Chapter 15: Imprisonment

"My Emperor, you have finally returned." In front of Ian’s very eyes, Solene executed his body double, revealing the double's original face—that of an ordinary maid.

"Why did you take her life?" Ian was tied firmly to a chair in the imperial palace, unable to move. Nearby, Hill watched in silence, expressionless as a puppet.

"I killed her because I felt like it," Solene laughed softly, revealing her signature canine teeth. She looked like a vampire abandoned by the gods in ancient myths.

"She was one of your own!" Ian roared.

Solene leaned down, her finger tracing slowly along Ian’s neck. "And are you not? In this Empire, who is

not

mine? Tell me who isn't, and I shall kill them all."

"You have gone completely mad! Perhaps you once had your reasons, but look at you now!" Ian shouted.

Solene suddenly throttled him, silencing him instantly.

"Mad? Hahahaha, how utterly ridiculous." She released her grip. Her hands, wrapped in bandages, seeped blood, leaving a mark on Ian’s neck like a blood-red rose.

"Wouldn't it be simpler to just kill me? Why waste words? Ah, right—you can't kill me yet. And I won't kill you either. I want you to witness everyone becoming playthings in my game, hahahaha."

Solene carelessly dragged the maid's corpse out of the room. Afterward, she straddled Ian’s lap, her eyes full of mockery.

"Ian, I prefer the way your eyes look now—filled with terror."

The most noble man in the Empire was now pinned firmly beneath her.

Ian eventually regained his physical freedom, but Solene had placed a magical restraint on his wrist. It rendered him unable to use magic, much less teleport to escape. Solene knew well that Ian’s magical capabilities went far beyond this; his intentional return surely meant he had a plan. She looked forward to his next move with great anticipation.

As for the maid who was supposedly killed—having lost all her memories, she quietly departed the palace. Before she left, Solene had secretly slipped the first volume of her magically sealed diary into the girl's luggage. Solene also gifted her a significant sum of money. After all, the girl had once mentioned to a kitchen hand that if she ever had a fortune, she would travel to every corner of the Empire. Now, carrying the diary of the past, it was as if she were taking Solene’s former self along on her journey.

The people of the Lowlands had all been registered, but where would the massive funds to support them come from? Several suitable noble candidates came to Solene’s mind. As the saying goes, "the wool comes from the sheep's back"—it was time those who profited from exploitation felt the sting of a backlash.

"The Saintess requests an audience!" the announcement rang out.

Solene was sitting beside Ian, and the Saintess froze upon seeing her.

Why is she here?

Sue wondered privately. She and the Emperor had been plotting for a long time; her visit today was meant to discuss the timing of their move.

"Sue, how is Belle lately? Is she doing well at the Church?" Solene asked.

Sue’s heart skipped a beat. She forced a smile and replied, "The Countess is right; she is indeed the Goddess’s most devout and loyal follower."

In reality, Belle spent her days in a daze, kneeling before the statue of the Goddess like a madwoman. She ignored everything around her, retreating into herself, frantically drawing golden butterflies. She claimed they were the Goddess and begged for salvation. Every time Sue remembered this, she felt a tremor of fear. She had to eliminate Solene; this woman was too dangerous, and everything was part of her elaborate design.

Sue clenched her fists nervously, her palms sweating. Solene took a sip of flower tea and said, "Don't be nervous. Have a taste."

Sue tremblingly reached for the cup, but Ian tried to stop her. Solene interrupted with a light laugh. "Oh, definitely don't drink it. My tea is delicious, but it's poisoned—it's not for you. However, the Emperor should be able to drink it, right?"

Sue hurriedly set the cup down, but Ian took it and drained it in one gulp.

"Oh dear, just a joke. Your Majesty, you've truly wasted it," Solene laughed.

Sue watched her in shock. Solene was becoming more and more audacious.

"It has been a long time since we held a tea party at the palace. I haven't seen those old friends in a while. And those nobles from the distant frozen lands who manage the regional territories... it's a perfect chance for everyone to gather. Wouldn't that be fun? We'll hold a ball as well. I'm truly looking forward to it."

Every sentence Solene spoke ended with a slight upward lilt, as if she were genuinely happy. Yet, exhaustion and loathing remained buried deep at the back of her tongue; even the most intimate kiss could not reach those hidden emotions.

Ian chose silence as his final form of protest. Sue forced a smile and said, "What a wonderful idea, Countess Solene. Even I am starting to look forward to it!"

Ian frowned at her, thinking to himself:

This woman truly knows how to talk; no wonder Solene likes her so much.

Solene laughed behind her hand, while Ian looked on from the side.

How foolish. Can't he see she's just being sycophantic?

Sensing Ian's gaze, Solene suppressed her laughter and turned to look back at him with a strained, hollow smile—the kind where the corners of the mouth barely twitch upward.

"Your Majesty, it seems the Saintess wishes to speak with you alone." Solene rose and left.

Sue excitedly moved to speak, but Ian stopped her. "I am a bit tired. We shall discuss this another day."

Sue grabbed his arm. "I have found someone willing to help us! This banquet is the perfect opportunity. I’ve even found the former Vice-Tower Master who fled the Magic Tower. She is currently at the Church and possesses a dark magic that can suffocate someone instantly. By sacrificing commoners, she can harness demonic power. When the time comes, your power will be fully restored, and the Church will forever be subject to you."

Ian gently turned the restraint on his wrist. Inside was imprisoned a quiet butterfly; it rarely moved, only occasionally twitching its antennae.

"If you truly wish to submit to me, why use dark magic? Why violate the laws established by the Royal Family?" Ian’s voice was exceptionally calm. Sue stared into his sapphire eyes, his golden curls swaying slightly in the breeze, and for a moment, she dazed out.

"Your Majesty, just wait for my good news." With that, Sue hurried away.

Solene sat on a swing, opening a box that contained the massive pink magic stone Ian had once given her. The merchant issues were nearing resolution, and she would gradually reclaim the military power scattered in the remote regions.

Suddenly, the sound of the wind reached her ears as someone quietly pushed the swing.

"Do you plan to live in the palace forever?" Ian’s voice came from behind.

"I'll leave when I'm bored. I hear the Ice City in the north is quite nice; I'd like to visit." Solene’s voice was no longer sharp or light; it had become steady and cold.

"My mother once went to the Ice City. She fell in love with a lover there who eventually hanged himself. He was the only son of the Stanford family, the administrators of the Ice City region. They have since adopted a commoner as their heir. They might not welcome royalty. We need them to guard the snowfields, so we cannot act against them recklessly."

"We are of the same country, after all; we shouldn't be so distant. The Lowlands send thousands of tons of coal to the Ice City every year; they cannot survive without our support. Though, they certainly could do without the Uplands."

Solene looked back at him with a smile. Her hint was obvious enough: the military force she currently controlled was the Ice City’s most powerful Snowfield Knights. And, of course, the Imperial Knights everyone knew—Sylvia.

Ian stared blankly at Solene, who was silhouetted against the sunlight. The swing suddenly bumped against his legs; he grabbed the ropes and finally snapped out of it. He understood her implication but, assuming she was merely boasting, he said no more.

The pink magic stone was still perfectly preserved. He had assumed she had long since used it up.

"Ian, the preparations for your wedding to Hill are underway. Although, for various reasons, it has been delayed significantly from the original date," Solene said with a smile.

"Given the relationship between us, do you still need me to marry her?" Ian leaned down slightly, looking down at Solene on the swing.

"Hill is me, and I am Hill. The real Hill has long been asleep—don't pretend you don't know. After all, the things we did in front of Hill last night..."

" I truly cannot understand you," Ian shook his head.

Solene gave a light laugh and gazed elsewhere with half-closed eyes, offering no response.

"You look a bit tired?" Ian asked with concern.

Solene nodded gently, her eyelids fluttering down. "Yes. Carry me back to the room. I forgot to bring my bell, so I can't call the servants."

Hearing this, Ian stepped forward and carefully picked her up, along with the box in her arms. The servants bowed as they passed, but he did not take Solene to her guest room. Instead, he headed straight for his own quarters. After all, during this time, Solene had never slept in that guest room alone; she always slept with him.

Ian leaned over, bracing his hands on either side of Solene, his body slowly approaching hers. Solene’s long hair was spread across the bed, looking messy and alluring.

She raised a hand, gently covering Ian’s lips. Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz. "It’s been several nights in a row. I’m truly exhausted."

With that, Solene tucked her porcelain-white limbs under the covers, withdrew her hand, turned over, and fell into a deep sleep.

Ian sat by the bed, watching her as she slept. His gaze tenderly brushed over her scattered hair, and his thoughts drifted back to the first time he met her. Back then, she had smiled at him, but it felt like the smile wasn't meant for him—it was more like a beautiful moment he had accidentally glimpsed.

It wasn't until the day of her coming-of-age ceremony that she truly smiled at him. That day, he had never felt so happy. It wasn't because he had "obtained" her, but because they finally had eye contact and a chance to speak.

Once, there was a vast distance between them. He was the Crown Prince, and she was merely the non-biological daughter of a minor Earl. The two old Dukes prevented him from approaching her—one side was the Empress's sphere of influence, the other the King's, while he felt like an outsider.

She had sat there all alone, and so had he.

Thump.

Solene hooked her arms around his neck and pulled him onto the bed.

"If you're tired, sleep for a while."