For the One Who Hates Me - Chapter 8

From the balcony of the warehouse, Ruan peered outside, concealed from view. The emperor held an unconscious Aura in his arms, giving urgent orders to the vigilantes. A moment later, they brought a carriage. The emperor and Aura quietly left Ansena in it.

Only then did Ruan understand why Aura had done what she did.

Aura had made herself appear like a proud princess who had come to die with her fallen people. The emperor would no longer question why she had come to Ansena. For Aura, who needed to get to the imperial palace to find the Pin, it was the best possible choice—except for the part where she had almost died.

To Ruan, it was the worst possible choice. He couldn’t stop her fall. He leaned against the wall and sank to the floor, staring at his palms. ‘If only I could use magic…’

After losing his magic, he had frantically practiced swordsmanship as a backup plan. As a former high-ranking noble, he was already skilled, so he quickly became an excellent knight. But it wasn’t as useful as magic, especially when it came to protecting someone.

A moment later, the vigilantes came up to the warehouse.

“Leader, what are you doing here?”

“Yeah. The princess and the emperor have already left.”

Ruan asked them, “Was there any trouble?”

“No. Thankfully, he only took the princess and left. He didn’t seem to have the presence of mind to question us.”

“I can’t believe the emperor came himself. It was chilling.”

“Leader, what do we do now?” a vigilante asked seriously, sitting in front of him. “We planned to infiltrate the imperial palace to find the Pin.”

Ruan rubbed his face with his hands. “Put that plan on hold for now.”

“Is the princess going to take care of it herself?”

Ruan shook his head. “Watch your mouths. If that kind of rumor gets around, Aura—no, the princess will be in danger. Tell everyone to keep their mouths shut.”

“Ah, yes. Understood, Leader.”

He understood why the vigilantes were so hopeful. Someone becoming a member of the imperial family was a golden opportunity to find the Pin. The only problem was that the person who would do this dangerous thing was Aura.

Suddenly, Aura’s words came back to him. ‘Good. You can come and help me.’

Ruan clenched his fists and stood up. “Everyone, forget about the Pin. If you make a move, you’ll ruin everything.”

“Yes, Leader.”

“Understood.”

Ruan put his hand in his pocket. He took out one of the two golden buttons. “For now, use this to give the poor a little money to start their businesses.”

“G-Gold? The princess gave this to you!”

“Yes, but keep it a secret. The princess came here to die, but she failed and left. Do you understand?”

“Ah… Yes, understood.”

“And I’m leaving now. I’m entrusting Ansena to you.”

“…What?”

“Suddenly? Where are you going?”

Ruan looked out from the balcony. The vast plains beyond Ansena seemed to stretch on forever. He said softly, “To the imperial palace.”

Clatter.

Aura opened her eyes to the shaking of the carriage. She was startled by the unfamiliar sight and sat up.

“…Ah.”

Karl was sitting beside her. She had apparently been sleeping with her head in his lap. The two of them stared at each other in silence. Aura gripped her skirt tightly. ‘Did he fall for it?’

Judging by the light outside, they seemed to have left Ansena immediately. It didn’t seem like the people of Zenia were in any danger, but she still couldn’t be sure.

“Was I that trustworthy?” Karl asked a strange question.

Aura just blinked.

“Trustworthy enough for you to risk your life by jumping off a balcony?”

“…”

“Or were you really trying to die?”

Now she understood the meaning of his first question. If he was asking if she trusted him, the answer was yes. She had trusted him to a certain degree, and that’s why she had tried the ruse. But she had to answer differently now. Aura nodded, as if to say she had been trying to die.

Karl reached out his hand toward her. Aura flinched and pulled back. His hand wrapped around her neck. He stroked the spot where she had pressed the scalpel against herself to threaten Josh. Aura winced at the stinging sensation.

“What was going through your mind when you ran? Did you think you could hide until you died?”

“…That’s why I tried to die.”

He stared at her. The anger she had seen in his eyes before she fainted was concentrated in his gaze.

“And what about spending the night with me?”

“I wanted to hurt you. It seems like I succeeded?”

He didn’t deny it. Instead, he gave a cold laugh. “I thought about it on the way to Ansena… I think I’ll increase your security when we get back to the palace.”

“…”

“Or maybe I’ll prepare a separate space just for you. Not necessarily the tower, of course.”

‘Is he threatening to lock me up?’

Aura’s blood ran cold. She couldn’t tell if he was joking to scare her or being serious. She felt like she was on the edge of a cliff. A sheer drop behind her, and Karl in front. And the Pin was in the palace, and if the Crown Prince had it…

‘It’s highly likely that Karl has it now.’

No matter how much she thought about it, she had only one answer. Karl Kasa. The kind of obsession he was showing her now. To put it in a bad way, his possessiveness. Aura had to use that feeling. Pulling and pushing this relationship from a safe distance.

Aura grabbed Karl’s arm. “When is the coronation?”

He was surprised by her question and tilted his head slightly.

“I’ll become empress. Just as you wished.”

At that moment, Karl slowly pulled her toward him. His pitch-black eyes seemed to be scanning her from the inside out. When they were close enough for their breaths to mingle, he asked, “What are you plotting?”

“…You told me to, and now you’re asking about a plot?”

“You said you’d rather die. Isn’t that why you went to Ansena?”

His thumb continued to trace the wound on her neck. Aura endured the pain and looked him straight in the eye.

“What were you plotting with the people of Zenia in Ansena?”

As expected, he wasn’t going to let it go.

“Nothing. I just saw them. Their miserable state.”

“So, you wanted to die because you felt sorry for them?”

“There’s nothing I can do for them.” Aura took Karl’s hand. “The only one who can do something is His Majesty, Emperor Karl.”

“You hate me, but you want to use me?”

“It seems you’ll follow me and drag me back wherever I go. Even if I try to die, you’ll save me.”

The corners of Aura’s eyes curved slightly. “So if I’m saying I’ll use you, is that so bad?”

‘So, if I’m saying I’ll use what’s left of you, is that really so bad?’

It was what Karl had once said to Aura. She was simply returning his words to him. It would probably annoy him, but no matter what she said, she was at a dead end. So she decided to say everything she could.

“Raise the people of Zenia from second-class citizens to regular citizens. Just like the people of Kasa. If you promise me that, I’ll be good and stay in the palace.”

It was a risky proposal for Karl, who had just ascended the throne. By taking care of the people of Zenia, he would be risking discontent from the people of Kasa. Karl turned his hand and grabbed Aura’s.

“How can I trust you?”

“…”

“I asked, how can I trust that you won’t leave my side?”

It was a reasonable question. It was also a conditional acceptance of Aura’s proposal. If she could assure him that she would not leave, he would raise the people of Zenia to regular citizens.

Aura’s fingertips played with his earlobe. “There are two reasons.”

“Tell me.”

“The first is what I just said, that I don’t think I can escape you.”

“And?”

“The second is… that I actually enjoy hurting you. So I want to keep doing it.”

“…”

“What do you think? Do you hate it?”

Aura let go of Karl’s ear. His earlobe was red. Karl leaned in and kissed her. Aura was surprised for a moment but gave in. While his lips held hers, his tongue slid into her mouth. Unlike his piercing gaze, the kiss itself was soft.

After the short kiss, Karl smiled. “Alright. Let’s do it.”

“…”

“I don’t hate it either. Neither you, nor the way you hurt me.”

A shiver ran down Aura’s back. He was saying he would accept everything about her, even her hatred for him.

Karl pulled a necklace from inside his shirt. He pulled hard, and the chain snapped. Two rings were hanging from it.

“This is…”

“You remember?”

She couldn’t forget. They were their wedding rings. ‘The soldiers took them from me when I was confined…’

Karl didn’t explain how he got the rings back. Instead, he slid one onto her left ring finger. The ring that had once fit perfectly was now loose. ‘I can’t believe Karl kept this.’

“Get your hands to fit the ring. We have one week until the coronation.”

“…That’s impossible in a week,” Aura mumbled, looking at her hand. She never thought she would wear her wedding ring again. The sparkling ring on her gaunt finger felt awkward, and it strangely made her want to cry.

‘No. If I’m going to do this, I have to do it right. I have to be a proper empress to the public.’

Aura covered her left hand with her right. “…I’ll try my best.”

“Good. Do that.”

Karl seemed satisfied with her answer. He lightly kissed the back of her hand and then placed his forehead on it, closing his eyes. He was praying.

The sun was setting outside. The evening light painted his shoulders and one side of his face. Time seemed to flow very slowly. Karl opened his eyes. Aura pulled her hand away and asked, “What did you pray for?”

Karl smiled and turned his gaze to the window.

“I won’t tell you.”

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