The Wind Calms the Fire - Chapter 51

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 51
The Empire’s vast army descended upon the Zephyros Kingdom.
Without the means to resist, the kingdom fell helpless under occupation.
Within months, word came that the Stepmother and the young king were dead.
Absurdly, they were charged with treason.
Not treason against the Empire—treason against the kingdom itself.
The young king, they declared, was not the true son of his grandfather, the king before last.
And the Empire, pronouncing the royal bloodline severed, reduced the Zephyros Kingdom to a conquered province under imperial rule.
The kingdom fell.
The fate of her half-sister Neria remained unknown.
In her past life, Rhea never found any trace of Neria.
The years when the Stepmother and half-sister rode on Enoch’s coattails with such arrogance had lasted only a handful of seasons.
During those years, Rhea had fought desperately simply to survive.
Her forces were too meager to stand against the Empire.
As she gathered strength by aiding those in similar straits, she found herself transformed, almost unknowingly, into the leader of a rebellion.
This man before her was the architect of it all.
Had she not struck down Neria and the Stepmother six months ago, the horrors of her past life would have repeated themselves.
And so long as he lived, there was no guarantee that future would not return.
‘I want to kill him.’
If she killed him here, would everything end?
Chills ran from her crown to her toes.
An overwhelming surge of emotion flooded through her, and a burning heat spread across her body as if she had gulped down strong spirits.
Her fingers, resting on her lap, trembled slightly.
Even without a weapon, she could kill him using Spirit Power.
She could simply wrap wind around his face, cut off his air, and let him suffocate.
It would take time, but no one seemed likely to burst in anytime soon.
“Remember this.”
Nella’s voice echoed in her ears.
“The battlefield you’re walking toward runs on justification alone. Don’t move without it. Even if you win, you will lose.”
Recalling that firm counsel, the heat blazing in her mind slowly cooled.
Killing Enoch here would bring more loss than gain.
‘The Empire will never believe this was my act alone.’
They would point to the kingdom as the architect and grow suspicious of the very purpose of the delegation’s entry into the Imperial Palace.
‘The future will twist into something terrible—nothing like what I remember.’
And had not the Spirit warned her?
If she used Spirit Power within the Imperial Palace, someone might discover her.
Whether that someone was the Emperor, Enoch, or another, they would certainly not be an ally.
“Tell me, which of the four—or perhaps five—imperial princes are you?”
Enoch’s brow twitched slightly.
It annoyed him that she had so readily dismissed one of the five princes.
He found her stiff demeanor equally irritating—a princess of a minor kingdom standing rigid before the Imperial Blood of the Empire.
Did she perhaps place her faith in the Fourth Prince?
Enoch wanted to teach her that such trust was nothing but sand castles built at the water’s edge.
“I cannot speak to the customs of your kingdom, but in the Empire,”
he said, propping himself up and swiftly reaching out to seize the Veil that covered the princess’s face, yanking it away.
In an instant the Veil came free, and her face was revealed.
“…it is considered courtesy to show one’s face during introductions.”
Enoch’s eyes wavered for a moment, then narrowed.
From the moment she had appeared, he had kept catching himself staring, and he had deliberately tried to ignore it.
He had scoffed to himself, determined not to fall for the ploy of drawing attention with that elaborate foreign attire.
When he learned she was the princess of Zephyros, he had decided they should meet alone.
If he could coax the information out of her about what had transpired in the kingdom, he might uncover clues as to why his plans had failed.
‘Is this woman really…the princess of Zephyros?’
Before the operation began, he had received a rough portrait depicting the princess’s appearance.
He had concerned himself with intelligence about the king, but he had spared little attention for another princess.
His target was the kingdom itself, not a woman.
And usually, sisters bore some resemblance to one another.
But unlike the woman in the portrait, this one’s radiant golden hair was dazzling, and her eyes shone with keen intelligence.
Had the princess in that portrait been such a beauty, he might well have taken on the operation himself, no matter the cost.
Enoch’s mouth went dry without his realizing it.
“How dare you show such disrespect to the princess.”
Peni, who had been standing behind Rhea, stepped forward protectively in front of her.
Enoch’s brow furrowed before he let out a soft laugh.
“The kingdom is certainly different from the empire.”
He spoke with cold clarity.
“How presumptuous of a servant to insert herself into such matters. Perhaps a whipping would teach her proper station.”
Peni’s face flushed crimson with indignation.
In the kingdom, no one spoke so harshly, even for grave mistakes.
Enoch turned to Rhea.
“If you’re to survive in the empire, you’ll need to re-educate your servants from the start. See that they’re taught their manners.”
“Peni.”
Rhea called her back and motioned for her to step away.
Then she looked at Enoch.
“Who are you?”
Enoch’s eyes narrowed.
“The imperial family would never be as vulgar and disrespectful as you. There’s no possibility of it.”
“…What?”
“One receives education in childhood. You’ve had a woefully inadequate upbringing. How dare you impersonate the imperial family and mock His Majesty’s guest.”
Enoch’s eyes merely twitched.
He was too stunned to find words.
“How dare I.”
His face twisted viciously as he shot to his feet.
“A princess of some minor kingdom dares to insult the imperial family!”
“Yet you won’t even say who you are.”
The truth was, he hadn’t refused to reveal himself — he’d simply been stringing out the moment to apply pressure.
He’d wanted to savor the shock on her face when she learned he was the First Prince.
When the situation deviated from his expectations, frustration kindled in him.
A stubborn pride surged up — he wanted to see this woman beg for forgiveness on her knees.
“I am—”
The moment Enoch opened his mouth, the door burst wide with a thunderous sound.
Carrion strode in.
A servant dangled from his grip by the neck, feet dragging across the floor.
Gack, hack!
Strangled gasps for air came in succession.
The instant Carrion’s eyes landed on the sofa, he hurled the servant aside.
Thud!
The man crumpled ungracefully to the ground, clutching his throat and coughing violently.
As Carrion advanced with savage intent, Enoch instinctively flinched.
“What game are you playing, First Prince?”
His voice sounded like a beast’s growl.
“Why did you spirit away the woman I petitioned His Majesty to marry?”
“Fourth Prince. What do you think you’re—”
Carrion stepped abruptly close, cutting Enoch off mid-sentence.
Their faces were barely a hand’s breadth apart.
During this tense standoff, Enoch’s retainers rushed in.
“Are you insulting me?”
“An insult—”
“This woman caught my eye first. If you need a woman, find one elsewhere!”
Carrion cut him off with a sharp shout.
Enoch was left speechless.
‘This lunatic…’
Carrion spun around and seized Rhea’s hand, pulling her toward him.
Peni glanced at Enoch once more, then hurried after Rhea as Carrion dragged her away.
Enoch could only glare after them as they left.
Because of what Carrion had just shouted, the whole situation had become laughable.
If he ordered them captured, rumors would spread that the imperial princes were squabbling disgracefully over a single woman.
“Hah!”
Enoch could only emit a bitter, stunned laugh.
His insides churned with fury.
So the Fourth Prince’s information network was limited to this.
How had he learned that the princess had vanished in that brief span, and found his way here?
He whirled around, fixing his subordinates with a glare.
It was all their incompetence.
A flicker of murderous intent crossed his eyes.
* * *
Carrion seized her hand and strode forward as though seized by fury.
His gait was so wide that Rhea had to half-run to keep pace.
The servants they passed froze in alarm, bowing their heads and waiting for them to pass.
“Oh.”
As her rhythm faltered, Rhea nearly lost her footing.
Carrion stopped, turned, and swept her into his arms without warning.
“What?”
Rhea’s eyes widened in shock.
‘Why—why is he acting like this?’
His demeanor bore no resemblance to the man she knew.
Acutely aware of the watching eyes around them, she remained still, moving only her gaze.
He continued forward at a brisk pace, and the number of passersby only grew.
Carrion carried her into the Yingbin Corridor.
A procession of enormous columns flanked either side of the long marble hallway.
At regular intervals, guards stood holding long spears, each bowing their head as Carrion passed.
An elderly woman appeared, trailing a string of attendants behind her.
“Your Highness, the Prince. I offer my respects.”
“Corridor Master. Which chamber has been prepared for the princess?”
“Allow me to show you.”
The Corridor Master answered with composed courtesy.
Her deliberate indifference only made Rhea’s cheeks flush deeper with heat.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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