March 16, 2020
Alicia’s mother always told her stories about Lubertain. She promised that one day, the two of them would go there—that they would live happily in that sacred land. Though Alicia considered such hopes aningless, she never voiced her thoughts.
She could never forget her mother’s desperate eyes as she gripped Alicia’s hand tightly in her final monts, whispering that they would et again in Lubertain. Alicia missed her mother more than anything, so much that she clung to a superstition she didn’t even believe in, begging an enemy man for death.
“If my words have moved you even a little, please, end my life now.”
Alicia cautiously lifted herself and knelt before Cabelenus. Clasping her hands together, she gazed into the beast-like man’s eyes, pleading in a frail voice.
“…I have no intention of killing you.”
Cabelenus let out a hollow sigh, running a rough hand through his hair.
“Why not?”
Alicia’s gray pupils wavered. Cabelenus’s fist clenched tighter.
“Because I simply don’t want to.”
A woman who wished for death—he could just grant her wish. Yet, for soone constantly speaking of dying, she was far too small, too fragile. With such a slender neck, he wouldn’t even need a sword; one hand would be enough to snap it. And yet…
It was always her eyes that were the problem.
Those faded, dull, lifeless eyes irritated him.
“Even if I am worthless, I am still a royal of Neuschwein. Killing would be the wisest decision to avoid any complications in the future.”
“…Complications?”
Before she could even react, Cabelenus let out a low growl, making Alicia gasp sharply.
“You must be mistaken. The right to decide is mine. A re slave has no say in the matter.”
His breath touched her lips in an instant. Alicia blinked slowly, unable to grasp the situation.
Before she could even think of escaping, Cabelenus’s face was right before her.
His golden eyes, burning like the sun, were far too close. Their noses nearly brushed, the distance between them so precariously thin that even the smallest breath could reach the other.
“I only…”
She tried to speak, but the sharp fire in his eyes sent chills racing down her spine, turning her mind blank.
The man before her—he was real.
So different from her father, who had rely basked in the privilege of being born a king.
Cabelenus had earned everything with his own hands. He was a true ruler. A beast in human skin, his presence sharp enough to cut through anything.
“You cower so easily, yet you still dare to raise your voice.”
…Did he just smile?
She might have imagined it, but for a split second, Alicia swore she saw the corners of Cabelenus’s eyes curve slightly.
Her stiffened expression turned subtly confused.
“Don’t entertain foolish thoughts. I don’t go back on my decisions.”
Cabelenus exhaled slowly, tilting his head slightly.
“You won’t go back on your word?”
Alicia instinctively followed his movent with her eyes.
They said true rulers had an innate ability to captivate those around them—to unsettle hearts and command absolute loyalty.
She didn’t know if that was true or if it was rely an old tale.
But one thing was certain.
The man before her was exactly that kind of person.
“I won’t kill you.”
“But you said you might grant rcy.”
“I said I might. I never promised anything.”
Those were the very words he had spoken in the courtroom.
Alicia let out a hollow laugh without realizing it.
“So, I’m supposed to live like this forever?”
“I wouldn’t call it a bad life. At least it’s better than wandering around like so naless maid instead of a princess.”
Alicia’s expression twisted visibly.
She thought she had long abandoned any sense of sha, but the way his eyes scrutinized her made her insides churn.
“…You truly don’t understand. You have no idea why I asked for rcy.”
Her grip on the bedsheet loosened as if letting go of her last lifeline.
She released the tension in her stiffened body, looking up at Cabelenus with dull eyes.
If she moved even slightly, their lips would touch.
Would he kill her if she kissed him first?
The thought was impulsive, but Alicia knew it was the only way to shake this arrogant ruler.
Her body moved faster than her mind.
Touch.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
In the blink of an eye, Cabelenus seized her shoulders and shoved her away, growling lowly.
His piercing gaze was so terrifying it sent shivers down her entire body.
“A lowly slave dared to touch noble blood without permission. Does this an you’re finally willing to kill ?”
And yet, Alicia forced herself to smile.
It had been brief—so brief she might have imagined it.
But it was real.
The faint warmth lingering on her lips made it undeniable.
***
Perhaps he should have just ended it then.
Cabelenus pressed his fingers against his furrowed brow as he watched Alicia walk along the garden path.
At first, he thought it was just her eyes that troubled him. But now, even the expression she had worn that day refused to fade from his mind.
“This is ridiculous.”
Cabelenus exhaled sharply.
Since that night, he had been sleeping in his office instead of his bedroom.
He used work as an excuse, but the truth was—he didn’t want to face Alicia.
And experience had taught him that this kind of hesitation never led to anything good.
Having spent half his life on the battlefield, his instincts were as sharp as a beast’s.
“Your Grace, may I enter?”
As he stared absently at the garden, a steady knock echoed from the door.
It was Gajev.
“What is it?”
“A ssage from His Majesty.”
Gajev gave him a strained smile, holding up a communication mirror.
His superior never welcod contact with the Emperor.
“Let him in.”
Cabelenus sighed and motioned for Gajev to enter.
Speaking with the Emperor was never a pleasant affair, but it was inevitable.
The mont the connection established, the Emperor smirked from within the mirror.
“My, my. As expected of the famous Duke of the North, it’s near impossible to get ahold of you.”
At a glance, the resemblance between them was unmistakable.
It was evident they shared the sa blood.
“What is it you want?”
“By now, I expected so kind of report, yet I’ve heard nothing.”
“I was planning to contact you soon.”
“Oh? Then perhaps I should have waited a little longer. I was curious to see just how long my dear younger brother would keep in suspense.”
“I have sent detailed reports.”
“A pile of papers? That’s nothing compared to seeing my only kin alive and well.”
The Emperor leaned in closer to the mirror, grinning broadly.
“I doubt you contacted just for that.”
“If I got straight to the point, you’d just end the conversation imdiately. Where’s the fun in that?”
“Then I’ll end it now.”
“Wait! Wait!”
The Emperor frantically waved his hands through the mirror.
He only wanted to play a little, but his cold-hearted younger brother never indulged him.
"Get to the point. Unlike Your Majesty, I am very busy."
"Shall I end this conversation now?"
Jerpeneus clicked his tongue and leaned back against the throne. He had intended to prolong the conversation by nitpicking at Cabelenus’s words, but his indifferent younger brother showed no signs of indulging him.
"I only wish to hear the main point."
"……"
Jerpeneus’s voice lifted in pitch, while deep wrinkles ford on Cabelenus’s smooth forehead.
Jerpeneus smirked playfully. At first, he had doubted the rumors, but to think they were actually true.
"This is not sothing for Your Majesty to concern yourself with."
Cabelenus openly revealed his displeasure, frowning, but Jerpeneus’s eyes were already gleaming with intrigue.
"I said it’s not sothing you need to concern yourself with."
Jerpeneus’s eyes curved into a sly arc.
Cabelenus’s jaw tightened.
"So this is how you intend to handle things?"
Though he spoke as if it were a joke, there was a layer of sincerity beneath his words. Cabelenus deliberately ignored it, pressing a hand to his temple in irritation.
"She’s just an ordinary woman."
Though, could he really call a woman ‘ordinary’ when the only thing she desired was death, no matter what he gave her?
Cabelenus’s gaze drifted briefly toward the window.
Alicia was still sitting quietly on the garden bench, passing the ti.
The overcast sky, devoid of sunlight, made her auburn hair appear even duller and more lifeless.
No matter how he looked at her, there was nothing special about her.
"She didn’t seduce ."
"An emperor shouldn’t use such vulgar language."
Jerpeneus stroked his chin with satisfaction.
"As I said, there is nothing for Your Majesty to concern yourself with. Nothing has happened, and nothing will."
"There’s nothing to see."
"I am not so idle as to entertain such nonsense."
Cabelenus shook his head firmly.
"I refuse."
Jerpeneus’s eyes narrowed slightly.
He may have acted carefree, but he was still the Emperor.
If Cabelenus was the hunting hound, then Jerpeneus was the hunter who controlled it.
He never missed an opportunity.
"I have no interest in such trivial matters."
"……"
Cabelenus’s eyebrow twitched ever so slightly.
That… was an appealing offer.
Jerpeneus chuckled, lowering his voice in a coaxing manner.
He was the only person in the world who wasn’t afraid of Cabelenus.
"Stop wasting ti and focus on your duties. If you have nothing else to say, I’m ending this conversation."
Jerpeneus was the kind of man who, once he set his mind on sothing, never let it go.
Entertaining him would only lead to unnecessary trouble.
And more than that…
Cabelenus turned toward the window again—but then froze.
Alicia had risen from the garden bench, as if her walk had co to an end.
At that mont, a single ray of sunlight broke through the clouds.
"……"
Their eyes t.
Cabelenus swallowed.
No, it was an illusion.
He was the only one who thought their eyes had t.
Even knowing that, he still couldn’t look away from her.
For the first ti, he noticed sothing strange.
Her hair, which he had always thought of as dull and lifeless, caught the sunlight for just a mont—flaring like the fiery hues of a sunset.
And then, he found himself wondering—just for the briefest mont—what color her eyes might shine in that sa light.
"…Fine. Let’s do it."
Jerpeneus’s playful voice snapped him back to reality.
Grinding his teeth, Cabelenus muttered his reluctant agreent.
He blinked, looking at Alicia again—her hair, once more, dull as rusted iron.
But still… it was strange.
Even as he reminded himself of reality, he couldn’t shake the slow, simring heat rising in his gut.
And more than anything, he didn’t want to acknowledge it.
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