PRKE 80

CHAPTER 80………………………………

I knew my father was ambitious, but I never expected him to take such dangerous actions!

And that wasn’t even the most shocking part.

[He thinks that even if it’s riskier than dealing with the fifth prince who’s lost his claim to the throne, it’s advantageous to ally with Kun. Did you notice how his attitude toward the fifth prince changed? He’s shaken by a comment I let slip. His aim is to secure a treaty favorable to the kingdom before Rodlacky Kun becomes Khan. For that, the crown prince is more useful than the weaker fifth prince.]

He had even set up secret maneuvers to shake both the Empire and the Kingdom behind the scenes without anyone knowing.

What if the kingdom sided with the Imperial crown prince to attack the fifth prince?

‘If the princess finds out about this, she won’t stay silent.’

Karsatuna knew, even though the fifth prince no longer had any interest in her and she hadn’t mentioned him since.

She still had feelings for the fifth prince, Giovanni.

Moreover…

‘What will happen to Igrene…?’

If the fifth prince were deposed, the royal family’s treatment of Igrene would obviously change.

Shaking herself out of her thoughts, Karsatuna exhaled deeply.

“What am I supposed to do?”

She couldn’t betray her father, nor could she unconditionally help Igrene.

One thing was certain.

Igrene was not a traitor.

The traitor was her father.

The dark, filthy prison and the princess’s pure, immaculate presence were completely at odds.

“To call me here, even though you’re a prisoner…”

Her cold expression left a bitter taste. It reminded me of the first time I saw her—her face, entirely free of shadows, showing kindness to me.

“But you came, didn’t you?”

“I was just curious what you would say last.”

“Last? Do you mean… are you planning to kill me?”

She flinched.

‘Luckily, that’s not the case.’

Princess Laratou spoke coldly.

“At least, I plan to get rid of you if you cause trouble before my eyes.”

No trace of warmth or shared memories could easily melt their frozen relationship.

‘This situation is difficult…’

I could daze people who disliked me, but I had no skill to make them like me.

“Why did you want to see me?”

“I have something to ask, and I want to apologize honestly.”

“Apologize?”

“First, about capturing the Empire’s spy by the lakeside before—I thought you were the right person for it, Princess.”

“Not the right person… just the most suitable bait, I suppose.”

The princess spoke coldly.

“At the Empire delegation’s welcome, when you saved me and treated me kindly, I didn’t know. But when I was in danger and you didn’t act until the last moment, I realized—you’re more calculating than I thought. You have the traits I dislike the most.”

Calculating, huh. She was right; I had nothing to say. I shrugged.

“At the time, I thought it was the best course. If I acted rashly out of worry, I wouldn’t have caught the spy and could have endangered you, Princess.”

“Hmph, relying on the Empire’s help, then?”

“I trusted them.”

Princess Laratou bit her lip.

I hesitated for a moment.

“And about the prince…”

“I don’t want to hear it.”

She sharply cut me off.

“I know now—he has feelings for you.”

“Excuse me?”

“So what? Are you boasting about that?”

Her unexpectedly sharp reaction left me silent.

Giovanni has feelings for me?

‘No, this is embarrassing.’

I didn’t even know what he was thinking. If he truly liked me…

For a moment, I almost forgot Princess Laratou was there. I cleared my mind quickly.

Anyway, such topics would not help.

What I could do, what could untangle this twisted relationship, was simply to convey my true feelings.

“I never intended to upset you, Princess.”

“….”

“When I first saw you, I was just happy and flustered.”

Even in the shadows, Princess Laratou’s noble presence could not be hidden as she stared at me.

“I’m the child of thieves and swindlers, and I’ve served others my whole life. When someone like you invited me and treated me well, I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to be hated.”

I shrugged.

“In the end, things turned out this way, but I do not dislike you, Princess. I want you to be happy. Truly.”

“….”

Princess Laratou remained silent for a long while. I also said nothing.

If she had been like the nobles I knew, I would never have expressed such naive sincerity.

But from what I had seen, even as a royal, she was somewhat spoiled and willful, yet capable of compassion. That’s why I spoke.

Time passed.

“Was that all you wanted to say?”

“….”

“I thought you’d tell me not to be swayed by Aris Dolencia and just trust yourself.”

Her voice was cold.

I listened quietly. I wanted to resolve the twisted relationship to improve my situation, but she was also on my mind.

“Wishing happiness—well, that’s not just from you; it’s the hope of the entire kingdom.”

“….”

“Since we share some bond, I won’t execute you. But be prepared that you won’t set foot on the kingdom’s land. The crime of conspiring with a spy is serious.”

I said one thing after her as she turned to leave.

“I never conspired with a spy.”

The guard opened the door. Princess Laratou walked toward the sunlight flooding in.

A faint voice drifted back.

“That… I can’t say for certain.”

When the door closed, I let out a sigh.

I knew a few words couldn’t untangle this relationship.

‘At least I learned she definitely doesn’t plan to kill me. That’s something.’

That night, I was given an exile order.

The destination was land near the kingdom, part of the desert.

Giovanni was reading a letter from the Empire. Kitchef craned his neck, curious.

“What does Licia say?”

The yellowed letter contained a brief message in the wizard’s signature winding script.

“She says none of the items I sent gave off any special aura.”

“None at all?”

“Yes.”

They had sent many items from the kingdom to the desert while staying there—everything from aquamarine, the priest’s symbol, fragments of temples, and statues of the water god. Anything that might be linked to the kingdom’s secrets went to the desert, and yet none of them showed anything.

“Does the kingdom’s sacred relic even exist?”

Giovanni replied to Kitchef’s disappointed voice.

“Licia is certain it does.”

“But now, the only place left is inside the palace. Even for her, it will be difficult to intrude there.”

“Perhaps. Or perhaps the kingdom’s sacred relic isn’t an object at all.”

“Excuse me?”

Giovanni tapped the letter.

“Licia’s reaction to the items I sent was indifferent.”

“….”

“She doesn’t even consider them sacred.”

“Then why didn’t she tell me earlier?”

“I can’t know her thoughts.”

“Such a quirky sorceress.”

“If the kingdom’s sacred relic isn’t an object, it must be a person—the priest.”

Kitchef groaned.

“It would be better to just steal a relic outright.”

If the kingdom’s secret is the priest himself, the Empire cannot steal it.

Giovanni nodded, looking down at the letter.

“Why do you look like that? Did Licia say something else irritating?”

[Every step you take leads to the Emperor’s path.]

This was what she said before Giovanni left the Empire.

Though considered too old and senile by many, now that all the other wizards had left for the Wizard’s Tower, she was the Empire’s last remaining wizard.

No matter her age or senility, her words were feared.

“Unusual, you’re worrying normally.”

“Worrying?”

“She says the desert has been left unattended too long.”

Kitchef immediately nodded.

“It’s true that our stay in the kingdom is longer than expected.”

He glanced around, then continued.

“If you can locate the kingdom’s sacred relic, fine—but if not, perhaps you should return to the Empire. Your brothers are worried.”

“….”

“The king is no longer favorable toward us, and in the Empire, Kun is oppressing your brothers. There’s no reason to stay here any longer.”

“Now is the only chance to find the secret of water.”

“But if you miss the timing, you’ll lose your brothers.”

Giovanni remained silent. Kitchef felt uneasy and frustrated.

While he understood Giovanni’s desire to acquire the water secret and bring the water’s blessing to the Empire, it was also important to be wary of Kun.

If the Empire’s leaders fell under Rodlacky’s influence, Giovanni’s position would be greatly weakened.

Kitchef fretted, but Giovanni’s expression remained unreadable.

“That woman…”

“Yes?”

“Is Igrene still in prison?”

Kitchef hesitated, still unused to hearing that name from Giovanni.

“It would be better to give up on her. The situation isn’t good; she’s even been exiled.”

“Exiled?”

Giovanni’s gaze shifted to Kitchef.

Raising his eyebrows in question, Kitchef nodded.

“It seems she’s been ordered to wait on land near the kingdom until the remaining assassins are caught. As long as the assassins aren’t insane, she’ll hide her location, so returning to the kingdom will be difficult.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me this?”