Early morning. Cecilia slowly opened her eyes.
He was still in the same position he had slept in the previous night. Cecilia quietly kept her gaze on his face, worried that Eden would wake up.
Skin that was whiter and younger than she remembered. A jawline that seemed to be somewhere between boyhood and adolescence. She already knew that the blue eyes that would be revealed when he lifted his eyelids were beautiful. There was a moment when this man’s beauty was fatal to her.
“...”
But now her heart was not moved. She just looked at that beautiful face and thought.
Can't I just kill him like this? So that something like this doesn't happen again. So that this man doesn't betray and kill me and my father.
Without realizing it, the hand holding the pillow tightened. Cecilia sat up, grabbed the pillow with both hands and held it against his face as if she was going to press it down.
"No."
However, she did not actually take action. The Emperor with strong power protected Eden, and even Aster, who would become the next Emperor if he still had his breath, cherished Eden. Killing Eden impulsively would only anger them and lead to the downfall of the family.
So, she shouldn't kill Eden here without any countermeasures. Cecilia put down her pillow and looked down at the man who was sleeping as if he was dead.
'I wanted to kill you too.'
Eden, who appears to have nothing to do with the Duke of Lane, must die naturally.
So how can I protect the reputation of the Line family in this life and stab this man in the heart?
“No, not like that...”
In fact, forgetting everything and running away from Eden would have been the best option. But that was just running away. She didn't want to just forget or run away, since she wasn't a new soul borrowing someone else's body.
And above all, it was unfair. Why did I have to end up suffering alone? It was definitely not a fair ending.
“Either.”
Cecilia reached out and cupped Eden's chin and cheek, gently stroking them. He rubbed his face against Cecilia's palm, like a puppy showing off. As she looked at that face, another face came to mind.
'Let's go back now.'
Aster, Eden's half-brother looks like twins.
A man with brown hair and blue eyes, just like Eden. Because of his position as Crown Prince, he seems to be wary of his brothers, but he is very close with Eden.
'Congratulations on becoming a member of the royal family, Grand Duchess Burnett.'
In addition, he was a kind and polite person with a gentle smile. He was a handsome man with a gentle impression, but his sturdy appearance at first glance made him feel trustworthy.
If he had not died and become the Emperor, it is not difficult to guess that everything in the Wyatt Empire would have gone smoothly.
'The Crown Prince's death occurred in the year 278 of the Imperial Calendar.'
Cecilia began to recall her memories. The year she married Eden was 276 in the Imperial Calendar when Eden was twenty-one and Cecilia was twenty.
Until then, no one knew the turmoil that would blow through the empire. That the wave would engulf the Crown Prince and change the entire structure of the succession.
“Lanner Island.”
The cause was a long-neglected island. Neither Wyatt nor the neighboring country of Benia paid much attention to it, treating it as just another dot on the map.
However, the one who actually occupied the island at the moment was Wyatt and all the people living there were citizens of the Wyatt Empire. Benia had no interest at all.
'Is this gold dust?'
Things began to change soon after a vein of gold was discovered on the island. Gold was a commodity that could be traded in all countries. As soon as Wyatt learned of the existence of the vein, they began mining it.
'The real owner of Laner Island is not Wyatt, but Benia!'
At that time, Benia rose up in revolt. Benia claimed that it was the historical owner of the island of Laner. That was the trigger for the war between the two countries.
The war eventually led to the death of Crown Prince Aster. Crown Princess Isabella died after giving birth to a stillborn heir due to the shock of losing her husband.
'Eden, you should become the Crown Prince.'
So the Emperor decided to make Eden the Crown Prince, not the third prince, Damon, who was the son of the current Empress.
Yeah, there was Aster and Wyatt.
If he had lived, Eden would not have become the Emperor and seized power enough to ruin the Duchy of Lane. As she thought about that, Cecilia's eyes sparkled like the green leaves of summer that had been bathed in light.
“...Originally, he was the one who should have died.”
If things went as planned, he was going to die anyway. It was enough to use a good person without any qualms about using and harming him. Can't you say that extending his life was wrong?
First of all, to protect the Lane Duke family, we must save Crown Prince Aster and make him the Emperor. We must not give power to Eden.
But how?
Cecilia in her previous life was indifferent to politics before she became the Crown Princess. She remembered the main plot of the Laner Islands, but she could not remember the details. Eden also rarely showed up in the central political world for Aster.
“If we bring ownership of the island to Wyatt in advance...”
Cecilia muttered quietly as she sorted out the jumbled thoughts in her head.
If the dispute is settled by clarifying the ownership of the island to Wyatt, then Aster will not die in the war. The only disadvantage is that Eden's position becomes ambiguous.
“But you didn’t want to become Emperor.”
Cecilia's gaze turned to Eden, who was sleeping soundly. He had a calm expression on his face, not knowing what Cecilia was thinking.
“Are you okay, Eden?”
Of course, it doesn't matter if he says it's not okay. Cecilia thought as she absentmindedly removed her hand from Eden's face.
But even if Aster becomes the Emperor, it would be meaningless if Count Nova rebels. If they expose the false corruption of the Duke Lane again, and if Eden harbors resentment towards the Duke Lane, it would be even more so.
That's the only thing that must be stopped.
“First, let’s investigate...”
To do that, the first thing to do was to investigate Count Nova. The evidence of the corruption exposed by Count Nova came from the ledgers he had been handling.
Curtis didn't even realize that a hole and money were leaking out somewhere. It never occurred to him that all of this could be unrelated to Count Nova.
But it was clear that Curtis would not allow it if he asked to send thanks without any reason. And that was something that Cecilia, who was not even the head of the household, could not do.
"Then..."
After solving the problem with Laner Island and gaining the favor of the Crown Prince and Eden, what if you made them suspect the greed of Count Nova? Then, what if you moved Eden to investigate Count Nova himself and expose their corruption?
Of course, the evidence won't be scattered everywhere for easy finding. What if you can't find it?
“... I should at least make a false accusation.”
What is there to worry about? Cecilia's face was expressionless as she thought that. She didn't show any guilt. It was because she had already experienced in her past life how far a family could be torn apart.
Countess Casper's attitude changed and she served the government as her master. Ilya Nova reigned as Eden's government and as the Queen of society. Count Nova took away the title of Duke of Lane. And Duke of Lane lost the head of the family and its lineage.
“I can’t let that happen again.”
Isn't it natural to not want to experience the same thing again?
Of course, that doesn't mean she only intended to capture and kill Count Nova. Cecilia had no intention of forgiving the contemptuous treatment she received from Countess Casper, Ilya's disgusting performance, or the betrayal of Count Nova's family.
Each will destroy what they love most and throw it into the mud. And then...
"Your Highness."
I have to kill you, who is left alone, having lost your love, friends, and family.
Cecilia's gaze turned to Eden. She had a strong desire to strangle this defenseless man, but she still needed him. Until Aster died and became the Emperor. No, at least until she defeated Count Nova, she needed his favor and trust.
“Your Highness, please arise.”
Cecilia woke Eden up with a gentle voice. Eden groaned softly as if trying to wake up.
The eyelids fluttered slightly, and then the blue eyes, like the sea under the clear sky, were revealed. They were a deeper color than usual as if still drunk from sleep.
“Cecilia?”
When their eyes met, he called Cecilia's name in a low voice.
“Did you sleep well?”
And he asked Cecilia a question. Her eyes were faintly smiling.
“Yes. Did Your Highness sleep well?”
Cecilia smiled sweetly at Eden, who had just woken up. And then she thought.
Yes, let's not be impatient. One day, this man's life will definitely be taken. If it ends easily, it will be disappointing.
He was still in the same position he had slept in the previous night. Cecilia quietly kept her gaze on his face, worried that Eden would wake up.
Skin that was whiter and younger than she remembered. A jawline that seemed to be somewhere between boyhood and adolescence. She already knew that the blue eyes that would be revealed when he lifted his eyelids were beautiful. There was a moment when this man’s beauty was fatal to her.
“...”
But now her heart was not moved. She just looked at that beautiful face and thought.
Can't I just kill him like this? So that something like this doesn't happen again. So that this man doesn't betray and kill me and my father.
Without realizing it, the hand holding the pillow tightened. Cecilia sat up, grabbed the pillow with both hands and held it against his face as if she was going to press it down.
"No."
However, she did not actually take action. The Emperor with strong power protected Eden, and even Aster, who would become the next Emperor if he still had his breath, cherished Eden. Killing Eden impulsively would only anger them and lead to the downfall of the family.
So, she shouldn't kill Eden here without any countermeasures. Cecilia put down her pillow and looked down at the man who was sleeping as if he was dead.
'I wanted to kill you too.'
Eden, who appears to have nothing to do with the Duke of Lane, must die naturally.
So how can I protect the reputation of the Line family in this life and stab this man in the heart?
“No, not like that...”
In fact, forgetting everything and running away from Eden would have been the best option. But that was just running away. She didn't want to just forget or run away, since she wasn't a new soul borrowing someone else's body.
And above all, it was unfair. Why did I have to end up suffering alone? It was definitely not a fair ending.
“Either.”
Cecilia reached out and cupped Eden's chin and cheek, gently stroking them. He rubbed his face against Cecilia's palm, like a puppy showing off. As she looked at that face, another face came to mind.
'Let's go back now.'
Aster, Eden's half-brother looks like twins.
A man with brown hair and blue eyes, just like Eden. Because of his position as Crown Prince, he seems to be wary of his brothers, but he is very close with Eden.
'Congratulations on becoming a member of the royal family, Grand Duchess Burnett.'
In addition, he was a kind and polite person with a gentle smile. He was a handsome man with a gentle impression, but his sturdy appearance at first glance made him feel trustworthy.
If he had not died and become the Emperor, it is not difficult to guess that everything in the Wyatt Empire would have gone smoothly.
'The Crown Prince's death occurred in the year 278 of the Imperial Calendar.'
Cecilia began to recall her memories. The year she married Eden was 276 in the Imperial Calendar when Eden was twenty-one and Cecilia was twenty.
Until then, no one knew the turmoil that would blow through the empire. That the wave would engulf the Crown Prince and change the entire structure of the succession.
“Lanner Island.”
The cause was a long-neglected island. Neither Wyatt nor the neighboring country of Benia paid much attention to it, treating it as just another dot on the map.
However, the one who actually occupied the island at the moment was Wyatt and all the people living there were citizens of the Wyatt Empire. Benia had no interest at all.
'Is this gold dust?'
Things began to change soon after a vein of gold was discovered on the island. Gold was a commodity that could be traded in all countries. As soon as Wyatt learned of the existence of the vein, they began mining it.
'The real owner of Laner Island is not Wyatt, but Benia!'
At that time, Benia rose up in revolt. Benia claimed that it was the historical owner of the island of Laner. That was the trigger for the war between the two countries.
The war eventually led to the death of Crown Prince Aster. Crown Princess Isabella died after giving birth to a stillborn heir due to the shock of losing her husband.
'Eden, you should become the Crown Prince.'
So the Emperor decided to make Eden the Crown Prince, not the third prince, Damon, who was the son of the current Empress.
Yeah, there was Aster and Wyatt.
If he had lived, Eden would not have become the Emperor and seized power enough to ruin the Duchy of Lane. As she thought about that, Cecilia's eyes sparkled like the green leaves of summer that had been bathed in light.
“...Originally, he was the one who should have died.”
If things went as planned, he was going to die anyway. It was enough to use a good person without any qualms about using and harming him. Can't you say that extending his life was wrong?
First of all, to protect the Lane Duke family, we must save Crown Prince Aster and make him the Emperor. We must not give power to Eden.
But how?
Cecilia in her previous life was indifferent to politics before she became the Crown Princess. She remembered the main plot of the Laner Islands, but she could not remember the details. Eden also rarely showed up in the central political world for Aster.
“If we bring ownership of the island to Wyatt in advance...”
Cecilia muttered quietly as she sorted out the jumbled thoughts in her head.
If the dispute is settled by clarifying the ownership of the island to Wyatt, then Aster will not die in the war. The only disadvantage is that Eden's position becomes ambiguous.
“But you didn’t want to become Emperor.”
Cecilia's gaze turned to Eden, who was sleeping soundly. He had a calm expression on his face, not knowing what Cecilia was thinking.
“Are you okay, Eden?”
Of course, it doesn't matter if he says it's not okay. Cecilia thought as she absentmindedly removed her hand from Eden's face.
But even if Aster becomes the Emperor, it would be meaningless if Count Nova rebels. If they expose the false corruption of the Duke Lane again, and if Eden harbors resentment towards the Duke Lane, it would be even more so.
That's the only thing that must be stopped.
“First, let’s investigate...”
To do that, the first thing to do was to investigate Count Nova. The evidence of the corruption exposed by Count Nova came from the ledgers he had been handling.
Curtis didn't even realize that a hole and money were leaking out somewhere. It never occurred to him that all of this could be unrelated to Count Nova.
But it was clear that Curtis would not allow it if he asked to send thanks without any reason. And that was something that Cecilia, who was not even the head of the household, could not do.
"Then..."
After solving the problem with Laner Island and gaining the favor of the Crown Prince and Eden, what if you made them suspect the greed of Count Nova? Then, what if you moved Eden to investigate Count Nova himself and expose their corruption?
Of course, the evidence won't be scattered everywhere for easy finding. What if you can't find it?
“... I should at least make a false accusation.”
What is there to worry about? Cecilia's face was expressionless as she thought that. She didn't show any guilt. It was because she had already experienced in her past life how far a family could be torn apart.
Countess Casper's attitude changed and she served the government as her master. Ilya Nova reigned as Eden's government and as the Queen of society. Count Nova took away the title of Duke of Lane. And Duke of Lane lost the head of the family and its lineage.
“I can’t let that happen again.”
Isn't it natural to not want to experience the same thing again?
Of course, that doesn't mean she only intended to capture and kill Count Nova. Cecilia had no intention of forgiving the contemptuous treatment she received from Countess Casper, Ilya's disgusting performance, or the betrayal of Count Nova's family.
Each will destroy what they love most and throw it into the mud. And then...
"Your Highness."
I have to kill you, who is left alone, having lost your love, friends, and family.
Cecilia's gaze turned to Eden. She had a strong desire to strangle this defenseless man, but she still needed him. Until Aster died and became the Emperor. No, at least until she defeated Count Nova, she needed his favor and trust.
“Your Highness, please arise.”
Cecilia woke Eden up with a gentle voice. Eden groaned softly as if trying to wake up.
The eyelids fluttered slightly, and then the blue eyes, like the sea under the clear sky, were revealed. They were a deeper color than usual as if still drunk from sleep.
“Cecilia?”
When their eyes met, he called Cecilia's name in a low voice.
“Did you sleep well?”
And he asked Cecilia a question. Her eyes were faintly smiling.
“Yes. Did Your Highness sleep well?”
Cecilia smiled sweetly at Eden, who had just woken up. And then she thought.
Yes, let's not be impatient. One day, this man's life will definitely be taken. If it ends easily, it will be disappointing.
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