“You still haven’t found her?!”
The sound of a rough slap on the desk filled the room.
The man, who had just given a report, bowed his head and said sorry.
The crown prince, Zigrit, swept his hair in an uneasiness.
It had already been well over a month since he issued the order.
When he first heard rumors that an epidemic was spreading in the Third Prince Palace, he thought it was an excuse for Rosena to avoid meeting him.
Yerhan wasn’t there anyways and Rosena was a rat in a trap.
Believing strongly that she would eventually be his, he waited for Rosena to come out on her own.
However, no matter how long he waited, the doors of the Third Prince Palace did not open.
Zigrit sent a doctor on the pretext of preventing the spread of the epidemic because he could not wait any longer.
And when the doctor came back, he said that no one was living in the Third Prince Palace.
Zigrit immediately stormed into the Third Prince Palace. When he set foot in the Third Prince Palace, there was only a gloomy energy.
He couldn’t feel any warmth, as if it had been empty for a long time, and he couldn’t see the servant who sent back his servant every time.
Only then did Zigrit realize that he was one step late.
Oddly enough, Rosena had taken Illian out of the Imperial Palace without a single rumour floating around.
He used everything he had to get Rosena.
A wanted list with Rosena’s name and face was scattered throughout the empire. However, no matter how long he waited, there was no news that Rosena had been caught.
If she was in the empire, enough time had definitely passed for her to be captured.
He couldn’t understand why eyewitnesses who saw Rosena didn’t show up.
“Damn it.”
Zigrit plopped down in his chair, uttering swear words.
The problem was that he was conceited at the thought of clearing Yerhan.
“Stupid bitch.”
Zigrit, who recalled Rosena, bit his lips.
So far, he had consistently offered sweet suggestions to Rosena.
She could have had everything if she had abandoned her humble Yerhan and came to him, what a foolish woman.
However, there was nowhere else for Rosena to go. Yerhan is dead.
The empress sent assassins just in time for Yerhan’s departure from exile.
No matter how powerful he is, he was stuck in a carriage without a weapon.
And the assassins brought Yerhan’s hair to signify their success in the mission.
Zigrit was delighted at the thought of Yerhan’s death at last.
No matter how fast he was, he was still a humble human being in the face of death.
Zigrit took a little time to spread the word.
It was rumored that Yerhan, who was being escorted to exile, escaped and died while fleeing the pursuit of the knights.
It was a disastrous remark for the prince’s end.
It was an indelible stigma that he died while running away as a sinner.
Zigrit wanted Yerhan’s honor to be completely tarnished.
“Your Highness!”
Someone rushed inside.
He finished his greeting briefly by kneeling and immediately gave a report.
“There were witnesses who saw the Third Princess in the southern part of the country.”
Zigrit raised his head.
“The witnesses testified that she was a red-haired woman with a blond child.”
It was definitely Rosena and Illian. Red hair and blond hair were not a common combination.
Zigrit clenched his fist out of excitement.
He felt like he was finally getting a little clue to find her.
“So where did they go?”
The man, who received Zigrit’s pouring gaze, bowed.
“That… it was said they had left by boat, but it was a ship bound for… Astania.”
“….Astania?”
Zigrit crumpled his face.
That was why he couldn’t even find a trace no matter how many times he looked for her.
Zigrit was in deep agony for a second.
He couldn’t give orders because it wasn’t part of the empire.
Eventually, Astania’s cooperation was needed, but the relationship between Astania and the empire was not good and it was just not possible.
“Send an official letter to Astania, saying that we want the kidnapper of the imperial prince to be handed over.”
Having said that much, Zigrit tried wrapping his head around this issue.
He finally found her, but Rosena was in a place far beyond where Zigrit had imagined.
If it was up to him, he would start a war and bring her by force. However, the empire had been defeated by Astania several times.
To wage a war without preparations, it would only result in repeated defeat.
Zigrit rolled his brain in case Astania didn’t cooperate.
“Come to think of it, did you say that Marquis’ daughter came from Astania this time?”
“Oh, yes. She’s studying at the academy.”
If Astania didn’t cooperate, there was a way – to use the young lady.
That was what he thought, but he wasn’t entirely at ease.
Zigrit, who had been lost in thought for a while, looked up.
“Since my brother is dead, we should hold a national funeral.”
Those who had their heads bowed slowly raised their eyes at his words.
They couldn’t understand Zigrit’s Intentions.
Zigrit leisurely leaned back into his chair and tapped his desk with his finger.
“Prepare for the funeral of the Third Prince.”
“Understood.”
Those who received the order immediately left the office without asking the reason.
Zigrit stopped his finger from tapping his desk.
If he spread the rumor of the death of her husband, Yerhan, and prepared for a national funeral, she would walk in here on her own.
The moment Rosena stepped into imperial territory, that would be the day when Zigrit was fully empowered.
Planning that far ahead, Zigrit smiled like an animal on the verge of hunting.
Now all he had to do was wait for Rosena to show up.
***
Upon hearing the news of Yerhan, Rosena was confused and shut off again.
Rosena, who had been stuck in her room for days without eating anything, could not accept his death.
One day she cried a lot, and the next day she stared blankly out of the window.
How can he die when his warmth and voice are still vivid?
Rosena buried her face in the blanket and cried aloud.
She felt sad as if it was the first time that her precious person had left.
Even with all the pain in the world, it was nothing compared to this.
Rosena was still not ready to accept Yerhan’s death.
Their hearts were finally connected, but she couldn’t believe he went to a place where she couldn’t meet him again.…
The blanket was soaked wet, it’s not drying up.
Even after crying for several days, her tear glands seemed to be broken, and tears continued to flow.
If she had known that this would be the case, if she had known that that would be the last time.… she’d tell him that she loves him again and again.
Belated regret made Rosena’s chest pound harshly.
“Mom.”
Illian was standing in front of the door that he had just walked through.
Rosena looked at Illian through her blurred, teary vision.
Illian came up to Rosena with his face contorted as if he was about to cry.
Rosena swallowed her tears as it was about to burst out again, stretched out her arms and hugged Illian.
“I’m sorry.”
A cracked voice came out.
She fainted and repeatedly cried, so she didn’t pay attention to Illian.
Illian, who was still in her arms, reached out and touched her cheek.
It was like comfort, so Rosena closed her eyes and wept silently.
Rosena stared at Illian still.
Rosena embraced Illian again as he looked so much like Yerhan.
Only then did Yerhan’s death touch his heart completely.
Illian, who was still in her arms, had his face buried in the crook of her shoulder after her body had collapsed endlessly.
Soon her shoulders got wet.
After a long time, a now light-hearted Rosena patted Illian’s head.
Those who were left behind had to live on anyway.
If she stumbled, Illian also wouldn’t hold up properly.
Rosena was determined to keep Illian going to the end.
Rosena came out, leaving Illian who cried and fell asleep.
She felt a little dizzy when she walked properly after a few days.
As she leaned against the wall for a while, she heard a buzzing sound from downstairs.
Lady Elisa, who was pale, climbed the stairs almost as if she was leaping.
It wasn’t like her who always kept her dignity at home.
“….Rosena!”
Lady Elisa, who climbed the stairs, found Rosena and called her name.
Lady Elisa was at her wits’ end and her lips swelled.
She seemed so distracted that she couldn’t properly decide what to say first. Then she broached the most important thing.
“An official letter came from the Herbet Empire!”
Official letter. As Rosena stood by and looked at Lady Elisa, she continued.
“The empire is demanding for Rosena.”
“……!”
In other words, the crown prince found out Rosena’s whereabouts.
She thought she hid it thoroughly in her own way, but she couldn’t hide it completely because it was a long journey.
But if Rosena stayed in Astania, the crown prince couldn’t do anything.
“And there’s one more news….”
Lady Elisa hesitated.
Rosena looked at her with swollen eyes.
“It is said that the third prince’s national funeral will be held.”
Rosena stopped breathing as soon as she heard it.
What does it mean for there to be a national funeral….
She decided to let him go, but the word funeral felt different.
It was right to hold a national funeral as an imperial family member according to courtesy, but her whole body trembled to think of him being buried in cold ground.
She wanted to see his face for the last time.
Even if he had become unrecognizable, she wanted to capture his last appearance even just once more.
Rosena bit her lips, trembling mercilessly.
Rosena, who was barely able to pull herself together, slowly met eyes with Lady Elisa.
Then Lady Elisa uttered a crying voice.
“But, Rosena…. Kayla.”
Rosena noticed right away.
It was clear that the crown prince put Kayla as a condition for her to give herself up.
After a moment of silence, Rosena was lost in thought.
Kayla’s safety could not be guaranteed if she stayed still like this.
“The King hasn’t replied to the empire yet. After a few days, we will summon the nobles and have a meeting about it.”
Lady Elisa said so, and Rosena was determined.
“I’ll have to attend the meeting, too.”
***
The Kingdom of Astania had maintained their dynasty for hundreds of years.
A long time ago, someone from the continent established a kingdom, and its lineage was still continuing.
Astania, a closed country, was named paradise in ancient language.
Literally no one was turned away in Astania.
Although the status system was maintained, the atmosphere was quite different from other countries.
The nobles gave as much as they were respected by the commoners.
The land was fertile enough to satisfy the people and it was overflowing with gold.
Since everything was full and abundant, there was no need for nobles to be greedy.
Astania was also geographically perfect and it was nothing but a natural fortress.
There were many reefs around the towering island on the sea.
If a first-timer blindly visited Astania, they were likely to be wrecked on the reef.
The calm-looking sea was made complicated by the ocean currents, so the moment they turned the wrong key, they couldn’t get out of it forever.
That was why other countries had abandoned the thought of conquering Astania. They did not even attempt it.
Even Herbet, the loser of the continent, tried and failed several times, so it was natural in a way.
Astania had been peaceful since the establishment of the kingdom, with few significant events. So the nobles rarely gathered together.
Sometimes meetings were arranged, but only for discussions, such as when the festival would be held or what would be the punishment for outsiders’ intrusion.
But today, an emergency meeting was called in the Kingdom of Astania.
Even the nobles who lived far away rushed in a single step in the unprecedented and serious matters.
All the nobles gathered in the palace built of gold.
They greeted each other briefly and remained silent.
Shortly after, the king with a long white beard appeared.
The nobles who were seated stood up in unison to honor the king.
“Everyone seems to be here.”
The king looked like a benevolent old man.
When the king beckoned, the nobles sat down again.
The king slowly opened his mouth.
“Herbet Empire sent an official letter asking for the delivery of Rosena Herbet, the Third Princess.”
“You still haven’t found her?!”
The sound of a rough slap on the desk filled the room.
The man, who had just given a report, bowed his head and said sorry.
The crown prince, Zigrit, swept his hair in an uneasiness.
It had already been well over a month since he issued the order.
When he first heard rumors that an epidemic was spreading in the Third Prince Palace, he thought it was an excuse for Rosena to avoid meeting him.
Yerhan wasn’t there anyways and Rosena was a rat in a trap.
Believing strongly that she would eventually be his, he waited for Rosena to come out on her own.
However, no matter how long he waited, the doors of the Third Prince Palace did not open.
Zigrit sent a doctor on the pretext of preventing the spread of the epidemic because he could not wait any longer.
And when the doctor came back, he said that no one was living in the Third Prince Palace.
Zigrit immediately stormed into the Third Prince Palace. When he set foot in the Third Prince Palace, there was only a gloomy energy.
He couldn’t feel any warmth, as if it had been empty for a long time, and he couldn’t see the servant who sent back his servant every time.
Only then did Zigrit realize that he was one step late.
Oddly enough, Rosena had taken Illian out of the Imperial Palace without a single rumour floating around.
He used everything he had to get Rosena.
A wanted list with Rosena’s name and face was scattered throughout the empire. However, no matter how long he waited, there was no news that Rosena had been caught.
If she was in the empire, enough time had definitely passed for her to be captured.
He couldn’t understand why eyewitnesses who saw Rosena didn’t show up.
“Damn it.”
Zigrit plopped down in his chair, uttering swear words.
The problem was that he was conceited at the thought of clearing Yerhan.
“Stupid bitch.”
Zigrit, who recalled Rosena, bit his lips.
So far, he had consistently offered sweet suggestions to Rosena.
She could have had everything if she had abandoned her humble Yerhan and came to him, what a foolish woman.
However, there was nowhere else for Rosena to go. Yerhan is dead.
The empress sent assassins just in time for Yerhan’s departure from exile.
No matter how powerful he is, he was stuck in a carriage without a weapon.
And the assassins brought Yerhan’s hair to signify their success in the mission.
Zigrit was delighted at the thought of Yerhan’s death at last.
No matter how fast he was, he was still a humble human being in the face of death.
Zigrit took a little time to spread the word.
It was rumored that Yerhan, who was being escorted to exile, escaped and died while fleeing the pursuit of the knights.
It was a disastrous remark for the prince’s end.
It was an indelible stigma that he died while running away as a sinner.
Zigrit wanted Yerhan’s honor to be completely tarnished.
“Your Highness!”
Someone rushed inside.
He finished his greeting briefly by kneeling and immediately gave a report.
“There were witnesses who saw the Third Princess in the southern part of the country.”
Zigrit raised his head.
“The witnesses testified that she was a red-haired woman with a blond child.”
It was definitely Rosena and Illian. Red hair and blond hair were not a common combination.
Zigrit clenched his fist out of excitement.
He felt like he was finally getting a little clue to find her.
“So where did they go?”
The man, who received Zigrit’s pouring gaze, bowed.
“That… it was said they had left by boat, but it was a ship bound for… Astania.”
“….Astania?”
Zigrit crumpled his face.
That was why he couldn’t even find a trace no matter how many times he looked for her.
Zigrit was in deep agony for a second.
He couldn’t give orders because it wasn’t part of the empire.
Eventually, Astania’s cooperation was needed, but the relationship between Astania and the empire was not good and it was just not possible.
“Send an official letter to Astania, saying that we want the kidnapper of the imperial prince to be handed over.”
Having said that much, Zigrit tried wrapping his head around this issue.
He finally found her, but Rosena was in a place far beyond where Zigrit had imagined.
If it was up to him, he would start a war and bring her by force. However, the empire had been defeated by Astania several times.
To wage a war without preparations, it would only result in repeated defeat.
Zigrit rolled his brain in case Astania didn’t cooperate.
“Come to think of it, did you say that Marquis’ daughter came from Astania this time?”
“Oh, yes. She’s studying at the academy.”
If Astania didn’t cooperate, there was a way – to use the young lady.
That was what he thought, but he wasn’t entirely at ease.
Zigrit, who had been lost in thought for a while, looked up.
“Since my brother is dead, we should hold a national funeral.”
Those who had their heads bowed slowly raised their eyes at his words.
They couldn’t understand Zigrit’s Intentions.
Zigrit leisurely leaned back into his chair and tapped his desk with his finger.
“Prepare for the funeral of the Third Prince.”
“Understood.”
Those who received the order immediately left the office without asking the reason.
Zigrit stopped his finger from tapping his desk.
If he spread the rumor of the death of her husband, Yerhan, and prepared for a national funeral, she would walk in here on her own.
The moment Rosena stepped into imperial territory, that would be the day when Zigrit was fully empowered.
Planning that far ahead, Zigrit smiled like an animal on the verge of hunting.
Now all he had to do was wait for Rosena to show up.
***
Upon hearing the news of Yerhan, Rosena was confused and shut off again.
Rosena, who had been stuck in her room for days without eating anything, could not accept his death.
One day she cried a lot, and the next day she stared blankly out of the window.
How can he die when his warmth and voice are still vivid?
Rosena buried her face in the blanket and cried aloud.
She felt sad as if it was the first time that her precious person had left.
Even with all the pain in the world, it was nothing compared to this.
Rosena was still not ready to accept Yerhan’s death.
Their hearts were finally connected, but she couldn’t believe he went to a place where she couldn’t meet him again.…
The blanket was soaked wet, it’s not drying up.
Even after crying for several days, her tear glands seemed to be broken, and tears continued to flow.
If she had known that this would be the case, if she had known that that would be the last time.… she’d tell him that she loves him again and again.
Belated regret made Rosena’s chest pound harshly.
“Mom.”
Illian was standing in front of the door that he had just walked through.
Rosena looked at Illian through her blurred, teary vision.
Illian came up to Rosena with his face contorted as if he was about to cry.
Rosena swallowed her tears as it was about to burst out again, stretched out her arms and hugged Illian.
“I’m sorry.”
A cracked voice came out.
She fainted and repeatedly cried, so she didn’t pay attention to Illian.
Illian, who was still in her arms, reached out and touched her cheek.
It was like comfort, so Rosena closed her eyes and wept silently.
Rosena stared at Illian still.
Rosena embraced Illian again as he looked so much like Yerhan.
Only then did Yerhan’s death touch his heart completely.
Illian, who was still in her arms, had his face buried in the crook of her shoulder after her body had collapsed endlessly.
Soon her shoulders got wet.
After a long time, a now light-hearted Rosena patted Illian’s head.
Those who were left behind had to live on anyway.
If she stumbled, Illian also wouldn’t hold up properly.
Rosena was determined to keep Illian going to the end.
Rosena came out, leaving Illian who cried and fell asleep.
She felt a little dizzy when she walked properly after a few days.
As she leaned against the wall for a while, she heard a buzzing sound from downstairs.
Lady Elisa, who was pale, climbed the stairs almost as if she was leaping.
It wasn’t like her who always kept her dignity at home.
“….Rosena!”
Lady Elisa, who climbed the stairs, found Rosena and called her name.
Lady Elisa was at her wits’ end and her lips swelled.
She seemed so distracted that she couldn’t properly decide what to say first. Then she broached the most important thing.
“An official letter came from the Herbet Empire!”
Official letter. As Rosena stood by and looked at Lady Elisa, she continued.
“The empire is demanding for Rosena.”
“……!”
In other words, the crown prince found out Rosena’s whereabouts.
She thought she hid it thoroughly in her own way, but she couldn’t hide it completely because it was a long journey.
But if Rosena stayed in Astania, the crown prince couldn’t do anything.
“And there’s one more news….”
Lady Elisa hesitated.
Rosena looked at her with swollen eyes.
“It is said that the third prince’s national funeral will be held.”
Rosena stopped breathing as soon as she heard it.
What does it mean for there to be a national funeral….
She decided to let him go, but the word funeral felt different.
It was right to hold a national funeral as an imperial family member according to courtesy, but her whole body trembled to think of him being buried in cold ground.
She wanted to see his face for the last time.
Even if he had become unrecognizable, she wanted to capture his last appearance even just once more.
Rosena bit her lips, trembling mercilessly.
Rosena, who was barely able to pull herself together, slowly met eyes with Lady Elisa.
Then Lady Elisa uttered a crying voice.
“But, Rosena…. Kayla.”
Rosena noticed right away.
It was clear that the crown prince put Kayla as a condition for her to give herself up.
After a moment of silence, Rosena was lost in thought.
Kayla’s safety could not be guaranteed if she stayed still like this.
“The King hasn’t replied to the empire yet. After a few days, we will summon the nobles and have a meeting about it.”
Lady Elisa said so, and Rosena was determined.
“I’ll have to attend the meeting, too.”
***
The Kingdom of Astania had maintained their dynasty for hundreds of years.
A long time ago, someone from the continent established a kingdom, and its lineage was still continuing.
Astania, a closed country, was named paradise in ancient language.
Literally no one was turned away in Astania.
Although the status system was maintained, the atmosphere was quite different from other countries.
The nobles gave as much as they were respected by the commoners.
The land was fertile enough to satisfy the people and it was overflowing with gold.
Since everything was full and abundant, there was no need for nobles to be greedy.
Astania was also geographically perfect and it was nothing but a natural fortress.
There were many reefs around the towering island on the sea.
If a first-timer blindly visited Astania, they were likely to be wrecked on the reef.
The calm-looking sea was made complicated by the ocean currents, so the moment they turned the wrong key, they couldn’t get out of it forever.
That was why other countries had abandoned the thought of conquering Astania. They did not even attempt it.
Even Herbet, the loser of the continent, tried and failed several times, so it was natural in a way.
Astania had been peaceful since the establishment of the kingdom, with few significant events. So the nobles rarely gathered together.
Sometimes meetings were arranged, but only for discussions, such as when the festival would be held or what would be the punishment for outsiders’ intrusion.
But today, an emergency meeting was called in the Kingdom of Astania.
Even the nobles who lived far away rushed in a single step in the unprecedented and serious matters.
All the nobles gathered in the palace built of gold.
They greeted each other briefly and remained silent.
Shortly after, the king with a long white beard appeared.
The nobles who were seated stood up in unison to honor the king.
“Everyone seems to be here.”
The king looked like a benevolent old man.
When the king beckoned, the nobles sat down again.
The king slowly opened his mouth.
“Herbet Empire sent an official letter asking for the delivery of Rosena Herbet, the Third Princess.”
