Chapter 139
As winter approached, Lea too was seriously preparing for the coming season. According to her memory, it was about this time of year.
After driving Derek and Zion hard and finishing preparations for the winter in bulk, she was soon summoned by the Emperor and headed to the Imperial Palace with Calix.
He didn’t look pleased about the Emperor’s summons. He had planned not to come to the Imperial Palace for a while—so why had he been called?
“Why the face, Sister?”
Lea didn’t respond even to his playful ‘sister act’ that usually started things off. She had a feeling today was that day.
“…I was just running through in my head whether I really finished all the winter preparations.”
“My diligent Lea, I bet you’d get by just fine anywhere you went.”
At the sudden compliment, Lea’s cheeks turned pink, and Calix poked her with his fingertip as he added,
“Though, it wouldn’t be better than being by my side.”
Exchanging these warm words, they received the Emperor’s permission and entered the audience chamber.
Usually, he summoned them to his office, so Calix sensed something suspicious. For some reason, he felt the reason for today’s summons wouldn’t be simple.
But why had he called not only him, but also Lea? Calix, uneasy about this, fixed his gaze on the Emperor, who was seated at the head of the room.
“I greet Your Majesty, the Sun of the Empire.”
Lea greeted first with a deep bow and stood behind Calix. As Calix looked at the Emperor, the Emperor waved his hand before he could even finish.
“That’s enough with the formalities.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“There’s a reason I’ve called the two of you.”
“Yes, please give your command.”
Calix and Lea answered at the same time and waited for him to continue. The Emperor stared at them in silence for a moment before letting out a lazy laugh.
“It seems you’ve understood my words, and yet maybe not…”
The ambiguous statement made Calix speak up first.
“What is it you wish to say, Your Majesty?”
“Ah, right.”
As if remembering something he’d forgotten, the Emperor delivered a heavy subject with a light tone.
“War has broken out again in the northern ceasefire zone. It seems the Empire of Leonis has decided to restart this tiresome conflict. I’m issuing orders for both of you to depart for the frontlines.”
Calix was taken aback by the Emperor’s sudden command, but Lea accepted it calmly.
Seeing their starkly different reactions, the Emperor gazed at her with renewed curiosity.
“Did the Leonis bastards attack first?”
Even at Calix’s question, the Emperor kept his eyes on Lea, not his son, and asked her instead.
“Why did you suddenly reveal that you’re a Guide?”
The subject was omitted, but Lea knew the question was for her.
“Because it felt unfair.”
She answered simply but sincerely. She’d felt wronged in the past, and even after returning, she still felt wronged.
“Haha, yes, that’s understandable.”
The Emperor accepted her answer without resistance.
“Well, it’s just as well. You two should serve as the Empire of Cantabria’s representative Esper and Guide, and return after making achievements.”
Watching the Emperor, who seemed even delighted by her answer, Lea felt he was no different from the past or now.
She’d always thought of the Emperor this way, both then and now.
A hopeless romantic hiding behind indifference.
In the end, even this situation must have come about because of Bianca’s request, and even being poisoned by her in the future… He might have accepted it knowingly, simply because she wanted it.
The Emperor had been poisoned, but there was no conclusive evidence that it had been murder.
Only Lea, who’d turned back time and was living a new life, could know that the Emperor was, in fact, a great lover. That was something not even Bianca knew.
If Calix had to go somewhere else, he would, of course, have taken Lea with him. But this time, the circumstances were different.
The northern front, right as winter was approaching.
“Your Majesty, Lea is basically an ordinary Guide. Surely you’re not telling us to just head out without any preparations? Fighting a campaign in the north in the dead of winter is far more arduous than elsewhere.”
“…Hm, it would certainly be difficult for Lea. Tell me what you need.”
Apparently, the Emperor hadn’t thought that far. He wore a peculiar expression. Lea seized the opportunity.
“Please supply us with all available low-grade mana stones.”
“Low-grade mana stones?”
Calix had intended to ask for something better, but Lea jumped in before he could say a word. He tried to communicate something with his eyes, but Lea only looked at the Emperor.
“Yes, as much as possible.”
“What do you intend to use them for?”
“Low-grade mana stones are often dismissed as worthless because they’re unsuitable for crafting magic tools, but they have an unexpected advantage.”
The Emperor, who had intended to just quickly issue their orders and return to his office, changed his mind.
“What is it?”
At the Emperor’s curious question, Lea answered in a clear, steady voice.
“They can retain a faint warmth for a long time.”
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