It fascinated her that some people are willing to give their lives for those who aren’t even their biological parents, while some women even try to kill their own daughters.

She found it surprising that she didn’t dislike Zheor, who had thrown his life away for the Eastern Emperor.

The two walked in silence for quite a while. Eventually, they reached the top of a tower attached to the walls of Chayce Castle. From there, the entire city of Elles was visible.

“This is a place I like. The whole city is visible.”

“It’s beautiful.”

Elles, immersed in the deep night, was truly beautiful. The dimly lit buildings emitted a subtle glow under the moonlight, and the lamps scattered throughout the streets seemed like stars in the night sky.

“Starting May 6th, there’s a three-day Prosperity Festival in this city. It’s a luxurious celebration to pray for a good harvest. Lots of merchants come and there are circuses, so there’s a lot to see. It would be nice if you could enjoy the Prosperity Festival too, but your trial happens to coincide.”

“I wonder what it’s like. I’ve never been to a festival.”

“Aren’t there various festivals in the Federation too? Don’t they have something similar to the Prosperity Festival around this time?”

“There are. But I wasn’t allowed.”

Zheor glanced at Ariana, who was standing next to him.

“What about next year? Maybe next year you can also join the Prosperity Festival?”

“That would depend on the outcome of the trial.”

“Even if you lose and have to go back to the Federation, my father won’t leave you alone like before.”

To that, she could not reply.

Really?

Ariana had married a much older man at 16. The Eastern Emperor she met at a royal party had not even offered a word of comfort to his daughter, who was sold into marriage at 16.

‘If I go back to the Federation this time, I’ll have to marry that man again. Or die.’

It didn’t seem like the Western Emperor would spare Ariana, who was trying to find her own way after escaping the Federation. He was the kind of person who would find it easier to kill her before another spark could be ignited.

‘If I lose the trial, it’s the end.’
In this trial, although she had anticipated and prepared for what Seo Je-hu could do, Ariana could not be completely free from anxiety. It was also her first time in a custody trial, so she couldn’t be sure of the outcome.

Suppressing the emotions surging within her chest, she calmly looked down at the city of Ells. Jeor spoke.

“The Eastern Realm is a beautiful place. Except for the border occasionally violated by Paganus, it’s peaceful and quiet. That’s why the people naturally have a laid-back disposition.”

“It seems so.”

“The White family is the same. They are all trusting and kind.”

“Yes, they are all good people.”

Jeor turned to look at Ariana. His purple eyes pierced into her.

“But I’m not like that, Ariana. I’m skeptical about what you’re harboring within.”

Ariana raised her head to meet Jeor’s eyes. His piercing gaze was quietly met by her blue eyes.

“Because of your custody trial, my father and grandfather, the pillars of the Eastern Realm, have gone to the empire. During that time, the Eastern Realm could be empty. Or those pillars could be away from the Eastern Realm. If Seo Je-hu takes advantage of that moment, a bloodstorm might occur in the Eastern Realm.”

“Could the Western Realm’s military force be a match for the Eastern Realm?”

“If it’s just the Western Realm’s military, there’s no concern. But is it just the people of the Western Realm?”

Ariana was internally impressed.

Jeor had already suspected collusion between Seo Je-hu and Paganus. And he was only 21 years old.

“The Emperor has also turned his back on my father, influenced by Seo Je-hu’s words. The Emperor is greedy and distrustful, easily swayed. If Seo Je-hu manipulates the Emperor again, what will happen? My father and grandfather, who took only a single battalion of knights, may never set foot in the Eastern Realm again.”

It was a reasonable suspicion.

No one else had such doubts, oddly enough.

Or maybe everyone has these doubts but doesn’t express them.

Dong Je-hu, or his predecessors, could have set up this situation. They could have passed on doubts too shameful to express to their own flesh and blood to Jeor, who wasn’t of the same blood.

She wasn’t angry or disappointed. She had never expected blind trust without questioning in the first place.

It was laughable to suddenly ask to trust a daughter who was seen only briefly at birth when she arrived from the Western Realm.

“I am—”

Jeor stepped closer to Ariana.

His right hand touched the hilt of his sheathed sword.

His amethyst-like eyes shone coldly, and a heavy aura obscured the stars. The spirit of a warrior who had never lost in the frontier wars weighed down on Ariana’s thin shoulders.

But Ariana neither shrank nor avoided his gaze. She had expected that a man like this would reveal his true colors someday.

Families who welcome back a long-lost daughter with open arms—there were no such good things in Ariana’s life, nor could there be.

Keeping his eyes on Ariana, who kept her head up and looked back at him calmly, Jeor spoke.

“I’m contemplating whether it would be better to kill you here for the sake of the Eastern Realm.”