The fact-finding team, consisting of nobles, knights, and judges, immediately began to move. They called in everyone who had been at the same location on the day of the incident.
At the same time, Diego also started to move. After the suspects were questioned, Diego took advantage of the time when they would let their guard down and move privately.
“No, can’t you see that my arm is torn?”
Inside the restaurant, a guard who was on leave due to injury raised his arm in discontent. His arm, still wrapped in bandages, was not fully healed as the flesh and muscle were torn to the point of no return.
“If I just stay still, it hurts, so I just keep drinking.”
As he spoke, his arm began to hurt, and the man put his mouth to the spout of the bottle again and took a gulp.
“It’s funny that they’re just investigating. Why would the guards kill the Emperor unless they wanted to find out everything? It’s obvious who the culprit is!”
The man sitting next to the wounded soldier shoved a piece of dry chicken into his mouth and silenced him. His tearful eyes were cursing him for trying to kill someone.
“But isn’t it strange?”
“...”
“The place was right in front of me anyway. I wonder if there was any need to rush.”
One of them expressed doubt. He wondered if it was not too much of a setup to suspect only one person. In fact, the doubt was justified.
“That’s true...”
Everyone had an ambiguous expression on their face, and their words trailed off.
“Were there any more strange people that day?”
Suddenly, the air stopped. Diego sat with his arms crossed, his back to them, and he leaned back in his chair leisurely.
“Ah, that.”
"That?"
“Marquis Calibre was a bit strange.”
The guardsman spoke of Marquis Calire's suspicious behavior that day. He had been absent for a long time before the hunting festival began, he had been acting unusually flustered, and he had been following Eden around.
“But if there is no reason to doubt the current Emperor, then there is no need to doubt Marquis Calibre even more?”
Everyone in the empire knew that the Marquis of Calibre and his wife were on Eden's side. There was no reason for him to be at odds with Eden again.
“Rather, it might be different if he was acting more flustered than usual because of the orders given by the current Emperor.”
Marquis Calibre had certainly acted strangely that day. But when questioning the suspect, no one mentioned it. It was only now that word came out that he was suspicious.
It was awarded.
Why haven't I found an answer that should be this easy to find?
“Short story!”
As Diego was chewing on his discomfort, his subordinate came running in, gasping for breath, and grabbed Diego's arm.
“What’s going on, and why is there such a fuss?”
“Madam, her water broke! The baby might come out soon!”
Diego's eyes widened. He forgot that it wasn't time for the baby to come out yet. Diego got up from his seat and started running the way he came.
There was no time to even mention investigating Marquis Calibre.
The face exposed to the sunlight was clear. It was still a time when such transparency was more appropriate than worry or agony. Eden stared blankly at the golden hair fluttering in the blowing wind.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
As if sensing his gaze, Cecilia turned to Eden. In her hand was the poetry book she had been reading.
“Because it seems like you can’t concentrate.”
Ah. Cecilia closed the bookcase with an embarrassed face.
“I suddenly heard that Abby was having a baby. I was worried for no reason.”
Suddenly, news came that Abby was showing signs of giving birth. Madame Monte, with Cecilia's permission, left the palace in a panic.
“That kid is younger than me.”
Eden quietly reached out to Cecilia's concern. Her small, slender body settled into his arms without any resistance. Eden's large hand slid down Cecilia's arm and into her hand.
“She'll be okay.”
While intertwining their fingers one by one, Cecilia leaned back comfortably against Eden's chest. It was a completely different attitude from the subtle strength she had previously exerted on her body.
“Since you think of him as your nephew, he will be born without causing his mother much trouble.”
Surprisingly, that attitude reassured her more than anything else. Much more than kissing and touching bodies over and over again.
“That would be fortunate, though.”
Cecilia said that and let out a soft sigh.
“I heard that the fact-finding team has started moving.”
"That's right."
Eden admitted it. It was something that didn't need to be hidden.
“Did you think it would be different this time?”
Eden shook his head at Cecilia's question. It seemed like there wouldn't be any special results this time, either.
“I’m not asking anything.”
Even though he gave them investigative authority beyond the Emperor's authority, they did not approach Eden. It was a sign of respect and fear toward him at the same time.
“As you said, I’m just hoping for Diego Lawson. He might bring about a different result.”
In that sense, Diego, who only moved for the values he pursued, was much better. Because he didn't care about water or fire.
“The conflict with Benia is like that, nothing comes easy.”
Eden smiled faintly at Cecilia's words. Benia, who reluctantly accepted Wyatt's offer of zero tariffs, was expressing dissatisfaction in various ways. The toll was a typical example.
“This is the place.”
Eden answered calmly. It was the easiest, but also the most difficult position. It was a position where he had to carry as much weight as he thought.
“It'll be okay soon.”
Even before, the early days of Eden's reign were not easy. In less than a year, the Crown Prince died, the Third Prince died, and the Emperor died. It was chaos, regardless of how much legitimacy he had.
“...?”
The wind blew and shook the grass. Cecilia noticed a figure faintly visible through the gaps and sat up a little. Eden also moved reflexively.
“Are you talking?”
“That’s right. It looks like you’re taking her for a walk.”
The horse that was walking with the manager was a pure white horse, as white as snow. Naturally, it was one of the purebred horses directly managed by the royal family.
“Bring her here.”
When Cecilia showed interest, Eden gave orders to his servant. The manager immediately approached them, leading his horse.
“It’s pretty.”
It was a peculiar creature with a diamond-shaped brown fur between its eyebrows. When Cecilia cautiously reached out her hand, the white horse purred and stamped its feet twice.
“Be careful.”
Eden advised Cecilia, taking a step back. No matter how gentle a person may be, there is nothing harder to overcome when a horse is angry.
“Do you have any snacks?”
At Eden's question, the manager untied the string of the pouch he was wearing around his waist. Eden took a carrot out of the pouch.
“Give him this.”
Cecilia carefully held the carrot that Eden had handed her out in front of the horse's muzzle. The horse twitched the muscles around its nose and chewed on the carrot.
Cecilia looked at Eden with sparkling eyes as if she was amazed. It was a childlike attitude that was hard to see in Cecilia, who always acted like an adult.
“I didn’t know you liked horse.”
“I didn’t like it. I just thought, ‘There are such animals.'”
It was strange that the horse was at eye level with her. When Cecilia reached out again, this time, the horse closed its eyes. It seemed to be allowing some contact since she had given it a snack.
“It’s warm.”
Cecilia had never raised a dog or cat before because Curtis was extremely sensitive to animal fur. So there was no way she had ever touched one.
“If this is the extent of our first meeting, I think he's on the mild side for you.”
Cecilia, who had been pondering the movement of the muscles and the warm body temperature that touched her hand, raised her head.
“He’s such an arrogant guy.”
“That’s right. He's not burning just anyone.”
The manager added a word cautiously.
“He has such a strong appetite that it’s a bit of a problem...”
Before she knew it, the white horse had his nose in the pocket she was holding and was stealing snacks. Cecilia looked back and forth between the manager’s awkward smile and the white horse’s calm and composed stealing and gave a short laugh.
“Do you like it?”
Eden asked cautiously, as if he wanted to catch a glimpse of the pleasure Cecilia was feeling.
“Anyway, since it is the royal horse lol, if you wish...”
“What good is a horse you like if you can’t ride it?”
Cecilia shook her head and answered. She didn't know how to ride. Even if she owned the horse, it would have to stay in the stables. Isn't that too pitiful?
“If you know how to ride a horse, I can teach you.”
As if he had stolen all the snacks, the horse accepted Cecilia's second touch with a relaxed expression.
“And someday I hope to teach my son how to ride a horse, and you to teach your daughter how to ride a horse.”
Cecilia, who was stroking the horse's chin, turned her gaze to Eden. The man who was drawing the future as if it were a given was pitiful. Cecilia smiled as she faced Eden. Then, suddenly, a fragment of the past came to mind.
It was a long time since she had a meal with Eden, whose face she had not seen in a long time.
'Are you interested in learning how to ride a horse?'
'Horseback riding is a little scary.'
'I'll tell you. Someday we...'
She shook her head and answered in the negative, saying she was worried that she would look like an incompetent Empress. And then Eden cut her off and kept her mouth shut.
'Yew. If you don't like it, you don't have to learn it. I wasn't trying to force you.'
It soon became a realization.
She thought he loved her before, too.
Even when she wasn't sure about his heart.
At the same time, Diego also started to move. After the suspects were questioned, Diego took advantage of the time when they would let their guard down and move privately.
“No, can’t you see that my arm is torn?”
Inside the restaurant, a guard who was on leave due to injury raised his arm in discontent. His arm, still wrapped in bandages, was not fully healed as the flesh and muscle were torn to the point of no return.
“If I just stay still, it hurts, so I just keep drinking.”
As he spoke, his arm began to hurt, and the man put his mouth to the spout of the bottle again and took a gulp.
“It’s funny that they’re just investigating. Why would the guards kill the Emperor unless they wanted to find out everything? It’s obvious who the culprit is!”
The man sitting next to the wounded soldier shoved a piece of dry chicken into his mouth and silenced him. His tearful eyes were cursing him for trying to kill someone.
“But isn’t it strange?”
“...”
“The place was right in front of me anyway. I wonder if there was any need to rush.”
One of them expressed doubt. He wondered if it was not too much of a setup to suspect only one person. In fact, the doubt was justified.
“That’s true...”
Everyone had an ambiguous expression on their face, and their words trailed off.
“Were there any more strange people that day?”
Suddenly, the air stopped. Diego sat with his arms crossed, his back to them, and he leaned back in his chair leisurely.
“Ah, that.”
"That?"
“Marquis Calibre was a bit strange.”
The guardsman spoke of Marquis Calire's suspicious behavior that day. He had been absent for a long time before the hunting festival began, he had been acting unusually flustered, and he had been following Eden around.
“But if there is no reason to doubt the current Emperor, then there is no need to doubt Marquis Calibre even more?”
Everyone in the empire knew that the Marquis of Calibre and his wife were on Eden's side. There was no reason for him to be at odds with Eden again.
“Rather, it might be different if he was acting more flustered than usual because of the orders given by the current Emperor.”
Marquis Calibre had certainly acted strangely that day. But when questioning the suspect, no one mentioned it. It was only now that word came out that he was suspicious.
It was awarded.
Why haven't I found an answer that should be this easy to find?
“Short story!”
As Diego was chewing on his discomfort, his subordinate came running in, gasping for breath, and grabbed Diego's arm.
“What’s going on, and why is there such a fuss?”
“Madam, her water broke! The baby might come out soon!”
Diego's eyes widened. He forgot that it wasn't time for the baby to come out yet. Diego got up from his seat and started running the way he came.
There was no time to even mention investigating Marquis Calibre.
***
The face exposed to the sunlight was clear. It was still a time when such transparency was more appropriate than worry or agony. Eden stared blankly at the golden hair fluttering in the blowing wind.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
As if sensing his gaze, Cecilia turned to Eden. In her hand was the poetry book she had been reading.
“Because it seems like you can’t concentrate.”
Ah. Cecilia closed the bookcase with an embarrassed face.
“I suddenly heard that Abby was having a baby. I was worried for no reason.”
Suddenly, news came that Abby was showing signs of giving birth. Madame Monte, with Cecilia's permission, left the palace in a panic.
“That kid is younger than me.”
Eden quietly reached out to Cecilia's concern. Her small, slender body settled into his arms without any resistance. Eden's large hand slid down Cecilia's arm and into her hand.
“She'll be okay.”
While intertwining their fingers one by one, Cecilia leaned back comfortably against Eden's chest. It was a completely different attitude from the subtle strength she had previously exerted on her body.
“Since you think of him as your nephew, he will be born without causing his mother much trouble.”
Surprisingly, that attitude reassured her more than anything else. Much more than kissing and touching bodies over and over again.
“That would be fortunate, though.”
Cecilia said that and let out a soft sigh.
“I heard that the fact-finding team has started moving.”
"That's right."
Eden admitted it. It was something that didn't need to be hidden.
“Did you think it would be different this time?”
Eden shook his head at Cecilia's question. It seemed like there wouldn't be any special results this time, either.
“I’m not asking anything.”
Even though he gave them investigative authority beyond the Emperor's authority, they did not approach Eden. It was a sign of respect and fear toward him at the same time.
“As you said, I’m just hoping for Diego Lawson. He might bring about a different result.”
In that sense, Diego, who only moved for the values he pursued, was much better. Because he didn't care about water or fire.
“The conflict with Benia is like that, nothing comes easy.”
Eden smiled faintly at Cecilia's words. Benia, who reluctantly accepted Wyatt's offer of zero tariffs, was expressing dissatisfaction in various ways. The toll was a typical example.
“This is the place.”
Eden answered calmly. It was the easiest, but also the most difficult position. It was a position where he had to carry as much weight as he thought.
“It'll be okay soon.”
Even before, the early days of Eden's reign were not easy. In less than a year, the Crown Prince died, the Third Prince died, and the Emperor died. It was chaos, regardless of how much legitimacy he had.
“...?”
The wind blew and shook the grass. Cecilia noticed a figure faintly visible through the gaps and sat up a little. Eden also moved reflexively.
“Are you talking?”
“That’s right. It looks like you’re taking her for a walk.”
The horse that was walking with the manager was a pure white horse, as white as snow. Naturally, it was one of the purebred horses directly managed by the royal family.
“Bring her here.”
When Cecilia showed interest, Eden gave orders to his servant. The manager immediately approached them, leading his horse.
“It’s pretty.”
It was a peculiar creature with a diamond-shaped brown fur between its eyebrows. When Cecilia cautiously reached out her hand, the white horse purred and stamped its feet twice.
“Be careful.”
Eden advised Cecilia, taking a step back. No matter how gentle a person may be, there is nothing harder to overcome when a horse is angry.
“Do you have any snacks?”
At Eden's question, the manager untied the string of the pouch he was wearing around his waist. Eden took a carrot out of the pouch.
“Give him this.”
Cecilia carefully held the carrot that Eden had handed her out in front of the horse's muzzle. The horse twitched the muscles around its nose and chewed on the carrot.
Cecilia looked at Eden with sparkling eyes as if she was amazed. It was a childlike attitude that was hard to see in Cecilia, who always acted like an adult.
“I didn’t know you liked horse.”
“I didn’t like it. I just thought, ‘There are such animals.'”
It was strange that the horse was at eye level with her. When Cecilia reached out again, this time, the horse closed its eyes. It seemed to be allowing some contact since she had given it a snack.
“It’s warm.”
Cecilia had never raised a dog or cat before because Curtis was extremely sensitive to animal fur. So there was no way she had ever touched one.
“If this is the extent of our first meeting, I think he's on the mild side for you.”
Cecilia, who had been pondering the movement of the muscles and the warm body temperature that touched her hand, raised her head.
“He’s such an arrogant guy.”
“That’s right. He's not burning just anyone.”
The manager added a word cautiously.
“He has such a strong appetite that it’s a bit of a problem...”
Before she knew it, the white horse had his nose in the pocket she was holding and was stealing snacks. Cecilia looked back and forth between the manager’s awkward smile and the white horse’s calm and composed stealing and gave a short laugh.
“Do you like it?”
Eden asked cautiously, as if he wanted to catch a glimpse of the pleasure Cecilia was feeling.
“Anyway, since it is the royal horse lol, if you wish...”
“What good is a horse you like if you can’t ride it?”
Cecilia shook her head and answered. She didn't know how to ride. Even if she owned the horse, it would have to stay in the stables. Isn't that too pitiful?
“If you know how to ride a horse, I can teach you.”
As if he had stolen all the snacks, the horse accepted Cecilia's second touch with a relaxed expression.
“And someday I hope to teach my son how to ride a horse, and you to teach your daughter how to ride a horse.”
Cecilia, who was stroking the horse's chin, turned her gaze to Eden. The man who was drawing the future as if it were a given was pitiful. Cecilia smiled as she faced Eden. Then, suddenly, a fragment of the past came to mind.
It was a long time since she had a meal with Eden, whose face she had not seen in a long time.
'Are you interested in learning how to ride a horse?'
'Horseback riding is a little scary.'
'I'll tell you. Someday we...'
She shook her head and answered in the negative, saying she was worried that she would look like an incompetent Empress. And then Eden cut her off and kept her mouth shut.
'Yew. If you don't like it, you don't have to learn it. I wasn't trying to force you.'
It soon became a realization.
She thought he loved her before, too.
Even when she wasn't sure about his heart.
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