"Well. Eleanor... So Her Majesty the Empress... Ever since she knew about the infidelity of the Former Empress and His Majesty, she has long since lost all motivation to live."
Old lady Tollin was a little surprised by the young Princess's question, which no one else dared to ask, but she told her obediently.
The relationship between Prince, his adoptive mother, and his birth mother, that no one could easily talk about.
"People say that Her Majesty the Empress's death was due to His Highness Cesare. But in fact, the opposite is true. His Highness has postponed Her Majesty the Empress's decision."
The former Empress was an ambitious woman.
Her relationship with her brother-in-law, Perdiccas II, was also based on cold calculation rather than emotion.
No matter who his father is, if the child born from her belly ascends to the throne, her power will not be destroyed.
However, before Perdiccas II ascended to the throne, she died of puerperal fever shortly after giving birth to Cesare.
Compared to the grand ambition she had dreamed of, it was a sudden and vain death that even she had not expected.
"The Empress should take care of this child. You just have to take care of each other like your own mother."
Perdiccas said it was for his wife, whom he had betrayed so many times.
The cry of a sleeping child echoed in the Empress Palace. Next to him was Eleanor, who was mesmerized.
No one took care of the child.
A day or two like that. The child's cry was fading.
The child, who couldn't eat anything, poured out the white vomit helplessly. Eleanor looked down at the child with emotionless eyes.
Even though he was a newborn, Eleanor could see traces of her husband in his distinct features.
The beauty of the former Empress, who was praised as the beauty of the century on the continent, was also intact. Eleanor laughed.
"Their traces are all on you."
She reached out. His hands, parched like branches, stretched out to his neck.
At that moment, his tiny fingers squeezed Eleanor's index finger.
His golden eyes clearly recognized Eleanor.
She stopped when she saw her reflection in those clear eyes.
It was because she realized that her life was insignificant and that she was no different from his child.
At that moment, she no longer wanted to kill the child.
"But she couldn't love His Highness Cesare."
As the child grew up, she became more and more like his parents.
"Saving His Highness' life was the greatest affection the Empress could bestow."
Mrs. Tollin grabbed her handkerchief.
"And His Highness Cesare... His Highness understood that. It's too early."
She had witnessed the first moment when the Innocent boy's eyes, which had sparkled with love and affection, faded.
The moment when he realized that his expectations for people disappeared and he couldn't rely on anyone came too early.
"..."
"He is lonely. People say that His Highness has no blood or tears, but no one knows that His Highness has a great heart."
At least, he was a different person from his father, Perdiccas.
Cesare understood that she couldn't love him, and he still considered her family.
"The Empress misses you... After she left, His Highness Cesare protected us with all his might. Even though it was just after Improvement, your strength was also unstable."
The suicide of the imperial family, especially the Empress, was a disgrace.
Perdiccas II believed that his wife was trying to point out his flaws by dying. And the anger spread to the Empress's maids and his-in-law.
While everyone was shy about Eleanor's death, only Cesare did not turn a blind eye.
He proudly laid the Empress's body in the sanctuary and held a grand funeral with the head of state.
He rescued the Empress's handmaidens who were on the verge of execution, and protected the Empress's father, Eratosthene's disciples, from facing the Emperor's wrath.
"Despite the wrath of His Majesty and the fierce opposition of the First Prince, His Highness did not bend his will until the end."
Thanks to this, even though the triumphal ball that he had brought with his life was in vain, Cesare did not back down.
As if it were a way to pay for Eleanor's retribution for enduring illegitimate children all her life.
"Those who thought His Highness was his family pushed him away, and those who wanted to take advantage of him were obsessed with His Highness's lineage. His capricious Majesty was even more wary of his son as he grew up."
From the environment where he grew up to be carefree, to the constant threat of assassination aimed at his neck.
It was so natural for Cesare to be cold to people.
But Mrs. Tollin still couldn't erase the afterimage of the boy she had once craved affection for.
Even his adoptive mother, Eleanor, whom he considered his only family member, could not accept him in the end.
The warmth that Cesare gave was never returned to anyone.
"..."
A wrinkled hand grabbed Medea's hand.
The world was shocked to see the cold-blooded First Prince pouring out his affection for his wife without hesitation, but only Madame Tollin was completely pleased.
"Now that His Highness has a true family. I couldn't be happier."
He will no longer be alone in the world's winds.
***
It was dark.
Medea looked up at the sky. The first day she arrived in Katzen was drawing to a close like any other day.
"Your Highness. The lord told me that his return would be late because of the delay, and that you should take the water first."
Even when the night covered the world, Cesare had not yet returned.
Their beds were so large and spacious that Medea could lie down and roll around.
"Now that His Highness has a true family, I couldn't be happier."
Turning to the old lady, who could not hide her joy and relief, Medea could not speak.
This marriage is not real, and she is the one who will have to leave his side someday.
When you cross this ice wall that others cannot easily approach, you will know. The world says that Cesare Katzen is not a monster without blood or tears.
Rather, he tries to keep his own good.
He repaid his grudge tenfold, but he did his best to repay the favor he received.
Just as he did his duty as a child to his adoptive mother, who had a love-hate affair with him, Cesare gave his heart to Medea, who saved him from his fate.
However, she will not be able to return this affectionate man's affection.
Medea cannot love him, nor can she stay by his side for the rest of her life.
It wasn't that she didn't know that, but shr didn't think she had ever felt as selfish as shr did today.
"His Highness is a lonely person."
Medea's memories of three years ago came back to her vaguely.
In the confrontation with the Princess, she will face Katzen on her behalf.
He finally found her hiding in the hunting grounds.
There was Cesare everywhere during the time when Medea was struggling.
When she felt most alone.
At that moment, she told herself that she could not trust anyone in the world and that she was the only one who had to bear this burden.
"Is that why you didn't leave me alone?"
From Medea, who could not set foot anywhere.
Maybe he saw himself as a child.
A cold breeze blowing through the glass blew through Medea's hair.
The night breeze in Katzen was much cooler than Valdina's. It wasn't just because of the temperature.
It must be because the harshness of this lonely and harsh land remains clearly in Medea's memory.
How long had the boy, who was still a child, endured alone in this desolate place?
Medea unconsciously stood up and paced by the window.
All she could see through the window was black darkness. Cesare has not yet returned.
She felt unbearably empty.
Medea wandered aimlessly through the bedroom, inadvertently stepping into Cesare's space.
Some of the items on the table were familiar.
A dagger that he would turn from his hand or throw at Gallo. Tie pins hanging from smooth clothes. A sachet of musk blooming.
The things he used to use every day were scattered within easy reach.
All of them were of the highest quality. It was heartless, as if no one had touched it, like new.
Then Medea stopped when she was caught in the gaze.
It was a small ring hanging from the necklace strap.
"....Eleanor."
Medea read the name on the ring.
It belonged to the deceased Empress.
It is the only medium that leaves traces in the in-house room that does not attach meaning to objects.
It is also in a position where it can be reached at any time if you reach out.
'I guess this is his way of remembering his mother.'
Medea carefully set the ring back down.
Even after she leaves, she wonders if Cesare will remember her like this.
Somewhere in this cold and indifferent space, will something that has been touched by her hand remain?
She didn't want to leave a scar on his heart like the dead Empress.
"..."
Still, Medea swallowed a silent sigh as she realized her contradictory self, hoping that someday, if only occasionally, it would be reflected in his memory.
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