Killing Your Sweet Breath - Chapter 41

Chapter 21.1

‘Right, I did say that, didn’t I?’

Van had given that order back when assassins had been constantly targeting the estate. It was meant to avoid unnecessary questions: Should we kill or spare them? How should we dispose of the bodies?—such trivial decisions didn’t need his direct approval.

He never thought Winter would actually try to go to the imperial palace alone, nor had he expected Sheeran to be so rigid in carrying out his duties.

Still, it was his command, and he couldn’t take it back now. Chasing after her to the palace would only draw unwanted suspicion.

He couldn’t risk jeopardizing whatever plan Winter had in mind, especially since he didn’t even know why she had gone to the palace in the first place.

Surely, she wouldn’t recklessly decide to kill the emperor and come back. Winter wasn’t a fool.

Van decided to focus on what he could control. First, he needed to find out what had happened that led Winter to make such a drastic decision.

If she’d been planning this for a while, she would have given him some kind of warning.

“Huu. If things go south, you’d better be ready, Sheeran.”

As Van stood with a sigh, Sheeran frantically raised his arms in defense, shouting in panic.

“I-I swear, I tried to stop her! But she insisted there was no need to worry, that she’d fix this tangled mess! She said it would all be done in a way that pleases you, Your Grace!”

“I didn’t say I was going to hit you.”

“T-thank you.”

“For now… that is.”

Van left the office to meet with Sianna. If he summoned her through Sheeran, she’d definitely have time to come up with a story beforehand.

He needed to find out exactly what that irritating bastard Ian had said to Winter.

* * *

“His Majesty will see you now.”

The sun was already setting by the time Winter was finally called in to meet with the emperor.

Considering she had arrived without an appointment, it was a small miracle.

If not for her title as Van Helgram’s fiancée, who knew how many days she would’ve had to wait just to make an appointment.

“I greet the Supreme Sun of Niello.”

“It’s been a while. When I heard you arrived without Van, I was too curious to focus on my work.”

The emperor greeted Winter with a neutral expression. He surely must’ve heard the rumors, but it seemed he wasn’t going to address them first.

“But you brought a knight of Helgram into the audience chamber with you. Now I’m even more intrigued.”

He stroked his graying beard and smirked.

Winter steeled herself, suppressing the hatred she felt for him. She needed to put on the perfect performance, the demeanor that “Winter Frost” would display in this situation.

Her gaze wavered, her hands fidgeted nervously, and her expression hinted she might burst into tears at any moment.

She had to deceive him flawlessly. One slip, and all her plans would be ruined.

“S-since Your Majesty was kind enough to ask first, I will speak the truth. Please forgive my lack of decorum, for I am not well-educated. The reason someone like me… of such low status, dares to seek an audience with someone as exalted as Your Majesty is because of the, uh, troubling rumors circulating in the capital.”

With her head bowed, Winter heard the low hum of his voice and the soft rustle of fabric. No doubt, the emperor was stroking his beard, watching her with amusement.

“Rumors, you say. Yes, I’ve heard some rather intriguing ones. Though I’d rather not recall them, they do remind me of you and my son.”

“T-that’s correct.”

Winter stammered, keeping her head low. As the emperor’s tone grew sharper, she didn’t forget to tremble slightly, as if in fear.

“So, what is it you wish to say? Surely, you didn’t come all this way just to plead your innocence and ask for my trust, did you?”

A cold tension settled over the audience chamber.

Cautiously, Winter lifted her head and met the emperor’s gaze. His faded golden eyes reflected both curiosity and a veiled warning.

One wrong word and his suspicions would snowball into something much worse.

“Y-yes, Your Majesty… I-I only wish to prove the innocence of the duke and myself. I’ve thought long and hard, despite my limited understanding, and—”

“Innocence. A pleasant word, but unless judged by God, how exactly do you plan to prove it?”

“As expected, Your Majesty is wise. That’s why I’ve been searching for a solution… Rumor has it that if one marries at the temple in the capital, they are subject to God’s Trial. So… if it would prove our innocence to Your Majesty, I am prepared to go through with it.”

Winter slowly closed her eyes. Even now, she wasn’t sure if she had made the right choice.