The atmosphere in front of the barracks was as cold as a blade. Inside, it was impossible to discern what the Emperor and Prince Cain were talking about.
And outside the barracks, Julian stood there, his chin firmly planted, as if the Emperor and Prince Cain were trapped inside.
Prince Aslan stood beside Julian, probably trying to get him to return to the barracks.
Those watching this unfold were the first to spot me. They were murmuring in a low voice, but Julian and Prince Aslan, possessing keen minds, quickly noticed. Almost simultaneously, they turned their heads to look at me.
“Grand Duchess.”
It was Prince Aslan who called me first.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince. I ask for your understanding as I am unable to offer my greetings due to my poor health."
"Is a formal greeting important? More importantly, what about the physical appearance?"
I glanced at Julian, taking in his expression. Even in the darkness, illuminated only by the torchlight, he was staring at me with a sharp gaze. I lowered my gaze and spoke.
“I feel better after resting.”
"You were attacked by a demon, so you couldn't possibly be okay, but the Grand Duchess is truly resolute. My younger brother was also attacked by a demon and is currently receiving treatment."
“I see.”
I answered coldly. "I was hit by a demon. Since I cut myself, it wouldn't be a fatal wound. Prince Cain isn't that bold, after all."
What should we do now? The deck was already set. I raised my head and looked at Julian.
"Julian, I heard you've been standing here for a while. Now go inside and rest."
Julian's brow furrowed at my words.
“Why should I do that?”
“But you need to rest too...”
“Madam, don’t make me any angrier. I’m already angry enough.”
Those words left me speechless. I'd heard he'd been standing there for six hours, but he didn't seem tired or even a little angry. The chill of the evening only served to chill him.
Suddenly, I realized Prince Aslan was here and glanced at him. He looked at us both with great interest, then smiled when our eyes met.
“The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Duchzan are on good terms.”
Where did this come from? It was so absurd, but I couldn't bring myself to speak so harshly to the Crown Prince.
At that moment, the chamberlain emerged from within. He hesitated for a moment, looking at the three people outside the barracks.
“Speak.”
When Prince Aslan urged him, the chamberlain bowed and said.
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince and...”
The attendant bowed his head toward me and said:
“I have an imperial order to bring Her Highness the Grand Duchess Duchzan inside.”
"Well, then." I nodded and gestured to Anna to push the wheelchair in. But Julian blocked my path.
“I won’t let my wife in unless she’s with me.”
“Your Highness, this is an imperial decree.”
“Did His Majesty the Emperor tell you to stop me?”
“That’s not it, but...”
I said, pulling Julian's sleeve.
"Julian, I'll go in alone. It wouldn't be good to displease His Majesty."
Julian spoke to the chamberlain without even looking at me.
“Tell His Majesty that I will also go in.”
The chamberlain sighed, as if in awe. Even though he was the Emperor's man, he couldn't just blindly stop the Grand Duke. Finally, the chamberlain retreated.
“Julian, I have a plan.”
Julian answered my words without looking at me.
“That’s the very thing that got you hurt.”
“...This time, I won’t get hurt.”
“I’ve decided not to trust you anymore.”
I was the one at fault, so I had nothing to say. It seemed the chief of staff had conveyed his message well while we were whispering. He bowed politely once more and said,
“Please come inside.”
Julian took my wheelchair from Anna and pushed it himself. Feeling burdened, I whispered to him to stop, but Julian wouldn't listen this time either.
This time, he didn't seem to be angry as usual. I gave up trying to persuade him and just sat quietly in the wheelchair.
Three people, Julian, Prince Aslan, and I, entered the Emperor's quarters. There were really only three of us, as the Emperor had decreed that our attendants could not be brought inside.
“Are you here?”
The first person to greet us was the Emperor. He sat on a chair in the center of the barracks, his face weary.
Prince Cain, who was so disgusting to look at, was standing diagonally next to the Emperor, his arm wrapped in thick bandages, making him look like a seriously ill patient.
“I greet you, Your Majesty the Emperor, the Sun of the Empire.”
The Emperor waved his hand as if he were bored.
"That's fine. The Second Prince's wounds are deep, and I've only just heard about them. But that story..."
The Emperor sighed, resting his arms on his chair. He also touched his forehead as if his head was throbbing.
“I think you should hear it too. Especially the Crown Prince and the Grand Duchess.”
At those words, Prince Aslan took a step forward and spoke with a determined attitude.
"I'm certainly largely responsible for the demonic invasion. You had high expectations of me in organizing the hunting competition, and I'm ashamed to have handled things this way. Please punish me."
The Emperor gazed at Prince Aslan with drowsy eyes. His suspicions were clear to anyone who saw him. However, Prince Aslan remained completely unfazed, standing upright.
“Crown Prince, is that really all your fault?”
“I am foolish and do not know my mistakes. Please enlighten me.”
“Please wake me up...”
The Emperor tapped his fingernail on the chair. His thoughts were broken by none other than Prince Cain. With a look of betrayal on his face, he raised his voice at Prince Aslan.
"Brother! How could you do this to me! Using your demonic powers to attack me! And using the Duchzan to do it!"
Prince Aslan's eyes widened in surprise, as if he was deeply taken aback by Prince Cain's outburst. His eyes were clear, almost honest, and almost naive.
His acting was always chilling. He must have realized that Prince Cain was plotting against him, yet he wore a pitiful expression, as if the situation had been a result of a "misunderstanding."
"Cain, it's clearly my fault for not managing the hunting grounds properly. But what on earth does it mean for me to try to harm you? Why is the name of the Grand Duchess Duchzan even mentioned? The Archduchess was seriously injured in this incident."
“I guess you have earned that much loyalty from the Grand Duchess.”
Prince Cain asked this question with a stern look. His anger toward Prince Aslan and me was genuine, and his performance was flawless.
"Father! Everything I said earlier is true. I deeply reflected on my past mistakes while staying in the palace. I also had a strong desire to earn Father's recognition again. That's why I ventured deep into the forest, hoping to achieve great success in this hunting competition. There, I felt a strange earthquake, and upon closer inspection, I found six demons pacing around as if possessed."
Prince Cain continued, his face red with anger.
"The knights and I who were escorting me realized something was amiss in this hunting tournament and attempted to slay the beast. Then, the Grand Duchess appeared. She threw the rare magic stone from her bosom, and the beasts became savage and began to run wild. The knights fought bravely to protect me, but none of them returned. Without them, I would have fallen to the beast too!"
Prince Cain shouted, extending his arm, which was wrapped tightly in bandages.
"This wound also happened then! Brother! Please explain! I don't want to doubt you this much!"
Prince Aslan listened calmly. Then, looking at the Emperor, he asked politely.
“Father, may I ask him a few questions to clear up any misunderstandings?”
“Let it be so.”
“I am so embarrassed.”
Prince Aslan looked at Prince Cain and asked.
"Cain, there's something odd about what you're saying. You went deep into the forest where the demons are. How did it lead you there?"
"Looking back, there was something odd. One of the knights urged me to go deep into the forest. He seemed to think there would be more prey there if I tried to go the other way. Didn't you instigate him?"
“But didn’t you say he died protecting you?”
"It might have been a great price, even risking death. It's something you could easily do, brother."
I briefly joined their conversation.
“Excuse me, Your Highness. What is that knight’s name?”
Prince Cain frowned, thought for a moment, and then answered.
“It’s Hanson.”
After hearing that answer, I smiled and stepped back.
“Thank you. Please continue with the story.”
Prince Cain glared at me as if asking something completely pointless, but perhaps because Julian was standing behind me, he didn't ask any further questions.
"There's something else I'm curious about. From what you've said, those demons seem to be under the influence of magic. And if it's true that the Grand Duchess threw the rare magic stone, it must have been to make those demons ferocious. But was there a reason why the Grand Duchess had to do it? And even if she did it herself, was there a reason why she had to reveal herself?"
“That is a matter for the Grand Duchess, not me, to clarify.”
Their gaze turned to me once again.
And outside the barracks, Julian stood there, his chin firmly planted, as if the Emperor and Prince Cain were trapped inside.
Prince Aslan stood beside Julian, probably trying to get him to return to the barracks.
Those watching this unfold were the first to spot me. They were murmuring in a low voice, but Julian and Prince Aslan, possessing keen minds, quickly noticed. Almost simultaneously, they turned their heads to look at me.
“Grand Duchess.”
It was Prince Aslan who called me first.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince. I ask for your understanding as I am unable to offer my greetings due to my poor health."
"Is a formal greeting important? More importantly, what about the physical appearance?"
I glanced at Julian, taking in his expression. Even in the darkness, illuminated only by the torchlight, he was staring at me with a sharp gaze. I lowered my gaze and spoke.
“I feel better after resting.”
"You were attacked by a demon, so you couldn't possibly be okay, but the Grand Duchess is truly resolute. My younger brother was also attacked by a demon and is currently receiving treatment."
“I see.”
I answered coldly. "I was hit by a demon. Since I cut myself, it wouldn't be a fatal wound. Prince Cain isn't that bold, after all."
What should we do now? The deck was already set. I raised my head and looked at Julian.
"Julian, I heard you've been standing here for a while. Now go inside and rest."
Julian's brow furrowed at my words.
“Why should I do that?”
“But you need to rest too...”
“Madam, don’t make me any angrier. I’m already angry enough.”
Those words left me speechless. I'd heard he'd been standing there for six hours, but he didn't seem tired or even a little angry. The chill of the evening only served to chill him.
Suddenly, I realized Prince Aslan was here and glanced at him. He looked at us both with great interest, then smiled when our eyes met.
“The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Duchzan are on good terms.”
Where did this come from? It was so absurd, but I couldn't bring myself to speak so harshly to the Crown Prince.
At that moment, the chamberlain emerged from within. He hesitated for a moment, looking at the three people outside the barracks.
“Speak.”
When Prince Aslan urged him, the chamberlain bowed and said.
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince and...”
The attendant bowed his head toward me and said:
“I have an imperial order to bring Her Highness the Grand Duchess Duchzan inside.”
"Well, then." I nodded and gestured to Anna to push the wheelchair in. But Julian blocked my path.
“I won’t let my wife in unless she’s with me.”
“Your Highness, this is an imperial decree.”
“Did His Majesty the Emperor tell you to stop me?”
“That’s not it, but...”
I said, pulling Julian's sleeve.
"Julian, I'll go in alone. It wouldn't be good to displease His Majesty."
Julian spoke to the chamberlain without even looking at me.
“Tell His Majesty that I will also go in.”
The chamberlain sighed, as if in awe. Even though he was the Emperor's man, he couldn't just blindly stop the Grand Duke. Finally, the chamberlain retreated.
“Julian, I have a plan.”
Julian answered my words without looking at me.
“That’s the very thing that got you hurt.”
“...This time, I won’t get hurt.”
“I’ve decided not to trust you anymore.”
I was the one at fault, so I had nothing to say. It seemed the chief of staff had conveyed his message well while we were whispering. He bowed politely once more and said,
“Please come inside.”
Julian took my wheelchair from Anna and pushed it himself. Feeling burdened, I whispered to him to stop, but Julian wouldn't listen this time either.
This time, he didn't seem to be angry as usual. I gave up trying to persuade him and just sat quietly in the wheelchair.
Three people, Julian, Prince Aslan, and I, entered the Emperor's quarters. There were really only three of us, as the Emperor had decreed that our attendants could not be brought inside.
“Are you here?”
The first person to greet us was the Emperor. He sat on a chair in the center of the barracks, his face weary.
Prince Cain, who was so disgusting to look at, was standing diagonally next to the Emperor, his arm wrapped in thick bandages, making him look like a seriously ill patient.
“I greet you, Your Majesty the Emperor, the Sun of the Empire.”
The Emperor waved his hand as if he were bored.
"That's fine. The Second Prince's wounds are deep, and I've only just heard about them. But that story..."
The Emperor sighed, resting his arms on his chair. He also touched his forehead as if his head was throbbing.
“I think you should hear it too. Especially the Crown Prince and the Grand Duchess.”
At those words, Prince Aslan took a step forward and spoke with a determined attitude.
"I'm certainly largely responsible for the demonic invasion. You had high expectations of me in organizing the hunting competition, and I'm ashamed to have handled things this way. Please punish me."
The Emperor gazed at Prince Aslan with drowsy eyes. His suspicions were clear to anyone who saw him. However, Prince Aslan remained completely unfazed, standing upright.
“Crown Prince, is that really all your fault?”
“I am foolish and do not know my mistakes. Please enlighten me.”
“Please wake me up...”
The Emperor tapped his fingernail on the chair. His thoughts were broken by none other than Prince Cain. With a look of betrayal on his face, he raised his voice at Prince Aslan.
"Brother! How could you do this to me! Using your demonic powers to attack me! And using the Duchzan to do it!"
Prince Aslan's eyes widened in surprise, as if he was deeply taken aback by Prince Cain's outburst. His eyes were clear, almost honest, and almost naive.
His acting was always chilling. He must have realized that Prince Cain was plotting against him, yet he wore a pitiful expression, as if the situation had been a result of a "misunderstanding."
"Cain, it's clearly my fault for not managing the hunting grounds properly. But what on earth does it mean for me to try to harm you? Why is the name of the Grand Duchess Duchzan even mentioned? The Archduchess was seriously injured in this incident."
“I guess you have earned that much loyalty from the Grand Duchess.”
Prince Cain asked this question with a stern look. His anger toward Prince Aslan and me was genuine, and his performance was flawless.
"Father! Everything I said earlier is true. I deeply reflected on my past mistakes while staying in the palace. I also had a strong desire to earn Father's recognition again. That's why I ventured deep into the forest, hoping to achieve great success in this hunting competition. There, I felt a strange earthquake, and upon closer inspection, I found six demons pacing around as if possessed."
Prince Cain continued, his face red with anger.
"The knights and I who were escorting me realized something was amiss in this hunting tournament and attempted to slay the beast. Then, the Grand Duchess appeared. She threw the rare magic stone from her bosom, and the beasts became savage and began to run wild. The knights fought bravely to protect me, but none of them returned. Without them, I would have fallen to the beast too!"
Prince Cain shouted, extending his arm, which was wrapped tightly in bandages.
"This wound also happened then! Brother! Please explain! I don't want to doubt you this much!"
Prince Aslan listened calmly. Then, looking at the Emperor, he asked politely.
“Father, may I ask him a few questions to clear up any misunderstandings?”
“Let it be so.”
“I am so embarrassed.”
Prince Aslan looked at Prince Cain and asked.
"Cain, there's something odd about what you're saying. You went deep into the forest where the demons are. How did it lead you there?"
"Looking back, there was something odd. One of the knights urged me to go deep into the forest. He seemed to think there would be more prey there if I tried to go the other way. Didn't you instigate him?"
“But didn’t you say he died protecting you?”
"It might have been a great price, even risking death. It's something you could easily do, brother."
I briefly joined their conversation.
“Excuse me, Your Highness. What is that knight’s name?”
Prince Cain frowned, thought for a moment, and then answered.
“It’s Hanson.”
After hearing that answer, I smiled and stepped back.
“Thank you. Please continue with the story.”
Prince Cain glared at me as if asking something completely pointless, but perhaps because Julian was standing behind me, he didn't ask any further questions.
"There's something else I'm curious about. From what you've said, those demons seem to be under the influence of magic. And if it's true that the Grand Duchess threw the rare magic stone, it must have been to make those demons ferocious. But was there a reason why the Grand Duchess had to do it? And even if she did it herself, was there a reason why she had to reveal herself?"
“That is a matter for the Grand Duchess, not me, to clarify.”
Their gaze turned to me once again.
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