Chapter – 19
“Really a brilliant idea!”
Ian’s suggestion was bold, but that only made it all the more appealing.
Besides, it fit perfectly with the little reckless remark I had made earlier: ‘I wanted to wear pink clothes, so I dyed my hair a different color.’
I was genuinely pleased with the new lie proposed by our paladin commander.
As I reached the door to my room, I looked up at Ian. It was time to say goodbye.
“Ah, by the way, Ian.”
I grabbed the doorknob, then suddenly remembered something and turned to him.
“My hair… is actually fake.”
“Huh?”
Ian’s brow furrowed in confusion, just as I expected.
I quickly followed up.
“It’s actually pink underneath.”
“What…?”
I plucked a few strands from my head and handed them to Ian.
The strands that had fallen from my head instantly lost their magic and returned to pink.
“I had been keeping it hidden to avoid being tracked, but I forgot to tell you in advance.”
“Are you joking? You forgot to mention something like this?”
“I truly apologize. Oh, and my eyes are naturally closer to golden-yellow. Next time, I’ll show you my real appearance. Well then! It’s getting late.”
“Hold on right there, madam.”
I froze in place, still holding the doorknob. Of course, this man wouldn’t just let it slide.
‘Damn Count Parras!’
Though even if it weren’t for him, this was something I would have had to reveal eventually.
Suddenly, Ian stepped closer and grabbed my chin. I could feel his piercing gaze scanning my face.
“…So, all of this is fake.”
I shook my head vehemently.
“I only changed the color, as I said, to avoid being tracked. You know how relentless those slave traders can be, Ian.”
“‘To avoid being tracked,’ huh.”
Ian clicked his tongue lowly.
“As expected of you… always suspicious.”
I suppressed the pounding in my chest and forced a guilty smile.
“Honestly, check it for yourself. See what my true identity is.”
His voice dropped like a devil’s whisper, making my heart race uncontrollably. I struggled to calm myself and looked him straight in the eyes.
“We both have things we’re hiding, don’t we?”
Ian flinched, raising an eyebrow.
Just as I was hiding my true self, he was hiding his true goal: to overthrow the emperor.
“I may be hiding something, but you haven’t revealed everything to me either. But I promise: whatever I’m hiding, for one year, I’ll be your loyal wife.”
“….”
Ian remained silent for a moment, only looking down at me with a scrutinizing gaze.
Then, from somewhere down the hall, a group of footsteps approached. I sensed them stopping as if they had noticed us.
“Kiss me.”
I whispered, looking up at Ian.
There was no way he, a sword master, didn’t sense the approaching presence. Slowly, he leaned down, his lips brushing gently against my cheek.
“Let’s not let you get too curious. If more questions pile up, it could be troublesome.”
A shiver ran through me.
The next day.
Countless citizens of the Empire read The Empire’s Morning with wide eyes.
“Did everyone read today’s Empire’s Morning?”
“Of course. My goodness… I had no idea Lady Irene had such a past.”
The nobles, fully immersed in the peaceful life of the Lehart Empire, had a tendency to become excessively excited over anything romantic.
The fact that the newly appeared saint was once a princess from a distant island stirred great excitement.
The remark that had puzzled the ladies yesterday — ‘My pink clothes didn’t suit, so I used magic powder to change my hair color’ — finally made sense to them.
Even if she was from a tiny, remote island, a princess is a princess. A well-bred princess would be used to such luxury.
“But what kind of wretches kidnapped Lady Irene?”
“Exactly. And they even tried to sell her as a slave. How terrifying it must have been!”
“Isn’t it incredible that Sir Ian saved a princess who was being sold as a slave? What a dramatic story.”
Ian often ventured beyond the borders on monster-slaying missions as part of his duty as a sword master.
Unlike the strictly anti-slavery Lehart Empire, neighboring nations still secretly practiced slave trading. Ian had earned a name for himself by raiding such slave traders and freeing the captives.
“A princess sold as a slave falls in love with the paladin who saved her…”
“It’s so dramatic and romantic! I can’t believe this is real. Playwrights will all be out of work!”
“No kidding. The new saint’s spending habits are extraordinary, too.”
A young lady who had been at the afterparty nodded in agreement.
“I couldn’t help but admire her calm attitude, saying she used transformation powder just to wear a pink dress.”
“Truly a luxurious mindset. How could someone like her have been kidnapped and sold as a slave?”
“They say the shock caused her partial amnesia.”
“Everyone, be careful when dealing with the new saint. Don’t bring up her past carelessly.”
Everyone nodded with sympathetic expressions.
“Can’t wait for the saint appointment ceremony. I wonder what powers the new saint possesses.”
“I’m dying to know.”
“I’m a little worried. The previous youngest saint, Saint Cordelia, had been the youngest for so long. As we all know, her close associates… are a bit…”
“Overbearing, right?”
Everyone nodded in agreement at someone’s remark.
“Well, Ian is here, though. Didn’t everyone hear how Count Parras foolishly challenged him yesterday and got thoroughly beaten?”
“They say Ian’s expression while cornering the Count was terrifying. Ah, wish we could have seen it ourselves…”
Sighs of regret rose here and there.
“A runaway slave?”
In the innermost part of the palace, the emperor’s private office. A place so secret even passing attendants rarely entered. The laughter of Emperor Rashid echoed.
“Ha ha ha. Ha ha ha ha!”
Laughing merrily, Rashid picked up a gem rolling on his desk and tossed it at the attendant reporting to him.
“Take it. A reward for brightening my day.”
“Th-thank… you, Your Majesty.”
The attendant took the gem, dumbfounded. Rashid quickly turned his attention away and looked at his empress.
“Putting Count Parras in the role of a clown was brilliant. Such amusing news… Our new saint was, no way… a former slave! This changes the story considerably. Doesn’t it, my empress?”
Empress Lorelei smiled softly.
“Indeed, many things change.”
“You truly are remarkable, my sister.”
Rashid chuckled.
“I was surprised when she suddenly fell in love. If she were to marry into a prominent family, it would have been suspicious. But a runaway slave changes the story entirely.”
A faintly crooked smirk curled on Rashid’s lips.
The past of a distant island’s royalty meant nothing. The world was vast, and there were countless nations and royalty, too many to count.
Even royalty from an unknown, insignificant kingdom was worth less than a commoner of the great Lehart Empire.
“The important thing is that she was once listed in a slave registry.”
Rashid slowly stroked his chin. No matter how strongly the Lehart Empire opposed slavery, royal matters were different. It was unprecedented for the royal family to adopt a foreign ex-slave as empress.
If Ian truly intended to take her as his wife, it would mean he harbored no ambition for the throne—a fact Rashid could interpret easily.
“Indeed… my brother is reliable.”
Rashid licked his lips.
“Loyal, useful… a damn bastard.”
Unmatched in combat, stunningly beautiful, commanding loyal paladins—terrifying as an enemy, yet a trustworthy ally when tamed.
“And… slave or not, she’s certainly an interesting woman.”
Rashid rested his chin in his hand. At the moment he mistakenly addressed Ian as ‘Sir Ian,’ he had noticed a subtle change in Irene’s expression.
‘She must have realized I’m the emperor.’
The unusual thing was what followed. Those facing the emperor usually react in one of two ways: fear or reverence and flattery.
Irene showed neither.
‘If anything, she seemed to want to maintain some distance from me.’
Commoners or nobles alike instinctively shrink in front of royalty. Yet this woman showed none of that.
“Is it true that you’re taking such an interest in the new saint, my dear?”
Empress Lorelei’s voice interrupted Rashid’s thoughts.
“Well, with it being the first saint in fifteen years, I suppose it’s natural for Your Majesty to be excited.”
“Ha ha. Are you feeling a bit competitive with the newcomer?”
Rashid laughed joyfully, then gently took the end of Lorelei’s hair and kissed it.
“No matter how capable the new saint is, none will be as blessed by the gods as you, my empress.”
“You speak well.”
Lorelei smiled softly.
“Count Parras has been imprisoned for sacrilege!”
Anette, carrying a tray of snacks, exclaimed excitedly.
“Sacrilege, you say?” I asked in surprise.
“Yes! He dared to question the saint! Though the appointment ceremony hasn’t occurred yet, it’s already considered a fact that Lady Irene is a saint, since Ian acknowledged it!”
“Ha ha… is that so?”
The words saint appointment ceremony made me feel like a piece of softened seaweed.
The engagement ceremony had passed smoothly, but the real challenge was just beginning.
‘I must somehow pass the saint appointment ceremony.’
There were only about ten days until Bishop Kennen returned to conduct it. I had to come up with a plan by then.
‘Ugh… I should have met Rizzello then!’
Should I go to the Mage Tower again? Ian’s words echoed in my mind:
‘If you’re curious about the Mage Tower, leave it to me. I’ll accompany you.’
I shook my head weakly. Going alone would surely make him suspicious this time.
‘I can’t sneak out either… what should I do?’
Slumped in the chair like wet laundry, I suddenly sat upright.
“Ah!”
Why hadn’t I thought of it sooner?
A triumphant smile spread across my face. I remembered a way to meet Rizzello without going to the Mage Tower.
