Chapter 53

Lionel, with the blazing sun at his back, stopped in his tracks on the sparsely populated road when he noticed the Empress walking alone from afar. Unlike her usual proud and straight posture, she was walking with a slumped, weary gait. Her face, illuminated by the sunlight and glowing with a golden hue, remained composed, but her hidden frustration was evident. It seemed the Empress had not yet noticed his presence.

"Your Majesty, Empress."

He called out, but she did not hear him. His voice was so soft, it barely escaped his lips.

"Your Majesty, Empress."

He called again, but she still did not hear. Lionel looked down at the ground and watched the Empress walk slowly, almost breathlessly. It was only when her feet touched the end of his long shadow that she slowly lifted her head. Her face seemed to be smiling, and her shoulders, which had been drooping, straightened up. Lionel felt as if his feet were bound to the ground, unable to move a step. She took one step into his shadow, and her bright golden eyes shone as she looked at him.

"Lionel."

"Your Majesty, Empress."

"Are you on your way back to the palace? Are you going this way?"

"Where are you going at this hour, Your Majesty?"

"A walk."

As his brows instinctively tightened, Adel glanced around the surroundings, which were beginning to darken.

"Yes, I should go back now."

She turned and pointed in the direction of the Empress's quarters.

"Are you on your way this way?"

"Yes."

"Then let's go together."

Lionel bit his lip at Adel's voice, which was laced with a smile. Her tone and expression seemed casual, as if nothing had happened. The weary, slow gait she had just moments ago had vanished. The Empress was desperately trying to maintain her composure.

"What are you doing? Let's go!"

"Cain Knox, Gibeon Ruhan, Theodore Siniac."

Adel gasped at the names that suddenly burst from his lips.

"I will call them whenever you say."

"..."

"If you need them, just let me know."

Lionel's black eyes shone as he spoke earnestly. Even though bringing them would bring him no benefit, it felt as if his chest, which had been cold, was now warming up. His kindness was like a warm knife, gently piercing his heart and splitting the hard wall, revealing the most tender flesh. His large frame seemed even more dependable today. Her weakened heart kept urging her to lean on his shoulder. Adel playfully remarked:

"I chose a good secretary, didn't I?"

Then she started to retrace her steps. Lionel caught up with her in one long stride and matched his pace to hers.

"Who are they?"

"People who used to break towers with me."

"They must be the ones in charge of the Tower Resistance, right? I've heard of the Knox family from Gotrop."

"Really? Well, the Knox family is an old and prestigious one. Cain Knox is their only and precious son. He followed me to break towers, and his family head kept pleading with me whenever he got the chance."

"They must have asked you to exclude him from the Tower Resistance."

"Exactly. But Cain is as good at breaking towers as I am."

"That must have been difficult for you."

At that, Adel chuckled, recalling the memory.

"I got a bit angry and told them to go talk to their son. But he still kept pleading with me. I knew it would come to this."

Talking about her hometown lightened the Empress's expression. Her face, which had been hidden in the darkness of the setting sun, would be bathed in a strong red light whenever she turned to him. The shadows of her eyelashes, straight nose, and plump lips would appear and then disappear. Lionel, who wanted to see this more, asked questions about Gotrop, and Adel answered earnestly, her eyes shining. He wished this road would never end. As they walked side by side, their shadows seemed to blend, making them look like just a man and a woman, rather than an Empress and her secretary.

Then, Adel suddenly pointed to the jacket he was wearing.

"Where did you get this jacket?"

Lionel looked down at his jacket, tilted his head, and looked at Adel.

"I'm not sure. The butler usually orders it."

"Have you ever asked if they make women's coats? They're really warm."

Adel suddenly remembered the good smell from the jacket.

"I have a question."

"Go ahead."

Adel asked carefully, paying attention to her tone.

"What kind of perfume do you use?"

"Huh?"

Lionel's eyes widened as he looked at Adel, and Adel cleared her throat, feeling embarrassed.

"Just curious."

"..."

"I don't use perfume."

"Really? Are you sure?"

This time, Adel's eyes widened. That's impossible, she thought. As she leaned in slightly and took a deep breath, Lionel instinctively took a step back. His ears were already red, and their gazes met in the air. Adel straightened her body, put on a serious expression, and continued walking.

"I see."

Lionel, following the Empress, sniffed his own clothes. It didn't seem like he was the one using perfume. ***

Meanwhile, in the Viscount Bueta's territory. Fortunately, no slums had formed here, but each house was bustling with relatives who had come to seek refuge. While the adults were uncomfortable, the children were busy playing with their new friends.

"I'm going to find you!!!"

The child who was "it" in a game of hide-and-seek shouted loudly and turned around. He scanned the area where his friends might be hiding and looked triumphant. Just as he was about to walk towards the cart where his friend was hiding, there was a loud bang!

"Ah!!"

"Ah!!"

Everyone, whether hiding, seeking, or walking, screamed in shock. The ground shook, and the children, startled, fell to the ground and burst into tears. The Viscount Bueta and his retainers, who were conducting business in the castle, were equally shocked by the tremendous noise. The Viscount, with a serious expression, ran to the terrace of his office and looked up at the sky. The retainers who followed him also looked up, their faces filled with anxiety.

"Please..."

Someone whispered as if in prayer. But then,

"No..."

The Viscount swallowed hard and squeezed his eyes shut. His fists trembled with effort, and cold sweat poured down his back. A black dot began to appear in the center of the red sky. The Viscount, who had been tracking the location of the falling tower, turned and quickly gave orders.

"Evacuate all the villages in the southern area and open the castle gates! Prepare to defend the castle against the demons that will pour out!"

"Yes, my lord!"

"You, light the beacon and send a message to the capital to request reinforcements!"

"Yes, my lord!"

"We will pray for reinforcements from the capital and do our best to hold out."

The Viscount's heart was uneasy, recalling the destruction of the Count Calvin's territory, which had been annihilated without the support of mages. Whether the Viscount Bueta's territory would meet the same fate or be saved was unknown. Only the Emperor and Duke Despone would know.

"Please..."

The Viscount's desperate muttering was drowned out by the screams that erupted everywhere. The residents of the Viscount Bueta's territory looked up at the sky, which was turning red. Their shoulders looked pitifully weak in the face of the overwhelming disaster. ***

The approval for the Ivory Palace lease was granted. As the maids packed their belongings, Diane sat motionless on the sofa. She could have gone to the Ivory Palace first, but she waited. The Emperor had not visited her since that day. Even that day, it was Diane who had called him, so technically, he had not come to her. If I wait, will he come? But Diane finally came to a bitter conclusion. He won't come today either. He didn't come when she was evicted from the Ivory Palace, so why would today be any different? For several days and nights, she counted the time like grains of sand, thinking.

'What did I do wrong?'

The answer to this question was very cruel. Diane hugged her stomach, and her eyes shimmered with sadness. She felt a gentle kick, though the doctor had said it was impossible at this stage. Whenever she felt anxious, the baby would kick her stomach. A child who would not receive the love of its father.

'...Then what about me?'

Diane wiped away her tears and stood up. She couldn't just sit and cry. She had about nine months left. During this time, she had two things to do. First, she would not make this child a bastard. Second, she would ensure that she herself was recognized as the child's mother. Diane Poitiers' eyes shone more fiercely than ever. ***

Karl, who was conducting business, glanced at Diane as she appeared at the door, then lowered his gaze to the documents.

"What is it?"

"..."

As time passed without an answer, Karl frowned and looked up. Diane was standing still, staring at him. His familiar face suddenly felt unfamiliar. Karl had always seen her smiling. Even when she cried, she still smiled at him. That's why her completely expressionless face felt like that of a stranger.

"Diane?"

When he called her, tilting his head, Diane slowly curled her lips into a smile.

"Your Majesty."

"Speak."

"I'm going back to the Ivory Palace today."

The Emperor merely stared at her with a cold expression, showing no concern about the enormous lease payment or offering a light congratulations. Unable to bear the silence, Diane slowly stroked her stomach and continued.

"I feel the baby kicking. This child will definitely have a very cheerful personality."

"..."

"Could you come and talk to the baby from time to time?"

Diane watched Karl's face closely.

"Children need the love of their parents, don't they?"

"..."

"I don't have the strength to protect this child. Will the Empress... recognize this child? My child with Your Majesty?"

"Enough."

"Please don't abandon me and this child, Your Majesty."

Karl, who had been leaning back, suddenly stood up and approached her with rough steps. Diane, who had always seemed weak, did not step back and faced him. Karl brought his face close to hers and growled lowly.

"You always tell me not to abandon you. I've told you countless times not to say that."

"That was the only thing I could say."

"I've always told you that my love is enough."