Except for meal or tea time with the Duke, Elisha spent most of her time in her quarters.
There were times when she practiced swordsmanship with Rohan, but it wasnât as comfortable as it was before getting to the Duchy.
Meanwhile, Vera was stuck with Elisha.
She brought fabric and sewed it in Elishaâs room. When Elisha was practicing, she heard the sound of the blades hitting each other and stood in the corner, not taking her eyes off her even though she was startled.
Her lips curled up as she found her admirable, and when night fell, she went to her husband and got excited about what the 2nd Empress had done on that day.
âIâve never seen such a cool person in the world.â
Vera praised the 2nd Empress, so much so that Jonathan joked that he should be jealous.
However, contrary to his words, Jonathan knew that she had suffered from depression all the time since Vera married him and came to the castle, and was happy inside when his wife, who had no power, finally became brighter.
Her wife was making Her Majestyâs clothes and he couldnât stop her even though he was worried that it would catch his sister-in-law, brother, or father and cause trouble.
Jonathan was just an ordinary father who wanted his wife and child to be happy.
However, he was also a man who was realizing that what everyone else easily puts in their mouth is not because they can have it, but because it is what they want, even though it will be difficult to achieve it.
Jonathan stepped forward and stood in front of the 2nd Empressâs quarters.
Today was the day the 2nd Empress was going to the Vecchia Plain.
He heard that the road to the Vecchia Plain was full of people since yesterday, as the Dukeâs people spread the word.
Normally, if only high-ranking aristocrats were gathered, the people of the Duchy would have avoided it because they were scared.
However, how could they not be moved by the arrival of the sky-like Empress of Barossa and the first knight Rohan?
In addition to that, their curiosity was only natural as it was said that Her Majesty was going to find a water supply to solve the drought by summoning a spirit. This story seemed to come out of an old story book.
Even the nobles were rushing from the morning, saying they had to find a good seat.
Jonathan didnât know what his father and sister-in-law were thinking about doing this, but he felt uncomfortable because it didnât seem like it would ever bring good results to anyone.
Jonathan sighed deeply, and as he was about to knock on the door, he was startled by the heavy energy he felt from behind and stopped.
When he turned around, a man with an impeccable appearance and a moderation in every movement was approaching behind him.
Rohan nodded his head slightly to greet Jonathan.
He was debating whether to get away from the door and give his space to Rohan, or if he should let the 2nd Empress know that theyâre both here and open the door for Rohan.
The voice of the 2nd Empress was heard from within.
When the door was opened, in the midst of the light pouring from the wide open window, the 2nd Empress, Elisha, was standing.
Her silver hair fluttering in her backlight was as mysterious as a river flowing through the darkness.
The dark green uniform, with its slender, white collar down the neck, blended so well with her that she looked like a forest spirit.
âHow is it? Is it beautiful?â
She said as Vera finished dressing her up by draping the black cloak over her shoulders from behind and securing it to keep it from falling.
Jonathan nodded his head, but Rohan just stood there quietly.
âVera, youâve been through a lot. I thought it would be as good as it looks, but I didnât expect it to be this good.â
She had been making completely new clothes.
In that short time, without being properly prepared.
When Elisha praised Vera, Veraâs cheeks reddened as she rejoiced like a young girl.
âThe carriage is waiting.â
As Jonathan regained his senses and remembered his reason for coming here and quickly informed her, Elisha took Leon in her arms and left the room.
As they descended through the spiral central staircase, they saw the central hall leading to the vestibule.
In the empty space between the end of the stairs and the front door, there was a large sculpture in the shape of a lion with a large sphere in its mouth.
Over the open doorway in front of them, one could see people waiting for Elisha to come out with the carriage.
She spread her fingers as she passed the lion statue, which is also the coat of arms of the Duke.
The purple sphere between the lionâs gaping jaws was larger than the head of a child.
The backside of the sphere was connected to the uvula of the lion, and the frontside of it had four strong fangs biting at the tip of the lionâs mouth, so she couldnât figure out how they put the sphere in that position.
Perhaps Jonathan had read Elishaâs unspeakable question.
Or perhaps it was because most people who saw the lion thought something similar.
âThe previous Duke discovered a huge stone with amethyst embedded in it, so he called in famous craftsmen to carve the whole thing.â
It means that the lion statue was created by making use of the shape that was there in the first place.
âIt must be very meaningful.â
Jonathan answered, but he didnât seem to be very happy with it.
Itâs because he knew how daunting the majestic lion statue facing the front door can make people feel.
Those who come in are despised, and those who leave are pushed back.
Facing it makes it difficult to breathe, even more so the heavier the burden one carries.
All his immediate family knew that the previous duke had usurped the property of a low-ranking baron.
Elishaâs outstretched fingertips gently brushed the surface of the amethyst sphere.
âAmethyst like this is rare. Does Your Majesty like amethyst?â
Vera, who knew that Elisha had been paying attention to that lion statue since she first came to the castle, asked.
âProbably better than pearls.â
Feeling something strange, Vera tilted her head.
However, she quickly forgot what she was thinking because she was chasing after Elisha who had gone past the lion statue and was leaving the front door.
Leon, who put his forehead on the carriage window, was startled and let out a number of exclamations.
Benjamin was following Leonâs action in the same way, but unlike Leon, there was no change in his expression, as if he didnât feel any excitement.
âLook at that. I have never seen so many people.â
The main road is full of carriages, and on the edge of the road, people are heading in the same direction, like a river that continues uninterrupted.
When the Dukeâs carriage and the 2nd Empress appeared, everyone tried to clear the road, but it was not easy.
No matter how they made space and dispersed, the speed didnât improve much.
It was only after more than twice as long as usual that they arrived.
The doors of the Dukeâs carriage and Elishaâs carriage opened at the same time.
Elisha, holding Leon in one arm, placed her other hand on Rohanâs, who reached out to her, and got out of the carriage.
When she stepped on the floor, the dust swells. Elisha frowned and looked around.
The Dukeâs carriage stood in the center near the entrance to the Vecchia Plain, and the carriages of the nobles surrounded it.
As if they had followed the edge of the main road, the commoners were standing in long groups on either side of the entrance to the plain.
Such a huge crowd made it look as if a magnificent black forest had risen from the barren land.
As soon as they saw Elisha, they let out a shout.
âBlessings to His Majesty the Emperor and the 2nd Empress!â
The Duke approached Elisha when the surroundings were blaring and deafening.
âWhat would you like to do? Would you like to say something?â
After all, they already knew what she was coming for, and what can they hear in this noisy place?
She didnât know if there is a magic orb that amplifies the sound available around, but she personally didnât seem to have prepared such a thing.
Elisha did not intend to waste her strength over useless things.
âYour Majesty the 2nd Empress, show us the spirit!â
The excitement of the people of the Duchy was not normal.
As Rohan clung to Elishaâs side and took over Leon, the 1st Knights encircled her.
The knights and soldiers who came to escort the Duke and other nobles also guarded their masters centered on the carriage and linked each other to guard against possible accidents.
The floor vibrated as the gathered people stomped their feet.
The energy pouring down from the left and right was so strong that the dust that rose from their feet wrapped around each other, swirled, and soared into the sky.
Elisha separated herself from the people who were trying to protect her and walked forward indifferently.
Behind her back, the nobles continued to step forward, receiving the gaze of the crowd on the left and the right in the direction they were walking.
Being engulfed in the heat of a crowd like this isnât something one can endure just because theyâre brave enough.
Elisha had encountered even worse enemies, and eventually killed them all.
So, what is so scary about those cheering her on?
It wasnât her job to motivate her allies in war, but at least she instinctively knew how to get them to move on without running away from death.
At Elishaâs call, water droplets bounced off the dry, cracked soil.
They band together and play around and fly around Elisha.
âIt is a spirit. Itâs a real spirit!â
The people were mesmerized.
It was difficult for the people behind to see, so some of the nobles came forward and approached.
When the people wanted to see closer and tried to narrow the distance, the knights spurted out a sharp energy and made them stand back.
Then Elisha made the water droplets a little higher and floated in the sky.
The water droplets became a single bird with a clear sound.
Before splitting into numerous smaller birds, leaving water marks in the blowing wind.
The way to move on without running away from death was actually quite simple.
âI can show you something more than reality.â
It was âhellâ back then, but now itâs âhopeâ.
Elisha muttered and spread her arms wide.
Dozenz, hundreds of birds followed Elishaâs gestures and began to fly across the Vecchia Plain.
For a moment, the space became quiet.
As unrealistic scenes were added to the beautiful but sculpturally cold face, some of the people bowed down and prayed, while others burst into tears.
People were paying close attention to even the sound of her breathing.
âI have come here at His Majestyâs command. His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness, the Crown Prince, are paying attention to you, and you will all be at peace. What is this if not a blessing?â
There will be many people who have not heard it, but it will spread in all directions through those who recite what they have heard.
Elisha turned and went back to those who were waiting for her.
When Rohan asked, Elisha nodded her head.
The people were still very excited, and they were watching only Elisha.
âIt seems that some of them are agitators.â
It was not natural for the people to heat up so quickly.
As Elisha spoke, Rohanâs eyes sank deeply.
âHow long will it take to dig out the water veins?â
The agitators had only a little gap, so they put their affection in and spread the gap.
It would only take an instant to make a small problem grew out of control.
Elisha, who stepped back, looked at the direction in which the drops of water that became birds flew, and then looked back at Rohan.
âBut itâs clear that Iâm not the one tormented by todayâs event.â
Elisha added in a small voice, as if she would only let him know.
âDidnât you say that I am a person who holds grudges?â
The 2nd Empress smiled as she said so.
Looked innocent, like a child playing pranks.
Rohan thought unconsciously.
I finally, finally, braved myself to read the manhwa until the most recent update and Iâm very surprised thatâŠ
Apparently Iâve been doing a pretty good job if we ignore my grammars?
My calculation was Iâd probably done the novel 60-70% justice, since I translated a lot of things by mere guess, because *coughs* as you know, Korean language rarely use subject and object, so if in one sentence there are multiple participants⊠and when youâre not a master of the language⊠good luck have fun.
Nevertheless, I can say up until the most recent manhwa update, the accuracy should still be up there around 80-90%, which is, enough to make me hop around my room in joy.
I shouldâve read the manhwa sooner, becauseâŠ
Oh my god. Iâm sorry non-Rohan shippers.
Iâm also surprised that the manhwa makes it clear that Blemir is jealous back in chapter⊠10ish (?) the one titled âEmperor Kaidenâ where Elisha had a duel with the knight Dominique, and that he really has an interest in our empress from the way he still has her gloves from Leonâs birthday party. The novel does not describe what exactly he has in his pocket at that scene.
The manhwaâs art is actually not that bad? I wonder why the hell the cover is so bad though. I did not read it before because the cover is horrible. Anyway, thatâs my take about the novel. Thank you for following the series!