A quiet, yet not awkward, silence passed between them.
Cecilia felt something hot rising in her chest. She thought that it wasn't an unrequited love. But at the same time, she felt resentful. If he had loved her even when she thought he had changed his mind, she couldn't guess the reason for his betrayal.
If their hearts were the same, why did it end like that?
“Your Majesty, the Marchioness of Calibre...”
It was a confusing time. It was a time when Cecilia was suppressing her complicated feelings. The servant came with an embarrassed look on his face and announced that a guest had arrived.
"Your Majesty!"
The servant had to stop her because she said she wouldn't meet anyone, but there was no way to win when a pregnant wife pushed in without warning. Besides, Sienna was also Eden's beloved cousin.
“Bring Siena in, and you step aside.”
The servant looked at Eden with a face that said, “Please understand.” Unable to scold him, Eden ordered Sienna to be brought in without any reprimand.
“Marchioness Calibre, don’t you know that if you suddenly barge in like this, everyone will be in trouble?”
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”
Sienna, who had come over in a hurry, holding her swollen belly, knelt down. Eden and Cecilia opened their eyes wide in surprise.
“Sienna. Why are you acting like this when you’re not even single?”
Cecilia was surprised and quickly reached out to Sienna. However, Sienna pushed Cecilia's hand away and sobbed with her palms on the floor.
“Did something happen?”
Cecilia asked, bending her knees and locking eyes with Sienna. Sienna opened her mouth, crying sadly.
“My husband, my husband...”
As soon as she thought of Marquis Calibre, she felt a sense of anxiety. Wasn't he also with Eden on the hunting grounds?
“Everyone, back off.”
Eden quickly pushed away everyone around him. Then, he bent down on one knee and met Sienna's gaze.
“Why your husband.”
Eden asked. Sienna held onto his clothes and cried like a child.
“I think it’s him...”
Although the front and back were cut off, it was difficult to not know what Sienna meant.
“I couldn’t sleep properly for a long time. I was anxious and scared, so I kept asking myself why...”
The ending was tragic. Sienna cried and told Eden the whole story.
“He said he was so scared that he couldn’t even speak and just suffered alone. He said that even though he knew that His Majesty was in trouble, he was too scared to come forward.”
“...”
“Your Majesty, please. Please spare that man.”
And she begged for the life of the Marquis of Calibre. Eden could not bring himself to say anything. Even if it was a mistake, if it was true that he had killed the former Emperor, it would be difficult to save his life.
“He said he was clearly aiming for the bear, but it seemed to have missed.”
But Sienna did not give up and clung on. It was absolutely not intentional. It was all a mistake. Please do not kill him who was loyal to the imperial family.
“The child has not even been born yet. I cannot lose the child’s father, Your Majesty. Please...”
There was a look of despair on Eden's face as he was unable to give a hasty answer. Sienna had always been kind and friendly to them. Just like Eden, Cecilia also wanted to return the favor to Sienna if she had the chance.
'I will not lie or conceal the truth. I pledge this to you.'
But now, is that okay?
When she thought about it, the answer didn't come to her right away.
Cecilia's feet stopped as she entered the bedroom after taking a bath. It was because there was an unexpected person there.
“I thought you weren’t coming today.”
Naturally, the visitor was Eden. In the first place, no one but Eden could have crossed the threshold of the Empress's bedroom without Cecilia's permission.
"Your Majesty."
But Eden, unlike usual, was silent. He didn't even smile or open his arms toward Cecilia. So this time, it was Cecilia who had to speak first.
“Are you angry?”
Eden's gaze slowly turned to Cecilia. Cecilia did not approach him as he sat on the bed but instead kept a distance from him.
“...Why would I be angry at you?”
Slowly, his mouth opened and a negative answer came out. But it wasn't completely sincere.
“Then do you resent it?”
At Cecilia's words, Eden shut his mouth. It seemed that he couldn't say no this time. It was natural for Eden. Cecilia thought so.
Blue eyes stared straight at Cecilia. Those eyes reminded her of Sienna, who had been in despair after hearing her answer.
'Marchioness Calibre, you know that we cannot do this on our own.'
At that time, Cecilia tried to speak as nonchalantly as possible. Then, Sienna looked up at Cecilia with a tearful face. It was as if they were indeed of the same blood, but her appearance was exactly like Eden’s.
'I'll find a way. For now, I'll go back.'
'Your Majesty the Empress. How...!'
Sienna raised her voice at Cecilia, feeling betrayed. It seemed as if she had no doubt that Cecilia would help her.
'Take the Marchioness Calibre with you.'
But Cecilia ignored Siena. She simply called her servants closer and had them support Sienna. Sienna, too, could not reveal her secret in front of others, so she begged several times before reluctantly leaving.
"Your Majesty."
Eden was shaken by the sight. Cecilia knew it. So she decided not to leave it alone.
“You can’t just bury this matter like this.”
Look at that face, which reveals a vulnerable side. It was not hard to guess the heart of a man who had recently lost his brother and father. However, Cecilia pretended not to see it and gave firm advice.
“But, Marquis Calibre...”
“He is your supporter and helper. I know that.”
At Cecilia's words, Eden lowered his eyes in silence. It must be because he knew in his head that what Cecilia said was right.
“But the moment he becomes a threat to you, he can no longer be your ally.”
A subject who threatens the safety of his lord is impossible. Cecilia pointed out the undeniable truth.
“Have you forgotten the promise you made in front of everyone?”
“...”
“You swore by the Emperor’s crown that you would conceal the truth.”
No one forced him to do so. Eden himself swore that oath while holding the crown above his head. Even the high priest was present. It was a promise to God that could not be broken.
“Abandon the Marquis of Calibre.”
“Cecilia, how did you do that so quickly...”
It was a cruel demand for Eden. He cherished and loved his cousin Sienna, and was always grateful for the loyalty of her companion, the Marquis Calibre.
“I know what I’m saying may sound cruel, but I have to do it for your sake.”
Despair appeared on Eden's face at Cecilia's arrogant order.
“If you find it difficult to make up your mind right away, think of me as the person who killed your father.”
Just because it was a mistake, does that mean the fact that he killed someone disappeared? That wasn't the case. For whatever reason, Marquis Calibre killed the late Emperor.
“If that’s difficult too.”
Cecilia stopped talking and started walking. Her steps, which had been coming closer and closer, stopped in front of Eden.
“Recall the time when the Empress Dowager pressured you.”
“...”
“A person who will notice that you have turned a blind eye to the death of the former Emperor and use that as an excuse to tell you to remove the Emperor’s crown.”
If that happens, Eden will immediately put down the Emperor's crown and walk away as if he feels relieved. However, Cecilia did not intend to awaken such relief in Eden.
“Can you be safe if you are not the Emperor?”
It was a fundamental question. Even though Eden was the Emperor, there were still those who were impatient to put the blame on him.
But how could they just leave Eden, who had stepped down from the throne and left the palace? Absolutely not.
“And if you are not okay.”
“...”
“Me?”
Eden paused at Cecilia's question. Her wide-open eyes showed a look of bewilderment as if he had been caught off guard.
"I am..."
Eden muttered. His position was no longer simply a protection for him. It was a fence to protect him and Cecilia.
“If nothing can convince you, think of it as something to protect me.”
Cecilia quietly reached out to him. Eden couldn't answer quickly and stared at her hand for a long time.
“Listen to me.”
“...”
“If you love me.”
But the moment Cecilia forced herself on him, telling him about his love, Eden gave in. Eden reached out and took Cecilia's hand, and placed his forehead on the back of her hand, like a knight swearing loyalty.
Then and now, he was weak in the face of love.
But there was nothing he could do about the resentment.
Cecilia felt something hot rising in her chest. She thought that it wasn't an unrequited love. But at the same time, she felt resentful. If he had loved her even when she thought he had changed his mind, she couldn't guess the reason for his betrayal.
If their hearts were the same, why did it end like that?
“Your Majesty, the Marchioness of Calibre...”
It was a confusing time. It was a time when Cecilia was suppressing her complicated feelings. The servant came with an embarrassed look on his face and announced that a guest had arrived.
"Your Majesty!"
The servant had to stop her because she said she wouldn't meet anyone, but there was no way to win when a pregnant wife pushed in without warning. Besides, Sienna was also Eden's beloved cousin.
“Bring Siena in, and you step aside.”
The servant looked at Eden with a face that said, “Please understand.” Unable to scold him, Eden ordered Sienna to be brought in without any reprimand.
“Marchioness Calibre, don’t you know that if you suddenly barge in like this, everyone will be in trouble?”
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”
Sienna, who had come over in a hurry, holding her swollen belly, knelt down. Eden and Cecilia opened their eyes wide in surprise.
“Sienna. Why are you acting like this when you’re not even single?”
Cecilia was surprised and quickly reached out to Sienna. However, Sienna pushed Cecilia's hand away and sobbed with her palms on the floor.
“Did something happen?”
Cecilia asked, bending her knees and locking eyes with Sienna. Sienna opened her mouth, crying sadly.
“My husband, my husband...”
As soon as she thought of Marquis Calibre, she felt a sense of anxiety. Wasn't he also with Eden on the hunting grounds?
“Everyone, back off.”
Eden quickly pushed away everyone around him. Then, he bent down on one knee and met Sienna's gaze.
“Why your husband.”
Eden asked. Sienna held onto his clothes and cried like a child.
“I think it’s him...”
Although the front and back were cut off, it was difficult to not know what Sienna meant.
“I couldn’t sleep properly for a long time. I was anxious and scared, so I kept asking myself why...”
The ending was tragic. Sienna cried and told Eden the whole story.
“He said he was so scared that he couldn’t even speak and just suffered alone. He said that even though he knew that His Majesty was in trouble, he was too scared to come forward.”
“...”
“Your Majesty, please. Please spare that man.”
And she begged for the life of the Marquis of Calibre. Eden could not bring himself to say anything. Even if it was a mistake, if it was true that he had killed the former Emperor, it would be difficult to save his life.
“He said he was clearly aiming for the bear, but it seemed to have missed.”
But Sienna did not give up and clung on. It was absolutely not intentional. It was all a mistake. Please do not kill him who was loyal to the imperial family.
“The child has not even been born yet. I cannot lose the child’s father, Your Majesty. Please...”
There was a look of despair on Eden's face as he was unable to give a hasty answer. Sienna had always been kind and friendly to them. Just like Eden, Cecilia also wanted to return the favor to Sienna if she had the chance.
'I will not lie or conceal the truth. I pledge this to you.'
But now, is that okay?
When she thought about it, the answer didn't come to her right away.
***
Cecilia's feet stopped as she entered the bedroom after taking a bath. It was because there was an unexpected person there.
“I thought you weren’t coming today.”
Naturally, the visitor was Eden. In the first place, no one but Eden could have crossed the threshold of the Empress's bedroom without Cecilia's permission.
"Your Majesty."
But Eden, unlike usual, was silent. He didn't even smile or open his arms toward Cecilia. So this time, it was Cecilia who had to speak first.
“Are you angry?”
Eden's gaze slowly turned to Cecilia. Cecilia did not approach him as he sat on the bed but instead kept a distance from him.
“...Why would I be angry at you?”
Slowly, his mouth opened and a negative answer came out. But it wasn't completely sincere.
“Then do you resent it?”
At Cecilia's words, Eden shut his mouth. It seemed that he couldn't say no this time. It was natural for Eden. Cecilia thought so.
Blue eyes stared straight at Cecilia. Those eyes reminded her of Sienna, who had been in despair after hearing her answer.
'Marchioness Calibre, you know that we cannot do this on our own.'
At that time, Cecilia tried to speak as nonchalantly as possible. Then, Sienna looked up at Cecilia with a tearful face. It was as if they were indeed of the same blood, but her appearance was exactly like Eden’s.
'I'll find a way. For now, I'll go back.'
'Your Majesty the Empress. How...!'
Sienna raised her voice at Cecilia, feeling betrayed. It seemed as if she had no doubt that Cecilia would help her.
'Take the Marchioness Calibre with you.'
But Cecilia ignored Siena. She simply called her servants closer and had them support Sienna. Sienna, too, could not reveal her secret in front of others, so she begged several times before reluctantly leaving.
"Your Majesty."
Eden was shaken by the sight. Cecilia knew it. So she decided not to leave it alone.
“You can’t just bury this matter like this.”
Look at that face, which reveals a vulnerable side. It was not hard to guess the heart of a man who had recently lost his brother and father. However, Cecilia pretended not to see it and gave firm advice.
“But, Marquis Calibre...”
“He is your supporter and helper. I know that.”
At Cecilia's words, Eden lowered his eyes in silence. It must be because he knew in his head that what Cecilia said was right.
“But the moment he becomes a threat to you, he can no longer be your ally.”
A subject who threatens the safety of his lord is impossible. Cecilia pointed out the undeniable truth.
“Have you forgotten the promise you made in front of everyone?”
“...”
“You swore by the Emperor’s crown that you would conceal the truth.”
No one forced him to do so. Eden himself swore that oath while holding the crown above his head. Even the high priest was present. It was a promise to God that could not be broken.
“Abandon the Marquis of Calibre.”
“Cecilia, how did you do that so quickly...”
It was a cruel demand for Eden. He cherished and loved his cousin Sienna, and was always grateful for the loyalty of her companion, the Marquis Calibre.
“I know what I’m saying may sound cruel, but I have to do it for your sake.”
Despair appeared on Eden's face at Cecilia's arrogant order.
“If you find it difficult to make up your mind right away, think of me as the person who killed your father.”
Just because it was a mistake, does that mean the fact that he killed someone disappeared? That wasn't the case. For whatever reason, Marquis Calibre killed the late Emperor.
“If that’s difficult too.”
Cecilia stopped talking and started walking. Her steps, which had been coming closer and closer, stopped in front of Eden.
“Recall the time when the Empress Dowager pressured you.”
“...”
“A person who will notice that you have turned a blind eye to the death of the former Emperor and use that as an excuse to tell you to remove the Emperor’s crown.”
If that happens, Eden will immediately put down the Emperor's crown and walk away as if he feels relieved. However, Cecilia did not intend to awaken such relief in Eden.
“Can you be safe if you are not the Emperor?”
It was a fundamental question. Even though Eden was the Emperor, there were still those who were impatient to put the blame on him.
But how could they just leave Eden, who had stepped down from the throne and left the palace? Absolutely not.
“And if you are not okay.”
“...”
“Me?”
Eden paused at Cecilia's question. Her wide-open eyes showed a look of bewilderment as if he had been caught off guard.
"I am..."
Eden muttered. His position was no longer simply a protection for him. It was a fence to protect him and Cecilia.
“If nothing can convince you, think of it as something to protect me.”
Cecilia quietly reached out to him. Eden couldn't answer quickly and stared at her hand for a long time.
“Listen to me.”
“...”
“If you love me.”
But the moment Cecilia forced herself on him, telling him about his love, Eden gave in. Eden reached out and took Cecilia's hand, and placed his forehead on the back of her hand, like a knight swearing loyalty.
Then and now, he was weak in the face of love.
But there was nothing he could do about the resentment.
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