“Damon, our son whom we raised as a Prince.”
“...”
“He’s the one who killed that kid. Isn’t he like an enemy to me?”
Who, whose?
It was the first time that Cecilia's brain stopped working. It was the most shocking story she had ever heard. Cecilia stared blankly at the beauty in front of her without even being able to breathe.
“If only the Emperor hadn’t killed Damon, blinded by the fact that he had tried to harm Eden.”
Was there an instinctive feeling that Damon wasn't his child? The Emperor never once looked at Damon in a pretty way. He would die for Aster and Eden, but he always had a cold expression on his face when he looked at Damon.
“Maybe Curtis was just satisfied.”
But Curtis said that even if the Emperor was such a father, he couldn't harm Damon because he loved him and was satisfied. Just watching him was enough.
“Because he became the Crown Prince just as he wanted.”
Curtis, who did not know his previous life, was content with that. The circumstances were a little different, but the Empress Dowager was also happy with the changed situation, unlike before.
“But the Emperor and Eden killed our son.”
“...”
“Give up everything, or go out and die. How dare you.”
The Empress Dowager shivered, perhaps still feeling queasy just thinking about it. Her eyes turned red as she thought about her dead child.
“...They weren’t their real children, nor were they brothers.”
Cecilia barely opened her mouth.
“You shamelessly raised a person who is not even of royal blood to be a Prince. Don’t you feel wronged?”
And she pointed out the most problematic point.
“The late Emperor wanted another successor from me, so I gave him a child. What’s wrong with that?”
But the Empress Dowager shamelessly claimed that their deal was done and that she had nothing to be ashamed of.
Crazy woman. Her heart was beating like crazy now. Cecilia grabbed the handle of the teacup with trembling hands. And she drank all the tea that was now so cold that it felt cold.
“Eden felt guilty for contributing to his brother’s death.”
“For a guy like that, he eats well, sleeps well, and is happy with his woman. Unlike when I hoped he would fall into the abyss.”
When Cecilia mentioned the misplaced guilt Eden felt, the Empress Dowager responded sarcastically.
“What is your intention in telling me all this?”
Cecilia felt dizzy and rested her arms on the arms of the sofa.
“What if I tell His Majesty all this?”
With so many shocking events happening one after another, it seemed like both her head and her heart were having a hard time accepting it. Cecilia was now panting as if hyperventilating.
“Do you really think that even after I’ve come to this point, I won’t be able to report my father because of my modest affection and guilt?”
But even so, Cecilia did not forget to criticize the woman in front of her, her father's past, and his current shameless attitude.
“No. Of course not.”
The Empress Dowager spoke firmly. She said that she did not believe that Cecilia would not report it either.
“But that’s only when you can say it.”
What is that? That's what she was going to say. But at that moment, Cecilia's head started spinning. It was because her blood flow and heart rate were too fast. Her body temperature rose so much that the room felt hot.
“...”
While Cecilia was mulling over the strange phenomenon in her body, the Empress Dowager quietly raised the corners of her lips.
“Can you go and tell your husband?”
And then she asked a question quietly. It wasn't really out of curiosity. The Empress could tell just from a glance that Cecilia wasn't in a good condition right now.
"Huh?"
Moreover, the fingers tapping the teacup were very meaningful. Only then did Cecilia realize that there was something in the tea.
“Of course, I still feel sorry that your life got involved so unexpectedly, Cecilia.”
As Cecilia reached for the bell on the table with trembling hands, the Empress Dowager swiftly grabbed the bell and hid it in her hand.
“You are the child of the person I love, so I have tried hard to embrace you.”
That effort was probably what suggested holding hands. Cecilia couldn't stop thinking about it, even as she gasped for breath at the pain squeezing her chest.
“But I couldn’t help it.”
At the same time, the Empress made excuses, saying that she had no choice.
“You were the one who took part in killing your husband first. And you ignored me when I asked you for help.”
Just as love never goes away, anger and hatred never go away. That was something that could not be helped by human power.
“Please die, Cecilia.”
So the Empress Dowager made a kind wish.
“And make your husband suffer like me, losing someone he loves, and suffering the pain of a torn intestine.”
At the same time, Cecilia coughed violently. Dark red blood spurted into the air. Cecilia wiped her blood-soaked mouth with her hand and looked down at her palm with astonishment. Droplets of blood were also spreading on her blue dress.
“It’s okay. You won’t be lonely for long.”
“...”
“Because your husband, who lost you and went crazy, will die soon.”
The way she spoke as if she was sure Eden would go crazy was significant. It was as if she was sure she would make him crazy.
“What does that mean?”
Eden's voice was very small and low, but it was clear enough for everyone in the conference room to hear because everyone was paying attention to his mouth.
“You probably thought that Count Nova would not have done something without a plan.”
Jason looked at Curtis' now completely cracked face and laughed.
“I thought so too. So I looked into it. Yes, my father did it because he had a corner of his faith.”
Jason turned his gaze back to Eden. Eden was expressionless, but his wavering blue eyes spoke of his confusion.
“Because my father knew about the affair between the Empress Dowager and Curtis Lane.”
Did he simply know? Whenever the current Empress Dowager Tiffany and Curtis met, Count Nova would step forward and arrange a place. And he would make it possible for them to meet secretly. Naturally, the aftermath also became his job.
All of those records were left intact in his diary. He left them there knowing that one day he would use them.
“Of course, Father knew the true lineage of the Third Prince.”
He also left a record of Damon. Fortunately, the Emperor was indifferent and let it pass, but the date of Damon’s conception was different from the date of the union of the late Emperor and Empress. Furthermore, the child’s eyes were closer to green than blue when he was born.
'What should I do?'
Tiffany and Curtis were both restless. The moment the truth was discovered, they would both die.
'First of all, the child is weak and cannot be exposed to the outside world, so lock the doors to the Empress's Palace.'
Then Count Nova came up with a plan. No one should see the child unless they were someone they could trust, like Tiffany's maid.
'Look for any green-eyed individuals in the Oberon lineage. Eye color is sometimes passed down from distant ancestors, so if there are exceptions, you'll be fine.'
And he told him to find someone among his blood relatives who had green eyes and crush them with the mystery of genes and such.
'Thanks to you, everything went smoothly. Is there anything you wish for?'
Fortunately, when he did as they said, everything was resolved easily. Although it was largely based on the former Emperor's indifference.
'Please grant me one wish later. That will be enough.'
So Count Nova asked for one future wish. Curtis accepted the request. Perhaps if Cecilia and Eden had not been involved, the embezzlement case could have been brushed aside with that wish. That was the corner Count Nova had arranged for him to trust.
“...The evidence?”
Eden asked.
“I buried him where my father’s body was.”
Eden silently nodded to the chamberlain. Even though Eden didn't say anything, he understood the Emperor's intentions perfectly and stepped back.
“Perhaps he hoped that one day that child would become Emperor.”
With a bang, the conference room door closed.
“But since the son he cherished so terribly died, he must have wanted revenge.”
An eerie silence hung over the conference room as if they had entered the gates of hell.
“We’ll call it a day here. Arrest Curtis Lane and lock him up.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Don’t let him out until the whole truth is revealed.”
It was the same even after Eden said that.
“It won’t happen the way you want it to.”
As if the laundry was being washed, her chest felt like it was being crushed. Cecilia continued speaking slowly, her face pale with pain.
“Because Eden isn’t as stupid as me.”
Oh, my, blood flowed down the corner of her mouth again. At the same time, Cecilia felt like her organs were burning. It was such a horrible feeling that she wanted to just lose consciousness.
“Well, after living twice, I can say that humans are incredibly stupid. Including me.”
The Empress Dowager looked at Cecilia as if she was looking at something pitiful. As if she felt pity for Cecilia, who was pinning her hopes on Aman.
Her vision was spinning. Cecilia's upper body swayed limply and tilted to the side. The Empress Dowager watched it all leisurely, anticipating the coming tragedy.
“Cecilia!”
It seemed as if she had heard Eden's voice calling her name. A memory from not long ago came to mind. The face of the man who had been moved by her confession of love.
Yes, I would do anything for you. For the priceless trust and love you gave me.
'Put this note in a piece of dry bread for Jason Nova to eat.'
...Even if it means killing me.
“...”
“He’s the one who killed that kid. Isn’t he like an enemy to me?”
Who, whose?
It was the first time that Cecilia's brain stopped working. It was the most shocking story she had ever heard. Cecilia stared blankly at the beauty in front of her without even being able to breathe.
“If only the Emperor hadn’t killed Damon, blinded by the fact that he had tried to harm Eden.”
Was there an instinctive feeling that Damon wasn't his child? The Emperor never once looked at Damon in a pretty way. He would die for Aster and Eden, but he always had a cold expression on his face when he looked at Damon.
“Maybe Curtis was just satisfied.”
But Curtis said that even if the Emperor was such a father, he couldn't harm Damon because he loved him and was satisfied. Just watching him was enough.
“Because he became the Crown Prince just as he wanted.”
Curtis, who did not know his previous life, was content with that. The circumstances were a little different, but the Empress Dowager was also happy with the changed situation, unlike before.
“But the Emperor and Eden killed our son.”
“...”
“Give up everything, or go out and die. How dare you.”
The Empress Dowager shivered, perhaps still feeling queasy just thinking about it. Her eyes turned red as she thought about her dead child.
“...They weren’t their real children, nor were they brothers.”
Cecilia barely opened her mouth.
“You shamelessly raised a person who is not even of royal blood to be a Prince. Don’t you feel wronged?”
And she pointed out the most problematic point.
“The late Emperor wanted another successor from me, so I gave him a child. What’s wrong with that?”
But the Empress Dowager shamelessly claimed that their deal was done and that she had nothing to be ashamed of.
Crazy woman. Her heart was beating like crazy now. Cecilia grabbed the handle of the teacup with trembling hands. And she drank all the tea that was now so cold that it felt cold.
“Eden felt guilty for contributing to his brother’s death.”
“For a guy like that, he eats well, sleeps well, and is happy with his woman. Unlike when I hoped he would fall into the abyss.”
When Cecilia mentioned the misplaced guilt Eden felt, the Empress Dowager responded sarcastically.
“What is your intention in telling me all this?”
Cecilia felt dizzy and rested her arms on the arms of the sofa.
“What if I tell His Majesty all this?”
With so many shocking events happening one after another, it seemed like both her head and her heart were having a hard time accepting it. Cecilia was now panting as if hyperventilating.
“Do you really think that even after I’ve come to this point, I won’t be able to report my father because of my modest affection and guilt?”
But even so, Cecilia did not forget to criticize the woman in front of her, her father's past, and his current shameless attitude.
“No. Of course not.”
The Empress Dowager spoke firmly. She said that she did not believe that Cecilia would not report it either.
“But that’s only when you can say it.”
What is that? That's what she was going to say. But at that moment, Cecilia's head started spinning. It was because her blood flow and heart rate were too fast. Her body temperature rose so much that the room felt hot.
“...”
While Cecilia was mulling over the strange phenomenon in her body, the Empress Dowager quietly raised the corners of her lips.
“Can you go and tell your husband?”
And then she asked a question quietly. It wasn't really out of curiosity. The Empress could tell just from a glance that Cecilia wasn't in a good condition right now.
"Huh?"
Moreover, the fingers tapping the teacup were very meaningful. Only then did Cecilia realize that there was something in the tea.
“Of course, I still feel sorry that your life got involved so unexpectedly, Cecilia.”
As Cecilia reached for the bell on the table with trembling hands, the Empress Dowager swiftly grabbed the bell and hid it in her hand.
“You are the child of the person I love, so I have tried hard to embrace you.”
That effort was probably what suggested holding hands. Cecilia couldn't stop thinking about it, even as she gasped for breath at the pain squeezing her chest.
“But I couldn’t help it.”
At the same time, the Empress made excuses, saying that she had no choice.
“You were the one who took part in killing your husband first. And you ignored me when I asked you for help.”
Just as love never goes away, anger and hatred never go away. That was something that could not be helped by human power.
“Please die, Cecilia.”
So the Empress Dowager made a kind wish.
“And make your husband suffer like me, losing someone he loves, and suffering the pain of a torn intestine.”
At the same time, Cecilia coughed violently. Dark red blood spurted into the air. Cecilia wiped her blood-soaked mouth with her hand and looked down at her palm with astonishment. Droplets of blood were also spreading on her blue dress.
“It’s okay. You won’t be lonely for long.”
“...”
“Because your husband, who lost you and went crazy, will die soon.”
The way she spoke as if she was sure Eden would go crazy was significant. It was as if she was sure she would make him crazy.
***
“What does that mean?”
Eden's voice was very small and low, but it was clear enough for everyone in the conference room to hear because everyone was paying attention to his mouth.
“You probably thought that Count Nova would not have done something without a plan.”
Jason looked at Curtis' now completely cracked face and laughed.
“I thought so too. So I looked into it. Yes, my father did it because he had a corner of his faith.”
Jason turned his gaze back to Eden. Eden was expressionless, but his wavering blue eyes spoke of his confusion.
“Because my father knew about the affair between the Empress Dowager and Curtis Lane.”
Did he simply know? Whenever the current Empress Dowager Tiffany and Curtis met, Count Nova would step forward and arrange a place. And he would make it possible for them to meet secretly. Naturally, the aftermath also became his job.
All of those records were left intact in his diary. He left them there knowing that one day he would use them.
“Of course, Father knew the true lineage of the Third Prince.”
He also left a record of Damon. Fortunately, the Emperor was indifferent and let it pass, but the date of Damon’s conception was different from the date of the union of the late Emperor and Empress. Furthermore, the child’s eyes were closer to green than blue when he was born.
'What should I do?'
Tiffany and Curtis were both restless. The moment the truth was discovered, they would both die.
'First of all, the child is weak and cannot be exposed to the outside world, so lock the doors to the Empress's Palace.'
Then Count Nova came up with a plan. No one should see the child unless they were someone they could trust, like Tiffany's maid.
'Look for any green-eyed individuals in the Oberon lineage. Eye color is sometimes passed down from distant ancestors, so if there are exceptions, you'll be fine.'
And he told him to find someone among his blood relatives who had green eyes and crush them with the mystery of genes and such.
'Thanks to you, everything went smoothly. Is there anything you wish for?'
Fortunately, when he did as they said, everything was resolved easily. Although it was largely based on the former Emperor's indifference.
'Please grant me one wish later. That will be enough.'
So Count Nova asked for one future wish. Curtis accepted the request. Perhaps if Cecilia and Eden had not been involved, the embezzlement case could have been brushed aside with that wish. That was the corner Count Nova had arranged for him to trust.
“...The evidence?”
Eden asked.
“I buried him where my father’s body was.”
Eden silently nodded to the chamberlain. Even though Eden didn't say anything, he understood the Emperor's intentions perfectly and stepped back.
“Perhaps he hoped that one day that child would become Emperor.”
With a bang, the conference room door closed.
“But since the son he cherished so terribly died, he must have wanted revenge.”
An eerie silence hung over the conference room as if they had entered the gates of hell.
“We’ll call it a day here. Arrest Curtis Lane and lock him up.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Don’t let him out until the whole truth is revealed.”
It was the same even after Eden said that.
***
“It won’t happen the way you want it to.”
As if the laundry was being washed, her chest felt like it was being crushed. Cecilia continued speaking slowly, her face pale with pain.
“Because Eden isn’t as stupid as me.”
Oh, my, blood flowed down the corner of her mouth again. At the same time, Cecilia felt like her organs were burning. It was such a horrible feeling that she wanted to just lose consciousness.
“Well, after living twice, I can say that humans are incredibly stupid. Including me.”
The Empress Dowager looked at Cecilia as if she was looking at something pitiful. As if she felt pity for Cecilia, who was pinning her hopes on Aman.
Her vision was spinning. Cecilia's upper body swayed limply and tilted to the side. The Empress Dowager watched it all leisurely, anticipating the coming tragedy.
“Cecilia!”
It seemed as if she had heard Eden's voice calling her name. A memory from not long ago came to mind. The face of the man who had been moved by her confession of love.
Yes, I would do anything for you. For the priceless trust and love you gave me.
'Put this note in a piece of dry bread for Jason Nova to eat.'
...Even if it means killing me.
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