However, there were still too many enemies. Revealing the existence of these letters too early would only provide enemies an opportunity to act.

‘More evidence and power are needed.’

Cyrus gently closed his eyes.

He had been too young when his ancestors died. There were many who sought his life, both inside and outside.

The nursemaid who had fled with Cyrus had died at the hands of enemies, and the late-arriving Duke Hern had lost his right hand.

There were many enemies and few allies.

The Emperor, greedily eying the North’s strong military power, had sent people to the North under the guise of temporarily filling the vacant Northern King position while secretly looking for Cyrus.

Cyrus sensed he would die if found powerless.

He lived as if vomiting blood. He had to become stronger, gather stronger allies, reclaim the scattered Black Knights, and cultivate an invincible power.

He survived years of hardship, chewing dirt when there was no food, and drinking horse urine when there was no water. Finally, he triumphantly returned to the North.

He was 14 years old then.

‘Six years have passed since.’

Cyrus found it difficult to believe in the disgrace of his ancestors.

His ancestor, the former Northern King, had conspired with the Eastern King to use the power of Paganus to engulf the Empire but died at the hands of the Eastern King due to internal discord.

Although the Emperor had been harsh on the former Northern King, he had only stripped the Eastern King of his military command, avoiding major penalties.

While investigating the undisclosed truth, he learned that West King Rodian Oblen was behind it all. It was during this time that Rodian’s daughter Rachel was the East Queen.

Thanks to Ariana, he found letters related to that war.

‘Releasing these letters now would only make me look like a rebel seeking to clear my parents’ names.’

West King Rodian was trusted by the Emperor, so it was obvious he would dodge responsibility with ease. More evidence and power were needed to hold accountable those involved in the death of the former Northern King.

‘This is the best I could obtain from the West. It’s difficult to easily infiltrate the Western King’s castle, so keeping an eye on Rachel Bronthe was the correct move.’

Thinking of the West, Ariana crossed his mind.
Round forehead under neatly arranged eyebrows, and sparkling clear blue eyes felt like looking at a clear day’s sky.

Last seen, Ariana walked proudly and decisively toward the castle gate. Though her cloaked figure with the hood pulled deep over her head looked very small, she appeared as dignified as a revolutionary general.

He wondered what Ariana might be doing now.

‘Emperor Leichele Bronthe has been consistently sending letters to inquire about Ariana’s well-being, so they wouldn’t be treating her badly.’

If they treat her as they did in the Western Command, irrespective of the connection with the death of the former Northern Emperor, he would not let it go.

When he first encountered Ariana, Cyrus felt a mix of intrigue and unease.

Because a mere 16-year-old girl, a young girl confined and abused in a mansion, had eyes like his during times he had to be constantly alert and moving for survival. Behind her calm expression, he could sense a storm-like hatred, probably because he had gone through a similar phase.

Thus, he found himself concerned for her, not even realizing he was more focused on tracing Ariana’s steps than finding potential evidence against Rachel.

The more he observed Ariana, the more he felt like he was looking at his younger self.

Suddenly, he recalled Ariana’s smile he had seen in the underground dungeon. Her genuine smile.

“[Dash]Smile if you need to. Smile if it’s worth smiling for.”

Recalling her unyielding demeanor in his presence, Cyrus’s face, frozen like ice since his entry into the Northern Territory, relaxed.

Although he had eliminated those who had aimed to kill the previous Northern Emperor and his empress, and seize the throne, the threat was not completely gone. Cyrus did not feel safe even in the Northern Territory.

He had to be more alert than ever to not show any openings to those who wished to cut his throat and take his place.

Yet, he didn’t realize that this moment, thinking of Ariana, was different. More relaxed than usual, he sat cross-legged and wore a faint smile.

+++

Louie executed the whipping.

Isaac, who had gritted through twenty lashes without a scream, groaned and said,

“Louie, you are truly merciless.”

“My job here is done. Both of you can rest at ease.”

“Do I look like I can rest easy?”

Ignoring Isaac’s complaints, Louie left the punishment room without looking back.

Isaac crawled to where he had left his bag, took out some ointment, and smeared it over Andrei’s back.

“Why did you send such a pointless letter?”

“I swear it’s true. His Majesty has fallen head over heels for that girl, no, that woman. Yes, she has the demeanor of a woman. I doubted my own eyes too, but it happened.”

“Nonsense.”

“Nonsense, you say? Do you know why we are late? We had to escort the new Empress to the Eastern Territory.”

“Eastern Territory?”

“Oh, right, I didn’t tell you.”

While Andrei was applying ointment to Isaac’s back, Isaac explained the events that had taken place in the Western Territory. Andrei couldn’t make heads or tails of it.

Cyrus pulled tricks on a woman? Helped her? Kept talking about utility value and fed her? Smiled? Provided a bed? Adjusted his horse’s speed so she could keep up? Pretended to have business in the Eastern Territory and took her all the way there?

When Isaac finished his story, Andrei chuckled.

“Did you dream all this?”