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Chapter 15 ‌‌
Displeased at having our private moment interrupted, I furrowed my brow.
As I turned my head, I saw a man in the uniform ‌‌‌‌of the Imperial Guard Corps hurrying across the Garden. It was a knight named Rowen, who had taken over my father's escort duties in place of Barcas, who commanded this entire journey.
The knight bowed his head before us and offered me a light salute before turning urgently to his superior.
"His Majesty has ordered that you bring the Commander to him at once."
I instinctively realized that Senebier had summoned Barcas. The knight's dark expression alone was enough to suggest that something unfortunate was about to unfold.
I bit my lip. This pilgrimage journey was proceeding with the Council's permission. My betrothal to Barcas had likewise been promoted long ago by the Conservative Nobility who supported the Crown ‌‌Prince. At this point, whatever scheme ‌‌that woman ‌‌‌‌devised could not be overturned.
Yet I could not shake an ominous premonition. Had that woman not employed every cunning stratagem ‌‌‌to drive a wedge between Gareth and Barcas for so long?
She had even bound the newly appointed Barcas to Talia's side for seven years, overriding even the fierce opposition of Grand ‌‌‌Duke Sierchan. This time, ‌‌she was undoubtedly manipulating The Emperor to orchestrate further interference.
Knowing it was improper, I inserted myself between the two men. ‌
"I will ‌accompany you as well."
"But Your Highness, His Majesty has——"
"I am the Princess of this Empire. I have the right to have an audience with His Majesty whenever I wish. And I have decided that I shall see my father with my betrothed at my side."
The knight, taken aback by ‌‌my firm demeanor, glanced sideways at Barcas.
I ‌‌felt a slight displeasure at his attitude, as though his decision mattered more than my own will, but I knew well that the knights ‌‌‌‌revered Barcas almost worshipfully, so I concealed my feelings.
Barcas soon nodded his head.
"Let it be as Your Highness wishes." ‌‌
With his permission granted, the knight fell into step beside me as an escort.
I departed the Garden with my spine held rigidly ‌‌‌‌straight and made my way toward the Main Palace.
As I passed through the entrance of the Great Hall, the ‌‌‌‌interior of the building, swept by intense summer sunlight, came into view. I crossed the dazzling marble hall and ascended the stairs carpeted in reddish-brown.
The enormous doors leading to the Emperor's Audience Chamber bore carved images of Darian, the founding Emperor of the Roem ‌‌‌Empire, and the knights who followed him.
As I passed through the grand entrance, sweeping my gaze indifferently over the statues of heroes whose faces I knew well, a vast hall carpeted with ornate patterns revealed itself, and at its far end, a golden throne came into view.
I looked up at the man who held all the world's power in his hands and the woman standing at his side, my spine held rigidly straight. My father wore his customary solemn expression, and Senebier—— ‌‌
Suddenly my train of thought snapped. The moment ‌‌‌I beheld The Empress, surrounded by a golden halo, a despair akin to helplessness washed over me.
Somehow, with each passing year, ‌‌Senebier grew more beautiful. It ‌‌was ‌‌‌appalling.
'The golden demon...'
Each ‌time I faced her, I recalled a fable I had read in childhood.
In a certain village lived two brothers of exceptional affection for one another. But a demon who despised all goodness in the world ‌‌resolved to drive a wedge between them, and placed a great nugget of gold ‌‌‌in their path. Blinded by its radiant gleam, the brothers quarreled over the gold and ultimately came to harm one another.
When I first saw Senebier, I thought the gold the demon had prepared to destroy us had taken human form.
Her radiance had dimmed the ‌‌‌eyes and hearts ‌of a once-honored ‌‌sovereign, stained one woman's entire life with sorrow, and condemned our family to a bitter existence of grief and humiliation.
As if that were not enough, this demon had borne The Emperor a son, even threatening Gareth's position.
My gaze naturally descended to the small boy standing beside The Empress. The Second Prince, Astros Roem Guerta, regarded Barcas and me with curious green eyes.
Each time I beheld that bright-eyed boy, I was seized by an intense sense of crisis. I could not fathom why Gareth directed ‌‌‌such fury at Talia, a ‌‌mere subject of scandal, rather than at his younger brother, who possessed the second-highest claim to the throne.
When I considered the years of humiliation ‌my mother had endured because of Talia, my ‌‌‌own resentment surged. Yet Talia was too insignificant to wield any influence over us.
All that child had accomplished since entering the Imperial Palace was tormenting innocent ‌‌servants and causing such scandals that everyone shook their heads in ‌‌disapproval. What threat ‌could such a foolish brat possibly pose?
To me, Talia was merely ‌‌‌‌an unpleasant and somewhat pitiful existence. A bitter remnant of the past that must be endured in silence. ‌‌‌Nothing more. That was why I could generously overlook the malicious pranks that insignificant child directed at me.
But Astros was different. I was well aware that many in the Imperial Palace harbored affection for that innocent-eyed boy. And those who grew uneasy about Gareth's rough ‌‌temperament had begun ‌‌to place subtle hopes in the young prince——
"What are ‌‌‌you doing without proper decorum?"
At the weighty sound of that voice, I emerged from my reverie. The ‌‌Emperor was regarding ‌‌‌‌me with a puzzled gaze.
I approached my betrothed's side and offered a light bow. ‌‌
"I wished to see Father's face, so I followed Grand Duke Sierchan here. Please forgive me for arriving without notice."
"Lift your head. You may come to see me ‌‌‍‌‌whenever you wish."
The Emperor of the ‌Roem Empire, Bircus Roem Guerta, spoke in a gentle voice from beside my bed. It seemed that each time he looked at me, he ‌‌‌was reminded of his unfaithful wife and felt a twinge of guilt—he ‌‌‌‌always treated me with particular kindness.
Ayla swallowed ‌‌‌‌her scorn and bowed respectfully.
"I am grateful for your generous words."
"Actually, this works out well. The First Princess will learn of it anyway. We might as well explain everything to everyone while we have this opportunity."
Senebier, who had been stroking her son's reddish-brown hair, leaned toward the Emperor and spoke in a hushed tone.
Astros Roem Guerta watched the exchange between the adults with curious interest. Ayla, observing her half-brother with wary eyes, cast a sharp glance toward the Empress.
"What exactly do you mean to explain?"
"His Majesty will provide the details." ‌‌‌‌
Senebier replied in a honeyed tone, whispering softly, and gently caressed the back ‌‌of the Emperor's hand. Ayla deliberately pretended not to notice.
After an awkward silence stretched on, my father, who had been choosing ‌‌‌‌‌his words carefully, finally spoke.
"I summoned you today to inform you that there has ‌been a change regarding this pilgrimage journey."
"Please tell me. I am listening."
Despite the unexpected announcement, Barcas showed ‌‌‌no sign of disturbance. ‌‌‌The Emperor, seemingly uncomfortable with ‌his servant's composed demeanor, continued in a curt tone.
"Talia will also accompany us on this pilgrimage. Assign additional guards for the girl and prepare the necessary travel equipment."
At this unforeseen directive, Ayla froze.

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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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