TSF 03

Chapter 3

“Actually, I had been thinking about this for some time. There are two options. One is to open the borders. The other is to become a vassal state of the Empire.”

Rea looked at Aren in surprise.

She had already been wondering how she could persuade Aren.

The solution Aren had thought of was exactly the same as the best option Rea had reached after debating with Nella, the Queen of Nortia.

“You had been thinking about this for a while?”

“Yes. But there was fierce opposition. If I had made it a public issue, public opinion would have become so divided that I feared the country might split in two.”

Rea sighed. She had not known Aren had been struggling with such matters at this time.

“But the people who opposed it have all been swept away by what happened this time.”

The two looked at each other in silence.

The same thought crossed both their minds.

Had those who opposed it really done so for the good of the kingdom?

“The current Emperor changed the Empire’s strategy of conquest from outright annexation to making countries into vassal states. At least as a vassal state, we would be guaranteed a certain degree of self-government.”

“Our kingdom is small, and we don’t have any special products the Empire would covet. The Empire’s pressure on us would be minimal.”

“Zephyros may be a small desert kingdom, but it has something special. Its roots go back to one of the four ancient kingdoms that ruled the continent long ago.”

“If we say we want to become a vassal state, the Emperor will welcome us with open arms.”

The siblings went back and forth like that before looking at each other and smiling.

“Brother. I’ll go to the Empire.”

There was someone Rea absolutely had to meet.

‘The Northern Eastern Commander-in-Chief, the Fourth Imperial Prince Karion.’

He was Nella, the Queen of Nortia’s son.

⌜Go back to the past. Correct your regrets. Stop the destruction of your kingdom and save the people precious to you. And then……⌟

Nella had stared into the distance with regret in her eyes before speaking.

⌜Save my son.⌟

Nella’s expression had been calm when she said those words.

⌜That’s all.⌟

‘Your Majesty. I will definitely save your son.’

Stopping her from dying was even more important than preventing First Imperial Prince Enoch from ascending to the throne.

Half a year later, Rea set out with her group as the head of the Zephyros Kingdom’s delegation.

“There are fifteen of you in total? I’ve only got three large rooms left. What are you going to do? You can sleep together if you don’t mind squeezing in.”

“All the other inns are full. Is something going on?”

“The arena is opening soon. Isn’t that why you came?”

“Ah, the arena. We’re on our way to Elios.”

“So you’re just passing through. You picked the wrong time.”

“That’s true. Give us the rooms anyway. How much for one day’s meals and feed for the horses?”

“Fifteen silver coins.”

“I’ll pay in advance. Thirteen silver coins. We’ll be leaving early in the morning.”

The innkeeper scratched his head roughly, then smacked his lips before answering.

“Very well.”

Just as they had done until now, the group stood there blankly while Rea haggled with the innkeeper.

After they had put their luggage in their rooms, Rea spoke to Kasim.

“I’ll go look around for a little while, so get some good rest.”

“G-Go, Commander. Alone again…….”

“Don’t worry. This city is fairly safe.”

Kasim reached out toward Rea’s retreating back, but he could not say anything and lowered his hand.

He had come along as her guard and protector, yet he felt as though he was the one being protected instead.

No matter how much he thought about it, he could not understand.

Why did a princess who had barely ever left the royal castle know the geography of the continent so well? And why was she so comfortable dealing with the locals?

He remembered the conversation he had had with the king before they departed.

⌜That child has changed. You feel it too, don’t you?⌟

⌜Yes, Your Majesty.⌟

⌜She used to be so frightened that she couldn’t even leave her bedroom after sunset. She was such a tender-hearted child that she cried until her eyes became swollen after seeing a baby bird that had fallen from its nest and died. You remember that too, don’t you?⌟

⌜……Yes, Your Majesty.⌟

⌜When did my little sister, whom I thought I had to protect, begin looking toward distant places? Did Rea grow up because I wasn’t enough to protect her?⌟

⌜Your Majesty. The Princess has simply become an adult. She has reached that age.⌟

⌜And yet, at some point, I began relying on her. What kind of older brother does that make me? It’s rather embarrassing.⌟

⌜Your Majesty. The Princess will sincerely be happy that she can be of help to you.⌟

⌜If Rea goes to the Empire, she may be taken hostage. Even knowing that, I have no choice but to send her. There is no one better suited for this task. Please take good care of her.⌟

⌜Yes, Your Majesty. I will protect the Princess with my life.⌟

Kasim’s firm resolve was soon put to the test.

“She disappeared!”

The next morning, Penny screamed as she brought over the letter Rea had left behind.

—I’ll go to Poema first. There’s something important I need to do there. I’ve roughly drawn the route to Poema below. Just follow it, and you’ll arrive within ten days. See you later.

‘Princessssss!’

He clenched the letter in his trembling hands and screamed inwardly.

After climbing up a hill, Rea looked down at the endless plains stretching before her.

For the first time since returning to the past, she was alone.

She remembered the days when she could never let her guard down for even a moment because she had to survive.

The memory made her relaxed heart tighten again.

The reason she was moving alone was to save time.

She had obtained important information at the marketplace.

‘The Northern Eastern Commander-in-Chief is in Poema right now!’

The intelligence network of the Zephyros Kingdom had been unable to find his exact whereabouts.

So Rea had planned to go to Poema, the nearest territory under the Northern Eastern Command, and search for him there.

And now, as luck would have it, he was already there.

She had never seen the Fourth Imperial Prince, the Northern Eastern Commander-in-Chief, before.

‘It doesn’t matter what kind of person you are.’

The only thing that mattered to Rea was that he was Nella’s son.

She was prepared to risk even her own life to prevent his death.

‘If I can repay what I owe her with just one life, then that’s a cheap price to pay.’

After traveling for five days, she arrived at the Poema garrison.

She sent her spirit ahead to scout the area and found that the garrison was heavily guarded.

Rea wanted to meet the Fourth Imperial Prince unofficially.

There was no way she could meet him by requesting an audience without revealing her identity.

‘Looks like I’ll have to sneak in after all. Please help me.’

She whispered to the spirit.

As if answering her, the wind brushed lightly against the back of her neck.

Rea smiled and took a step forward.

The spirit would show her a hidden path where she could avoid the eyes of the guards.

Inside the office of the administrative building at the Poema garrison.

A man with jet-black hair leaned back in his chair with his legs propped up on the desk, reading the imperial decree brought by the Emperor’s envoy.

—It seems the cold winds of the Northeast have frozen even the Commander’s loyalty. I can hardly remember what your face looks like anymore. Enter the capital before the full moon and let me see your complexion. I shall grant you a cup of warm tea.

A faint trace of mockery appeared in his indifferent silver-gray eyes.

There was no way the Emperor had summoned him because he truly wanted to see his son.

To the Emperor, his five sons were nothing more than tools that made the strength of the imperial throne look impressive, and replaceable parts that could be switched out at any time.

Karion had been away for so long that the Emperor was simply trying to keep him under control before he slipped beyond his reach.

He snapped his fingers.

Whoosh—

The imperial decree flew into the air before falling to the floor.

Orbin, the intelligence officer, picked up the decree and spoke.

“Your Highness. You have already ignored two imperial commands. Next time, it won’t be an envoy who comes. It will be hunting dogs. You should go to the capital this time.”

The Fourth Imperial Prince Karion, Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Eastern region of the Terra Empire, spent the entire year traveling between garrisons to manage the annexed and vassal states in the Northern Eastern region.

He had become Commander-in-Chief six years ago and left the capital.

For the past few years, whenever the Emperor summoned him, he had made up excuses and sent the imperial envoys back.

“It sounds noisy outside.”

Karion turned his gaze toward his adjutant, Cedric.

“Go see what’s happening.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Not long after Cedric left, the noise outside grew even louder.

It sounded like someone shouted, ‘This way!’ and the footsteps of several people running down the corridor echoed through the building.

“Your Highness. You should cancel your next inspection tour and—”

While Orbin was speaking, the door suddenly flew open, and someone entered before quickly closing it.

The stranger had pulled their hood so deeply over their head that their face could not be seen.

Orbin’s face twisted fiercely as he drew his sword.

“Who are you?”

“I have something urgent to tell His Highness the Imperial Prince.”

Orbin froze for a moment when he heard the beautiful voice coming from the uninvited guest.

The stranger grabbed the hood and pushed it back, revealing the face of a woman with her hair tied behind her head.

Her golden hair, the color of sunlit sand, was tied back, yet it was so thick that it still covered her shoulders.

Her fair skin seemed to glow on its own.

Her clear, water-green eyes sparkled like sunlight reflected on rippling water.

‘Oh.’

Orbin was genuinely impressed.

He had seen more than his fair share of beautiful women, but this one felt different.

Was it because she looked healthy? Or perhaps fresh and vibrant?

She immediately caught his eye, and he found it impossible to look away.

Orbin subtly glanced at Karion.

‘Surely not. But maybe…….’

It could be some sort of romantic entanglement involving the Imperial Prince and this woman, so he did not dare interfere.

“I am Rea, Princess of Zephyros. I have taken the liberty of coming to see Your Highness while avoiding the eyes of those around us.”

Karion looked her over as if he were appraising an object, then asked coldly,

“The Princess of Zephyros?”

“Yes.”

Karion lowered his legs from the desk and stood up.

As he walked toward Rea, she did not move an inch.

As the distance between them grew smaller, Rea’s head naturally tilted upward as she continued to meet his gaze.

“We have an unexpected guest. If you truly are the Princess of Zephyros.”

“Someone who can prove my identity is on the way. The official delegation sent by the kingdom will arrive within a few days.”

“Why would the Zephyros delegation come here instead of going to the capital?”

“Because I have something important to tell Your Highness.”

“If it is something that can be said in one short sentence, then go ahead.”

It was practically the same as telling her that he did not want to hear it and that she should leave immediately.

Rea was not intimidated by his cold response. Meeting his gaze head-on, she spoke with determination.

“Marry me.”

Oh.

It almost sounded as though someone nearby had let out an involuntary gasp of admiration.