EYRTHMB 05

5. The Road to You
2023.11.05

Ian Kamel Aksen Favenheim.

He was the son of the empire’s least favored fourth empress. Among the princes, his position in the power hierarchy had always been at the very bottom.

Even though he possessed genius-level swordsmanship and an extraordinary intellect, he pretended to be ignorant, to be weak, to quietly hide and go unnoticed.

But when the emperor’s illness worsened, the princes all rushed into political conflict, each vying for the throne.

Unsurprisingly, he was the first to be trampled.

A weed that hinders growth must be pulled out before it grows larger. When Ian turned thirteen, he was handed over to a slave trader, as if sold off.

It was the gravest mistake those blinded by power had overlooked.

Eight years later.

The boy who had neither strength, support, nor influence returned, walking a path carved with blood.

His eyes, having endured mud and suffering in a distant foreign land, no longer belonged to the naive boy of eight years ago.

Ian knew exactly how much power he wielded—and how to use it. He measured when to retreat and when to push forward, creating opportunities, advancing one step at a time.

⌜I’ve truly missed you, brothers.⌟

The brothers’ heads fell one by one, the throne was rebuilt over a sea of blood, and finally, he donned the stained crown he had written for himself. His return ended in perfect conquest.

It had been a long-prepared slaughter. Yet he did not reign by force alone. His skill in creating loyal allies was unmatched.

‘Whenever I confronted His Majesty’s true intent, there was never much I could do.’

Throughout the long journey back to the palace, those willing to follow him with their lives formed a line behind him. Even Dion Cedric, now his chief advisor, had been ensnared during that journey.

If Ian had pointed a sword at him, Dion would have trembled—but willingly offered his neck, trusting there must be a reason.

Even five years after ascending the throne, that had never changed.

Knowing this well himself, Dion tried to remain calm as he asked,

“Your journey… do you mean a vacation? If so, I can prepare the villa in Jerden City for your stay.”

“No. Further.”

“Then perhaps the coastal Doha region…?”

“To the Instantia Empire. Immediately.”

The Eastern Empire’s Instantia was geographically and diplomatically quite distant.

After the previous emperor had pursued aggressive territorial expansion, a peace treaty was signed under the pretense of establishing diplomatic relations—but that was all.

The small kingdoms caught between the continents could only be thankful for the rough straits dividing them. For both trade and diplomatic matters, the unspoken rule had always been to avoid entangling across the continents.

And now, Ian was going there.

‘Two surprises in a row is a bit much!’

From the moment the first bomb dropped, Dion had been quietly compiling a list called “(Annoying) His Majesty’s Caprices,” but the second bomb shredded it to pieces.

It wasn’t a joke. Their emperor, who could not tolerate even a hint of flexibility, never spoke idle words.

Dion exhaled a heavy sigh and accepted the order.

“I’ll prepare as quickly as possible, but gathering tributes and envoys will take considerable time.”

“Then we go quietly, unnoticed. With Eden’s guidance, we can cross the strait without alerting anyone.”

“…I didn’t quite hear you?”

“How can the advisor to a nation’s ruler be so dull? I said stealth.”

Dion’s face, once pale but tolerable, turned a shade of blue so pitiable it was almost comical.

Previously, Ian had ordered a complete map of Northern Instantia, as if a treasure chest had been buried there.

Now, with the chaotic period passed and the political situation stable, such reckless actions were unprecedented.

“Your Majesty, please reconsider. If discovered, not only your dignity but the repercussions for Rehalt could be severe.”

“Always so cautious. Can I not even take a vacation? Besides, if you keep your mouth shut, it’ll be harder to be discovered.”

Dion opened his mouth to protest further, but Ian rose, allowing no argument.

“We leave tonight. Get up. Heidi will handle my absence, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

He draped his coat over one shoulder and strode toward the door.

At that moment, Heidi, who had quietly appeared, naturally added,

“Yes, Dion. Don’t worry—go prepare the luggage. Remember, I often acted as regent when our brother was on the battlefield. More than once, mind you. And I think I was a pretty capable ruler, if I say so myself.”

“That was unavoidable at the time. But if something unexpected happens and the return is delayed, what then?”

“This is unavoidable too. Anyway, there’s plenty of ways to pass the time, so don’t worry. You worry too much.”

“And Your Majesty worries too little! How am I supposed not to worry!”

Dion shouted anxiously, but Ian dismissed it lightly. Passing Heidi, he placed a hand on her shoulder.

“I’ll try to return within three months.”

“Why such hurry? Thirty years wouldn’t matter.”

Heidi flicked Ian’s hand away and smiled, perching on the edge of the desk as if it were her own.

“Now this desk is mine? Ugh, so drab. Your taste in aesthetics never matches mine. I’ll be sitting here for at least thirty years, so I better change the desk first.”

There was only one person in the room frowning.

The poor advisor pressed his throbbing temples. Seeing how perfectly they got along, it seemed this had been plotted for quite some time.

Ian had already left the room. Dion exhaled in a dull, heavy sigh.

Heidi approached, gathering Dion’s coat and patting his back—not so much comforting him as urging him to move along.

“Your Majesty…”

Dion looked at her like a drenched puppy, but Heidi shook her head firmly.

Dragged toward the door by her insistence, he asked,

“Your Majesty, please be honest. Why are you going? Could it be… Belzebuth—”

“That, and something else as well.”

“But why didn’t you give me a hint?”

“I knew you’d be hopping mad like a grasshopper. At least you know now, before we leave. Isn’t that enough? I didn’t leave you behind, did I?”

Dion showed mild annoyance but eventually accepted it.

“Since it’s already happened, I won’t question further… but what do you mean by ‘something else’?”

“Hmm… technically, it’s Belze-related, but explaining fully would take too long. I just need to find someone.”

“Who on earth requires you to go all the way to the Eastern Empire…?”

Heidi stopped abruptly at the door. Seeing Dion’s confused look, she pushed him outside.

“It’s just something, though our brother denies it, I’m sure of it.”

“W-what is?”

Dion stumbled to balance himself as Heidi stepped out and closed the double doors behind him.

Humming a short tune, she turned and smiled slyly.

“Do you think someone can occupy your thoughts for over ten years?”

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While everyone slept, secret movements stirred behind the palace.

A black-clad group disguised as commoners moved swiftly by the faint light of a single lantern—elite knights accompanying Ian on his journey.

Heidi, who had dragged Dion like luggage, was among them. She briefly waved to Ian atop his horse.

“Take care. And if necessary, you don’t have to return.”

“Feels like leaving a fish with a cat.”

“You know me—I’m perfect in many ways, right? From every angle, the throne suits me best.”

“Long preamble. What’s your point?”

Heidi’s smile, persistent on her lips, stretched into a sly grin.

“So, if you don’t want it taken, make sure you find your first love and come back.”

“I’ve told you several times, I’m just repaying a debt.”

“Then why does it feel like you’re going after a lover, not a benefactor?”

Ian smirked at Heidi, who was still teasing. The invisible tension between them left Dion looking even more pale from a distance.

“You worry about your brother embarking on a long journey. I take it as not wanting to return your beloved Helios.”

“Are you joking?”

“I honestly don’t care about the throne. It’s tiring. I might as well leave the world behind and never return.”

Defeated once more, Heidi pouted.

“Fine, fine. Don’t be petty over a little joke from your only sibling.”

Grumbling, she checked the saddle again. Stroking Helios’ side, the horse purred in contentment.

She handed Ian the reins.

“Whether you repay a debt or seek love, make sure you do it properly. I know not a second of your journey here has been wasted.”

Her face mixed expectation, worry, and slight impatience.

Ian turned his gaze away, murmuring as if to himself,

“Don’t worry. I will find her.”

With that, Ian spurred his horse, and the black silhouettes gradually faded into the distance.

As the cityscape dimmed and the wilderness opened before him, he looked up at the sky.

A pitch-black night, without even a faint glimmer. The night he had to part from her once before had been exactly like this.

‘Helena. I’m finally coming to you.’

Three weeks before she announced her divorce in Everageil, secret waves stirred across the western continent.