Aster died, Aster's child, whom he never knew existed, died, and Isabella also died from excessive bleeding. It was a tragedy that was destined for a family.
However, Cecilia, who was confident that she knew everything and could stop it, did nothing. Instead, it was Eden who quietly prepared the funeral for the two people and cleaned up the mess. He, who had never expected something like this to happen, went about everything with a calm attitude.
“Not flashy.”
“But Your Highness, if we are to hold the funerals for the two of you according to custom...”
Eden laid the shocked Emperor to rest and quickly decided on matters related to the funeral.
“The two are not interested in useless, flashy things.”
The Empress also thought that it was right for the older brother, Eden, to preside over the funeral, so she did not step forward to take responsibility. Rather, she prevented Damon from showing up early on, fearing that he would say something strange. It seemed that she knew that her own child was a broken bowl.
Thanks to that, the joint funeral of the Crown Prince and his wife was held solemnly and quietly.
“How did the two of you end up so similar...”
Everyone mourned their deaths. Cecilia watched those attending the funeral mourn Aster and Isabella with a sad heart.
“Who will be the next Crown Prince?”
“His Highness Aster, he was the eldest son and the Crown Prince who was favored by His Majesty the Emperor, so his position was secure, but now the winds of blood may blow.”
“After all, Her Majesty the Empress is here...”
Of course, there were more than just mourners. Some were also looking around to see who they should stand in line for now that the Crown Prince and his wife, as well as the heir apparent, were gone.
However, it could not be criticized as being simply opportunistic or vulgar. Cecilia, too, was thinking about that fact, albeit to a different extent.
“Let us hold a moment of silence for His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Highness the Crown Princess, who sadly passed away.”
It was the same even when she had to pray for the souls of Aster and Isabella. Cecilia closed her eyes and thought about her own future instead of mourning the dead.
Aster and his successors were all dead. Now, the only heirs to the throne were Eden and Damon. And the Emperor was going to do whatever it took to make Eden the Crown Prince.
“But it must be Grand Duke Burnett. His Majesty the Emperor is strong, so why bother trying to tell the long and short story?”
So the time of mourning was not just a time for mourning. As soon as the time of silence ended, someone was heard whispering amidst the slight commotion. Although she was a bit of a talker, what the noblewoman said was right.
Eden deserved it, he was favored by the Emperor, and above all, he was better than Damon.
Yes, there was a high chance that Eden Robana Burnett would become the Crown Prince. And if he became the Crown prince, it was obvious that he would also become the Emperor without a hitch.
“Shh, can you hear me?”
Someone who had some sense sensed the quiet atmosphere and quickly ended the conversation. Cecilia quietly opened her eyes and stared at the man standing next to her.
“...”
Eden, he was like an unshakable tree. Looking at his expressionless face, Cecilia was reminded of Eden from some time ago.
'You'd better go back, Cecilia.'
For example, that cold day when he would tell her to go back while he was expressionlessly watching her begging and pleading with tears in her eyes.
'I wanted to kill you too.'
Like that face that smiled faintly as it said he wanted to kill her, and that cruel sincerity in his eyes that wasn't smiling at all.
As she recalled that moment, she felt the ground beneath her feet sag. She felt as if she would fall down if she didn’t at least hold on to her senses, so instead of holding on to her senses, Cecilia tightly grabbed the hem of her skirt.
“It’s raining.”
“Even the heavens seem to be sad.”
But that action alone could not calm her troubled mind. Cecilia trembled like the shaking of a place struck by lightning.
“That is understandable. Even His Majesty the Emperor is having trouble controlling his emotions.”
Perhaps because of the rain, the sounds inside the room were louder. Everyone turned their eyes to the window to check the sudden heavy rain. However, Cecilia’s eyes were different from everyone else’s and were directed toward the side door.
It was an instinctive action born of fear. It was also a deep despair and fear that the process could be changed but the result could not.
Then what should I do? If that's really the case, what on earth should I do...
“Cecilia.”
The moment she heard the voice calling her, her despair and fear turned into the palm of a devil's hand and grabbed Cecilia's ankle.
"Ah."
Cecilia was helplessly dragged by the force and ended up sinking down in her seat with a thud, making a loud noise.
“Your Highness, are you okay?”
She didn't hear the worried questions from the people surrounding her. Cecilia looked up at Eden, who quietly reached out his hand as if trying to help her up.
“Can you stand up?”
Don't be nervous. Don't look weird. Don't be afraid.
She knew it in her head, but her body wouldn't listen. Her hands were just trembling on the floor.
However, Cecilia, who was confident that she knew everything and could stop it, did nothing. Instead, it was Eden who quietly prepared the funeral for the two people and cleaned up the mess. He, who had never expected something like this to happen, went about everything with a calm attitude.
“Not flashy.”
“But Your Highness, if we are to hold the funerals for the two of you according to custom...”
Eden laid the shocked Emperor to rest and quickly decided on matters related to the funeral.
“The two are not interested in useless, flashy things.”
The Empress also thought that it was right for the older brother, Eden, to preside over the funeral, so she did not step forward to take responsibility. Rather, she prevented Damon from showing up early on, fearing that he would say something strange. It seemed that she knew that her own child was a broken bowl.
Thanks to that, the joint funeral of the Crown Prince and his wife was held solemnly and quietly.
“How did the two of you end up so similar...”
Everyone mourned their deaths. Cecilia watched those attending the funeral mourn Aster and Isabella with a sad heart.
“Who will be the next Crown Prince?”
“His Highness Aster, he was the eldest son and the Crown Prince who was favored by His Majesty the Emperor, so his position was secure, but now the winds of blood may blow.”
“After all, Her Majesty the Empress is here...”
Of course, there were more than just mourners. Some were also looking around to see who they should stand in line for now that the Crown Prince and his wife, as well as the heir apparent, were gone.
However, it could not be criticized as being simply opportunistic or vulgar. Cecilia, too, was thinking about that fact, albeit to a different extent.
“Let us hold a moment of silence for His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Highness the Crown Princess, who sadly passed away.”
It was the same even when she had to pray for the souls of Aster and Isabella. Cecilia closed her eyes and thought about her own future instead of mourning the dead.
Aster and his successors were all dead. Now, the only heirs to the throne were Eden and Damon. And the Emperor was going to do whatever it took to make Eden the Crown Prince.
“But it must be Grand Duke Burnett. His Majesty the Emperor is strong, so why bother trying to tell the long and short story?”
So the time of mourning was not just a time for mourning. As soon as the time of silence ended, someone was heard whispering amidst the slight commotion. Although she was a bit of a talker, what the noblewoman said was right.
Eden deserved it, he was favored by the Emperor, and above all, he was better than Damon.
Yes, there was a high chance that Eden Robana Burnett would become the Crown Prince. And if he became the Crown prince, it was obvious that he would also become the Emperor without a hitch.
“Shh, can you hear me?”
Someone who had some sense sensed the quiet atmosphere and quickly ended the conversation. Cecilia quietly opened her eyes and stared at the man standing next to her.
“...”
Eden, he was like an unshakable tree. Looking at his expressionless face, Cecilia was reminded of Eden from some time ago.
'You'd better go back, Cecilia.'
For example, that cold day when he would tell her to go back while he was expressionlessly watching her begging and pleading with tears in her eyes.
'I wanted to kill you too.'
Like that face that smiled faintly as it said he wanted to kill her, and that cruel sincerity in his eyes that wasn't smiling at all.
As she recalled that moment, she felt the ground beneath her feet sag. She felt as if she would fall down if she didn’t at least hold on to her senses, so instead of holding on to her senses, Cecilia tightly grabbed the hem of her skirt.
“It’s raining.”
“Even the heavens seem to be sad.”
But that action alone could not calm her troubled mind. Cecilia trembled like the shaking of a place struck by lightning.
“That is understandable. Even His Majesty the Emperor is having trouble controlling his emotions.”
Perhaps because of the rain, the sounds inside the room were louder. Everyone turned their eyes to the window to check the sudden heavy rain. However, Cecilia’s eyes were different from everyone else’s and were directed toward the side door.
It was an instinctive action born of fear. It was also a deep despair and fear that the process could be changed but the result could not.
Then what should I do? If that's really the case, what on earth should I do...
“Cecilia.”
The moment she heard the voice calling her, her despair and fear turned into the palm of a devil's hand and grabbed Cecilia's ankle.
"Ah."
Cecilia was helplessly dragged by the force and ended up sinking down in her seat with a thud, making a loud noise.
“Your Highness, are you okay?”
She didn't hear the worried questions from the people surrounding her. Cecilia looked up at Eden, who quietly reached out his hand as if trying to help her up.
“Can you stand up?”
Don't be nervous. Don't look weird. Don't be afraid.
She knew it in her head, but her body wouldn't listen. Her hands were just trembling on the floor.
***
A quiet, calm personality who handles situations with a quiet smile rather than big actions. Perhaps because of their similar personalities, Cecilia and Isabella were close to each other even though they didn't meet often.
So, Eden knew that Cecilia must have been just as shocked as he was by the loss of his brother. Especially since he had seen Isabella bleed to death on the day she saw Aster's body.
“Let us hold a moment of silence for His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Highness the Crown Princess, who sadly passed away.”
But Cecilia trembled even while she was praying for the repose of Aster and Isabella, and her face turned pale as people talked eloquently about who would be the next heir.
“It’s raining.”
“Even the heavens seem to be sad.”
It was then that Eden realized that Cecilia's trembling and sadness were not simply due to mourning.
“That is understandable. Even His Majesty the Emperor is having trouble controlling his emotions.”
So where does this woman's despair come from?
It was time to gauge it. Eden noticed that while everyone's eyes were turned to the window where rain was falling steadily, Cecilia was the only one who went against all that and headed toward the side door.
'... Have you been wanting to leave for a while?'
He remembered the back of Cecilia that he had seen on the ship one day. The joy and excitement in her eyes as she stared out beyond the distant horizon.
'What are you going to do then?'
Instead of saying that she didn't want to leave, hr even remembered the meaningful question she asked him.
Maybe she wants to leave him now. Maybe that's where the feeling of not always giving her complete love comes from.
The moment he came to that conclusion, he felt as if all the sadness, pain, and guilt that had filled his mind because of his brother's death were erased at once. His mind went blank.
“Cecilia.”
Eden had no intention of letting go of the woman in front of him. He couldn't stand to see the things in his world called 'love' diminish and eventually disappear completely.
"Ah."
As if startled by the voice calling her name, Cecilia sank to the floor. She was so shocked that she couldn't even save face. Everyone looked at Cecilia in surprise.
“Everyone step back.”
Eden repelled all those who tried to approach Cecilia with cold words.
“Can you stand up?”
Then, hiding his feelings, he reached out to Cecilia. Cecilia stared blankly at Eden’s hand. There was a feeling of rejection or fear in her eyes.
Why are you afraid? The man who swore his love to you, the lover who promised to live by your side forever.
“Oh, thank you.”
When her trembling hand barely managed to rest on his palm, Eden grabbed it tightly as if snatching it away, wrapped his other arm around Cecilia's waist, and pulled her up.
Cecilia tried to push his body away with the palm she had placed on Eden's chest. It seemed like an unconscious action. But Eden did not get pushed away.
“It’s okay, Cecilia.”
He just whispered softly in her ear. Cecilia flinched and put a little more strength into her hand. Eden still didn’t know why Cecilia instinctively tried to push him away.
“If you have a hard time, lean on me.”
“I can stand on my own now. People are watching Your Highness.”
However, he could not tolerate the fact that this woman's rejection was directed only at him. Even more so if it was something that came out instinctively without her even realizing it.
“It’s strange. I still need you.”
“...”
“You said you loved me, but it seems like you want to keep distancing yourself from me.”
At Eden's words, Cecilia's body stiffened. Eden gently wrapped one hand around the back of Cecilia's head and made her lean her face against his shoulder. With the other hand, he tightened his hold around her waist. As if he knew that she wouldn't be able to escape.
“...Your Highness would be more upset and sad than me.”
“...”
“I didn’t want to burden you.”
Cecilia answered in a small, trembling voice. Eden sensed that it was a lie. However, he did not retort because it was a lie. Then Cecilia relaxed her body, closed her eyes, and leaned forward.
Swaaa, the rain poured down with a loud noise. It was as if it was washing away Cecilia's false confession and stripping her bare body.
So, Eden knew that Cecilia must have been just as shocked as he was by the loss of his brother. Especially since he had seen Isabella bleed to death on the day she saw Aster's body.
“Let us hold a moment of silence for His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Highness the Crown Princess, who sadly passed away.”
But Cecilia trembled even while she was praying for the repose of Aster and Isabella, and her face turned pale as people talked eloquently about who would be the next heir.
“It’s raining.”
“Even the heavens seem to be sad.”
It was then that Eden realized that Cecilia's trembling and sadness were not simply due to mourning.
“That is understandable. Even His Majesty the Emperor is having trouble controlling his emotions.”
So where does this woman's despair come from?
It was time to gauge it. Eden noticed that while everyone's eyes were turned to the window where rain was falling steadily, Cecilia was the only one who went against all that and headed toward the side door.
'... Have you been wanting to leave for a while?'
He remembered the back of Cecilia that he had seen on the ship one day. The joy and excitement in her eyes as she stared out beyond the distant horizon.
'What are you going to do then?'
Instead of saying that she didn't want to leave, hr even remembered the meaningful question she asked him.
Maybe she wants to leave him now. Maybe that's where the feeling of not always giving her complete love comes from.
The moment he came to that conclusion, he felt as if all the sadness, pain, and guilt that had filled his mind because of his brother's death were erased at once. His mind went blank.
“Cecilia.”
Eden had no intention of letting go of the woman in front of him. He couldn't stand to see the things in his world called 'love' diminish and eventually disappear completely.
"Ah."
As if startled by the voice calling her name, Cecilia sank to the floor. She was so shocked that she couldn't even save face. Everyone looked at Cecilia in surprise.
“Everyone step back.”
Eden repelled all those who tried to approach Cecilia with cold words.
“Can you stand up?”
Then, hiding his feelings, he reached out to Cecilia. Cecilia stared blankly at Eden’s hand. There was a feeling of rejection or fear in her eyes.
Why are you afraid? The man who swore his love to you, the lover who promised to live by your side forever.
“Oh, thank you.”
When her trembling hand barely managed to rest on his palm, Eden grabbed it tightly as if snatching it away, wrapped his other arm around Cecilia's waist, and pulled her up.
Cecilia tried to push his body away with the palm she had placed on Eden's chest. It seemed like an unconscious action. But Eden did not get pushed away.
“It’s okay, Cecilia.”
He just whispered softly in her ear. Cecilia flinched and put a little more strength into her hand. Eden still didn’t know why Cecilia instinctively tried to push him away.
“If you have a hard time, lean on me.”
“I can stand on my own now. People are watching Your Highness.”
However, he could not tolerate the fact that this woman's rejection was directed only at him. Even more so if it was something that came out instinctively without her even realizing it.
“It’s strange. I still need you.”
“...”
“You said you loved me, but it seems like you want to keep distancing yourself from me.”
At Eden's words, Cecilia's body stiffened. Eden gently wrapped one hand around the back of Cecilia's head and made her lean her face against his shoulder. With the other hand, he tightened his hold around her waist. As if he knew that she wouldn't be able to escape.
“...Your Highness would be more upset and sad than me.”
“...”
“I didn’t want to burden you.”
Cecilia answered in a small, trembling voice. Eden sensed that it was a lie. However, he did not retort because it was a lie. Then Cecilia relaxed her body, closed her eyes, and leaned forward.
Swaaa, the rain poured down with a loud noise. It was as if it was washing away Cecilia's false confession and stripping her bare body.
Thanks for the wonderful chapters!💋💋💋
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