TLDOWN 44

CHAPTER 44…….

It’s Been a While

All through breakfast, Lea kept sneaking glances at Akkia. That strange dream she had that day—turns out it wasn’t just a dream.

Her cheeks burned again at the thought that it had been reality, not just a product of frustration.

“I can’t look him in the face…”

She was staring fixedly at her tableware when—

“Lea. Are you listening?”

“Y–yes?!”

Startled by Akkia’s voice calling her name, Lea jumped and answered nervously.

“As soon as we finish eating, we have to head straight to the Imperial Palace.”

“Oh. Yes. Have a safe trip.”

At the mention that the Duke was going to the palace, Lea brightened.

“Thank goodness.”

She had been so on edge about living under the same roof with him, wondering how to get away for a while. But if the Duke was going out himself, that would solve it.

However, her hopes were crushed once again.

“What are you talking about? You’re coming with me.”

“……Me too?”

“Why? You don’t want to?”

The words “Yes, I don’t! I really don’t!” rose to the tip of her tongue, but she forced a smile.

“No, of course not. Hahaha.”

What choice did she have? When the boss says jump, you jump.

And so, after finishing breakfast, the two headed straight for the palace. After some time, the carriage slowed, then came to a stop.

“We’ve arrived.”

Akkia gestured to Lea, who sat dazed in the carriage, to step out. She followed him out the door opened by the coachman and walked into the palace.

Before long, a servant of the palace stood before them.

“Your Grace, you must be weary from your long journey.”

Acknowledging the bow, Akkia nodded.

“Let us proceed to the Audience Hall.”

Just as they were about to follow, the servant stopped Lea.

“From here on, only those granted permission by His Majesty may enter.”

Lea actually felt relieved. This was the perfect excuse to get away from the Duke for a bit.

“Well then, I suppose I’ll just return to the—”

But before she could finish, Akkia scribbled something onto a slip of paper and handed it to her.

[“I’ve asked the servant to guide you through the palace gardens. Go take a look at the herb garden.”]

Lea sighed, her hopes dashed.

“…Understood.”

With that, Akkia entered the palace. Only once he was out of sight did Lea begin to look around.

The palace was breathtakingly magnificent and imposing.

“Well, I might as well look around the gardens.”

Thinking there was no place richer in rare herbs than the Imperial Herb Garden, she headed in that direction.

“Wow…”

She let out a gasp at the enormous greenhouse made of glass. The rumors had been true—the rarest herbs in the world were gathered here.

Right from the entrance, a particular tree caught her eyes, leaving her mouth agape.

“That’s… a Reparatio tree?!”

Such a tree could not be found anywhere else in the Empire. Its sap was a priceless panacea, as rare as it was invaluable.

“They said there was only one tree in the entire Empire… so it was in the palace all along.”

She was still marveling when, stepping out of the greenhouse, she spotted a bronze statue in the garden.

A goddess—likely Helena—stood with a wolf at her side, a serpent coiled around her staff, and a hawk perched by her.

Lea had never seen such a delicate, exquisite work of art.

As she drew closer to examine it, a man’s voice came from behind her.

“It’s a statue based on the founding myth of the Croatea Empire. You could say it embodies the loyalty of the three houses who built the nation.”

Startled, Lea spun around. A familiar face entered her sight.

“You’re…!”

It was the man she had met in the capital’s alleyways—the knight who had rescued her the day she almost got abducted by slavers.

Lea recognized him instantly, her face lighting up. He too smiled the same way he had back then.

“To meet again here of all places… it must be fate.”

His golden hair gleamed brilliantly under the sun. Though the same color as the Duke’s, it somehow seemed to shine with a different quality.

Only then did Lea realize she had been staring too intently.

“I–I’m sorry! I lost myself for a moment.”

Flustered, she gave a polite bow.

“It’s an honor to see you again, Sir Knight.”

The man’s blue eyes widened, as though surprised either by her greeting or by her calling him “knight.”

Then, he burst into warm laughter.

“Haha… Yes. The honor is mine, my lady.”

His smile was disarmingly gentle, yet Lea tilted her head, puzzled at why he laughed.

“Was my greeting funny? …Or… is he not really a knight?”

But his neat, practical attire and the sword at his hip suggested otherwise.

“If time allowed, I’d gladly show you more of the palace…”

His soft voice trailed off as someone hurriedly approached from afar.

Noticing this, he gave her a rueful smile.

“It seems they’ve already come looking for me.”

A breathless servant ran up to him.

“There you are! You must come at once. The message just arrived—!”

“Enough.”

He raised a hand, silencing the servant.

The servant faltered, glancing between him and Lea, unsure what to say next.

“We shall meet again.”

The man kissed the back of Lea’s hand lightly, then departed with the servant.

❀ ❀ ❀

Meanwhile, Akkia was walking deeper into the palace, thoughts of Lea lingering in his mind. Just when he thought things were improving between them, she had begun to avoid him again.

At breakfast, in the carriage on the way here—every time their eyes met, she had quickly looked away, pretending to gaze out the window.

“So, her memory must be returning.”

A faint smile tugged at his lips.

“Your Grace, please wait here.”

At the servant’s words, Akkia nodded and stepped into the Audience Hall. Apparently, the Emperor had not yet arrived.

The hall was quiet, almost solemn. Memories of his youth with the Emperor began to surface when—

“His Majesty the Emperor!”

The herald’s announcement was followed by the opening of the doors.

“It’s been a while, Akkia.”

The Emperor greeted him with a warm smile, embracing him.

“You’ve suffered so much out there. Why didn’t you tell me of such disgraceful events? If I had known sooner, I would have resolved everything for you.”

It was well known that Duke Heidern and the Emperor were close as brothers. Emperor Erellei’s affectionate gaze confirmed the rumors were no lie.

But Akkia gently stepped back, declining the embrace with practiced ease.

Only then did the Emperor take a proper look at him.

When Akkia had left the palace years ago, he had been frail, timid, unable even to meet his eyes. But now, five years later, he was completely different—calm, dignified, unflinching.

“Hmm. He certainly has changed.”

The Emperor’s sharp eyes narrowed at Akkia. In turn, Akkia bent one knee in a formal bow.

Seeing him display such courtesy, Erellei’s gaze turned curious.

[“I would never dare burden Your Majesty.”]

Reading the words Akkia had written, Erellei’s expression softened with sorrow. He grasped Akkia’s hand firmly.

“A burden? Nonsense. What brother would ever think of his younger brother as a burden? We don’t need such formality between us, Akkia.”

“……”

“From now on, if you ever face trouble, tell me right away.”

[“Yes, Your Majesty.”]

Pleased with his reply, Erellei patted his shoulder and gestured for him to sit.

“Let’s share some tea, it’s been too long.”

At once, maids entered with a trolley of tea.

“I heard you rushed here and had no time to prepare. I’ve ordered the Heidern townhouse in the capital to be made ready, so you may stay there. Truthfully, I’d prefer you stayed here in the palace so I could look after you myself, but protocol forbids it.”

[“Thank you for your kind heart, but I already have a place to stay in the capital.”]

Erellei’s eyes widened slightly.

“A place to stay? Other than the Heidern townhouse?”

[“Yes. The townhouse where my mother lived before entering the palace. I’ll stay there.”]

The late Empress’s townhouse…

“If that’s your wish, so be it. Tell me where it is, and I’ll send people immediately to—”

[“That won’t be necessary, Your Majesty. I will simply accept your concern with gratitude.”]

Erellei studied him in silence before nodding.

“I see. I must still be treating you like a child.”

[“Then, with your leave. My body is still unwell, and I tire easily.”]

Without a trace of regret, Akkia bowed formally and departed.

Erellei’s expression shifted strangely as he watched him go. But the moment the door shut—

Clack.

—the Emperor’s face hardened at once, his warmth replaced with a cold, severe air.

“Marquis.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor’s secretary, Marquis Rodrigo, stepped forward.

“Akkia looks far better than I expected.”

The Duke’s presence had not been that of a frail invalid. Red eyes like blood, golden hair like sunlight, and a healthy complexion…

With age, his features were beginning to resemble those of the late Emperor, Philip III. Troubled, Erellei stroked his chin.

“Did he come to the capital alone?”

“I hear he only brought an apothecary.”

“An apothecary? The same one you mentioned before?”

“Yes. I’ve sent men to investigate. A report will come soon.”

Erellei tapped the desk thoughtfully with his fingers—his habit whenever something unsettled him.

At last, his hand stilled.

“Leave nothing out. Find out everything.”

That look in Akkia’s eyes… something about it was unsettling.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Marquis Rodrigo bowed deeply, his gaze flickering darkly.