Eden's love buried everything, as Curtis had guessed. His love was silent and protective.
“Eden, your face has become much more puffy.”
But that love could not bury all the disappointment, sadness, and resentment. It drifted between them, gradually sinking below the surface. He was already dying.
"It's okay."
Love was strangling him every day.
It was funny. He buried everything because he loved her, but every time he saw Cecilia's face, he couldn't stand the pain. The moment he saw Curtis' face, it went without saying.
Eden laughed at his own weakness. He didn't have the confidence to do it. He didn't have the confidence to endure such pain, so he buried everything?
“Your Majesty, I will be heading back now. Sienna has strongly urged me to return to the townhouse today...”
“Just go away. I’m fine.”
“Don’t drink too much.”
Eden raised one hand to see off Marquis Calibre, while the other hand held a glass of wine.
“...”
As the days went by, the number of moments of being drunk increased. It was as common as the number of days he didn't sleep with Cecilia. But he couldn't help it. He couldn't sleep without drinking.
'Her Majesty the Empress often asks about Your Majesty's whereabouts. She also says that you seem to be overworked.'
Eden remembered the words the chamberlain had carefully spoken. From the perspective of the chamberlain and Cecilia, who knew nothing, this situation must have seemed strange.
Has love changed?
It wasn't. Eden's heart still raced when he saw Cecilia. He didn't need to ask anyone to tell him that it was a clear thrill.
“...”
However, it was sad because it was love. Love was eating him away with each passing moment.
“You stupid kid...”
Eden put his glass down on the table, leaned his head against the sofa, and laughed at himself. No one had forced him to do it, but he just looked stupid for making his own decisions and suffering.
“I have to go.”
Still, he felt a little better after getting a little drunk. He thought he could look at Cecilia and laugh without any worries.
It was the moment when Eden had just gotten up from his seat. Eden felt a sharp sense of tension and turned his body. An assassin who had come in through the open window with his face covered ran towards Eden.
Without hesitation, Eden threw the glass at his head. With a heavy sound, the assassin roughly wiped the bleeding side of his head with his hand.
“Who sent you?”
There was no answer. It was natural. Eden confronted the assassin who rushed at him with his bare hands. He turned the sword that was aimed at him and stabbed him in the neck. The assassin died instantly.
“...”
Eden let out a ragged breath after killing an assassin in an instant. The assassin who appeared as soon as Marquis Calibre, who usually protected him, left the place was suspicious.
But he couldn't chew on that fact for long. Eden frowned at the pain piercing through his abdomen and looked down. He thought he had blocked it well, but it was messy. It was almost like he hadn't felt it until now because his senses were dulled by the alcohol.
"Ah."
Eden groaned softly. He reached out his trembling hand to the bell on the table. At that moment, his head was spinning from the excessive amount of blood he had already lost. The moment he grabbed the bell, Eden’s body tilted helplessly, unable to keep his balance.
Tinkle!
A loud thud was heard behind the loud bell. It was the sound of his head hitting the floor as if he had been hit by a sudden impact while falling from a horse.
"Your Majesty!"
The servant who came in after hearing the bell ring was shocked to find Eden rolling around in a pool of blood. Eden thought as he slowly lost consciousness.
Oh, I was planning on going today. Cecilia will be disappointed.
His eyes are closed.
He still wanted to sleep more, but the sobbing in his ears was bothering him. Eden raised his eyelids as if he was going to say, “Who dares to disturb the Emperor’s sleep?”
“Eden!”
However, Cecilia was there. Eden instinctively shut his mouth, which was about to scold her.
“Oh, thank goodness. Thank goodness.”
Cecilia held Eden's hands with both of hers and cried while putting her forehead against his. Eden stared blankly at his wife as she cried like a child.
“I thought Your Majesty was wrong..."
Normally, just watching her would have made his heart ache and he would have been at a loss. However, even as he watched Cecilia crying, Eden felt no change in his emotions.
“Thank you, God.”
Cecilia prayed to God and expressed her gratitude. Eden closed his eyes quietly without saying a word.
“No, Your Majesty. At least eat, drink, and then go to sleep.”
Cecilia quickly stopped Eden, thinking that it was a signal to fall asleep again. She tried to persuade him that he had been asleep for three days already and that he needed to eat something and sleep. Eden reluctantly opened his eyes again.
“Madame Monte. Bring me some soup that His Majesty can eat lightly. No, even drink."
At Cecilia's request, the servant hurriedly left the room.
“Just eat and go to sleep. Then I won’t disturb you.”
Cecilia spoke to Eden, gently touching him. Eden's gaze turned to Cecilia's pale face.
“...”
Before he was attacked by an assassin and fell, he thought he would go crazy when he thought of Cecilia. But strangely, when Eden looks at Cecilia now, no thoughts come to mind.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“...”
“Oh, I feel a little haggard right now.”
Even when he saw Cecilia looking at hia face bashfully, he didn't feel lovey-dovey. He also felt annoyed.
“No. I’m sorry.”
Eden spoke as usual in a low, composed voice. But the strange feeling did not go away.
“Your Majesty, I have brought you some soup.”
Madame Monte stumbled over and handed Cecilia a tray with a bowl of soup on it. Cecilia accepted it without a care, even though it was something of a lowly task.
“Eden, ah, I do.”
“I can eat it.”
“You just opened your eyes. Let me do it.”
And then, clumsily, she stepped forward to take care of him. Eden couldn't refuse. He reluctantly opened his mouth as he saw the spoon approaching his mouth.
“Cecilia, I...”
“Please let me do it.”
It was really uncomfortable to sit and receive food like a baby. When Eden suggested that he do it, Cecilia made a sad face. Eden ended up telling her to do it out of habit.
“If Your Majesty falls, I will truly be alone.”
The anxiety was so intense that she didn't know what to do, Cecilia said as she diligently carried the soup.
“...Was it like that?”
But strangely enough, it was difficult to feel any emotion when looking at Cecilia like that. Sadness, resentment, guilt, all those emotions disappeared as if they had never existed in the first place.
“I'm sorry.”
“No. It wasn’t your fault.”
The same was true of the feeling of love that clung to him persistently and would not disappear. Surprisingly, Eden did not feel any emotion while watching Cecilia chattering. To be exact, it was close to not being able to feel anything.
“I ordered the chamberlain to increase the number of people who are always by your side. Just think about recovering safely.”
“I will do that.”
“They are the kind of guys who won’t let you off easy if you step on their tails.”
Cecilia spoke to Eden with tearful eyes. Eden smiled faintly. Then he reached out and stroked Cecilia’s face. Cecilia leaned on him like a puppy leaning on its master’s hand.
“...”
But surprisingly, all those sights gave him no inspiration. Everything was like a lifeless sky or earth in a landscape that passed by meaninglessly.
Have you wanted it so badly that you've forgotten how to feel?
That was when Eden thought so.
“Your Majesty the Empress, the Duke of Lane was here.”
“Father?”
Madqm Monte quietly slipped in and announced that Curtis Lane had come to see her.
“Come in and tell him.”
Before Cecilia could even consider his position, Eden gave permission first. Madame Monte stared at Eden with wide eyes, then quickly bowed her head and left.
"Your Majesty!"
Curtis approached the bed where Eden was lying with an exaggerated gesture. Eden stared at him with a blank expression.
“I couldn’t sleep for several days because I was worried. I was in the palace when I heard that Your Majesty had regained consciousness...”
Curtis whispered lying with a disgusted face. Cecilia consoled her father, saying that Eden was okay now.
“Right?”
Then she turned to Eden and asked for his consent. Eden nodded quietly.
“...”
But even at that moment, Eden couldn't feel anything. All his actions were close to inertia. He couldn't even feel the hatred and anger he felt toward Curtis. It was like someone else's feelings.
At that moment, a lightning-like realization struck him. Now, he could punish Curtis Lane without any pangs of conscience or guilt.
Cecilia's sorrow and suffering were no longer a factor to be considered.
“Eden, your face has become much more puffy.”
But that love could not bury all the disappointment, sadness, and resentment. It drifted between them, gradually sinking below the surface. He was already dying.
"It's okay."
Love was strangling him every day.
***
It was funny. He buried everything because he loved her, but every time he saw Cecilia's face, he couldn't stand the pain. The moment he saw Curtis' face, it went without saying.
Eden laughed at his own weakness. He didn't have the confidence to do it. He didn't have the confidence to endure such pain, so he buried everything?
“Your Majesty, I will be heading back now. Sienna has strongly urged me to return to the townhouse today...”
“Just go away. I’m fine.”
“Don’t drink too much.”
Eden raised one hand to see off Marquis Calibre, while the other hand held a glass of wine.
“...”
As the days went by, the number of moments of being drunk increased. It was as common as the number of days he didn't sleep with Cecilia. But he couldn't help it. He couldn't sleep without drinking.
'Her Majesty the Empress often asks about Your Majesty's whereabouts. She also says that you seem to be overworked.'
Eden remembered the words the chamberlain had carefully spoken. From the perspective of the chamberlain and Cecilia, who knew nothing, this situation must have seemed strange.
Has love changed?
It wasn't. Eden's heart still raced when he saw Cecilia. He didn't need to ask anyone to tell him that it was a clear thrill.
“...”
However, it was sad because it was love. Love was eating him away with each passing moment.
“You stupid kid...”
Eden put his glass down on the table, leaned his head against the sofa, and laughed at himself. No one had forced him to do it, but he just looked stupid for making his own decisions and suffering.
“I have to go.”
Still, he felt a little better after getting a little drunk. He thought he could look at Cecilia and laugh without any worries.
It was the moment when Eden had just gotten up from his seat. Eden felt a sharp sense of tension and turned his body. An assassin who had come in through the open window with his face covered ran towards Eden.
Without hesitation, Eden threw the glass at his head. With a heavy sound, the assassin roughly wiped the bleeding side of his head with his hand.
“Who sent you?”
There was no answer. It was natural. Eden confronted the assassin who rushed at him with his bare hands. He turned the sword that was aimed at him and stabbed him in the neck. The assassin died instantly.
“...”
Eden let out a ragged breath after killing an assassin in an instant. The assassin who appeared as soon as Marquis Calibre, who usually protected him, left the place was suspicious.
But he couldn't chew on that fact for long. Eden frowned at the pain piercing through his abdomen and looked down. He thought he had blocked it well, but it was messy. It was almost like he hadn't felt it until now because his senses were dulled by the alcohol.
"Ah."
Eden groaned softly. He reached out his trembling hand to the bell on the table. At that moment, his head was spinning from the excessive amount of blood he had already lost. The moment he grabbed the bell, Eden’s body tilted helplessly, unable to keep his balance.
Tinkle!
A loud thud was heard behind the loud bell. It was the sound of his head hitting the floor as if he had been hit by a sudden impact while falling from a horse.
"Your Majesty!"
The servant who came in after hearing the bell ring was shocked to find Eden rolling around in a pool of blood. Eden thought as he slowly lost consciousness.
Oh, I was planning on going today. Cecilia will be disappointed.
His eyes are closed.
***
He still wanted to sleep more, but the sobbing in his ears was bothering him. Eden raised his eyelids as if he was going to say, “Who dares to disturb the Emperor’s sleep?”
“Eden!”
However, Cecilia was there. Eden instinctively shut his mouth, which was about to scold her.
“Oh, thank goodness. Thank goodness.”
Cecilia held Eden's hands with both of hers and cried while putting her forehead against his. Eden stared blankly at his wife as she cried like a child.
“I thought Your Majesty was wrong..."
Normally, just watching her would have made his heart ache and he would have been at a loss. However, even as he watched Cecilia crying, Eden felt no change in his emotions.
“Thank you, God.”
Cecilia prayed to God and expressed her gratitude. Eden closed his eyes quietly without saying a word.
“No, Your Majesty. At least eat, drink, and then go to sleep.”
Cecilia quickly stopped Eden, thinking that it was a signal to fall asleep again. She tried to persuade him that he had been asleep for three days already and that he needed to eat something and sleep. Eden reluctantly opened his eyes again.
“Madame Monte. Bring me some soup that His Majesty can eat lightly. No, even drink."
At Cecilia's request, the servant hurriedly left the room.
“Just eat and go to sleep. Then I won’t disturb you.”
Cecilia spoke to Eden, gently touching him. Eden's gaze turned to Cecilia's pale face.
“...”
Before he was attacked by an assassin and fell, he thought he would go crazy when he thought of Cecilia. But strangely, when Eden looks at Cecilia now, no thoughts come to mind.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“...”
“Oh, I feel a little haggard right now.”
Even when he saw Cecilia looking at hia face bashfully, he didn't feel lovey-dovey. He also felt annoyed.
“No. I’m sorry.”
Eden spoke as usual in a low, composed voice. But the strange feeling did not go away.
“Your Majesty, I have brought you some soup.”
Madame Monte stumbled over and handed Cecilia a tray with a bowl of soup on it. Cecilia accepted it without a care, even though it was something of a lowly task.
“Eden, ah, I do.”
“I can eat it.”
“You just opened your eyes. Let me do it.”
And then, clumsily, she stepped forward to take care of him. Eden couldn't refuse. He reluctantly opened his mouth as he saw the spoon approaching his mouth.
“Cecilia, I...”
“Please let me do it.”
It was really uncomfortable to sit and receive food like a baby. When Eden suggested that he do it, Cecilia made a sad face. Eden ended up telling her to do it out of habit.
“If Your Majesty falls, I will truly be alone.”
The anxiety was so intense that she didn't know what to do, Cecilia said as she diligently carried the soup.
“...Was it like that?”
But strangely enough, it was difficult to feel any emotion when looking at Cecilia like that. Sadness, resentment, guilt, all those emotions disappeared as if they had never existed in the first place.
“I'm sorry.”
“No. It wasn’t your fault.”
The same was true of the feeling of love that clung to him persistently and would not disappear. Surprisingly, Eden did not feel any emotion while watching Cecilia chattering. To be exact, it was close to not being able to feel anything.
“I ordered the chamberlain to increase the number of people who are always by your side. Just think about recovering safely.”
“I will do that.”
“They are the kind of guys who won’t let you off easy if you step on their tails.”
Cecilia spoke to Eden with tearful eyes. Eden smiled faintly. Then he reached out and stroked Cecilia’s face. Cecilia leaned on him like a puppy leaning on its master’s hand.
“...”
But surprisingly, all those sights gave him no inspiration. Everything was like a lifeless sky or earth in a landscape that passed by meaninglessly.
Have you wanted it so badly that you've forgotten how to feel?
That was when Eden thought so.
“Your Majesty the Empress, the Duke of Lane was here.”
“Father?”
Madqm Monte quietly slipped in and announced that Curtis Lane had come to see her.
“Come in and tell him.”
Before Cecilia could even consider his position, Eden gave permission first. Madame Monte stared at Eden with wide eyes, then quickly bowed her head and left.
"Your Majesty!"
Curtis approached the bed where Eden was lying with an exaggerated gesture. Eden stared at him with a blank expression.
“I couldn’t sleep for several days because I was worried. I was in the palace when I heard that Your Majesty had regained consciousness...”
Curtis whispered lying with a disgusted face. Cecilia consoled her father, saying that Eden was okay now.
“Right?”
Then she turned to Eden and asked for his consent. Eden nodded quietly.
“...”
But even at that moment, Eden couldn't feel anything. All his actions were close to inertia. He couldn't even feel the hatred and anger he felt toward Curtis. It was like someone else's feelings.
At that moment, a lightning-like realization struck him. Now, he could punish Curtis Lane without any pangs of conscience or guilt.
Cecilia's sorrow and suffering were no longer a factor to be considered.
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