Since when?
It was pointless to speculate about such things. What was clear was that Eden, who she thought loved her, actually hated her enough to want to kill her.
“..."
Cecilia laughed. She knew it was out of place, but she couldn't help but laugh. At the same time, tears flowed silently like rain.
However, Eden's eyes, staring at the crying Cecilia, were calm. He was neither surprised, sad, nor happy. His calm eyes seemed to be detached from this time and situation.
This pain was unique to Cecilia.
The Duke of Lane was completely ruined, and the Empress was confined to her palace.
The Emperor was also different from before. Under the sharp blade of the Emperor, everyone kept their mouths shut and lowered their bodies so as not to harm themselves. And they had one question.
“Your Majesty?”
What will happen to the Empress who has become a fallen noble? Up until now, the Emperor has shown no signs of wanting to overthrow the Empress, but will he do so in the future?
There was a commotion outside the door. It was the Emperor's first procession in about three months. It seemed as if the door hadn't been closed all the way, so Eden's voice was heard through the gap.
“Her Majesty is staying in the bedroom.”
Countess Casper answered in a calm voice. Indeed, her attitude was one of composure that paid no attention to her master's meals.
“Cecilia.”
Suddenly, through the open door, Eden appeared with a line of attendants. As always, his brown hair was neatly combed back and he was dressed neatly in his uniform.
“See the sun at Wyatt.”
There was a moment when she loved that sight so much. There was a moment when she admired that splendid sight and felt proud that it was hers.
'Her Majesty's maid, Ilya Nova, or rather Countess Lawson, is now His Majesty the Emperor's mistress. It has been two years since that happened.'
'Countess Casper. You have betrayed me?'
'To promote the prestige of the family requires honor and money, Your Majesty.'
Cecilia lowered her feet under the bed, recalling the voice of Countess Casper, who was like a watchdog.
'But now you can't give me either honor or money. It was inevitable.'
It was to pay homage to the Emperor.
"Stop."
However, Eden immediately stopped Cecilia. The quick-witted maid quickly handed Eden a pair of indoor slippers. Eden gently put the slippers on Cecilia’s feet.
“Since when have you been treating the Emperor so politely?”
It wasn't funny, but it was a joke. Cecilia looked down at Eden's watery eyes, which were soft and gentle, but somehow empty.
'So Your Majesty, there is nothing to worry about regarding the inner palace. Countess Lawson is handling it now.'
'How can I believe you just by listening to your words?'
Of course, she doubted whether that was true. Cecilia was not stupid enough to believe Countess Casper's words alone. But soon she began to think that it would have been better to be stupid.
'How could her husband, Diego Lawson, who had no notable achievements, go from being a commoner to a Count?'
As if she had been waiting for that moment, Ilya Nova herself appeared. Unlike Cecilia, who was thin and haggard like a withering flower, she was splendidly and beautifully decorated.
'Are you here, Mrs. Lawson?'
Countess Casper greeted her with the same gentleness as a maid serving her master.
'Because His Majesty loved me.'
It was common for an Emperor to take a noblewoman as his mistress and reward her husband.
'Madam, bring me the ledger.'
Countess Casper, who received Ilya's order, left for a moment and then returned.
'Look. It's my handwriting, my signature, right?'
Ilyaa showed Cecilia the imperial ledger and the Emperor's seal, which she had personally signed.
'How, how...'
'I never wanted to do this to you, who was once my master, but you have been holding on to that position for too long.'
'...'
'Now give me back my seat.'
The terrible betrayal was all true.
“I have to do it right from now on. I’m nothing now.”
She felt like vomiting. She was disgusted by the man who had made a puppet out of her by falling in love with the woman who had been her maid, and who had planned to make them happy.
“That is true, but.”
Eden nodded to Cecilia's words. Cecilia clenched her teeth as she felt the water rising in her throat. She quietly looked up and met Eden's gaze, who was still sitting on one knee.
The face of Eden that she faced like this was no different from the fiancé and husband that Cecilia remembered from her childhood. However, there was a subtle sense of discomfort.
“Do you feel better now?”
As Cecilia spat out without holding back, the faces of the subordinates guarding nearby turned pale. In a situation where even the last position could be taken away at any moment, how could they openly go against the Emperor who held the power of life and death? It was something that could only be done without being crazy.
“It’s not cool.”
However, the Emperor ignored Cecilia's rude attitude. Rather, it was Cecilia who became enraged by the Emperor's indifference.
“How come you’ve been here for half a year?”
“...”
“Are you ready to kill me now?”
Eden smiled faintly at Cecilia's question.
“No way.”
His mind was still the same.
“I came here to negotiate something.”
Eden's large hand touched Cecilia's face. Cecilia's body flinched greatly at the gentle touch that tucked her flowing blond hair behind her ear. It was a touch that had been natural before, but she was afraid of that touch.
“Cecilia. If you want, I can give you back your family name.”
Eden opened his mouth. Cecilia, who had been avoiding Eden’s gaze at the unbelievable story, opened her eyes wide. Cecilia grabbed Eden’s arm and met Eden’s eyes as if to gauge his true intentions.
“You know that my father did not commit treason?”
Cecilia asked, hanging on. Eden smiled, looking into her eyes that resembled the green leaves of a summer day, full of anticipation. With the affectionate face that had once smiled at her.
“If you agree to kill your father, Curtis Lane.”
Shattered Cecilia's hopes.
“It wouldn’t be difficult to return the Duke of Lane to you, who has punished the traitor and restored the honor of the family.”
It was ridiculous. Asking a child to join in killing her father? This was a mockery. Cecilia gritted her teeth and tried to shake him off again.
“Your Majesty the Emperor!”
After a couple of knocks on the door, a voice called out to Eden. An uneasy intuition seeped into her heart, making it beat anxiously. Cecilia quickly turned her gaze to the door and listened for the sound that would come.
“Come in.”
At Eden's command, the door opened and Marquis Caliber appeared.
“Curtis Lane has been captured.”
Cecilia's small hand flinched in the air. Eden, who had found Cecilia trembling with her skin pale, stared blankly at her. As if asking what she was going to do as if asking her what she was thinking.
“Do you think this is a fair deal?”
“Of course not.”
Eden spoke as if he was saying something obvious.
“I’m just giving you a chance, do you need the word fairness between you and me?”
It was he who gave the opportunity, and Cecilia who was the one who received it. It was as if it was an attitude that made no sense to talk about fairness when the relationship between the two was clearly divided.
"...Ha."
That's right. If only he hadn't forced her to make a choice. Cecilia burst out laughing and tried to push away his chest, trying to get away.
However, there was a limit to the strength that could be exerted by a wrist that was not even as strong as that of a child. Soon, Cecilia was completely trapped by Eden's power and was panting.
“Wouldn’t it be easy?”
“Yes. I won’t do that.”
"...Even if this is your last chance?”
“Even if it’s the last!”
Cecilia screamed in frustration. She felt like spitting in his face, but it was hard to hold back.
“You already knew where my father was, didn’t you?”
At Cecilia's words, Eden smiled faintly. Soon, the strength left Eden's firm grip on Cecilia's wrist. No matter how hard she tried, it was easy to escape from his grasp.
If only he would let go.
“Yes. I already knew where Curtis Lane was.”
Eden muttered.
“Because I’m not stupid enough not to know that you’re hiding him.”
On this earth, there was no being that could escape the gaze of the Emperor.
“I was just wondering what choice to make.”
Cecilia laughed hollowly. She couldn't shake the feeling that he was playing with them. Like playing with a doll connected by strings, or like a lion patting its prey before killing it. He was looking down at them with such a smug look.
“Yes. Kill him.”
Soon, Cecilia opened her mouth venomously, her smile disappearing from her face as if it were a lie.
“Kill my father, and kill me too.”
“Cecilia.”
“I hid a traitor. Isn’t that sin enough?”
If it weren't for her damp face, the despair and sorrow in her heart would be hard to notice.
“No. You have to stay here, Cecilia.”
“Why? Why on earth should I do that?”
But now, as she confronted him with her evil intentions, now that she acknowledged that Countess Casper was right, the depth of her pain was immeasurable.
“It must be painful.”
Because he did not deny Cecilia's story.
“You must know how painful and miserable that place is, Cecilia.”
Eden said that the place he had prepared for her was like that. She did not know a man who could whisper such cruel words with such a beautiful face. The man Cecilia loved was not like that.
But that was the kind of person he was. He was a man who knew how to do that.
"Ha ha ha...!"
Cecilia was mad. The slender woman, who stood up from her seat while staggering, pushed the sturdy man away and climbed on top of him. Eden, who was pushed to the ground by Cecilia’s strength, stopped Marquis Caliber who was running towards him in surprise at the sight.
“If you want to kill someone, you have to strangle them, Cecilia.”
Eden advised in a soft voice. Cecilia lifted her hand that had been holding his collar to faithfully heed his advice.
But there was nothing she could do.
“Is it over?”
It wasn't because she was afraid that they would put her head on the guillotine, like the death order given to her father.
She couldn't even strangle the neck of the man who was lying there as if he would accept being killed right away, and her hands were trembling. Cecilia climbed onto Eden's body, buried her face in his chest, and sobbed. Eden watched Cecilia like that for a long time.
And whispered quietly.
“Curtis Lane’s execution is three days away.”
“...”
“9 o’clock in the morning.”
It was to look Cecilia straight in the eye and tell her in a gentle voice the exact date of her father's execution.
“The execution site will be in front of the Imperial Palace. Any citizen of the Empire will be prepared to witness the execution of the traitor.”
And three days later, just as Eden had told her, an execution ground was set up in front of the palace.
Curtis Lane, once the greatest noble family in Wyatt, the lord of the Duke of Lane and the Emperor's father-in-law, was executed on the scheduled date.
There was nothing special. That was it.
It was pointless to speculate about such things. What was clear was that Eden, who she thought loved her, actually hated her enough to want to kill her.
“..."
Cecilia laughed. She knew it was out of place, but she couldn't help but laugh. At the same time, tears flowed silently like rain.
However, Eden's eyes, staring at the crying Cecilia, were calm. He was neither surprised, sad, nor happy. His calm eyes seemed to be detached from this time and situation.
This pain was unique to Cecilia.
The Duke of Lane was completely ruined, and the Empress was confined to her palace.
The Emperor was also different from before. Under the sharp blade of the Emperor, everyone kept their mouths shut and lowered their bodies so as not to harm themselves. And they had one question.
“Your Majesty?”
What will happen to the Empress who has become a fallen noble? Up until now, the Emperor has shown no signs of wanting to overthrow the Empress, but will he do so in the future?
There was a commotion outside the door. It was the Emperor's first procession in about three months. It seemed as if the door hadn't been closed all the way, so Eden's voice was heard through the gap.
“Her Majesty is staying in the bedroom.”
Countess Casper answered in a calm voice. Indeed, her attitude was one of composure that paid no attention to her master's meals.
“Cecilia.”
Suddenly, through the open door, Eden appeared with a line of attendants. As always, his brown hair was neatly combed back and he was dressed neatly in his uniform.
“See the sun at Wyatt.”
There was a moment when she loved that sight so much. There was a moment when she admired that splendid sight and felt proud that it was hers.
'Her Majesty's maid, Ilya Nova, or rather Countess Lawson, is now His Majesty the Emperor's mistress. It has been two years since that happened.'
'Countess Casper. You have betrayed me?'
'To promote the prestige of the family requires honor and money, Your Majesty.'
Cecilia lowered her feet under the bed, recalling the voice of Countess Casper, who was like a watchdog.
'But now you can't give me either honor or money. It was inevitable.'
It was to pay homage to the Emperor.
"Stop."
However, Eden immediately stopped Cecilia. The quick-witted maid quickly handed Eden a pair of indoor slippers. Eden gently put the slippers on Cecilia’s feet.
“Since when have you been treating the Emperor so politely?”
It wasn't funny, but it was a joke. Cecilia looked down at Eden's watery eyes, which were soft and gentle, but somehow empty.
'So Your Majesty, there is nothing to worry about regarding the inner palace. Countess Lawson is handling it now.'
'How can I believe you just by listening to your words?'
Of course, she doubted whether that was true. Cecilia was not stupid enough to believe Countess Casper's words alone. But soon she began to think that it would have been better to be stupid.
'How could her husband, Diego Lawson, who had no notable achievements, go from being a commoner to a Count?'
As if she had been waiting for that moment, Ilya Nova herself appeared. Unlike Cecilia, who was thin and haggard like a withering flower, she was splendidly and beautifully decorated.
'Are you here, Mrs. Lawson?'
Countess Casper greeted her with the same gentleness as a maid serving her master.
'Because His Majesty loved me.'
It was common for an Emperor to take a noblewoman as his mistress and reward her husband.
'Madam, bring me the ledger.'
Countess Casper, who received Ilya's order, left for a moment and then returned.
'Look. It's my handwriting, my signature, right?'
Ilyaa showed Cecilia the imperial ledger and the Emperor's seal, which she had personally signed.
'How, how...'
'I never wanted to do this to you, who was once my master, but you have been holding on to that position for too long.'
'...'
'Now give me back my seat.'
The terrible betrayal was all true.
“I have to do it right from now on. I’m nothing now.”
She felt like vomiting. She was disgusted by the man who had made a puppet out of her by falling in love with the woman who had been her maid, and who had planned to make them happy.
“That is true, but.”
Eden nodded to Cecilia's words. Cecilia clenched her teeth as she felt the water rising in her throat. She quietly looked up and met Eden's gaze, who was still sitting on one knee.
The face of Eden that she faced like this was no different from the fiancé and husband that Cecilia remembered from her childhood. However, there was a subtle sense of discomfort.
“Do you feel better now?”
As Cecilia spat out without holding back, the faces of the subordinates guarding nearby turned pale. In a situation where even the last position could be taken away at any moment, how could they openly go against the Emperor who held the power of life and death? It was something that could only be done without being crazy.
“It’s not cool.”
However, the Emperor ignored Cecilia's rude attitude. Rather, it was Cecilia who became enraged by the Emperor's indifference.
“How come you’ve been here for half a year?”
“...”
“Are you ready to kill me now?”
Eden smiled faintly at Cecilia's question.
“No way.”
His mind was still the same.
“I came here to negotiate something.”
Eden's large hand touched Cecilia's face. Cecilia's body flinched greatly at the gentle touch that tucked her flowing blond hair behind her ear. It was a touch that had been natural before, but she was afraid of that touch.
“Cecilia. If you want, I can give you back your family name.”
Eden opened his mouth. Cecilia, who had been avoiding Eden’s gaze at the unbelievable story, opened her eyes wide. Cecilia grabbed Eden’s arm and met Eden’s eyes as if to gauge his true intentions.
“You know that my father did not commit treason?”
Cecilia asked, hanging on. Eden smiled, looking into her eyes that resembled the green leaves of a summer day, full of anticipation. With the affectionate face that had once smiled at her.
“If you agree to kill your father, Curtis Lane.”
Shattered Cecilia's hopes.
“It wouldn’t be difficult to return the Duke of Lane to you, who has punished the traitor and restored the honor of the family.”
It was ridiculous. Asking a child to join in killing her father? This was a mockery. Cecilia gritted her teeth and tried to shake him off again.
“Your Majesty the Emperor!”
After a couple of knocks on the door, a voice called out to Eden. An uneasy intuition seeped into her heart, making it beat anxiously. Cecilia quickly turned her gaze to the door and listened for the sound that would come.
“Come in.”
At Eden's command, the door opened and Marquis Caliber appeared.
“Curtis Lane has been captured.”
Cecilia's small hand flinched in the air. Eden, who had found Cecilia trembling with her skin pale, stared blankly at her. As if asking what she was going to do as if asking her what she was thinking.
“Do you think this is a fair deal?”
“Of course not.”
Eden spoke as if he was saying something obvious.
“I’m just giving you a chance, do you need the word fairness between you and me?”
It was he who gave the opportunity, and Cecilia who was the one who received it. It was as if it was an attitude that made no sense to talk about fairness when the relationship between the two was clearly divided.
"...Ha."
That's right. If only he hadn't forced her to make a choice. Cecilia burst out laughing and tried to push away his chest, trying to get away.
However, there was a limit to the strength that could be exerted by a wrist that was not even as strong as that of a child. Soon, Cecilia was completely trapped by Eden's power and was panting.
“Wouldn’t it be easy?”
“Yes. I won’t do that.”
"...Even if this is your last chance?”
“Even if it’s the last!”
Cecilia screamed in frustration. She felt like spitting in his face, but it was hard to hold back.
“You already knew where my father was, didn’t you?”
At Cecilia's words, Eden smiled faintly. Soon, the strength left Eden's firm grip on Cecilia's wrist. No matter how hard she tried, it was easy to escape from his grasp.
If only he would let go.
“Yes. I already knew where Curtis Lane was.”
Eden muttered.
“Because I’m not stupid enough not to know that you’re hiding him.”
On this earth, there was no being that could escape the gaze of the Emperor.
“I was just wondering what choice to make.”
Cecilia laughed hollowly. She couldn't shake the feeling that he was playing with them. Like playing with a doll connected by strings, or like a lion patting its prey before killing it. He was looking down at them with such a smug look.
“Yes. Kill him.”
Soon, Cecilia opened her mouth venomously, her smile disappearing from her face as if it were a lie.
“Kill my father, and kill me too.”
“Cecilia.”
“I hid a traitor. Isn’t that sin enough?”
If it weren't for her damp face, the despair and sorrow in her heart would be hard to notice.
“No. You have to stay here, Cecilia.”
“Why? Why on earth should I do that?”
But now, as she confronted him with her evil intentions, now that she acknowledged that Countess Casper was right, the depth of her pain was immeasurable.
“It must be painful.”
Because he did not deny Cecilia's story.
“You must know how painful and miserable that place is, Cecilia.”
Eden said that the place he had prepared for her was like that. She did not know a man who could whisper such cruel words with such a beautiful face. The man Cecilia loved was not like that.
But that was the kind of person he was. He was a man who knew how to do that.
"Ha ha ha...!"
Cecilia was mad. The slender woman, who stood up from her seat while staggering, pushed the sturdy man away and climbed on top of him. Eden, who was pushed to the ground by Cecilia’s strength, stopped Marquis Caliber who was running towards him in surprise at the sight.
“If you want to kill someone, you have to strangle them, Cecilia.”
Eden advised in a soft voice. Cecilia lifted her hand that had been holding his collar to faithfully heed his advice.
But there was nothing she could do.
“Is it over?”
It wasn't because she was afraid that they would put her head on the guillotine, like the death order given to her father.
She couldn't even strangle the neck of the man who was lying there as if he would accept being killed right away, and her hands were trembling. Cecilia climbed onto Eden's body, buried her face in his chest, and sobbed. Eden watched Cecilia like that for a long time.
And whispered quietly.
“Curtis Lane’s execution is three days away.”
“...”
“9 o’clock in the morning.”
It was to look Cecilia straight in the eye and tell her in a gentle voice the exact date of her father's execution.
“The execution site will be in front of the Imperial Palace. Any citizen of the Empire will be prepared to witness the execution of the traitor.”
And three days later, just as Eden had told her, an execution ground was set up in front of the palace.
Curtis Lane, once the greatest noble family in Wyatt, the lord of the Duke of Lane and the Emperor's father-in-law, was executed on the scheduled date.
There was nothing special. That was it.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment