Chapter 13

The princess trembled as she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. “I can tell you what kind of abnormalities and changes are happening in my body and where they are located.”

Noyer leaned forward on his throne, his eyes narrowed. “Can you swear before the gods?”

“I swear,” the princess replied, her voice stronger this time.

“And this is not just a temporary measure to avoid execution?” Noyer demanded.

“That is for Your Majesty to judge,” the princess said, her eyes filling with tears.

The room fell silent except for the distant tolling of a bell. Twelve times it rang, signaling noon. The execution was scheduled to happen at that very moment, but it was clear that it wasn’t going to take place. Noyer’s advisors exchanged uneasy glances, and the tension in the room was palpable.

If they didn’t execute the princess, there would be consequences. The barbarians who were her captors would be enraged and demand her release. But if they did execute her, there was a chance they would never discover the true nature of her condition.

Noyer tapped his armrest thoughtfully. “It is not for me to judge, Princess,” he said finally. “The Duke should make the judgment.”

He knew Rezette Kyrstan’s character all too well. Although he didn’t engage in the gruesome acts that rumors attributed to him, Rezette was undoubtedly cold and calculating. If something or someone obstructed him, he would ruthlessly eliminate them, be it a person, animal, or object. He never looked back once he’d made up his mind.

So, even if the princess’s words were nothing but lies, the duke wouldn’t make an appearance in this place. At best, a disingenuous statement would be issued on his behalf.

But what if there was a grain of truth in the princess’s words?

“If by some chance it’s true, this is an excellent opportunity to gain favor,”Noyer thought. The successor to Rezette Kyrstan was worth more than a mere piece of land.

So, Noyer decided to wait and see. Time would reveal whether the princess’s words held any merit. 

Noyer sank deeper into his throne, the room silent save for the sound of his own thoughts. Suddenly, the door to the audience chamber swung open without warning.

Elise, who had closed her eyes in an attempt to clear her blurry vision, opened them once more to see an imposing figure looming over her. Her body began to tremble uncontrollably despite her best efforts to stay calm.

“The sound of footsteps…” she whispered to herself. Throughout her journey to Van Yela, she had rehearsed this moment countless times in her mind—what to say to gain the upper hand, how to navigate the situation, and how to answer the emperor’s questions. But in reality, those things weren’t nearly as daunting as this moment.

The most terrifying thing was Rezette Kyrstan’s reaction. How would he respond to this unprecedented turn of events?

A cold voice interrupted her thoughts.

“Have you summoned me, Your Majesty?”

Noyer straightened his back and glanced at his watch. Had only an hour passed since he rang the noon bell? Rezette, dressed in formal attire as if he was preparing to depart for Rotiara, had arrived early. Noyer had anticipated that he might not show up at all, but it seemed he was mistaken. Could it be possible that…?

“You’re likely aware of the situation. Duke, please explain,” Noyer stated. “Is what the Princess stated true?”

Rezette’s jaw clenched, and his piercing gaze fell upon the kneeling princess.

Elise struggled to withstand his stare. Even without turning around, she sensed it. His eyes reflected anger and contempt, and she couldn’t muster the courage to raise her head and confirm what she already knew.

She wasn’t scared at this point, but she found it hard to bear the disdain that had stripped away her last remaining shred of dignity. Despite the life-or-death circumstance, she was overcome with self-loathing.

Shame, humiliation, guilt, and Rezette bombarded her in quick succession. This ridiculous lie had not just sullied Rezette’s honor; it would have been preferable if it were true. She had become an impulsive prisoner who had entrapped the duke with her desires. Even if she tried to argue that she was the one who had seduced him first, the outcome would remain unchanged.

“Get up,” Rezette commanded.

Elise struggled to stand as the fog clouded her vision. She didn’t even realize that the words were directed towards her until her right arm was roughly seized. Confused, she looked up at him, but his gaze was not on her.

“I request an audience with Her Highness the Princess,” Rezette demanded, still holding Elise’s trembling arm.

“Answer the question first, Duke,” Noyer replied firmly.

“I have only received a couple of words from the messenger. Please give me time to understand the situation,” Rezette replied, his tone respectful but still seeking permission. Noyer’s eyes flicked to the princess, but before he could speak, Rezette interjected.

“Then I will take that as permission,” he declared before releasing Elise’s wrist and turning to face her, grabbing her hand tightly like a noose.

Noyer observed his younger brother as he exited the audience chamber, dragging the princess behind him like a ragdoll. The knight who had followed the supervisor outside stood motionless, appearing unsure of what to do.

“Ruben, come in here!” Noyer bellowed, his attention still focused on the closed door.

The knight jumped to his feet and hastily knelt before the throne. Without taking his gaze off the door, Noyer issued his instructions.

“Provide a detailed account of everything that took place between the princess and the duke, from the Argan border to the Imperial Palace. Include every single detail, no matter how insignificant.”

* * *

“Are you out of your mind?” Rezette barked as he grabbed Elise’s hands and wrists, pulling her out of the audience chamber.

Once again, Elise was unable to respond as she was swept away by his forceful touch and pushed against a stone decorative pillar. Her armor collided with the hard surface, producing a loud, painful noise, but she stifled her scream. It was not the time or place to display weakness.

“What were you thinking?” Rezette’s anger boiled over like a raging tempest. This was the third time he had unleashed his fury upon her, but unlike the previous occasions, it showed no signs of abating. For the first time since she had met him two months ago, the duke was openly hostile.

“I asked you a question, Your Highness. What were you thinking and planning?” The rigid formality that had always characterized their interactions was in disarray, a clear indication that Rezette’s composure had been shattered.

“Surely, we both know that such a thing could never happen?” Elise quivered as Rezette’s hostility pierced her like a sharp blade, tearing through her chest.

“I’m sorry, Your Grace. I apologize…” Elise murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Apologizing for causing trouble is not what I want,” Rezette growled, his voice dripping with menace. “Tell me why you lied. This is the third time I’ve asked.”

Elise’s throat tightened. “You know what I want the most.”

“Speak plainly. I don’t understand if you beat around the bush.”

“I want to live. I want to live,” Elise pleaded, her body writhing in Rezette’s grasp. Suddenly, she broke free, tumbling to the ground.

“Is that all?” Rezette asked, his voice lowered, but still laced with resentment. Did she really want to live like this, without self-respect and dignity? Elise’s tear-stained cheeks confirmed the gravity of the situation. She had to live, no matter what. There was something she had to do, and she couldn’t let herself be dragged down by the heavy shackles on her wrists.

“I don’t want to die,” Elise said, her voice shaky. “I want to live, no matter what. There’s something I have to do, so I can’t just hang myself like this.”

“It’s something you have to handle on your own. You shouldn’t drag me into it,” Rezette replied, his blue eyes reproaching.

Elise let out a bitter laugh. “If I had tried to find another way, would you have just stood by and watched?” she asked.

“At the very least…” Rezette trailed off, closing his eyes for a long time before opening them again. “At the very least, if I had known you were planning something like this, I would have tried to come up with an alternative.”

Elise shook her head, her tears flowing freely. “No. That’s not true. Don’t lie,” she said. “You wouldn’t have even pretended to listen. No matter what tricks I tried or what words I blabbered, you would have turned a blind eye, wouldn’t you? You’ve already said you have no intention of helping me. You…” 

“Your Highness,” Rezette began.

“I think I should have died in the square outside today.”

This time, Rezette did not immediately respond. He just let out a short, stuffy sigh, confirming Elise’s fears.

Rezette Kyrstan had delayed her execution for nearly two months, a display of mercy that was as cruel as it was kind. Elise knew that his apparent kindness towards her was just an attempt to allow someone who was going to die to enjoy their remaining time as much as possible.