Chapter 3

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Chapter 3

Isilis, startled by the man’s words, widened her eyes and glanced up.

She was really surprised. She thought it was only happening to him, but even the man who seemed that strong, couldn’t escape the pressure of marriage.

‘Well, is that the fate of nobles?’

It was amusing. Were all living things the same? He seemed to be quite a helpful person, though he couldn’t ignore the words of his family.

Isilis shook her head, taking comfort in knowing that she was not alone.

“Thank you for your help.”

Even though she didn’t fall into the water with the help of a man, she had to say goodbye to get out of his place.

It was because the eyes around her were too much.

The man’s face was handsome. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and had a manly appearance, but his sharply stretched face with thick lines was a handsome face that could attract attention at once.

Although her face was hidden from view by the robe, when such a handsome man was with a woman wearing a robe with her black hair blowing in the wind, they had no choice but to draw attention. Anyway, she didn’t really care that people’s eyes were drawn towards her.

‘I stayed in one place for too long.’

She had to go somewhere else immediately.

Isilis tried to move her steps, thinking that she would have to move in a hurry, as the imperial palace wizards might come looking for her. However, as she turned around, the man opened his mouth and grabbed her arm.

“Where are you going?”

“Oh. no.”

Isilis cast her magic lightly, thinking that he touched her carelessly.

“Ugh!”

It must have been quite painful, but she opened her mouth as she watched the man’s behavior unchanged except for a little groan.

“That’s rude.”

“…I apologize.”

She was wearing a wizard’s robe, but the robe she wore was made of luxurious material. A quick apology from the man, who noticed that she was a nobleman, softened her heart a little.

“Forgive me for touching the Lady’s body.”

Isilis whispered softly at the man’s courteous appearance as he lightly pressed his lips to the back of her hand.

“Just this time.”

“Should I say thank you?”

As if his confident attitude was funny, the man responded with a smile. With the man’s expression and face, Isilis somehow lost her gaze.

‘I think I saw it somewhere…’

Isilis could not hide her dazedness. It was definitely a face she had seen somewhere. Who was he…? He looked familiar.

“Have we met before?”

“Are you seducing me, Lady?”

The man opened his mouth again to Isilis, who thought for a moment about how she could hear these words now.

“Perhaps. I’ve been to many places.”

No, it wasn’t him. The face she remembered was not the face he had today. He had a younger face than this, but she couldn’t remember it very well. Still troubled, Isilis eventually decided to stop her thoughts.

The important thing right now was that it wasn’t him, it was to hurry to find a man who would allow her to bear a child.

“Then, excuse me.”

As she gave the man a light glance, she then passed by. Isilis could feel the man’s gaze chasing after her, but she didn’t look back.

Etort port had an unusual barrier because it was a place where many people came and went, it was the most strongly reinforced place except for the Imperial Palace. The effect of the barrier here on herself as an imperial family was minimal, but she had to move quickly.

This was because her magical powers may become entangled with the founding Emperor’s magic. The magic of the ancestors was so great that they were protecting this country even now. Even while she was standing, that magical energy continued to seep through her body.

Bloodline was a good match for bloodlines because if not her magic could have gone on a rampage.

For that reason, wizards were reluctant to come to this port. Perhaps, even her own aides, who remain in the imperial court, would never have imagined that she would be in this port. It was possible because she was not an ordinary wizard.

‘He was a lively man.’

Her thoughts of the man continued to catch up to her. The man’s well-knit muscles made her think that he was a knight. It wasn’t just that. The man was clearly a Sword Master. He couldn’t avoid the eyes of her, a wizard.

Judging from the flow of his aura, it was well captured and hidden, though he must have reached a certain level.

“Recently, who… Did you rise to the ranks of masters?”

There were more Sword Masters than she thought, so Isilis tried to remember them. Nonetheless, she couldn’t remember him. If she had heard rumors that someone as young as the man had risen to the ranks of a Sword Master, she would surely have been remembered.

“Then, is he a mercenary?”

There were no rumors about the knights, so only mercenaries remained. However, to be called a mercenary, the man’s momentum was not normal. He didn’t have the characteristics of a mercenary… No, he was not free-spirited.

He was a man with a restrained atmosphere without the freedom of mercenaries wandering around the country.

‘He was a well-educated man.’

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to come out with such grace.

Although it was a brief meeting, she could feel it in the man’s hand movements. He was comparable to the nobles who went to and from the Imperial Palace. That was the reason why she stopped talking with him for a while, not wanting to share words.

Knowing that he wasn’t an ordinary person. After all, anyone who caught the Empress’ eyes was proof that he wasn’t an ordinary person.

‘If I have to look at the heir, a person like that…’

She had an idea that suddenly ran through her mind. If her own blood was mixed with the blood of the Sword Master, the heir would probably be born with great abilities.

“What should I do…”

The problem deepened, though nothing was solved. She couldn’t just blindly ask him to sleep with her in order to have children. Isilis decided to find lodging once. When she came here with the predecessor Empress, there was the lodging she had found.

Even though he was a man she liked quite a bit, she gave up the lingering feeling and headed for the lodging where her memories with the predecessor Empress was dwelling.

“The annex.”

“I’m sorry, guest. There is already a guest in the annex.”

“Then, I will rent the entire third floor.”

The owner seemed startled at Isilis’s words, but he nodded his head.

Because it was a port city, various people came and went, and among them, there were many nobles who were reluctant to reveal their identity. Despite that, it was the first time he saw anyone trying to rent the entire floor.

“How would you like to pay?”

“Do you receive jewels?”

“Of course.”

Just as she was about to take out the jewel in the magic pouch, an unexpected voice interrupted her.

“The annex is my lodging… I see you here again.”

It was the man

Berthas Hillenton.

He was the Duke of the Hillenton Empire and the sword that protected the Empire. Not long ago, he had reached the status of a Sword Master, and was presenting himself as an envoy to a foreign country, avoiding the eyes of the Emperor, who was wary of him.

“I’m glad I didn’t tell you.”

No one knew that Berthas had reached the status of a Sword Master. It was because he had kept it a secret, and when he reached that level, he could have hidden his aura.

He hated being tired after revealing it for nothing.

The current Emperor was Berthas’ uncle. After the death of Berthas’ father, the predecessor Emperor, he pushed the young boy away and took the seat of the Emperor.

As soon as he was ten, he was the one who chased him to the border. There was a decisive reason why Berthas, who had devoted himself so far to such an emperor, turned away. For that reason, he came to the Larchen Empire by giving up everything he had carried on as an envoy.

“Marriage…”

‘Am I a thoroughbred stallion?’

After returning from a minor local war at the border, it was the ladies of lowly families who were pushed to him.

It didn’t matter if the family was lowly. Suppose they were ladies who could properly lead the Duchy. Nevertheless, all the girls on the list had flaws. They were either greedy or extravagant, and if not, they were a person of no account.

Berthas tried to understand this, too. Still, it was unforgivable for a woman with an age difference of more than ten years to be brought in and that she was the Emperor’s mistress.

“How dare.”

A low, shrill voice rang in his brain.

The death of the predecessor Emperor was also covered. His uncle promised to spare his life by covering everything.

But, that was a mistake.

The Emperor, who had obtained indulgences, ran even more rampant. It was not enough that he sent himself as a child to the battlefield, and when Berthas returned alive, he continued to try to kill him.

He defended the empire because his people were the ones he had to take care of. There was no other reason. Although Berthas, no matter how hard he tried, was eventually lethargic when all these feats went to the Emperor.

Unable to see it any longer, his lieutenant, Sir Hector, pushed him on the back.

“Go outside and get some air! Is there anything that changes just by breathing out there?”

He got out of the lieutenant’s insistence, but he didn’t know where to go. He had never traveled. He had only been to the battlefields and pubs, and he had no idea what to do as he had never stayed in such a peaceful place.

While walking aimlessly, he saw the sea and there he met a woman who looked in danger.

Her face, which looked like she was a noble, was familiar. He seemed to have seen her somewhere, and although he replied playfully to her, Berthas were also feeling the same. It was definitely a face he had seen somewhere.

So, he said goodbye and gazed at the back of her head as she disappeared without knowing it through his eyes full of regrets.

‘Really, where is she going? I should have asked for her name…’

A woman who had gone away without a chance to hold onto her. As he looked in the direction of the disappearing woman, Berthas felt deep regret.

‘Regret…?’

However, he returned to his lodging sooner than expected, and he ran into the woman again. She was about to pay to rent the entire third floor, so he stepped out hurriedly.

“I said I would rent the third floor.”

He was intrigued by the woman who continued to speak without responding to his words. What was that woman doing…?

“I rented the whole annex, but I can give you one. How about it, Lady?”

He knew it was a nonsensical offer, too. If it was a noble lady, even if he was slapped on the cheek, he had nothing to say.

“You are rude.”

Though Berthas opened his mouth once again at the sight of her speaking calmly without getting angry.

“I’ll just give you the annex. There is still a place left.”

“Is there anything you want from me?”

He couldn’t understand himself either. What the hell was that woman, and why was he acting like this…? If the lieutenant found out that he had brought a woman into the annex, there would have been an uproar.

“Maybe, maybe not.”

Berthas said so because he couldn’t understand his flowing mind. He really didn’t. He saw the woman thinking about his words. The cold feeling in his hand that was suddenly clenched suddenly awakened his mind.

‘What kind of tension is this…’

It was really weird. The woman’s mouth was open.

“I’ll pay for the annex.”

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