Chapter 48

Duke Despoina saw off Adel as if bidding farewell to a child embarking on a long journey, and Adel, in response, gave a respectful bow. The moment she turned with an elegant smile, her golden eyes, which had been soft, turned cold. As she took a step, the corners of her mouth, which had been curved, slowly drooped. Adel walked with a completely different expression from the one she had when facing Duke Despoina. The same was true for the Duke. The kind smile that had filled his face vanished the moment Adel turned. The Duke, who had been watching the retreating figure of the Empress with a chilling gaze, suddenly turned and entered the mansion, his long platinum hair fluttering. It seemed that he needed to think more about whether to play the Empress card. After Duke Despoina disappeared into the mansion, Adel, who had been walking briskly, suddenly stopped and turned to look at the mansion. The Duke was not visible, but a few mages were still there, looking at the Empress. Adel's eyes met those of a woman with particularly red hair. From a distance, it seemed the red-haired woman had noticed the Empress's gaze, as she bowed slightly. Adel, who had been staring at the mansion for a moment, nodded to her and then turned again. Even though she had only stayed for a short while, she felt drained. The image of Duke Despoina's face, laughing wickedly and asking if she would become the master of the tower, made her break out in a cold sweat. It was not out of fear but from a physiological aversion. The greedy gleam in his eyes, the selfishness that would stop at nothing for his own benefit. Adel felt an instinctive revulsion towards such things.

"Is Her Majesty not feeling well?"

A maid, who had been following her quickly, looked worriedly at Adel's pale face and asked.

"I'm fine. Let's hurry."

Leaving the maid's concern behind, Adel quickened her pace.

'Mrs. Gix will be furious. I told her not to go.'

The maid, noticing the Empress's increasingly pale face, hurried to follow her.

"Her Majesty."

The sudden deep voice made both the maid and the Empress, who had been walking ahead, stop. They both turned their heads in the direction of the voice. There, a man in a black uniform stood with his back to the sun. The Empress, surprised by the unexpected encounter, greeted him warmly.

"Rionel."

＊＊＊

The news of the Empress's awakening kept shaking Rionel. He felt as if he were about to lose his mind with emotion. Rionel tried hard to calm his turbulent heart, but instead, the day kept coming back to him vividly. The image of the Emperor sitting on the Empress's bed, wiping her forehead, and his own bitter feeling of helplessness in watching it. Unable to bear it any longer, Rionel went outside. The wind cut through his chest, but the sunlight was still warm. It was a clear autumn day. The warm and cool breeze brushing against his cheeks seemed to calm his restless heart. How long had he been walking? He suddenly realized what lay at the end of this path and stopped. He was not a lovesick teenager. Rionel laughed bitterly and rubbed his forehead. The eyebrows under his hand were twisted in frustration.

"I must be crazy."

He felt like an animal that had put its head in a noose. As he muttered to himself and turned to leave, a familiar voice brushed past his ear.

"Is Her Majesty not feeling well?"

"I'm fine. Let's hurry."

The familiar voice made him stop in his tracks. The moment he heard it, his chaotic thoughts receded like a tide. Rionel followed her with his eyes, as if drawn by something. The Empress was walking briskly somewhere. Her jet-black hair, fluttering in the wind, revealed her pale profile. Her expressionless face was not just pale but ashen, and her lips were colorless.

"Her Majesty."

It was not his reason that called out to her. ＊＊＊

The sunlight behind Rionel made Adel squint.

"Rionel."

Rionel approached her. The sunlight gradually disappeared behind his broad shoulders. When he finally stood in front of her, Rionel's shadow enveloped Adel. Noticing the sweat on her forehead, he frowned.

"It seems you haven't fully recovered. You should return to the palace quickly."

"I was just about to."

The beads of sweat on her forehead were clearly cold sweat. Rionel quickly estimated the distance to the Empress's palace. Even if she walked quickly, it would take at least five minutes. Walking with cold sweat could lead to a cold. He looked at the maid, but she had nothing to cover the Empress. Without hesitation, Rionel took off his uniform jacket.

"…What are you doing?"

Adel, surprised by his sudden action, asked.

"You'll catch a cold if you walk in the cold wind with cold sweat."

"So you want me to wear this?"

"Put it on until we reach the palace."

Rionel said calmly, and Adel, looking up at him with wide eyes, seemed taken aback. Rionel suddenly remembered the way she had called his name and lowered her voice. When he handed the uniform to the maid, she quickly draped it over Adel's shoulders. The Empress clearly needed something to cover herself. The large, heavy uniform enveloped her shoulders, and the warmth from the jacket wrapped around Adel. It felt as if someone was hugging her from behind. Adel realized anew how tall Rionel was. The uniform, which covered her shoulders and even her thighs, made her blink in surprise.

"Let's go, Her Majesty."

The maid urged the Empress, who had stopped. Adel started walking again, and Rionel matched her pace. Adel glanced at him. The sunlight shining through the jacket revealed a firm silhouette.

"Aren't you cold?"

"I'm fine."

A clear breeze swept between them. Rionel, who had been standing in the direction of the wind, quietly moved to block it. Since he had been standing in the sunlight, Adel was now fully exposed to the sun. Adel, looking at Rionel who was blocking the wind, smiled.

"Only in my homeland and Ehmont, you are the only one who opens your arms to catch me as I fall from the sky and blocks the wind with your body. I chose a good secretary."

Rionel, embarrassed by her words, gave a small cough. With the warm jacket, sunlight, and a solid windbreak, Adel's trembling body gradually warmed up. The frown on her forehead, which had been stiff, softened.

"That day, I'm sorry for making such a strange request. About bringing the people from Gotrop."

"…Should I send someone?"

Since she had said to call if it was a matter of life and death, Rionel intended to send someone to Gotrop if she allowed it. But at the same time, he had a contradictory thought that he did not want her to call. He looked at Adel's face as he walked. After a moment of silence, Adel slowly shook her head.

"There's no need."

"…."

"It's fine."

"…."

Silence fell between them. In the clear autumn day, Adel walked, warmed by the sunlight and Rionel's warmth, while Rionel walked, holding Adel's shadow. Looking down at his hand stained by Adel's shadow, Rionel slowly raised his gaze. The Empress, who had been crying endlessly, now looked at the front with a determined expression. The road seemed long but short. When they finally arrived at the palace, Adel smiled and returned the jacket.

"Thank you. Thanks to you, I came warmly. Would you like to come in for some tea?"

"Her Majesty should rest. I'll be going."

Adel chuckled at his loyal answer and turned. Mrs. Gix, who had rushed out, wrapped a blanket around her shoulders and led her into the palace. Rionel watched Adel go in, then put on the jacket he had been holding. The warmth left in the jacket enveloped him, and he stopped to savor it. The scent of the Empress seemed to linger, and he took a deep breath. He then clenched his jaw and continued walking.

＊＊＊

Meanwhile, Lorraine, following Dian's order, headed to the Emperor's office, worried that the Emperor might not be there, but it was a groundless worry. The Emperor did not even look at Lorraine, who had entered with permission.

"What is it?"

His voice was very indifferent. It was clear that the Emperor's interest and affection for Dian were gradually fading, as rumored. It was not that he disliked her, but rather that he was becoming indifferent. Lorraine, subtly gauging the Emperor's mood, said,

"Mademoiselle Poitiers requests an audience, Your Majesty."

Karl frowned.

"Why didn't she come herself? Why did she send you?"

"Her body is not well today, so it would be difficult for her to come herself…"

Karl, with an uninterested face, brought a stack of documents to his desk and picked up a quill.

"I'll go later. Tell her that."

"Forgive me, Your Majesty. Mademoiselle Poitiers insists that she has something important to say and requests that you come now."

His hand, about to sign, stopped in mid-air. A drop of ink fell, leaving a black mark on the document.

"Right now?"

"Yes, forgive me."

Lorraine bowed deeply. Karl sighed and put the quill back in the inkwell. He looked at the ink-stained document with displeasure and handed it to a servant.

"Have it redone."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The Emperor, rising from his seat, left the room without formalities, as they were in the same palace. Lorraine quickly followed. As they approached Dian's room, Lorraine stepped forward and knocked on the door.

"His Majesty the Emperor has arrived."

A very weak voice came from inside. Lorraine opened the door carefully and stepped back. Karl entered the room without hesitation.

"Your Majesty."

The frail voice made Karl sigh involuntarily. The voice now seemed annoying. He preferred her strength, which he wanted to break, to her weakness, which bothered him. Karl slowly turned his head to look at Dian and frowned.

"…."

Something was different. A strange sense of discomfort made Karl stop. Dian slowly extended her hand to him.

"Your Majesty, please come closer."

At her urging, Karl moved. Dian, who was sitting on the bed, looked pale, as if she was indeed not feeling well.

"You said you were not feeling well. Are you better now?"

Instead of answering, Dian carefully took Karl's hand. The doctors had delayed a clear diagnosis, but Dian could not wait any longer. She was certain that there was a child in her womb. Even if the official announcement was delayed, she wanted to tell Karl at least. Dian gently placed Karl's hand on her stomach. At that moment, all of Karl's movements stopped. He looked at his hand and Dian's stomach with a stiff face.

"Your Majesty… There might be our child here."

"…."

Dian looked at the Emperor's hand on her stomach with a moved expression.

'Little one, your father is the Emperor of the Empire.'

Her body trembled with joy. Tears welled up in her eyes and slid down her cheeks. Dian, wiping away her tears, said,

"The doctors said that my recent poor health is due to early pregnancy symptoms."

"…."

Dian, moved, suddenly realized that the Emperor was not responding and slowly raised her head. She almost screamed.

"…!"

The moment their eyes met, she forgot to breathe. Instead of the warm gaze she expected on her stomach, the Emperor was staring at her intently. The moment she raised her head, their eyes met. The shockingly cold gaze and expression made her shiver.