Translator: Nox

Chapter 9

9화

“Who said they were getting married?”

It was repulsive.

In this very moment, Dana realized that even the last shred of compassion she held for him had vanished.

‘To think I ever loved a man like that.’

Even a monk who unknowingly drank water from a skull wouldn’t feel this nauseated.

“I should be the one asking you that. Where do you get the arrogance to assume I’d stay engaged to you after all this?”

“It comes from my power,” Raios replied with a playful smirk.

It was that boyish smile she used to adore so much.

“Danae, an annulment is impossible even if you want one. Because I’m going to refuse.”

“Is that so?”

“There is no history of anyone unilaterally breaking a marriage contract with the Imperial Family. Since you’ve become a person of this world, perhaps you should try studying its history.”

“There’s a first time for everything. Haven’t you considered that I might be the perfect person to set that precedent?”

“…….”

Whatever he made of her words, Raios simply stared at her intently.

Then, he crushed his cigar into the ashtray.

“Tomorrow, I intend to escort Alice.”

He made the declaration nonchalantly.

“I plan to hold a ceremony of promise with her. So, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t attend tomorrow’s banquet, Danae Winzer.”

“No, I will be attending. So you should hold your ceremony on another day. Tomorrow’s banquet belongs to me.”

“You still haven’t come to your senses. You clearly don’t realize that my command stands above your authority.”

“You’re right. I truly don’t understand.”

“What?”

“I said I don’t understand. Adapting to this world as you so desperately wished… I think I’ve reached my limit.”

Dana flashed a bright smile.

“I can’t adapt, Raios Grants.”

That was it. She couldn’t do it.

She would rather die than meekly surrender to Raios’s irrational demands.

“In fact, this has made things clear to me. I can never truly become a person of this world.”

For a fleeting second, Raios’s black eyes turned cold and hollow.

“Is that so?”

But it was only for a moment. Raios swept back his black hair with his usual leisurely grace.

“Then wait ninety-seven years. The Dimensional Gate will open then, and you can leave this world.”

“…….”

“Until then, do not forget that you are my subject.”

“…….”

“I’ll say it once more. Do not attend tomorrow’s banquet. Even if you do, it will only end in your humiliation, Danae.”

“…….”

“Besides, you don’t even have anyone to escort you. Isn’t that right?”

She couldn’t refute his words.

Who would dare escort ‘Danae Winzer’?

No one would have the courage.

And for good reason. Until now, Raios had systematically ruined every man who dared to approach her.

‘After acting like such a madman.’

The Crown Prince’s ferocious jealousy was famous.

Fearing they might fall victim to his wrath, the young noblemen had long since stopped even glancing at Danae.

So, there was likely no man brave enough to take on the role of her escort.

Raios was saying this precisely because he knew that fact.

He made it this way, and now he had the nerve to ask what?

You don’t even have anyone to escort you?

“Do as you please, Your Highness. I shall do the same,” Dana said coldly as she turned away. She didn’t want to exchange another single word with him. But as she was about to leave—

She stopped involuntarily.

On the side table, a flower was glowing faintly in the moonlight.

That was….

“Ah, that,” Raios said indifferently, catching her gaze.

“It’s the flower I promised to give you.”

“…….”

“Alice had a difficult time today, so I gave it to her first. I hope you understand.”

Dana stared blankly at the flower shimmering with moonlight before opening the door and walking out.

That was a Moonlight Flower.

An incredibly rare flower that grew only on the Southern Continent.

“Is there anything you want, Dana?”

When Raios had asked her that a few days ago—

“Hmm? Nothing in particular.”

“Don’t be like that, just tell me. I can give you anything you want.”

“Then please give me a single Moonlight Flower.”

And yet, it had gone to Alice.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

She didn’t actually care much for flowers or the like.

Besides, the Moonlight Flower was a variety imported exclusively by the Winzer family, so she could get one whenever she wanted if she put her mind to it.

But still….

‘He gave her the flower because Alice was having a hard time?’

You destroyed my world.

And yet, all you care about is Alice’s distress?

You’d ruin my medal ceremony just to punish me?

‘Wretched bastard. Absolute trash.’

Fury boiled within her.

The most infuriating part was that, at this rate, everything would go exactly as Raios planned.

Raios was the Crown Prince of this empire. If he willed it, her purification medal ceremony tomorrow would be cancelled without a trace.

‘No. Never. I won’t let him take it.’

To become the Vice Family Head, she needed to have a grand ceremony in front of many people.

Therefore, she intended to have that ceremony no matter what happened.

‘What should I do?’

Fortunately, an idea came to her quickly.

“My Lady.”

When she stepped outside, her waiting secretary approached her.

“I need to see His Imperial Majesty.”

“……Beg pardon?”

The secretary stared at her. His eyes seemed to ask, Have you lost your mind?

“My Lady, surely you don’t think His Majesty will stop tomorrow’s ceremony of promise?”

Perhaps he had heard the arguing inside the room. The secretary added firmly, “His Majesty won’t even grant you an audience.”

“I know. It’s fine, so you go on ahead.”

After sending the secretary back first, Dana went to find the Emperor alone.

And exactly what the secretary predicted came to pass.

“I am sorry, Lady.”

The imperial guard blocked her path resolutely.

“His Imperial Majesty has refused the audience.”

Of course.

She wasn’t surprised, as she had expected this. In fact, she would have been surprised if he had seen her.

‘The Emperor hates meeting people.’

Emperor Yustio extremely avoided personal encounters.

He only showed himself during essential state affairs.

He was famous for rejecting every single request for a private audience like this.

“Could you ask once more? Tell him Danae Winzer requests to see him.”

“Understood.”

However, a moment later, the guard returned with a frozen expression.

“There was a message from His Majesty.”

“What is it?”

“He said to get lost immediately….”

“…….”

“That is… what I was told to convey….”

The guard looked terribly embarrassed.

Dana found it almost funny.

‘I suppose blood doesn’t lie.’

Passing on harsh words was exactly the same as Raios.

“Fine, in that case….”

Dana wrote a note and handed it to the guard.

“Could you deliver this to His Imperial Majesty?”

[Your Imperial Majesty.

It seems the Moonlight Flowers will soon be in full bloom in the Imperial Palace gardens.]

A short while later.

“His, His Majesty….”

The guard approached with a bewildered face.

“He says to come inside.”

‘Just as I thought.’

She knew it would work.

“Lady Danae. His Majesty was extremely angry after checking the note….”

The guard gave her a quiet warning. Dana offered a silent smile.

‘Of course he was angry.’

That sentence just now.

It was a kind of threat, after all.

Creak. The moment she opened the door and stepped inside.

“—!”

Instantly, a cold hand clamped around her throat. Dana gasped, her breath catching.

A man who seemed to glow with a brilliant radiance stood before her.

His hand was gripped tight around her neck.

“Danae Winzer,” the Emperor whispered.

“Do you wish to die?”