Chapter 47
‘I can tell Sierra despises Adeline. Or maybe, it’s just that she despises commoners.’
Of course, Ilias didn’t say it because he needed her permission. He said it simply to deceive the woman in front of him, and he hadn’t expected such a strong reaction.
In Sierra’s mind, the events with Count Crothos had completely disappeared. She couldn’t stomach the idea of a commoner entering her world.
‘I wonder how amusing it would be if Adeline were to enter the palace. The noble Queen.’
Ilias, appearing unaware of Sierra’s feelings, continued courteously.
“Regardless, I thought it best to inform you beforehand, Your Majesty. I’m not asking for the position of Crown Prince, nor am I moving away from it by marrying. Surely, you wouldn’t oppose this, would you? It’s something beneficial for both of us.”
Sierra’s eyes widened in a way she had never seen before. Her trembling gaze revealed just how shaken she was.
This was the first time Ilias had spoken so directly, and it left her deeply shocked.
“Soon, I’ll bring her to the palace for an introduction. It wouldn’t be right for her parents to hear about our marriage through the knights.”
* * *
When Sierra returned to the royal palace, Count Crothos was waiting for her.
“Have you met Ilias? How did he seem? Is he struggling?”
Count Crothos spoke anxiously, his tone sharper than usual.
Sierra frowned deeply, massaging her temples.
“I’ve met him. But…”
She still couldn’t accept what Ilias had said.
“Did he seem unwell? Was he pale with dark circles and cold sweat? Did he show signs of illness?”
Sierra’s gaze turned sharp as she glared at Count Crothos, her frustration evident.
“You’ve made a mistake. He’s perfectly fine. He’s far too energetic, to the point where he claimed he’s going to marry that vulgar common girl.”
Count Crothos furrowed his brows, his expression turning troubled.
“What? Marriage? That can’t be true.”
“He spent last night at the commoner girl’s house. Disgusting, preposterous acts before marriage.”
“Did his complexion change? What about his condition? How could he manage such a thing…”
Sierra snapped at Count Crothos, her tone rising.
“Father, did I not tell you that Ilias is perfectly fine? Are you questioning my word now?”
Her irritation left Count Crothos taken aback.
“His complexion, his demeanor—nothing was different. He looked as healthy as ever. No person, even after being poisoned and cursed, could appear so hale. Are you suggesting that I can’t distinguish between a healthy man and someone under a curse? How could a common girl, without divine power, heal both poison and dark magic? The priests have declared that without divine power, it’s impossible to even enter the Mage Tower.”
Sierra’s voice grew louder, her frustration boiling over.
“You’re mistaken, Father. If you keep making such errors, who knows how much damage we’ll cause? We’re only suspecting Ilias, and you’re making mistakes. The real culprit might have slipped away.”
Count Crothos, usually composed, looked uncharacteristically strained as he faced Sierra’s sharp rebuke.
Sierra, who valued bloodlines and her pride as a daughter of a noble house and the Empress of the Empire, found it unacceptable that a commoner was entering her world. Her hysteria was understandable in this context.
“Go back and find the real culprit. Or perhaps they’re already dead. I must see Emperor Father now.”
Sierra’s determination to stop the commoner daughter-in-law by any means was evident. Count Crothos said nothing more and quietly withdrew.
* * *
Meanwhile, Ilias was already standing before the Emperor’s palace.
The Emperor, wary of the Church, always treated his son coldly.
There was a time when Ilias, powerless to defend himself against his father’s indifference, felt resentment.
However, there was a night over a decade ago…
That night, as always, deep into the evening, Ilias lay in bed.
By then, Ilias was constantly plagued by assassination attempts, making sleep difficult.
Despite excelling in swordsmanship, he still found himself tense in battles with adult swordsmen.
But through sheer determination, he fought off threats to his life, managing to face the rising sun each time.
That night was no different. In the midst of his shallow sleep, he felt a presence.
‘They’ve come to kill me again.’
Ilias checked the dagger hidden beneath his pillow while feigning sleep. As he waited for the right moment, the scent of his mother, Olivia, enveloped the room. It was a faint but instantly recognizable memory—warm, comforting, and filled with longing that threatened to bring tears to his eyes.
‘Those bastards. Now they’re even mocking my deceased mother.’
His hand gripping the dagger trembled with anger. When he cracked his eyes open slightly, he saw the familiar fabric—a robe belonging to Emperor Aust, his distant and cold father.
‘Why is Father here?’
There was no time to ponder the reason deeply.
Emperor Aust sat beside him, gazing at him with tears streaming silently down his face. Occasionally, he reached out carefully to stroke Ilias’s head, making sure not to wake him, before retreating silently into the shadows.
After Emperor Aust left, Ilias’s chest felt heavy. That day, for the first time, he glimpsed his father’s hidden emotions—the ones he had long avoided acknowledging.
Ilias understood that night: the heartache of a man unable to let go of his deceased wife, and the burden on a father unable to fully embrace a son he loved deeply but couldn’t protect.
From that night on, Ilias hardened his resolve. He trained and studied relentlessly on his own to avoid entanglement with Sierra, pretending to be reckless and decadent while secretly striving for change in the shadows.
With the single-minded goal of saving his father, the Empire, and freeing himself from the clutches of the Church.
Entering Emperor Aust’s study, Ilias kneeled and bowed deeply.
“Your Majesty.”
From that day forward, Ilias distanced himself even more formally from Emperor Aust, aware that their closeness would only invite danger for them both.
Despite his youth, Ilias was astute, always mindful of Sierra’s hidden eyes and ears in every corner.
Emperor Aust, speaking dispassionately as though Ilias were another subject, inquired flatly,
“What brings the Crown Prince here?”
“I’ve already told you, Father. I have found someone I love deeply and wish to spend my life with.”
The weight of Ilias’s words struck Emperor Aust hard.
In truth, Aust had always been content for Ilias to live his life outside the pressures of the throne. What mattered most to him was not the title of Emperor, but that his son remained alive.
Having lost Olivia, he couldn’t bear the thought of losing Ilias as well.
Ilias was the only thing left to honor Olivia’s memory. His survival meant everything.
That’s why Aust had been forced to live humiliated, like a puppet to the Church. Without Ilias, the throne held no meaning.
His only hope was for Ilias to marry into a powerful family, ensuring his protection and influence.
“I wish to marry Adeline Senner. I’ve come to seek your blessing, Father.”
The formality and distance usually present in Ilias’s voice softened today. He spoke as a son rather than a Crown Prince, hoping to appeal to his father’s emotions.
‘If only she were from a family with more influence. Then Father would have gladly accepted.’
However, the fact that his son had never once asked as a son in his life weakened Emperor Aust’s resolve.
“I want to start this journey with your blessing.”
Ilias knew well why Emperor Aust hesitated.
“Adeline will be a great source of strength for me.”
The steadfast gaze of his son was enough to move a father’s heart.
“I’d like to meet Adeline Senner.”
“Yes, I will introduce her soon.”
The emperor seeing her was almost equivalent to giving his consent.
* * *
Though I had too much work on my plate, a lingering unease wouldn’t leave my mind, prompting me to head to the temple.
On my way, I mentally reviewed what I needed for the marriage proposal.
First, I had to visit the palace to formally greet her, followed by a grand proposal accompanied by the marriage announcement.
‘Will I even get his approval? That’s up to the Crown Prince. He told me to trust him.’
The problem was the proposal. How could I capture the attention of the empire’s citizens in one go, making it undeniable and indisputable so that our marriage would succeed?
‘How should I propose? Classics are timeless, so maybe I should look into historical methods.’
Lost in these thoughts, the massive doors of the temple appeared before me. Just seeing anything related to the Church made my chest tighten.
Once again, several priests interrupted my path during the consultation hours. It seemed they had no intention of getting along with me.
‘Damnable priests.’
The only person I had ever opened up to in the Myaria Church was Priest Chris.
But what if even Priest Chris wavered?
‘Well, what does it matter? Irreparable! The Church will sink even further.’
Today, I had no particular action planned. I simply intended to ask whoever was available, just like last time.
The first person I approached was a maid I had once consulted.
“Lady Adeline, what brings you here?”
“I came to meet someone, but I wasn’t sure how to send word, so I just waited here.”
“Oh my, who is it? I can deliver the message.”
“A recent addition to the priesthood, Priest Chris.”
She tilted her head as if hearing something for the first time.
“I mostly work with senior priests, so you might not know. I’ll head to where the junior priests are and let Priest Chris know that Lady Adeline is here.”
“Thank you.”
“Please wait a moment.”
After that, I approached two more servants and asked about Chris, but each time, they said they didn’t know him.
My mood grew worse by the minute.
Hey Guys you can read advanced chapters on Patreon
