Chapter 22

Arinel’s smile was no longer as bright as it had been, but she had a calm look in her eyes. It was unknown if this was due to the fact that she didn’t have her usual headdress, or because it was made of the fabric she was wearing.

Maribelle’s mood, which had already been disrupted, dropped to the ground.

Maribelle, looking at her with a stiff face, was amazed. Arinel opened her mouth as if she was wondering.

“Aren’t you surprised?”

“—It’s no wonder, you’re here because Uncle is here.”

It’s a lie. Maribelle only just recovered from screaming inside. Of course it was an angry scream.

Maribelle wiped her face. She understood why she felt broken and wanted to run away. Because when she meets Arinel, she recalls a time in her life when she was very affectionate and kind.

Her past self who was willing to put up with even the most horrible things for the sake of the younger sister she loved. Even though the younger sister was harassing and setting her up, she was too busy embracing and loving her to notice. The emotions from the past were overlaid on the present.

She almost smiled as sweet as she used to. She almost thought her worried eyes were adorable.

‘Why did the memory of that time come back—’

Maribelle sighed and leaned against the pillar. The cool stone temperature seemed to calm her dizzy head. Maribelle’s head was spinning due to more than just Arinel.

Maribelle began to move again. The dazed mouth let out a faint murmur.

“Clearly, she said Empress—”

What in the world was that? Such vivid memories are impossible to fabricate. It’s shocking enough that she was married, let alone Empress.

Then it’s a fact that I’ve previously been married to His Majesty—.

“Maribelle?”

Maribelle raised her head. It was then that her surroundings caught her eye. It seemed that she had entered the garden of Igcentium without realizing it.

She looked around, and she realized just how ugly she might look. However, she did not see the face of the person who called her. Only her trembling hand that was being held by a larger one wearing a dress shirt and gold cufflinks engraved with the imperial design under a robe.

Then there was another golden light in her periphery.

“…Your Majesty?”

Maribelle fell in the dazzling golden light that surrounded her.