It was three days later that Cecilia came to her senses. Her fever subsided a day later, but it took a little longer for her to come to her senses.
“Cecilia, are you okay?”
And Eden had stayed by Cecilia's side until then. This was because he had not flinched even after hearing that Crown Prince Aster had come forward to negotiate a solution to the conflict in the border region.
Cecilia, who was buried in memories of the long past, almost flinched and pushed Eden’s hand away without realizing it. Fortunately, however, it stopped at the level of rejection. This was because she did not even have the strength to push him away.
"...Your Highness."
Her voice cracked. Eden quickly handed her a glass of water. Cecilia leaned against his body and drank the water slowly.
“How long have I been like this?”
“Three days. You were sick for two full days.”
Cecilia blinked slowly at Eden's answer. Three days was not that long. Considering how much despair had consumed her in the past, three days was relatively short.
“I’m sorry for worrying you.”
Eden kissed Cecilia on the forehead and replied that it was okay. This was because he thought that the incident had been initiated by his father, the Emperor.
“It’s okay. I was just a little surprised to see you so sick.”
Cecilia raised her head at the voice that answered affectionately and examined Eden’s expression. She wanted to see if what he said was sincere. As if to prove that what he said was true, Eden’s face was more affectionate than usual.
“His Majesty the Emperor was very surprised, so I’m sure it won’t happen again.”
And Eden said that if something like that happened, he wouldn't stay still either. When Cecilia smiled slightly, Eden's face also looked relieved.
“You need to eat something. You haven’t eaten anything for days.”
As Eden pulled the rope beside the bed, the door opened and Madame Monte came in. She had been too worried about Cecilia to leave the bedroom.
“Madame Monte.”
"Your Highness!"
Madame Monte called Cecilia with tearful eyes. Cecilia smiled slightly at Madame Monte as if to say that it was okay.
“Bring some soup that Cecilia can eat.”
At Eden's command, Madame Monte nodded several times and left the bedroom. As she crossed the threshold, Madame Monte's hand was rubbing her eyes.
“Was I in a lot of pain?”
Eden nodded at Cecilia's question.
“Your nanny was worried that you might get sick again like before you got married.”
Oh, right. Cecilia blinked slowly, remembering how sick she had been for a long time before getting married.
“Your High school, I have brought you some thin soup.”
Soon after, Madame Monte arrived with a soup made without any seasonings. She had cooled it down to lukewarm, just in case Cecilia couldn't eat it.
"Ah."
But that sincerity was meaningless. Her hands were so weak that the spoon she had been holding fell to the floor.
“Bring me a new spoon. And I’ll serve you myself, so you can go out.”
Eden glanced at the spoon rolling on the soft carpet and gave an order. Mada. Monte offered Eden the new spoon she had brought and walked away.
“I can do it, Your Highness.”
Cecilia refused with an embarrassed look on her face, but Eden was adamant. He held the spoon in his hand and forced Cecilia to open her mouth.
“Hurry up before it falls.”
As she reluctantly opened her mouth, soup flowed into her mouth. Cecilia swallowed the soup. Perhaps because she hadn’t eaten properly for three days, she felt warm as soon as she ate it.
“Has anything happened since then?”
After a few spoonfuls, she finally came to the senses to ask a proper question. In response to Cecilia’s question, Eden nodded while taking another spoonful of soup.
“Nothing happened. His Majesty also believes that you were not involved in the matter.”
“...”
“The Count Casper family will be held accountable for daring to involve the royal family in an attempt to evade their duty.”
A flash of anger flashed across Eden's eyes as he mentioned Count Casper. It seemed that he was angry even at his former nanny.
“He might lose his title.”
"Ah..."
If he were to lose his title after going bankrupt, it would be the downfall of the family. While Cecilia let out a small exclamation, Eden’s spoon went back into her mouth.
Cecilia stared at the man with new eyes, completely different from the man she remembered from the past.
In the past, he was just so cold. He was someone who wouldn't listen to a single word of persuasion. He was someone who pushed Duke Lane around as if he had to.
Now, he is so affectionate and caring. She doesn't even suspect that he really pushed Count Casper into the abyss of bankruptcy.
“I want to stop eating.”
“Just one more time.”
What on earth is love?
Liene felt a bit sad. She realized that the Eden of the past really didn't love her at all. She realized that she was such an insignificant person back then, someone who could have been thrown away so easily.
“Your Highness, His Majesty the Emperor has sent someone.”
“I’ll be out soon, so wait a moment.”
Outside the door, the butler urged Eden on. But Eden put down his spoon only after feeding Cecilia one more spoonful.
“You can rest. I’ll call your nanny and send you some medicine, and I’ll be back later.”
Cecilia nodded while lying on the bed. Eden carefully covered Cecilia’s chest with the blanket one last time, kissed her forehead, and then left the bedroom.
“Your Highness.”
A moment later, Madam Monte crossed the threshold carrying a bowl of medicine.
“I brought you some medicine. Even though it’s bitter, take some and go to sleep.”
Cecilia did not refuse and took the medicine. The medicine was bitter, so she had to keep from making a face.
“Here, have some candy.”
As if she had expected this, Madame Monte shoved a piece of candy into Cecilia’s mouth. Cecilia rolled the candy around in her mouth and sat back against the soft cushion.
“Oh my, I was so surprised when you suddenly collapsed and was carried in by His Highness the Grand Duke.”
Madam Monte sighed deeply as she put the bowl of medicine she had finished to one side. Judging from her still gloomy complexion, she seemed to be quite worried.
“His Highness the Grand Duke was also very surprised.”
Cecilia suddenly remembered the face of Eden that she had seen when she opened her eyes. What made her think that Madame Monte’s words were not a lie was the haggard look on that beautiful face.
What about the worries and relief that were so vivid? Cecilia, who had thought that far, gave a short laugh. It was funny that a man would act like he would give his liver and gallbladder to a woman he liked.
“I'm telling you the truth.”
Madame Monte, perhaps thinking it was suspicious, placed the tray she was about to carry out on the table and turned to face Cecilia.
“He was always by your side. Even when I offered to take care of you, he refused.”
“...”
“Your Highness was not in your right mind and could not take the medicine, so he even gave it to you by mouth.”
Madam Monte repeatedly emphasized the care Eden had given her.
“He didn’t go even though His Majesty the Emperor called him.”
Madame Monte seemed particularly touched by the fact that he had not gone to see the Emperor. Cecilia was also a little surprised by that. Of course, it was something he could do as an Emperor's beloved son. However, what he did was not for nothing.
“Be sure to say thank you. Even between couples, expressions are important.”
And she told her to be sure to thank Eden. Cecilia nodded dryly. She had even whispered false love, but she couldn't say thank you.
“I’ll clean this up first and then come back. I’ll have to give you some company before you go back to sleep.”
Madame Monte glanced at Cecilia without any ill will, smiled, and then turned around with the tray in hand.
“Your Highness.”
Soon after, Madam Monte crossed the threshold of the bedroom empty-handed. Her face looked somewhat surprised.
"What's the matter?"
Cecilia, who had been sitting comfortably, raised her upper body and asked. Madame Monte looked around for no reason and then came right up to the bed.
“What were you trying to say that took so long...”
“His Highness the Crown Prince has passed away.”
What? Cecilia stared at Madame Monte, unable to even ask out loud.
“So it looks like someone from the royal family came.”
No way. Aster, who she had seen face to face with just a few days ago, died. Why on earth?
Cecilia threw back the covers and climbed under the bed. Madame Monte, who saw Cecilia trying to run out of the bedroom, was shocked and grabbed her arm.
“Where are you going in your pajamas!”
“I need to check it now!”
When Cecilia screamed, Madame Monte let out a loud sigh.
“First, put on a shawl and slippers and go out. There is a guest sent by His Majesty the Emperor.”
Madame Monte was right. Cecilia bit her fingernails like an anxious child, waiting for Madame Monte to wrap her in a large shawl and put on her slippers.
“Your Highness!”
And as soon as the rough preparations were finished, Cecilia stormed out of the bedroom. Before she could even go down the stairs, she saw everyone gathered in the lobby on the first floor.
The attendant sent by the Emperor had his head bowed with a gloomy expression, and Eden was just blinking with a blank expression. Suddenly, Eden felt a presence on the second floor and looked upstairs.
The moment she saw the confusion and despair in his eyes, she felt like she knew the truth even without hearing a word.
“...Cecilia.”
Aster is dead.
“Cecilia, are you okay?”
And Eden had stayed by Cecilia's side until then. This was because he had not flinched even after hearing that Crown Prince Aster had come forward to negotiate a solution to the conflict in the border region.
Cecilia, who was buried in memories of the long past, almost flinched and pushed Eden’s hand away without realizing it. Fortunately, however, it stopped at the level of rejection. This was because she did not even have the strength to push him away.
"...Your Highness."
Her voice cracked. Eden quickly handed her a glass of water. Cecilia leaned against his body and drank the water slowly.
“How long have I been like this?”
“Three days. You were sick for two full days.”
Cecilia blinked slowly at Eden's answer. Three days was not that long. Considering how much despair had consumed her in the past, three days was relatively short.
“I’m sorry for worrying you.”
Eden kissed Cecilia on the forehead and replied that it was okay. This was because he thought that the incident had been initiated by his father, the Emperor.
“It’s okay. I was just a little surprised to see you so sick.”
Cecilia raised her head at the voice that answered affectionately and examined Eden’s expression. She wanted to see if what he said was sincere. As if to prove that what he said was true, Eden’s face was more affectionate than usual.
“His Majesty the Emperor was very surprised, so I’m sure it won’t happen again.”
And Eden said that if something like that happened, he wouldn't stay still either. When Cecilia smiled slightly, Eden's face also looked relieved.
“You need to eat something. You haven’t eaten anything for days.”
As Eden pulled the rope beside the bed, the door opened and Madame Monte came in. She had been too worried about Cecilia to leave the bedroom.
“Madame Monte.”
"Your Highness!"
Madame Monte called Cecilia with tearful eyes. Cecilia smiled slightly at Madame Monte as if to say that it was okay.
“Bring some soup that Cecilia can eat.”
At Eden's command, Madame Monte nodded several times and left the bedroom. As she crossed the threshold, Madame Monte's hand was rubbing her eyes.
“Was I in a lot of pain?”
Eden nodded at Cecilia's question.
“Your nanny was worried that you might get sick again like before you got married.”
Oh, right. Cecilia blinked slowly, remembering how sick she had been for a long time before getting married.
“Your High school, I have brought you some thin soup.”
Soon after, Madame Monte arrived with a soup made without any seasonings. She had cooled it down to lukewarm, just in case Cecilia couldn't eat it.
"Ah."
But that sincerity was meaningless. Her hands were so weak that the spoon she had been holding fell to the floor.
“Bring me a new spoon. And I’ll serve you myself, so you can go out.”
Eden glanced at the spoon rolling on the soft carpet and gave an order. Mada. Monte offered Eden the new spoon she had brought and walked away.
“I can do it, Your Highness.”
Cecilia refused with an embarrassed look on her face, but Eden was adamant. He held the spoon in his hand and forced Cecilia to open her mouth.
“Hurry up before it falls.”
As she reluctantly opened her mouth, soup flowed into her mouth. Cecilia swallowed the soup. Perhaps because she hadn’t eaten properly for three days, she felt warm as soon as she ate it.
“Has anything happened since then?”
After a few spoonfuls, she finally came to the senses to ask a proper question. In response to Cecilia’s question, Eden nodded while taking another spoonful of soup.
“Nothing happened. His Majesty also believes that you were not involved in the matter.”
“...”
“The Count Casper family will be held accountable for daring to involve the royal family in an attempt to evade their duty.”
A flash of anger flashed across Eden's eyes as he mentioned Count Casper. It seemed that he was angry even at his former nanny.
“He might lose his title.”
"Ah..."
If he were to lose his title after going bankrupt, it would be the downfall of the family. While Cecilia let out a small exclamation, Eden’s spoon went back into her mouth.
Cecilia stared at the man with new eyes, completely different from the man she remembered from the past.
In the past, he was just so cold. He was someone who wouldn't listen to a single word of persuasion. He was someone who pushed Duke Lane around as if he had to.
Now, he is so affectionate and caring. She doesn't even suspect that he really pushed Count Casper into the abyss of bankruptcy.
“I want to stop eating.”
“Just one more time.”
What on earth is love?
Liene felt a bit sad. She realized that the Eden of the past really didn't love her at all. She realized that she was such an insignificant person back then, someone who could have been thrown away so easily.
“Your Highness, His Majesty the Emperor has sent someone.”
“I’ll be out soon, so wait a moment.”
Outside the door, the butler urged Eden on. But Eden put down his spoon only after feeding Cecilia one more spoonful.
“You can rest. I’ll call your nanny and send you some medicine, and I’ll be back later.”
Cecilia nodded while lying on the bed. Eden carefully covered Cecilia’s chest with the blanket one last time, kissed her forehead, and then left the bedroom.
“Your Highness.”
A moment later, Madam Monte crossed the threshold carrying a bowl of medicine.
“I brought you some medicine. Even though it’s bitter, take some and go to sleep.”
Cecilia did not refuse and took the medicine. The medicine was bitter, so she had to keep from making a face.
“Here, have some candy.”
As if she had expected this, Madame Monte shoved a piece of candy into Cecilia’s mouth. Cecilia rolled the candy around in her mouth and sat back against the soft cushion.
“Oh my, I was so surprised when you suddenly collapsed and was carried in by His Highness the Grand Duke.”
Madam Monte sighed deeply as she put the bowl of medicine she had finished to one side. Judging from her still gloomy complexion, she seemed to be quite worried.
“His Highness the Grand Duke was also very surprised.”
Cecilia suddenly remembered the face of Eden that she had seen when she opened her eyes. What made her think that Madame Monte’s words were not a lie was the haggard look on that beautiful face.
What about the worries and relief that were so vivid? Cecilia, who had thought that far, gave a short laugh. It was funny that a man would act like he would give his liver and gallbladder to a woman he liked.
“I'm telling you the truth.”
Madame Monte, perhaps thinking it was suspicious, placed the tray she was about to carry out on the table and turned to face Cecilia.
“He was always by your side. Even when I offered to take care of you, he refused.”
“...”
“Your Highness was not in your right mind and could not take the medicine, so he even gave it to you by mouth.”
Madam Monte repeatedly emphasized the care Eden had given her.
“He didn’t go even though His Majesty the Emperor called him.”
Madame Monte seemed particularly touched by the fact that he had not gone to see the Emperor. Cecilia was also a little surprised by that. Of course, it was something he could do as an Emperor's beloved son. However, what he did was not for nothing.
“Be sure to say thank you. Even between couples, expressions are important.”
And she told her to be sure to thank Eden. Cecilia nodded dryly. She had even whispered false love, but she couldn't say thank you.
“I’ll clean this up first and then come back. I’ll have to give you some company before you go back to sleep.”
Madame Monte glanced at Cecilia without any ill will, smiled, and then turned around with the tray in hand.
“Your Highness.”
Soon after, Madam Monte crossed the threshold of the bedroom empty-handed. Her face looked somewhat surprised.
"What's the matter?"
Cecilia, who had been sitting comfortably, raised her upper body and asked. Madame Monte looked around for no reason and then came right up to the bed.
“What were you trying to say that took so long...”
“His Highness the Crown Prince has passed away.”
What? Cecilia stared at Madame Monte, unable to even ask out loud.
“So it looks like someone from the royal family came.”
No way. Aster, who she had seen face to face with just a few days ago, died. Why on earth?
Cecilia threw back the covers and climbed under the bed. Madame Monte, who saw Cecilia trying to run out of the bedroom, was shocked and grabbed her arm.
“Where are you going in your pajamas!”
“I need to check it now!”
When Cecilia screamed, Madame Monte let out a loud sigh.
“First, put on a shawl and slippers and go out. There is a guest sent by His Majesty the Emperor.”
Madame Monte was right. Cecilia bit her fingernails like an anxious child, waiting for Madame Monte to wrap her in a large shawl and put on her slippers.
“Your Highness!”
And as soon as the rough preparations were finished, Cecilia stormed out of the bedroom. Before she could even go down the stairs, she saw everyone gathered in the lobby on the first floor.
The attendant sent by the Emperor had his head bowed with a gloomy expression, and Eden was just blinking with a blank expression. Suddenly, Eden felt a presence on the second floor and looked upstairs.
The moment she saw the confusion and despair in his eyes, she felt like she knew the truth even without hearing a word.
“...Cecilia.”
Aster is dead.
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