[IYFILWATIP] Chapter 27

“You’re willing to stake your life on such a slim chance? Even if there’s a cure, you’ll end up as a monster’s lunch before you find it. The monsters in that region are on a different level from those that appear in the capital. It’s a gamble with your life that won’t yield anything in return...”

But there are things that, while understandable in the mind, are hard to accept in the heart. For example, the fact that one’s mother has abandoned them. Or that the firstborn has been pushed aside in favour of younger siblings. Kirona clenched her fists and responded in a cold voice.

“I thought Your Majesty knew well enough that I have no life worth betting on.”

“....”

“I have nothing to lose.”

The Emperor stared at Kirona silently for a long time before finally speaking the harsh truth.

“I can’t sacrifice elite knights for someone with nothing to lose. Four out of ten who go there never return.”

It seemed the Emperor had decided to speak without holding back. He was no longer looking at Kirona with a mother’s eyes but with a ruler’s cold gaze.

Hearing such words would have made her burst into tears a few years ago. But now, Kirona was indifferent. Love was a weak emotion, always defeated by stronger ones. Even the love between parent and child was no different. The Emperor had many more important things than his love for Kirona.

Kirona felt the same. There was something more important to her now than being the Emperor’s obedient eldest daughter.

“Do I look like a child throwing a tantrum, demanding everyone be sent out on my behalf? You would send a monster suppression force to the East soon, anyway. There aren’t just monsters living there—Your Majesty’s subjects live there, too. The people in the East are already murmuring that the Emperor has abandoned them. I’m simply saying I want to join the force you will send anyway.”

“The force sent to the east is a ragtag group.”

It is not only a ragtag group but is often composed of criminals because they can’t gather enough people. Kirona responded with a bitter smile.

“I’m not asking for your elite knights. You’ve always sent units of criminals to the East. That’s all I need. I’ll hire additional mercenaries.”

No royal knight would want to go there anyway. Everyone knew that participating in the eastern expedition was a gamble with their life. Perhaps a few who adhered to the outdated code of chivalry, believing in protecting the entire empire, would step forward.

“That’s even more impossible. Mercenaries follow money, not loyalty. As for the criminals, they’re even worse. You won’t be able to lead them. If someone pays them more to kidnap a royal, they’ll sell you off anywhere.”

“Then I just need to ensure they don’t know I’m royalty.”

Kirona pulled a vial from her pocket and drank it to the last drop. The amber colour in her eyes, which had once gleamed golden, turned grey. The Emperor let out a scoffing laugh, perhaps out of disbelief. Kirona didn’t care.

“I’ll just be a distant, powerless member of the royal family, a noble child blinded by ambition and ignorant of the world who fell for Your Majesty’s sweet words. Let’s say my name is... something common, like Natalia. I’ll lead the expedition to my grave, not knowing what awaits me.”

“That’s a flimsy disguise. You think you won’t get caught?”

Kirona looked up at the Emperor, wearing an olive-shaped iron crown.

“Abandon me, Mother.”

“What did you just say?”

“I’m saying, if things get complicated, abandon me. A corpse doesn’t talk, and there are no loose ends. After all, I’m already as good as dead.”

The cold Emperor frowned.

“...Kirona.”

“You won’t even need a propped-up corpse anymore. Now that you have the twin youngest siblings, you don’t have to worry about rumours spreading that I’m about to die, and you’ve filled the number of royals...”

“....”

“Just let me go. Though it seems you’ve already done that.”

Bowing deeply, Kirona left the audience chamber without hesitation, leaving the Emperor with a complicated expression. She left behind the golden throne, which was the most precious thing to the Emperor.

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

“Kirona, are you leaving?” 

“Yes, take care. Look after the newborn hunting dog pups, Asil. When they grow a bit, take them out hunting. Give them names, too.”

It was early dawn, and only her younger siblings had come to see Kirona off at the castle’s back gate. Third-born Asil, with teary eyes, and fourth-born Pine, holding their newborn sister. The second-born, Hasda, had been throwing tantrums and crying for days, saying his sister was abandoning him.

‘Ah, why do you get to go alone? And why does only big sister get to go? I want to go on a trip too! We’re only a year apart, after all!’

Kirona had almost been touched, but of course, Hasda’s reason for being upset wasn’t out of concern for her. His wanderlust was notorious. Ultimately, Hasda cried himself into exhaustion and couldn’t even get up.