Dian sat at his desk in his office, burying his face in his hands and letting out a heavy sigh. He had been assigned a special envoy mission. The first group of dispatched soldiers had already left, and in two days, he was supposed to leave with the second group.

When Violet heard the news, she broke down in tears. She cried endlessly as if her tear ducts had broken, and he had to comfort and calm her before taking her to the Duke of Grossi’s estate. He left her there so she could relax, reconnecting with the family and resting at ease, and returned to the palace alone.

On his way back, he stopped the carriage in an isolated area to meet with his uncle.

"Tell His Majesty you can’t take on the mission. If you say you can’t do it, His Majesty will revoke the appointment. He said so himself, so he won’t go back on his word."

"What? What did you say to His Majesty?"

"I couldn’t let you go."

"So if I refuse, does that mean there won’t be a special envoy sent?"

"There are others who can go."

"Who? ... Don’t tell me it’s the Silver King?"

“Argh!”

Dian ruffled his hair and let out a scream. His stomach churned every time he recalled the conversation with his uncle.

"Am I supposed to run away and push the Silver King into that position? I won’t do that."

"Dian, stop being so foolishly stubborn."

"It’s not foolish stubbornness; it’s refusing to be cowardly. I’m the elder brother. I can’t push something I don’t want to do onto my younger sister. I won’t do it."

"Sister? Who are you talking about? The daughter of Red King is your sister? Get a grip! That woman is your enemy, a knife held to your throat!"

"Uncle, the Silver King is not Red King."

"You spineless fool! You should be thinking about your wife and child first!"

Violet, and the child growing in her womb—his child.

He had no argument against his uncle’s claim that he should be willing to fight the entire world to protect them. The thought of leaving behind his heavily pregnant wife for an indefinite journey drove him mad.

The imperial palace wasn’t a safe haven where he could leave his wife before childbirth. It was a place where something terrible could happen at any moment. He could no longer rely on the Rad family, and his close associates were panicking now that the money flow had dried up.

‘What should I do?’

But who could he blame? He himself was unable to make a decision.

‘Why am I like this?’

He loathed his own indecisiveness. He didn’t want to be the bad guy to either side. He wished no one would get hurt, but all he did was dream of an outcome he lacked the power to achieve.

There was a knock on the door. Dian didn’t answer. After a moment, there was another knock, and a voice called out, "Your Highness."

He felt a surge of irritation. He had specifically told them not to disturb him.

He ignored it, but the knocking came again.

“What!”

He yelled, and the door opened just a crack. A servant cautiously peeked in from the threshold and spoke hesitantly.

“Your Highness, the Silver King has arrived. What… shall I do?”

Dian’s expression softened.

“Understood. Tell him I’ll be there shortly.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After the servant left, Dian closed his eyes. He silently counted to ten, then took a slow, deep breath before opening his eyes again. His expression brightened as if he were about to face something pleasant. Hearing that the Silver King had arrived seemed to clear his mind.

‘It’s fine. Everything will be fine.’

He repeated the words to himself like a mantra. It was that mindset that had allowed him to survive until now.

 

***

 

Dian thought Sienna had come to comfort him.

‘At least that’s a relief. The Silver King is here.’

Violet wasn’t alone. Knowing that the Silver King would do his utmost to protect her brought Dian peace of mind.

It was strange. He couldn’t remember when he started trusting the Silver King. In the past, this wouldn’t have even been a dilemma. He would’ve pushed the Silver King into the situation without a second thought. After all, his wife and child’s safety would have outweighed the Silver King’s well-being.

Still, for Dian, Violet remained his top priority. If he had to choose between Violet and the Silver King, there wouldn’t be any hesitation. Yet, he genuinely hoped the Silver King wouldn’t get hurt.

“I owe the Iron King an apology.”

“An apology to me?”

“I met with His Majesty. I decided that I would go to the Confederation. I didn’t seek the Iron King’s consent beforehand.”

Dian froze with the teacup still in his hand. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. The Silver King wasn’t someone who would joke about such matters.

“…Are you saying you’re taking on the role of special envoy?”

“Yes.”

“Are you out of your mind?”

Dian blurted out before immediately apologizing. “I’m sorry. That was too harsh.”

Setting down the teacup, Dian let out a long sigh. A wave of shame and self-loathing washed over him. He hung his head, embarrassed to show his flushed face. It felt like all the inner turmoil he’d been agonizing over had been laid bare. He couldn’t lift his head.

“When did you meet with His Majesty?”

“This morning.”

“There’s still time to fix this. I’ll meet with His Majesty and explain.”

Dian stood up, looking as if he was about to rush to the Sun Palace, but Sienna spoke up.

“You’ll only incur His Majesty’s wrath. If we both go and change our minds now, he’ll wonder if we’re playing some kind of game. It won’t be good for either of us.”

Dian, looking bewildered, slumped back onto the sofa.

“Silver King, what are you thinking?”

“I overstepped and took the Iron King’s role. That’s why I’m apologizing.”

“No, no. You don’t need to apologize to me. Everyone, including me, you, and others, knows that the role of special envoy comes with more risks than benefits. Don’t make me feel more ashamed.”

Sienna was taken aback. She hadn’t expected this reaction from Dian. She thought he would be relieved and thankful.

“To be honest, yes, I didn’t want to go. But I never intended to dump the responsibility on you.”

“You didn’t dump it on me. I made the choice.”

“Silver King.”

“I chose the best course of action. I don’t think the mission itself is that dangerous. The situation is different from when the Iron King went to the desert. Now that the Confederation has been founded, there’s order, and they’ve willingly submitted to the Empire as a vassal state. They’ll make every effort to protect the Empire’s envoy because it would be a huge problem for them if anything happened. The Confederation isn’t the real issue here. You and I, Iron King, are worried about Violet.”

“…”

“I can’t protect Violet completely. Without you, her protectors will be His Majesty and the Empress.”

Dian’s eyes widened, his mouth slightly agape. He hadn’t considered that. Red King as Violet’s protector? The thought sent a chill down his spine. It was like offering up a small animal to a predator.

“Let me handle this, Iron King. Right now, we should only focus on ensuring the child is born healthy and safely.”

“…Why are you going to such lengths to protect Violet? Has she really earned your favor?”

Sienna frowned slightly.

“Violet is a good person, but that’s not why I’m doing this. I’m acting because she’s the Iron Queen. Ultimately, the person I want to protect is you, Iron King.”

Dian remained silent for a long time, his gaze slowly lowering.

Since getting married and starting a family, he had found a sense of stability but also felt the heavy weight of responsibility. At times, it overwhelmed him. It was as if he had been thrown naked into a battlefield. What would happen to his wife and child without his shield of protection? Just thinking about it was paralyzing.

‘So, this is what it feels like.’

Unconditional goodwill, the family affection he had always yearned for, and the sense of a strong, protective barrier surrounding him filled his heart.

It made him feel both awkward and deeply touched. It was as if the mysterious void that had always gnawed at him was finally being filled.

“Iron King.”

Dian raised his head. Sienna’s expression was stern.

“Stop being stubborn. You’re about to become a father. Are you really going to argue with me over a decision that’s already been made? Does accepting my help hurt your pride?”

Dian smiled and shook his head.

“I’ll do as you say. Why don’t you just tell me how I should live from now on? I’ll follow your instructions.”

“We’re having a serious conversation. Don’t joke around.”

Chastised, Dian burst out laughing, but seeing Sienna’s piercing gaze, he quickly stopped and composed himself.

He still found it difficult to deal with his younger sister.

For a while, they chatted about Violet. Then they began discussing the details of the special envoy mission.

“The change in the envoy won’t be announced. I’ve already informed His Majesty, and he said to handle it as I see fit.”

Sienna outlined her plan. As originally scheduled, Dian would leave the palace for the envoy mission, and Sienna would see him off at the dock. But when the time came, it would be Sienna boarding the ship, while Dian would return to the palace.

“So, you need to keep this secret too. Don’t tell Violet.”

“I understand. But the preparations for the long journey are all being made for me.”

“I’ll take care of that.”

The journey by ship alone would take over ten days. While most issues weren’t a concern, it would be inconvenient without a change of clothes. All the luggage would be packed with men’s items, so Sienna planned to get help from the Rad Trading Company.

Dian nodded without saying much. He trusted her implicitly.

“What did His Majesty say when you told him you were going instead? Did he ask for a reason or say anything special?”

“He did ask for a reason. I told him the Iron Queen’s childbirth was near and that you needed to be by her side. He agreed.”

Dian wondered what the emperor’s expression had been at the time. Was he interested, or did he not care at all?

His uncle had expressed his fury at the emperor in their conversation in the carriage.

“How could my sister have died so miserably because of that man? Mark my words, that man will never escape his own personal hell for the rest of his life. He’s empty inside. He’s not even truly alive.”

Jeffrey had cursed the emperor, shocking Dian. Even inside the carriage, Dian had instinctively glanced around to make sure no one could overhear.

“Uncle, that’s too much.”

“Dian, don’t trust the emperor. He only cares about himself. People say the Silver King is just like him. I’m actually glad you didn’t grow up in the imperial palace.”

‘Uncle, the Silver King isn’t like His Majesty or the Duke of War. He’s completely different.’

Dian looked down at the object Sienna had placed on the table. He’d been curious about it since earlier. When he first arrived in the reception room, there had been a mysterious item wrapped in silk beside Sienna on the sofa.

He glanced at Sienna, then pointed at the object and himself. Sienna nodded, so Dian unwrapped it.

“A book?”

It was a leather-bound book. Dian held it up, turning it over in his hands.

“It’s no ordinary book. It’s a holy scripture. A sacred artifact that holds the true power of the gods. It’s also called the Great Wish.”

“The Great Wish?”

“Yesterday, the late emperor’s chief attendant came to see me.”

“Oh, I met him too.”

“What did you talk about?”

“Not much. He said he was leaving soon and wanted to see the imperial palace one last time. He said he wanted to see the descendants of the late emperor.”

“His real purpose was to give me this.”

Sienna explained her conversation with Pan. Dian listened attentively, realizing it wasn’t just a casual story.

“Pan didn’t give me the artifact directly. He only told me where it was.”

When Pan had left the imperial palace long ago, he couldn’t take anything conspicuous with him. So he had hidden the artifact in the royal library. He had chosen to conceal the sacred item inside another book.

It was a clever choice. The royal library was only accessible to royalty, so no ordinary person could enter. Even if Pan failed to fulfill the late emperor’s last will, the artifact would still remain in the palace.

There was an entire bookshelf in the royal library dedicated to holy scriptures. These scriptures were originally a single volume, but over the years, many copies have been made. So, among the countless volumes, these held the least significance.

Sienna had never bothered with those books despite going through many others in the library. She had never imagined that a treasure was hidden among them.

Following Pan’s instructions, she had gone to the library and retrieved the sacred item hidden among the scriptures. It was a book that wasn’t listed in the library’s inventory. Since it wasn’t cataloged, she was able to remove it.

“There’s no record of the sacred artifact anywhere. It’s been kept secret, passed directly from one emperor to the next.”

Dian, who had been engrossed in the story, quickly set the book down. Somehow, he felt it wasn’t something he should handle carelessly.

“What’s written inside?”

“Go ahead and open it. According to Pan, he couldn’t open the book himself. Only a member of the royal family can.”

“That’s interesting. Did you open it?”

Sienna nodded.

Dian carefully opened the thick leather cover. The first page contained a few lines written in an ancient language, known as the language of the gods.

―The great Ar will bless the sacred wish. Wish, and it shall be granted.

Dian turned to the next page. It was blank. He turned another page—also blank. He kept flipping through, but all the pages were empty.

“There’s nothing here. Could it be that only I can’t see it?”

Sienna smiled and shook her head.

“It’s not a scripture meant to impart teachings. It’s a medium to connect directly with the gods. That’s why it’s a sacred artifact.”

Pan had explained how to use the artifact. To ensure he wouldn’t forget the late emperor’s will, he said he recited it ten times a day.

“On the eve of the coronation, write your name in the language of the gods to make your existence known to them. If your voice reaches the gods, they will answer when you wear the Crown of the Sacred Tree.”

“So, I’m supposed to write my name in here?”

Dian flipped through the pages again.

“But surely past emperors must have written their names here too. Why is there nothing?”

“I’m not sure. Pan only relayed the late emperor’s will; he didn’t have any answers. If only we could have asked the late emperor directly…”

“So, to summarize, I write my name here and make a wish, and the gods will grant it? Sounds like a divine suggestion box.”

Sienna’s eyes narrowed in displeasure. Dian gave a sheepish laugh.

“I meant it’s amazing.”

“It’s a sacred artifact of the gods. Show some reverence.”

Dian, deflated, responded meekly.

“Yes.”

“The Great Wish isn’t something just anyone can achieve. The fulfillment of the wish is up to the gods' judgment.”

“And what exactly is the Great Wish?”

“The Flower of the Sacred Tree. It’s the blessing of the great Ar.”

Sienna’s gaze turned skyward as if she were envisioning an overwhelming dream. Dian had never seen this side of the Silver King before. He suddenly realized that Sienna, too, possessed a passionate zeal.

‘Is it really that incredible?’

Dian couldn’t relate. Perhaps it was because he had grown up outside the palace. He had little religious faith, and the idea of referring to the imperial family as the divine lineage gave him hives.

He knew the legend surrounding the Flower of the Sacred Tree. It was said to bloom when a truly great ruler ascended the throne.

‘But if it’s something you have to wish for, isn’t the chance of it happening pretty slim? If it were me, I’d wish for something more practical. I doubt the Sacred Tree would bloom for me.’

He kept these thoughts to himself. If he voiced them, Sienna would surely chastise him for blasphemy, glaring at him with those terrifying eyes. And that scared him. He was more intrigued by the strained relationship between the emperor and the late emperor.

“His Majesty and the late emperor… their relationship must have been pretty bad.”

Dian noted the fact that the late emperor’s will hadn’t been passed down to the current emperor.

“This is a truly priceless treasure. But the late emperor didn’t want to give it to his son. What must have happened between them?”

“...I’m not sure.”

Dian muttered, “That old man must’ve had a pretty foul temper,” then glanced at Sienna for her reaction. She frowned but said nothing.

Dian rewrapped the book in its silk covering and pushed it toward Sienna. However, she didn’t take it.

“The sacred artifact belongs to the Iron King.”

“Me? Why?”

“Pan came to deliver the sacred artifact to the emperor’s successor. The emperor’s successor is you, Iron King, so it’s only right for you to have it.”

“What? That’s ridiculous. The one who receives it should keep it. Besides, right now, you are the emperor’s successor.”

Sienna stood up.

“I’ll be going now.”

“Sienna…”

Dian, flustered, stood up with the sacred artifact in hand.

“Wait, Silver King.”

Sienna, who had been heading straight for the door, stopped and turned around. One look at her expression, and Dian gave up. For now, it seemed like everything had to go according to her will.

“Silver King, be careful. You need to return safely.”

Sienna gave a faint smile before turning away again. After she left, Dian stared at the closed door and muttered to himself.

“For my sake, please come back safely. If you get hurt, Kuhn... that guy will try to kill me.”

He looked down at the sacred artifact in his hands and sighed. It was a troublesome item to be responsible for.

‘I'll just hold onto it for now.’

At least until it is returned to its rightful owner.

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