“What about Cecilia?”
Eden walked straight to the Empress's Palace. He was worried about Cecilia, who must have been hurt.
“She’s asleep. I think she’s still not fully recovered.”
Madam Monte glanced into the bedroom and said that Cecilia was already asleep.
“...”
Eden opened the bedroom door as quietly as possible and went inside. Cecilia was sleeping alone on the huge bed that was big enough to hold Eden.
“I thought you cried.”
Eden sat down on the edge of the bed. The bed naturally tilted down to where he sat, revealing Cecilia’s face. Eden’s fingertips brushed Cecilia’s reddish eyes.
It was something unrelated to the current situation, but his heart sank for a moment. It reminded him of the time when he looked down at Cecilia, who was dying with her face soaked in blood.
“...”
Eden placed his hand under Cecilia's nose with a slightly trembling hand. Naturally, her weak breath tickled his fingers. Only then did Eden let out the breath he had been holding.
“That can’t be true.”
There was no way Cecilia, who was fine, would suddenly stop breathing. Eden chuckled, blaming himself for his own foolish behavior.
But he was still anxious. Did he think she would stop breathing then? The fear of something irreversible was engraved deep in his bones.
Eden quietly climbed onto the bed and reached out to Cecilia. Warmth enveloped his body. Only then did his mind calm down a little.
"Good night."
Eden whispered as he buried his face in Cecilia's hair. As if she had heard the affectionate whisper, Cecilia smiled faintly, her eyes still wet.
That alone made everything he had given up okay. It was a terrible feeling.
Some time has passed since Curtis Lane mysteriously disappeared from the palace.
Although Eden didn't tell Cecilia anything, Cecilia knew that Eden had secretly sent Curtis away. Despite the palace being turned upside down, he had made no effort to find Curtis.
“Your Majesty the Empress! Why are you here?”
“Your Majesty?”
Cecilia never expressed her gratitude to him. In the first place, Eden had never wanted to be thanked by Cecilia. He simply did not want to leave even the faintest trace of sadness in Cecilia's heart.
“I went to the villa where the event was taking place.”
Abby, now Countess Lawson and Cecilia's maid, answered.
“It’s His Majesty’s birthday soon. He said he would go and check for any shortcomings himself.”
“He do everything.”
Cecilia clicked her tongue briefly. No matter how much she thought about it, she felt that Eden was unusual.
“That’s how much His Majesty loves Your Majesty the Empress.”
Abby answered with a sly twist of her lips.
“I guess I should go and see.”
“No. He told me to let you stay in the palace.”
Abby stopped Cecilia's steps with a puzzled look on her face. It was far from polite, but Cecilia didn't retort. It had only been a couple of months since she became a Countess. It would take time for her to adjust to the life of a noble.
“I’m not sick, Abby.”
“But His Majesty the Emperor...”
“His Majesty is being overprotective.”
Cecilia nodded at the cloudless sky as if to say, “How can you not go for a walk on such a beautiful day?” Abby rolled her eyes with an embarrassed expression.
“Even my mother said no.”
If Madame Monte had been there, she would have said that she could not die, but Madame Monte had already become a free woman and left the palace. Although she was tied to her grandson, she was not completely free.
“It won’t work...”
Cecilia walked leisurely. Abby couldn't stop her and followed behind her, not knowing what to do.
“If I get in trouble, Your Majesty will have to take responsibility.”
Abby grumbled. Cecilia let out a short laugh.
“Yes. I’ll take responsibility.”
Cecilia answered dryly. She knew from the beginning that Eden would never hold Abby responsible. He was a man who would never do anything to hurt Cecilia.
“What on earth are you trying to do...”
Cecilia arrived at the building where the banquet was to be held and looked up at the building.
“Is His Majesty inside?”
“Uh, yes. That’s true, but...”
Cecilia asked the servant who was often seen wandering outside. The servant hesitated and answered yes. She knew that Eden would be upset about revealing his whereabouts now.
"Uh..."
But the Empress was as powerful as the Emperor. The servant had no power to stop Cecilia from passing him by. Abby looked at him with a look of understanding and pity, then quickly followed Cecilia.
“A little more to the right.”
The front of the hall was noisy. Cecilia opened the door and went in, tilting her head slightly to the side and observing the busy servants.
“Are you talking about here?”
Eden was ordering them around. Of course, since Cecilia was the Empress, the birthday banquet was large, but it wasn't something important enough for the Emperor to handle directly. Cecilia let out a small sigh.
"Your Majesty."
Eden turned around at the sound of a voice coming from behind. There was a hint of rebuke in Eden’s eyes as he noticed Cecilia. Sensing this, Abby hurriedly hid behind Cecilia.
“I told you to rest, so why did you come all the way here?”
Eden approached Cecilia and spoke. Although his words were harsh, the affection in his voice diluted the content.
“I’m always resting.”
“Because you are not in good health.”
Eden spoke firmly.
“I am not sick.”
“You never know when you might get sick.”
If nothing else, it was nearly impossible to convince Eden in this regard. Cecilia had been seriously ill before their marriage and had been on the verge of death, so it was difficult for her to remain stubborn.
“But it’s not like I can’t even go for a walk without Your Majesty.”
Cecilia grumbled.
“I wish that were true.”
Eden looked down at the sight and smiled. Cecilia's sensitive gaze returned immediately.
“I’m joking. You shouldn’t get sick.”
Eden whispered as he kissed Cecilia on the head. Cecilia's gaze, which had been glancing at him, had softened.
“What were you doing here? You don’t have to do such trivial things.”
“Preparing your gift.”
Cecilia glanced at something hidden behind Eden's arm. Eden nodded silently.
“Can I see it now?”
"No."
Eden declined with a smile. He seemed quite determined, so Cecilia also gave up cleanly. If it was a birthday present, it had to be fun to open it yourself.
“Come to think of it, I haven’t been able to practice dancing at all.”
Cecilia muttered as she looked toward the center of the hall. With so much going on, there had been no events held in the palace for almost a year. Cecilia had no reason to practice dancing.
“Then shall we practice now?”
“Without music?”
“I guess I can do that much.”
Eden had a secretly sinister side. Cecilia didn't know it, but he was a man who never missed an opportunity.
“Yes. Just one song.”
But what Eden didn't know was that Cecilia wasn't far behind in that regard.
In fact, Cecilia quite enjoyed dancing with Eden. The thrill of feeling his firm body against her chest and feeling his heartbeat was similar to the nights she spent with him.
Cecilia and Eden moved smoothly, their bodies overlapping each other. Soon, only the sound of their footsteps filled the hall.
“You guys are really close...”
A faint smile appeared on the lips of the servants as they watched the two people swaying like flowers and the wind even without music.
“If something like that happened, how much they must have loved each other.”
“Everyone, be quiet.”
A small whispering voice continued. Abby shooed everyone away as if to tell them to leave. The imperial couple, absorbed in each other, didn’t even notice that the servants had left their seats.
“...”
Bright sunlight poured in through the large windows facing the outdoor garden. The light pouring down like a blessing to comfort a loving couple was like a painting.
A satisfied smile appeared on Abby’s face as she watched the scene. It was nice to see Cecilia overcome that difficult moment and even overcome her father’s betrayal and smile. She was even grateful that the person who made it happen was Cecilia’s husband.
“Stop, it tickles.”
At some point, the two stopped dancing. Abby looked at Cecilia giggling in Eden’s arms for the last time, then quietly closed the door to the hall. The two were left behind like a painting beyond the slowly closing door.
“Oh, I have a husband too.”
Why are you jealous? What are you doing now?
Eden walked straight to the Empress's Palace. He was worried about Cecilia, who must have been hurt.
“She’s asleep. I think she’s still not fully recovered.”
Madam Monte glanced into the bedroom and said that Cecilia was already asleep.
“...”
Eden opened the bedroom door as quietly as possible and went inside. Cecilia was sleeping alone on the huge bed that was big enough to hold Eden.
“I thought you cried.”
Eden sat down on the edge of the bed. The bed naturally tilted down to where he sat, revealing Cecilia’s face. Eden’s fingertips brushed Cecilia’s reddish eyes.
It was something unrelated to the current situation, but his heart sank for a moment. It reminded him of the time when he looked down at Cecilia, who was dying with her face soaked in blood.
“...”
Eden placed his hand under Cecilia's nose with a slightly trembling hand. Naturally, her weak breath tickled his fingers. Only then did Eden let out the breath he had been holding.
“That can’t be true.”
There was no way Cecilia, who was fine, would suddenly stop breathing. Eden chuckled, blaming himself for his own foolish behavior.
But he was still anxious. Did he think she would stop breathing then? The fear of something irreversible was engraved deep in his bones.
Eden quietly climbed onto the bed and reached out to Cecilia. Warmth enveloped his body. Only then did his mind calm down a little.
"Good night."
Eden whispered as he buried his face in Cecilia's hair. As if she had heard the affectionate whisper, Cecilia smiled faintly, her eyes still wet.
That alone made everything he had given up okay. It was a terrible feeling.
***
Some time has passed since Curtis Lane mysteriously disappeared from the palace.
Although Eden didn't tell Cecilia anything, Cecilia knew that Eden had secretly sent Curtis away. Despite the palace being turned upside down, he had made no effort to find Curtis.
“Your Majesty the Empress! Why are you here?”
“Your Majesty?”
Cecilia never expressed her gratitude to him. In the first place, Eden had never wanted to be thanked by Cecilia. He simply did not want to leave even the faintest trace of sadness in Cecilia's heart.
“I went to the villa where the event was taking place.”
Abby, now Countess Lawson and Cecilia's maid, answered.
“It’s His Majesty’s birthday soon. He said he would go and check for any shortcomings himself.”
“He do everything.”
Cecilia clicked her tongue briefly. No matter how much she thought about it, she felt that Eden was unusual.
“That’s how much His Majesty loves Your Majesty the Empress.”
Abby answered with a sly twist of her lips.
“I guess I should go and see.”
“No. He told me to let you stay in the palace.”
Abby stopped Cecilia's steps with a puzzled look on her face. It was far from polite, but Cecilia didn't retort. It had only been a couple of months since she became a Countess. It would take time for her to adjust to the life of a noble.
“I’m not sick, Abby.”
“But His Majesty the Emperor...”
“His Majesty is being overprotective.”
Cecilia nodded at the cloudless sky as if to say, “How can you not go for a walk on such a beautiful day?” Abby rolled her eyes with an embarrassed expression.
“Even my mother said no.”
If Madame Monte had been there, she would have said that she could not die, but Madame Monte had already become a free woman and left the palace. Although she was tied to her grandson, she was not completely free.
“It won’t work...”
Cecilia walked leisurely. Abby couldn't stop her and followed behind her, not knowing what to do.
“If I get in trouble, Your Majesty will have to take responsibility.”
Abby grumbled. Cecilia let out a short laugh.
“Yes. I’ll take responsibility.”
Cecilia answered dryly. She knew from the beginning that Eden would never hold Abby responsible. He was a man who would never do anything to hurt Cecilia.
“What on earth are you trying to do...”
Cecilia arrived at the building where the banquet was to be held and looked up at the building.
“Is His Majesty inside?”
“Uh, yes. That’s true, but...”
Cecilia asked the servant who was often seen wandering outside. The servant hesitated and answered yes. She knew that Eden would be upset about revealing his whereabouts now.
"Uh..."
But the Empress was as powerful as the Emperor. The servant had no power to stop Cecilia from passing him by. Abby looked at him with a look of understanding and pity, then quickly followed Cecilia.
“A little more to the right.”
The front of the hall was noisy. Cecilia opened the door and went in, tilting her head slightly to the side and observing the busy servants.
“Are you talking about here?”
Eden was ordering them around. Of course, since Cecilia was the Empress, the birthday banquet was large, but it wasn't something important enough for the Emperor to handle directly. Cecilia let out a small sigh.
"Your Majesty."
Eden turned around at the sound of a voice coming from behind. There was a hint of rebuke in Eden’s eyes as he noticed Cecilia. Sensing this, Abby hurriedly hid behind Cecilia.
“I told you to rest, so why did you come all the way here?”
Eden approached Cecilia and spoke. Although his words were harsh, the affection in his voice diluted the content.
“I’m always resting.”
“Because you are not in good health.”
Eden spoke firmly.
“I am not sick.”
“You never know when you might get sick.”
If nothing else, it was nearly impossible to convince Eden in this regard. Cecilia had been seriously ill before their marriage and had been on the verge of death, so it was difficult for her to remain stubborn.
“But it’s not like I can’t even go for a walk without Your Majesty.”
Cecilia grumbled.
“I wish that were true.”
Eden looked down at the sight and smiled. Cecilia's sensitive gaze returned immediately.
“I’m joking. You shouldn’t get sick.”
Eden whispered as he kissed Cecilia on the head. Cecilia's gaze, which had been glancing at him, had softened.
“What were you doing here? You don’t have to do such trivial things.”
“Preparing your gift.”
Cecilia glanced at something hidden behind Eden's arm. Eden nodded silently.
“Can I see it now?”
"No."
Eden declined with a smile. He seemed quite determined, so Cecilia also gave up cleanly. If it was a birthday present, it had to be fun to open it yourself.
“Come to think of it, I haven’t been able to practice dancing at all.”
Cecilia muttered as she looked toward the center of the hall. With so much going on, there had been no events held in the palace for almost a year. Cecilia had no reason to practice dancing.
“Then shall we practice now?”
“Without music?”
“I guess I can do that much.”
Eden had a secretly sinister side. Cecilia didn't know it, but he was a man who never missed an opportunity.
“Yes. Just one song.”
But what Eden didn't know was that Cecilia wasn't far behind in that regard.
In fact, Cecilia quite enjoyed dancing with Eden. The thrill of feeling his firm body against her chest and feeling his heartbeat was similar to the nights she spent with him.
Cecilia and Eden moved smoothly, their bodies overlapping each other. Soon, only the sound of their footsteps filled the hall.
“You guys are really close...”
A faint smile appeared on the lips of the servants as they watched the two people swaying like flowers and the wind even without music.
“If something like that happened, how much they must have loved each other.”
“Everyone, be quiet.”
A small whispering voice continued. Abby shooed everyone away as if to tell them to leave. The imperial couple, absorbed in each other, didn’t even notice that the servants had left their seats.
“...”
Bright sunlight poured in through the large windows facing the outdoor garden. The light pouring down like a blessing to comfort a loving couple was like a painting.
A satisfied smile appeared on Abby’s face as she watched the scene. It was nice to see Cecilia overcome that difficult moment and even overcome her father’s betrayal and smile. She was even grateful that the person who made it happen was Cecilia’s husband.
“Stop, it tickles.”
At some point, the two stopped dancing. Abby looked at Cecilia giggling in Eden’s arms for the last time, then quietly closed the door to the hall. The two were left behind like a painting beyond the slowly closing door.
“Oh, I have a husband too.”
Why are you jealous? What are you doing now?
Abby muttered as she turned around.
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