Ayla furrowed her brows, feeling offended at having their time together interrupted.
As she turned her head, she saw a man in the uniform of the Imperial Guard walking quickly across the garden. It was a knight named Rowen who had been assigned to guard her father in place of Barcas, who was in command of this trip.
The knight bowed his head before them, gave a brief greeting to Ayla, and then spoke urgently to his superior.
"His Majesty has ordered that the Commander be brought in immediately."
Ayla instinctively knew that it was Senevere who had summoned Barcas. Just by looking at the knight's dark expression, she could tell that something bad was about to happen.
She bit her lip. This pilgrimage was being conducted with the permission of the council. Her marriage to Barcas had also been promoted long ago by the conservative nobles who supported the Crown Prince. No matter what Senevere planned now, it would be impossible to reverse it.
Still, Ayla couldn't shake off her ominous feeling. Hadn't Senevere been using all sorts of tricks to drive a wedge between Gareth and Barcas for a long time?
Despite the fierce opposition of Grand Duke Sheerkhan, she kept Barcas, who had just been appointed, by Thalia's side for seven years. This time, she must be trying to sabotage the Emperor by roasting him.
Ayla got between the two of them even though she knew it was rude.
"I'll go with you, too."
"But, Your Highness..."
"I am the Princess of this empire. I have the right to see His Majesty the Emperor whenever I wish. And now, I have decided to go see my father together with my fiancé."
The knight, who had been looking puzzled by her stubborn attitude, glanced at Barcas.
She felt slightly annoyed by the attitude that his decisions were more important than her own, but she did not show it because she knew full well that the knights revered Barcas.
Barcas finally nodded.
"Do as Your Highness wishes."
As soon as his permission was granted, the knight followed her to her left as if he were her escort.
Ayla walked out of the garden with her back straight and headed towards the main palace.
As she passed through the entrance of the Great Hall, her eyes were drawn to the interior of the building, bathed in intense summer sunlight. She walked across the gleaming white marble hall and up the reddish-brown carpeted stairs.
The great door leading to the Emperor's Throne Room was engraved with the image of Darian, the first Emperor who founded the Roem Empire, and the knights who followed him.
As she passed through the grand entrance, absentmindedly glancing at the statues of familiar heroes, a wide hall covered with ornate carpets and a golden throne at the end of it came into view.
Ayla straightened her back as she looked up at the man who held all the power in the world and the woman standing by his side. Her father, as always, had a solemn expression on his face, and Senevere...
Suddenly, her train of thought was cut off. The moment she saw the figure of the Empress surrounded by a golden halo, she was overcome by a feeling of helplessness bordering on despair.
Somehow, Senevere became more and more beautiful as time went on. It was horrifying.
'Golden Devil...'
Every time she encountered her, Ayla was reminded of a fable she had read as a child.
In a certain village, there lived two brothers who loved each other more than anyone else. However, the devil, who hated all good things in the world, decided to separate them and dropped a large gold nugget in the path of the two. Then, the brothers, blinded by the brilliant light, fought over the gold and ended up hurting each other.
When Ayla first saw Senevere, she thought it was gold in human form, prepared by the devil to destroy them.
Her radiance blinded the eyes and hearts of once glorious monarchs, colored the lives of women with sorrow, and made her brothers live in bitter sorrow and humiliation.
What's more, the demon managed to give birth to the Emperor's son, threatening Gareth's position.
Ayla's gaze naturally descended to the small boy standing next to the Empress. The Second Prince, Asroth Roem Guirta, was looking down at Barcas and her with curious green eyes.
Every time she saw the young boy with his bright eyes, Ayla felt a strong sense of crisis. She could not understand why Gareth was so critical of Thalia, a mere scandal, rather than his younger brother, who was next in line to the throne.
Ayla also felt resentful when she thought of the years of humiliation her mother had endured because of Thalia. However, Thalia was an insignificant being who had no influence on them.
All that child did when she entered the palace was torment innocent servants and stir up all sorts of scandals, causing everyone to click their tongues. What kind of threat could such a foolish rascal be?
To Ayla, Thalia was nothing more than an unpleasant and slightly pitiful presence. A bitter remnant of the past that she had to endure in silence. That was all. That was why she could tolerate the evil pranks that the insignificant child poured on her.
But Asroth was different. She knew that many in the palace were attracted to the boy with innocent eyes. And those who were uneasy about Gareth's rough temper were also beginning to harbor secret expectations of the young Prince...
"What are you doing without any notice?"
Ayla was pulled out of her thoughts by a deep voice. The Emperor was looking at her with a questioning look.
Ayla approached her fiancé and bowed slightly.
"I have followed Lord Sheerkhan in hopes of seeing the face of my father. Please forgive me for coming without notice."
"Lift your head. You can come see me whenever you want."
The soft voice of the Emperor of the Empire, Virus Roem Guirta, echoed from the bedside. Whenever he saw her, he seemed to feel guilty, as if he was reminded of his betrayed wife, and he would always treat her with kindness.
Ayla swallowed her cynicism and bowed her head politely.
"Thank you for your generous words."
"That's better. The First Princess will know this anyway. I guess I can use this opportunity to explain it to everyone."
Senevere, who was stroking her son's auburn hair, leaned toward the Emperor and whispered.
Asroth was watching them with a curious expression, as if he were simply interested in the conversation going on between the adults. Ayla, who was looking at her half-brother with wary eyes, turned her sharp gaze toward the Empress.
"What are you explaining?"
"His Majesty will tell you the details."
Senevere replied in a soft whisper and gently caressed the back of the Emperor's hand. Ayla tried hard not to notice.
After a while of awkward silence, her father opened his mouth as if choosing his words.
"I have called you today to inform you that there has been a change in this pilgrimage."
"Please speak. I will listen."
Even with the sudden story, Barcas showed no sign of being moved. The Emperor, who seemed uncomfortable for a moment with his subject's attitude, soon continued speaking curtly.
"I have decided to take Thalia with you on this pilgrimage. Provide additional guards for her and prepare the necessary travel equipment."
Ayla froze at the unexpected instruction.
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