Chapter 85
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‘Who could it be? No, it can’t be…’
Edith tried to pinpoint who the person might be from the confusing letter, but if it were the Crown Prince, he wouldn’t have stayed quiet. Kai would have come straight to her location as well.
There weren’t many others left, and none of them had a reason to come to the kingdom.
“So complicated, really. They could have at least told me who it was.”
Still, the words that someone from the Empire was looking for her forced her to think.
Not even a season had passed since she fled from the goddesses who had forcibly thrust this absurd fate upon her and the male leads who coveted the sacrificial ‘Edith.’
Now, just because she was trapped in a kingdom, asking for help from some unknown person from the Empire was out of the question.
‘If I go back there, then escaping meant nothing.’
But staying here, becoming Kazan’s princess consort according to his wishes, was even less of an option.
‘Then…’
* * *
“I need to meet with Prince Kazan today and talk to him.”
She didn’t know who it was yet, but to meet this person from the Empire supposedly waiting for her, she would first need Kazan’s permission. But he kept refusing to see her, always through Perry.
Whether he was busy enjoying banquets or simply avoiding her, Edith resolved that if he wouldn’t come to her, she would go to him. Now, with Perry leading the way, she was heading to Kazan’s office.
“Edie! I’ll make the request to His Highness, so please, just go back for now.”
Despite his reluctance, Perry was accompanying her to where Kazan would be, giving in to her stubbornness. But he seemed to be hiding something, constantly trying to steer her away.
“Halt.”
The guards standing before the door finally stopped her.
Recognizing her with Perry, a Guardian of the Desert, they politely paid their respects but were strict about entry.
“I’m here to see Prince Kazaniel. Please tell him I’ve arrived.”
“His Highness is busy right now. Could you come back later?”
“Is there someone else in there first?”
“No, but…”
“Then tell him. Now.”
Whether Kazan had ordered them to refuse her no matter what, both Perry and the guard unit looked troubled, seemingly trying their hardest to block her.
But she wasn’t backing down either, firmly demanding what she wanted.
“From what I understand, His Highness chose me to be his princess consort. Are you going to keep his chosen princess consort standing out here?”
Seeing the guards’ flustered expressions, Edith pressed her advantage. As she pushed them, a shout came from inside the office—the commotion outside must have been loud enough to hear.
“What’s going on?”
“Your Highness, it’s Sir Perry and… Miss Edie.”
“…Let them in.”
With the long-awaited permission, the guards sighed deeply and opened the office door. Sunlight seemed to pour brightly through the crack, making Edith squint.
Inside, Kazan, who had been working at his desk, unrolling and examining scrolls one by one, paused and looked up at Edith and Perry entering.
“Haa, you… Perry, I thought I told you to make sure she didn’t come anywhere near the main palace.”
“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”
Kazan stared at Edith’s face for a long moment as she entered, then shifted his gaze to Perry, scolding him.
He soon ordered Perry to leave, leaving just the two of them alone in the office.
Though she had barged in boldly, being suddenly alone with him made her feel awkward. Edith stood there stiffly, just looking at him.
“Edie, your legs will hurt. Why don’t you sit on that chair over there?”
He had been watching her with an expressionless face, but now he resumed his work, moving his paused hands.
His manner, as if dealing with a troublesome burden, irritated her. Edith stood rooted to the spot and spoke testily.
“I didn’t come here to have a leisurely seated conversation.”
“Then why are you here?”
“…What’s with keeping someone locked up and not even showing your face?”
“Hoo.”
He set down his pen and began pressing his fingers into the bridge of his nose and between his brows.
“You said you didn’t want to see me.”
“What? I never said that.”
“That day… you definitely did.”
Something in his voice seemed resolute. Edith searched her memory, but she had never told him she disliked him.
To her, Kazan was neither good nor bad anymore—just an existence. She was certain she had never said such a thing.
But the fact that he hadn’t come for such a simple reason was ridiculous. Edith let out a hollow laugh.
“I don’t know what you’ve misunderstood on your own, but anyway, I came with a request.”
“What is it?”
“Let me go outside the palace.”
At her words, Kazan raised an eyebrow. His demeanor shifted as if angered, and his voice dropped low.
“Now… are you saying you want to leave?”
“No! That’s not it. I just feel so cooped up inside the palace… I want to see that great oasis, the heart of the kingdom you mentioned before.”
“The oasis?”
“Yes. I’ve always wanted to see it. And coincidentally, Miss Tisha offered to show me.”
At the unexpected name from her lips, a look of curiosity flickered across his face.
“Tisha Almarjan? Were you close with her?”
His tone was almost interrogating. Worried her expression might betray her, Edith’s voice unintentionally grew stiff.
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