The Great Wish - Chapter 37: The Great Wish (1)

Sienna received the long-awaited documents. It was a status report sent by the overseer of the fief.

The fief’s residents had officially begun cultivating special crops. As promised, Kuhn provided the seeds for the fragrant ginseng. An expert familiar with the cultivation methods had brought the seeds to the fief.

Although a certain percentage of the future harvest profits would need to be shared with the Rad Trading Company, for now, they were receiving free support.

However, the documents spread before her didn’t seem to catch her eye. The letters turned into meaningless symbols as her concentration kept slipping.

‘If the Iron King leaves as a special envoy, there’s no telling when he’ll return.’

Violet would be left alone in the imperial palace. In the worst-case scenario, she might even give birth without the Iron King present. It bothered Sienna that he was leaving the capital at such a crucial time. This wasn’t something that had occurred in her dream.

In the dream, it was the Kingdom of Pero, not the Pero Confederation. In reality, Kuhn had intervened, and the desert tribes established the Confederation. So, what might have happened in the future from her dream?

‘The desert tribes would have fought until a final victor emerged. If that tribe had established a kingdom, it would have been later than it was in reality. That means that at this point in the dream’s future, no nation would have been founded in the desert yet.’

The Empire likely wouldn’t have intervened in the desert tribes’ internal battles. Therefore, there wouldn’t be any reason to send troops, nor any special envoys.

Sienna stood up from her desk. She walked around her office, expanding her thoughts, speculating on what events might unfold during this time in another future.

‘By now, has the Iron King reclaimed his position through a fabricated maternal family? Our relationship would be extremely tense. And if Violet’s pregnancy occurred around the same time as in reality…’

The child would have been miscarried or stillborn. It would have been difficult to act after a safe birth.

Once the child is born, new staff, including a nursemaid to care for the royal infant, would be assigned. No matter how skilled Patricia was, she couldn’t bribe or deceive all of them.

‘It’s around this time.’

Sienna stopped walking. The next few months until the birth would be critical. But during that time, the Iron King wouldn’t be in the imperial palace.

‘Without the Iron King, I have limits in protecting Violet.’

Sienna sincerely hoped that Violet would give birth safely. She wished for both Violet and the child to be healthy.

But people around her would question her true intentions. Especially Violet’s family, the Duke of Grossi’s house, would not accept Sienna’s goodwill purely.

Without the Iron King mediating, Sienna might not even be able to see Violet. And in the palace, Patricia had far more control than Sienna. If Patricia decided to take action, Sienna would be powerless.

After all, Sienna wasn’t the protector of the Iron Queen. If the Iron King were absent, the protectors of the Iron Queen would be the Emperor and Red King.

‘Would His Majesty protect Violet?’

Sienna shook her head. He lacked affection even for his own children—would he care about an unborn grandchild?

“Your Highness.”

There was a knock on the door from outside. Upon responding, a maid entered.

“Your Highness, a guest is waiting.”

“A guest? Was I scheduled for an audience today?”

“No, Your Highness. A guest has arrived unannounced, insisting they must meet you today. I came to ask because I couldn’t decide on my own.”

“Who is it?”

“It’s the former chief attendant to His Late Majesty.”

The maid had good reason not to send the guest away despite the breach in protocol. The former chief attendant? Certainly, this wasn’t an ordinary visitor.

“Understood. Escort the guest to the drawing room.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Sienna recalled what she knew about the former chief attendant.

He had served as the chief attendant to the late emperor, whom the emperor had greatly cherished. The late emperor had said multiple times, even before his death, “Do not send the chief attendant to a monastery after I die.” After the late emperor passed away, the chief attendant expressed his wish to spend the remainder of his life outside the palace. The emperor had granted that request, allowing him to leave the palace.

Occasionally, people still talked about the former chief attendant. She had overheard someone at a social party saying he was living a leisurely life in a small house that had been bestowed upon him.

Sienna remembered the former chief attendant’s name. Though they had never met, his name was widely known.

Pan.

It was said that he preferred to be called by his name rather than his title. The palace staff addressed him as “Master Pan,” not “Chief Attendant.” That’s why there wasn’t anyone who didn’t know his name.

‘Why did he come to see me?’

No matter how much she thought about it, Sienna couldn’t figure out a reason. She left her office and entered the drawing room. The frail old man was standing, not sitting on the sofa. When Sienna entered, he bowed deeply.

“Please, have a seat.”

Only after Sienna sat on the sofa and gestured for him to sit did the old man, with both hands clasped in front of him, walk over and sit down. His posture showed he was well-practiced in elevating others while humbling himself.

“I greet Your Highness, the Silver King. May the great blessing of Ar fulfill the sacred wish of the Divine.”

Sienna nodded with a puzzled expression.

“Thank you.”

It was an old-fashioned royal greeting, long and grand, unused for quite some time. It was the first time someone had addressed her with such a greeting. These days, most nobles wouldn’t even know it.

According to old records, the Empire had been much more religious in its early days. The Emperor was more of a priest of the gods than a ruler.

In the beginning, the imperial palace was a temple. Over time, it became more secular. As the Emperor’s power increased, its religious significance diminished. Imperial rituals were reduced in number and simplified compared to the past.

‘The sacred wish of the Divine…’

Sienna absentmindedly repeated Pan’s words, then suddenly paused.

‘Great blessing, sacred wish. A great… wish?’

Even if she was forcing it to fit, she didn’t mind. For the first time, she had found a clue about the “Great Wish” she had been desperately searching for. Her heart raced.

‘I need to check the archives.’

She became impatient, her mind filled with thoughts of quickly sending her guest away so she could pore through ancient texts.

Sienna had become so lost in thought that she momentarily forgot the guest in front of her. When she finally lifted her gaze, she found Pan staring at her intently. Startled, Pan quickly lowered his eyes, as if he had been burned. His gaze wasn’t malicious, but it felt strangely observant.

“Why did you ask to see me? Ah, you are….”

“Please, call me Pan.”

“…Pan. Have we met before?”

“No, Your Highness. I have seen you from afar, but this is the first time Your Highness has seen me. You have grown into a fine person. His Late Majesty would be very proud.”

“Pan. I don’t have much time today due to other commitments. What brings you here?”

Pan smiled gently.

“I do not have much time left to live.”

“….”

Sienna frowned. A man she had never met before had suddenly shown up, announcing that he was about to die—while smiling, no less.

Was he looking for sympathy? Had he come to express a final wish before he passed?

“I was told earlier this year that I wouldn’t make it through the year. Until just before summer, things were manageable, but since last month, my condition has worsened rapidly. I don’t think I will make it through this month.”

Pan’s attitude was striking. He spoke of his own death with a calm voice, neither desperate nor in denial.

“Before I came to see Your Highness, I met with His Majesty the Emperor. I wanted to offer my final greetings.”

Sienna, though taken aback, listened quietly. She felt pity for the old man, even if she didn’t know him. What harm could it do to hear out a few final confessions?

Upon closer inspection, she could see signs of illness. His gaunt figure was frail, with dark circles under his eyes. Yet, curiously, his expression showed no bitterness—if anything, he seemed relieved.

“After meeting the Emperor, I sought permission to see you and the other two royal Highnesses. His Majesty gave his blessing for my visit. So, His Majesty is aware of my being here.”

Sienna furrowed her brows. It sounded as though Pan was saying, “I’ve covered my bases, so no issues will arise later.”

“Why did you need His Majesty’s permission?”

“If someone who left the palace long ago suddenly came to meet Your Highness, wouldn’t that raise questions? It was to avoid any suspicion. His Majesty is a cautious man.”

“His Majesty is suspicious?”

“Your Highness, the throne is such a position.”

“….”

Sienna was momentarily speechless. She let out a faint laugh. This insignificant-looking old man must have once wielded as much power as the vassals, acting as the Emperor’s right hand.

“If your sole purpose is to meet me, then so be it.”

“Yes, Your Highness. I came to see you.”

Sienna narrowed her eyes.

“…Why?”

“To deliver the Late Emperor’s final will to you.”

“To me alone?”

“Yes, His Late Majesty’s will was specifically for Your Highness.”

Sienna’s expression hardened. She issued a cold warning.

“If you deceive me, I won’t forgive you, even if you are at death’s door.”

“How could I dare use the Late Emperor’s will to commit such a transgression?”

Sienna glared at Pan, still on guard.

“After this, will you be heading to the Iron King’s palace?”

“Yes.”

“But that’s just a ruse, isn’t it?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Why deliver the will to me alone? Shouldn’t His Late Majesty’s will be heard by His Majesty the Emperor?”

“His Late Majesty explicitly stated not to share it with His son, the current Emperor.”

“Why?”

“I am simply following His Late Majesty’s will. His Late Majesty instructed me to deliver the will the day before the coronation of the next emperor, following the current Emperor’s reign. However, he allowed an exception if certain conditions were met. The will could be delivered early under these conditions: first, only to the successor destined to wear the Crown of the Sacred Tree; second, that the successor must have passed their coming-of-age birthday; and third, if I, the one entrusted with the will, found myself in a situation where I could no longer delay.”

“So, you came to see me because you don’t think you’ll live much longer.”

“Yes.”

Pan answered with a smile.

‘Ah… I see.’

Sienna had found it odd that he could speak so brightly about his impending death, but now she began to understand.

‘He’s relieved.’

For so long, he must have carried the weight of the Late Emperor’s will like a heavy burden. Now, the freedom of finally being able to let it go made him welcome death with open arms.

‘Am I even supposed to hear this?’

Sienna hesitated. The Iron King had yet to reveal his maternal lineage. At the moment, Sienna held the highest position in the line of succession.

‘Should I wait to hear this later?’

But if she sent Pan away now and he died suddenly, it would create complications.

‘I can hear it and pass it on to the Iron King later.’

“Alright. Let’s hear it. What was the Late Emperor’s will?”

Pan trembled slightly, straightening his posture even more. He slowly closed his eyes, then opened them.

Not a single day had passed peacefully since he had left the imperial palace. He had lived in constant fear of failing to complete the final task entrusted to him by the Late Emperor. Now, the moment had finally come.

“His Late Majesty entrusted me with a book.”

“A book? Are you saying he left me an heirloom?”

“It is no ordinary book. His Late Majesty called it the Holy Scripture and the Great Wish.”

Sienna nearly gasped. She clenched her teeth, fighting to keep her surprise in check, her fists tightening to suppress her reaction.

“The Great Wish?”

***