For the One Who Hates Me - Chapter 6

Clip-clop, clip-clop…

The sun was high in the sky. The sound of Karl and his knights’ horses thundered across the plains. Geographically, Ansena was to the left, but a steep mountain range stood in the way. They had to choose between riding around the long way or taking the dangerous, direct path through the mountains.

Without hesitation, Karl turned his horse to the left.

“Your Majesty!” a knight called out, stopping Karl. It was Prit, one of his close aides.

“What is it?”

“Let’s take the plain route, Your Majesty. The mountainous terrain is dangerous for the horses. Their legs could break, or we could run into bandits.”

“There’s no reason to take the long way around. Follow me and ride carefully.”

Just as Karl was about to pull on the reins again, Prit blurted out, “I simply don’t understand.”

“What don’t you understand?”

The air grew frigid. The knights watched the two warily. Prit was a good knight, but he was hot-headed and aggressive. His short temper and constant complaints were his weaknesses.

“We fought in Devla for three years to finally take the palace. Why would you leave at such a crucial time?”

“That is my decision. If you are so worried, go back to the palace.”

Josh quickly stepped between them. “We will all go with you, Your Majesty. Prit, that was rude. Apologize at once.”

Despite Josh’s intervention, Prit remained stubborn. But Karl didn’t even seem to care.

“We’ve wasted enough time. Let’s go.”

At Karl’s command, the knights began to pull on their reins. Josh patted Prit’s shoulder. “Prit, let’s finish the mission first…”

“For a mere woman…!”

Karl froze. He turned his horse and rode in front of Prit.

“Say that again.”

“…”

“I said, say it again, Prit.”

Prit clenched his fist. “She’s the woman who insulted you in front of us, Your Majesty! For a woman like that to become the Empress and reap the rewards of our noble battles!”

“Prit!” Josh yelled, but it was too late. Karl’s sword was already in the air.

“Your Majesty!”

“Don’t do it, Your Majesty!” The knights rushed to him. Karl’s sword cut through the air. Prit squeezed his eyes shut.

The sword plunged into the neck of Prit’s horse.

Neigh!

The horse shrieked and fell to its death.

“Ugh!” Prit was thrown to the ground. Karl pointed his sword at Prit’s neck.

“A noble battle?”

“Y-Your Majesty…”

“Prit. You killed hundreds in Devla. Do you consider that noble? Or is the power you’ll get from it what’s noble?”

The cold, sharp words put everyone on edge. Karl wasn’t a kind lord, but he had never threatened his men with a sword like this.

“If not for that woman, we would have just been a bunch of butchers… like monsters.”

“…”

“I see I’ve been leading a man who doesn’t even know what he’s been fighting for.” Karl’s sword moved to Prit’s shoulder.

Thump.

A knight’s epaulet fell to the ground. Prit stared at the fallen epaulet in disbelief. Karl spoke to everyone.

“From today on, Prit is permanently expelled from the knightage. Anyone who has a problem with this decision is free to leave now. I will not stop you or blame you.”

No one made a move to leave. It was a testament to the trust Karl had built over the years.

“…Let’s go.”

Karl rode toward the mountains. The knights followed him in silence.

Prit stared blankly at their backs. All he had left was a dead horse and a fallen epaulet.

“…Heh.” Prit grabbed a handful of dirt. The horses’ backsides disappeared into the dust in the distance.

Aura followed the vigilantes and arrived at their headquarters. The building was a decent-looking mansion.

“Please wait.” One of the vigilantes went inside. Aura waited anxiously.

A moment later, the door burst open.

“Aura!”

Aura froze.

“…Ruan?”

She thought it was a dream. Such a coincidence. No, such luck couldn’t just appear out of nowhere. The handsome man with light brown hair rushing toward her was indeed the Ruan she knew.

“Aura!”

Ruan hugged her tightly. Tears welled up in Aura’s eyes.

“Ruan…”

Her legs gave out and she sank to the ground. Ruan held her tighter, trying to hold back his own tears. “Aura… Aura…”

They had been childhood friends. Three years ago, on the day before Aura left for Kasa, Ruan came to see her.

“Please, let me go with you, Aura. The Kasa imperial palace is a brutal place. The rumors about your husband are bad. I’ll go as your attendant or a knight, it doesn’t matter. Someone has to protect you.”

“Ruan.” Aura took his hand. His face flushed slightly. “I can’t let you do that. You have to live your own life in Zenia.”

“This is my life. I’m a member of the Mayer family, and we’ve served the royal family for generations. And… we’ve always been together.” Ruan held her hand tightly. “Aura. I… I…”

“Ruan. That’s why you can’t.” Aura had known for a long time that Ruan had feelings for her. She had even thought at one point that if she didn’t have to marry for politics, she would marry Ruan. He was kind and warm.

But with the arranged marriage, she knew she had to let him go. So he could find a good woman and build a happy family. Aura hugged Ruan.

“I will be happy, I promise.”

“Aura…”

“So I hope you find happiness too, Ruan.”

The promise from three years ago hadn’t been kept. Aura’s appearance was proof of that.

“Aura, you…” Ruan couldn’t finish his sentence. Aura was so thin, and she looked sick. And the wound on her neck and the bandage on her ankle…

“What on earth happened?”

She tried to smile. “I had a hard time. But Ruan, are you really the leader of the vigilantes?” she asked, looking at the men Ruan had brought out with him.

Ruan nodded. “Among the young men who gathered in Ansena, my family name was the most recognized, so it happened naturally.”

“Of course. You’re the proud eldest son of the Mayer family. My goodness, that’s so reassuring.”

With Ruan here, there was hope for Ansena. She stroked his face. ‘It feels like a dream. I thought I would never see Aura again.’

“Let’s go inside, Aura. You need to change your clothes. How can you be walking around in such thin clothes in this weather?”

Ruan helped Aura to her feet. He held her hand and led her inside. It was a hand he had worked so hard to hold again. He never wanted to let it go.

The interior of the vigilante headquarters was spacious and clean. It was clear they had tried their best to make it look presentable.

Aura went into an empty room and wiped her body with a warm towel, then changed her clothes. Ruan had prepared some winter clothes for her. The traditional Zenia pattern was embroidered on the chest. When Aura came out of the room, Ruan took her to a reception room.

“I can’t stay long, Ruan. I need to talk to you and then leave.”

“I know. Just come here.” The room had some food laid out. Aura shook her head.

“Ruan, there’s really no time—”

“I need to feed you something before you go. Please.”

“…Okay. Then let’s talk while we eat.”

Aura sat down and began to eat the soup. The warm, smooth soup soothed her throat. Maybe it was because the journey had been so hard, but the simple warmth of the soup almost brought tears to her eyes.

Ruan swallowed a sigh as he watched her fight back tears.

“After Zenia fell, all sorts of rumors about you circulated. That you were imprisoned in a tower, that you weren’t, that you had run away, gone mad, and even…” Ruan paused, then whispered, “That you had died.”

“I’m sorry I made you worry. I was imprisoned, but I came back safely… I’m fine. Tell me what has happened since Kasa took over.”

Aura said she was fine, but she didn’t look at it at all. However, Ruan knew her pride well and didn’t press her.

“Okay. Well… the late crown prince demoted the people of Zenia to slaves.”

Slaves. At the word, Aura put down her spoon. She had expected it, but hearing it from Ruan’s mouth made her unable to eat.

“Everyone was scattered and lived as slaves. Young nobles like me were barely able to hide in safe houses.”

“And after Karl became emperor?”

Ruan’s expression hardened at Karl’s name. He spoke reluctantly.

“He raised us to be second-class citizens. As soon as he was crowned.”

Second-class citizens had many restrictions. They couldn’t own land or run a business. Political activity was also forbidden. Still, it was much better than being a slave, so Aura felt a little relieved.

“What’s the current situation?”

“It’s not bad. After the imperial family designated Ansena as the Zenia district, a lot of people gathered here.”

“What about the magicians? I don’t see any.”

Ruan poured tea into Aura’s cup. “The magicians just haven’t gathered here yet.”

“No, Ruan. Something is wrong. Zenia fell too easily. The magicians wouldn’t have just stood by.”

“Aura, the magicians are fine. Look, I’m fine, aren’t I?”

The Mayer family was the most famous magician family in Zenia. As the eldest son, Ruan also had strong magical powers. He stroked Aura’s arm with his elegant hand.

“Don’t worry about us. We can rise again from Ansena. For now, just think about yourself and protect yourself. For our sake, too.”

His sincere and gentle comfort made Aura’s heart feel like it would melt. She felt like crying again. How long had she longed for this kind of warmth?

But she couldn’t stay here any longer. If the imperial guard found her here, the people of Zenia would be interrogated.

“Ruan, I’m actually on the run from Karl.”

“…I thought so. I knew it.”

“The imperial guard will be here soon. I have to leave before they arrive. I’ll come back once things have settled down.” Aura took two golden buttons from her pocket. “Use these where you need to.”

“Aura.”

“Tell the imperial guard that I stole money and ran away. Don’t resist them.”

At that moment, Ruan grabbed Aura’s hands.

“I’m coming with you. I can’t let you go alone.”

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