Chapter 10
I widened my eyes and looked at Kabala, caught off guard by her unexpected words.
In that moment, the chilling air of the Empress’s palace seemed to separate the two of us. I instinctively recoiled.
Even though the Empress’s palace wasn’t in the shadow lands, I always felt a strange coldness every time I came here. It made me feel uneasy.
Kabala approached me with her characteristically elegant steps and sat very close beside me.
“Chloe,”
She called my name sweetly and held both my hands.
Her hands were cold. From where she touched me, goosebumps spread up my arms to my shoulders.
I had to fight the instinct to pull away from her touch.
“You have an important task to do.”
“W-What do you mean…?”
My voice trailed off timidly. I had been working hard to break that habit recently, but in front of Kabala, my old habits came rushing back.
Kabala smiled sorrowfully, her expression full of concern and pity.
“You’ve heard of Ronhaim, haven’t you, Chloe?”
“I don’t know much…”
Not knowing her intention, I purposely answered naively.
Then Kabala kindly and warmly explained the relationship between Ronhaim and Arental.
“Ronhaim is a region that Arental’s emperors have been trying to subjugate for hundreds of years. We’ve made great sacrifices for those poor people of Ronhaim.”
“…”
“For years, the people of Ronhaim lived uncivilized lives outside of modern culture, and we’ve brought them Arental’s beautiful culture to help them live like proper people.”
It sounded as if Arental had conquered Ronhaim in some holy mission to bring humanity to savages.
Such noble causes are always used to justify conquest.
After all, an emperor can’t declare war and shout, “Young men! While I sit in the palace enjoying myself, go fight and die for my greed!”
Kabala, seemingly caught up in this noble cause, let out a heavy sigh, her expression filled with worry.
“But those ignorant and pitiful people still don’t realize what a valuable gift they’ve received from the Arental Empire.”
“I see…”
“The old rulers still hiding in that region try to reclaim Ronhaim whenever they get the chance. It’s cruel to the people there. They’ll be forced to live like beasts again.”
Kabala gripped my hands tighter.
“That’s why, Chloe. Your father and I have decided to entrust you with an important responsibility for those unfortunate people.”
“W-What responsibility…?”
“Marquis Rodrian, the governor of Ronhaim, has sent a marriage proposal. Go to Ronhaim with him.”
“You want me to m-marry him?”
After such a long preamble, her words ended up delivering exactly the result I had desperately wanted. I was so happy I almost bit my tongue.
Perhaps my stuttering sounded different to her because she looked at me pitifully and gently patted my hair.
“It’s a political marriage. You’re going there as Marquis Rodrian’s observer. We’re not abandoning you there forever.”
“Observer…?”
“We made Rodrian governor precisely because he’s from the old royal family of Ronhaim. We feared the people would revolt if we replaced their ruler too soon after the war.”
“…”
“But now, there are rumors that Marquis Rodrian is resisting Arental’s rule and preparing for Ronhaim’s independence. If that’s true, we’ll have grounds to replace him.”
In other words, she wanted me to go and confirm whether Kallius was really preparing for war.
They were going to plant me as a spy in Ronhaim to create an excuse to eliminate Kallius.
I deliberately trembled and put on a frightened expression.
“D-Do you think I can really do it…?”
“All you have to do is report Marquis Rodrian’s every move back to me. Can you do that?”
“Yes… I-I’ll try.”
“As a member of the imperial family, you must carry out your duty, Chloe.”
Kabala spoke firmly, then smiled gently at me.
“My dear child… this mother’s heart is heavy, sending you off on such a long journey.”
Then she pulled me into a hug.
I froze, startled.
It was the first time this had ever happened. Not even in my previous life had Kabala hugged me so warmly.
Since my birth mother died when I was seven, no one had ever embraced me like this — no one except Kall.
The strong perfume from Kabala made my head spin.
Kabala was in league with Andrea. And Andrea had killed me. There was no way Kabala wasn’t part of it. Andrea was her puppet.
Even knowing all this, I was almost moved to tears by how warm and comforting her arms felt.
That motherly love I had so desperately yearned for in the past…
Even this fake affection felt sweet because I was so starved for it.
Kabala had seen right through that weakness in me.
I bit my lip hard enough to draw blood.
Get a grip, Chloe.
I had been through too much to be fooled by such sweet words and actions.
But Kabala kept trying to shake me.
“Don’t worry. This mother will bring you back soon.”
She gently stroked my cheek.
“You’ve been my daughter for so long, Chloe. My child, I won’t let you suffer for long.”
Her affectionate voice pierced the loneliness I had carried for so long.
I shut my eyes tightly.
A tear rolled down my cheek.
Even this… could be fake.
If I hadn’t experienced that miserable death, I might never have escaped from Kabala’s grasp.
This time, it’s your turn. Let’s see how you like being the one manipulated.
I opened my tear-filled eyes and looked directly at Kabala.
“I will obey Mother’s wishes. But I have one request.”
* * *
Right after Chloe left the Empress’s palace, Dneph appeared before Kabala as if he had been waiting.
“You’re really going to send the princess to Ronhaim, sister?”
Kabala stood by the window, watching Chloe’s figure disappear down the corridor, then smiled.
Her crimson lips formed a beautifully painted curve.
“If we’re going to plant someone at Rodrian’s side, there’s no better method.”
Dneph silently watched her profile for a moment.
Sensing his gaze, Kabala turned to face him. Their eyes locked with an odd intensity.
Dneph broke the silence with a knowing smile.
“Do you think the princess will follow orders?”
Kabala scoffed.
“That foolish girl is good for nothing. She’ll just tremble in fear. I’ll assign one of my own to keep an eye on her.”
“But what was the request she made just now?”
“Oh, that?”
Kabala shrugged and chuckled.
“She asked for a trading guild and some land as a wedding gift.”
“What? Isn’t that a bit demanding? And you agreed?”
Kabala laughed in amusement.
“She asked for the guild that used to belong to the Empress, and the most useless wasteland. Foolish girl. Of all the things she could’ve asked for, she chose a failing guild and a barren territory.”
Her tone suggested those things were worthless enough to give away without regret.
“It’s annoying to see her scrambling to claim something for herself in front of me, but let’s call it a farewell gift.”
Dneph nodded.
“So what do you plan to do with her?”
Kabala looked down at her palm.
Glowing red symbols faintly lit up her skin — the same hand that had held Chloe’s for so long.
“I cursed her.”
The blood-colored glow soon vanished beneath her skin.
“Once she finds the key to the sacred relic, Chloe will die in Ronhaim, unable to survive the cold.”
Her alluring smile deepened into something dark and chilling.
“She’s far too delicate to survive in a place like that.”
* * *
After meeting with Kabala, my marriage to Kallius was finalized in the blink of an eye.
I heard that Viscount Pelsus, suddenly discarded, caused quite a scene at the palace.
Since I never had a say in the engagement or the breakup, I didn’t feel the need to get involved.
Kabala seemed to have taken care of the matter nicely.
I’ve finally gotten rid of Viscount Pelsus.
I was so happy I almost cried.
I changed the future.
I felt exhilarated.
My actions could change fate — that was a certainty now.
I had saved myself from the depths of hell.
And I got the Seged Guild and the Rosendal territory.
Kabala had thought them useless and gave them to me easily.
They might seem worthless now…
But in the near future, their value would skyrocket — more than a thousandfold.
When that time comes, Kabala will cry tears of blood, regretting she gave them up so easily.
Just wait. It’s coming.
A smile crept across my face.
This wasn’t just about revenge anymore.
For the first time, I felt a different kind of motivation burning inside me — a new drive to act.
And so, I planned a new adventure.
Before I leave, I’ll steal a treasure from the palace.
I may have secured the guild and land, but that income would come later. I needed funds I could use immediately upon arriving in Ronhaim.
And I knew exactly where the royal family’s most valuable treasures were stored.
Kabala’s treasure vault.
That’s where all the good stuff was.
I had no loyal followers, no physical strength, and no freedom to roam the palace.
But I had one incredible weapon.
I know the future.
And that alone could overcome all my weaknesses.
I knew — a great opportunity was coming soon.
