Cecilia read the letter from Diego and burned it with an indifferent look on her face. She thought that it was a matter of other people's secrets and that there was no need for it to leak out.
“Your Majesty, I hear that His Majesty the Emperor has arrived.”
"Already?"
Was it that time already? Cecilia got up from her seat with a surprised expression. Abby naturally tidied up Cecilia’s clothes. It didn’t take long because she was wearing a comfortable white dress with not much decoration.
“Does it look okay?”
“You are always the most beautiful in the world.”
“As time goes by, you're becoming more and more like His Majesty’s way of speaking.”
Cecilia chuckled as she heard Abby's babbling.
“A hat! You should bring a hat too!”
Just as they were about to go out, Abby hurriedly grabbed Cecilia's hat and ran over to her.
“I told you that you must wear a hat because your skin is sensitive.”
“Obviously, Madame Monte has retired, but somehow it feels like she’s still around.”
At Cecilia's words, Abby giggled, telling her not to let her guard down. Then she tied a ribbon neatly under Cecilia's chin with the lace string attached to her hat.
“Have a nice date.”
Abby even got out of her seat tactfully. Thanks to that, Cecilia was able to hurry up. She was feeling uneasy for no reason because Eden was waiting.
At some point, Cecilia found herself half-running without even realizing it. Naturally, the servants followed her in a hurry.
“Cecilia.”
Eden, who had arrived at the meeting place first, smiled when he saw the sight. Then he quietly spread his arms. Until Cecilia flew into his arms.
“Why are you in such a hurry?”
Eden's low laughter tickled her ears pleasantly. Cecilia felt him kiss her ear and flinched slightly.
“Because you’ve been waiting.”
“There’s no need to rush. I’ll wait for you to come, whenever that may be.”
Eden replied calmly. He motioned for his servants to prepare what they had prepared. The servants, accustomed to the Emperor’s instructions, quickly created a picnic spot where the Emperor and his wife could spend time.
“I never knew there was a place like this.”
Cecilia was amazed as she sat down on the picnic mat, led by Eden's hand. The palace was overlooked on a hill with green lawns.
“Because you rarely go out of the palace.”
It wasn’t a harsh tone. Eden explained in detail that the north gate of the palace led to the border, the south gate to the system, the west gate to the mountain where the last accident had occurred, and the east gate to this hill road.
“When I lived in the palace, I often came here with my brother.”
In Eden's eyes, a longing for his family was reflected. How could he not be sad, having lost his loved ones to the evil that swept in like a storm?
“Do you miss them?”
“A little bit.”
“Your Majesty, I hear that His Majesty the Emperor has arrived.”
"Already?"
Was it that time already? Cecilia got up from her seat with a surprised expression. Abby naturally tidied up Cecilia’s clothes. It didn’t take long because she was wearing a comfortable white dress with not much decoration.
“Does it look okay?”
“You are always the most beautiful in the world.”
“As time goes by, you're becoming more and more like His Majesty’s way of speaking.”
Cecilia chuckled as she heard Abby's babbling.
“A hat! You should bring a hat too!”
Just as they were about to go out, Abby hurriedly grabbed Cecilia's hat and ran over to her.
“I told you that you must wear a hat because your skin is sensitive.”
“Obviously, Madame Monte has retired, but somehow it feels like she’s still around.”
At Cecilia's words, Abby giggled, telling her not to let her guard down. Then she tied a ribbon neatly under Cecilia's chin with the lace string attached to her hat.
“Have a nice date.”
Abby even got out of her seat tactfully. Thanks to that, Cecilia was able to hurry up. She was feeling uneasy for no reason because Eden was waiting.
At some point, Cecilia found herself half-running without even realizing it. Naturally, the servants followed her in a hurry.
“Cecilia.”
Eden, who had arrived at the meeting place first, smiled when he saw the sight. Then he quietly spread his arms. Until Cecilia flew into his arms.
“Why are you in such a hurry?”
Eden's low laughter tickled her ears pleasantly. Cecilia felt him kiss her ear and flinched slightly.
“Because you’ve been waiting.”
“There’s no need to rush. I’ll wait for you to come, whenever that may be.”
Eden replied calmly. He motioned for his servants to prepare what they had prepared. The servants, accustomed to the Emperor’s instructions, quickly created a picnic spot where the Emperor and his wife could spend time.
“I never knew there was a place like this.”
Cecilia was amazed as she sat down on the picnic mat, led by Eden's hand. The palace was overlooked on a hill with green lawns.
“Because you rarely go out of the palace.”
It wasn’t a harsh tone. Eden explained in detail that the north gate of the palace led to the border, the south gate to the system, the west gate to the mountain where the last accident had occurred, and the east gate to this hill road.
“When I lived in the palace, I often came here with my brother.”
In Eden's eyes, a longing for his family was reflected. How could he not be sad, having lost his loved ones to the evil that swept in like a storm?
“Do you miss them?”
“A little bit.”
Eden answered with his gaze fixed somewhere in the distance.
“I guess it’s because my family disappeared.”
There was a faint smile on her face, but the smile didn't feel as sweet as usual. A faint sense of guilt crossed Cecilia's face.
If only I could have been on his side from the beginning since I was already alive. If only I could have protected them. If only I hadn't acted so foolishly...
It was a meaningless regret. To be exact, it was closer to a thought than a regret.
"It's okay."
Eden's whisper broke the gloom. Cecilia, who had been half-downturned without realizing it, raised her gaze.
“But you stayed.”
The man who seemed distant was looking straight at her. His eyes were filled with love and affection that made her feel helpless.
"...Is this enough for you?”
Somehow, her throat feels sore. Cecilia asked in a hoarse voice. Instead of answering, Eden reached out and pulled Cecilia into his arms. Naturally, Eden leaned against the tree, and Cecilia sat with her back against his upper body.
“I know you often look at me with eyes that are so sorry you don’t know what to do.”
Eden leaned his chin against Cecilia's neck and whispered. It was strange how, despite the hot weather, the warmth of her body coming into contact with him was pleasant and not uncomfortable.
“Cecilia, your father was wrong, but it wasn’t your fault.”
Eden whispered. Every time he said something, a small vibration was transmitted.
“And even if it’s partly your fault, I don’t care.”
“...”
“I’m happy I didn’t lose you.”
It was a sound that resonated deep in her heart.
“So just having you by my side is enough.”
You must have been hurt and suffered countless times because of your inability to understand yourself. But still.
“...”
A heavy breath burst out. It was an unfathomable feeling. Even the love that he had risked his life for seemed to become something very small and insignificant in front of this man's heart.
“Even if I don’t have children?”
Cecilia asked with a trembling voice. Her hand was covering her flat stomach at one point. Eden’s gaze briefly brushed over her hand.
Contrary to the palace's words that they would soon have a child, the child did not come so easily. Even though they were on such good terms. Cecilia seemed to be secretly concerned about that.
"Of course."
He answered immediately. There was no sign of hesitation.
“It would certainly be very pretty and precious if it were your child and mine, but I don’t want to be greedy. If it’s for the sake of my heirs, I could pass it on to Sienna’s child.”
Eden wanted Cecilia's world to be complete, just as Cecilia wanted Eden's love and his world to expand.
“Then that won’t work.”
“There is nothing that cannot be done. Even I, who should not have become Emperor in the first place, became Emperor.”
Eden responded calmly.
“So whatever it is, just relax. Everything will be as you wish, Cecilia.”
And he regularly stroked Cecilia's hand that was placed on her stomach. The small movements of tapping the back of her hand made her body relax.
“There is a butterfly.”
Suddenly, a blue butterfly caught her eye. It seemed to be fluttering in the wind. Cecilia made its presence known while comfortably leaning against Eden’s upper body.
“I think of you at the wedding party.”
Then, Eden said something unexpected. Cecilia raised her head and looked up at Eden. At first, it seemed like she could only see his chin, but when Eden lowered his gaze, his face was visible. It had a gentle glow.
“You looked like a butterfly when you danced. Your dress happened to be that color.”
“...Did you think like that at that time?”
Eden chuckled softly at Cecilia's question. The irregular vibration of his chest conveyed his pleasure.
“Now that I think about it...”
At some point, Eden stopped laughing and muttered.
“I think it was from that time that I began to recognize you as my wife and lover.”
“You didn’t even say anything...”
A voice mixed with resentment somehow came out.
“I didn’t know much back then.”
Eden smiled and comforted Cecilia. The atmosphere was too peaceful for a woman and her husband who were whining. At one point, Cecilia's body stretched out like a jellyfish, and she was lying down with Eden as her pillow.
“Cecilia.”
But the comforting embrace, the scent of his body, the rustling sound of his shirt, the comfort of their skin touching, the soft hands stroking her hair made it so.
"Yes?"
Cecilia answered a beat late. It was then that she realized she had been dozing off.
“If you’re sleepy, go to sleep.”
Eden suggested that Cecilia take a good nap. He knew that Cecilia had been sleeping a lot more recently. Perhaps it was because she was feeling more relaxed, Eden guessed.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be by your side.”
"No, I do not want."
Of course, Cecilia was against it. She thought it would be pointless if she came out on a date and ended up sleeping.
“Don’t strain your eyes.”
But she kept losing consciousness. It was when Cecilia was trying to force her eyelids to open, which were starting to become drowsy. Eden put his index finger on Cecilia’s forehead as if to tell her not to do so.
“Eden.”
Even though it was a small voice, Eden reacted quickly. He kissed Cecilia on the cheek and urged her on.
"We."
"Yes."
“Do you still love me?”
Eden chuckled at the ridiculous question. It was an expression that said he had heard all sorts of strange things. However, looking at his wife’s face, which was slowly oozing sleep, it didn’t seem like it was all that strange.
“Before too.”
“...”
“And so on.”
Eden didn't even let that strange question pass him by. He kissed Cecilia again and answered with an oath.
As if his answer was embarrassing, a hot wind blew. The branches and leaves swayed, playing the music of summer loudly. Between the leaves, a brighter light than usual sparkled.
Perhaps, even that was love.
< Are we still in love?> END
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