If you decide to save me
Without realizing it, Riella tightened her grip on Herhan.
Her heart began to pound violently, like a hammer.
As Asion said, the real fight was starting now.
Instead of entering the banquet hall with a status as elevated as your high heels.
Aside from making a good first impression on the guests as the Emperor’s partner.
‘It’s time to face and defeat those who seek my life.’
“Riella.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Don’t be afraid. You just—”
“I just need to look at Your Majesty?”
Riella, who intercepted Herhan’s words with determination, smiled brightly.
Herhan looked down at Riella and burst into laughter.
Soon, he took a glass of champagne from a servant passing by and raised his other hand to change the musician’s tune.
A signal to begin operation.
El, who recognized the signal from a distance, turned to where the Emperor and Riella were standing.
Next to him, dressed in a black tuxedo, was an old gentleman with white hair.
‘Sir El…’
Riella swallowed hard.
This was the first time she had seen El since the incident.
“EL Weiss.”
“Greetings to Your Majesty, the Sun of the Empire!”
“Yes.”
As he approached, El did not raise his head, and never even looked at Riella.
Riela found his coldness somewhat bitter—both resentful and sorrowful.
‘You have a scar.’
He deliberately put his collar up high to his chin and put on thick makeup, but that made his wounds even more obvious to Riella.
‘That’s because you lied to me. Why did you have to do something so cruel?’
Riella decided not to think about how harshly El had been questioned.
It was the price he had to pay, and now was not the time to indulge in emotions but to stay sharp for the battle ahead.
“Your Majesty, if it is all right, I would like to introduce you to the guardian I mentioned earlier.”
Just like they practiced. El began in a calm voice.
As Herhan nodded, the old gentleman who had been following El took a step forward with his gray eyes flashing.
“I am honored to meet Your Majesty in such an honorable place. My name is Arvin Zion From the Kingdom of Azen.”
“I’ve heard a lot from El. You hold the title of Duke in Azen.”
“It has been a long time since I left Azen. In Your Majesty’s lands, I am just a merchant running a timber trade.”
“You are also a great supporter of excellent students like El. You are too humble. Duke Zion.”
“Your praise is too kind, Your Majesty.”
Duke Zion smiled, his wrinkled lips curling upward.
Of course, he was neither a duke nor a great supporter.
The Kingdom of Azen was a country he could manipulate his identity because it was a land far across the sea.
“It is all thanks to the Duke that I have benefited from such outstanding talent.”
Still, Herhan kept acting without any hesitation.
“The Duke must have heard how much of a contribution El made in the recent incident.”
“Yes. I was surprised to hear the news.”
“If El hadn’t been active, both I and my lover would have been in danger.”
‘My Lover’ At those words, Duke Zion’s eyes lit up once again.
For a moment, his gaze, which had been respectfully lowered, shifted toward Riela, who stood beside Herhan.
Riella pretended to be calm and took a deep breath, enduring his gaze that scanned her from head to toe.
‘Riella Blinite.’
A woman who would have naturally caught the eye even if the emperor had not been by her side.
Duke Zion, who had been glaring at Riella like a beast searching for prey, turned his gaze to El.
More precisely, what he was looking at was the magic stone hanging around El’s neck.
‘…What?’
At that moment, the Duke of Zion opened his eyes wide and became agitated.
“What’s wrong, Duke Zion? Is there a problem?”
“Oh, no, Your Majesty.”
The corners of Herhan’s mouth twitched subtly as he watched.
The magic stone of El was pitch black, just like it had been since the beginning.
* * *
“Make a fake magic stone.”
“Yes?”
“Even if it’s a federation, determining descendants relies on just one magic stone of El. If we use that against them, we can easily deceive them.”
Hanging a fake magic stone around El’s neck to make Riella free from suspicion.
That was Herhan’s brilliant idea.
“Your Majesty, I have brought the craftsman as you ordered.”
Herhan handed over two stones to the craftsman who had been summoned so hastily.
One was the magic stone of El. The other was an uncut obsidian.
“I need to carve that obsidian into something exactly like this. Can you do it?”
“Y-Yes, Your Majesty. However, the colors are different. This one has a blue tint to it.”
Herhan answered the craftsman’s question right away.
“The color doesn’t matter. As long as the shape is the same, that’s fine.”
‘Anyway, those idiots won’t see blue or red light.’
* * *
Duke Zion’s awkward smile couldn’t hide the agitation in his darting eyes.
‘Just black? Even though that woman is nearby, the stone doesn’t react at all? Am I really being wrong all this time?’
It was funny how Herhan seemed to be able to read all of the Duke’s thoughts without even touching him.
“In any case, I’ll ensure proper recognition is given for sending such an outstanding talent our way.”
“Y-Yes. Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Duke Zion bowed his head, his shoulders drooping weakly.
‘So is this the end? It’s blander than I thought.’
As Herhan turned around to leave with Riella, Duke Zion, who seemed ready to back off, raised his head again.
“Y-Your Majesty! Forgive me, but I still have something to say…”
“What is it?”
“That is…..”
Duke Zion was unable to continue speaking properly.
He kept repeating things like his sponsorship work and the compliments the emperor had given him, but in the end, he still couldn’t completely shake off his doubts.
‘Well, that makes sense. The Federation has been suspicious of me for quite some time. And Sir El’s actions were suspicious enough during that time.’
Riella thought about it for a moment and then made up her mind.
According to the original plan, all she had to do was stand by the Emperor’s side, show her face to Duke Zion, and confirm the lack of reaction from the magic stone.
“Sir El!”
In an unexpectedly cheerful voice, Riella deliberately grabbed El’s hand, ensuring everyone could see, especially Duke Sion.
“Sir El, this seems like it’s going to take a while. Why don’t we head over there?”
“….!”
“….!”
At the unexpected action, El and Herhan’s eyes widened simultaneously.
Duke Zion also stared at the two people’s hands, his eyes widening even more than before.
Riela refused to release El’s hand, staying close to him, ensuring Duke Zion’s suspicions dissipated completely.
“While they finish their conversation, let’s go enjoy some dessert over there. What do you think?”
Finally, El raised his head and met Riella’s eyes.
Riella spoke with her eyes, confidently responding to his dark pupils that were shaking violently.
‘Don’t panic. Don’t waver. If you’ve decided to save me, then do your best until the end.’
Riella deliberately linked arms with El.
“Let’s go together. Your Majesty, May I go?”
Duke Zion’s eyes darted back and forth between the two of them and the still pitch-black magic stone around El’s neck.
A long time later.
Duke Zion bowed his head again, reluctantly accepting the truth, and then spoke.
“It seems this old man is boring the lady. I will now take my leave, Your Majesty.”
As Duke Zion retreated, Riella sighed in relief and released El’s arm.
The moment she did, El quickly took a few steps back.
“I will see the Duke off…”
EL lowered his head and ran away.
“Your Majesty! How was it? Did I do well? Our plan really worked—”
And Herhan also turned around and left without saying a word.
* * *
“His Majesty is upset.”
“Yes?”
“He was upset because I held Sir El’s hand and linked arms with him.”
Riella answered.
Jess, who had asked why Riella was alone in the waiting room while the banquet was still ongoing, stood with his mouth agape, looking dumbfounded.
“My life was on the line. If I didn’t handle it properly then and there, that old man, Duke Zion, might get some other magic stone or something and test me again.”
“……”
“And besides, isn’t His Majesty in even more danger than me? I’m not the only descendant here, am I? He’s a descendant, too. It’s all for His Majesty. I did it because it was necessary.”
Jess covered his ears as Riella’s complaints poured out like a flood.
“Please stop.”
“What?”
“Don’t drag me into your lover’s fight. I can’t stand to hear it.”
Jess shuddered dramatically, making Riella pout dejectedly.
Her irritation—whether directed at Jess or at Herhan—didn’t last long.
‘I should have trusted His Majesty and waited.’
Though she felt she had no choice, Riela admitted to herself that her actions had been impulsive.
“….Should I apologize first?”
“I don’t give relationship advice. I don’t.”
Jess waved his hand coldly and turned away.
Riella thought Jess would just leave, but a few seconds later, he came back to the waiting room looking very upset.
“Please go to the balcony.”
“Huh?”
“If you get some cold air, your complicated mind will get some fresh air.”
“….?”
“Oh, and I’ll bring His Majesty to the balcony. Wait for him there. You can reconcile or fight some more—whatever you want.”
Riella burst into laughter as she watched Jess lose his temper and walk away.
‘Okay! Let’s apologize.’
As Jess said, Riella went out to the balcony and took a deep breath of cold air. Her mind, which had been floating on clouds, seemed to calm down a bit.
“Hoaaam….”
Riella yawned loudly and stretched.
It was a day that felt like a dream. She got a proposal from Herhan, cried, threw a tantrum, and finally, stood before Herhan’s people with the ring on her finger.
She had even managed to fool the man from the Federation who had come to investigate her.
‘It’s been a really crazy day. I feel like my head’s spinning. Will the Federation be quiet for a while? His Majesty said he’d tail Duke Zion.’
Riella thought as she played with the ring that shone in the moonlight.
‘What happens next? Am I… really going to become the Empress?’
She chuckled to herself at the thought.
‘Well, before that, I need to make sure His Majesty forgives me first. Otherwise, he might take this ring back tomorrow.’
Her tension finally subsided after the day’s events, and Riella relaxed. But just then, a rustling noise came from the side.
“Who’s there!?”
Riella, who had opened one of the balcony doors with great nervousness, soon sighed and smiled.
“Sorry.”
“Oh, goodness, you startled me. How long have you been standing there?”
He was a servant at the banquet hall. Perhaps he was just catching his breath after escaping from the hectic workplace.
“You can stay there if you want. Just… promise not to tell anyone how hilariously I yawned just now, okay?”
“…..”
The servant was somehow staring at Riella intently.
‘Do you know me?’
Riella thought about it and then laughed to herself.
Of course. There is no way that anyone among the people gathered in the palace today would not know her.
* * *
