Chapter 7
“Did you really think you could leave me in this muck and live in peace? How dare you.”
It had all begun because of Estelle. Even his earliest dreams of the throne had been fueled by her.
“When I ascend to the throne, I will change these wretched inheritance laws… so that women can inherit their families’ titles too.”
All of it—for the world you dreamed of as a child.
He had never imagined he would collapse so completely because of you. Never imagined you would vanish, leaving him alone amid this radiant ruin.
‘If that is the case…’
He wished that in her fall to the bottom of the Valley of Oblivion, she had encountered one of those mental beasts that preyed on the minds of humans. That she had been stripped of her memories, unable to return.
Then, even if she were not entirely herself, he could still find her and drag her back into this hell.
She, who had created this hell, should not have fled it alone.
He knew the thought was irrational—she had been found, after all.
But he could trust neither her nor the Duke, so he could not even trust her death.
Clink.
Kaian poured another drink and repeated in his mind the words of his mother’s last will, delivered nine years ago by Christine.
“The last words left by the Empress… were to remain vigilant of the Astria family under all circumstances.”
Yes. The only feeling allowed toward Estelle was hatred.
Yet he had loved her too much to hate freely, and guilt over his mother forbade longing.
Love and hatred—a cruel chain of opposing emotions that ate at oneself.
Kaian forced himself to rein in his complex emotions and swore: this time, he would break free of this brutal cycle. He would accept her death and nothing more.
“Master Danju! You’re here!”
Around ten o’clock in the morning, Estelle entered the Erme Guild.
The moment she opened the office door on the third floor, a bright voice greeted her—it was Peter, the youngest member of the guild.
He had been the boy who delivered the Hildern Mine documents to Estelle four years ago. Once small and timid, he had now grown into a dependable young man.
Though only seventeen, thanks to Estelle’s guidance, he had become a capable member of the guild.
Thanks to her, his younger siblings and ailing mother were freed from poverty and hunger—so loyalty to Estelle was natural.
Of course, Peter was not the only one who followed Estelle’s words as if they were divine commandments within the Erme Guild.
“Today you came earlier than usual—Ae’r must have been spirited on the way to school!”
Fortunately, this world also had kindergartens. While commoners could not afford private tutors as the nobles did, they could send their children to school if they had some means.
Though Estelle possessed knowledge far beyond any tutor, she had little time to teach children herself—her own harsh childhood offered no fond memories of schooling.
She wanted Ae’r to have happy memories with peers, to experience the joys she had never known.
‘At first, it was hard to let Ae’r leave my side, even briefly.’
Past lives had taught her the bitter pain of losing a child.
One day, the child had said,
“Mommy, I want kindergarten too! I want to play with friends!”
Her first request to her mother since birth.
She realized that keeping Ae’r forever by her side was selfish. She needed to trust and let him grow.
“That’s right… a child who grows more each day.”
In the beginning, Estelle had been more anxious than Ae’r, but now she had adjusted. During the time Ae’r was at kindergarten, she could focus on guild affairs.
“Look, Master Danju! These are the items we purchased from Deutsche—they truly surpass the entire continent in glassmaking craftsmanship!”
Peter’s eyes sparkled as he eagerly presented the glassware.
‘Indeed. These are rare even in the Empire, and scarce in Deutsche as well. Perfect for negotiating with southern nobles.’
The island nation of Deutsche, across the southwestern strait of the continent, had recently come under the control of the Rekanto Empire—but its people did not welcome the annexation.
‘It has been barely thirty years since the Deutsche Kingdom became part of the Empire under the conquest of Emperor Sensanda.’
Their pride in their own culture was strong. Glass artisans, especially, were notorious for withholding their finest work unless they willed it themselves, even at the emperor’s command.
‘So the fever-reducing mana stones for children are indeed rare… just like the novel said.’
In her previous life, the heroine Diana had been welcomed as a distinguished guest on Deutsche Island thanks to these stones.
Estelle used this knowledge to target artisans with young children.
‘Ae’r is still too young for me to go personally, which bothers me a bit.’
Fortunately, Peter, having grown up caring for younger siblings, seemed to understand the artisans’ hearts perfectly.
‘A truly talented young man in dealing with people.’
Estelle smiled in satisfaction.
“You must be tired from the long trip. Tomorrow is your mother’s birthday, isn’t it?”
“Oh! It’s an honor that you remembered! Yes! I wanted to come back before then, so I’m glad I made it in time!”
“She’ll like this. Take it as my gift, and I’ll give you a week off—spend time with your family.”
Estelle handed Peter a few of the most exquisite items from the trade shipment.
“Oh, Master Danju! To remember the date is honor enough, and now a gift and a vacation! I shall devote my life to the Erme Guild!”
“Your mother is waiting. Go quickly.”
“Yes! I’ll see you next week!”
Peter left the office with light steps. Only then did Estelle, left alone in the quiet room, begin meticulously inspecting ledgers and goods.
Time passed quickly while she focused on paperwork, and before she knew it, six hours had flown by—time for Ae’r to return from kindergarten.
“Perhaps I should call it a day.”
As she tidied her surroundings and prepared to leave the office,
Bang!
“Master Danju!”
Peter, who had left earlier, came running up the stairs in a hurry.
“What is it? What’s wrong?”
“Rodalan! I found the Rodalan Guild!”
“Already?”
It had been only ten days since she had ordered the guild to be located.
Guild members had been dispatched around the islands where a master might be, but this was much sooner than expected. She even suspected the man might be a fraud.
“Are you certain? Where did you find them?”
“I went with my mother to a seaside restaurant, and there was a man talking to the bartender who introduced himself as a Rodalan Guild member. So—”
Peter hurriedly explained.
“Then you asked the guild member about the master’s whereabouts?”
“Yes, and he happened to be staying in Aren, so we went straight there.”
“And… you met him?”
“Yes. I told him you wished to meet, and he asked if now would be suitable—so I brought him here.”
“Now?”
“Yes. He’s in the first-floor reception room.”
Many guild masters avoided direct meetings, especially those from guilds like Rodalan, whose existence was not publicly known—they were extremely cautious.
Yet the master had come in person. That was highly unusual.
‘Of course… just like him.’
A playful smile spread across Estelle’s lips. She returned to her office, retrieving a wig and a mask.
“Let’s go.”
The guild master often met with nobles directly. As a precaution, Estelle always wore a mask during external activities, in case anyone recognized her as the former Empress.
At the Erme Guild, only Peter and a few close aides knew her true identity; others assumed “Libeta Marian” was merely an accounting clerk.
‘Of course, there’s no guarantee he’ll be fooled by such a disguise.’
Even with altered hair and eye color, and a mask, he would recognize her.
Yet if she chose to hide herself, he might respect her wishes.
‘But… what if he intends to restore me as Empress…’
It would be a gamble. That was also why she had attempted to find Sordan without Rodalan’s help.
With thoughts racing, she quickened her pace to the first-floor reception room and took a deep breath.
‘Calm… do not waver.’
She steadied her wildly beating heart.
Click!
The reception room door opened.
Late afternoon sunlight poured through the large windows, filling the room.
On a sofa near the windows sat a man with olive-colored hair and teal eyes, holding a bouquet.
The warm sunlight bathed his green eyes, and he smiled brightly upon seeing Estelle—a smile she recognized well.
