984 CE, an Emperor who has been on the throne for one year welcomes a new bride. The three closest imperial figures all abstain from attending the wedding, citing health concerns and national defense duties.
****
The Lusenford Castle, newly expanded by the Grand Duke solely for his Grand Duchess, was unveiled with its original appearance gone, vastly expanded and fitted with all the latest amenities.
The castle was only bustling from May to September each year. Despite thoroughly reinforcing the heating during the expansion construction to withstand even the harshest winter, the Grand Duchess would never stay at Lusenford during the cold season.
The Grand Duke decided this only after completing the castle and bringing his Grand Duchess there.
“The Lady’s health is paramount.”
Peon was firm about it. After bringing the ladies-in-waiting to Ostein, he had no intention of staying long in this cold place, knowing Kaela who had once wished for death.
The Grand Duke’s entourage traveling between Ostein and Lusenford via waterways was always large.
People grumbled that the Grand Duke only visited occasionally during winter, but they welcomed his arrival in May when he brought an impressive fleet of merchant ships.
And Peon paid no attention to the gossiping mouths. Those mouths could no longer hurt Kaela and had no power anymore.
While the rising influence of the Grand Duke of Lusenford following the change of Emperor was significant, the influence of the Duke of Ostein and his daughter had spread far and wide, resonating even throughout Lusenford.
As soon as the harbor thawed, merchant ships steadily came and went from Lusenford. Life in Lusenford had become incomparably more prosperous since the Grand Duchess’s arrival, and overall facilities had greatly improved through years of expansion construction.
The massive city that even conquered winter was growing substantially each day with resources and strong alliances.
“Thank you for your concern, Your Highness.”
No one could deny that the Grand Duchess, who was deeply involved in the expansion construction, was a very wise mistress of the house.
But Peon knew. He knew well how nuanced Kaela’s reactions were to the shower of gratitude; he observed her persistently.
She was a capable manager and an excellent lady.
She never forgot that while the outpouring of gratitude was natural, it came only after Peon had done his part. So while Kaela liked the new Lusenford Castle that she had been involved with from the design stage, that was as far as it went.
“I’d like us to work at the same pace.”
“Yes. I’ll send word in advance.”
That’s why Peon was on edge during winter because it was winter, and he was sensitive in Lusenford because it was Lusenford.
The new Emperor, desperately needing Kaela’s help with domestic politics and events, naturally assumed they would attend the wedding, but Peon declined with perfect excuses.
In Lusenford, where people trembled at the Emperor’s words, this was extraordinary. The Grand Duchess, said to have given wings to the Grand Duke who cherished her terribly, could no longer be slandered by anyone in Lusenford.
The once absolute Emperor in Lusenford was fading, and Lusenford was now ruled by the Grand Duke. The world was changing. And Kaela, standing at the center of this changing world, looked down at herself needlessly.
‘You don’t need to worry. Neither he nor Father is saying anything.’
Both Lusenford and Ostein coincidentally needed heirs urgently.
Now that they had barely managed to get married, the next duty was to produce an heir, but it seemed only Kaela was concerned about this responsibility.
[Don’t worry. We’re not unable to have children; it’s just not the right time yet.]
Peon, who had been indoctrinated with the word responsibility, thought he had essentially done the same to his wife. He bluntly told Kaela, who had tried to establish her place in this desolate land even through such means.
The damned duty of producing an heir or whatever should absolutely not make Kaela suffer under pressure as she had for the past four years. He didn’t want to meet a child for that reason either.
“Are you finished, My Lady?”
Peon had approached from behind and gently took her hand. He was still wearing the gloves Kaela had gifted him. He always held her hand when they met and checked her temperature by touching her cheek.
Living together all this time, she noticed that he appeared immediately even if her breathing slightly changed. Could he hear her breathing because he was a dragon? Either way, Kaela knew too well that Peon was extremely sensitive about her health.
“That’s enough for today. You must be tired.”
In the past, she would have politely declined, saying she was fine. But now Kaela simply nodded to his words.
“I suppose so.”
Because if she ignored Peon coming to get her and kept working despite his attempts to stop her, she would inevitably develop a fever, headache, or heartburn. Since being ill naturally led to not eating properly, Peon tried any means to take her away.
‘Perhaps I’m not ready yet.’
Kaela looked down at her naturally frail body.
Even if something went wrong, Peon would take care of it, but just seeing her in such a state would be a tremendous shock to him. Since Kaela’s health was always his top priority, he couldn’t rashly attempt it.
‘But I’m much better than during my last four years in Lusenford.’
Having experienced the worst situation possible and ultimately died, Kaela thought she was extremely healthy now.
She was so healthy that she could do anything. Of course, that was by Kaela’s standards, who kept comparing her current state to her worst experience of starving to death in the northern tower, not by Peon’s standards.
“What are you thinking about now?”
“That this country is falling apart.”
Kaela deflected the question. But it was also the hottest topic these days. Lusenford, no, the entire Crania Empire, was shocked by the trio who dared not attend the Emperor’s wedding.
After dissolving the Regency Council, they began sending signals that they would no longer overtly cooperate with the Emperor. How dare they! To the fearsome Emperor! Are they challenging the great imperial authority?
To be precise, what people feared was not the young Emperor but imperial authority itself.
The absolute imperial authority that monitored and wielded power with magic tools. Those who best understood how magnificent that authority was had declined to attend and brighten the Emperor’s wedding ceremony—imperial authority was shaking.
Peon ensured that news of this reached the former Emperor’s ears as he sat in a corner of Soleil Palace, now pushed to another palace. The paid attendant would faithfully read newspaper articles to the former Emperor, who could only keep his eyes open, then leave.
“Are you concerned? Given the empire’s size, even if it collapses, it will collapse slowly. Do you still dislike it?”
She didn’t dislike it. What Kaela worried about was the unstable future their yet-to-be-born children would have to deal with. But she couldn’t say that.
Discussing children once, saying “let’s not limit ourselves,” was enough. When had he ever needed to be told twice? He was someone who tried to preciously remember everything Kaela said, even in passing. She wasn’t worried about that at all.
“I hope Ostein and Lusenford won’t be affected.”
“They will be affected, but they won’t be in danger. I’ll protect them.”
Peon, who had led the wedding absence, spoke dismissively as he embraced Kaela. Yet he didn’t take his eyes off her.
“Do you dislike that too?”
“As long as you won’t get hurt…”
“I won’t.”
Indeed, Peon had no issues.
“I just need you to be healthy, Kaela.”
He murmured habitually. Their married life wasn’t always perfectly happy.
As Kaela put it, it was a meeting of broken people—victims and perpetrators—who licked each other’s wounds and sometimes blamed each other when their own wounds hurt too much.
This was entirely possible because Peon had held onto her and refused to let go, so he quietly waited for and protected Kaela with her occasional mood swings.
So he doesn’t ask for much. He just needs Kaela to be healthy. He hadn’t even asked for affection, yet here he was wearing gloves that Kaela had embroidered, even causing her finger to bleed in the process.
“Yes. That’s right.”
In the past, she would have barely listened to these words, not even responding with an expression suggesting death was her only thought and nothing else mattered. But now she nodded. She seems to have brightened up after staying longer in Ostein. That’s fortunate.
****
Eventually, the Emperor sent an envoy to Lusenford. He even arranged an envoy that included someone from Keruzhan. Though he couldn’t help but send a political signal, it was ultimately a protest about their absence from the wedding.
Kaela recalled Gregory’s hunched shoulders and frightened appearance when she last saw him.
Despite being Emperor, he was thoroughly embarrassed by not receiving his family’s blessings. While that might be expected for Gregory, the Kingdom of Keruzhan would also be displeased.
“Don’t worry about it and stay inside.”
Peon always said this, seating Kaela before going out alone.
She was tired, so she needed fewer things to worry about, and since she easily developed fevers, she had to be careful with outdoor activities. Sitting in the office, Kaela took care of the work her husband should be doing while he was away.
“Your Highness, this year’s harvest…”
“The port expansion construction is complete, but…”
After listening briefly to the various issues brought by visitors, her shoulders felt slightly stiff. She should wrap up now.
If she worked more, Peon would have something to say. She hoped the matter with the visitors from Craine wouldn’t drag on too long. Since guests had arrived, they should be attended to.
Kaela was considering the power dynamics between the Keruzhan faction who had risen with the Emperor’s marriage and the Empire, but grew tired and gave up.
There’s no fun in thinking about matters with predetermined conclusions. In the short term, they would leave early, and in the long term, it would eventually mean the empire’s demise.
“Your Highness. It’s Darinka. You should rest a bit.”
“Ah. Perhaps I should.”
The physician, whom she saw once a day, entered.
She always carried a bulky medical bag, filled not only with items for Kaela but also various supplies for examining and prescribing to people she saw while walking around the castle.
Darinka rummaged through her heavy bag, took something out, and first examined Kaela’s complexion.
“You look very healthy today.”
“Do I? I don’t feel like it.”
Kaela had always struggled with this frail body. It was such a terrible body that it was remarkable she had stubbornly endured four years in Lusenford.
When she only wished for death, it didn’t matter, but now that she had begun thinking about the future, her weak constitution felt burdensome. At least once a day, Peon would transfer diluted energy to extend her life.
‘I guess that’s still not enough.’
If Peon, who was always full of worry, said no, then it must be no.
“Considering your past, you’re quite healthy now. Your complexion is good. Any particular discomforts?”
“Just tired from sitting too long.”
“I was thinking it’s about time for you to get up, which is why I came. You should stop working now.”
“I was planning to.”
“And, it’s complete.”
Kaela looked at Darinka quizzically, then at the object she brought out. Darinka first picked up a thoroughly dried herb. It had pointed, thin leaves that suggested it was no ordinary medicinal herb.
“This is perfura.”
She picked up another dried plant with a red flower beside it.
“And this is carradin. Your Highness, you combined these two to make poison.”
And then drank it all, hovering between life and death for 25 days. Kaela silently nodded, looking at the perfura and carradin, famous poisonous herbs.
The dried herbs were what Kaela had ordered from Ostein, where all kinds of herbs were available, a month ago. She had easily obtained them again, having previously refined these poisonous herbs into poison before her marriage.
“And this is what I made yesterday.”
With a thud, a bottle containing a slightly cloudy liquid was placed on the table.
“It’s fully prepared now that time has passed. You can drink it.”
Kaela tilted her head and asked:
“So quickly?”
“With the ingredients and time available, I made it promptly.”
However, the Grand Duchess wasn’t fooled and gave the physician a mild glare. Even that look was so pretty that the physician thought to herself, “Ah, so that’s why our Lady is renowned for her beauty,” and understood by herself.
“What do you mean time? You must have excitedly made it without sleep.”
“What apothecary would refuse perfura and carradin?”
Darinka didn’t deny it. Instead, she nodded as if it were obvious.
She was very excited. Yet, she still observed Kaela’s expression.
“Will Your Highness drink it?”
“Of course.”
Kaela nodded compliantly. That’s why she ordered it.
“But before that, I should tell the Grand Duke…”
Her quiet words were abruptly cut off by the sound of someone knocking on the door and opening it without permission. The person who opened the door strode in and filled the office with his presence alone.
The two women inside were so shocked they couldn’t speak due to the overwhelming atmosphere Peon brought with him. He scanned the poisonous herbs and medicine bottle prominently placed on the desk.
Ah, this could easily be misunderstood, this is bad, thought Darinka as a shiver ran down her spine.
“Get out.”
The Grand Duke muttered just one word. No human could resist that command imbued with such powerful force. Darinka’s puppet-like, creaking exit through the open door was entirely involuntary.
“Tell me, Kaela.”
Peon’s cheeks were pale with slight tremors, and though his eyes were unfocused, they stared directly at Kaela.
Kaela tried to answer immediately. You’re misunderstanding, it’s not what you think. But Peon quickly asked in a voice that sounded like he was dying:
“What made you want to die again?”
The large hand caressing her face trembled noticeably. Before Kaela could shake her head, their surroundings began to ripple dramatically and turn pitch black.
