Chapter 25: Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Isilis glanced at the door of the banquet hall, which moved. The chief attendant’s long cry ended the long, secretive chatter.

As the heavy door of the banquet hall opened, she gracefully moved his feet. The jewels clashed with each step she took, and her crown gleamed as if it belonged only to her. Surprised by her appearance, nobles and envoys from other countries bowed their heads at once.

She moved slowly and sat on the high throne, then opened her mouth.

“Let’s start the New Year’s festival.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the band started playing music. The nobles who had disappeared, led by Duke Verus, also entered the banquet hall.

“No! Didn’t they say that the Grand Duke killed him?”

“I heard he was missing…?”

When all those who had disappeared in rebellion against the Grand Duke appeared at the banquet, Isilis, who had been watching, opened her mouth again.

“It’s already been a year and a half since I entrusted the Grand Duke as the Emperor’s agent due to my unavoidable circumstances.”

At her words, the surroundings became silent in an instant. Although her voice was not loud, it reached everyone’s ears with amplification magic.​

“Starting from the New Year’s festival, the Empire will seek change.”

“What kind of change are you talking about?”

A bold voice was heard. Isilis’s eyes fluttered as she turned her gaze.

‘That person…’

A man with a familiar face was sitting next to the person who asked her the bold question, with his eyes wide open as if surprised.

The bold man opened his mouth again.

“What changes… Are you seeking?”

‘Was he a citizen of the Khalifa Empire?’

She frowned at the appearance of the man dressed in the desert empire’s clothes.

‘Was he the Prince of Khalifa…?’

The Emperor of the Khalifa Empire was an older man known to be the most powerful heir to the throne. There was only one reason she remembered that man’s face. It was because that person was among the candidates for her husband brought in by the ministers.​

‘He said he would give up the throne of his country if I married him…’

She had no idea what he was thinking in coming up with such a word. Isilis stared at him and opened her lips.

“The successor of the Empire was born…”

It was impossible to help her gaze not to focus on the black-haired man.

“From that succession, the Empire will change.”

There was still silence at her words.

At the same time, Duke Verus and the other subjects were nodding their heads while the nobles, who had not heard anything, gaped their mouths in surprise.

“Successor? The Empress has not yet married…”

Isilis spoke again, cutting off Usman’s words that were expressing doubts.

“The bloodline of the Empress is directly attested by the Imperial Family. There were often cases where the Empire did not welcome the spouse.”

She could see the black-haired man throwing a sharp gaze at the resolutely spat-out words.

‘How can you be here…’

Even though she heard that he was an envoy from another empire, it didn’t seem like he was a citizen of Khalifa.​

“Here I am announcing the birth of my successor. I will give the people of the Empire tax relief for a week and let the whole Empire know about this.”

At her words, the wizards used the communication tools in unison. Now, the news of the birth of an heir to the Imperial Family would be known throughout the empire. Although she had achieved what she wanted, her heart was cold.

Isilis picked up her glass so as not to make eye contact with the man.

“For change in the Empire.”

The people in the banquet hall followed her as she lifted her cup lightly. It was the same with the black-haired man.

Seeing him gazing at her with hot eyes, she tried to calm her heart. The envoys came one by one in front of her to greet her, but Isilis couldn’t hear anything they were saying. It was because all her nerves turned to the man who was staring at her hotly.​

“I am Usman Khalifa.”

If it wasn’t for the Prince of the Khalifa Empire, who greeted her with a heavy voice and sneaky expression, she wouldn’t have been able to come to her senses.

“You turned down my proposal, Your Majesty.”

Hearing his twisted words, Isilis opened her mouth with calm eyes.

“I have no intention of welcoming a husband yet.”

“But, you have a child.”

“Are you referring to my child in Larchen?”

The Prince raised both her hands at her impetus that was going to release her magical powers.

“No. Next time, you can have my child.”

As he spoke with a soft smile, her eyes frowned. She didn’t like this, so why was he forcing himself on her? It was something she didn’t want.

“Looks like you have multiple lives.”

“If a desert man wants to get the woman he wants, shouldn’t he have to do this much?”

At those words, Isilis snorted at Usman, who spoke bluntly as he placed his lips on the back of her hand.

“I brought a jewel that closely resembled Your Majesty’s eyes.”

Then, he continued as he pulled out the ultramarine diamond.

“Next time, I hope this jewel will hang on Your Majesty’s finger.”

Usman gracefully retreated from the place when Isilis, who had laughed at the absurd remark, gestured.

“Duke Hillenton of the Hillenton Empire.”

…The man.

The man was staring at her with hot eyes. Berthas Hillenton stepped forward.

“Empress…”

She couldn’t say anything. Her expression was firm, but what should she say to the man whose eyes were shaking?

“I am Berthas Hillenton.”

Even Isilis couldn’t hide her shaky eyes at the man’s name she had just heard of. There was a sense of tension in her expressionless appearance.

“…Nice to meet you.”

She was concerned that her voice might tremble, but luckily it came out well.

“I brought a music box from the Empire.”

He uttered again as he pulled the jewelry box out of his arms.

“It is a music box with lullabies for children.”

Berthas’ eyes wanted to ask her many things. However, he seemed to be patient because of the gazes of those around him.

“Thank you.”

“I hope the Empress will like it.”

Isilis closed her eyes after looking at Berthas’ back without saying any more. Usman, who had been watching the scene from afar, said to his entourage.

“Find out what happened while the Empress was gone.”

“When are you talking about?”

“Last year and a half.”

“Understood.”

It was an unusual look… The Empress’ eyes while gazing at Berthas.

‘…No. It’s the way Berthas looked at the Empress was unusual.’

It was a look as if gazing at his own woman. Usman had an excellent sense of this. She was his long, long unrequited love. In addition, it was impossible to hand over the empress to such a half-blooded imperial family.

At the thought, his golden eyes lit up with a bright burning light.

Berthas couldn’t look away from her. From the moment the Empress entered, he doubted his eyes several times and couldn’t stand the rush of emotions. Betrayed…? It wasn’t. It was an indescribable feeling.

He struggled to suppress the feelings that she hadn’t cheated on him.

‘She didn’t cheat.’

She just didn’t say anything. She said it was difficult for her to go with him.

It was just for a moment, but that time, he was confident. He wanted her to follow him. However, the woman he had embraced, the woman he wanted to live with, would look down on him from that supreme throne…

As something unimaginable unfolded before his eyes, Berthas handed the music box as he couldn’t straighten his shaky hands and gaze.

Moreover…

‘…A child?’

It was clear that it was his child.

Because of the woman’s nature, she wouldn’t do what she did with him with someone else. It was only one month… but, she has a child? Did she give birth to a child without telling him? Somewhere, his child was growing up!

In the rushing thoughts, Berthas couldn’t come to his senses.

‘Then, what about me?’

What was he to her?

‘…Did she only want a child? Not me?’

Swallowing the momentary surge of rage, Berthas accelerated his steps. He couldn’t possibly be together in the banquet hall with her. If he kept looking at her face, he thought he would ask her. What was the reason?

As he walked with anger, the attendants passing by were startled.

‘A child? A successor? Was that the reason…?’

He was sorry that he left his men in the banquet hall, but that wasn’t the point now. The sweet words she whispered, the eyes that waved in his hands, the beautiful memories… all of that was meaningless.

She met him just because she needed a successor.

Thinking so, Berthas trembled with a sense of betrayal only when he thought more about why she came to him.

Frustrated, he went out to the garden where the moon was shining brightly. Going to the garden after the banquet had begun could be suspected of some secret purpose though he had no time to think about it.

If he wasn’t in the Imperial Palace of the Larchen Empire, he would probably have screamed. He couldn’t stand the rush of anger.

‘Did she trick me?’

His body trembled with anger.

When he got too angry, he resented his cold, sinking spirit that he could put everything down and move according to his emotions once in a while. Memories of the past made him unable to express his feelings, even in moments like this.

“Berthas.”

His body stiffened at the voice coming from behind. He couldn’t turn his head. How could he forget? It was a voice he heard a while ago.​

“That’s why I said no.”

“Because you needed… A child?”

Berthas, who turned his body to face Isilis, asked in a cool voice. Seeing the Empress avoiding his eyes, he asked once more.

“Tell me! Was it because you needed a child?”

In the depths of the garden, his voice shook.

“Yes.”

A deep sigh escaped her voice.

“Did you need a successor so much? Was that the reason?”

Berthas shouted again at her silent appearance.

“Then, what about me?”

She was the Empress of the Empire… The Empress. Nevertheless, for him… she was a woman. She raised her face, and his eyes met hers.

“What was I to you?”

“….”

Seeing her avoiding his eyes like this, he rather closed his eyes.

A dreadful silence surrounded the two. Even the sound of breathing was tense, and the wind cut through the tension between the two. Even though the moonlight shone on them, under the cold light, they were still silent… No, they couldn’t say anything.

Waiting for Isilis’ answer, he couldn’t wait and opened his mouth first.

“….After all, I was nothing to you.”

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