Chapter 25

She met Elphenlira’s shaken gaze with unwavering eyes.

“Wounding the one you love by destroying yourself is nothing but a foolish act.”

Dianne didn’t wait for a response. She turned on her heel and quickened her pace. She needed to return to the Emperor. The last look on his face had been filled with loneliness and regret. She couldn’t bear to leave someone in that kind of pain all alone.

When she emerged from the Hall of Knights at almost a run, the Emperor reached out and caught her by the arm. He still wore that same gentle mask.

“It’s dangerous to run in the dark.”

“Ah… Thank you.”

“Let’s get moving. I’ll escort you back to Oakhall.”

Dianne didn’t refuse. The Emperor called to the guards standing thirty paces off, still obediently facing the opposite direction.

“The princess is still inside. Escort her safely back to Oakhall.”

He gave a nod in response to their salutes and began walking, leading Dianne along.

Their footsteps were the only sound in the silence of night. Even the insects had gone still. For a long while, neither of them spoke. Until, at last, Dianne gathered the courage.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“I… couldn’t convince Her Highness.”

“Are you afraid I’ll punish you for that?”

Surprised, Dianne looked up at him. The Emperor turned toward her and gave her a gentle smile.

“I was joking.”

“Ah… yes… a joke…”

“Was it not funny?”

Dianne gave a stiff little laugh. She couldn’t bring herself to say the joke had died completely.

After a long stretch of silence, the Emperor suddenly stopped walking. His gaze dropped to Dianne’s bare arm, illuminated pale beneath the moonlight.

“Are you cold?”

It was only then that Dianne realized she was trembling slightly. She rubbed her exposed arms, embarrassed. She hadn’t thought a summer night could feel this cold, and she hadn’t bothered to bring a shawl. Still, it wasn’t terrible. She was about to say she was fine.

The problem was that the Emperor moved first. He shrugged off his cloak before she could stop him. Dianne let out a small, strangled sound of protest.

“Your Majesty, that’s really not necessary!”

“It is. You’re shivering.”

“It’s nothing, truly!”

“Please don’t make me stand here awkwardly with it in my hands.”

Before she could argue further, he draped the cloak over her stiff shoulders. The fabric was still warm, and his scent—clean, faintly spiced—lingered in it. When it brushed against her bare skin, a shiver ran all the way up her arms for a very different reason.

Dianne couldn’t bring herself to throw it off. She clutched the oversized cloak to her chest and murmured,

“…Thank you.”

The Emperor only smiled faintly.

Their footsteps echoed softly as they walked on beneath the moonlight. The palace at night was hauntingly still; not a soul crossed their path. For Dianne, that was a small mercy.

When they reached the front of Oakhall Palace, the Emperor regarded her closely.

“I thought you’d say you were going back to the Ervinzel grand duchy the moment you failed to persuade Lira.”

Dianne pressed her lips together.

“Would it be all right if I stayed a little longer?”

“You want to stay?”

“Her Highness might change her mind. And besides…”

The rest caught in her throat. Maybe it wasn’t something that could even be shaped into words.

“…Would it be presumptuous of me to say I feel a sense of responsibility for this?”

The Emperor’s smile deepened slightly.

“I’d have been more surprised if you didn’t.”

“Then… you’ll allow me to remain?”

“‘Allow’ isn’t quite the word. You couldn’t leave even if you wanted to, Miss Ortenza. Not until this matter is fully resolved.”

Dianne accepted that easily enough. She had already expected as much. After all, she now knew far too much to ever walk away.

The Emperor paused for a moment, gazing at Oakhall Palace, which still shone brightly in the middle of the night. To Dianne, he seemed subtly relieved.

“Things may not have gone as hoped… but I still wish your time here will be pleasant, Miss Ortenza.”

“…How could it not be, when this is the Imperial Palace?”

“Is that all it is?”

Dianne looked up at him, eyes wide with surprise. The Emperor studied her in silence, then slowly reached out his hand, so unhurried it felt like he was asking for permission.

His fingers brushed past her ear and gently took hold of the ribbon that hung down with her hair. The touch was careful, almost reverent, like stroking a delicate bird’s wing.

And just as gently, his hand withdrew. The Emperor bowed his head with quiet formality.

“Thank you for going to such trouble. Next time, let’s meet in the daylight.”

Dianne couldn’t lift her head until long after he had turned and walked away, disappearing beyond the gates of Oakhall. The place where his hand had brushed her still burned as though touched by fire.