“His Majesty has asked me to convey this.”
Cecilia, exhausted from crying, dozed off when she heard an unfamiliar sound. It was a terrible scream, like the howling of an animal.
"Yes."
As Cecilia frowned, a firm finger touched her forehead. It was a gentle, circular gesture, as if to tell her to relax her expression. Cecilia felt relieved and let herself fall asleep again.
“Damon is dead.”
But perhaps it was because she had been on edge the whole time. As soon as she heard the name she had been on guard against, Cecilia opened her eyes. Her eyes met immediately with Eden’s, who had kept his eyes open even while Cecilia was asleep.
“Get out.”
Eden gave a nonchalant order to the maid who had brought him the news. His long fingers were caressing Cecilia's exposed shoulder.
“What happened...”
“Damon is dead, Cecilia.”
It was hard to believe that he was the type of person who had just received news of his brother's death.
“...Is that so?”
Of course, it was natural that he had no reason to feel sad since it was the death of the brother who had tried to kill him. However, considering the kindness that Eden had usually shown, she felt a bit strange.
But at the same time, the face that showed no trace of emotion didn't seem that unfamiliar. Oddly enough.
***
Damon committed suicide. As if to show his gratitude to the Emperor who had promised to spare his honor if he would surrender willingly. He flew away from his quarters.
However, the palace could not be immersed in sorrow. Even though the title of Third Prince was attached to Damon's name, that did not mean that the sin of trying to kill his brother was gone.
“You said you weren’t even going to hold a funeral?”
“They said that the Count Oberon’s family would bring the coffin.”
“But the body wasn’t in good condition either...”
Moreover, the Emperor's eyes were wide open. No matter how sad and distressed the Empress was, those emotions were the sole property of one person.
"Shhhh."
At least superficial consolation had to be offered. Standing in front of the Empress’s palace, Cecilia passed by the court ladies who had noticed her and were hurriedly closing their mouths.
“Her Majesty? Is she inside?”
“She don’t have the capacity to meet outsiders.”
The head maid answered. Her tone was somewhat aggressive. Perhaps because she was serving the Empress, she felt as if she was one with her master’s aggressiveness.
“I will come and see Her Majesty next time.”
Just as Cecilia was about to turn around to say goodbye, the door opened wide. The Empress, clad entirely in pitch-black, appeared.
“Cecilia Burnett presents Her Majesty the Empress.”
Cecilia noticed that the Empress's eyes were bloodshot and waited a few seconds before she belatedly greeted her. It was hard to believe that she had lost her child and was crying out in despair, as she looked so fine.
“What are you doing here? To apologize for not being able to protect my son?”
The Empress asked the question with a smiling face.
“Well, since you didn’t accept my offer anyway, it’s hard to see you joining hands with me.”
And before Cecilia could answer, she found the right answer herself.
“Then coming here must be a mockery.”
“...”
“Stupid bitch.”
A direct insult fell into her ear. Cecilia's body flinched reflexively.
“You will definitely regret it.”
“...”
“For failing to prevent the death of my child. And for allowing Eden Robana Wyatt to live.”
The Empress smiled and brought her face close to Cecilia's ear.
“You will lose your family name again, and you will be betrayed and killed by your man.”
Cecilia lowered her eyes without realizing it.
“As if my son were dead.”
And the Empress passed Cecilia, leaving behind a curse like a witch. When she raised her head again, only the beams of light and the sound of footsteps remained in the hallway.
Two women who returned to the past. The relationship that had been connected superficially by that one sense of commonality had completely ended.
***
In a few months, the Emperor became a father who had lost two children. But he was not sad or shaken at all. He was busy putting things in order.
The Emperor beheaded Ilya in front of the crowd, revoked the titles of Count Nova, and handed Damon's body over to Count Oberon.
“I appoint Eden Robana Wyatt as Crown Prince of Wyatt.”
Three months passed like that. Eden recovered from the wound in his chest. The Emperor, who had been waiting for Eden to recover, immediately placed the Crown Prince's crown on his head.
“There is no one who can threaten His Highness the Crown Prince now.”
“Well, there is something like that too.”
Whenever that happened, Damon would have threatened Eden. The Emperor also knew about it, and it was rumored that he had set a trap to kill Damon.
“Of course he would do that to his own child.”
“There is no such thing as relatives before power.”
The reason such rumors gained traction was because of the Emperor's attitude. No matter how much he loved his child, he was overly calm when his child died.
The Empress locked herself in her room for about a month after her son died. It was said that every night they heard the howls of a beast, its ominous cries threatening to kill everyone.
“It’s only been three months since the Third Prince committed suicide, and yet they’re holding a hunting festival.”
But the Emperor never broke down for a moment. It is said that he never suffered or shed tears.
'Wouldn't it be better to postpone the scheduled hunting date?'
'There's no need for that, so let's proceed as planned.'
He even attended the scheduled hunting festival without delay. Although it was the case before, the evaluation of the Emperor became even more critical.
“Isn’t the sun hot?”
Cecilia also agreed with that assessment. Even though it was her second time seeing him, she couldn't get used to the Emperor's indifference and coldness.
“I’m wearing a bonnet and I’ll be staying inside the tent most of the time anyway, so don’t worry.”
Cecilia spoke as if Madame Monte was being overly concerned. Madame Monte scratched the back of her head as if embarrassed.
“Your Highness, your skin is sensitive, that’s why.”
Madame Monte loved Cecilia like her own child. So whenever Cecilia saw Madame Monte and the Emperor in turn, she would be overcome by an inexplicable feeling.
Where does affection come from? There was no way to guess the answer to such a question.
“Cecilia.”
As she was watching the girls gathered in groups of three or four in the same tent as her, thinking about useless things, Eden opened the curtain at the entrance and revealed himself.
"Your Highness."
At the same time, several eyes were fixed on Eden. It was understandable. Eden was carrying a gun on his shoulder. The brown leather strap connected to the gun ran diagonally across his upper body, showing the outline of his chest particularly well.
“I'll be right back.”
“Be careful not to get hurt.”
Cecilia stood up and spoke. Eden nodded with a soft smile.
“Just a moment, Your Highness.”
Just as Eden was about to turn around after finishing his greetings, Cecilia closed the short distance and stood in front of Eden. Then she reached out to Eden’s nape.
“Why is Tie...”
Swoosh, the softly released tie brushed Eden's nape.
“It’ll be uncomfortable if you run or something, anyway.”
"Thank you."
Eden expressed his thanks in a somewhat subdued voice. Then he naturally pushed Cecilia's hand away and went outside.
Cecilia blinked, holding Eden's tie in her hand, even though there was no way Eden would appear under the cloth draped over the entrance.
“You two look so good together!”
“Even though it’s been several years since you got married, Your Highness the Grand Duke is still so affectionate.”
Cecilia turned her head at the voice coming from behind her. The girls' eyes were sparkling brightly.
“His Highness didn’t ask for a handkerchief or for support. He just came to say goodbye and say you were going to visit...”
At that age, they tend to be interested in love stories. Only then did Cecilia begin to return to her original position.
“Because he is originally a very affectionate person.”
Wow, the ladies reacted by stamping their feet. You could say they were brainless, but Cecilia left it alone. After all, the Empress, with the highest status, did not attend the hunting festival at all, so she did not want to make them feel uncomfortable.
“..."
And in fact, she was more preoccupied with something else. While looking at the girls in front of her and participating in the conversation, Cecilia's head was ruminating on the situation just before.
'The devil doesn't like carrots, so don't serve them with your meal.'
Of course, Eden was as affectionate to Cecilia as before. He did whatever Cecilia needed and gave her everything she wanted.
'You don't have to share a bedroom if you don't want to. I didn't take into account the inconvenience.'
But the man who had wanted to stay with her even for a little longer was the first to push her away and turn away. It was like that from the day he regained consciousness.
It wasn't unfamiliar. It was a sign that Eden wanted to distance himself from Cecilia. As everything eventually went as it was destined, was Eden's heart also beginning to change?
“Whoa!”
Bang, the sound of bullets flying shook the air loudly. It was the signal that today's event had begun.
Cecilia, exhausted from crying, dozed off when she heard an unfamiliar sound. It was a terrible scream, like the howling of an animal.
"Yes."
As Cecilia frowned, a firm finger touched her forehead. It was a gentle, circular gesture, as if to tell her to relax her expression. Cecilia felt relieved and let herself fall asleep again.
“Damon is dead.”
But perhaps it was because she had been on edge the whole time. As soon as she heard the name she had been on guard against, Cecilia opened her eyes. Her eyes met immediately with Eden’s, who had kept his eyes open even while Cecilia was asleep.
“Get out.”
Eden gave a nonchalant order to the maid who had brought him the news. His long fingers were caressing Cecilia's exposed shoulder.
“What happened...”
“Damon is dead, Cecilia.”
It was hard to believe that he was the type of person who had just received news of his brother's death.
“...Is that so?”
Of course, it was natural that he had no reason to feel sad since it was the death of the brother who had tried to kill him. However, considering the kindness that Eden had usually shown, she felt a bit strange.
But at the same time, the face that showed no trace of emotion didn't seem that unfamiliar. Oddly enough.
***
Damon committed suicide. As if to show his gratitude to the Emperor who had promised to spare his honor if he would surrender willingly. He flew away from his quarters.
However, the palace could not be immersed in sorrow. Even though the title of Third Prince was attached to Damon's name, that did not mean that the sin of trying to kill his brother was gone.
“You said you weren’t even going to hold a funeral?”
“They said that the Count Oberon’s family would bring the coffin.”
“But the body wasn’t in good condition either...”
Moreover, the Emperor's eyes were wide open. No matter how sad and distressed the Empress was, those emotions were the sole property of one person.
"Shhhh."
At least superficial consolation had to be offered. Standing in front of the Empress’s palace, Cecilia passed by the court ladies who had noticed her and were hurriedly closing their mouths.
“Her Majesty? Is she inside?”
“She don’t have the capacity to meet outsiders.”
The head maid answered. Her tone was somewhat aggressive. Perhaps because she was serving the Empress, she felt as if she was one with her master’s aggressiveness.
“I will come and see Her Majesty next time.”
Just as Cecilia was about to turn around to say goodbye, the door opened wide. The Empress, clad entirely in pitch-black, appeared.
“Cecilia Burnett presents Her Majesty the Empress.”
Cecilia noticed that the Empress's eyes were bloodshot and waited a few seconds before she belatedly greeted her. It was hard to believe that she had lost her child and was crying out in despair, as she looked so fine.
“What are you doing here? To apologize for not being able to protect my son?”
The Empress asked the question with a smiling face.
“Well, since you didn’t accept my offer anyway, it’s hard to see you joining hands with me.”
And before Cecilia could answer, she found the right answer herself.
“Then coming here must be a mockery.”
“...”
“Stupid bitch.”
A direct insult fell into her ear. Cecilia's body flinched reflexively.
“You will definitely regret it.”
“...”
“For failing to prevent the death of my child. And for allowing Eden Robana Wyatt to live.”
The Empress smiled and brought her face close to Cecilia's ear.
“You will lose your family name again, and you will be betrayed and killed by your man.”
Cecilia lowered her eyes without realizing it.
“As if my son were dead.”
And the Empress passed Cecilia, leaving behind a curse like a witch. When she raised her head again, only the beams of light and the sound of footsteps remained in the hallway.
Two women who returned to the past. The relationship that had been connected superficially by that one sense of commonality had completely ended.
***
In a few months, the Emperor became a father who had lost two children. But he was not sad or shaken at all. He was busy putting things in order.
The Emperor beheaded Ilya in front of the crowd, revoked the titles of Count Nova, and handed Damon's body over to Count Oberon.
“I appoint Eden Robana Wyatt as Crown Prince of Wyatt.”
Three months passed like that. Eden recovered from the wound in his chest. The Emperor, who had been waiting for Eden to recover, immediately placed the Crown Prince's crown on his head.
“There is no one who can threaten His Highness the Crown Prince now.”
“Well, there is something like that too.”
Whenever that happened, Damon would have threatened Eden. The Emperor also knew about it, and it was rumored that he had set a trap to kill Damon.
“Of course he would do that to his own child.”
“There is no such thing as relatives before power.”
The reason such rumors gained traction was because of the Emperor's attitude. No matter how much he loved his child, he was overly calm when his child died.
The Empress locked herself in her room for about a month after her son died. It was said that every night they heard the howls of a beast, its ominous cries threatening to kill everyone.
“It’s only been three months since the Third Prince committed suicide, and yet they’re holding a hunting festival.”
But the Emperor never broke down for a moment. It is said that he never suffered or shed tears.
'Wouldn't it be better to postpone the scheduled hunting date?'
'There's no need for that, so let's proceed as planned.'
He even attended the scheduled hunting festival without delay. Although it was the case before, the evaluation of the Emperor became even more critical.
“Isn’t the sun hot?”
Cecilia also agreed with that assessment. Even though it was her second time seeing him, she couldn't get used to the Emperor's indifference and coldness.
“I’m wearing a bonnet and I’ll be staying inside the tent most of the time anyway, so don’t worry.”
Cecilia spoke as if Madame Monte was being overly concerned. Madame Monte scratched the back of her head as if embarrassed.
“Your Highness, your skin is sensitive, that’s why.”
Madame Monte loved Cecilia like her own child. So whenever Cecilia saw Madame Monte and the Emperor in turn, she would be overcome by an inexplicable feeling.
Where does affection come from? There was no way to guess the answer to such a question.
“Cecilia.”
As she was watching the girls gathered in groups of three or four in the same tent as her, thinking about useless things, Eden opened the curtain at the entrance and revealed himself.
"Your Highness."
At the same time, several eyes were fixed on Eden. It was understandable. Eden was carrying a gun on his shoulder. The brown leather strap connected to the gun ran diagonally across his upper body, showing the outline of his chest particularly well.
“I'll be right back.”
“Be careful not to get hurt.”
Cecilia stood up and spoke. Eden nodded with a soft smile.
“Just a moment, Your Highness.”
Just as Eden was about to turn around after finishing his greetings, Cecilia closed the short distance and stood in front of Eden. Then she reached out to Eden’s nape.
“Why is Tie...”
Swoosh, the softly released tie brushed Eden's nape.
“It’ll be uncomfortable if you run or something, anyway.”
"Thank you."
Eden expressed his thanks in a somewhat subdued voice. Then he naturally pushed Cecilia's hand away and went outside.
Cecilia blinked, holding Eden's tie in her hand, even though there was no way Eden would appear under the cloth draped over the entrance.
“You two look so good together!”
“Even though it’s been several years since you got married, Your Highness the Grand Duke is still so affectionate.”
Cecilia turned her head at the voice coming from behind her. The girls' eyes were sparkling brightly.
“His Highness didn’t ask for a handkerchief or for support. He just came to say goodbye and say you were going to visit...”
At that age, they tend to be interested in love stories. Only then did Cecilia begin to return to her original position.
“Because he is originally a very affectionate person.”
Wow, the ladies reacted by stamping their feet. You could say they were brainless, but Cecilia left it alone. After all, the Empress, with the highest status, did not attend the hunting festival at all, so she did not want to make them feel uncomfortable.
“..."
And in fact, she was more preoccupied with something else. While looking at the girls in front of her and participating in the conversation, Cecilia's head was ruminating on the situation just before.
'The devil doesn't like carrots, so don't serve them with your meal.'
Of course, Eden was as affectionate to Cecilia as before. He did whatever Cecilia needed and gave her everything she wanted.
'You don't have to share a bedroom if you don't want to. I didn't take into account the inconvenience.'
But the man who had wanted to stay with her even for a little longer was the first to push her away and turn away. It was like that from the day he regained consciousness.
It wasn't unfamiliar. It was a sign that Eden wanted to distance himself from Cecilia. As everything eventually went as it was destined, was Eden's heart also beginning to change?
“Whoa!”
Bang, the sound of bullets flying shook the air loudly. It was the signal that today's event had begun.
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