For the One Who Hates Me - Chapter 67

The hunting festival was over. It ended without any particular incident, except for the Empress leaving early because she was feeling unwell.

And the next day, a morning state council was held.

Karl entered the council hall with the ministers. They reported various matters to Karl. Karl skillfully offered solutions or engaged in short discussions.

There was nothing unusual. The young Emperor just looked a little tired, perhaps from the hunting festival.

“Oh, by the way, how is Her Majesty the Empress feeling?” one of the ministers asked.

“Ah, the Empress,” Karl replied nonchalantly. “To be honest, the Empress was very sick a few days ago, even when it was raining. She seems to have overexerted herself, so I sent her to the secondary palace for some rest.”

The secondary palace was a villa for royals located in a quiet corner of the Imperial Palace. It was a cozy and quiet place where women who had given birth would go to rest.

“She went for a rest all of a sudden?”

“Yes. She was so exhausted that I sent her there this morning. I only sent a few maids with her. The Empress is resting, so entry to the secondary palace is forbidden.”

“Ah… I see.” The ministers were a bit bewildered, but it wasn’t something they could question. Empress Aura wasn’t exactly the picture of health.

“And I was also thinking of staying in the secondary palace for a few days to be with the Empress.”

“Your Majesty, too?”

“Yes. I also need some rest. So if you have anything you need to discuss, now would be a good time to do so.”

No one replied. All the urgent matters had been dealt with during the meeting. They were just surprised by his sudden decision to leave.

“Your Majesty, when will you be returning?” one of the ministers asked. Karl was lost in thought for a moment.

“Three days.” He said again, with conviction. “I will return in three days.”

The ministers nodded. Three days was a reasonable vacation length.

“If anything comes up, you may contact the chief aide. Since there’s nothing else to discuss, the meeting is adjourned.”

Karl calmly left the council hall. Josh and Theo were waiting for him by the door.

The three of them began to walk quickly.

“Josh. What about Elise?”

“I asked her, but she said she doesn’t know anything. She said she didn’t see Her Majesty, and nothing happened at the Tein Dukedom. I also checked the Dukedom separately, and it seems to be true.”

“Alright. Josh, you will follow me to Sutra. Theo, you will stay and guard the palace.”

Theo spoke up, “Your Majesty. Before you go, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“We believe we have captured the person you ordered Josh to find, the one who sent the letter to the Empress.”

Karl stopped dead in his tracks. Is it H?

“Is it someone I know?”

“It’s Hosea, the younger brother of Lady-in-waiting Minah. He is studying magic at the Imperial Academy on Her Majesty’s recommendation, and he recently returned from Silcia, beyond Sutra. To be exact, he was at the mansion of the mage Julius.”

Many questions seemed to be answered at once. Everything fit together perfectly. The name H, his identity, and the contents of the letter.

“Where did you put Hosea?”

“We put him in the dungeon for now.”

“I will stop by on my way to Sutra.”

“Should we bring the lady-in-waiting, too?”

“No. We don’t have time to interrogate her, too.”

Karl was also aware of Minah. The lady-in-waiting who Aura, who never kept people close, had by her side. Her loyalty seemed immense. Even if she knew where Aura had gone, she would never tell. It was faster to pressure Hosea, for whom they had solid evidence, than to interrogate Minah.

A little while later, Karl finished his preparations and went to the dungeon.

Hosea was confined alone in a secluded cell. He was trembling with fear, not knowing why he was there.

Step, step…

At the sound of heavy footsteps, Hosea looked out through the bars. A man in a robe was standing next to Josh. When Hosea just stared, Josh said, “It’s His Majesty the Emperor. Kneel.”

Hosea’s face went white. “I-I-I greet Your Majesty.”

Hosea was only 19 years old. He had little experience in the world outside of his studies in magic. In short, he was in the biggest crisis of his life.

Karl grabbed the bars tightly. “Tell me everything.”

“…Ye-yes?”

“Everything you told the Empress.”

Ah… but Her Majesty the Empress told me not to tell anyone. And so did my sister. But he couldn’t say those words. Karl’s eyes, under the robe, shone menacingly. It was as if every second he was here was precious.

“Tell me now. Before I come inside.”

Theo entered the Emperor’s office. A little while ago, Karl and Josh had left the palace. Josh had met Theo before he left and spoke to him briefly.

“Josh, what happened? Did that guy, Hosea, tell him everything?”

“It seems so. I wasn’t there to hear it, but… I heard that he gave the Empress the ‘original copy’.”

“What original copy?”

“I don’t know. It seems like a letter or something… In any case, after he heard that, his face went completely pale.”

Josh had glanced at Karl. Karl’s face, as he was getting on his horse, was pale. Karl was not a person who was easily flustered. Something serious must have happened.

Theo sat down in the chief aide’s seat. “Phew… What on earth is going on?”

With the Emperor gone, the weight on the chief aide’s shoulders was heavy. Theo began to look through the documents he had to handle today.

Knock, knock.

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

“Sir Aide, a knight has come to see you.”

“A knight? Send him in.”

A moment later, a knight from the Emperor’s Guard entered. He was the one in charge of investigating the Duke Tein’s will case. He had been searching the Empire for the missing butler’s whereabouts.

Theo stood up as soon as he saw him. “Did you find something?”

He nodded. “I found a trace of the butler.”

Ruan and Aura were heading toward Sutra. The sound of their horses’ hooves galloping across the wasteland spread through the air.

The temperature had dropped so much that it was hard to believe it was summer. It was a sign that they were getting closer to Sutra.

Aura tightened the collar of her robe. Her breath came out in small puffs every time she breathed.

“Haa… haa…” She wondered how long they had been riding. Her breath was short, even though she was just sitting on the horse.

It’s still a long way to Sutra. This is not the time to rest.

Just as Aura was about to urge her horse on, “Aura,” Ruan called her. Aura pulled on the reins and stopped her horse. “We’ve been riding without rest. The horses will get exhausted first if we keep going.”

“But…”

“Let’s rest for a bit. And you seem to have hurt your foot, too.” Ruan said, looking at Aura’s ankle. It was still wrapped in a bandage.

‘It’s like you’re determined not to let me take my eyes off you.’

She felt as if she was hearing the same words again, whether they were a concern or a complaint. Aura was dazed for a moment, then she said brightly, “Alright. Let’s rest for a bit.”

Aura and Ruan got off their horses. There were only a few large and small rocks around them. The two of them leaned against the biggest rock.

Even with the robe on, the summer riding clothes were too thin. Aura wrapped her arms around her knees, feeling the chill. Ruan looked at her and took off his robe, giving it to her.

“No, Ruan. It’s cold.”

“That’s why I’m giving it to you.”

“But you’ll be…”

“I’ll be fine. Just put it on.” Ruan smiled and stroked Aura’s head. Aura’s body felt a little warmer from Ruan’s body heat.

“You’re a really good person.” Aura muttered.

“Why are you saying things you don’t normally say?”

“Because you are a good person.”

“Then don’t abandon a good person and keep him by your side.”

Aura just smiled at Ruan’s words. He rested without saying anything.

Ruan kept a strange distance from Aura. He was kind and considerate, but he was no longer playful. He also never brought up what had happened the night before the hunting festival. It was as if his attempt to kiss her had never happened.

Aura knew why he was keeping his distance. It wasn’t because he was afraid, but because he was trying not to confuse her.

There was a time when it was painful and she felt guilty for ignoring his feelings. But now, she felt a little lighter.

Aura rested her head against the rock.

Can I really die well?

The document that Hosea had sent. Aura had been confused for a while after reading it. The moment she saw all the information, she knew exactly what she had to do.

When all the pieces of Finn were gathered, she had to die. Otherwise, there was no reason to gather the pieces. No matter how much she thought about it, that was the only answer.

It’s okay. I can do it. I was ready to die from the moment I stabbed Karl with a sword.

That was true. She couldn’t have stabbed the Emperor without being prepared to die.

Of course, back then… I thought I would die by Karl’s hand.

Aura weighed the two options. Dying by Karl’s hand. Dying for Zenia. The latter was a hundred times better. She had no regrets. It was a princess’s duty to sacrifice herself for her people. No, it was more than just a duty; it was an honor. She had to think that way. It was the pride of a royal that she could never let go of.

Aura felt like she understood why Karl had been so hesitant to give her Finn. He must have known how to break the seal. And he must have known that she would gladly sacrifice her life if she knew.

He was trying to save me. It wasn’t just because of politics.

If that was the case, Aura could never go back to Karl.

Aura could never give up on Finn. Karl could never give up on Aura. As long as Aura didn’t give up on Finn, their fight would never end.

…Yes. It’s good that I left. Everything is going to be fine.

She soothed her own heart.

Just then.

Squeal!

Roar!

A terrifying roar echoed in the air. Ruan shouted, “Monsters!”

The two of them quickly stood up. Ruan took out his sword, and Aura took out her crossbow.

A swarm of monsters was charging toward them from the horizon.

Support For the One Who Hates Me