“If you want to go, go. I have no intention of forcing you to do anything.”
Eden added softly. The sight of it strangely made her feel uneasy.
“...Why aren’t you angry?”
In a restaurant where only the ticking of the clock could be heard, Cecilia, unable to bear it any longer, asked a question. Neither of them seemed to be interested in the food on the table.
“Am I mad at you?”
Eden laughed briefly. It seemed like a sneer or a feeling of emptiness.
"How?"
Instead, he asked a question. Eden's attitude left Cecilia speechless.
“I want you to stay by my side.”
“...”
“So I won’t do anything you don’t want to do.”
Killing one's own desires, suppressing one's emotions, and bowing down at its feet in an attempt to hold on to one's fading heart - these were all familiar things.
“Then you won’t hate me and want to leave.”
Don't hate me. I'll do better. I won't go against you. I won't do what you hate.
“I need you.”
Please stay by my side.
There's no way that desperate, begging heart isn't love. Cecilia should be happy, but the moment she fully realized his sincerity, she felt a choking sensation.
She felt like a mess. Like the day she found her half-off shoe.
He said that he would be the first to inform the parties of the results of the third competition. Even though most people had already guessed the results, Eden also had to enter the palace to be informed of the results.
“I will send someone after I finish speaking with Her Majesty the Empress.”
In the carriage that had been filled with silence the whole time, that was the only conversation. It was enough to make the memory of trying to touch skin once more pale. Eden, who had been maintaining a suitable distance from Cecilia the whole time, nodded quietly.
“His Highness the Grand Duke must also depart.”
Even after Cecilia left, the chief steward, who couldn't stand watching Eden just staring at his wife's back, spoke up.
“That’s right.”
Only then did Eden take his eyes off Cecilia and turn around.
“Come in.”
When they reached the Emperor's reception room, the Emperor, who had already discovered Eden through the open door, solemnly permitted them to enter.
“You’re late.”
"Sorry."
Damon, who was already in the reception room, nodded his head toward Eden and greeted him. It was quite an arrogant attitude.
“It’s been a while, brother.”
The attitude of nodding towards Eden was even more so. The Emperor faintly frowned at the sight. This was because the incident of re-evaluating Damon and his love for Eden were separate matters.
“Sit up straight, Damon.”
The Emperor gave orders to Damon in a somewhat nervous manner. Only then did Damon regain his composure and sit facing the Emperor.
“Just go away.”
It meant that he did not want to listen. At the Emperor's command, the chief chamberlain bowed deeply and dismissed all the servants, including himself.
“As you know, I have called you today to inform you of the results of the competition.”
It was not long before the sound of the door closing was heard. The Emperor opened his mouth in a solemn voice. His gaze briefly and sharply scanned his sons.
“The competition for the Crown Prince’s seat has ended in three rounds.”
Eden, who looked somewhat tired, had a blank expression, and Damon was already shaking his butt. They both seemed to have guessed the outcome.
“As promised, one of you will become the Crown Prince. Before I tell you the result, is there anything you would like to say?”
The Emperor asked. Eden was silent, and Damon grinned.
“I am grateful that you gave me the opportunity.”
In fact, if the Emperor had not offered to compete after Eden had refused the Crown prince's position, Damon would never have had the opportunity.
“Thanks to you, I was able to speak honestly about my usual thoughts.”
But those two things happened, and Damon didn't miss the opportunity that came to him, so it was polite to express his gratitude.
“Who do you think will be the winner?”
The Emperor asked Damon a question. Damon raised a corner of his mouth at the Emperor's attitude that seemed to favor him.
“I wish it were me.”
Damon answered honestly.
"You?"
But the Emperor asked a question, and there was no answer to what Damon said. He just asked Eden the question again. As if he had been curious about Eden's answer from the beginning.
“I will follow whatever decision is made.”
The Emperor turned his gaze away with his eyes closed at Eden’s obedient answer. He let out a small sigh, which seemed to be an expression of resignation. At that moment, Damon, who had been full of confidence, felt a faint sense of anxiety.
Even in this current situation, he had seen with his own eyes that the Emperor had not abandoned his favor towards Eden. It was natural for him to have thoughts of what might happen.
“Both of you, swear that you will follow whatever decision is made. And that you will not do anything foolish in the future.”
If Eden had said back then that it was a mistake and that he wanted to become the Crown Prince, he had no confidence that the Emperor would not change his mind at the end. It felt like it was confirmed right now, right before his eyes.
“I will follow.”
“...I swear.”
At the Emperor's words, Eden was the first to respond that he would do so. Damon reluctantly promised to follow the Emperor's will.
“The winner of the third competition is.”
The Emperor leaned back in his chair with a soft sigh.
“It’s Damon.”
Damon barely managed to suppress his urge to cheer, his fists clenched on his thighs, shaking with joy.
“And as previously promised, the Crown Prince’s coffin belongs to Damon.”
The Emperor declared. Only then did Damon show his teeth and smile. He felt like he owned the world.
“Welcome.”
The Empress, who was already sitting on the sofa, greeted Cecilia with a smile. Cecilia greeted her politely and walked over to the sofa opposite the Empress.
“It’s been a while since I last saw you, after the unpleasant incident.”
The Empress casually brought up the topic of the past. Cecilia quietly lowered her eyes.
“I heard you called me because of His Highness the Third Prince’s wedding.”
“Oh, that’s right. Considering my future life, I think the Orca family is too humble.”
The Empress answered leisurely, already certain that Damon would become the Crown Prince.
“I thought the Grand Duchess would be more knowledgeable about social circles than I am, so I wanted to ask for your help.”
“Then, there is a lady named Merlin from the Baron Boyd family, a collateral branch of the Viscount Jackinson family. She is a wise and beautiful woman, and I think she would be suitable as a Crown Princess.”
Cecilia answered calmly. The Empress pretended to smile, but her eyes were narrowed, and she was closely observing Cecilia’s attitude.
“Yes. If you are Viscount Jackinson, then you are not too far from me, so I'll keep that in mind.”
“I'm glad it helped.”
It was natural since the original curiosity wasn't about Damon's marriage.
“Actually, there was someone who did Damon a favor recently. All of this is thanks to him.”
The Empress opened her mouth. Cecilia also paused for a moment, as she had not expected the two parties to speak so directly.
“It helped me a lot in the third competition. I appreciate it, but I still don’t really know.”
“...”
“How did you know the secret of the third competition? You didn’t have to help me that much, so was there a reason?”
Because I didn't want him to become Crown Prince.
I don't want him to get close to those in power.
I didn't want my family to be ruined.
“That's what I thought.”
Cecilia knew that no matter how she answered, it would be strange, so she kept her mouth shut and held the teacup in her hand.
“Could it be that this is your second life?”
The Empress asked with a smiling face. At the same time, the teacup slipped from her fingers and rolled onto the floor.
"Oh."
The teacup spun around on the floor, splattering the tea water, before stopping. The Empress looked at it with wide eyes, as if she was surprised.
“Go out and get something to clean up.”
At the Empress's command, the maid who had been standing right beside her quickly left the reception room.
“Suddenly, my fingers lost their strength...”
“I guess you were very surprised.”
When Cecilia was making excuses and reproaching herself for being surprised by the joke, the Empress put down the teacup she was holding and smiled.
“Do you remember the past, Cecilia?”
And asked a question.
“Your Majesty, what do you mean? I...”
“The first life of Cecilia Lane, who lived as an Empress.”
The smile disappeared in an instant, like a lie. No, maybe the smile had never been genuine in the first place, so the lie had simply disappeared.
“Tiffany Oberon Wyatt's life of losing her children.”
The moment Cecilia faced the Empress, who was staring at her with an expressionless face, she froze like a mouse meeting a cat.
Eden added softly. The sight of it strangely made her feel uneasy.
“...Why aren’t you angry?”
In a restaurant where only the ticking of the clock could be heard, Cecilia, unable to bear it any longer, asked a question. Neither of them seemed to be interested in the food on the table.
“Am I mad at you?”
Eden laughed briefly. It seemed like a sneer or a feeling of emptiness.
"How?"
Instead, he asked a question. Eden's attitude left Cecilia speechless.
“I want you to stay by my side.”
“...”
“So I won’t do anything you don’t want to do.”
Killing one's own desires, suppressing one's emotions, and bowing down at its feet in an attempt to hold on to one's fading heart - these were all familiar things.
“Then you won’t hate me and want to leave.”
Don't hate me. I'll do better. I won't go against you. I won't do what you hate.
“I need you.”
Please stay by my side.
There's no way that desperate, begging heart isn't love. Cecilia should be happy, but the moment she fully realized his sincerity, she felt a choking sensation.
She felt like a mess. Like the day she found her half-off shoe.
***
He said that he would be the first to inform the parties of the results of the third competition. Even though most people had already guessed the results, Eden also had to enter the palace to be informed of the results.
“I will send someone after I finish speaking with Her Majesty the Empress.”
In the carriage that had been filled with silence the whole time, that was the only conversation. It was enough to make the memory of trying to touch skin once more pale. Eden, who had been maintaining a suitable distance from Cecilia the whole time, nodded quietly.
“His Highness the Grand Duke must also depart.”
Even after Cecilia left, the chief steward, who couldn't stand watching Eden just staring at his wife's back, spoke up.
“That’s right.”
Only then did Eden take his eyes off Cecilia and turn around.
“Come in.”
When they reached the Emperor's reception room, the Emperor, who had already discovered Eden through the open door, solemnly permitted them to enter.
“You’re late.”
"Sorry."
Damon, who was already in the reception room, nodded his head toward Eden and greeted him. It was quite an arrogant attitude.
“It’s been a while, brother.”
The attitude of nodding towards Eden was even more so. The Emperor faintly frowned at the sight. This was because the incident of re-evaluating Damon and his love for Eden were separate matters.
“Sit up straight, Damon.”
The Emperor gave orders to Damon in a somewhat nervous manner. Only then did Damon regain his composure and sit facing the Emperor.
“Just go away.”
It meant that he did not want to listen. At the Emperor's command, the chief chamberlain bowed deeply and dismissed all the servants, including himself.
“As you know, I have called you today to inform you of the results of the competition.”
It was not long before the sound of the door closing was heard. The Emperor opened his mouth in a solemn voice. His gaze briefly and sharply scanned his sons.
“The competition for the Crown Prince’s seat has ended in three rounds.”
Eden, who looked somewhat tired, had a blank expression, and Damon was already shaking his butt. They both seemed to have guessed the outcome.
“As promised, one of you will become the Crown Prince. Before I tell you the result, is there anything you would like to say?”
The Emperor asked. Eden was silent, and Damon grinned.
“I am grateful that you gave me the opportunity.”
In fact, if the Emperor had not offered to compete after Eden had refused the Crown prince's position, Damon would never have had the opportunity.
“Thanks to you, I was able to speak honestly about my usual thoughts.”
But those two things happened, and Damon didn't miss the opportunity that came to him, so it was polite to express his gratitude.
“Who do you think will be the winner?”
The Emperor asked Damon a question. Damon raised a corner of his mouth at the Emperor's attitude that seemed to favor him.
“I wish it were me.”
Damon answered honestly.
"You?"
But the Emperor asked a question, and there was no answer to what Damon said. He just asked Eden the question again. As if he had been curious about Eden's answer from the beginning.
“I will follow whatever decision is made.”
The Emperor turned his gaze away with his eyes closed at Eden’s obedient answer. He let out a small sigh, which seemed to be an expression of resignation. At that moment, Damon, who had been full of confidence, felt a faint sense of anxiety.
Even in this current situation, he had seen with his own eyes that the Emperor had not abandoned his favor towards Eden. It was natural for him to have thoughts of what might happen.
“Both of you, swear that you will follow whatever decision is made. And that you will not do anything foolish in the future.”
If Eden had said back then that it was a mistake and that he wanted to become the Crown Prince, he had no confidence that the Emperor would not change his mind at the end. It felt like it was confirmed right now, right before his eyes.
“I will follow.”
“...I swear.”
At the Emperor's words, Eden was the first to respond that he would do so. Damon reluctantly promised to follow the Emperor's will.
“The winner of the third competition is.”
The Emperor leaned back in his chair with a soft sigh.
“It’s Damon.”
Damon barely managed to suppress his urge to cheer, his fists clenched on his thighs, shaking with joy.
“And as previously promised, the Crown Prince’s coffin belongs to Damon.”
The Emperor declared. Only then did Damon show his teeth and smile. He felt like he owned the world.
***
“Welcome.”
The Empress, who was already sitting on the sofa, greeted Cecilia with a smile. Cecilia greeted her politely and walked over to the sofa opposite the Empress.
“It’s been a while since I last saw you, after the unpleasant incident.”
The Empress casually brought up the topic of the past. Cecilia quietly lowered her eyes.
“I heard you called me because of His Highness the Third Prince’s wedding.”
“Oh, that’s right. Considering my future life, I think the Orca family is too humble.”
The Empress answered leisurely, already certain that Damon would become the Crown Prince.
“I thought the Grand Duchess would be more knowledgeable about social circles than I am, so I wanted to ask for your help.”
“Then, there is a lady named Merlin from the Baron Boyd family, a collateral branch of the Viscount Jackinson family. She is a wise and beautiful woman, and I think she would be suitable as a Crown Princess.”
Cecilia answered calmly. The Empress pretended to smile, but her eyes were narrowed, and she was closely observing Cecilia’s attitude.
“Yes. If you are Viscount Jackinson, then you are not too far from me, so I'll keep that in mind.”
“I'm glad it helped.”
It was natural since the original curiosity wasn't about Damon's marriage.
“Actually, there was someone who did Damon a favor recently. All of this is thanks to him.”
The Empress opened her mouth. Cecilia also paused for a moment, as she had not expected the two parties to speak so directly.
“It helped me a lot in the third competition. I appreciate it, but I still don’t really know.”
“...”
“How did you know the secret of the third competition? You didn’t have to help me that much, so was there a reason?”
Because I didn't want him to become Crown Prince.
I don't want him to get close to those in power.
I didn't want my family to be ruined.
“That's what I thought.”
Cecilia knew that no matter how she answered, it would be strange, so she kept her mouth shut and held the teacup in her hand.
“Could it be that this is your second life?”
The Empress asked with a smiling face. At the same time, the teacup slipped from her fingers and rolled onto the floor.
"Oh."
The teacup spun around on the floor, splattering the tea water, before stopping. The Empress looked at it with wide eyes, as if she was surprised.
“Go out and get something to clean up.”
At the Empress's command, the maid who had been standing right beside her quickly left the reception room.
“Suddenly, my fingers lost their strength...”
“I guess you were very surprised.”
When Cecilia was making excuses and reproaching herself for being surprised by the joke, the Empress put down the teacup she was holding and smiled.
“Do you remember the past, Cecilia?”
And asked a question.
“Your Majesty, what do you mean? I...”
“The first life of Cecilia Lane, who lived as an Empress.”
The smile disappeared in an instant, like a lie. No, maybe the smile had never been genuine in the first place, so the lie had simply disappeared.
“Tiffany Oberon Wyatt's life of losing her children.”
The moment Cecilia faced the Empress, who was staring at her with an expressionless face, she froze like a mouse meeting a cat.
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