I Once Thought I Had No Place, Being Married Off to An Enemy Nation as A Token of Apology but That Was Only for One Night - Chapter 9

“Honestly, do you lack a sense of duty as the Empress?” Frieda asked, letting out a sigh that I had lost count of.

We were in the courtyard of the Imperial Palace in Rayvel. Before me, luggage for my journey to the Eisenwald territory was being piled up. Frieda was clearly dissatisfied with my decision to head there.

“You are probably worried about me, are you not?” I asked.

“I am talking about your awareness as the Empress. In the first place, did you not just perform a large-scale purification a few days ago? Do you even have the energy to spare for more?” she countered.

I knew she was worried, even if she would never admit it.

“Do not worry. I am perfectly fine with a purification of that level,” I assured her.

I did not mention that I was using a similar amount of holy power for the Emperor. Purifying the Imperial Capital was a task well within the capabilities of the Saintesses I had trained myself.

However, Frieda did not believe me. “Please stop acting tough. Accurate situational awareness is required on the battlefield, as it affects the lives of the entire unit,” she said firmly.

“But it is the truth,” I whispered.

“If that were the truth, it would mean you are stronger than any Saintess in the Empire. I find that impossible to believe. Or do you intend to insist that you are the Saintess of White Snow?”

“No, I have no such intention,” I replied.

Inwardly, I noted that I intended to keep my true identity hidden. I turned my gaze toward the massive magic circle in the courtyard. It was a teleportation array used to travel between the Imperial Castle and the various territorial capitals.

It had many restrictions and could not transport large armies, but it was perfect for a unit of our current size. My belongings for Eisenwald were already being moved into place.

“Empress Noel, the preparations for departure are complete,” Frieda announced.

“I see. Let us go then.”

Prompted by Frieda, I stood atop the magic circle. I had never had the chance to use one in Ashtar, so I was looking forward to it. As if responding to my excitement, the circle emitted a faint light, and my vision shifted in an instant. Suddenly, the air filling my lungs grew thick with miasma, carrying a faint scent of rust and herbs.

I looked up, expecting to see the territorial capital, and gasped at the sight of the castle looming before me. Frieda was a descendant of heroes and one of the Six Archlords guarding the Empire. I had imagined her capital would be a beautiful place, famous even in neighboring countries. Instead, the scene before me felt more like the foreboding fortress of a Demon King.

“Welcome. This is Eisenwald, my territory,” Frieda said.

“It is a city as robust as a fortress,” I managed to say, choosing my words carefully.

Frieda let out a small chuckle. “You do not need to be so considerate. This is a frontline base, so it is naturally desolate. There are more prosperous towns further away from the capital.”

“The further towns are more prosperous?” I tilted my head, wondering if it should not be the other way around.

“You are poorly informed. All territorial capitals ruled by the Six Archlords are like this.”

“All of them? Is there a reason for that?”

“Yes. It is the reason we are called the Six Archlords. If you intend to fulfill your duty as a Saintess, I believe you will eventually find out,” she said with a mischievous smile.

It was rare to see Frieda smile like that. I was curious, but if I would find out by fulfilling my duty, then pushing for answers now would make it seem like I had no intention of working. I did not want to lower her already poor opinion of me further. Just then, a knight came running toward us.

“Lady Frieda, I am sorry to disturb you just after your return, but a swarm of monsters is approaching the East Gate.”

“How many?” Frieda asked.

“About twenty. However, no powerful monsters have been confirmed.”

“Then you shall lead the unit and annihilate them.”

“Understood!” the knight responded instantly, taking others with him to the front.

“Will you not take command, Frieda?” I asked.

“I usually would. However, I am here as your lady in waiting right now.”

“I am sorry. I am causing you a burden.”

“It is the duty of an Archlord to protect the Empress. There is no need to worry about it.”

“But I am just…”

I trailed off, thinking of how I was seen as a mere decoration or a troublesome token of apology.

“Regardless of who you are as a person, the fact that you are the Empress remains unchanged. Besides, at the very least, I think you are doing well as an Empress,” Frieda said.

“Thank you,” I replied.

Even though she was supposed to dislike me, she acknowledged my efforts. If Frieda were not the Head Maid, my life in Rayvel would likely be much harsher. It was truly a stroke of luck that she was so fair.

However, Emperor Albert was the one who appointed her. I wondered if it was more than just luck. Perhaps he had assigned her to me with a specific intention, knowing her personality.

“Empress Noel, is something the matter?”

“No, it is nothing.”

“Then let us head to the castle. I will show you to the guest rooms I have prepared.”

Frieda began to walk, and I followed her into the sturdy stone structure. A group of servants gathered in the entrance hall to greet us.

“Welcome back, Lady Frieda.”

“It is good to see you all well. Furthermore, this is Empress Noel. She is the wife of Emperor Albert and is here now as a Saintess. Make sure you treat her with the utmost respect.”

The servants responded in unison, but a voice suddenly cut through the air.

“What Empress? She is just a nuisance forced upon us by the Crown Prince.”

Insults were common in Ashtar, and I was used to rumors, but it was an extraordinary situation for a servant to be so blatant in such a setting. Almost immediately, Frieda stepped in front of me.

“Who just insulted the Empress?” she demanded.

The servants trembled. Those in Frieda’s line of sight stepped aside, desperate to show it was not them. Behind them stood a young knight.

“Kai, was that your remark?” Frieda asked coldly.

“And what if it was?”

“I told you that no disrespect toward the Empress would be allowed.”

“It is all just a front anyway. Sister, surely you are not serious?”

Frieda was visibly angry, and the knight named Kai seemed taken aback. I was surprised by his choice of words.

“Are you two siblings?” I whispered.

“My foster brother has been disrespectful,” Frieda said, bowing her head.

So they were siblings by bond.

“More importantly, I have a request for you, Sister,” Kai said, completely ignoring the atmosphere. He had an impressive amount of nerve. Frieda clicked her tongue.

“A request? Why are you even loitering in this house while the master is away?”

“I told you I have a request,” Kai replied with a grave expression.

Frieda seemed to notice his seriousness, but she tried to dismiss him, saying she was busy guiding the Empress. As expected, Kai glared at me.

“Frieda, I am fine. I am interested in the circumstances of this territory as well,” I said.

“Empress Noel, there is no need to be considerate of this man.”

“Even so, I believe we should hear what he has to say.”

When I smiled and insisted that a serious matter must be addressed, Frieda let out a small sigh.

“I appreciate your kindness.” Frieda bowed to me and then turned back to Kai. “Speak quickly.”

“My wife, Else, has been bedridden for about a week,” Kai said.

“Else? Have you seen a doctor?” Frieda stepped forward urgently.

“The doctor says it is the Erosion Disease.”

Frieda shuddered, and I felt a chill as well. Its official name is Miasma Erosion Disease. It is an ailment suffered by those who have absorbed miasma beyond their body’s capacity. Being bedridden is a sign that the body is reacting violently to the corruption. Without treatment, death is highly likely. It is a leading cause of death even in Ashtar.

I thought we needed to dispatch a Saintess immediately, but Frieda’s voice was heavy with sorrow.

“I see. That is unfortunate.”

“Unfortunate? Your subordinates said they could not dispatch a Saintess, so I came to ask you. Are you going to tell me it is impossible too?” Kai’s yellow eyes burned with anger.

Frieda exhaled slowly. “Else is not affiliated with the military. Therefore, my subordinates made the correct judgment. Saintesses serve the Empire and risk their lives for the people. Their miracles are finite.”

“So you are telling me to give up on her?”

“I want to save Else as well. However, the country cannot function if the rules are broken.”

In times of disaster or severe crisis, medical treatment must be prioritized through triage. The miracles of Saintesses are subject to the same logic. Sometimes, a choice must be made about who to save.

The Empire was already delaying the purification of its own capital. Death from Erosion Disease must be a daily occurrence here. Therefore, Frieda’s judgment as a Lord was correct. By focusing on the source of the miasma rather than treating every individual, more lives could ultimately be saved.

However, human emotions are not governed by logic alone.

“I have literally risked my life for this territory. And yet, you are saying you cannot save even my wife? What have I been fighting for then?”

“I understand how you feel. But the knights and soldiers have families too. Many of them are suffering from Erosion Disease. Can you look them in the eye and tell them you were given special treatment because you are related to the Lord?”

“Else is your sister too!” Kai yelled.

I finally understood why he was her foster brother. To protect the order of her territory, Frieda was preparing to abandon her own sister. The moment I realized this, the image of my brother turning me into a token of apology flashed through my mind, causing a sharp pain in my chest.

“I am a Lord before I am a sister. Therefore, I judge that it is impossible to dispatch a Saintess.”

“Then what am I supposed to do?”

“Do what you can. There are dishes said to be good for Erosion Disease. Why not cook for her? Else would be happy to know you made it yourself.”

“That is just a comfort for the dying! You know that too, Sister!”

“Kai, I understand your feelings, but you must not speak like that.”

“Do not tell me you understand! Do not say things you do not mean!”

Kai’s words caused Frieda’s face to contort. To me, it looked as though she were weeping.

“To say I do not mean it. I truly am worried about Else. I would like to visit her later. I cannot act as a Lord, but as a sister, if there is anything I can do…”

“There is no need for you to come! What are you going to say? That there is a way to save her but she is not worth the cost? Are you going to tell her to just give up and die?”

“No, that is not. I only…”

Frieda could not find the words. Kai spat out that he never thought his sister was such a heartless person. Frieda turned her face away as if the pain were unbearable.

On the surface, Frieda was doing the same thing my brother had done to me. However, it was not the same at all. Frieda looked so pained, yet she was pleading that there was no other way. She was acting with the dignity of a Lord while suffering as a sister. It was not right for a knight to attack her like this.

“I heard that the knights of Rayvel were excellent, but it seems that even a selfish child can hold the position,” I said.

“What did you say? Was that directed at me?” Kai glared at me.

“Oh, so you are self aware enough to realize it was about you.”

I stepped forward and stood in front of Kai, shielding Frieda behind me.

“Are you picking a fight with me? I do not care if you are a princess from a neighboring country, I will not show mercy.”

“I am already the Empress of this Empire. If you understand that, then do as you wish.”

When I challenged him to see if he was prepared to defy the Emperor’s authority, Kai gnashed his teeth. He was speaking without any real resolve. I brushed a stray strand of hair from my shoulder.

“You can defy Frieda, but you cannot defy the Emperor. You make up all these excuses, but in the end, you are just being spoiled by your older sister.”

Kai’s face twisted as he clenched his fists.

“Empress Noel, what are you doing provoking him? Kai, stop this at once. If you do anything to her, the consequences will go beyond just you,” Frieda said, trying to pull me back, but I stood my ground.

Kai spoke through his anger. “I do not like you. You were abandoned by your own brother, were you not? And yet, you take the side of the sister who is leaving her own sibling to die?”

“Yes, I hate my brother. He is a despicable man who turned me into a token of apology for his own convenience. In the end, what Frieda is doing may look the same,” I said.

Frieda looked down like an abandoned puppy. I turned to her and whispered that I understood.

“Empress Noel?” she asked timidly.

I smiled at her and then turned back to Kai. “But that is only the result. Look at her. Can you not see how she is suffering? Does she look like someone who is happy to abandon her sister?”

“That is…”

I hate my brother. However, if the one who abandoned me had been Frieda, and if it had been a conclusion reached after such agony, I believe I might have forgiven her. Perhaps I would not have, I truly do not know. But I knew one thing for certain.

“Even if the result is the same, the process behind it is not. The fact that you cannot see that is exactly why I called you a child.”

Kai started to say something but bit his lip and remained silent.

“It is a waste of time to stay here. Frieda, please show me to my room.”

I prompted her to move, leaving the bewildered onlookers behind as we walked away.