Chapter 17 : Lana Frost (2)

Indirect speech isn’t really her style. 

Particularly, the passive-aggressive probing typical of political battles was the kind of thing she hated most.

She always believed in speaking through skill rather than politics. It was her unchanging motto, both in her past and present life.

Wolfgang didn’t bother with any pretense this time either, and instead, he asked his question directly and concisely.

However, words can change depending on how they’re delivered. 

Or perhaps it’s more accurate to say that people see only what they want to see. 

Theodore, the successor to the duchy who had seen his fair share of battles, interpreted the question in a completely different way.

There’s a saying that ten years can change a landscape. 

It means that ten years is a long enough time for nature to change, and even more so for the fleeting lives of humans.

But.

This wasn’t a mistake. 

He wasn’t mistaken. 

The memories Theodore had built, the blood of hatred that flowed within him—everything confirmed it.

Though her appearance had changed drastically.

She was undoubtedly Lana Frost.

And yet, you are asking me about Lana Frost.

The resolute tone he used to refer to her, as though drawing a line that said, “I am not Lana Frost,” made the heart that had briefly soared at the thought of his younger sister being alive again freeze over with cold reality.

Perhaps it was something he had been avoiding. 

But whether he wanted to accept it or not, he had to acknowledge it.

She was no longer Lana Frost.

Of course. 

After going through such a horrifying ordeal, she must have wanted to forget everything. 

The betrayal of the companion she thought she would spend her life with. 

The malice of countless people who tried to exploit even that pain.

No matter how mentally strong a person is, it wouldn’t have been surprising if her mind had shattered long ago. 

And yet, shamelessly, he stood in front of her once again after all she had endured.

As a person, Theodore couldn’t help but feel greedy. 

At first, he thought it was enough that she was simply alive. 

But when he saw her alive and moving again…

If only it were possible, he wanted to return to the old days. 

That desire blossomed within him like a spring flower. 

But her question swiftly turned his greed into a flower facing autumn.

Leaving behind the fleeting beauty and fragrance.

To face the coming winter.

Like a flower burning all of its life to prepare for that moment.

But even in that fleeting moment, he still loved her. 

My beloved sister. If this is what you desire, I will gladly play along.

Theodore twisted his lips into a smile.

“Did you ask about Lana Frost?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“She was truly kind and deeply considerate.”

“The rumors circulating are a bit different, though?”

“I can say this with certainty. Those are false.”

The smile he forced onto his lips looked sadder than ever. 

Of course, he had come here with a mission for the kingdom. But he couldn’t help but wonder.

Is it right to take you back to that hell?

‘When you were bearing all that pain alone.’

What was I doing?

I did nothing.

No, I wasn’t even aware of it.

It wasn’t until you collapsed that I faced the harsh reality. 

Even after that, I did everything I could to protect you.

But in the end, I couldn’t protect you.

‘I understand why you resent me, why you’re drawing a line. I understand it all.’

The human heart is so delicate and painful. 

Time doesn’t heal all wounds. It only dulls them. Otherwise, people wouldn’t be able to continue living.

“You must have loved her very much as family.”

“Yes, I did.”

“Then, Lana Frost now…”

“Passed away ten years ago.”

He forced his mouth to move, drawing a line. 

For the answer she wanted. 

He completely excluded his own feelings.

Wolfgang had drawn a clear line.

Then there could only be one thing she wanted.

‘I was so selfish.’

He had already decided to devote the rest of his life to her, even though it was far too late. 

It was an illusion to think he could go back to the way things were.

Still, it was alright. Because the fact that you, whom I thought dead, were alive was enough for Theodore to find a reason to live. 

Of course, that didn’t mean it wasn’t painful.

Even now, his chest ached as though it were being torn apart. 

But he ignored the pain and forced a smile. 

He knew the day would come when even that pain would become dull.

“Captain, His Majesty is asking for you.”

“I still have a guest here…”

“It’s alright.”

Theodore rose from his seat without hesitation. 

There were so many things he wanted to ask his long-lost sister. 

But he clenched his teeth and held back. For her sake.

It hurt so much.

But for you, I’ll endure it.

Because one day, this pain will dull too.

‘What is this? Am I not Lana Frost?’

Her meeting with Theodore left her utterly confused. 

In fact, before she met him, she had slightly suspected that she might not be Lana Frost.

Even so, she had read enough web novels in her past life to consider the possibility. 

The sudden spread of rumors about Lana Frost, and the fact that they even held a hearing, made her question whether this body really was Lana Frost’s.

And now Theodore, who must have some connection to Lana Frost, had appeared.

Unable to hold back, she asked directly.

“She passed away ten years ago.”

???

‘What? Am I not Lana Frost? Was I just self-deluding?’

No, she couldn’t be sure yet. Lana Frost had been exiled ten years ago. 

And it was precisely ten years ago that she began to make a name for herself in the empire.

‘Maybe too much time has passed for him to recognize me.’

Ten years is long enough to change even the landscape. 

And she had spent those ten years at war, so it wasn’t that far-fetched that Theodore couldn’t recognize her.

Of course, there was still the possibility that she wasn’t Lana Frost at all. 

But before she could ponder the situation further, the emperor summoned her barely thirty minutes after their conversation started.

She couldn’t ignore the summons. With her innate sense of duty, she made a strict distinction between public and private matters.

Though she might be personally close to Theodore…

There had never been a time when bringing personal feelings into work resulted in a positive outcome.

She understood this clearly, which was why she stood before the emperor with the dignity of a loyal subject.

“Loyalty! You called for me, Your Majesty?”

“Yes. How did your meeting with Lord Frost go?”

“There were no significant issues.”

“……You’re sure there’s nothing more?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Though she masked her feelings with a composed expression, a deep sense of unease stirred inside her.

There was no way her comrade, who had fought by her side for the past ten years, wouldn’t notice.

What’s going on? Why is he acting like this?

“Is something troubling you, Your Majesty?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

“It doesn’t seem like nothing.”

The emperor wanted to spit out his true thoughts. 

Could it be that you’ve already fallen under their influence?

But he swallowed the words down. Jealousy was an ugly emotion, one he was ashamed of even acknowledging.

He suppressed his feelings as much as he could.

‘I swore to keep these feelings hidden forever.’

That was the vow of his soul.

A promise he had made never to break. In that endless cold, surrounded by death and despair…

I remember the hand you extended to me.

That’s why I’m afraid. If you leave my side now, I feel like I’ll fall back into that same despair.

That’s what I fear.

I still fear it.

That’s why I swore to never confess these feelings.

He didn’t want to destroy even their friendship with needless words.

Yet the scoundrels who had arrived from the kingdom had nearly shaken that vow to its core.

“In fact, I’ve struck a decent deal this time.”

“A deal?”

“Yes, I’m going to need your strength for this.”

“Command me, Your Majesty.”

It was a lie. There was no need to use Wolfgang Leonhardt’s power for this matter; the empire could easily handle it on its own.

And yet, the emperor had chosen Wolfgang.

“The saintess of the kingdom is moving to ally with the Western Lord of Blood.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I want you to show those foolish blood kin the strength of the empire.”

Even for a brief moment.

The ugly jealousy that drove him to push her and the kingdom apart.

The emperor refused to acknowledge it until the very end.