Chapter 3

Hainsworth made a pitiful and sweet sound, his face filled with sorrow.

"Ratil. I know you're angry. But please don't be so stiff. Please... I've been in agony all this time. If you get angry as soon as you see me, I can't take it."

"Four minutes left."

Ratil firmly cut off his rambling. Hainsworth's voice was as pleasant as the memories of the past, but even the sweetest music is best enjoyed at the right time. Now, even if Hainsworth sang a heavenly song, it would only irritate him.

"Three minutes and thirty seconds."

"..."

When Ratil firmly announced the remaining time, Hainsworth sighed with a resigned look on his face.

"Alright. I'll tell you. The forces that rebelled under Heum were stronger than expected. The most powerful Duke Daga supported Heum."

"Duke Daga?"

What's this familiar name? It's the family I saw on the invitation, right? Aine Turra la Daga. Yes, I definitely saw it on the invitation. I wouldn't forget it, as it was the name of the woman Hainsworth was going to marry. The Daga family was her family. But Hainsworth's fiancée's family supported Prince Heum?

"To suppress Heum, we needed Duke Daga. So I tried to persuade him, and Duke Daga set a condition. He asked me to welcome his only daughter, Aine Turra la Daga, as the Empress."

"..."

Ratil stared at him with a firm gaze, and Hainsworth's expression turned pitiful. The diverse and rich expressions that always amazed Ratil now leaned towards sadness.

"Ratil."

One step. Hainsworth quietly approached and pulled Ratil back into his arms, hugging him tightly. The intensity was the same as before, to the point of being painful.

"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry."

"Alright. Don't apologize. You chose yourself over me. I thought your glory was more important than our love. I won't blame you for that. Everyone puts themselves first."

"Ratil..."

Hainsworth looked at Ratil with trembling eyes, clearly moved by his magnanimous words. Ratil, in the meantime, stepped hard on Hainsworth's foot.

"Ouch."

Hainsworth let out a sharp cry and quickly pulled his foot away. Ratil watched with a snort. He wished he had worn heels. He regretted wearing comfortable shoes for the journey. He should have changed them at the door!

"Don't be moved. Just because I'm not blaming you doesn't mean I'm not angry. You left me, after all, no matter what your reasons were."

Hainsworth's face twisted in pain.

"Ratil... please don't talk like that."

His voice was filled with heartfelt pain. Ratil felt distressed by his voice and expression.

"Don't talk like that? What shouldn't I say? This is the truth. What do you want me to do? You couldn't write letters because of the war? Don't make excuses. You could have told me after the war. Did I have to hear about your marriage through the envoy?"

"Ratil, I still don't know who the remnants of Heum's faction are. Even though we won, my position is still unstable."

"!"

"Aine Turra la Daga is the same. He won't let me betray his daughter. Everyone is on high alert. We don't even know who the spies are. That's the situation. I couldn't write letters."

"Are you saying that even saying 'we're breaking up' could get caught by a spy? Would it help the remnants of Heum if they knew that fact?"

"..."

"Would Duke Daga dislike it if he saw that letter?"

Hainsworth looked at Ratil with tearful eyes, as if to say, "I love you no matter what you say." Ratil pushed him away with force. He loved the familiar scent and soft skin of Hainsworth, but that was all. He was someone who needed to be pushed away, no matter how much he loved him. Fortunately, he didn't feel like crying. Ratil clenched and unclenched his fists repeatedly.

"Right. I know what you wanted to say was an excuse... I'll go. I can't wish you well. Even if I say it as the head of the envoy later, don't believe it. It would be a lie."

Ratil turned around. But before he could take a few steps, Hainsworth grabbed and clung to him.

"Please, Ratil. Don't say such hurtful things. I didn't call you to break up with you."

"Then, to apologize?"

"I love you."

What is this guy saying? Ratil's eyes narrowed at Hainsworth's heartfelt confession.

"Love?"

"Ratil, I only love you. So... just five years. Please wait for five years."

"What?"

Ratil laughed bitterly and looked at him.

"Five years? Will the situation change?"

It was a sarcastic question, but Hainsworth nodded firmly.

"It will. In five years, I can weaken Duke Daga's power and eliminate all of Heum's remnants. I can solidify my foundation and establish a complete monarchy."

But his firm affirmation didn't change Ratil's mind. Ratil still spoke coldly.

"Then what? What do I get by waiting for five years? Since the succession process was fought over, you'll bring in strategic concubines to solidify your foundation. I'll receive a series of shocks for five years, just like I did when I heard about your marriage this time. What do I get from that?"

"I won't consummate the marriage with any strategic concubines, or even with Aine Daga. If you want, I can swear at the temple. No, I won't even touch them. I'll send them all away after five years."

This time, Ratil was a bit shaken. He couldn't answer immediately and just looked at him. Swearing at the temple was a very serious matter. If you made a false oath, you could receive divine punishment. The gods hated lying under oath.

'So he's not lying.'

But Hainsworth's words still had many holes. Ratil sighed and pointed them out one by one.

"Even if you send the concubines away, what about divorcing the Empress? Duke Daga is powerful. His family will become even more powerful by producing an Empress. Do you think such a family, such a family's Empress, will leave willingly after five years? Will she become weak enough to be easily removed from the Empress's position?"

But Hainsworth answered firmly again.

"It's enough."

"Arrogance and self-confidence."

"Please, Ratil. I only love you. You're the only person I want to build a future with, the only person I want to start a family with. You know that, right?"

Stupidly, Ratil couldn't answer. It wasn't easy to reject the desperate pleas of a man he had loved for years. How many years had he spent praying for this man? Besides, the man he loved was himself, and he had loved this man.

"…No."

But Ratil still couldn't accept Hainsworth.

"Ratil."

Hainsworth looked at Ratil with eyes that showed he hadn't expected this. His eyes were filled with shock.

"If you don't trust me, then, yes, that's possible. So I'll swear at the temple. I really will. Please..."

"To be honest? I still love you. But in five years, you'll be completely someone else's man. Now, Aine is between us, but in five years, you'll be married to her, and I'll be a stranger."

"I will never love her."

"Even if you don't love her, your bride will be her. I'm just a princess from a neighboring country. If we're going to break up, it should be now, before the marriage. After five years of marriage, if you decide to leave her? Do you think I'll be happy to hear that?"

Ratil spoke firmly and took a step back. He was momentarily shaken but believed this was the right decision. Of course, Ratil hated the woman who was to be Hainsworth's bride. Not because of who she was, but because of her position. She had easily taken the man he had loved with all his heart for years. He couldn't be happy about it. However, he didn't agree that Aine Daga should be discarded and deposed after five years. Aine Daga hadn't taken Hainsworth through some evil scheme. Hainsworth had made a deal with her to become the emperor. Of course, if he hadn't made the deal, Hainsworth would have died. But to make a deal and then divorce her after five years?

"Ratil, please."

Tears fell from Hainsworth's eyes. He collapsed to the ground. Tears streamed down his beautiful face, and Ratil's heart broke at the sight.

"Even if you don't accept me, I can't love anyone else, Ratil. You know that. Please..."

Ratil shook his head and fled the scene. * * *

"Princess, are you alright?"

When Ratil, who had returned to her quarters, stared blankly out the window, the captain of the guard asked cautiously.

"No..."

Ratil answered weakly and rested her forehead on the window frame like a sick chick. The window frame was cool, but her heart was still troubled. It was better when her anger was pure. Now, with mixed emotions, it was even harder. Moreover, Hainsworth's words kept echoing in her ears, and each time, she felt a temptation to say, "So what?" She had been certain that Aine Daga hadn't taken Hainsworth through some evil scheme. But now, thinking about it, if Duke Daga hadn't helped Prince Heum's rebellion, Hainsworth wouldn't have needed to make such a deal.

"No. But not after five years."

"Excuse me?"

"There's something like that."

Ratil groaned, got up, and took off the cumbersome gloves she was still wearing. She realized she hadn't even changed her shoes or taken off her cloak after meeting Hainsworth.

"Shall I call a maid to help you change?"

"Could you?"

The captain of the guard left, saying he would be right back. However, less than a minute later, he returned and called Ratil.

"Really quick. Why? Is no one around?"

When Ratil asked, the captain of the guard's face showed confusion. It seemed to be more than just the absence of a maid. What now? Ratil's expression darkened.

"Why?"

"Aine, the lady, is at the door. She wants to see you. What should we do?"

Aine, the lady. Aine Daga. Her ex-boyfriend's fiancée? She wants to see me? Why? And she's at the door? Ratil frowned. She was already troubled by Hainsworth. Did she really need to meet this person too? She didn't feel like it. Sensing her reluctance, the captain of the guard suggested,

"If you wish, I can handle it."

It was a good suggestion, but Ratil declined.

"It's fine. As the head of the envoy, I can't avoid it anyway. Let her in."

The captain of the guard, though reluctant, answered, "Yes," and left. A moment later, a woman with elegantly twisted red hair entered the room. Her ex-boyfriend's fiancée was much more beautiful and charming than expected, which was quite annoying. Aine, with her elegant dress, was small in stature but had a straight posture and a strong expression. She exuded the air of a well-bred lady.

'Damn.'

Ratil clicked her tongue.

'Shoes and cloak. I haven't changed yet.'

Ratil was wearing a uniform that was similar to the knights' but more ornate. It was decorated with gold embroidery and had a gold emblem, making it quite splendid. However, the problem was that she had been wearing it for several days. As a result, the clothes were wrinkled, and there was still mud on the bottom of her pants. She should have asked her to come back later. Ratil regretted it but couldn't send her away now. She hid her emotions, smiled, and extended her hand.

"Nice to see you, Lady Aine."