and glaring at Herhan as if to scold him.
‘Ah. You’re so cute, how can I endure not seeing you for several days?’
Herhan was in agony as he held onto Riella tightly.
He thought about just bailing on the plan but ultimately decided to take a little time to build a more perfect future.
“Actually, I will be going on a business trip for a few days.”
“Yes?”
“It’ll be about five days. During that time, I won’t have to tease you like this again, so you can relax—”
“No!”
Then Riella shouted loudly.
Herhan was slightly surprised by the more resolute response than expected, but soon smiled and gently stroked Riella’s hair.
“I don’t want to be apart from you either. I miss you a lot, but now that the princess issue has been resolved,…”
“But you can’t. I don’t like it!”
Riella’s reaction was even more intense.
Herhan couldn’t help but be surprised. He thought that Riella could be upset, but he didn’t think it would be this bad.
Just when he was wondering if there was another reason, Riella hugged Herhan’s waist and buried her face in his, pleading so that he wouldn’t let go.
“Don’t go, Your Majesty. Don’t go anywhere. I can’t.”
* * *
“So, for that reason, he must urgently go on a northern inspection tour. It is unfortunate, but His Majesty must go in person. It won’t take long. If we go at full speed and come back, it will only take five days. Miss Riella.”
The place where Asion sat down with Riella and held an unexpected ‘explanation session’ was Herhan’s office.
He was trying to calm Riella down and convince her after she had strongly objected to Herhan’s business trip.
“Is Sir Jess going too?”
“What? Uh, I’m….”
When Jess looked up at Riella’s question, she was met by Herhan shooting her a murderous glare.
‘Hah. My life….’
Unable to win over such a lord, Jess gave Riella a curt reply.
“I’m staying behind at the imperial palace on personal business, and Asion and the knights will be accompanying him on this trip.”
It was all bullshit.
The Emperor wasn’t actually going on an urgent inspection, he was going to get a diamond for Riella. A great diamond, perfect for Riella, had finally come out of the northern mines.
He’d made a big deal about getting her hand in marriage without any fuss, but when it came time to propose, Herhan was getting a little nervous.
Still, it’s a long journey, so he agrees to let Asion accompany him.
However, the “terrible task” that had been given to Jess was what left him alone in the palace.
“As soon as I return, I will ask Riella to marry me.”
“Yes, as you wish.”
“Until then, I want you to take care of everything.”
“What? Like what?”
“D-Day. Flowers. The band. Fancy lights and decorations and food. I want everything set up for Riella from head to toe. Oh, except for the ring.”
“……”
“Because I’m going to get her the finest ring in the world.”
Regardless of whether Jess was distressed that he’d been thrust into the role of ‘event organizer’, Herhan was preoccupied with comforting Riella, who was sitting with a gloomy expression.
“Riella. Do you want me to leave Asion with you if you get nervous?”
“No! No! You must never be separated from Captain Asion. Always stay with the captain and the knights, Your Majesty. If possible, it would be nice if Sir Jess could go with you, Your Majesty…..”
Herhan shook his head at that.
“Riella. Aren’t you afraid of being alone in the imperial palace?”
“What? No, it’s the opposite.”
“What do you mean, the opposite?”
“I’m worried about Your Majesty. What if something happens to you while you are gone?”
“…….”
There was a moment of silence.
Asion and Jess saw the spark in Herhan’s eyes as he glared at Riella and rose from their seats.
“I’m left now.”
“Yeah. Me too. I have training….”
As soon as they were out the door, Herhan lifted Riella’s chin for a long kiss.
“Be honest with me. Riea. You’re always studying how to grab me and shake me, aren’t you?”
“I’m not kidding, I’m serious, I’m worried about you, I get anxious when you’re not in my sight.”
“The rabbit worries about the wolf…”
Herhan kissed Riella again, his mouth shaped like a smile.
It was a sweet kiss that he wished would never end.
* * *
That evening, when Loriell heard of the Emperor’s trip to the north, she dared to ask for an audience with him while he was busy making preparations. Without Riella’s knowledge, of course.
“Your Majesty, I heard about your trip to the north. Are you going to the northern mines to get the ‘Queen’s Sun’?”
“How could you know that?”
Herhan stared at Loriell in surprise.
The ‘Queen’s Sun’ was the name of the diamond that Herhan went to pick up.
“I heard it from the staff of my family. People already know that the North has the best red diamond of all time. I’d like to help, and in fact, I have a list of those who will be participating in the auction, which I brought with me in case it would be of any help to Your Majesty.”
Loriell handed over the document.
It was certainly a valuable resource, one that not even Herhan had been able to obtain.
“You’re going to make a ring right? I’ll match it and recruit the best craftsman in advance.”
“I owe you a favor.”
“No. It’s the least I can do for your happiness.”
Loriell laughed, very pleased.
With all her heart, Loriell hoped that the Emperor would get his hands on the ‘Queen’s Sun’.
* * *
Herhan set out the next morning. The trip was short, so there would be no grand departure ceremony, just the necessary personnel to see the Emperor off at the gates.
“Captain Asion. Please take care of the Emperor, and make sure he gets back to—”
“Yes, yes. I’ll return him to Miss Riella’s arms without any trouble, so just close your eyes for five days and wait.”
“And you too, Your Majesty. Do you understand? Never wander around alone, and if there’s the slightest danger, call Asion immediately.”
“Understood.”
Herhan let go of the reins of his horse altogether and walked over to Riella, who was nagging him endlessly.
“Riella, I have something to tell you when I get back from my business trip.”
“I’ll wait for you, so please, please, please be careful.”
“I will. Someone would think I was going off to war.”
Herhan laughed at the absurdity of it all, but continued to caress Riella affectionately.
“I’ve temporarily transferred the Emperor’s Second Order to you while I’m away, Riella.”
“What? For what?”
“Because I’m as worried about you as you are about me. Enjoy your power while you can. If there’s someone you’ve been wanting to get rid of, this is your chance.”
With that, Herhan wrapped his arms around Riella’s waist and pulled her close, then, oblivious to their gazes, pressed his lips to hers.
At first, Riella tried to push him away. She hated that he kept dismissing her serious concerns as frivolity.
But the moment his hot breath washed over her, she had no choice but to let go of all other thoughts.
“I’m going to miss you.”
“Me too.”
And with that, Herhan left her with an intense but brief kiss.
As if all their worries had been unfounded, the imperial palace was calm after Herhan’s departure.
The Minister of State, who had already taken over the reins, handled imperial affairs without a hitch, and the embassy at Liotta in the Lake Palace was relieved of much of its work now that the princess was gone.
Three days of almost vacation.
Eric the knight came to Riella, who was especially excited to see Herhan again the day after tomorrow.
“Sir Eric, surely nothing has happened to him?”
In fact, Riella had instructed Eric to keep an eye on El.
He’d expanded the scope of his oversight, which had originally been ordered by the Emperor. Outside the palace, at home, twenty-four hours a day.
It was thanks to him that Riella knew El had stayed at home.
But then.
“I noticed the aide’s suspicious behavior. I felt like he was making contact with people I couldn’t identify. There were some shouting matches, but I didn’t intervene on purpose. At first glance, it seemed like he was being threatened to bring the ‘descendant’ quickly.”
* * *
Thank u for posting two this time