But Eden didn't immediately point his blade at Curtis. He never knew when his emotions would return and strike him. He had a similar experience when he fell from a horse and suffered a serious head injury, though he never told anyone.
“Either way, the sun is nice.”
Besides, when he sees a woman blushing at him, he habitually acts as usual. Eden can't get his feelings back right away like that, but maybe he'll feel them again like a lie. Because of that thought.
"Yes."
Even in his indifferent response, her bashful smiling face was pretty. It was a sentiment unrelated to emotion. Cecilia was objectively beautiful.
“Let’s go for a walk together...”
“I think it will be difficult because I am busy with work.”
That was why he could be so indifferent to the careful suggestion of going for a walk.
“Then, tonight...”
"Sorry."
All of her offers were rejected one after another, and he didn't feel particularly guilty as he looked at the woman with her sullen face.
“Go back carefully.”
Eden said that and turned around absentmindedly. He felt the gazes staring at his back, but he walked on without looking back.
Now that he thinks about it, it's been quite some time since he called her name.
One of his recent characteristics was that he stopped calling Cecilia's name. Only recently did Eden realize how much affection can be contained in a person's name.
“...”
Each day was no longer as painful and tormenting as before. For him, it was closer to peace now that he no longer loved Cecilia.
"Your Majesty?"
Eden, who had reached his palace, stopped walking and looked around. The season of life in full bloom was beautiful even at a glance.
“Whatever the problem...”
The servants lowered their heads with tense faces. Lately, Eden has been merciless in punishing mistakes.
“No. It’s beautiful.”
Bright sunlight poured down on the scene he was looking at as if trying to catch his gaze as he turned away. Eden looked back as if doing a good deed.
"Let's go."
And then he turned away coldly.
Everything was peaceful and beautiful.
But his life was free.
It was a time when he spent each day just focusing on the work that needed to be done.
Count Nova showed up at the council of high-ranking nobles, banged his head on the floor, and declared that he was going to denounce Curtis Lane's misconduct.
“What are you talking about now?”
An unusual look of bewilderment appeared on Curtis' face. Eden observed the conflict between Curtis and Count Nova with great interest for the first time in a long while.
“Duke Lane has been exploiting his subjects all this time.”
“...Is there any evidence?”
Of course, since he came all the way here to report it, there must be some evidence. Eden thought so and asked. Of course, Count Nova answered yes.
Then he got up from his seat and took out the object he had been hiding in his bosom. It was a ledger that Count Nova had personally managed. Eden stared blankly down at the cover of the book.
“...”
And he ran his hand over the cover. A little dust rose. Suddenly, Eden thought of Cecilia's sad face. But he didn't feel guilty.
“Check the authenticity of the ledger.”
Only then did Eden realize that all the time he had waited had been in vain.
He couldn't go back.
Eden pressed his tired eyes with his hands and tilted his head back. All he could remember was Cecilia running towards him and begging him, but it was already deep into the night.
'That is absolutely not true. I don't know what his intentions were to falsely accuse my father, but...'
Cecilia defended her father, Curtis, without knowing anything about it. It was difficult to look at that in a positive light.
'Cecilia, others will find out whether it is true or not.'
Was Curtis really innocent? It didn't really matter to Eden, since he had already decided to kill Curtis.
'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.'
But apart from that, Cecilia's excessive blind faith in Curtis felt foolish. Curtis was a man who could do such a thing. He dared to hold his head up high even after harming the man who was his master.
“...”
Eden started to think anew about what love is. Isn't it something that blinds people and makes them stupid?
"Your Majesty."
It was then that the chamberlain opened the door and came in, informing that someone had come to see him.
"Who?"
“She is Ilya Nova, maid of honor to Her Majesty the Empress.”
Even though he sent her back like that, she probably didn't realize it. Eden ordered Ilya to come in with a small sigh.
“Ilya of the Nova Countess House comes to see His Majesty the Emperor.”
Ilya greeted Eden with a look of devotion, unlike when she usually greeted Cecilia. The moment he saw the coquettish voice and attire, Eden realized why Ilya had come to see him.
“What are you doing tonight?”
But what came out was an indifferent voice. He was already accustomed to Cecilia's beauty.
“Did the Empress have something to say?”
Ilya quietly shook her head in response to Eden's question.
“I came to see you because I have something to tell you personally.”
Eden folded his arms silently and stared at Ilya. It was a silent expression telling her to give it a try.
“I have resigned from my position as maid of honor to Her Majesty the Empress since my father exposed the Duke of Lane’s corruption.”
So does that mean there is nothing to be afraid of now? Eden watched Ilya as she took a step closer to him.
“I helped my father organize the ledgers and encouraged him to expose the Duke of Lane’s corruption.”
“So? Are you proud of betraying your master?”
Eden asked. What they did was a betrayal of their lord's family, aside from being a public revelation.
“If it were just that, I wouldn’t have gone this far.”
Ilya answered with a smile.
“Your Majesty, Duke Lane has been deceiving the imperial family since the time of the previous Emperor.”
And then the revelations about Curtis Lane began.
“The Empress Dowager and Curtis Lane had been lovers since childhood, and continued to meet after she became Empress.”
“Isn’t it common for nobles who have engaged in political marriages to have a government?”
Ilya's eyes widened at Eden's answer. Her expression showed that she hadn't expected him to answer like that.
“I’m just saying this because it’s more than just the government. Third Prince Damon is his bloodline.”
And if that didn't surprise him, she revealed the secret of Damon's birth, as if to surprise him with something else. She even presented Count Nova's diary, which recorded their meeting and Damon's birth, as proof.
“Oh, yeah...”
Ilya's attack was effective. Curtis Lane and the Empress Dowager had been deceiving the royal family for so long. Eden, who was flapping Count Nova's diary, laughed briefly.
“I wanted to expose this fact, but I felt that it would only tarnish the royal family’s reputation.”
Ilya didn't miss the moment and whispered. Before she knew it, she had gone around the table, approached the chair where Eden was sitting, and knelt down in front of him.
“That is why I wanted to tell Your Majesty about this first.”
Then she took Eden's hand and kissed the back of his hand. Eden frowned slightly at the feeling of her lips smoothly brushing against his.
“Please reward me for revealing all this, Your Majesty.”
Eden stared at Ilya's face without saying a word. Even before the Emperor could speak, Ilya, who had been asking for the reward, did not avoid his gaze.
“What do you want?”
Eden asked in a low voice. A color came to Ilya's face.
“Please make me Your Majesty’s woman.”
Ilya brought out her most honest desire from the depths of her heart. She said that she would take care of Eden. She said that she could do that.
Doesn't my intention of not wanting to hold the woman in front of me matter? Eden wordlessly grabbed my hand from Ilya's hand. And he moved his lips to tell her to leave immediately.
"Your Majesty?"
But it wasn't easy to come up with words. The moment he told her to get out of there, Ilya would choose to expose herself. Even if he set aside the embezzlement, Curtis's crimes of deceiving the royal family would be revealed one by one.
But if that happens, what will happen to Cecilia?
The thought of that made him hesitate.
“...”
Even if Wyatt didn't choose the guilt-by-association system, Cecilia would not be able to avoid the criticism that would pour in just because she was Curtis' blood relative.
Perhaps some would argue that Cecilia should be dragged out of her seat. Cecilia would not have been able to bear that. She would rather give up on herself.
Eden thought of the face of the woman he had failed to convince. A face that looked like it would burst into tears if you touched it. She probably cried all the way back.
"...Good night."
He felt no guilt. Likewise, Cecilia's grief was not transferred to him.
“Don’t do that.”
But he didn't want to expose Curtis's sins one by one, and he didn't want to lose that woman by his side. Her presence was as natural to him as breathing.
“If it’s just a facade, take it as much as you want.”
But Eden never embraced Ilya. Eden wasn't interested in Ilya.
“But holding you is a little different. That’s something my opinion is also quite important.”
“...”
“I don’t sympathize with you one bit.”
To him, Ilya was colorless. He didn't even feel that she was particularly beautiful. Moreover, whenever he saw Ilya, the face of Cecilia that naturally followed him made him uncomfortable.
So Eden gave Ilya a sham government position and wealth. He thought that was what Ilya wanted anyway. That was all there was to their relationship.
“Either way, the sun is nice.”
Besides, when he sees a woman blushing at him, he habitually acts as usual. Eden can't get his feelings back right away like that, but maybe he'll feel them again like a lie. Because of that thought.
"Yes."
Even in his indifferent response, her bashful smiling face was pretty. It was a sentiment unrelated to emotion. Cecilia was objectively beautiful.
“Let’s go for a walk together...”
“I think it will be difficult because I am busy with work.”
That was why he could be so indifferent to the careful suggestion of going for a walk.
“Then, tonight...”
"Sorry."
All of her offers were rejected one after another, and he didn't feel particularly guilty as he looked at the woman with her sullen face.
“Go back carefully.”
Eden said that and turned around absentmindedly. He felt the gazes staring at his back, but he walked on without looking back.
Now that he thinks about it, it's been quite some time since he called her name.
One of his recent characteristics was that he stopped calling Cecilia's name. Only recently did Eden realize how much affection can be contained in a person's name.
“...”
Each day was no longer as painful and tormenting as before. For him, it was closer to peace now that he no longer loved Cecilia.
"Your Majesty?"
Eden, who had reached his palace, stopped walking and looked around. The season of life in full bloom was beautiful even at a glance.
“Whatever the problem...”
The servants lowered their heads with tense faces. Lately, Eden has been merciless in punishing mistakes.
“No. It’s beautiful.”
Bright sunlight poured down on the scene he was looking at as if trying to catch his gaze as he turned away. Eden looked back as if doing a good deed.
"Let's go."
And then he turned away coldly.
Everything was peaceful and beautiful.
But his life was free.
***
It was a time when he spent each day just focusing on the work that needed to be done.
Count Nova showed up at the council of high-ranking nobles, banged his head on the floor, and declared that he was going to denounce Curtis Lane's misconduct.
“What are you talking about now?”
An unusual look of bewilderment appeared on Curtis' face. Eden observed the conflict between Curtis and Count Nova with great interest for the first time in a long while.
“Duke Lane has been exploiting his subjects all this time.”
“...Is there any evidence?”
Of course, since he came all the way here to report it, there must be some evidence. Eden thought so and asked. Of course, Count Nova answered yes.
Then he got up from his seat and took out the object he had been hiding in his bosom. It was a ledger that Count Nova had personally managed. Eden stared blankly down at the cover of the book.
“...”
And he ran his hand over the cover. A little dust rose. Suddenly, Eden thought of Cecilia's sad face. But he didn't feel guilty.
“Check the authenticity of the ledger.”
Only then did Eden realize that all the time he had waited had been in vain.
He couldn't go back.
***
Eden pressed his tired eyes with his hands and tilted his head back. All he could remember was Cecilia running towards him and begging him, but it was already deep into the night.
'That is absolutely not true. I don't know what his intentions were to falsely accuse my father, but...'
Cecilia defended her father, Curtis, without knowing anything about it. It was difficult to look at that in a positive light.
'Cecilia, others will find out whether it is true or not.'
Was Curtis really innocent? It didn't really matter to Eden, since he had already decided to kill Curtis.
'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.'
But apart from that, Cecilia's excessive blind faith in Curtis felt foolish. Curtis was a man who could do such a thing. He dared to hold his head up high even after harming the man who was his master.
“...”
Eden started to think anew about what love is. Isn't it something that blinds people and makes them stupid?
"Your Majesty."
It was then that the chamberlain opened the door and came in, informing that someone had come to see him.
"Who?"
“She is Ilya Nova, maid of honor to Her Majesty the Empress.”
Even though he sent her back like that, she probably didn't realize it. Eden ordered Ilya to come in with a small sigh.
“Ilya of the Nova Countess House comes to see His Majesty the Emperor.”
Ilya greeted Eden with a look of devotion, unlike when she usually greeted Cecilia. The moment he saw the coquettish voice and attire, Eden realized why Ilya had come to see him.
“What are you doing tonight?”
But what came out was an indifferent voice. He was already accustomed to Cecilia's beauty.
“Did the Empress have something to say?”
Ilya quietly shook her head in response to Eden's question.
“I came to see you because I have something to tell you personally.”
Eden folded his arms silently and stared at Ilya. It was a silent expression telling her to give it a try.
“I have resigned from my position as maid of honor to Her Majesty the Empress since my father exposed the Duke of Lane’s corruption.”
So does that mean there is nothing to be afraid of now? Eden watched Ilya as she took a step closer to him.
“I helped my father organize the ledgers and encouraged him to expose the Duke of Lane’s corruption.”
“So? Are you proud of betraying your master?”
Eden asked. What they did was a betrayal of their lord's family, aside from being a public revelation.
“If it were just that, I wouldn’t have gone this far.”
Ilya answered with a smile.
“Your Majesty, Duke Lane has been deceiving the imperial family since the time of the previous Emperor.”
And then the revelations about Curtis Lane began.
“The Empress Dowager and Curtis Lane had been lovers since childhood, and continued to meet after she became Empress.”
“Isn’t it common for nobles who have engaged in political marriages to have a government?”
Ilya's eyes widened at Eden's answer. Her expression showed that she hadn't expected him to answer like that.
“I’m just saying this because it’s more than just the government. Third Prince Damon is his bloodline.”
And if that didn't surprise him, she revealed the secret of Damon's birth, as if to surprise him with something else. She even presented Count Nova's diary, which recorded their meeting and Damon's birth, as proof.
“Oh, yeah...”
Ilya's attack was effective. Curtis Lane and the Empress Dowager had been deceiving the royal family for so long. Eden, who was flapping Count Nova's diary, laughed briefly.
“I wanted to expose this fact, but I felt that it would only tarnish the royal family’s reputation.”
Ilya didn't miss the moment and whispered. Before she knew it, she had gone around the table, approached the chair where Eden was sitting, and knelt down in front of him.
“That is why I wanted to tell Your Majesty about this first.”
Then she took Eden's hand and kissed the back of his hand. Eden frowned slightly at the feeling of her lips smoothly brushing against his.
“Please reward me for revealing all this, Your Majesty.”
Eden stared at Ilya's face without saying a word. Even before the Emperor could speak, Ilya, who had been asking for the reward, did not avoid his gaze.
“What do you want?”
Eden asked in a low voice. A color came to Ilya's face.
“Please make me Your Majesty’s woman.”
Ilya brought out her most honest desire from the depths of her heart. She said that she would take care of Eden. She said that she could do that.
Doesn't my intention of not wanting to hold the woman in front of me matter? Eden wordlessly grabbed my hand from Ilya's hand. And he moved his lips to tell her to leave immediately.
"Your Majesty?"
But it wasn't easy to come up with words. The moment he told her to get out of there, Ilya would choose to expose herself. Even if he set aside the embezzlement, Curtis's crimes of deceiving the royal family would be revealed one by one.
But if that happens, what will happen to Cecilia?
The thought of that made him hesitate.
“...”
Even if Wyatt didn't choose the guilt-by-association system, Cecilia would not be able to avoid the criticism that would pour in just because she was Curtis' blood relative.
Perhaps some would argue that Cecilia should be dragged out of her seat. Cecilia would not have been able to bear that. She would rather give up on herself.
Eden thought of the face of the woman he had failed to convince. A face that looked like it would burst into tears if you touched it. She probably cried all the way back.
"...Good night."
He felt no guilt. Likewise, Cecilia's grief was not transferred to him.
“Don’t do that.”
But he didn't want to expose Curtis's sins one by one, and he didn't want to lose that woman by his side. Her presence was as natural to him as breathing.
“If it’s just a facade, take it as much as you want.”
But Eden never embraced Ilya. Eden wasn't interested in Ilya.
“But holding you is a little different. That’s something my opinion is also quite important.”
“...”
“I don’t sympathize with you one bit.”
To him, Ilya was colorless. He didn't even feel that she was particularly beautiful. Moreover, whenever he saw Ilya, the face of Cecilia that naturally followed him made him uncomfortable.
So Eden gave Ilya a sham government position and wealth. He thought that was what Ilya wanted anyway. That was all there was to their relationship.
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