Chapter 10
Welcoming Tistye on her return to Lacie was a small letter of compliment and ridicule .
“Like we’ve said it, the role of the First Empress of Verscia was never intended for you to begin with!”
“Not to mention, you were meant to be a consolation price for their previous emperor, right? Don’t tell me, you honestly thought His Majesty cared for you?”
“…Disgusting eyes and hair color as usual . After this, go somewhere where we can’t see you, okay?”
While the king passed the letter of tribute to her parent, her older sisters could be heard whispering .
But Tistye remained resolute and bowed before leaving the place .
As a matter of course, the secluded tower had been prepared for her return . During Tistye’s absence, it seemed that the place had been left unattended—the rugs and curtains were dusty . When she opened the window, a damp wind—which was typical of Southern kingdoms, blew in .
…Although short, it was a very pleasant time .
Tistye gently stared at her left hand . A bright green stone shined on her ring finger .
Actually, she wondered if she should’ve just left the ring behind—
—however, she felt that along with leaving it, she would also lose her memories with Gaizel . Therefore, she couldn’t let it go .
To be loved by His Majesty, I… am happy .
She softly touched the jewel which reflected the light . Gaizel’s face, who moodily said, “Don’t take it off as you please” occupied Tistye’s mind—as if it were yesterday .
Few men preferred women who had once been married .
Not to mention, one whom was formerly married to the Emperor of the almighty Kingdom of Verscia . That, combined with the fact that no one in Lacie found her appearance pleasing, made Tistye sure that she would spend the remainder of her life in that bleak room .
Nevertheless, Tistye didn’t regret any of her decisions .
With that, it was plain as day that the princess of Yenzie would become the First Empress . Surely, she would then support Gaizel .
Just by believing so, Tistye felt that she would be able to overcome all the sadness that would come in the future .
However, the very next day, there was a sudden change .
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Early in the morning, the door of Tistye’s room was slammed open .
Entering in a hurry were the guards of the royal palace . Blood was drained from their faces .
“Hurry, come with us!” One of them grabbed Tistye’s hand .
Without knowing what had happened, Tistye then ran to the throne room of the royal palace .
She was shocked when she saw the person standing there—there was her father; the current King, the Queen, the Consort, her sisters—
—and Gaizel .
Donning his usual black cloak, his favorite long sword was clenched in his hand .
“You finally came . ”
Gaizel noticed the arrival of Tistye and immediately approached her, grabbed her, and carried her over his shoulder . Suddenly, while still holding Tistye, Gaizel made a proclamation to the throne .
“I’m taking her with me . ”
“H-huh, Your Majesty, what are you—?!”
As soon as he said so, Gaizel turned his heels around on the red carpet and walked away . He had no further business of being there . On his path, the guards held their spears to halt him—however, with one swung from Gaizel, their spears flew as if they were but toys .
None of the other subjects dared to move due to the extraordinary intimidation Gaizel exuded .
Eventually, they left through the entrance hall, heading straight outside the royal palace .
Gaizel’s favorite horse, the black horse, was tied to the entrance of the city . After sitting Tistye on the saddle, he immediately straddled the horse .
“…Your Majesty, umm…”
Shortly after Tistye had uttered so, Gaizel’s black horse began to gallop . Behind her, the people of Lacie were chasing them, but the distance gradually increased—soon, none of them could be seen .
As the horse galloped, Tistye screamed .
“Lord Gaizel! Why are you doing this!?”
“That should be my question!”
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Gaizel’s words, both cold and silent, took Tistye’s breath away . When she tried to argue against him, the voice of his heart rushed into her .
[“Finally, finally I get to meet her…! I missed her so much…! I’m truly glad she’s safe… but, she seems a little unwell? Is it tiredness, perhaps? Why would you disappear from my side? As I thought… she hated me all along…”]
“I, I am…”
Gaizel dexterously sped up his horse using one hand . His other hand was hugging Tistye . The horse galloped with tremendous momentum, as such, all Tistye could manage to do was desperately cling to it so as to not be shaken off .
The black horse stormed through the desert surrounding Lacie . There was a considerably long distance between Verscia and Lacie, therefore, they wouldn’t be able to arrive in one day .
In anticipation towards the setting sun, Gaizel headed for a small town .
The place, which was renown as a lodging town for travelers and adventurers, was lined with shops . It had a miscellaneous atmosphere, unlike the royal capital of Verscia .
As they walked silently through the back alleys, she spotted a woman dressed in revealing clothes .
Gaizel wore a sand-repellent cloak on top of his attire, and Tistye donned a similar mantle before entering the town . The reason was to prevent their features from being exposed .
They passed through the gambling halls and the colorful townscape—Gaizel was heading towards a bar . The second floor of the bar seemed to be a simple lodging place . The owner was bald with stout physique . He handed a room key to Gaizel .
“The two of you, are you headed for Verscia? It seems that the kingdom is now in confusion due to the absence of their Emperor . ”
“I see . ”
Tistye watched the exchange with a flurry of feelings . In the end, Gaizel said nothing further and went to the stairs leading to the second floor .
The provided room consisted of merely a simple bed, a desk, and a chair . Gaizel sat on the bed and told Tistye to sit properly . But Tistye hesitated and confronted Gaizel while standing .
A tense silence flowed into the room .
It was Tistye whom finally opened her mouth .
“…For what reason, did you do all this?”
“’For what reason’, you ask?”
“Because, at this point, I no longer have anything to do with you, Lord Gaizel…”
“You’re the one who left as you pleased . I don’t remember ever divorcing you . ”
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Gaizel’s horrifying, but eager gaze caused Tistye’s mind to turn frantic .
“That’s… but I am doing this for Your Majesty!”
“Who decided that?”
“Anyone would! Compared to you, who is truly important to the people, I am not worth it…”
Tistye realized that tears were spilling from her eyes . However, she didn’t even bother wiping them away . Instead, she opted to single-mindedly speak of whatever was on her mind .
“I was supposed to be given to the previous emperor… as a mere hostage… Your Majesty, you took me as your wife because you felt sorry for me, right?”
Water droplets permeated the dry wooden floor .
Even though I never wanted to say any of this…
To tell the truth, she was happy—very happy .
Gaizel, whom she had hoped to meet, suddenly appeared before her . Not only had his presence shock everyone, it turned out the sole purpose of his arrival was to pick up Tistye .
But he was the Emperor of Verscia . He shouldn’t be overly merciful to the princess of Lacie .
“I’m not worthy of the title ‘First Empress’ . Your Majesty should have a nicer, more wonderful person standing by your si—”
She was unable to voice the final part of her sentence . Again, silence filled the room .
Then, Gaizel sighed .
“Is that all you wanted to say?”
“‘Is that all’—wha…!?”
Before Tistye had noticed it, she was already being embraced by Gaizel . In front of his dazzling chest plate, Tistye was puzzled about what to do . Despite so, Gaizel strengthened his arms, which were encircling her .
“Don’t be mistaken . I never took you out of pity, nor did I do it out of scorn . I wanted you to be the First Empress—because it was you . ”
It was Tistye’s turn to get confused .
“B, because it was me?”
“That’s right . You might not recall this, but I’ve been to Lacie before and met with you . ”
The words reminded her of the dream she had the other day . The black-haired boy she met at that time—it was the young Gaizel!
“I lost my mother and came to Lacie through the help of Van . For me at that time, my mother’s presence was absolute…”
Gaizel, whom wasn’t good at expressing his emotions, hadn’t shed a tear at his mother’s funeral .
There were probably many adults who whispered at the sight, “what a fearsome child . ”
But there was no way a young child wouldn’t be sad after losing his mother—
—Gaizel just didn’t know how to express those emotions .
“I didn’t know what to do, and wandered alone . That was when I met you . ”
White skin like snow and lustrous hair like ice . The majority of people in Lacie only had red hair and eyes—so Gaizel was fascinated by her beauty at the very first glance .
However, in front of such a Gaizel, she suddenly attempted to hide that appearance of her’s . Therefore, Gaizel accidentally blurted it out—“It’s beautiful . ”
“Back then, even during those hard times, I couldn’t admit that I was in pain, nor that I was sad—all alone, I kept holding back my tears . …I was such a weak child . ”
Nobody was aware of Gaizel’s true feelings . He himself turned to distractions as to not be affected by them .
The one who noticed, and then supported Gaizel’s heart—was probably Tistye, and Tistye alone .
“That day, you saved me . Ever since then—all ever wanted was to see you again, at least once . ”
Gaizel’s voice became low, however, his embrace increased in strength .
At the same time, the voice of his unadorned heart poured into Tistye’s chest .
[“How happy I was at that time… you don’t know that it’s you who has supported my heart all along, this entire time… from that day, you became my reason of living . I kept hoping that someday, I would be able to meet you again—truly, ever since that day, I’ve always… always loved you . ”]
“Lord… Gaizel…”
Perhaps, because he had heard her small utterance, Gaizel finally relaxed . However, he didn’t seem to plan to release her from his arms . While staring at Tistye, he straightforwardly told her—
“—I love you . I will never accept anyone else but you as my wife . ”