Chapter 30

Chapter 30 : Of Traitors and Sorcerers, and Troublemakers (5)

Legina sat at the long table laden with a lavish banquet, seriously contemplating whether her true enemy was the Emperor. She could tolerate attending the dinner at the Emperor’s command. And Hermann being present? Yes, she could endure that if she tried. But Annetta being there too? Wasn’t this just an invitation to fight? Legina glared at the Emperor, but he pretended not to notice her gaze, focusing only on his meal.

“This is disgustingly uncomfortable.”

For a moment, Legina thought she had spoken her mind aloud. If Theore hadn’t noisily thrown his fork and knife onto his plate, she truly would have believed the words were her own.

“I feel like I’ll choke eating this, so if you have something to say, just finish it quickly, okay?”

“Oh my, Theore…”

This adorable creature! Indeed, giving up on Theore’s reformation was the right choice. Legina covered her rising lips with her hand, thinking how cute his pouting face, glaring at his plate, could be.

“Theore, you’re eating.”

“I feel like I’ll choke, so just say what you want to say first. You old wi—… No, Noona isn’t eating either, just stirring those greens.”

“Those aren’t ‘greens,’ they’re salad. Still, I agree with your previous statement.”

Legina put down her fork, swallowed a sip of water, and dabbed her mouth with a napkin, then looked at the Emperor. Conversation had already ceased. The Emperor, after scanning Aaron, Hermann, and Annetta’s faces, and finally Theore’s and Legina’s, similarly dabbed his mouth and slowly began to speak.

“The investigation into the assassin has been halted here.”

“It seems the trail has been completely cut off.”

“It is foolish to expect anything from the mouth of the dead. The traces left behind were also clean.”

Legina silently nodded at the Emperor’s words. She had expected as much, so no regret lingered. What bothered her, however, was that the person who controlled the assassin was sitting right here with them… But she couldn’t turn her head to check Hermann or Annetta’s faces at this moment. So, Legina forced her gaze to remain on the Emperor, preventing it from drifting, and waited for his next words.

“The investigation has concluded, but we must be even more cautious in the future.”

“Did you call everyone here just to say that?”

“Theore.”

“Oh, damn it! Seriously! You could have just sent an attendant! How annoying!”

“Theore!”

“Why are you shouting?! I can hear you even if you don’t yell like that?!”

“Haa, you… you rascal…”

This is all Your Majesty’s karma. Legina smiled faintly, meeting Theore’s exasperated gaze. Theore flinched, but quickly regained his composure, seemingly relieved that no chair or plate, or anything, was flying his way.

“Then Sir Aaron’s and Sir Hermann’s escort duties will also end, won’t they?”

“…Yes.”

“And Lady Annetta will also leave the Imperial Palace.”

“I… have something to say regarding that.”

It was then. Annetta, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, cautiously raised her hand and spoke. It was Annetta’s mistake to speak without first seeking the Emperor’s permission. However, the Emperor, feeling a slight regret for having summoned a young lady who wasn’t even an adult to the Imperial Palace because of their affairs, nodded, allowing her to continue.

“If I may, I would like to remain in the Imperial Palace a little longer to learn more about handling herbs from the Imperial Physician, Lord Derain.”

“Has this been discussed with Derain?”

“Well, that is… He said it would be fine if I obtained Your Majesty’s permission.”

Annetta’s appearance, with her head slightly bowed and the corners of her eyes trembling, looking nervous, resembled a harmless and cute small animal. If anyone unaware of her true nature had seen her, they might have made a troubled expression like the Emperor’s now, or their eyes might have wavered, and they might have given her the answer she desired.

However, for Legina, who knew her true identity, it was utterly transparent.

“My lord, it sounds like Derain was trying to politely refuse you.”

“What?”

“If it were the Derain I know, he wouldn’t have said to get His Majesty’s permission; he would have come to His Majesty himself to make the request. Am I wrong, Your Majesty?”

“…Indeed, that tends to be his way.”

This was the Imperial Palace, not just any place. Before her regression, she had to flee, shedding tears of blood, but this time, she had no intention of allowing the traitor or his sorceress into the place she was determined to protect, not even an iota.

“It seems Derain still holds you in good regard. Perhaps he was simply being considerate to a young lady.”

So, Annetta’s lips trembled, visibly, at the implication that she should just leave. She had felt it recently, but the way her own heart swelled with satisfaction at Annetta’s expressions made her feel as if she was truly becoming a troublemaker now.

“B-But…!”

“By the way, Your Majesty, that’s not really what you wanted to talk about, is it?”

Legina ignored Annetta, who was frantically trying to continue speaking, and looked at the Emperor. He wouldn’t have gathered them all just to discuss such matters. The Emperor, taking a drink of water to moisten his throat under Legina’s unspoken pressure to get to the point, slowly opened his mouth, looking at his daughter.

“Although the escort duties have ended, you are to continue spending time with Sir Hermann.”

“…”

“You don’t need to meet every day. You both have duties and will be busy. However, you must meet and spend time together at least three times a week.”

“Why?”

“Thinking about it, you two are engaged but have never spent time together. So…”

Legina frowned, seeing the Emperor convey his intention to foster affection between them, hoping it would lead to marriage. She had thought there was nothing to be disappointed about since she had no expectations, but it seemed she was wrong. Legina, without concealing her crumpled face at the Emperor’s continued disregard for her opinion, shouted firmly, “I refuse!”

“This is an order.”

“I told you I would annul the engagement.”

“I heard that the sole daughter of the Veedis family and the young Duke of Slyveig are merely like true siblings.”

“Did you gather everyone here to confirm that?”

If they weren’t like true siblings, it would have been a warning to Hermann and Annetta to give up hope of romance now. And it was also a show of will to his daughter that he would not accept the annulment.

“No, I’m not annulling the engagement for that reason to begin with.”

He made decisions and acted as he pleased, without even bothering to understand. And in that process, there was no consideration for Legina. This made Legina angry.

“If not for that, why do you wish to annul the engagement?”

“I never wanted this engagement to begin with. I merely followed your command.”

“My command remains unchanged now.”

“I have changed. I refuse.”

The Emperor wore a troubled expression but did not back down. Legina was the same, but there was one distinct difference from the Emperor: the fury evident on her beautiful face. She had once hoped for him to become a proper father, but now she had abandoned even that hope. All she wished from him now was for him, as the Emperor of this Empire, to endure safely until Theore safely became Crown Prince and ascended the throne. She wasn’t asking for much, was she?

“You must be bound to Slyveig.”

“Why?”

“Because it is necessary.”

“If the marriage with Slyveig is so important, Your Majesty should do it yourself!”

Legina shot up from her seat and slammed the table. Dinnerware clattered noisily, but no one paid it any mind. Legina, enraged, spoke to Hermann.

“My lord, return home immediately and tell Duke Slyveig. Tell him to take in an older adopted daughter! Tell him that adopted daughter will become the Empress of this Empire, so he will lose nothing at all!”

“Legina!”

“Why?! You decide my marriage as you please, but you get angry when I speak of yours?!”

At her outcry, the Emperor fell silent. He understood the anger, disappointment, and resignation in her violet eyes. The Emperor covered his face with one hand and let out a long sigh. He couldn’t think of a way to appease his daughter.

“I am annulling the engagement.”

“Legina, please…”

“Someone who has consistently ignored my pleas is not in a position to speak now. I will take my leave first.”

Legina roughly pushed her chair back and turned around. She paused for a moment, and her gaze fell upon Aaron and Theore. The handsome man whose thoughts she couldn’t fathom, and her brother, blinking in surprise at her new demeanor. She didn’t want to leave these two here.

“Sir Aaron, may I request your escort?”

“Yes.”

“And Theore.”

“Huh? What?”

“Come here.”

Aaron, bowing politely to the Emperor, approached Legina and lightly took her hand. Theore hesitated for a moment, then, glancing at the Emperor, quickly moved to stand beside Legina, clutching the hem of her dress. He was probably thinking that leaving the uncomfortable dinner, using Legina as an excuse, was better than eating.

The three exited the dining room without looking back. Walking down the dark corridor, the three were silent. Legina was too angry, Aaron was naturally quiet, and Theore was preoccupied with finding a chance to escape from his sister.

“Theore.”

“Huh? Why?”

“If you don’t like it either, then stop it.”

“Wh-What?”

“Your engagement, which will take place soon.”

Legina was still walking, looking straight ahead, but Theore could feel the concern and warmth mixed in her words. It was these gentle fragments, even amidst her harshness, that made Theore unable to fully rebel against Legina. Of course, the clubbing was scary, but that wasn’t the whole reason.

“I’m… fine.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“That’s a relief.”

Legina, uttering a word of genuine relief, took Theore’s hand, which was holding the hem of her dress. It was a small hand. Legina, feeling the warmth of the small hand firmly grasping hers, unlike usual, walked silently down the dark corridor.

– Mochinuna.