Chapter 28
After that, everything was simple.
Sensing defeat, the kingdom repeatedly sent knights to persuade the emperor, and that day was no exception. The scheduled knight, Calis, visited the emperor’s tent. With a dying voice, he begged for his life and the kingdom to be spared.
A pathetic plea devoid of any knightly pride. It seemed even Calis himself knew his request would be futile.
Under normal circumstances, Kuhn would have dismissed such a plea immediately.
But today was different.
The emperor accepted Calis’s request without hesitation.
Even Calis himself seemed confused and asked again to confirm. After receiving affirmation, he left the tent in a daze.
The next day, King Valont hurried to meet Kuhn, wanting to confirm whether his knight had truly delivered accurate news.
Coincidentally—or perhaps not—Kuhn maintained the same stance.
There, the two nations successfully negotiated and declared the end of the war.
Furthermore, they formed an alliance.
From now on, the two countries would not wage war against each other but would maintain peace and increase exchanges.
Additionally, the emperor promised to fully compensate for the losses suffered by both the empire and the kingdom due to the war.
For the Kingdom of Valont, these were perfect terms—better than they could have hoped for.
When news of the war’s end spread across the empire, it caused a great stir.
At first, people dismissed it as low-quality gossip, but as their children gradually returned home, they began to believe it.
Contrary to Kuhn’s expectations, the backlash wasn’t severe.
The empire already held dominance over the world, and many felt there was no need to continue shedding blood through war.
Of course, the nobles who had hoped to increase their profits were dissatisfied.
But as time passed, the empire gradually returned to normal.
Kuhn was no exception.
He pulled himself together from his complacency and returned to his original self—the perfect emperor, feared by all yet revered by the empire.
He dealt with the backlog of work piled up during the war. The reports he handled alone could easily fill several books.
And yet, every night, someone came to mind.
When he looked at the pale glow of dawn, he thought of someone who shone even more beautifully than that light.
Once a little more time passes… once the kingdom becomes more stable… I will go there.
It was during this period of patience, which he considered a form of consideration.
“Your Majesty.”
The once silent office, filled only with the sound of pen and paper, was finally interrupted.
At Dylan’s voice, Kuhn’s focus broke. He removed his glasses and permitted him to enter.
“I hope what you’re holding isn’t more paperwork I have to redo.”
“Unfortunately, it isn’t.”
Dylan replied cheekily, handing over an envelope.
Inside was a letter.
“It’s from King Valont.”
The seal bore the kingdom’s emblem.
“The knight who made the peace treaty possible is getting married. To celebrate both the end of the war and the knight’s wedding, they’re inviting you to the royal palace. But isn’t it improper to invite Your Majesty to a mere knight’s wedding?”
“They’re reminding us not to forget our alliance. One never knows when we might break our oath and attack.”
Calis Arhen.
Publicly, he was known as the knight who persuaded the emperor to end the war. Since a justification was needed, it was concluded that the emperor had been convinced by the knight.
That puppet of a hero had become a legendary figure in the kingdom.
“If you had any conscience, you’d show some humility… yet he eagerly took all the credit.”
“A fallen noble marrying a princess… quite the Cinderella story.”
“Will you go?”
“They went as far as sending a letter to personally invite me. I should at least show my face.”
He acted as if it were out of generosity, but his true intention was different.
There was someone in that kingdom he needed to meet.
And since it was a royal wedding, he would surely see her.
Accepting the invitation, Kuhn set out for the kingdom.
He didn’t even think about the knight’s bride—the future “Cinderella” of the kingdom.
His mind was filled only with anticipation of seeing the woman who had turned him into a lovestruck boy.
“Do you vow to love the groom forever?”
A vow that no wedding could omit.
A promise before God.
It was merely a customary ritual, yet Kuhn wanted to tear the priest’s mouth apart as he spoke those words.
The woman in the pure white dress looked like an angel.
The bride was adorned with jewels and extravagant ornaments, but what truly captivated everyone was her face.
Kuhn had rushed here to see the princess.
And whether fortunate or unfortunate, she stood right before him.
Unfortunate.
Peace…
Kuhn quietly watched Chloe.
Holding a bouquet, she stood there alone, her expression subtly unfitting for a bride.
Knowing the circumstances of their marriage, Kuhn could guess how things had unfolded.
To think that her devotion to the one she loved would end in this marriage—
It was not just pitiful, but infuriating.
Is this the peace you wanted?
He wanted to stand up, walk forward boldly, grab her wrist, and leave the church.
The consequences would be severe—but manageable.
Even if everything came to light…
Even if his reputation crumbled…
He didn’t care.
“I vow.”
If only he hadn’t seen her face as she lifted her head.
If only he hadn’t read the way she looked at Calis.
Her cheeks slightly flushed.
The shy expression she tried—and failed—to hide.
“…Groom, do you vow to love the bride forever?”
It was unmistakably the face of a woman in love.
As soon as the wedding ended, Kuhn returned to the empire.
“Your Majesty, are you alright? You don’t look well.”
“I’m not.”
He answered immediately.
“So let’s return to the empire as quickly as possible. Just breathing in this filthy land disgusts me.”
At his harsh tone, Dylan fell silent.
Normally, he would have joked again—but not this time.
I’ve gained nothing and lost everything.
He had been willing to lose everything for her—
Yet that knight had gained everything without lifting a finger and had stolen even his last hope.
I chose the wrong person. I should have picked a different knight. If only I had waited one more day…
Kuhn gritted his teeth.
He should never have given Calis that opportunity.
No—no matter who it was, they would have ended up by Chloe’s side.
He should have declared the end of the war himself.
No—he should have conquered the kingdom and taken the princess.
No—he should never have loved Chloe.
No…
…no…
His self-reproach soon came to an end.
This is pathetic.
For days on the way back, his mood remained foul.
Even after returning, thoughts of her would occasionally make his anger surge—but he was too busy to dwell on it.
Gradually, he calmed down.
And began to think rationally.
No matter what, Chloe loved Calis.
Even if it was one-sided, if that was her happiness, Kuhn could not interfere.
As a final measure, he planted a spy in the Arhen duchy to check on her from afar.
The reports that came monthly were miserable.
A princess being treated poorly in such a place.
And yet, Chloe endured everything.
Then one day, the spy brought shocking news.
Calis had brought another woman—Helena—into the duchy.
The princess is truly pitiful.
Now she was completely alone.
The king, fearing Calis’s rising power, had essentially traded away the princess and her title.
There was no way such a matter would lead to a divorce.
If I reach out now…
Now, there was no one by her side.
Now… would she take my hand?
His closed eyes suddenly opened.
The red eyes that appeared scanned the surroundings.
The figure that had just delighted his sight was gone.
Only half-eaten crackers and two glasses remained.
Kuhn stood up—not to go to bed.
He ran to the door.
His silk robe slipped as he moved quickly, but he didn’t care.
He rushed down the hallway—
And finally found her.
Crying alone in some unknown place, mindful even of unconscious maids.
Only then did the tension leave his body.
His ragged breath slowly calmed.
Kuhn approached silently.
Then knelt before her.
“Princess.”
At that word, Chloe lifted her head.
Confusion filled her eyes again.
As if she couldn’t understand why she was being called that.
But no matter when, Kuhn could never answer that.
How could she understand that he refused to acknowledge her as someone else’s wife?
“Do you still love the duke?”
She shook her head quickly, still trying to stop her tears.
“That’s a relief.”
He would have preferred to hear it, but this was enough.
That small gesture alone erased the darkness that had consumed him for a year.
With a rare bright smile, he extended his hand.
“Get up, Princess.”
“……”
“Let’s go home.”
