“Please wait here for a moment, His Majesty will arrive shortly.”

Leah was in the garden waiting for the Emperor, who was participating in a state council meeting. The summer scent of grass filling the garden tickled her nose.

“No. But I came for an examination, so why meet in the garden?”

Leah was lost in thought, wondering if the Emperor intended to conduct the examination in the garden under the blazing sun. She couldn’t understand his intentions at all.

‘I thought he was an extremely kind person.’

When the Emperor first rescued her from human traffickers in the alley, he was so gentlemanly that she mistook him for a knight.

However, the Emperor she encountered again in the palace was at odds with the image she had seen before.

The Emperor’s eyes, glinting like a viper’s, looked as if they would crush the Duke at any moment. Startled by the memory of his appearance, Leah shook her head.

‘Think of something else. Think of something else.’

As Leah was strolling through the garden to clear her mind, she heard the whispering voices of maids from somewhere.

− Have you heard that story?

− What story?

Leah unconsciously listened to the voices coming from beyond the garden wall.

− About how the sickly Duke has become healthy.

− I heard. I even saw him with my own eyes.

− Really? How was he?

− Well… I didn’t see him when he was ill, but how should I put it? He didn’t look sickly at all. Maybe because he’s the former prince, he even had an intimidating presence.

Unaware that Leah was listening, they continued their conversation.

− Then what happens to His Majesty the Emperor?

− What do you mean? He continues to be the Emperor, of course.

At this, the voice of the maid who first spoke changed strangely.

− But, I heard a strange rumor…

− What kind of rumor?

− A rumor related to the late Emperor’s will.

− His will?

Just as Leah was unconsciously focusing on the conversation that seemed to be continuing, suddenly…

“I’ve kept you waiting for a long time.”

At the unexpected sound of a man’s voice, the maids could be heard leaving. As Leah turned around, the Emperor was standing close in front of her.

“I greet Your Majesty the Emperor.”

She hastily knelt and paid her respects.

“Oh my… Let’s put aside such formal greetings.”

The Emperor gestured for Leah to rise. As Leah stood up straight and met his gaze, only then did Illey smile with satisfaction.

A gentle smile as if basking in the sun. The Emperor appeared as gentlemanly as when they first met.

“Shall we take a short walk?”

Leah had been staring blankly at Illey, but his voice snapped her back to reality.

As they walked through the spacious garden, silence hung between the two. Only occasionally did Leah give brief answers to the Emperor’s questions.

While walking and looking ahead, she glanced at the Emperor furtively. He had clearly summoned her for an examination, but instead of that, they were leisurely strolling through the garden with the Emperor.

‘What exactly is this situation…?’

Illey occasionally asked her about Akkia.

Starting with whether Akkia was eating well, the questions continued one after another.

Was he sleeping well? Was his health no longer a problem at all?

The questions were very trivial, the kind a cousin brother might naturally ask. However, even as she answered, Leah kept glancing at the Emperor, her mind preoccupied.

At that moment, Illey, who had stopped at the edge of the garden, turned towards Leah. Because of this, Leah, who had been following behind, nearly buried her nose in his back.

‘That was close.’

Leah, who had barely managed to stop just before colliding, soothed her startled heart.

“By the way.”

A low voice crept into her ear as she sighed in relief.

“Have we met before?”

Leah slowly raised her head towards the Emperor. Illey’s blue eyes, looking down at her, sparkled as they caught the sunlight.

“You rescued me from danger in the alley before…”

“No. I mean even before that.”

The Emperor shook his head before Leah could finish speaking.

“Before that…?”

Blonde hair was rare in the Croatea Empire. Moreover, he was the Emperor, wasn’t he? What connection could there be between the Emperor and a commoner like herself?

“No. As far as I remember, that was the first time.”

The Emperor had a presence as imposing as Akkia’s. If she had seen such a man before, he would surely have been lodged in a corner of her memory.

“Is that so?”

As Illey stared at Leah intently, an enigmatic smile settled on his lips.

“How strange, I could have sworn I’d seen you before.”

With those final words, the two returned to the palace from the garden. Even as Leah headed towards the audience chamber, the Emperor’s words kept echoing in her mind.

‘He says he’s seen me before? That’s impossible…’

She had grown up in an orphanage since infancy, so there was no way she could have accidentally encountered the Emperor.

‘It seems His Majesty must be confusing me with someone else.’

“Please, have a seat.”

Upon returning to the audience chamber, Illey guided Leah to a desk prepared with refreshments and tea. As she sat down opposite the Emperor, an attendant came out to pour the prepared tea into both their cups.

“Do you have something troubling you? Your expression has become less pleasant in just a short while.”

“Ah, that is… I’m a bit concerned about what Your Majesty said earlier.”

Leah had been preoccupied with the Emperor’s words even as they returned from the garden to the palace. Leah gave a faint smile towards Illey, who was staring intently at her.

“It seems Your Majesty must have mistaken me for someone else. I grew up in Tren from birth, you see.”

Leah couldn’t understand the Emperor who seemed so certain they had met before.

However, she couldn’t outright deny the Emperor’s words either, so she just tried to dismiss it with a smile.

“Oh my. Is that what you were thinking about? Don’t take my words too seriously. I was just saying that because you resemble someone I know very well.”

The Emperor, seeming to notice Leah’s embarrassment, smiled at her. Then, resting his chin on his hand, he gradually lowered his gaze.

“It’s just that people with red hair like yours are not common in the Empire.”

As Leah lowered her head, the ends of her red hair that cascaded down to her waist came into view. Indeed, such a vivid red color was not common, so it was understandable.

At the Emperor’s words dismissing it as nothing, Leah secretly swallowed a sigh, as if finally relieved.

At that moment, an attendant entered and announced to Illey.

“Your Majesty. Duke Heidern has arrived.”

“Tell him to come in.”

Illey brightened at the news of the Duke’s arrival. Today, the Emperor had invited only Leah, not Akkia, which was why she had come to the palace alone.

Therefore, Leah, who didn’t know Akkia would come to the palace, widened her eyes in surprise. As if understanding Leah’s surprise, Illey smiled.

“I called Akkia because I have something separate to command him. You two will be returning together anyway, right?”

“Yes? Yes.”

As Leah nodded towards the Emperor, the Duke entered. Akkia glanced at Leah and then approached where the Emperor was seated.

“I greet Your Majesty the Emperor.”

“Yes. Welcome, Akkia.”

As Akkia paid his respects to the Emperor, Illey gestured for him to rise.

“It’s the first time you’ve responded so quickly to a summons to the palace.”

The Emperor’s narrowed eyes turned towards Akkia. The Duke was about to answer, but glanced at Leah and sighed instead.

“The letter said it was urgent. What did you call me for?”

“Yes. Something time-sensitive has come up.”

“Your Majesty. Should I go out and wait?”

If it was time-sensitive, it must be an important matter.

Leah, who had been quietly listening to the two, asked Illey in a low voice. Illey shook his head at Leah.

“No. Both of you listen.”

Illey raised his hand towards the attendant standing behind. The attendant then brought and unfolded what looked like a map of the Croatea Empire.

“You know there’s a salt mine in Bialitzkal, right?”

“Yes. The salt mine is a great treasure of the Empire.”

‘Salt mine?’

The Emperor pointed to a region on the map spread out on the desk.

The salt mine in the northern region of Bialitzkal had been a treasure of the northern region for over 3000 years.

The salt, called ‘gray gold’, mined from there had been produced and distributed for over 700 years.

Even Leah, as a pharmacist, knew about the salt mine story and looked back and forth between the two. Illey continued speaking while gazing at Akkia.

“We received an urgent letter from there yesterday. Part of the mine has collapsed.”

“…Collapsed?”

“Yes. It seems the supporting pillars built to mine the salt have crumbled. There have already been casualties. Not only the rescued miners but all the villagers are trembling in fear.”

At the mention of the mine collapse, a shadow fell over Akkia’s face. As if predicting the Emperor’s next words.

Leaning deep into the throne, Illey spoke to Akkia.

“I’d like you to go there in person.”

“…”

“I’d like to go myself, but as you can see, I’m in a position where I can’t leave the palace. And now that your health has improved, I’d like you to start lightening my burden.”

Dispatched to the north? Leah looked at Akkia with wide eyes.

His expression was unreadable, impossible to discern what he was thinking. Only Akkia’s hand, visible below the desk, could be seen clenched tightly.

“Akkia. Go to Bialitzkal, determine the exact cause of the mine collapse, and devise a solution.”

Illey smiled at Akkia as he issued the imperial order that could not be refused.

.

.

.

After the two had left, Marquis Rodrigo approached the Emperor. The Marquis seemed concerned about Akkia leaving for Bialitzkal and asked the Emperor.

“Your Majesty. Is it really alright to send Duke Heidern? That place…”

“Ah, that’s fine.”

Illey waved his hand, having understood what Marquis Rodrigo was about to say. He continued speaking to the Marquis as if it were no big deal.

“What’s there to fear from an old man with no heir to pass things on to?”

The image of the lord ruling Bialitzkal formed in the Emperor’s mind. A cantankerous and stubborn old man.

A chilling smile played on Illey’s lips as he answered, almost muttering.