Why Do You Only Hurt Me After Meeting Me (5)
The polite way to put it would be a political marriage. To speak plainly, she was a woman sold to a noble house in exchange for money. That was the position Wolfgang's mother had held within the Frost Duchy.
Formally, she had been a concubine, yet not a single person in the entire Frost Duchy ever treated her as one. A shabby attic far too cramped and shabby to be called a noble's quarters—that was where her mother and Teodore had lived. The mice and dust that inhabited the attic became Teodore's only friends.
Any unfair treatment had to be endured. The timid Teodore of that time, instead of fighting against the injustice, had chosen to burst into tears and hide behind his mother. However, the crybaby and coward that was Teodore suddenly changed the moment his little sister was born.
The baby he saw for the first time in his life was far too small and fragile to be called a living being. Teodore could only stare, utterly entranced, at the faint breaths of that tiny, wriggling life in his arms. She was so weak that it seemed she might vanish at any moment if he wasn't careful.
"This is your little sister, Lana."
"Lana…"
"Yes. Please protect her, Teodore. You are this child's one and only older brother."
Perhaps it was because of the unclean environment of the attic. Or maybe it was the accumulated resentment from everything that had come before. One month after giving birth to Lana, their mother drew her last breath.
It would be a lie to say he didn't resent it. There had been times when he threw tantrums at his mother, asking why everyone else could have it but not them. But one thing he could say with certainty was that he had never once denied her.
The weak boy finally realized it then—what he needed to do in order to protect his family. To Teodore, Lana was the promise left behind by their mother who had passed first. She became his sole reason for living.
Even so, Teodore ultimately failed to protect Lana. The kind and considerate Lana had chosen to sacrifice herself for the sake of the family—and for her one and only older brother. And Teodore had been powerless to stop that sacrifice.
He had regretted it every single day for the past ten years. If only I had properly guarded the door back then. Or if I had given clearer orders to my subordinates. Maybe you wouldn't have died like that.
No. All of that was nothing but excuses. In the end, it was because I was weak. That was why I couldn't protect you.
For a brief moment, the golden eyes that had lost their will began to burn once more. He had not yet recovered from the shock. At first, it had felt as if his heart had simply stopped. But Teodore reminded himself of his purpose.
What had he given up everything for? Why had he come all the way to the Empire? Wasn't it simply to confirm whether his sister was alive or dead? He had desired nothing else.
If she truly was alive, he wanted to see her—even just once. That was the heart with which he had come here. And then, a true miracle unfolded before his eyes.
It was no exaggeration. This could only be described as a miracle. The sister he had believed dead for ten years had appeared before him, alive.
What do I want to do? Why exactly did I come all this way?
To that question, Teodore could finally give an answer.
I will devote the rest of my life entirely to you.
Even if you deny me and resent me, I will ensure you never suffer such pain again—as your one and only family. Even if it costs me my life.
The flame of will that had once been broken now burned hotter than ever. The vow never to lose what was precious again. The sight of him rising to his feet, gritting his teeth, stepping forward through despair—it was something any person would have to admire.
Yet the one watching that scene from the front, Emperor Leiphen, wore a sneer.
"Are you trying to play word games with me right now?"
No matter what he had given up to come here, no matter how he had forged his will into steel, what did any of that have to do with him? The Emperor of the Empire, Leiphen, did not concern himself with others' circumstances. Yes—that was precisely why he was called the Iron-Blooded Emperor.
The man who had purged not only his father and mother but even his own siblings, leaving not a single one alive, before ascending the throne.
In the end, you failed to protect her. She was the jewel your family discarded, wasn't she? And now you want her back? Don't make me laugh. Do you really think I'll allow such a cheap trick?
He would never permit it. Even if a god appeared before him and granted permission to take her, he would never allow it. He would stand in the way of Teodore von Frost's steel-forged resolve. Like the Demon King from a fairy tale.
Perhaps his instincts, deep in his unconscious, understood the role he was meant to play in this world. Yet the direction was entirely different. Just as Teodore was an iron wall protecting Wolfgang, Leiphen stood firm in his own position.
Even with such an emperor before him, Teodore did not retreat. Watching the scene, Wolfgang realized something.
This is something I have to stop.
If one were to describe Wolfgang's philosophy of life in a single phrase, it would be that of a diligent civil servant. She knew her duties clearly and carried them out without fail. But if it wasn't her responsibility, she didn't bother getting involved.
From her perspective, it would be correct to leave this matter to her superior, Emperor Leiphen. But if she were to step forward and handle it herself, that would be overstepping her authority.
However, if she simply stayed silent, the mood was clearly heading toward the expulsion of the kingdom's delegation. That would be extremely inconvenient for her.
It's the clue to Lana Frost that I finally found. I can't let it slip away like this.
For the past month and a half, Wolfgang had run herself ragged gathering information, but strangely, she hadn't been able to find even the smallest detail about Lana Frost. Anyone who wasn't a fool could easily deduce that someone had intervened. To her, the existence of Teodore von Frost was like salvation descending from the heavens. She couldn't possibly let him leave empty-handed.
But stepping forward directly would be an abuse of power. After agonizing over it again and again, Wolfgang finally made her decision.
I really, really don't want to do this. But I have no choice.
Surprisingly, there was one way to resolve the current situation. A solution that only she could use. Even so, she was extremely reluctant to employ it. Because it was a matter that went beyond pride—it involved her very soul.
Yet after weighing a moment of humiliation against the value of the information, the scales inevitably tipped toward the information. In the end, she let out a deep sigh and put the plan into action.
She carefully tugged at Leiphen's sleeve with her index finger and thumb. It was an incredibly weak pull for her, yet Leiphen recognized the signal as if by magic. When he slightly turned his head, his red eyes—laden with a demonic aura—turned toward Wolfgang.
Just from his gaze, she could read the answer. I am standing here right now as the Emperor.
She knew. She knew it all too painfully well. Distinguishing between public and private matters was one of her strengths, after all. But at least for this moment, she could not separate the two.
"Accept them."
"Sir Leonhardt, I am currently…"
"Please, Ray."
"……"
The voice overflowing with imperial dignity crawled back down his throat in an instant. The red eyes that had been filled with a demonic aura were now mixed with panic and astonishment.
This time… I swore I would never compromise.
It was a harsh thing for her, but it was the decision made by the Emperor who ruled the Empire.
Teodore von Frost was Lana Frost's one and only family. Of course, if one spoke purely in terms of blood relation, there was also a father and younger sibling. But that was only when defined by shared blood. The only person who truly considered the other family from the heart was Teodore von Frost alone.
That was why she had been afraid. Afraid that Wolfgang Leonhardt might disappear and Lana Frost would return. As the Emperor ruling the Empire, there was justification in blocking the kingdom's military power. But if one spoke of his true feelings rather than justification—
He simply did not want them to take her away. He needed her. If she disappeared, it felt like everything would return to that time. And that terrified him beyond words.
He agonized until the very last moment. His reason, which already reigned as Emperor, had given a firm refusal. But how could anyone live in this world with cold reason alone?
"…I grant your request."
In the end, he could not turn away Wolfgang's plea. If it had been anyone else, perhaps. But it was because it was her—the one who had shown him warmth when he had been alone and isolated, the one who had reached out her hand.
As a result, she had successfully protected the kingdom's delegation from the Emperor. But if it was something that could be resolved so easily, why had she agonized until the very last second?
The answer was simple.
Aaaargh!! My hands and feet are curling up in embarrassment!!
Calling each other by nicknames like that between men—how utterly disgusting! Well, of course, she was a woman now… But on a spiritual level, or perhaps it was the final line that could not be crossed. Today once again, Wolfgang's worries deepened alongside her sense of identity.