I wonder if that bastard has received the news.

Rumors spread quickly within the imperial palace. The news that the Empress collapsed and was carried into the Emperor’s palace while on inspection would be sweeping through the palace like an unstoppable torrent.

The ventilation in the secret chamber was rather slow. Cledius looked at the Empress lying motionless, covered with the Emperor’s outer robe. Perhaps due to the smoke from the antidote herbs, her closed eyes seemed to shimmer like a mirage.

Ilarid showed no movement, but her breathing was more even and stable compared to when she was first brought in. At least the worst seemed to be over for now.

Unlike the smoke rising upwards, his heart kept sinking lower and lower.

The emotion firmly gripping Cledius’s legs was clearly anger.

He leaned against the bed and muttered quietly to himself:

“When the new envoy arrives from the Eastern Continent, I’ll have to interrogate them.”

About whether there are people who use such poisons, if they acted on someone’s instructions.

His words reached Ilarid but would not be heard. She still had her eyes closed.

If someone had tried to harm Ilarid, he would find them all and behead them himself. Whether it was those republican bastards, or even nobles supporting the Emperor, it didn’t matter. If it was the Eastern Continent’s doing, he was prepared to go to all-out war.

There was a top secret plan underway with the Eastern Continent.

It was to form an alliance and occupy the northern part of the Western Continent.

The Pegeia Federation had secretly promised cooperation to the Empire. Although there was a condition to hand over part of the northern lands in return for cooperation, the help of sorcerers was desperately needed in the attempt to conquer unknown lands.

“But what meaning would a world without you have…?”

Cledius’s fingertips touched Ilarid. He could feel fine lines with each gentle caress.

Would she open her eyes if she heard these words? Perhaps she would grab his collar and shake him in anger.

Cledius smiled faintly and let slip one fact:

“Ilarid. I plan to send your ‘shadow’ to the north.”

It was to prepare an advance base for conquering the vast northern lands.

The territory and title that Lebel had requested. Isn’t it just right for someone of mercenary origins to rise to?

He had included Lebel’s name in the last letter sent to the Eastern Continent. The envoys arriving this time would likely take notice of Lebel and agree without hesitation.

As unpleasant as he is to look at, there’s no doubt he has quite remarkable skills.

“He was the one who cast the bait first.”

Back then, when he was explaining while spreading out maps, Lebel probably thought he had taken the bait in one go and rejoiced.

But now the situation has reversed. Lebel has taken Ilarid to heart, and will think he cannot be separated from her.

Cledius pulled hard on the line he had cast. A sneer spread across his face. The one destined for self-destruction by drowning has been decided.

“Anyway… he’ll die early.”

The poison has already spread, and he’s slowly drowning without even knowing it.

“Have patience and wait. Your ‘shadow’ will meet a wretched end befitting him. In the cold, barren, lonely northern lands.”

And Ilarid would only hear the news of his death much later.

“I don’t care whether you’ve given your heart to that bastard or not.”

Lebel was the start of all the problems.

His existence was merely an insignificant hindrance wedged between the Emperor and Empress. The stone that rolled in just needed to be plucked out and thrown away.

“I’ll burn away all the obstacles interfering between us. Don’t say or think anything, just enjoy everything I give you.”

Cledius intended to pour everything into Ilarid. The position of Empress, a comfortable life, and even the Empire that would never fall.

“So… I hope you’ll stop the foolish acts.”

His voice dropped ominously.

“You just need to behave in a manner befitting the position of Empress. You’ve done well so far.”

It doesn’t matter if she fools around with the ‘shadow’ behind the scenes. On the surface, she just needs to act the role of a virtuous Empress. The ‘shadow’ will soon disappear anyway, and Ilarid will remain forever by Cledius’s side as Empress.

What if Ilarid had just enjoyed everything in her grasp like Selina? Perhaps their lives would have continued peacefully without such conflicts.

Humans are cunning animals. When enjoying a comfortable environment, one’s will and convictions tend to weaken.

But Ilarid did not waver. She simply kept moving endlessly.

“Sometimes I wonder what the driving force is that keeps you going. Is it the anger I planted, or something more?”

Resentment and hatred. Those things that probably made Ilarid’s heart beat and became her life’s purpose.

The greatest force that moves people, but also a poison that eats away and leaves nothing behind.

“You probably won’t tell me. As always, I’ll have to leave it to my imagination and speculation. But…”

Cledius’s fingertips moved from Ilarid’s jawline up to her lips.

He could feel shallow breaths from the dry mound. He closed his eyes as he caressed the pale curve.

“I’d be a little disappointed if the one moving you wasn’t me.”

But that can’t be. Ilarid said she lives for Cledius’s death.

Those words made Cledius’s heart beat as her center.

“About the child… I regret it.”

Silver hair scattered as it rustled through his fingertips.

But that was all. No more words of comfort or apology came from Cledius’s mouth. The Emperor’s secret chamber was once again enveloped in darkness and silence.

**

He knew he couldn’t step forward.

Lebel lingered near the Imperial Palace, unable to approach.

One wrong move and he would only end up revealing to everyone that he was Ilarid’s ‘shadow’.

An Empress and a mercenary. It was a suspicious combination to anyone who saw it. He couldn’t risk disrupting Ilarid’s plans.

Though his time in the imperial court was short, Lebel could guess that rumors spread quickly here. Even now, the Imperial Guard and other court officials were waiting in front of the Emperor’s palace.

No one knew what was happening inside. It was said that even Cledius didn’t give any hint when he entered the Emperor’s palace.

Surely he wouldn’t do anything cruel to someone who was bleeding. Cledius had always been the worst, but would he sink that low?

Lebel’s hands clenched. He wanted to rush into the Emperor’s palace and bring Ilarid out right away.

But after that, what could he do?

Lebel had to exist as a small shadow that didn’t interfere. Wasn’t that his reason for existence, which he constantly reminded himself of?

He barely endured the sharp pain constricting his chest. He thought he was used to enduring pain, but how should he bear this kind of suffering?

“Commander Lebel.”

Kailem Western’s voice was heard right in front of him. When had he approached?

“Let’s go back now.”

“Is Her Majesty the Empress still inside?”

Kailem nodded and looked back at the Emperor’s palace.

Detoxification was probably in progress inside. As the son of the Empress Dowager, Cledius was a man well-versed in all poisons that existed in the world.

“There’s nothing for you to worry about.”

“Nothing to worry about…”

The words that leaked between intermittent breaths shattered miserably.

Lebel covered his eyes with his palm and lowered his head. The end of his words was a hollow laugh.

As he was the Emperor, surely he wouldn’t do anything terrible to someone on the brink of death, right, that must be true.

But the fact that Cledius and Ilarid were alone tormented the pit of his stomach. The realization that he had become a powerless figure who could do nothing began to eat away at Lebel’s heart.

Kailem noticed that Lebel didn’t believe his words. He spoke to Lebel in a firm voice.

“Detoxification will be underway in the Emperor’s palace, so return to the Empress’s palace and wait for Her Majesty the Empress.”

It was like the voice of an adult soothing a young nephew.

But Lebel didn’t budge an inch. If Ilarid didn’t come out, he was determined to take root standing in that spot.

Kailem was not unaware of those feelings. Lebel resembled his own younger self a lot.

A fearless man ready to throw his whole body for the one he held in his eyes.

He thought that things like status couldn’t interfere with a solid relationship. But in moments like this, one inevitably feels the difference acutely.

“I’ll wait.”

Lebel spoke without looking at Kailem. He was prepared to wait for hours, no, even months if needed.

‘Only after confirming your safety will I be able to move with peace of mind.’

As his Adam’s apple heated up, the feelings knotted inside burst out.

‘So please, my lady, come back to me. I’ll keep waiting here. Even if it rains, snows, or even if the whole world is enveloped in darkness, I’ll be here.’

Oh my. Kailem, who had been watching Lebel, exhaled in a sigh.

It was because a single tear flowed down from the man who seemed like not a drop of blood would come out even if stabbed. It was truly unfortunate that he couldn’t even offer a handkerchief.

‘So he was someone who could cry for another.’

Kailem put aside one prejudice about Lebel.

This mercenary commander was a man who, even if he brushed aside his own sorrows, would embrace the pain of others.

Lebel slowly sank to the ground. Pouring out the tears piled up in the pit of his stomach was like vomiting blood.

To think that the man who was always firm and unshakeable would crumble because of a woman he held in his heart. If someone saw, it was a sight worthy of ridicule, saying how pathetic it was.

However, Kailem Western did not mock Lebel. Rather, he looked down at this pitiful mercenary with sunken eyes.

He too had a time when he was a ‘shadow’, so he understood this heart better than anyone.

‘Time will solve it.’

How much time did he have left?

If he had known that Lebel had feelings for the Empress, he might not have followed the order to inject poison during the swordsmanship competition.

Kailem Western had to fight the oncoming regret. Of all things.

However, past actions cannot be resolved with just four letters. Kailem quietly knelt on one knee and patted the shoulder of the collapsed mercenary commander.

**

In the fading consciousness, it felt like someone kept calling her name. It rang desperately, as if telling her not to go towards the river heading to the afterlife.

A space filled with pitch-black darkness and silence. Ilarid walked endlessly forward.

To find the source of the voice echoing like an echo, to wake up from this long, long dream.

Ilarid. Someone called her. Only the name ringing in her ears was clearly heard. The voice she wanted to hear most at this moment.

Could it be you?

“…Lebel.”

She barely uttered his name from her parched mouth.

Her eyelids were still heavy. She tried moving her fingers one by one, but they still wouldn’t obey her will.

“Too bad it’s not the ‘shadow’.”

At the slow voice, her eyes opened on their own.

There was still a lot of dizziness remaining. It wasn’t too difficult to adjust to the darkness since everything around was dark.

Ilarid quietly bit her lip after confirming the source of the voice.

“…Cledius.”

“You’ve finally woken up. I was starting to get bored.”

“What happened?”

“You collapsed while bleeding. The bleeding wasn’t severe, but as you can see, you were poisoned.”

He took Ilarid’s hand and began bending her fingers one by one. It was to check if there was any problem with movement.

The navy sleeve fell from her raised arm.

The clothes covering her body were the navy ceremonial robes Cledius had worn for the inspection this morning.

“…I know you don’t like it. But I have to check. It would be a big problem if you ended up paralyzed by mistake.”

Ilarid wanted to shake him off and get up right away, to leave this place immediately. But her whole body felt heavy, as if someone had placed a wet cotton blanket on her.

After checking the movement of all her fingers, he stood up.

“We’ll have to wait longer for the antidote to take effect. Lie down a bit more. I should give some news to those waiting outside.”

“…I’ll go out.”

“In that state?”

Cledius looked down at Ilarid and smirked. She sensed something was off.

The sensation beneath the ceremonial robe covering her body was clearly close to bare skin.