For the One Who Hates Me - Chapter 59

“Aura,” Karl cupped her face and met her eyes. “So just… don’t leave my side. Stay here.”

He bit his lower lip. In the end, he couldn’t hold back and lightly kissed her lips. “Even if you’re standing here waiting for that guy, just like this.”

The sound of the rain was roaring. Just as Aura was about to open her lips to say something, the sound of horse hooves began to be heard from a distance.

Ruan was riding back on his horse. He dismounted in front of them and bowed. Despite wearing a raincoat, he was soaking wet.

“I apologize for being late. Something came up just before I left Ansena, which delayed my departure.”

“Go inside. You can give me the report after you’ve changed.” Karl said that and left.

“Your Majesty the Empress?” Ruan called out to Aura, who was still standing there blankly. Aura finally seemed to come to her senses and gave a forced smile.

“I was so worried. Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“Good… I’m relieved. Then please come to my reception room later.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”

Aura went into the main palace. Ruan quietly looked at the coat draped over her shoulders.

After a bath and a change of clothes, Ruan went to Aura’s reception room. Aura was sitting on the sofa, looking pale and buried in the cushions. Her body, which had been cold outside, was now burning up.

“Your Majesty, are you alright?”

“I think I caught a cold.”

“Oh, no. I’m so sorry. I should have come back sooner…”

“No. This is my fault for standing outside foolishly.” Aura slowly shook her head. The movement made her head spin. The tension from yesterday, the unseasonable cold, and the things Karl had said to her—all of it made her feel dizzy.

There was, however, one good thing about it. She didn’t have the energy to think about what Karl had said.

Aura asked Ruan, “So, how is Ansena? Karl mentioned it. He said the Imperial family also sent doctors.”

“Yes. And Archduke Ryan of Sutra also personally went to Ansena with medical supplies and drinking water.”

“The Archduke?” Aura was surprised. The Archduke himself went to such a small village. And the distance from Sutra was considerable. Even if I consider the relief supplies he sent last time, he has an unusual interest in the Zenia people.

Ruan told her what had happened in the morning.

‘I am Ryan, Archduke of Sutra.’

When Ryan had extended his hand, Ruan had quickly bowed. “My apologies for my rudeness, Your Grace. I am Emile, a knight of Her Majesty Empress Aura.”

“You’re not going to shake my hand?”

“Oh, no, I am.” Ruan took his hand. Ryan looked him over.

“Your hand is soft for a knight. So is your face.” He examined Ruan closely. “I don’t recall seeing a knight like you when I visited the palace late last year. Did you just join recently?”

Does he know every single knight in the Imperial family?

“Yes, that is correct. I was conferred as a new knight this month.”

“Is that so… and you went straight to the Empress’s room?”

Ruan was in a dilemma. How much should he explain? It was clear that telling him he was a member of the Emperor’s Guard who was now the Empress’s lover wouldn’t do any good.

“Something like that.”

“Hmm. Then come out and talk to me for a bit.”

“My apologies, but Her Majesty the Empress is waiting for me. I am already late as it is.”

“Tell her that Archduke Ryan was clinging to you.” He playfully put his fist against the doorframe, blocking the way. “I have a feeling she’ll want to see me herself now.”

Given her plans to go to Sutra, he wasn’t wrong. Ruan had a gut feeling that this man was not someone to be trifled with. He could tell just by the way he subtly but skillfully cornered people.

“Then… if it’s alright with you, please come in.” Ruan ended up letting Ryan into his room.

Ryan sat on the bed and rambled on about the treacherous road from Sutra to Ansena. Ruan, tired of listening, naturally cut him off.

“It’s impressive that you came all this way yourself to deliver the relief supplies.”

“It’s the duty of the Imperial family. To care for our people.” Ryan smiled. His attitude was the reason he was so highly regarded among the Zenia people.

“You seem to have a lot of interest in Ansena. How did you hear about what’s happening here?”

“I have people who get me information. And I’m not interested in Ansena, but rather in the Zenia people.” He crossed his legs and propped his chin on his hand, looking up at Ruan.

“Are you Zenia?”

“…Why do you ask?”

“You look like a Zenia. I’m very interested in people’s appearances. Especially those who look a little different.” Ryan himself was a person who looked a “little different.” His silver hair, which was rare in Casa, was a characteristic of the people of the North.

“No. I am a Casa.”

“What’s your last name?”

“Murin. I’m from a rural noble family, so I doubt you would know me, Your Grace.”

“Hmm, I don’t know that name. In any case, it’s surprising that you’re not Zenia. I thought the Empress was keeping you by her side because you’re Zenia.” Ryan chuckled.

“That’s a dangerous thing to say, Your Grace.”

He was an unpleasant person. Ruan could see why Aura didn’t trust him.

“Do you have a message you’d like me to relay to Her Majesty the Empress?”

“Hmm… yes, I do.”

“If you tell me, I will relay it to her.”

“But I’m not sure if you’re a trustworthy knight.”

“…What do you mean?”

“From what I can tell, you seem like a man who was well-educated from a high-ranking family. Are you really from a rural noble family?” Ryan subtly gestured to Ruan’s hands. Ruan answered calmly, “In any case, there is nothing I can do for you and the Empress right now. If you send a letter to the Imperial Palace, I can help by delivering it to Her Majesty.”

He was implying that he no longer wanted to talk. At his audacity, Ryan burst out laughing.

“Anyway. You seem to have inherited your master’s audacity.” He got up from the bed. “Tell Her Majesty.”

“…”

“That I have everything she wants, so she should come and find me right away. Tell her that I’m so desperate, I’m going crazy.”

Aura listened to the long story in silence. She could almost see Ryan’s nonchalant demeanor in front of her. She didn’t like it at all, but she understood what he wanted to say.

What she wants… it must be Finn and the way to break its seal.

“You’ve been through a lot. Go inside and rest.”

“You look so pale. I’ll call the Imperial Physician right away.”

“I think you should. Please do.”

Just as Aura was about to get up, the world around her suddenly started to spin.

“…Huh?”

“Your Majesty!”

As Aura stumbled, Ruan quickly came to her side and supported her. Her vision slowly went dark. Ruan was saying something urgently next to her, but she couldn’t hear him clearly.

After a meeting, Karl entered his office. He tossed the documents onto his desk and loosened his tie. He couldn’t focus on the meeting at all. He kept thinking about himself talking nonsense like a fool in front of the main palace. And about Aura, who just stared at him with wide eyes.

Perhaps she hadn’t even understood what he was saying. She had looked so unwell from the beginning. Her trembling shoulders and pale lips were proof of that.

Still… it seemed like she was about to say something at the end.

Just then, a knock sounded, and Theo came in.

“Your Majesty.”

“Yes.”

“The… Empress seems to be very unwell.”

“Ah… I see.”

Karl left his office. His destination was, of course, the Empress’s room. Theo quickly followed him.

“How unwell is she?”

“The Imperial Physician says it looks like a severe cold. It seems the severe tension and stress, combined with the cold wind, made her ill.”

“Is she conscious? Did she collapse completely?”

“No, it doesn’t seem so. He says she’s just weak from a high fever.”

In any case, Karl felt it was his fault. He was the one who had stressed her out by fighting with her. He was the one who had made her anxious by hiding that he had sent people to Ansena.

As Karl and Theo turned a corner, they ran into a group of ministers.

“Your Majesty!”

“Your Majesty! We were on our way to see you.”

“We’re glad we didn’t miss you!”

So many ministers at once. And they all looked like they had something important to say. Karl muttered under his breath, “Damn it. We should have missed each other.”

“Didn’t the meeting just end? If it’s not urgent-“

“This matter is so urgent that we didn’t have time to make an appointment. Please forgive us.”

“…Alright. Tell me what it is.”

One of the ministers stepped forward. “We just received an official letter from the Count of the western border. A new swarm of monsters has appeared in that area.”

“Monsters? How many?”

“There are quite a few. We’ve confirmed dozens of them. The problem is that these monsters are polluting the western granary-“

“Stop.”

A new swarm of monsters polluting the granary. It was an urgent matter that affected national defense, agriculture, and monster research. It made sense that so many ministers had rushed here.

Karl finally gestured to his office. “All of you, go inside. I’ll be right in.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” The ministers rushed to Karl’s office. Karl sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

Theo, sensing his mood, said, “Your Majesty… It seems you’ll have to go to Her Majesty the Empress a little later.”

“…I suppose so.” Karl said that but didn’t move in any direction.

“Shall I… go for you?”

“Do that. And…”

“Yes. And?”

“Allow Emile to go into her room so he can be by her side. Just for today.”

In truth, he didn’t want to let that man into Aura’s room again, not for anything in the world. But given the circumstances, it was not right to let Aura suffer alone.

Maybe… it’s better than me being there.

He finally turned and headed back to his office.

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