Cecilia could not open her mouth or leave the palace for a while. She did not have the energy to do so, but because Eden had forbidden her to do so. Even though Eden had already surrounded the palace with many guards, Madame Monte risked her life and followed his orders.
“The Empress Dowager and Curtis Lane?”
So, the only people Cecilia sees these days are Eden and Madame Monte.
“You only care about recovering your health.”
Cecilia nodded. She was half-lying on the sofa, leaning against Eden as if they were one body.
“How can you not care?”
Eden frowned slightly at Cecilia's question. The palace doctor said it was okay as long as it wasn't excessive chatter, but it seemed like she still didn't like opening her mouth.
“This is my job too.”
Eden let out a soft sigh at Cecilia's words. Cecilia was right. It was a problem that could not be ignored forever, nor could it be covered up like this.
“Can’t you just pretend not to know?”
But he just wanted to cover up for Cecilia. She was a woman who had been to the brink of death and then came back alive. He wanted to keep her away from all the bad things that had happened.
“I knew it.”
But Cecilia shook her head quietly. Eden smiled bitterly at the expected answer. His woman was small and delicate, but she was not afraid to move forward.
“Please tell me.”
He wishes it had been true that he once said he would never have achieved anything without her help. Cecilia may not know it, but deep down inside, his honest feelings were like that. If that were true, he would be able to keep Cecilia by his side forever.
“The Empress Dowager has been locked up in prison. There is clear evidence that she attempted to kill you, so she will be sentenced to death.”
But that couldn't be the case. Cecilia wasn't a woman who could be manipulated by him. To be exact, she was a woman who manipulated his mind and restrained his actions.
“Your father...”
Eden trailed off. Rationally, he knew that Curtis Lane had to be punished for insulting the royal family for so long.
“I’m thinking about it.”
But when he thought of Cecilia, he hesitated. He knew very well how much Cecilia cherished her only father.
“This isn’t just Curtis Lane’s thing.”
Moreover, this matter was an honor to the Duke of Lane, and to Cecilia as well. Cecilia could not be ignored in the decision.
“Please be completely honest with me.”
Cecilia, who had been staring at Eden quietly, opened her mouth. It seemed as if she knew that wasn't all.
“Really...”
Eden sighed. Cecilia acted as if she had entered and exited inside him. There was no way to fool Cecilia like that.
“I’m thinking of asking just like this.”
In the end, Eden confessed. In the first place, he was a man who could not deceive or defeat Cecilia.
“There is no evidence whatsoever that Damon is the child of Curtis Lane and Tiffany Oberon.”
“...”
“I do have Oliver Nova’s diary, but it’s already in my possession.”
The calm voice was already brazenly saying that the evidence had been destroyed. But Cecilia couldn't scold Eden. To be exact, she was right in saying that he had no right to do so.
If it had been the previous Cecilia, she would have denied their relationship. Or, even if it was true, she would have cried and clung to him, begging him to bury it.
“That won’t do.”
But now, that couldn't happen. To be exact, it shouldn't happen.
“Father, no. Curtis Lane is a traitor.”
At Cecilia's words, Eden blinked as if he didn't understand. Of course, his daughter was the Empress, so how could he possibly plot a rebellion? Normally, people would think that way. Cecilia used to be like that too.
“I heard it from Tiffany Oberon before I collapsed.”
But Curtis Lane was that kind of person. He would do anything for the person he loved. Cecilia, as a child, was precious, but she could not surpass the existence of his lover.
“It was Benia who was distributing illegal drugs to Wyatt. Curtis Lane was helping Benia improve its trade deficit by distributing the drugs.”
“What is that...”
That fact implies another truth: Cecilia was the child of Curtis Lane, blinded by love, and had the same mindset as him.
Even if it was true that Curtis loved her as his child if it was to protect Eden.
“They were planning to help his army drive you out and become Emperor.”
And more than anything, she hated him now. Her father had killed her in the past, and he was trying to kill her again.
“Don’t forgive him.”
Thinking about it that way, Cecilia just couldn't forgive him.
“You have to find evidence somehow and end this.”
Eden's eyes shook. Then what about you? Cecilia smiled quietly at his eyes that seemed to ask that question.
“If you don’t know, then you don’t know. Even if you do know, you can’t pretend not to know.”
Now that she's survived, it's no longer a necessary pledge, but there was a time when she decided to die to protect Eden. Luckily, Cecilia came back to his side. Now, she didn't want to bother him with the mere thought of family honor.
“I'm fine.”
That was Cecilia's will.
'I'm fine.'
Eden still couldn't make a perfect decision. No matter how much she said that he was worried whether it was really okay.
Nothing can take precedence over this woman's safety. Losing it would be terrible. Eden can't lose her again.
The woman who didn't know the speed was fast asleep next to him. Unlike his head, who was criticizing him for not knowing his heart, his gaze looking down at Cecilia was simply gentle. He couldn't even touch her carelessly, for fear of waking her up.
“...”
If she stayed like this, she would wake up after fiddling around. Eden tightened the belt of his gown and got down from Cecilia's bed. He was planning to take a walk alone to collect his thoughts.
"Your Majesty."
Just as he opened the bedroom door and went out, Enon was loitering in front of him and was delighted to see Eden. He couldn't dare to kick the door of the imperial couple's bedroom.
“What are you doing loitering around here at this hour?”
It was time for Enon to leave work already. Eden asked with a puzzled look on his face.
“Due to Duke Lane’s problem...”
Eden's eyes grew cold. Eden glanced down the hallway, afraid that he might wake Cecilia while talking in front of the bedroom. Enon followed him, observant.
“It appears that he has heard false rumors that Her Majesty the Empress has passed away.”
Of course, the false rumors would have spread to Curtis, too. He was served meals regularly and sent a cleaner. He was suspected of being a criminal, but he was treated well because he was Cecilia's father.
“He really wants to meet Your Majesty.”
“What does he want to do when he meets me?”
Eden asked. Enon shook his head as if he didn't know.
“He didn’t say why. I guess he just wants to know if it’s true.”
It's annoying and troublesome. Eden swallowed those words.
“Go now.”
But he wanted to see Curtis' reaction. What would his face look like when he heard that his daughter was dead, after betraying his daughter for the woman he loved?
“Have you all eaten so far?”
“Yes. I ate them all, except for the two meals I skipped at the beginning.”
“I wonder if the food is going down well.”
Eden said sarcastically and strode forward. And soon, they reached the solitary confinement cell where Curtis was being held. It was located not far from the Empress Dowager’s palace.
“...!”
Eden threw open the door without any warning. Curtis, who was loitering around the window, unable to sleep even late at night, was surprised to find Eden through the open door.
“You said you wanted to see me.”
Curtis instinctively nodded as he noticed Eden in his comfortable robe.
“I’m sorry. I just heard some unbelievable news and wanted to know if it’s true...”
“Haven’t you already heard what the servants said?”
Curtis's eyes shook violently.
“Is Cecilia really dead?”
“The woman you loved killed her.”
Curtis' mouth opened. No matter what, he couldn't help but feel shocked.
“She killed my wife, your daughter, to hurt me. Was this what you wanted?”
Curtis shook his head in response to Eden's question. He said that was absolutely not the case. At no time did he intend to kill his daughter.
“Cecilia, that body...”
“I’m going to kill that fucking woman.”
Eden cut Curtis off and scolded him savagely.
“With the most unyielding axe. In front of the crowd.”
The longest torment. Curtis, sensing Eden's malice, paused.
“Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. Her final honor must be preserved.”
“If the Emperor were alive, he would have thrown that woman alive into the fire pit along with you.”
He snickered. Don't you think it's strange even as you spit out the words? Eden stared at Curtis with a look of displeasure.
“You want to tell me to let the woman who killed your daughter go without pain?”
It wasn't that Eden was offended by the fact that Curtis was simply trying to protect the Empress Dowager. Even though it was said that Cecilia had died at the Empress Dowager's hands, he couldn't believe Curtis's attitude of thinking of the Empress Dowager first.
“Were all the times you said you loved your daughter a lie?”
“Cecilia is my daughter, so it’s natural for me to love her. But, even so, Cecilia is already dead...”
Eden's face hardened. Beyond the discomfort, the contempt he felt for Curtis was unbearable.
“Cecilia is alive, Curtis Lane.”
Eden turned around, leaving those words behind.
“Then why... Your Majesty, Your Majesty!”
Curtis opened his eyes wide in surprise and tried to follow Eden. Eden didn't look back.
“Lock the cell door from the outside and don’t let even a single rat in. From this time on, you don’t need to feed him.”
There was no need for that. Curtis Lane was a swindler who kicked away the last chance he was given.
“The Empress Dowager and Curtis Lane?”
So, the only people Cecilia sees these days are Eden and Madame Monte.
“You only care about recovering your health.”
Cecilia nodded. She was half-lying on the sofa, leaning against Eden as if they were one body.
“How can you not care?”
Eden frowned slightly at Cecilia's question. The palace doctor said it was okay as long as it wasn't excessive chatter, but it seemed like she still didn't like opening her mouth.
“This is my job too.”
Eden let out a soft sigh at Cecilia's words. Cecilia was right. It was a problem that could not be ignored forever, nor could it be covered up like this.
“Can’t you just pretend not to know?”
But he just wanted to cover up for Cecilia. She was a woman who had been to the brink of death and then came back alive. He wanted to keep her away from all the bad things that had happened.
“I knew it.”
But Cecilia shook her head quietly. Eden smiled bitterly at the expected answer. His woman was small and delicate, but she was not afraid to move forward.
“Please tell me.”
He wishes it had been true that he once said he would never have achieved anything without her help. Cecilia may not know it, but deep down inside, his honest feelings were like that. If that were true, he would be able to keep Cecilia by his side forever.
“The Empress Dowager has been locked up in prison. There is clear evidence that she attempted to kill you, so she will be sentenced to death.”
But that couldn't be the case. Cecilia wasn't a woman who could be manipulated by him. To be exact, she was a woman who manipulated his mind and restrained his actions.
“Your father...”
Eden trailed off. Rationally, he knew that Curtis Lane had to be punished for insulting the royal family for so long.
“I’m thinking about it.”
But when he thought of Cecilia, he hesitated. He knew very well how much Cecilia cherished her only father.
“This isn’t just Curtis Lane’s thing.”
Moreover, this matter was an honor to the Duke of Lane, and to Cecilia as well. Cecilia could not be ignored in the decision.
“Please be completely honest with me.”
Cecilia, who had been staring at Eden quietly, opened her mouth. It seemed as if she knew that wasn't all.
“Really...”
Eden sighed. Cecilia acted as if she had entered and exited inside him. There was no way to fool Cecilia like that.
“I’m thinking of asking just like this.”
In the end, Eden confessed. In the first place, he was a man who could not deceive or defeat Cecilia.
“There is no evidence whatsoever that Damon is the child of Curtis Lane and Tiffany Oberon.”
“...”
“I do have Oliver Nova’s diary, but it’s already in my possession.”
The calm voice was already brazenly saying that the evidence had been destroyed. But Cecilia couldn't scold Eden. To be exact, she was right in saying that he had no right to do so.
If it had been the previous Cecilia, she would have denied their relationship. Or, even if it was true, she would have cried and clung to him, begging him to bury it.
“That won’t do.”
But now, that couldn't happen. To be exact, it shouldn't happen.
“Father, no. Curtis Lane is a traitor.”
At Cecilia's words, Eden blinked as if he didn't understand. Of course, his daughter was the Empress, so how could he possibly plot a rebellion? Normally, people would think that way. Cecilia used to be like that too.
“I heard it from Tiffany Oberon before I collapsed.”
But Curtis Lane was that kind of person. He would do anything for the person he loved. Cecilia, as a child, was precious, but she could not surpass the existence of his lover.
“It was Benia who was distributing illegal drugs to Wyatt. Curtis Lane was helping Benia improve its trade deficit by distributing the drugs.”
“What is that...”
That fact implies another truth: Cecilia was the child of Curtis Lane, blinded by love, and had the same mindset as him.
Even if it was true that Curtis loved her as his child if it was to protect Eden.
“They were planning to help his army drive you out and become Emperor.”
And more than anything, she hated him now. Her father had killed her in the past, and he was trying to kill her again.
“Don’t forgive him.”
Thinking about it that way, Cecilia just couldn't forgive him.
“You have to find evidence somehow and end this.”
Eden's eyes shook. Then what about you? Cecilia smiled quietly at his eyes that seemed to ask that question.
“If you don’t know, then you don’t know. Even if you do know, you can’t pretend not to know.”
Now that she's survived, it's no longer a necessary pledge, but there was a time when she decided to die to protect Eden. Luckily, Cecilia came back to his side. Now, she didn't want to bother him with the mere thought of family honor.
“I'm fine.”
That was Cecilia's will.
***
'I'm fine.'
Eden still couldn't make a perfect decision. No matter how much she said that he was worried whether it was really okay.
Nothing can take precedence over this woman's safety. Losing it would be terrible. Eden can't lose her again.
The woman who didn't know the speed was fast asleep next to him. Unlike his head, who was criticizing him for not knowing his heart, his gaze looking down at Cecilia was simply gentle. He couldn't even touch her carelessly, for fear of waking her up.
“...”
If she stayed like this, she would wake up after fiddling around. Eden tightened the belt of his gown and got down from Cecilia's bed. He was planning to take a walk alone to collect his thoughts.
"Your Majesty."
Just as he opened the bedroom door and went out, Enon was loitering in front of him and was delighted to see Eden. He couldn't dare to kick the door of the imperial couple's bedroom.
“What are you doing loitering around here at this hour?”
It was time for Enon to leave work already. Eden asked with a puzzled look on his face.
“Due to Duke Lane’s problem...”
Eden's eyes grew cold. Eden glanced down the hallway, afraid that he might wake Cecilia while talking in front of the bedroom. Enon followed him, observant.
“It appears that he has heard false rumors that Her Majesty the Empress has passed away.”
Of course, the false rumors would have spread to Curtis, too. He was served meals regularly and sent a cleaner. He was suspected of being a criminal, but he was treated well because he was Cecilia's father.
“He really wants to meet Your Majesty.”
“What does he want to do when he meets me?”
Eden asked. Enon shook his head as if he didn't know.
“He didn’t say why. I guess he just wants to know if it’s true.”
It's annoying and troublesome. Eden swallowed those words.
“Go now.”
But he wanted to see Curtis' reaction. What would his face look like when he heard that his daughter was dead, after betraying his daughter for the woman he loved?
“Have you all eaten so far?”
“Yes. I ate them all, except for the two meals I skipped at the beginning.”
“I wonder if the food is going down well.”
Eden said sarcastically and strode forward. And soon, they reached the solitary confinement cell where Curtis was being held. It was located not far from the Empress Dowager’s palace.
“...!”
Eden threw open the door without any warning. Curtis, who was loitering around the window, unable to sleep even late at night, was surprised to find Eden through the open door.
“You said you wanted to see me.”
Curtis instinctively nodded as he noticed Eden in his comfortable robe.
“I’m sorry. I just heard some unbelievable news and wanted to know if it’s true...”
“Haven’t you already heard what the servants said?”
Curtis's eyes shook violently.
“Is Cecilia really dead?”
“The woman you loved killed her.”
Curtis' mouth opened. No matter what, he couldn't help but feel shocked.
“She killed my wife, your daughter, to hurt me. Was this what you wanted?”
Curtis shook his head in response to Eden's question. He said that was absolutely not the case. At no time did he intend to kill his daughter.
“Cecilia, that body...”
“I’m going to kill that fucking woman.”
Eden cut Curtis off and scolded him savagely.
“With the most unyielding axe. In front of the crowd.”
The longest torment. Curtis, sensing Eden's malice, paused.
“Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. Her final honor must be preserved.”
“If the Emperor were alive, he would have thrown that woman alive into the fire pit along with you.”
He snickered. Don't you think it's strange even as you spit out the words? Eden stared at Curtis with a look of displeasure.
“You want to tell me to let the woman who killed your daughter go without pain?”
It wasn't that Eden was offended by the fact that Curtis was simply trying to protect the Empress Dowager. Even though it was said that Cecilia had died at the Empress Dowager's hands, he couldn't believe Curtis's attitude of thinking of the Empress Dowager first.
“Were all the times you said you loved your daughter a lie?”
“Cecilia is my daughter, so it’s natural for me to love her. But, even so, Cecilia is already dead...”
Eden's face hardened. Beyond the discomfort, the contempt he felt for Curtis was unbearable.
“Cecilia is alive, Curtis Lane.”
Eden turned around, leaving those words behind.
“Then why... Your Majesty, Your Majesty!”
Curtis opened his eyes wide in surprise and tried to follow Eden. Eden didn't look back.
“Lock the cell door from the outside and don’t let even a single rat in. From this time on, you don’t need to feed him.”
There was no need for that. Curtis Lane was a swindler who kicked away the last chance he was given.
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