Harchen’s party arrived late at night at Count Letman’s estate on the outskirts of the capital of Tane. They had departed from Pana Castle with witness Loan, alternating between train and horseback over three days, only catching brief naps on the train.

After instructing the butler to guide Loan and the guard knights to their quarters, the party of Emperor Karsik was directly led to the main conference hall. Calip and Lean followed behind Harchen.

When Harchen entered the main conference hall, about thirty noble lords, including seven grand dukes of the Tane Principality, rose and bent their knees in unison. Patrick came around the table and greeted him respectfully.

“I behold the Golden Sun of the Blazing Empire, Your Imperial Majesty. Though the long journey must have been tiresome, your presence gives me great strength.”

“Patrick, it’s most pleasant to see you.”

“Pardon?”

“Though perhaps not in this atmosphere.”

Harchen leaned towards Patrick and said,

“I’ve been dying to see Patricia these past couple of days, but seeing you who resembles her is some consolation.”

Patrick couldn’t hide his bewildered expression and ended up laughing.

Some of the grand dukes hadn’t believed that the Emperor of the Karsik Empire would help the Crown Prince of Tane’s rebellion and bring a witness.

Most who had no direct interaction during their academy days and only knew of his outward appearance and baseless rumors remembered and judged Harchen as an arrogant and cold crown prince.

It was reassuring enough that such a person attended and kept his seat at the meeting, but during the conference, he even voiced support for Patrick’s proposal of non-aggression and peace treaty within the Arkan continent, as well as legal regulations.

In fact, from the perspective of the grand dukes who had their kingdoms taken away by Emperor Kazan and endured years of political and economic oppression, when Patrick declared the principality’s independence, some were calculating the potential damage to the kingdom if the rebellion failed.

By the time the meeting and final schedule check were over, the grand dukes and Tane noble lords’ prejudices against Harchen had melted away like snow in the sunshine.

The grand dukes and Tane noble lords approached to congratulate him on the royal marriage they couldn’t attend.

“I hear Her Imperial Majesty is Prince Patrick’s twin, and that she’s so beautiful.”

“Beautiful beyond belief.”

“I hear she handles a sword?”

She handles a sword incredibly erotically.

“She wields it with breathtaking finesse.”

Harchen rubbed his brow with his index finger, keeping his inner thoughts hidden beneath his tongue. Though they were expressing interest in his wife out of respect for the emperor, even such attention bothered Harchen.

These fellows seem to be showing more interest than necessary. I shouldn’t let them see Patricia.

“Please invite us to Riswan sometime. We’d like to pay our respects to Her Imperial Majesty.”

“Why, what respects?”

Harchen spoke coldly, feeling as if his inner thoughts had been exposed, and abruptly turned to face the window, looking out into the dark. Though he enjoyed talking about Patricia, as he spoke, he felt he would go mad with longing to see and touch her.

What might Patricia be doing now? She would have been bathed by that young maid. She probably used perfume even though I told her not to. Huh, she’s likely lying in the bedroom talking about me with Tane’s maid Eva. That uptight maid seemed to be forcing some rigid sex education. I should seriously warn her when I return.

By now she’d have changed into her nightgown and be feeling sleepy. Ah, that nightgown comes to mind too. She didn’t seem to have many types of nightgowns. The one she wore at Aster Palace was complicated, needing to be tied with strings from behind.

‘Ah, this isn’t the situation to be thinking such thoughts…’

However, Harchen’s mind was already imagining untying the ribbon knot from behind Patricia and caressing her thin, flexible waist.

Patrick approached Harchen, who was standing alone by the window looking outside, and stared intently at him as he frowned with a flushed face.

What an expression! What thoughts could make it change so drastically, like a sky where a downpour suddenly gives way to brilliant sunshine?

Harchen was curious about Patricia’s well-being. He regretted not agreeing to exchange letters. He regretted not bringing Conrad and Ryu.

It would be nice if the sharp-witted Philip sent a letter first to check on her. The aide who unfailingly sent Ryu with wishes for a quick return whenever he left the palace was silent.

Harchen thought for a moment and inadvertently turned his head, meeting eyes with Patrick who was smiling at him.

“What, why?”

“Just what thoughts about whom could make you make such an expression?”

“What are you talking about. More importantly, Patrick, you have an eagle, right? I want to send a letter.”

“Ah, I sent Brie to Risha this morning. I think a reply from the palace will arrive tomorrow?”

You cunning bastard. You waited and didn’t deliver my letter too.

“Harchen, if you’re not tired, we’re planning to go to the capital and enter the palace soon. Would that be alright?”

“That’s what I’ve been hoping for.”

“I hear Emperor Kazan’s party entered the palace this morning. But the empress hasn’t returned to the palace.”

“The empress? For what reason?”

“Well, I intend to find out when we get there. Harchen, let’s go to my palace.”

Patrick and Harchen, along with their knights, rode through the deep night and arrived at Tane Palace in the bluish dawn.

Entering the Crown Prince’s quarters, Harchen slept for two or three hours before waking. Unlike Karsik, Tane’s summer wasn’t over yet, and the dawn air was stuffy. He instructed Calip to fetch a map of Tane Palace.

“Your Majesty, at this early hour? A map of Tane Palace?”

“Why? Should I go look for it myself?”

“No, I’ll go get it.”

Harchen went to the bath and turned on the cold water, but was surprised by the lukewarm water. Even in midsummer, Karsik’s water was so cold it could give you a headache. He bathed alone without attendants and donned his formal attire.

In the meantime, Calip had somehow managed to obtain a map.

“Your Majesty, shall I have breakfast prepared?”

“I’ll have it later with Patrick. Calip, get some more sleep.”

“Where are you going? I should accompany you…”

Harchen showed his own sword and fastened it to his waist. It meant he was choosing the sword over Calip.

“You may go now.”

“As you command.”

The map of Tane Palace that Calip had obtained didn’t mark what appeared to be the separate palace and west tower. If it’s the west tower, it should be to the west, but to the west of the main palace stretched a lake and forest.

Harchen pondered for a while before heading towards the Crown Prince’s office. Fortunately, the lights were on brightly. The servant standing at the entrance to the office knocked and announced that the Emperor of Karsik had arrived.

“Harchen, you’re up early?”

Patrick’s expression was quite different from yesterday at Count Letman’s estate’s main conference hall, more tense.

“The empress?”

“Indeed, the emperor returned alone. Did she notice and slip away somewhere?”

“Was this agreed upon with Emperor Kazan? What about Duke Parse?”

“Duke Parse went to his residence yesterday. Ah, the emperor ordered his aide to prepare the empress’s crown, scepter, and ceremonial robes.”

“I see, she’ll come for the long-awaited empress’s investiture. It’ll be a long day. Get some sleep. And Patrick, take a look at this map.”

“It’s a map of Tane Palace.”

“Where’s the west tower?”

“Why there…”

Patrick tilted his head and stared at Harchen intently before smiling brightly.

“This is touching. Harchen, you really do love Risha.”

“Just tell me where it is.”

“At this fork, don’t go towards the lake, but go into the forest and you’ll find the Petra Oak Forest. If you go to this point, you’ll see a burgundy roof. Shall I call someone to guide you?”

“No need. I want to go alone.”

Harchen rode Khan.

As he rode through the forest heavy with moisture, it connected to the Petra Oak Forest. Entering the lush green forest, he saw a tower with vermilion walls and a burgundy roof. The lower part of the tower’s exterior was covered in red roses, the upper part in ivy.

Patricia, this is where you lived.

Harchen’s heart swelled, feeling as if she might be there if he went.

There was no one guarding the west tower. Passing through the open bronze doors, he found a courtyard overgrown with summer weeds. A humid and stuffy air hit him. He pushed aside the weeds and crossed the courtyard, climbing the stone steps.

“I rarely used the stairs to come and go.”

Remembering her saying she used to climb down ropes from the second-floor balcony, he chuckled. Patricia had forgotten even telling Harchen about this. Would her love for him deepen if her memories fully returned, or was her current state of love better? I remain unchanged regardless.

“Haa!”

Climbing the stairs and turning the corner, a wide open space appeared. It was the west tower garden Patricia had described to him in words. All four sides were framed with iron and glass.

The garden was full of various flowers and small flowering shrubs – roses, daffodils, beach roses, peonies, and others he couldn’t name.

She must have learned to walk, walked, and run in this garden, fluttering like a butterfly. That maid, Eva, must have seen it all and knows what it looked like. Even that made Harchen jealous.

There are no lilacs. Is that why she plucked lilacs to confess to me? Harchen rubbed his chest, recalling the moment Patricia held out the lilacs to him.

When Patricia wasn’t by his side, remembering her strangely tore at his heart. Only when she was close beside him did this aching, heavy lump pressing on his chest disappear.

I should finish quickly and depart alone tonight if I have to.

Perhaps a caretaker came occasionally, as all the glass windows were open. The colorful flower beds and flowering shrubs showed signs of having been watered, with droplets clinging to the leaves.

On the wisteria bench where Patrick said he often sat, a folded parasol was placed.

Harchen immediately walked around the balustrade once. Before long, he discovered one brick protruding from the wall at the end of the balustrade. Harchen’s lips curled up involuntarily as he pulled out the brick.

He unrolled a coiled rope nailed to the stone wall. He caressed the leather rope, worn smooth by Patricia’s hands since her young girlhood days, as if stroking her hair. He brought a part of the rope to his lips.

You jumped down using this rope, my Patricia.

He longed to see her, to touch her, his heart burning. He moved his lips slightly where the rope touched. Though the rope touched them, they felt soft and tender. It felt as if the rope was digging into his chest, stirring something inside.

“What brings you here?”

A cold voice was heard simultaneously with something falling with a thud. Harchen removed the rope from his mouth and turned his head.

Platinum-haired brat.

“And what brings you here, Your Grace?”

Hah, look at those disrespectful eyes.

“I come here occasionally.”

“I’m not… particularly pleased about that.”

“Am I supposed to gauge that feeling?”