The Saintess Returned to the Emperor’s Arms Chapter 113

Why did you take me in?

 

With the master returned, the Imperial Palace regained its lively atmosphere.

 

By the second evening, preparations began for a banquet hosted by the future Empress, Riella.

 

Setting ornate candlesticks on the Emperor and Empress’s table was always an exciting task for the palace attendants.

 

But this banquet had a slightly different atmosphere.

 

“Everyone seems to be raring to do something, don’t they?”

 

“Raring to do what?”

 

“To give those leeches clinging to the Empress a proper punishment, however they can.”

 

“Yes?”

 

Riella’s mouth fell open at the news Herhan told her with interest.

 

“Has the rumor spread already?”

 

“Of course. There are quite a few people here who are from the Kingdom of Riota.”

 

“Oh, right.…”

 

It was just as Herhan said.

 

During that expedition, Riella took the servants who had been drafted from the kingdom with the intention of sending them back to their homeland, but most of them returned to the empire.

 

Unlike the first time when they were forced to do so, this time they each swore loyalty to Riella of their own free will.

 

“You insisted so much, so I told them to restrain themselves, but everyone feels the same way.”

 

When Riella heard that even the head chef had been caught trying to spike the guests’ food with something strange, she couldn’t help but burst into a bright, clear laugh.

 

“That feeling alone is already satisfying enough.”

 

“Really? I feel a bit regretful. Maybe I should’ve let them spike the food after all.”

 

Riela tried to soothe Herhan, who looked disappointed.

 

“Just one meal. Just this one.”

 

A distant light appeared in Riella’s eyes, as if lost in thought.

 

“I have many painful memories, but even painful ones are better than none. If Hank hadn’t taken me on the day I was abandoned, I would’ve grown up just as an orphan. At least when we first met… didn’t Hank have some goodwill toward me?”

 

“…….”

 

“So, I think it’s okay to treat him like this once. After all, he’s my benefactor.”

 

Herhan furrowed his brows deeply.

 

‘Calling those thugs benefactors?’

 

He couldn’t agree with that at all, but he chose not to argue.

 

Just seeing Riella smile so gently, he resolved to endure today’s terrible dinner.

 

* * *

 

That evening, hundreds of candles were placed on the chandelier in the banquet hall.

 

Herhan and Riella sat side by side at the head table, and five colleagues, including Hank, sat on either side of the long table.

 

Since meeting again in the palace, it was the first time Riella had seen her colleagues.

 

They had requested to see her many times, but Riella had deliberately ignored them.

 

Because she still hasn’t decided to fight them or forgive them.

 

But now, she felt somewhat calmer.

 

“Riella!”

 

Hank raised his sharp eyes and smiled strangely.

 

“Even if you’re to be the Empress, must it be this hard to see your face? Do you know how many times we have come to see you?”

 

“I’m busy.”

 

Hank’s facial muscles twitched at the words that dismissed resentment and reproach.

 

He was fuming inside, but with the Emperor right next to her, he couldn’t lash out.

 

‘If we ruin the mood, we’re the only ones who lose.’

 

Hank held back his anger and forced a smile.

 

“It’s fine. You’re someone important now—of course you’d be busy. Still, you prepared this grand banquet for us.”

 

“Yeah. We’re living in luxury thanks to Riella!”

 

“Thank you, Riella! Thank you, Your Majesty the Emperor!”

 

Today’s dinner was particularly extravagant.

 

So much luxurious and rare food that the small group couldn’t possibly finish it all.

 

Riella let out a small laugh as she could clearly see the hearts of the attendants as they prepared this with great determination.

 

It was then that Hank, who had been greedily devouring his food, opened his mouth.

 

“So what are you going to do next?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“We are talking about us.”

 

Hank spoke with his mouth full of meat.

 

At that time, Riella had only moistened her throat with a sip of water, and Herhan was just sitting stiffly as if he had no appetite.

 

“I’ve been walking around the Imperial city since yesterday, and all the mansions in this neighborhood are very grand. How much do they cost?”

 

‘Here comes the real reason they’re here.’

 

Riella gave a bitter smile. Herhan beside her was also trying his best to stay calm.

 

“Only nobles with His Majesty’s permission can enter and live there.”

 

“Oh, really? Nobles only, huh…”

 

It was basically her way of saying “don’t even dream about it,” but they exchanged strange, hopeful looks.

 

Herhan found those eyes unbearably pitiful.

 

He wanted to flip the table and cut them down right there—but there was one reason he held back:

 

This was a gathering Riella had asked for.

 

“What’s the big deal about being a noble? With the Emperor and Empress here, they could just bestow a title and write up a decree, right?”

 

But there was a limit to patience.

 

Herhan finally got up from his seat.

 

‘Gotta sit here and watch these fools eyeing the next cozy spot…’

 

“Your Majesty, I am sorry.”

 

He was even more upset and angry because it was Riella who was apologizing, but then Riella placed her hand on top of his tightly clenched fist.

 

‘I’m okay on my own now.’

 

That was a ‘promise’ that Herhan and Riella had made in advance.

 

There would be things to talk about that couldn’t be said in front of the Emperor, so if Riella gave the signal, Herhan would discreetly step away.

 

“Excuse me for a moment.”

 

As expected, after Herhan left first, her colleagues changed drastically.

 

They sighed, slumped back in their chairs, and began to reveal their true feelings more blatantly.

 

“Tsk tsk. What kind of taste in men is that? What’s so great about that cold corpse-like guy? You dumped Fabian for him?”

 

“Come on. He’s not just some guy. He’s rich, isn’t he?”

 

“And powerful too. Oh, he’s the Emperor! The Emperor!”

 

“Oh my goodness. I knew our Riella would be so successful! I knew she would definitely do something and make sure we got a good share!”

 

The colleagues all toasted together.

 

As the atmosphere loosened up and everyone seemed more relaxed, Riella was the only one to let out a hollow laugh.

 

“I didn’t abandon Fabian.”

 

“…….”

 

With that one sentence, the entire room turned cold as if someone had thrown a bucket of ice water over them.

 

“I wasn’t the one who dumped him. So why is everyone pretending like nothing happened?”

 

It was a truly suffocating silence.

 

Some closed their eyes like they had been expecting that. Others frowned.

 

“Riella. I’m really sorry about what happened in the past.”

 

“……!”

 

“Fabian went too far, betraying you like that. Right, everyone?”

 

Hank, who normally would’ve yelled back, surprisingly chose to soothe her in a soft tone.

 

With that, the others began to chime in too.

 

“Yeah, yeah. That’s right. Fabian was too much!”

 

“We didn’t know the princess would torment you that badly. What power did we have anyway?”

 

Taking it a step further, Hank stood up from his seat.

 

Riella just watched quietly as he limped toward her with a crutch.

 

“Riella. I know you had a hard time. But in the end, everything turned out well, didn’t it? Back then, we were just too greedy and made mistakes. But we had good times too, right? This necklace! You remember this?”

 

“Necklace….?”

 

“Yeah, this one! You saved up your allowance for months as a kid and gave it to me as a gift, remember?”

 

Riella stared at the blue necklace Hank held out.

 

She vaguely remembered giving him a similar necklace. But if she recalled correctly, he had tossed it aside right away, calling it cheap junk.

 

“You… kept that all this time?”

 

“Of course. You are like my daughter. How could I throw away what you gave me?”

 

“…….”

 

Riella was confused.

 

If she quietly nodded and toasted with the drinks they offered, and gave them some money and a title, the ending with them would be peaceful.

 

That was also something Riella had always dreamed of since she was little.

 

To become someone valuable, to be someone they needed and loved.

 

But…

 

‘Is this really the right thing to do…?’

 

Suddenly, the empty seat next to her caught Riella’s eye.

 

The part of the table where Herhan had pressed his clenched fist was dented, showing how much he had held back his anger for himself.

 

“I will bring His Majesty. Everyone, please eat.”

 

“Yes, Riella! Can I believe things are all good between us now?”

 

“…….”

 

Not knowing what to say, Riella simply stood up in silence.

 

* * *

 

Outside the banquet hall, Herhan was just down the hallway, looking out the window.

 

“Your Majesty. You’re here? I thought you’d storm off somewhere far, you seemed so angry.”

 

“It’s true that I’m angry. But if something happens to you, I have to rush to you right away, so I can’t go far.”

 

A joke that wasn’t quite a joke.

 

In this overwhelming evening, that was the only breath of air Riella could find.

 

“Did you hear what you wanted to hear?”

 

“I’m not sure.”

 

“…….”

 

“I got an apology, at least.”

 

“They apologized?”

 

“Hard to believe, right?”

 

Riella laughed bitterly.

 

‘Would it be okay to forgive them all now?’

 

As her thoughts swirled, Herhan placed a reassuring arm around her shoulders.

 

Just as the two of them were about to enter the banquet hall again.

 

“See? Riella was so innocent that she just needed to be coaxed a little.”

 

“That necklace was genius! Hank, did you really keep that thing all this time? You seriously had that much affection for Riella?”

 

The chatter of her colleagues, who had not expected Riella to return so soon, could be heard outside the door.

 

“Affection, my ass! I just found something that looked close enough. What do you think? Pretty convincing, huh?”

 

It was Hank’s chuckling answer that sent ripples gently through Riella’s heart.

 

‘Ah.’

 

Riella sighed without realizing it.

 

‘Yeah, I knew it….’

 

Riella realized that disappointment can hurt even without expectations.

 

With slightly dazed eyes, she opened the door.

 

Her former colleagues, realizing the situation, froze with their mouths hanging open.

 

“R–Riella?”

 

“Ah, that… just now, that was—”

 

“Enough….”

 

While everyone stammered for excuses, Hank had already turned his back.

 

Riella ignored her other colleagues and approached him.

 

“Hank. Can I ask you one thing?”

 

Originally, when she agreed to have dinner with them, Riella planned to ask, ‘Why did you abandon me?’

 

If they had begged for forgiveness, she thought maybe she’d forgive them.

 

But that had been the wrong question.

 

What she truly needed to ask wasn’t about the end, but the beginning.

 

“Why did you take me in?”

 

Hank slowly turned around.

 

His gaze was cold, unlike a few minutes ago when he had been gently coaxing Riella.

 

“Why do this, Riella? Can’t we just move on? Do you really need to see this through to the end?”

 

“Please answer me. Why did you raise me? A girl who couldn’t even earn her keep and only dragged everyone down—you could’ve just left me.”

 

His lips, thick with beard, became sullen.

 

Hank had now realized that he could no longer change Riella’s mind with fake smiles or fake necklaces.

 

“I told you. Because I felt sorry for you. Because you were like a daughter to me.”

 

“Not that—what’s the real reason?”

 

“Do you really want to hear it?”

 

Riella nodded.

 

‘Just once, can’t you show me your true feelings?’

 

She thought to herself. Hank granted her request—for the first and last time.

 

“You were wearing expensive shoes. That alone could’ve paid for our meals for a week.”

 

It was the end.

 

No, maybe it was a relationship that had never properly begun in the first place.

 

“Riella. Do you need more time? If you still need to hold on, I’ll wait longer.”

 

Herhan, who appeared from behind, asked in a cold voice, desperately trying to suppress his emotions, but Riella immediately turned around and buried her face in his chest.

 

‘No. It’s enough now.’

 

Instead of answering, she burst into tears—but Herhan simply nodded, as if he understood everything.

 

* * *