Chapter 19
Ikar’s crimson eyes curved gently.
A breeze that happened to drift in through the open window softly stirred his bangs.
As his tousled hair became slightly messy in the wind, he frowned faintly, as if it were bothersome.
Then he swept the fallen strands back into place.
Thump.
At that moment, Reneve’s heart suddenly began to race.
Only belatedly did she realize she had stopped chewing her food and was staring straight at Ikar.
“Did I drink white wine earlier?”
She lifted her glass and sniffed it, only to confirm it was water. Only then did she empty the glass in one gulp.
After finishing dinner, Reneve took a walk in the garden with Ikar, who had suggested it.
It was a little chilly, but not enough to be cold.
The imperial palace garden looked different at night than during the day, offering a new kind of beauty.
Along the walking path, the street lamps were decorated with colorful gemstones, and the soft, radiant light spilled onto the ground.
Reneve alternated her gaze between the ruby-decorated lamps and the red glow spread across the path, then asked,
“Who came up with decorating the street lamps with jewels?”
“The former emperor’s hobby.”
They walked a little further, and this time opal-decorated lamps illuminated the path.
“The former emperor must have been quite the romantic,” Reneve remarked.
“So it seems this garden path is quite to the young lady’s liking?”
“It feels a bit excessive, but it’s pretty nonetheless.”
Reneve looked at a violet-lit lamp ahead and thought of the dress Ikar had sent her.
“Oh, right. Thank you for the dress you sent.”
“Since I brought a guest of honor from a distant land, proper hospitality is only natural.”
A guest of honor…
Reneve blinked as she looked up at the star-filled black sky.
So that’s one way to describe a hostage.
“Now that I think about it, what Your Majesty said also makes sense,” she replied.
“If there’s anything else you want, feel free to say it.”
At his words, something immediately came to mind.
What she wanted most right now was the downfall of Lucius. If he fell into ruin, the Empress would surely follow the same path.
Of course, it was unfortunate that Esca—who had no connection to Lucius yet—would be harmed as well.
“I see you do have something you want.”
Ikar tilted his head slightly, the corner of his lips lifting as he looked at her.
Reneve stopped walking in front of a streetlamp decorated with tourmaline. Ikar also stopped, watching her with a languid expression.
“It must be quite a significant request.”
“Your Majesty… in three years, when the peace treaty expires—what do you intend to do with Paradium?”
Ikar’s crimson eyes, which had been relaxed until now, turned cold in an instant.
“……”
For a moment she had forgotten—but she was reminded once again why he was called the war maniac, the butcher.
“Let’s see.”
Ikar gave a short answer and began walking ahead again.
“That is something I will have to think about more carefully.”
Reneve swallowed hard as she watched his broad back. He had issued no threat, no intimidation.
And yet, his piercing red eyes seemed to say clearly—
Don’t cross the line.
Reneve etched the moment of his gaze deeply into her memory.
When Ikar returned to his office, he roughly swept back his fallen bangs.
Dahan and Bain both looked up from their documents. Seeing Ikar’s clearly angered expression, Bain carefully spoke first.
“Your Majesty… are you alright?”
Ikar lowered his gaze briefly and muttered in a low voice.
“Is the investigation into the Seiren Marquis’s daughter still not complete?”
“We just received a report a moment ago,” Dahan replied, standing with documents in hand.
“After compiling the characteristics Your Majesty mentioned, it appears the location we are searching for is indeed the border region adjacent to the Seiren Marquis territory.”
Dahan pointed to the border area between Bashker and Paradium on the map and continued.
“Although it has since been sold off, before the territorial disputes began, the Seiren Marquis family had a villa in this area.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. We also conducted cross-verification with several locals from the area.”
“I see. Any other nobles in that region?”
“Some of the Seiren vassal families also had villas nearby. Shall we investigate them as well?”
“Do so.”
At Ikar’s nod, Bain—who had moved to the window—whistled.
Soon, a bird flapped its wings and landed on the windowsill.
If I’m not careful, I might end up dying younger than in my previous life.
Sitting at her console, Reneve thought with her gaze lowered.
Just thinking about what happened yesterday made her blood run cold again.
In the original story, Lucius was described as a tyrant. Even in her previous life, he had truly been one.
He became slightly less cruel after Reneve took care of him since childhood, but still—
he never changed when it came to punishing servants or nobles who made mistakes. And the same applied to her.
But after experiencing it herself, Ikar was worse.
Lucius felt like someone to avoid carefully because he was filthy and dangerous.
But Ikar… felt like someone who would devour her the moment she showed any hostility.
“Ugh… let’s not think about it.”
Feeling another chill coming on, Reneve shivered.
“Lady, shall I add more firewood to the fireplace?”
Kiernen, who was combing her hair, asked with concern. He seemed to think her trembling was due to the cold.
“Yes, please.”
Reneve didn’t refuse.
It did feel chilly, as if her white blood cells were not doing their job today.
“If you’re feeling unwell, shall I bring your meal to your room?”
Kiernen asked while stirring the fire with a poker after adding logs.
“….”
After a moment’s thought, Reneve shook her head.
She still felt guilty about leaving early during tea time yesterday, when Princess Rachel had invited her.
“I think I’ll eat in the dining room.”
“Understood…”
As Kiernen turned toward the door, he suddenly paused as if remembering something.
“Please wait a moment.”
He quickly went into the next room. Reneve tilted her head.
Soon he returned with a cream-colored lace shawl.
“Just in case.”
Reneve smiled back at his earnest concern.
“Thank you.”
Still unconvinced, Kiernen even brought silk gloves afterward.
“I-I’m sorry!”
On the way to the dining room, a maid was seen lying flat on the marble floor, trembling violently.
Cleaning tools were scattered around her, and a young man stood before her.
“…Sigh.”
The blond man exhaled heavily and closed his eyes, trying to calm his anger.
For good reason—dirty water was dripping from his hair.
“If it would be acceptable, would you like to use this to wipe yourself?”
Reneve handed him the shawl she had been wearing.
“It’s cream-colored, so it likely won’t be usable after cleaning. Are you sure it’s alright?”
He must be quite angry after being soaked.
Yet the man was remarkably gentlemanly, even worrying about her shawl.
“Yes, of course. More importantly, you should dry yourself before catching a cold.”
“In that case, I gratefully accept.”
Taking the shawl, he wiped himself and said quietly to the nearby servant,
“You will receive appropriate punishment.”
“Y-yes, of course! Your Grace, the Young Duke!”
The man cast a cold glance at the maid’s bowed head before turning away.
Reneve looked at the trembling maid and asked,
“Are you alright?”
The maid slowly lifted her head.
“Are… are you speaking to me?”
Reneve nodded.
Wiping her tear-stained cheeks, the maid also nodded.
“I-I’m alright. I’m just thankful it ended at this level… If that noble hadn’t restrained himself…”
She wasn’t wrong.
The servant beside her had called the man “Young Duke,” meaning there was a vast gap in their status.
If he had not been merciful, she might have been beaten senseless while hanging upside down—and would not have been able to resist.
Even so, the girl trembling in her soaked clothes caught Reneve’s attention.
“Get up. You’ll catch a cold.”
Reneve extended her hand.
Perhaps because her own hands were dirty, the maid only looked at it without taking it. Kiernen stepped in and helped her up instead.
“T-thank you, my lady.”
“Warm yourself before you get sick.”
Reneve handed her a handkerchief, then continued toward the dining room.
Princess Rachel of the Kingdom of Laina was already waiting in the dining room.
“Hello.”
Rachel smiled brightly upon seeing Reneve.
Returning the smile, Reneve was about to take her seat when she noticed an extra set of tableware had been prepared.
“Hello. Is someone else joining us?”
“Oh, I invited the young duke Belkain from Venistan. I forgot to mention it earlier.”
“It’s alright.”
It wasn’t a problem—there was no harm in forming friendly ties with foreign nobles.
However, even though the soup had been served, the Belkain young duke of Venistan did not appear.
“What could have happened?”
Just as Rachel frowned at the cooling soup, a maid approached and bowed.
“His Grace, the Young Duke Belkain, asked me to relay his message. He expressed gratitude for the invitation, but said he would not be able to join today’s meal.”
“The reason?”
Rachel’s brows furrowed.
“He said something urgent came up.”
Rachel sighed softly and dismissed the maid.
“Does having a meal alone with me displease you? I actually enjoy eating alone with Your Highness.”
At Reneve’s words, Rachel’s expression immediately softened.
With just a few words, Rachel’s mood improved, and the two enjoyed a peaceful meal.
The afternoon sun was warm, and the neatly maintained scenery was beautiful.
After the meal, tea was served alongside beautifully arranged desserts on a three-tier stand.
“Even though he couldn’t come… it seems he’s here after all.”
Following Rachel’s gaze, Reneve turned her head.
A blond man was walking toward them.
As he closed the distance, Reneve’s eyes widened slightly.
It was the man from earlier.
Recognizing her as well, the man’s blue eyes also widened.
“We meet again. I am Belkain, young duke of Venistan.”
He kissed the back of Reneve’s hand.
“Fortunately, it seems you did not catch a cold.”
At her response, his eyes curved gently.
“I happened to pass by there thanks to a kind lady.”
