It was a couple of hours later that Cecilia heard the story of her father and Count Nova's accusation. Cecilia threw down the book she was reading and ran to Eden.
'His Majesty?'
'He is in his office, but he told me not to let anyone in.'
The chamberlain nodded with an embarrassed expression at Cecilia's question.
'To me too?'
'He said he wouldn't let anyone in.'
Whether the accusation was true or not, it was certainly hurtful to hear such harsh words. Cecilia stared pitifully at the door that was firmly closed even to her.
'When His Majesty comes out, be sure to tell him that I came to see him.'
'I will do so.'
In response to Cecilia's repeated request, the chamberlain replied that he would definitely do so. Cecilia reluctantly left her anxiety behind and headed to her palace.
But that night, Eden didn't look for Cecilia.
'His Majesty?'
The next day, the chamberlain lowered his head with an embarrassed expression in response to Cecilia's question. The refusal was something that had fallen on his master, but he was not so tactless as to tell the woman in front of him that fact.
'Did you really tell them what I told you to do?'
Normally, Cecilia would have known that fact and not pressed the chamberlain. But now the situation was different. The family was in immediate danger, and it was clear that Eden was misunderstanding, but she had no choice but to step forward.
'I did as you told me.'
It was then that Eden, sensing the commotion, opened the door himself and came out of the office.
'I said I was busy and didn't have time.'
'Your Majesty, I have something to tell you.'
'Come in and let's talk.'
Eden said that and turned his back. Cecilia felt her heart sink despite his quick permission and cautiously followed him.
'Please sit down first.'
Eden pointed to the sofa in front of his desk and said. Normally, she would sit across from him and talk. But today, he didn't even look at her face. He just sat at his desk doing his work and pretended to listen to his subordinate's story.
'I have come to speak to you about the accusations against Count Nova.'
Eden let out a small sigh with a tired face.
'That is absolutely not true. I don't know what his intentions were to falsely accuse my father, but...'
The shadow on his face made her fingertips grow cold. Cecilia held his hand, which was beginning to tremble.
'I can swear!'
Cecilia shouted urgently. Eden stared blankly at his wife, who had become thoughtful.
'Eden.'
Cecilia even pleaded with him privately, calling his name.
'Cecilia, others will find out whether it is true or not.'
But the answer he gave her was cold. Cecilia couldn't help but keep her mouth shut at the sight of the rejection in his eyes.
'If it's a lie, it will pass as if it never happened. Count Nova will receive the punishment he deserves.'
'....'
'So don't worry about these things and just focus on what you have to do.'
Eden's soft voice was pushing Cecilia's back. Cecilia had to leave his office as if she was being kicked out.
'Your Majesty the Empress.'
And until the chief chamberlain called her, she stood guard in front of the office like a stone statue. Cecilia's eyes shook slightly as she recalled Eden's cold answer and actions. Her hands were twisting the hem of her skirt.
You don't believe me.
Her heart sank. Even before the evidence was proven, Eden was convinced that it was the work of the Duke of Lane.
'Your Majesty, please return to the palace and rest for now. The Duke's injustice will soon be revealed.'
Countess Casper approached Cecilia cautiously. She had worked as Eden's nanny before, so she knew how cold he was when he was not considerate of her circumstances.
Cecilia nodded and followed Countess Casper to her palace.
'Your Majesty.'
The one she met there was Ilya. Ilya Nova, who worked as Cecilia's maid right under Countess Casper, the head maid. Count Nova's daughter.
‘...What’s going on?’
'I have come to ask you to cast me out.'
Ilya fell to her knees, sobbing as if she had read the resentment in Cecilia's eyes.
'I don't know what my father was thinking when he did that, but I also believe in the innocence of the Duke of Lane.'
'...'
'But Your Majesty, just seeing me will make you uncomfortable. Please kick me out.'
Ilya cried sadly, saying that there might be a misunderstanding and that she would go back and persuade her father. She also said that she was distressed by the situation in which she had to betray the master she had served.
'Send me a fair price, Madam Casper.'
The sight did not seem to be telling a lie. When Cecilia gave her order with a small sigh, Countess Casper nodded.
Late that evening, Ilya left the Empress's Palace, accompanied by the valuables that Cecilia had packed for her.
And the next day, the assessment came back that the ledger was genuine and that Curtis had definitely signed it all himself. Eden dared to open a trial to punish Curtis for deceiving the royal family and exploiting the people of the territory.
'Your Majesty, no. My father said he had no idea about it! Just give me some more time, just a little more time. So I can figure out what's going on. Please...!'
Cecilia knelt before him and begged. The tears falling on the red carpet were heartbreaking even to a stranger, but Eden’s face, looking down at Cecilia, was cold.
'The floor is cold. You'd better stop and go back, Cecilia.'
The trial was held as scheduled. And Curtis lost his Marquis among his many titles in the trial. He was then found guilty of treason. And then his life was taken.
Meanwhile, Eden didn't give Duke Lane a single chance. It was as if the ending had already been decided.
'His Majesty?'
'He is in his office, but he told me not to let anyone in.'
The chamberlain nodded with an embarrassed expression at Cecilia's question.
'To me too?'
'He said he wouldn't let anyone in.'
Whether the accusation was true or not, it was certainly hurtful to hear such harsh words. Cecilia stared pitifully at the door that was firmly closed even to her.
'When His Majesty comes out, be sure to tell him that I came to see him.'
'I will do so.'
In response to Cecilia's repeated request, the chamberlain replied that he would definitely do so. Cecilia reluctantly left her anxiety behind and headed to her palace.
But that night, Eden didn't look for Cecilia.
'His Majesty?'
The next day, the chamberlain lowered his head with an embarrassed expression in response to Cecilia's question. The refusal was something that had fallen on his master, but he was not so tactless as to tell the woman in front of him that fact.
'Did you really tell them what I told you to do?'
Normally, Cecilia would have known that fact and not pressed the chamberlain. But now the situation was different. The family was in immediate danger, and it was clear that Eden was misunderstanding, but she had no choice but to step forward.
'I did as you told me.'
It was then that Eden, sensing the commotion, opened the door himself and came out of the office.
'I said I was busy and didn't have time.'
'Your Majesty, I have something to tell you.'
'Come in and let's talk.'
Eden said that and turned his back. Cecilia felt her heart sink despite his quick permission and cautiously followed him.
'Please sit down first.'
Eden pointed to the sofa in front of his desk and said. Normally, she would sit across from him and talk. But today, he didn't even look at her face. He just sat at his desk doing his work and pretended to listen to his subordinate's story.
'I have come to speak to you about the accusations against Count Nova.'
Eden let out a small sigh with a tired face.
'That is absolutely not true. I don't know what his intentions were to falsely accuse my father, but...'
The shadow on his face made her fingertips grow cold. Cecilia held his hand, which was beginning to tremble.
'I can swear!'
Cecilia shouted urgently. Eden stared blankly at his wife, who had become thoughtful.
'Eden.'
Cecilia even pleaded with him privately, calling his name.
'Cecilia, others will find out whether it is true or not.'
But the answer he gave her was cold. Cecilia couldn't help but keep her mouth shut at the sight of the rejection in his eyes.
'If it's a lie, it will pass as if it never happened. Count Nova will receive the punishment he deserves.'
'....'
'So don't worry about these things and just focus on what you have to do.'
Eden's soft voice was pushing Cecilia's back. Cecilia had to leave his office as if she was being kicked out.
'Your Majesty the Empress.'
And until the chief chamberlain called her, she stood guard in front of the office like a stone statue. Cecilia's eyes shook slightly as she recalled Eden's cold answer and actions. Her hands were twisting the hem of her skirt.
You don't believe me.
Her heart sank. Even before the evidence was proven, Eden was convinced that it was the work of the Duke of Lane.
'Your Majesty, please return to the palace and rest for now. The Duke's injustice will soon be revealed.'
Countess Casper approached Cecilia cautiously. She had worked as Eden's nanny before, so she knew how cold he was when he was not considerate of her circumstances.
Cecilia nodded and followed Countess Casper to her palace.
'Your Majesty.'
The one she met there was Ilya. Ilya Nova, who worked as Cecilia's maid right under Countess Casper, the head maid. Count Nova's daughter.
‘...What’s going on?’
'I have come to ask you to cast me out.'
Ilya fell to her knees, sobbing as if she had read the resentment in Cecilia's eyes.
'I don't know what my father was thinking when he did that, but I also believe in the innocence of the Duke of Lane.'
'...'
'But Your Majesty, just seeing me will make you uncomfortable. Please kick me out.'
Ilya cried sadly, saying that there might be a misunderstanding and that she would go back and persuade her father. She also said that she was distressed by the situation in which she had to betray the master she had served.
'Send me a fair price, Madam Casper.'
The sight did not seem to be telling a lie. When Cecilia gave her order with a small sigh, Countess Casper nodded.
Late that evening, Ilya left the Empress's Palace, accompanied by the valuables that Cecilia had packed for her.
And the next day, the assessment came back that the ledger was genuine and that Curtis had definitely signed it all himself. Eden dared to open a trial to punish Curtis for deceiving the royal family and exploiting the people of the territory.
'Your Majesty, no. My father said he had no idea about it! Just give me some more time, just a little more time. So I can figure out what's going on. Please...!'
Cecilia knelt before him and begged. The tears falling on the red carpet were heartbreaking even to a stranger, but Eden’s face, looking down at Cecilia, was cold.
'The floor is cold. You'd better stop and go back, Cecilia.'
The trial was held as scheduled. And Curtis lost his Marquis among his many titles in the trial. He was then found guilty of treason. And then his life was taken.
Meanwhile, Eden didn't give Duke Lane a single chance. It was as if the ending had already been decided.
***
"Ah..."
Cecilia, who collapsed in front of the Emperor, began to have a fever that night and suffered from aches and pains.
“Your Highness, please leave this lowly matter to me.”
“Everyone, step aside so I can take care of it.”
Eden replied coldly. Then he soaked a towel in the cold water in the basin and wiped Cecilia’s sweaty forehead. Madame Monte, who had been watching, stepped back as if she had no choice.
“Cecilia.”
Cecilia was not originally a very healthy person. This was especially true when you remember that she had been seriously ill and almost died before her marriage. However, she had never been sick since she got married, so he believed that she had recovered completely.
But it didn't seem to be the case. Cecilia, who was trembling in shock from the pressure of the Emperor, collapsed and was unable to recover.
Although he thought that the Emperor could do such a thing, he felt his heart burn inside when he saw Cecilia lying sick.
“No, no...”
Cecilia sobbed, stretching her thin arms into the air. She was saying no, along with a story of denial. His heart ached as he wondered how shocking today’s events had been for her to act like this.
“It’s unfair. There’s no way, there’s no way...”
Cecilia sobbed and complained about the injustice. Soon, clear tears began to flow from between her closed eyes. Eden wiped the tears away with his hand and sighed.
“Cecilia, it’s okay.”
Eden, sitting on the edge of the bed, kissed Cecilia's forehead and cheek and whispered, hoping to calm the woman who was trembling like a little bird.
It was then that Cecilia gasped and opened her eyes. It was only natural that her eyes met with Eden’s, who had been staring at Cecilia’s face the whole time.
“Are you awake?”
Eden asked urgently, cupping Cecilia's cheek with one hand. Her hazy eyes, still wet with tears, were looking at him.
“Why did you do that?”
“...”
“To me, why...”
There was also a resentment that could not be hidden inside. Eden could not even ask what she was talking about. It was because Cecilia was coughing violently as if she was vomiting.
“Cecilia!”
It was when Eden was holding and comforting the small body that Cecilia fainted again with her eyes closed.
“Call the doctor!”
As Eden shook the rope and gave an urgent order, Madam Monte opened the bedroom door and came in, then ran down the stairs in a hurry. Eden desperately hugged her small, gasping body. Her body felt like a ball of fire.
Soon after, the attending doctor came running in a hurry to check on Cecilia's condition and prepare some medicine. However, since Cecilia was unconscious, it was difficult to even get her to take the medicine.
In the end, Eden chose to shove the bitter medicine into her mouth. Then he opened Cecilia's mouth and poured the medicine into it. It was not something Cecilia would like to do if she knew, but she had no choice.
“Your Highness the Grand Duke.”
As he was wiping the liquid that had flowed down Cecilia's cheek with a dry towel, the butler cautiously came to find Eden.
“His Majesty the Emperor has sent word to come to the palace...”
“Tell them I can’t go.”
Eden answered without looking back. His voice was filled with resentment toward his father for hurting his wife.
"But..."
“If you tell His Majesty that my wife is sick and I staying by her side, I think he will understand.”
Eden responded coldly as if he would no longer listen to persuasion. The butler could not bring himself to persuade Eden, who was already blinded by Cecilia's case and withdrew.
Cecilia, who collapsed in front of the Emperor, began to have a fever that night and suffered from aches and pains.
“Your Highness, please leave this lowly matter to me.”
“Everyone, step aside so I can take care of it.”
Eden replied coldly. Then he soaked a towel in the cold water in the basin and wiped Cecilia’s sweaty forehead. Madame Monte, who had been watching, stepped back as if she had no choice.
“Cecilia.”
Cecilia was not originally a very healthy person. This was especially true when you remember that she had been seriously ill and almost died before her marriage. However, she had never been sick since she got married, so he believed that she had recovered completely.
But it didn't seem to be the case. Cecilia, who was trembling in shock from the pressure of the Emperor, collapsed and was unable to recover.
Although he thought that the Emperor could do such a thing, he felt his heart burn inside when he saw Cecilia lying sick.
“No, no...”
Cecilia sobbed, stretching her thin arms into the air. She was saying no, along with a story of denial. His heart ached as he wondered how shocking today’s events had been for her to act like this.
“It’s unfair. There’s no way, there’s no way...”
Cecilia sobbed and complained about the injustice. Soon, clear tears began to flow from between her closed eyes. Eden wiped the tears away with his hand and sighed.
“Cecilia, it’s okay.”
Eden, sitting on the edge of the bed, kissed Cecilia's forehead and cheek and whispered, hoping to calm the woman who was trembling like a little bird.
It was then that Cecilia gasped and opened her eyes. It was only natural that her eyes met with Eden’s, who had been staring at Cecilia’s face the whole time.
“Are you awake?”
Eden asked urgently, cupping Cecilia's cheek with one hand. Her hazy eyes, still wet with tears, were looking at him.
“Why did you do that?”
“...”
“To me, why...”
There was also a resentment that could not be hidden inside. Eden could not even ask what she was talking about. It was because Cecilia was coughing violently as if she was vomiting.
“Cecilia!”
It was when Eden was holding and comforting the small body that Cecilia fainted again with her eyes closed.
“Call the doctor!”
As Eden shook the rope and gave an urgent order, Madam Monte opened the bedroom door and came in, then ran down the stairs in a hurry. Eden desperately hugged her small, gasping body. Her body felt like a ball of fire.
Soon after, the attending doctor came running in a hurry to check on Cecilia's condition and prepare some medicine. However, since Cecilia was unconscious, it was difficult to even get her to take the medicine.
In the end, Eden chose to shove the bitter medicine into her mouth. Then he opened Cecilia's mouth and poured the medicine into it. It was not something Cecilia would like to do if she knew, but she had no choice.
“Your Highness the Grand Duke.”
As he was wiping the liquid that had flowed down Cecilia's cheek with a dry towel, the butler cautiously came to find Eden.
“His Majesty the Emperor has sent word to come to the palace...”
“Tell them I can’t go.”
Eden answered without looking back. His voice was filled with resentment toward his father for hurting his wife.
"But..."
“If you tell His Majesty that my wife is sick and I staying by her side, I think he will understand.”
Eden responded coldly as if he would no longer listen to persuasion. The butler could not bring himself to persuade Eden, who was already blinded by Cecilia's case and withdrew.
Comments
Post a Comment