Chapter 1
The dampness creeping up from the soaked ground made it hard to breathe.
Each time she pulled her foot free from the muddy earth, an unpleasant sensation crawled up her body.
But she couldn’t stop.
Even as the hem of her linen dress became so filthy its original color was impossible to recognize, even as her shoes were ruined beyond repair, she couldn’t stop.
Her entire body burned as though scorched by fire. Strength gradually drained from her legs. Her consciousness began to blur, forcing her to hide behind the trunk of the largest tree she could find.
Elthia removed the cloth that had been covering her face and caught her breath.
Keeping an eye on the path behind her in case someone was chasing her, she sank to the ground and wiped away the moisture on her face.
The white cloth slowly turned crimson.
Did I get scratched while struggling?
After recalling the moment for a brief second, she forced herself back to her feet.
“Find the Empress, Elthia Bell Grunui!”
“She couldn’t have gotten far! Search every inch of the area!”
Deep voices echoed throughout the dense forest.
They were the private soldiers of the Laurel Empire.
I didn’t think they’d realize so quickly… Yet they managed to chase me all the way here.
Elthia bit her lip.
Only after the pounding rain gradually drowned out the voices searching for her did she gather every last ounce of strength and run, constantly hiding wherever she could so they wouldn’t spot her.
She knew that one day she would close her eyes forever.
But at least…
Not here.
Not now.
After running until she could no longer feel her legs, Elthia spotted an abandoned house and came to a stop.
Can I really go inside?
But the dozens of torches that soon appeared in the distance left her no time to hesitate.
She immediately opened the door.
“…Is anyone here?”
It was a meaningless question.
The old, shabby house looked as though no one could possibly live there.
Yet the interior wasn’t empty. There was a bed and a few pieces of furniture arranged inside.
Elthia quietly sat on the floor beneath the bed and let out a shallow breath.
She couldn’t bring herself to sit on a bed that belonged to someone else.
A fierce thirst welled up inside her, but she endured it.
There was no way a place like this would have anything to drink.
And even if it did, she couldn’t simply help herself.
Biting down on her lip, Elthia lowered her gaze.
She stared at her torn glove, where ripped fabric exposed the flesh beneath.
Just then…
The old door creaked open.
Without even having time to gasp, she found herself face-to-face with someone who had just stepped inside.
It was too dark to see clearly, but the figure was a young man with a rather small build.
His slender frame made him look closer to a boy than a grown adult.
“Who are you?”
A voice filled with caution cut through the brief silence.
So… he’s the owner of this house.
Elthia was so startled that no words came out.
The boy, seemingly irritated by her silence, walked closer.
“I asked who you are.”
His icy voice scraped against her ears.
“…I’m sorry. I had no choice because of my circumstances…”
“Are you from the Imperial Palace?”
Her breath caught in her throat.
She didn’t even need to see his expression.
She knew he was probably looking at her with the same eyes Edwin had.
Eyes filled with disgust.
“…No.”
The boy raised an eyebrow ever so slightly.
Afraid her first lie would be too obvious, Elthia avoided his gaze.
“I’m a commoner who was wrongly imprisoned. I’m being chased, so I had no choice but to hide here.”
She had lied about who she was.
But the part about being pursued was true, which eased her guilt ever so slightly.
When the boy remained silent, Elthia continued.
“…I was imprisoned after being falsely accused of murder.”
Her thoughts drifted back to what had happened only three days earlier.
“Oh my, Her Majesty the Empress has actually come to today’s banquet.”
Erika approached Elthia with a smiling face.
She was Edwin’s favored concubine.
Despite Elthia’s title as the lawful Empress, Erika was the woman the Emperor truly loved.
Though she was the daughter of a fallen kingdom, Erika’s breathtaking beauty had instantly captured Edwin’s heart.
“What brings the Empress all the way here today?”
Edwin appeared in the banquet hall and casually wrapped an arm around Erika’s waist.
With so many people watching, his actions were more than enough to cause a scandal.
As if deliberately reminding everyone how little respect the Empress received, he openly kissed Erika on the cheek before everyone’s eyes.
It was enough to make Elthia feel utterly humiliated.
“…I didn’t have any sewing work today.”
She spent her days in the Imperial Palace doing nothing but sewing, eating cold meals, and living no differently from a servant.
Yet…
She had been content with even that.
She never expected warmth from Edwin.
She never hoped for his concern.
It had been enough if he simply visited her from time to time.
At least…
Until she was imprisoned in Erika’s place for a crime she hadn’t committed.
That night, Elthia had encountered Erika in the rear garden by a small pond.
Erika’s hands were drenched in blood, though she pretended nothing had happened.
Lying cold and motionless at the bottom of the pond was a young woman.
She had only recently entered the palace through the recommendation of several ministers.
She was also the daughter of a duke.
No matter how favored Erika was by the Emperor, killing the daughter of a ducal house was not something she could escape punishment for.
Yet even after seeing Elthia, Erika neither panicked nor looked afraid.
She simply smiled.
Then pointed at the corpse.
She wanted Elthia to dispose of it.
Grinding her teeth, Elthia covered the body with a cloth and carried it away.
Erika followed behind her before leaning close and whispering into her ear.
“Can you save her?”
“…What do you mean?”
“You have quite an extraordinary ability, don’t you?”
Her mocking tone suggested, Surely you can do at least this much.
Elthia slowly shook her head.
“It doesn’t work on someone who’s already dead.”
“Really? That’s such a shame.”
The smile curling across Erika’s lips made her seem more vicious than anyone Elthia had ever known.
Watching Elthia tremble before turning away, Erika softly whispered one final sentence.
“Thank you.”
Elthia never imagined that those words of gratitude were meant for the fact that she would be the one dragged away in chains the following morning.
“Stay quiet for one month. I’ll let you out afterward.”
Edwin knew everything.
Yet he imprisoned Elthia instead of Erika.
Then, at a secret trial attended only by high-ranking officials of the Imperial Court, her name was called.
“Elthia von Peter.”
After marriage, a woman took her husband’s family name.
So being called “Elthia von Peter” instead of “Elthia Bell Grunui” was technically correct.
Yet every word that left the judge’s mouth sounded strangely unfamiliar.
“The defendant is charged with mur—”
She couldn’t hear the rest.
She could barely remain standing as her mind reeled.
“Her Majesty the Empress only committed murder accidentally while trying to save me. I beg you to show her mercy.”
Erika’s tearful plea echoed through the courtroom.
Thanks to the schemes of those two people, Elthia was branded a murderer in an instant.
Standing beside Edwin with a sorrowful expression, Erika looked unbearably hypocritical.
As Elthia forced herself to walk away on unsteady feet, she heard someone consoling the father who had lost his daughter.
“I hope you can forgive the foolish actions of our jealous Empress.”
Nothing remained…
Except despair.
Returning from that painful memory, Elthia slowly opened her tightly shut eyes.
The boy still hadn’t lowered his guard.
“I’m Chloe.”
“I don’t have a family name.”
After a long silence, the boy finally let out a quiet sigh and introduced himself.
“I’m Heinz.”
Heinz…
Elthia silently repeated his name to herself.
“Only for tonight. Once those people from the Imperial Palace leave…”
Before Heinz could finish, Elthia hurriedly nodded.
“Ah… yes. Of course.”
Lighting a small oil lamp, Heinz crouched beside a bookshelf and searched underneath it.
A moment later, he returned carrying several medicinal herbs and strips of coarse hemp cloth.
He handed them to the bewildered Elthia.
“Treat your hands and legs.”
Only then did Elthia notice blood welling from the wounds on her legs, which had begun stinging the moment he mentioned them.
“Thank you.”
His words had been blunt, but she was genuinely grateful that he had cared enough to help.
Pretending not to hear her gratitude, Heinz turned to wash up.
Then…
A loud knock echoed from the front door.
Elthia froze, unable even to breathe.
Heinz silently gestured for her to hide beneath the bed before opening the door.
“Who is it?”
“I am Briand, aide to His Majesty the Emperor.”
Introducing himself, Briand swept a sharp, searching gaze across the inside of the room.
