Ronelia felt satisfied as she dragged Yasiris down as she pleased.
The act of humiliating a woman sitting in the highest position in the empire brought excitement.
It wasn't even a matter of making up lies.
The only thing Yasiris did in Osivia's empire, after failing to assume the duties of an empress, was to cling to the emperor.
If Yasiris denied this, she planned to tarnish her honor further by pointing out the facts.
If she admitted it, she intended to mock or taunt accordingly.
It was truly a perfect trap...
"Bumpy road, you say.
Do you know which way we might take this trip?"
This was an unexpected response.
Ignoring the sarcastic remark was one thing, but the question was completely beside the point.
“…Why do you ask?”
“I'm just curious because it's a journey I'm on.”
Was she indirectly making fun of her?
Did she mean why would she be interested if she wasn't even going?
Ronelia frowned, then her face relaxed in annoyance.
With a smile proving she was still in control, she spat out a sharp response.
“Why don’t you ask His Majesty the Emperor directly?
Oh, are you two not on good enough terms to discuss such details?”
“Yes, so it would be good for the Emperor’s wife to tell me if she knows.”
She met Yasiris calmly with her trembling turquoise eyes.
She didn't care how much Runelia belittled her.
It was nothing new, and in any case, you would never see her again.
If you successfully escape, you will not return to the palace.
If she failed, she would rather end her miserable life with her own hand than face the Emperor.
What mattered to her now was not Runelia's provocations but any information that might help her escape.
“The Emperor’s wife?”
“…Do you think I am the Empress’s maid?
You should find out such things yourself, if you are going to waste time on unnecessary talk, it is better for you to leave now.”
“What?”
“So, have a nice trip.”
Ronelia turned and quickly walked away.
She was rude to the end, acting as she pleased without waiting for a response from someone of higher status.
But this turned out to be better.
Yasaris decided to think positively, having deliberately not stopped Runelia.
Instead of trying to get help from an uncooperative Empress, it would have been better to prepare for her escape in other ways.
It seemed difficult to know the escape route right away.
First, I thought of collecting regular jewelry that can be sold anywhere.
Since actual blades can be discovered, it would be a good idea to find hairpins that can serve as makeshift weapons.
The days passed quickly while Yasiris was busy preparing for the future – one day, two days, a week.
The journey that would determine her fate was approaching in just one day.
A terrible silence filled the Emperor's office.
Even the sound of turning pages stopped long ago.
Kazan slowly spoke to the man kneeling on the ground, not even daring to breathe.
“This content... is absolutely true.”
“Yes, Your Majesty”
“Are you sure, to put the entire shadow unit on it?”
“I recorded nothing but the absolute truth, without a single error.”
Another silence.
Kazan, who had read the same page of the report dozens of times as if he had been nailed to it, closed his eyes tightly.
“Leave”
“Yes”
The man disappeared from the scene in an instant, as befits the head of the Imperial Intelligence Agency.
Alone, Kazan stood still for a moment before pressing his forehead with one hand.
"the curse."
This cannot be true.
No matter how much he denied reality, the truth in front of him had not changed.
The multi-page report began with the romantic affairs of Ysaris and Bariteon.
The rough, detailed investigation process was put in place, just as he requested.
The report detailed how their passionate love story aroused Beren's feelings, with many still remembering it with a smile only to frown in the face of reality.
Kazan already knew that by this point.
Before their marriage, he was unable to believe Yasaris' betrayal, so he conducted an investigation, which only ended in great sadness.
However, as the investigation into the origin of Bariteon's new souvenir ring deepened, shocking facts emerged.
[...In conclusion, Baritone Kiloden had a real mistress separate from Yasaris.
Due to her status as a servant and for certain undisclosed reasons, it is assumed that he and Yasiris Cernian pretended to be in love.
Since the three of them were always going on dates together, it seemed that this was agreed upon from the beginning by Yasaris Cernian…]
“Huh”
Kazan let out a sharp breath consciously.
His throat remained clogged, as if he had forgotten how to breathe.
It was a lie.
The relationship between Yasiris and Parityon was fake.
She did not betray him.
“This drives me crazy”
Kazan ran his hand over his face over and over again, his thoughts a tangled mess.
It was like unraveling one thread only to find other, more tangled parts.
She remembered Qin, and remained pure… It was as if their oath had not been violated.
So why didn't you recognize Kazan?
And what should he do now?
Kazan looked at his hand, which he had just removed from his face.
His scarred and calloused hand appeared to be bleeding in his vision.
Ffffft.
The voice of Yasiris, terrified as she clutched the man Kazan had stabbed, echoed in his ears.
Sarak-!
Kazan remembered Yasiris' wide eyes.
She seemed to be in shock, and her thoughts stopped as she stared at the severed head of her fiancé.
How did Kazan feel while watching this?
He went crazy, confronting her feelings for another man in real time.
While you were happily playing with him, I almost died countless times.
You abandoned me.
I did everything in my power to stand by your side.
I trusted you...
If you surrender without resistance, I promise to treat you generously as a vassal stateThe Winged Dragon Knights of Ozevia, known to be the strongest, descended from the sky in large numbers.
In their midst, Kazan's voice announced harshly.
“The spoils of war...”
Kazan muttered as if he was groaning.
He brought in Yasiris under this pretext and treated her accordingly.
Since she couldn't remember him anyway, he never mentioned their past, no matter how trivial it was.
He pushed her into a corner with his sense of betrayal, holding an entire country hostage so she wouldn't consider suicide or escape.
He kept telling himself it was out for revenge, but deep down, he knew the truth.
He can't live without Yasaris.
Even after being abandoned, he still needed her.
Yasiris was his reason for being.
“…Yassaris”
Kazan clenched his fist tightly.
Even in the midst of the feeling of wandering in a maze with no way out, one thing was clear.
No matter the circumstances, it was too late to repair their relationship.
Kazhan Tinilath can never be Ken Jenot again.
Revealing his true identity now would only erase the feelings Yasaris had for Kane.
The only option left for him was to win back the heart of Yasiris as Kazan,
Even though he knew she hated him.
Morning came.
The palace had been bustling with activity since the early morning, preparing to leave for the Hirti Kingdom.
Having finished her preparations early, Yasiris Kazan waited in the carriage.
It was very unfortunate that they had to travel together as a couple in the same carriage.
“Your Majesty, please return safely.
I will wait for you.”
“…I will”
Yasiris heard the familiar voice, turned her head towards the window.
She saw Ronelia and Kazan approaching the carriage, accompanied by several servants and knights.
Was it just her imagination, or was Kazan's attitude towards Runelia strangely awkward?
He seemed unable to focus on it properly.
He must feel uneasy about the impending departure.
Yasiris thought dryly and turned her gaze away.
Kazan only noticed her after opening the carriage door.
“You arrived early”
“Yes”
“Did you wait long?”
“No”
Their conversation was short and stiff.
In an endless embarrassment, Kazan got into the carriage and closed the door.
“We will leave now, Your Majesty.”
“Okay”
In response to the driver, Kazan instinctively pulled the curtains over the window.
He glanced at Yasiris, who sat upright with her eyes closed quietly.
It wasn't unusual.
They always maintained this silence whenever they traveled by carriage in Ozevia.
However, things were different now.
Kazan, wanting to improve his relationship with Yasiris, subtly called her out.
“Empress”
“Yes”
“Are you tired?”
“Yes”
The conversation ended there.
Kazan, at a loss for words for a moment, tried to communicate again.
“Didn't you sleep well last night?”
“Yes”
“Were you perhaps looking forward to the trip?”
“Yes”
Kazan closed his mouth in response to her completely indifferent answers.
He knew very well how Yasiris looked at him.
Even if she was at her best, her responses would undoubtedly be the same harsh ones.
However, he couldn't give up.
After a moment of contemplation, Kazan decided on a suitable topic and spoke again.
“Empress”
“Your Majesty”
This time, instead of answering “yes,” Yasiris called out to him.
She opened her emotionless blue eyes and stared coldly at Kazan.
“Don't worry about me.
Like you always do.”