Chapter 8

Episode 8: Estelle

“I have decided on a name for the child.”

When I was accustomed to holding the child in my hands, I finally decided on a name for the child.

“Estelle”

“Estelle?”

“Yes, it’s named after the fairy queen who appears in the myth of the founding of the Asta Empire.”

“That’s a pretty name.”

The emperor was visibly pleased. Immediately after giving birth, I hesitated to name my child for a while, but the emperor patiently waited without pushing me.

I thought the only family I had was Kailos, so I didn’t even think about the child’s name.

However, I couldn’t bear to turn a blind eye to this small warmth that caught my eyes and filled my heart.

“Hello, Estelle.”

Blink, blink. The child blinked at the Emperor. The ‘Emperor had a lot of fun and poked the child in the cheek with his index finger. The way my child’s father looked at my child with lovely eyes conveyed a very strange feeling to me.

“Never forget this, Chloe.’

The Emperor was often one of the few who made me feel strange. At that moment, his voice was ringing in my head.

“Never, have compassion for the emperor.’

On the day the emperor first sent a carriage for me, Kailos brainwashed me. If you don’t eat it, you’ll get eaten at the Imperial Palace. So don’t sympathize with the emperor.

The emperor, in my mind, who had been educated by him for a long time, was an ugly and dangerous man; but often his appearance in front of me confused me.

“Don’t be fooled, Chloe. A man in love often wears a mask that is purer than anyone else in the world in front of his woman.’

Perhaps it was because I saw the appearance of such an Emperor. I tried to erase my pity for the emperor.

“My brother is going to visit today.”

“Really?”

My eyes grew bigger at the news that Kailos was coming. It’s been about four months since I met him.

“Although it’s only in name now, he’s your guardian. Originally, he should have come here earlier.”

Originally.

I know why he couldn’t, he must have been busy on a honeymoon with her.

Shortly after the emperor left, Kailos came. I had to hide my bitter heart and greet him as a new groom.

“Welcome, uncle.”

“Long time no see, Chloe.”

“I missed you a lot.”

“Oh, don’t show such feelings in front of your majesty. He’ll be upset.”

Appearing with a low laugh, he was still a friendly and beautiful man.

“I missed you so much.”

Suppressing my trembling emotions as much as possible, I followed him and laughed softly. Then I felt a familiar hand stroking my hair.

“Really?”

The voice touching my ears was so good that I almost cried.

“I missed you a lot too, Chloe.”

At the touch of him stroking my eyes, I breathed in briefly.

“I’ve been busy for quite a while. To the point where! can’t meet you.”

His fingertips that came down slowly along my face line gently stroked my earlobe.

“Why didn’t you wear the earrings I sent?”

Touching my empty earlobe, he asked. I hesitated and avoided answering.

The black diamond that Kailos sent as a birth gift was worth a lot in itself, but it was very uncomfortable when I was with my child, so I took it out, choosing not to wear it.

But I know that all the reasons will sound like excuses to him.

“While I haven’t seen you…….”

He took a step back from me with a slight frown on his forehead.

“I’m worried if you have developed a habit of rebelling.”

“Absolutely not!”

I waved my hands and insisted strongly, but Kailos only sighed once. I feel unfair inside, it was a disrespectful heart towards him.

“Come visit Ludwig’s castle when the weather gets warmer, it feels empty without you.”

“I’ll try.”

“No, you shouldn’t try, you must do it. If possible, come with my brother.”

Kailos added with a short smile to me, and I tilted my head.

“Now, all the nobles of the empress, including Duke Caroline, turned their heads to the emperor. After you gave birth, the conflict between the emperor and the nobles got worse.”

I had no idea, the emperor who came to me was always smiling with an arrogant face as if he had no worries.

He patted me on the face, who had a stupid look, and gave an alluring smile.

“Now is the right time to strike the Emperor’s neck.”

*

*

*

When I said I wanted to visit Ludwig’s castle, the emperor looked quite perplexed.

It’s the same place as my home. I want to go with your majesty

The emperor said he would try. I knew he was in great trouble, but I pretended not to know.

And ten days after bringing it up, we got into the carriage leading to the castle. It’s been almost a year since I left, my heart beat hard at the familiar scenery outside the window.

“Do you like it that much, Chloe?”

Instead of answering, 1 smiled quietly, and the emperor laughed after me. This foolish man, sitting opposite me and staring at me all the time, was a gift for the man I love.

When the emperor, who had no doubt, finally arrived at the castle, I noticed something strange.

“Welcome to the Great Castle of Ludwig, my brother.”

Kailos smiled and curved his eyes. At the same time as he flicks his finger, soldiers rushed out and surrounded the emperor.

The Emperor looked around, frowning.

“It’s a dirty trap, brother.”

The Emperor, who was staring at him, suddenly smiled and pulled out his sword.

“You who brought hundreds of soldiers, do I look like a man to be beaten by your soldiers?”

Red eyes flashed with murderous intent. The appearance reminiscent of the god of war reminded me of rumors about the emperor I once heard.

Red hair like flames is the blood of those he killed.

“Of course, but now you have something to protect, brother.”

As soon as Kailos finished speaking, he snatched my wrist, which was a step away, and hung a knife around my neck.

“Chloe!”

The emperor was bewildered and shouted my name. I blinked my eyes for a moment because I didn’t understand the situation.

Oh, so Kailos took me as a hostage to kill the emperor,

I thought it was a way that wasn’t like Kailos. It wasn’t just because the plan was shabby but he was a man of all means for his own purposes.

However, I thought his method of betting on uncertain possibilities was unfamiliar. Unless the emperor is a fool, he wouldn’t put down the sword to

save me.

I became anxious. I was worried that Kailos would be attacked by the emperor like this.

“Damn it, Chloe has nothing to do with it!”

“Put the sword down, brother, then I’ll save this kid.”

The emperor couldn’t do anything, and stood there and groaned. On the other hand, Kailos, who had a more relaxed attitude, smiled and pushed the knife he was holding closer.

The sharp blade of the sword lightly brushed my neck. I felt hot blood flowing down over the stinging, sensation.

“Oh, my he’s hesitating, it would be more dangerous for this child though.”

“Stop it, Kailos Ludwig!”

The emperor gritted his teeth and shouted. While Kailos pushed the sword more towards my neck visibly, it hurt.

His sword penetrated my skin very slowly, the blood drained and dizziness poured in, my eyelids trembled.

“Chloe!”

The emperor shouted my name and threw the sword.

Kailos’ method was right, a foolish man in love gave up everything on his own because of me.

“You shouldn’t have compassion for the emperor.’

Kailos’ voice, which had always been whispering in my ears, circled in my head, that’s how I fainted.

When I came to my senses again, I opened my eyes in my room in Ludwig’s castle. Even though I had been away for a year, I woke up looking around the room where there was no change.

Throb.

A deep pain was felt over my neck. As I moved my heavy body and stood in front of the mirror, I saw a white bandage wrapped around my neck. The red blood leaking slowly felt painful just by looking at it.

Kailos entered the room with a squeak and the sound of the door opening, I stared up at him blankly.

“Are you up?”

“What happened to his majesty?”

“The emperor is now trapped underground in the Ludwig castle, but he is going to die soon.”

Tiredness was evident in his voice, it seems that he was with the emperor until just now.

“Why are you making that face?”

He walked to me and stretched his hand towards me, The cool fingertips gently grabbed my chin, the cold eyes that seemed to pierce my insides stared at me,

“It’s just, it feels a little strange.”

“Do you feel weird?”

His forehead frowned as if he were upset.

“Do you feel sorry for the emperor?”

“Silly Chloe, I’ve repeatedly told you not to have compassion for the emperor, but in the end, you sympathized with him.”

“It’s not like that.”

‘It was definitely not to sympathy. There were too many pitiful people in the world to sympathize with the emperor.

But Kailos didn’t seem to believe me, a sigh squeezed through his lips and leaked out.

He rarely looked at me with non-smiling eyes. His fingertips swept the back of my neck wrapped in a bandage, I got chills and goosebumps.

“Maybe there’s a scar left. Why didn’t you say you were sick?”

I looked at Kailos like a mute person, a second sigh followed, Kailos pressed his temple hard as if he had a headache. Somehow, I felt like I had done something wrong, so my body shrunk on its own.

“Chloe.”

Kailos called my name and raised up my bowed head.

“It’s all thanks to you.”

A faint smile stayed on his face, the anxious feeling melted away the moment I saw his smile.

“As always, there is a reward for a good girl.”

Tuk. His forehead touched my forehead, the tip of his nose brushed against mine due his sudden approach.

“Forget about the emperor now, this will be your home again.”

Every time he spoke, a hot breath tickled my face.

“So, will you open your lips to me now?”

Listening to his gentle voice, I thought, everything is really over now.