For the One Who Hates Me - Chapter 13

Karl gripped Aura’s hand even tighter, a silent pressure to refuse. But in front of him, Aura smiled and said, “I think I should be the one to dance with the prince.”

“Are you serious?” Karl asked in a low voice.

Aura answered calmly, “Of course. He’s your only brother, isn’t he?”

Aura took Isen’s hand and went back to the ballroom. Karl watched their backs and let out a small, incredulous laugh.

‘Keep your promise. Don’t interact with Isen.’

‘Alright. I will.’

He finally understood the meaning of the faint smile Aura had given him then. ‘She had no intention of listening to me, promise or not.’

“…She drives me crazy.” Karl leaned against a pillar and crossed his arms. He stared at Aura and Isen, as if he wouldn’t take his eyes off them until the dance ended.

“Your Majesty.” Just then, a middle-aged man approached him. Karl was annoyed by his appearance, but he couldn’t ignore him.

“Duke Thane.”

“Congratulations on taking a wife. Please forgive me for arriving at the palace only now; I had many matters to attend to in my territory.”

Duke Thane was the late Crown Prince’s closest aide. After Karl took the throne, he had pledged his loyalty and offered his personal army. However, he was still highly suspicious and was one of the men Karl believed to be behind Isen.

“Your Majesty, to celebrate this joyous occasion, I brought my niece. If it’s alright with you, please accept her greetings.”

“Your niece…?” Karl looked at the woman standing behind Duke Thane. He seemed to pull a memory from his past and showed a hint of joy. “Elise. It’s been a long time. I haven’t seen you since we were children.”

“It’s an honor, Your Majesty.” Elise bowed politely.

The surrounding nobles and knights glanced at her. Elise’s beauty and attire were strikingly beautiful.

“Now that I think about it, I was in Devla and couldn’t express my condolences for the funeral of your father, the late duke,” Karl said. “It’s late, but I hope you will accept my heartfelt apology.”

“Thank you very much, Your Majesty. My father would have been happy.” Elise smiled genuinely. Karl also showed a rare, relaxed smile. At that moment, he met Aura’s eyes as she was dancing.

‘I wonder if she even cares who I’m with.’ Karl scoffed, turning his attention away from Aura and back to his conversation with Elise.

Isen and Aura danced to the music. Isen’s golden hair shone under the light of the chandeliers.

“You resemble the late emperor very much, Prince.”

“Haha, yes. My mother is often saddened by it.”

His looks and easygoing personality made it easier for Isen to get along with the Kasa royal family, even though he was still treated as only half of a royal.

Isen lowered his voice. “I’ve heard about what happened to you, sister-in-law. I’m sorry I couldn’t help you.”

“Thank you for your concern alone.”

“Still, three years… a wound like that doesn’t just disappear. Are you okay now?” Isen was trying to test her, to see how she felt about Karl.

And Aura decided to play along. She had things to gain from Isen as well.

“Prince. If you don’t mind…” She glanced at Karl. Karl was talking to a woman she didn’t recognize.

‘Who is that?’ The woman was a beauty with flowing blonde hair. When she smiled, Karl gave her a relaxed smile in return. It was a look Aura had never seen before. ‘I thought he hated talking to nobles.’

“Sister-in-law?” Isen asked, bringing Aura out of her thoughts. Aura quickly composed herself.

“Ah, I’m sorry. If you don’t mind, shall we go to the terrace?”

“Of course. I have something to tell you anyway.”

Aura and Isen left the ballroom and went to the terrace. As she was about to close the curtains, she met Karl’s eyes. He was still talking to the woman. Going to the terrace in the middle of a banquet was a sign that they were going to have a private conversation. Karl’s eyes widened, as if to tell her to come out immediately. But Aura closed the curtains anyway.

Isen was leaning against the railing, waiting for her.

“Sister-in-law.”

“Prince.”

They both spoke at the same time. A strange tension hung in the air, and Isen was the first to laugh.

“You first, sister-in-law.”

“No. You first.”

The winter wind blew. Isen’s lowered eyes looked deeper. “I heard you ran away to Ansena and came back?” Aura didn’t react. “I understand. You must have wanted to escape from a husband who abandoned you in a tower for three years without a word.”

Aura smiled. “You’re so kind, Prince. Thank you for your concern.”

“I’ve wanted to get to know you ever since you married into our family. I love the culture of Zenia. Especially your novels; they’re so mysterious with all the magicians in them.”

“Thank you for saying that. I brought a few books when I came, so I’ll lend them to you next time.”

They made small talk for a while. After a moment of silence, Isen asked, “Do you want to go back to your people?” Isen was being straightforward. A desire for the throne and for power seemed to flicker in his eyes.

Aura didn’t back down. “If I do.” Aura slowly approached Isen. “Will you help me, Prince?”

“Sister-in-law.”

“Yes.”

“Do you know about the Pin?”

Aura’s hair fluttered in the winter wind. Goosebumps ran down her neck. Her own question had been turned back on her. Aura told herself, ‘Now is not the time to be hasty or show my true feelings.’

“The Pin? What is that?”

“It’s a crystal ball that holds the magic of all the Zenia magicians. As you know from your visit to Ansena, the Zenia magicians all lost their magic to the Pin.”

Aura pretended to be surprised and grabbed Isen’s arm. “…Is that true? Who would do such a thing…?”

“It was the late Crown Prince, my brother. I only found out recently. But don’t be too disheartened. If you break the seal, the magic will return to them.”

“Then where is the Pin?” Aura asked urgently.

Isen smiled. “This is all the information I can give you for now. If you want to know more about the Pin, please help ‘us.’”

Isen subtly revealed that he had others working with him. Aura’s heart pounded. If she helped him and got the Pin, everything would be so easy. If his goal wasn’t just a rebellion, she would have wanted to join him right away.

“If I help you, will His Majesty Karl be in danger?”

“Nothing is ever without a price. However, hmm… I’ll tell you this much. If you break the seal of the Pin, you can leave the imperial palace. And you’ll be free.”

“…”

“You’re conflicted.”

“Give me some time. Time to think.”

“Yes, of course. Ah, while I’m at it, I can help you with your decision.”

Isen walked to Aura’s side and pulled back the curtains. He pointed to Elise, who was standing with Duke Thane in the distance. Karl was nowhere to be seen.

“That young lady over there. Her name is Elise Thane, the only daughter of the late Duke of Thane.”

‘Elise Thane.’ Aura repeated the name in her head. She could almost see the smile Karl had given Elise again.

“The current duke, Whale Thane, wants to curry favor with the imperial family. So he’s trying to push his niece, Lady Elise, to become a concubine. The rumors are already circulating among the nobles.”

Aura’s face slowly hardened at the word “concubine.” She tried to answer without showing any emotion. “Marriage is a good tool for politics sometimes.”

Isen seemed a little flustered by her reaction. “Well, what I’m trying to say is… the position of empress isn’t as secure as you might think. Especially if you’re married to my brother, Karl, isn’t that right? So think about it carefully.”

With that, Isen left the terrace. Aura was left alone in the cold wind. Her mind was a mess. She never thought that a rebellion would be an option for getting information about the Pin.

But no matter which direction she went, the answer was the same: she had to break the Pin. She looked up at the dark sky and whispered, “Freedom…” Then she turned and looked at Elise in the ballroom. “A concubine…”

When Aura came out of the terrace, the banquet was already over. A few nobles were still gathered, chatting. Duke Thane and Elise were among them.

Just then, Mina approached Aura. “Empress, His Majesty has already retired to his chambers. I will help you prepare for the hapgung and escort you to his chambers.”

It was time. But it was not something she could avoid. Aura obediently followed the maids to prepare for the hapgung. It was the first night after the coronation, so it was like a wedding night. But there was no excitement or anticipation. The bath was long, and getting dressed was a hassle.

As she put on her nightgown, Aura thought about what had happened on the terrace. Her decision was… to wait. It was not too late to side with Isen after she had dug a little deeper into Karl.

She was also genuinely afraid of tonight. She couldn’t get Karl’s eyes out of her mind from when she had closed the curtains on the terrace.

A moment later, Aura stood in front of the empress’s chambers. The maid cautiously opened the door. Aura walked alone through the hallway and arrived at the inner door.

‘I have to spend the night with an angry man.’

She swallowed hard and composed herself. It was a planned outcome ever since she had let go of Karl’s hand to dance with Isen. There was nothing she could do without angering him anyway. All that was left was to accept it.

Aura opened the door and entered the room. A dim light filled the room. Only a few candles were lit.

Click.

The door closed behind her. Aura flinched and turned around.

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