“A fortune teller?”

I thought you went out to shop for jewelry. The knight showed a slightly puzzled look at the unexpected question.

However, it was impudent to ask questions, so he quickly erased his expression and answered calmly.

“…If you are talking about shops that make use of astrology, there are many scattered on the outskirts.”

“Then, do you know of a shop run by a blind old woman?”

“I apologize, but I do not know to that extent.”

“Alright. Then can you show the way to the astrology shops?”

The knight nodded his head and guided Rodelia toward the outskirts. As they walked, the crowds began to diminish and the view began to widen. As they approached the entrance to a slightly dark alleyway, he stopped her in her tracks.

“The place you are looking for is in this alley. But it’s a place where a lot of strange people gather…. In fact, there are many charlatans even among those who call themselves astrologers.”

“It’s alright. The person I’m looking for is genuine. Perhaps.”

With a subtle smile telling him not to worry, Rodelia stepped foot into the alley. She was a little afraid, however, even back in Thebes, she had already heard about astrology from her attendants and had expected this atmosphere.

Clutching her skirt tightly to relieve the tension, Rodelia took a few more steps and the strong scent of burning incense stung her nose. The knight also looked around warily and escorted her from behind.

In fact, even though there were stores, they weren’t technically legal hence most of them were maintained in the form of street vendors—she would be able to easily identify the astrologer’s face.

Rodelia’s steps stopped in front of one of the street vendors as she looked around her, enduring the unpleasant stares that flew here and there.

As she stared at an old woman sitting in a chair, the old woman’s head slowly raised. The old woman, who was looking displeased at Rodelia with her still distant eyes, said with a chuckle.

“It’s you.”

“…..”

“I knew you would come.”

The old woman, who got up from her chair and pressed her face closely to hers, rolled her white eyes again. As Rodelia drew in a quick breath, she pulled away again.

The old woman took out a set of keys from within her arms, groped for the door behind the stall then inserted the key. The old door opened with an unpleasant sound.

“Leave the chaff there and come in alone. Otherwise, I won’t tell you anything.”

The old woman gestured as she entered the dark, invisible interior or the building. When the knight ignored her and tried to follow inside, Rodelia held out her arm to stop him.

“Wait here a moment. I will go alone.”

“But…”

“She’s just an old woman. I don’t think she can pose a threat to me, so please wait. If I don’t come out after an hour, please enter then.”

“…Understood.”

After Rodelia reassured him, she followed the old woman into the building.

 *

“Have you heard of the Kirkel clan?”

“The Kirkel clan…?”

It was the first time she had ever heard of it. Rodelia looked at the old woman’s tea and asked a small question. She giggled, rolling her distant eyes back and forth, then continued what she was saying in a gruff voice.

“Being blind doesn’t mean one can’t see. There’s no poison in it, so it’s okay to drink it.”

“…..”

“You’re a suspicious lady.”

The old woman sneered at Rodelia, who still has yet to touch the cup. 

Last time, she was flustered and raised her voice, but this time, Rodelia decided to be a little tougher and spoke up.

“It is better than trusting others easily.”

“That’s right. Yet you seem to believe the person you shouldn’t trust.”

‘What the hell are you talking about?’

The old woman chuckled for a long time for who knows what could be so funny. She was offended by this but she couldn’t show her displeased feelings.

Rodelia didn’t say a word until the old woman had stopped laughing, and only brought up what she had been thinking of after she had finally settled.

“… I came to hear what you said to me the other day, the meaning of those words.”

“Of course, I knew that.”

The old woman leaned against the back of her chair and replied indifferently. She had already anticipated that the answer would not come out easily but she didn’t expect that she’d be this difficult.

There must be something else she wants.

Rodelia asked again, unfazed.

“Then answer me. What was the meaning of what you said to me then? What did you mean when you said to be wary of those with red eyes, that I’m destined to die?”

“What will you do for me if I tell you? Will you give me your eyes?”

“…You are talking nonsense.”

“It’s a pity then, young lady. I have nothing to lose.”

“……”

“I am a surviving member of the Kirkel clan. I know everything you want to know.”

When Rodelia didn’t answer, the old woman started talking nonsense again.

What in the world was the Kirkel clan? It was a name she had never heard before.

Was it pointless to come here? The problem was that the words of the old woman who seemed to be insane kept going through her mind.

In fact, all Luvenians knew that Cerdian has red eyes…

‘She looks blind, but she might not be.’

If not, she had heard that many people use the elderly to scam people.

Rodelia, concluding that she must have deliberately approached her, rose from her seat.

“There’s no talking to you. You keep spouting nonsense, I’ll be leaving.”

Then, as she was about to exit through the door, she heard the same creepy old woman’s voice from behind.

“It’s been a while since you had nightmares, hasn’t it?”

Rodelia’s hand that was about to turn the doorknob stopped. As she slowly turned her head back, the grinning old woman motioned for her to sit down.

“A big snake appears in that nightmare. Yes?”

 *

Upon returning to the Grand Duke’s residence, Rodelia’s face was filled with confusion. The servants asked if there was something wrong but since the knight said that he would keep it a secret, she evaded them by saying it was because she was tired.

Leaning against the railing of the balcony, she ruminated on her conversation with the old woman.

[Kill or be eaten, one of the two.]

[Will you believe that the snake is hiding its identity and is near you? Oh, of course, I’m not saying it’s a real snake, it’s just a metaphor, so don’t worry.]

With another creepy laugh, the old woman added.

[Ah, it seems that you’ve already fallen for it, so you will be eaten soon. If you want to know more, come visit me anytime, with your eyes as collateral.]

A chill ran up her spine. She wanted to ask more, but she couldn’t. When the time she had set was done, the knight who had been waiting out front rushed in bursting through the door, and the old woman was already gone.

She set out to solve a complicated problem but in the end, it made her head hurt even more. Rodelia sighed heavily as she tried to clear her head, her mind was a mess.

If it was something that could be solved just by worrying over, then she wouldn’t have anything to be worried about. In the end, everything will flow as what was destined.

The worn-out thoughts were blown away by the cold wind.

 *

The Imperial Palace of Thebes was turned upside down.

It was because of Kane’s miserable appearance after visiting Luvenia, and the knights who accompanied him were punished for failing to properly assist the emperor.

And what angered Kane even more, who had barely let go of his anger, was a piece of paper that Ferna handed over.

<Marriage Registration>

In summary, since Rodelia Florence, a sinner, became a citizen of Luvenia, he no longer had the right to judge her in Thebes. They said that the documents had been sent, and it turned out to be true.

“When did these documents arrive?”

“It arrived two days later after Your Majesty left for Luvenia.”

D*mn it!

As soon as Kane confirmed it, he crumpled up the paper and threw it into the fireplace. He had to find a way to bring Rodelia back before this irritating fact reached the nobles.

[Your Majesty, you need to bring Her Majesty back.]

[Rescind the wanted order against Rodelia Florence and announce the reinstatement of her status. The current empress is not qualified.]

The aristocratic faction discussed the empress’ qualities at every meeting. They compared Rodelia’s and Sola’s work abilities and criticized Kane for throwing Rodelia away.

He didn’t have the energy to refute it. Their words were true, Sola was clearly a terrible person to play the role of the empress.

Not only with the work Rodelia was in charge of, but also the tasks she shared with him, was becoming increasingly worse.

“Haa….”

When Kane let out a sigh as he sat on the bed getting treated by Sola, she couldn’t hold back her curiosity and asked questions in an annoyed tone.

“Why didn’t you bring her back? Didn’t you find her?”

Kane frowned at Sola and glared at her.

“Do you really not know? Well, there’s no way you would have known. It’s just a fake marriage anyway.”

Of course, he was really fooled back then.

On second thought, Rodelia was never one to make such a decision. Certainly, it seemed true that she had feelings for Cerdian… Kane frowned when he recalled Cerdian who had laughed at him.

“What did you say?”

“… Literally. Rodelia became the Grand Duchess. That’s why I couldn’t bring her back.”

Kane answered in a voice seething with anger. She thought she had heard wrong, so she couldn’t open her mouth for a long time.

‘Why is she so stiff? Does she fancy her own blood and kin?’

Maybe not, but it was valuable information if used well. Staring at her frigid expression for the first time ever since he met her, Kane said with a meaningful smile on his face.

“Sola, I guess you really didn’t know. Unlike you, the Grand Duke doesn’t really seem interested in you, his younger sister.”