For You In The Cage - Chapter 88

While Deltinus was still the crown prince, Duke Theodore contemplated and pondered over who would be good as Estella’s mate. Since he had already made an agreement with the previous emperor, she had to marry one of the two, unless there was a special reason for disqualification.

Considering the future of the family, it was right to choose Deltinus. This was because Yulif quickly gave up the right to the throne. It was well known that the brothers were not on good terms, so it was likely that if Deltinus became emperor, he would leave Yulif without even the right to succession.

However, Duke Theodore could not easily make a decision because he was worried about Deltinus’ brutal nature.

The position of empress was hard to endure even if she was loved by the emperor. What’s more, an unloved empress’ life was quite obvious. She might be trapped in a cold palace and die day by day, or she might be fascinated by pleasure that would soothe her empty heart.

Estella was the only daughter of Duke Theodore. No parent wanted his or her only precious child to be unhappy. Eventually, Duke Theodore decided to pursue an engagement with Yulif. Even if he was pushed out of this power struggle, it was a decision that put Estella’s happiness first.

It would have been if Estella hadn’t been strong enough to want to marry Deltinus.

Duke Theodore always regretted that Estella became the empress after being the crown princess without any major problems. He should have broken his daughter’s stubbornness at all costs then. He should have led Estella, who was still young and didn’t know what love was, to a happier path.

His regret grew out of control when he saw Estella beaten by Deltinus not long ago for being too cocky and handling his affairs. It didn’t take long for his regrets to turn into murderous intent toward Deltinus.

It broke his heart to think how hard Estella must have been in an invisible place. In the first place, she was not supposed to be engaged with the emperor. It was as if he had ruined Estella’s life. Duke Theodore wanted to correct the mistake even now.

“For me, the work after the event is more important than the event. Duke Rubius would know what I’m talking about.”

“I am sure you want to ensure the safety of Her Majesty the Empress and His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“I don’t want anything else. It’s okay for my daughter to not be the empress. No, that might be better for Estella. If only I could free my daughter from that hell in some way.”

Duke Theodore’s expression and tone were determined. It was a solemn atmosphere that it was hard to imagine how much trouble it must have been before he casually brought the word ‘Empress’ to his mouth.

Yulif remembered the appearance of Estella whom he had met before escaping the Imperial Palace.

He needed her help to escape the Imperial Palace with Canaren without taking any damage. Yulif asked Estella for a deal. The condition was that if she helped him get out of the Imperial Palace safely, he would grant Estella one thing.

Estella, who had thought carefully before him, spoke with the same expression as the one on the face of Duke Theodore in front of him.

“If anything happens, I want the Duke to protect Lucian.”

The heart of parents who put their children first was always desperate. Although she was not a child, there was also a person who he wanted to save by any means. He opened the door of time for the one and only person he was willing to give the rest of his life. She was worth it at all.

Therefore, Yulif fully understood their urgency. He understood their relentless gestures to lift a loved one out of their misery.

“My first objective is to completely eliminate the emperor. Once that goal is achieved, a new ruler will be needed to sit on the throne.”

He couldn’t be the ruler. It wasn’t just because there wasn’t much time allowed. From the beginning, Yulif had no interest in the throne. Even if the rest of his time had been leisurely, he would have made the same choice now.

“The crown prince, who is still in good health, deserves to inherit the throne. When the crown prince sits there, the empress will act as regent in the capacity of the empress. This is all I can promise you, Duke Theodore.”

Naturally, the nobles who knew Yulif would sit on the throne exchanged glances and whispered. In the chaotic atmosphere, Duke Theodore looked at Yulif for a long time and then extended his hand.

“I don’t know if the empress will want to be the regent, but your offer seems to be the best. Very well. I will help you.”

Yulif shook his hand instead of answering. Either way, Estella will help Lucian in regent whether she likes it or not, but he didn’t have to say it.

With a more relaxed expression, Duke Theodore nodded as if he was now relieved.

*******

After a long time, Canaren decided to have breakfast in her room. Yulif wasn’t there, and she might run into Rena, but she didn’t want to be bored in the dining hall.

Roana said it was a wise choice and it was nothing, but she praised Canaren and chatted hard throughout the meal. Knowing that was the way Roana cared for her, Canaren responded moderately and swallowed the food well.

She struggled and tried but couldn’t complete half of her meal. If it wasn’t for Roana, she would have given up without even eating a few bites.

“Roana, if you’re not busy, would you like to go to the garden with me?”

“Sure! You’ve been in your room for a few days and my bones are screaming because they’re bored. But aren’t you going to make Almans anymore?”

“I won’t make them. I don’t have anyone to give it to, so what can I do by making more?”

The plan to give Yulif a present was thwarted. She later asked Roana to go to the dining hall and bring the box back, but she returned with a perplexed look and empty hands. Hearing that the dining room had no feathers, let alone a box, Canaren grew gloomy, thinking that Yulif probably had thrown away his own gift. She had no idea who would even have taken Yulif’s broken Neola.

It wasn’t just Yulif, the people of the castle also disappointed her. When she greeted them, they returned it well, but when she took out the net, they looked as if they had seen a ghost and ran away quickly.

She thought it was a coincidence the first few times, but after going through something similar more than five times, she realized that people avoided her because they didn’t want to receive her gifts.

After all, the feathering was over… There was no motivation or reason for her to make more of the nets.

“I won’t make it.”

“Do whatever you want! What should we do in the garden? Do you want me to tie them up? Will you bury them?”

“Do you know where Yulif went?”

Canaren asked coldly. When they had met earlier, she hated him so much. She hated him and was sad, but even then, she was embarrassed to even look at the dazzlingly beautiful Yulif, so she couldn’t even ask what she wanted to ask.

He was wearing a formal uniform, so it seemed like he was going to an important place. His lieutenant was Derek, but she knew that Roana was no less close to Yulif than him.

Every time Canaren faced something related to Yulif, her eyes, which always shined, shone with an even brighter twinkling light. It was an interest that stemmed from a radiant affection that Yulif could never break even if he said and did bad things.

“No, I don’t know. I met Derek a while ago, but he didn’t know either?”

“Derek too? He’s the lieutenant. Or maybe he really got fired?”

“I doubt it, but… There are times when our lord goes somewhere without anyone knowing. I wonder why he has so many secrets.”

That’s true. Every time she asked a question, they just said they didn’t know or she didn’t need to know.

Canaren nodded her head violently. Roana took Canaren to the dressing room, changed her into her work clothes, and headed to the garden.

The garden was still in a mess because Canaren abandoned it halfway to make the nets. Canaren and Roana started by picking up their shovels and clearing the pile of dirt.

It was a sunny day with the sun shining brightly overhead. Roana, who was not accustomed to such physical labor, went out before Canaren. She pounded her shovel and flopped down on the dirt floor. Canaren scooped up the dirt and threw it without even giving her a glance. It was nice not to think of anything when she moved her body like this. When she saw him, he’s always cold and angry, but for Rena, the eyes of Yulif were strangely soft and warm.

“Right. I have the watch you entrusted to me back then.”

“Is that the watch Yulif gave me?”

“Yes. I tried to open the inside… And I found this.”

Canaren put down the shovel and approached Roana. What Roana put out was white feathers. However, looking at the length of the little finger and the fluffy fur, it belonged to a young bird, not to a bird that had finished growing.

Canaren carefully took her feathers, placed them in the palms of her hands, and looked closely. The white feathers, like her snow white feathers, fluttered in the wind and tickled her palms.

“It looks fine, but it is very old.”

“Really? It looks like it just fell off the wing…”

“It has a preservation magic that keeps it from getting old or fading. Even the magic itself is a thing of the past. I think it’s like the magic that the lord put on him when he was young. The feathers were probably from that time as well.”

When Yulif was young. She tried to imagine it in her head, but it didn’t work out. Come to think of it, it was as light-hearted as it was flowing, but Yulif said that from the moment he started walking, he had magic.

So how old were these feathers? And why did Yulif use magic to put these feathers into the watch? Who did these feathers belong to?

‘…Is it the feathers of the woman Yulif loved?’

White wings sprouted from the person who had only a black outline like a shadow inside Canaren. Since the Hwira usually have a pair of wings, that person must have too. White wings were common, so color alone could not tell who they were.

‘I see. You’ve known her since you were young. The feather is so precious that it’s stored…’

Canaren unconsciously clenched her fists tightly, and then she opened her hands in surprise. Fortunately, thanks to the conservation magic, the feathers were not wrinkled or broken. She quickly returned the feathers to Roana.

“Please put it back in the watch.”

“Isn’t it Madam Canaren feather?”

“It’s not mine.”

“Oh… I thought it was because the colors were the same, so I showed them to you… sorry.”

Canaren smiled softly and shook her head.

‘I know, Roana. How I wish it’s my feather.’

It’s a ridiculous idea, but Canaren has thought several times that it would be nice if the Hwira that Yulif loved were her. It was natural for Canaren, who had been overshadowed by this woman all her life and even married Yulif because she looked like her, to envy her.

If she had met Yulif a little earlier, would Yulif have loved her? She had such unreasonable expectations.

But now she can’t even expect that. The two must have known each other since they were little. She guessed the word ‘fate’ was for those two people. Canaren rubbed her hot eyelids with the back of her hand.