Chapter 32

Of course, this time, he had a dubious reason; but he wasn’t the kind of person to tell his younger brothers what it was .

“One is a saint, and one is evil, isn’t it? We’ll see the answer soon . ”

“Then, will Princess Lania investigate with you? For the sake of speeding up the process . ”

“Why would she? If she comes along, then it’s better if I don’t go . ”

Rashid, who threatened to take care of it by himself, approached the window .

He spotted the silhouette of someone climbing the stairs from far away, his face grimly set in satisfaction .

“…and I’m much more needed here . ”

***

As I climbed the endless stairs, I forgot my words for a moment at the sight . The Dukedom of Evendell is magnificent, being the most powerful house in the North; but His Majesty’s palace is completely different .

Just looking at the view is overwhelming enough to make my legs shake .

They call it the winter palace . Every area is majestic, from the marble steps on the floor to the endless columns . At first glance, it was like a sacred temple .

This is the place where I had committed countless sins .

Holding my fluttering chest, I saw the scenery spread out in front of me .

I had never dreamed that my heart would be this desperate enough, even ignoring all the food I missed from my previous life, like tteokbokki, galbi, and japchae .

‘Let’s calm down . ’

If they had known I had Haniel, they wouldn’t have sent me away like this . That great tyrant’s character would have left me tied up in chains and dragged me away, hovering around a short distance away .

‘They don’t know yet . All I have to do is do well . ’

I have a child to protect!

I followed the attendant inside, thinking of Haniel, who would cheer me up .

My eyes got blurry when I thought of my baby princess who still clung close to me .

“Mommy, mommy! Don’t go . ”

“Mom will come back alive . Okay? Listen to nanny . ”

Mommy should go to sleep . I’ll be with you .

“Hugh…”

“Here you are, Duchess . ”

A huge door opened before me, and I stepped aside . Just like the owner of the palace, the delicate sculptures seemingly carved out of ice sparkled everywhere .

I couldn’t escape anyways, so I loosened my shoulders and took a step inside .

“Greetings to the great emperor; may you be protected by the Lord Teresa . ”

“…Stand up . ”

The cold voice of the emperor made me tremble .

I couldn’t believe his words flowed so smoothly .

Last time, there were a few people present, but now there are only the two of us, the emperor and I .

“You look nervous . ”

“M-me?”

I raised my head towards the emperor, my eyes meeting his crimson ones . It was the same as when I first saw him, but he still was simply breathtaking .

“Hmm . ”

His blood red eyes were clearly illuminated in the backdrop of the winter palace; his eyes were cold as if it was implying that he should reign .

Nevertheless, it was strangely familiar .

Of course . He resembles Haniel .

His eyes were the same color as my baby swan’s eyes . Of course, she can’t be compared to a tyrant like that, but his vivid eyes were familiar; they were the same as the eyes of the child I loved to hug .

“…Huh?”

“What?”

I shook my head, even if I was white as a sheet .

You look like my daughter!

Our topic was about any newly-caught herbivore animals, causing me to start .

“Maybe the Duchess knows something interesting that I don’t know . ”

“No!”

Was my voice too loud?

The emperor crossed his legs and lifted his chin . My chest couldn’t help but flutter . I felt like my heart was going to explode, but I pulled myself together when I thought of Haniel, whom I left behind .

‘He doesn’t know everything, does he?’

I couldn’t believe that my whole body felt small and twitchy when I faced him . It was just so weird .

I felt like I was being stabbed by his gaze .

However, I had no choice but to hide the truth unless he revealed his purpose .

“I am living alone, wasting away every day after his death . There cannot possibly be anything interesting involving me . ”