Chapter 52

Chapter 52

He smiled as he saw his subordinates denying his words. His army was split in two and was heading for Hillenton’s capital.

First, espionage soldiers went to the borders of the Khalifa Empire and caused chaos.

It was a maneuver to widen the gap between the Khalifa Empire and the Hillenton Empire. It was to prevent the Khalifa Empire from sending his troops to help Hillenton when he took control of the capital.

Second, another army under Hector’s command crosses the mountains.

The fastest way from Larchen to the capital of Hillenton was by boat. Everyone knew that the mountain was so rugged that the army could not attack Hillenton’s Capital by foot on its precipice. Berthas knew that too. He would have known that all his life had he not escaped through it.

Holding the map he had drawn, Hector moved with the soldiers.

Finally, Berthas was heading towards Hillenton’s capital. The subordinates with him decided to use the straightforward method.

As he was on his way to the capital at the Emperor’s call, he planned to attack the imperial castle immediately if they blocked his army at the Capital’s main gate. All he had to do was climb the walls surrounding the Capital.

The easiest thing was to open the front door… there was no way that the city gates would not open to him, who had been called by the Emperor.

“That… Your Excellency. Then, the child’s mother…”

“It’s none of your business.”

One of the men asked as the colorfully dressed child fell out of nowhere.

Berthas glanced at the child’s face while lightly answering their questions. It was the first time he had seen the child’s face for such a long time. She had the same hair color as his, black hair, and ultramarine blue eyes.

As he gazed into the child’s dark eyes, he thought of Isilis.

At the time she met him, she had bright-colored eyes though he always thought they didn’t fit her. He couldn’t believe she was the same child he had met when he was young. When his suspicion turned into truth, he felt like he had the whole world.

…She was actually alive.

“But, why did she come here?”

“Looks like something happened.”

“What happened—”

His subordinates murmured around him, asking what had happened to the child. In the meantime, smiles bloomed on the faces of those who guarded his surroundings, following the cute smiling child.

“I need to find a nanny to take care of the child.”

“It is not right to have a woman in the army.”

“Then, I’ll look for someone who has experience caring for children among the soldiers.”

“I’ll leave it to you.”

The deputy took the child from Berthas’ hands and stepped out of the barracks. There were subordinates waiting for Berthas who couldn’t take his eyes off it.

“Where was I?”

“You didn’t… find her?”

“Yes. Your Majesty.”

Swallowing the rising rage, Isilis opened her mouth and the nobles knelt before her.

“Did you say that after the princess disappeared, you sent someone, but you still couldn’t find her?”

“There are traces of magical power being used, but we cannot trace them.”

“Why? Was there anything impossible with magic in Larchen?”

“That… Your Majesty built a magical barrier, and that insignificant magical power was buried. No trace could be found.”

“In the end, it’s my fault?”

“No. Your Majesty. That’s not it…”

“I shouldn’t have listened to the nobles!”

At those words, everyone standing around her bowed their back as she slammed the armrest in anger.

“We will fix it.”

“Fix? Do this look fixed now…!”

“Your Majesty. What makes this different…”

“You dare!”

Nothing changed. Still, she needed a place to vent this anger. Isilis pressed down because she thought the child would be fine. She took care of the arrogant nobles and set up a new barrier for the country as they wished. She did, but the result was this…

Even though it was clear that the protection magic was activated, where did the child disappear? No, was she still alive?

The servants let out a sigh as she slumped down in her seat.

“Find her! Even if you need to search for the end of the world, find her. Where is the Marquis who promised me!”

“We are still looking, Your Majesty. Please calm down.”

Duke Verus stepped forward and appeased Isilis. It had already been two days since the child disappeared.

“I’m sorry to inform you, but if something happened to the princess, we would find her body, but since that wasn’t the case, it’s clear that someone took her.”

“The child’s clothes are the clothes worn by the imperial family. Even after seeing that, no one informed the imperial family?”

“It wouldn’t be easy for a single citizen of the empire to communicate with the imperial family. How about informing the entire empire?”

“That won’t do!”

With Duke Verus’ words, Marquis Miller objected. Attention was focused on him, who took a step forward and spoke.

“If another empire found out about it, there may be trouble for the Princess. So, it’s better to look for her secretly, Your Majesty.”

“Covertly or whatever, bring her… bring my child!”

“…I will keep that in mind.”

As Marquis Miller withdrew, Isilis waved her hand. Perhaps they were waiting for her beckoning, the nobles left the audience room too.

“I can’t believe I trusted such things…”

“Your Majesty.”

“Why did you call me?”

“What are you going to do with Marquis Cyrka?”

“Find out about the background. There was no way that the still-young marquis planned all this alone. What happened to the impure ones you caught?”

“Most of them are still young.”

“Strange. Who instilled strange ideas in them?”

“I don’t know. I’m still interrogating them.”

“It doesn’t matter if they lose their mind. Find out.”

“Yes.”

When Allure left, the sound of the attendant’s notification came from outside the audience room.

“Your Majesty. Usman Khalifa of the Khalifa Empire asks for an audience.”

“Didn’t he go back?”

“It seems that he has returned and come back.”

“I don’t have enough energy…”

“Isilis!”

“Impolite!”

“I heard the story, what happened?”

As the story even went to the Crown Prince of another empire, Larchen’s status was greatly reduced.

Usman spoke again.

As she gestured to cover his mouth, Isilis dismissed the people. It was only when the attendants and other wizards left did she asked Usman.

“Didn’t you go back to the Empire?”

“It wasn’t a big deal, so I came back.”

“Larchen’s Imperial Palace is not a place you come and go like her house.”

“So, I came with the previous Empress.”

“…What?”

“I met her on the way here.”

“Where is she?”

“Outside.”

“Outside?”

“She said she would look around the Capital.”

Even though her head hurts just from losing her child, even the previous Empress appeared now… Isilis could not help but suspect the strange events that seemed to coincide with each other.

“I heard that the child is missing.”

“Where did you hear that?”

“I have ears and eyes.”

“….”

“You couldn’t find her.”

“….”

Usman, who had been staring at the silent Isilis, shrugged his shoulders.

“I will help you.”

“What?”

“I promise to dispatch my people and find her.”

She couldn’t understand what he was saying. Why would he do this? He would lend a hand in finding another man’s child that she gave birth to.

“Why?”

“Because I love you.”

“…What?”

“I love you, Isilis, so I will do anything you want.”

“There is nothing that I, the Empress of Larchen, cannot do.”

“I know it’s not. Why don’t you admit it? Just take my help. The warriors of the Khalifa Empire are better at espionage warfare than you thought.”

“They stand out only with their looks.”

“The Khalifa Empire loves talented people. You shouldn’t think that everyone in Lacrhen will be loyal to you.”

When he spoke with a smirk, Isilis laughed.

“You seem so casual about having a spy in my house.”

“Isn’t it the same for you?”

“Well. That’s right.”

Usman was a man with strange powers. Perhaps it was because she had seen his face since childhood, she felt comfortable talking to him. It wasn’t the tension between a man and woman, though the razor-sharp nerves after the loss of her child were a little eased.

“Did you… get some sleep?”

By the time he said it, she had realized she hadn’t been in bed the past few days. Her nerves were on edge, and she couldn’t sleep. Even after she went into bed, all Islilis could do was sit at the table and look at the papers and close her eyes.

“Do the people of this country take care of the Empress’ health?”

“Usman Khalifa. What you need to care about…”

“No! The woman I love can’t sleep!”

As he made a fuss and approached her, Isilis waved at him.

“Stop being noisy. I feel better, too.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Don’t you have to go back to the Khalifa Empire”

“The previous Empress of Larchen has already contacted him.”

“The previous Empress?”

“I repeat, Isilis. The previous Empress wants you and I to marry. I want that as well… that is why I do not intend to miss this opportunity.”

With Usman’s declaration, she slowly looked into his face. The stubborn child suddenly became a man and stood in front of her. She unknowingly looked at the man’s eyes that were in front of her.

“I won’t change… my intention.”

“If you marry me, I will protect that child, too. I won’t say anything even if you make that child the successor.”

Isilis tried to duck behind when Usman strode up to the throne and pressed his face close to hers. However, the backrest stopped her. Although she didn’t change her expression, she couldn’t hide her nervousness.

Usman grinned as he confirmed her swaying gaze. With his hand on the armrest, he whispered to her.

“I want your second child, or any children after that, to be mine. Isilis. Those children will become warriors of the Khalifa Empire. The Empress and warrior of the Khalifa Empire, not the Larchen Emperor. I am not interested in the throne of Larchen.”

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