Chapter 18

“Marquess Wilhelm is a person who made great contributions in the recent war. It’s certainly an important matter, so it won’t be a waste of time. If you wish to go, you should.”

The Empress Dowager spoke to the hesitant Liliana.

“Wait a moment…”

Beatty began to speak as if to stop her, but Liliana immediately bowed to the Empress Dowager and gave a slight nod to everyone present.

She didn’t know why Marquess Wilhelm was seeking her, but he was undoubtedly her savior from this situation.

The marquess’s servant led her down the hall to the garden outside the banquet hall. Just as she started to feel anxious as they headed to a more secluded area, she saw a figure standing in one corner of the garden.

The person was tall and wore a black robe. The servant bowed before this person and then slowly withdrew, having completed his task.

“Are you Marquess Wilhelm?” Liliana asked cautiously. She couldn’t understand why someone attending the banquet would be dressed like that, but there was no other option but to ask.

When the person she assumed to be Marquess Wilhelm turned around, she saw blue eyes shining under the moonlight from beneath the black robe. This person was not Marquess Wilhelm.

Liliana’s eyes widened in surprise as she exclaimed, “Your Majesty the Emper—!”

“Shh.”

Helio quickly closed the distance and covered Liliana’s mouth. She blinked but kept her mouth shut.

“If I let go, will you stay quiet? Understand?”

Liliana nodded to show she understood. Helio let out a sigh mixed with a laugh and released her. Remembering Helio’s instruction to stay quiet, Liliana asked in a small voice, “What are you doing here? Where is Marquess Wilhelm?”

“Are you that eager to see him?”

He was probably handsome, so she was a little curious. But saying that might earn her a flick on the forehead, so Liliana shook her head vigorously. Helio’s expression showed he was satisfied with her reaction.

“Your Majesty, why are you here?”

“The banquet is boring.”

“Why did you call me here?”

“To play with you. Here, wear this.”

Helio picked up another black robe from the ground and handed it to Liliana. She looked puzzled but obediently took the robe and draped it over her shoulders.

Helio then covered Liliana’s pink hair with the hood of the robe.

“Why wear this just to play? Don’t tell me…”

“Let’s go out. The founding festival is much more fun outside the palace.”

Helio extended his hand. Liliana couldn’t understand any of this, but the man in front of her seemed so innocent that she laughed. Despite chuckling, she took Helio’s hand.

“You’re laughing? I saved you from being bullied by Lady Gabriel, and you’re not grateful.”

“Did you help me on purpose?”

“I don’t feel like answering anymore.”

Helio said this and led Liliana to a carriage in the darkness. After the two got into the carriage, it started moving.

Riding through the dark path in the carriage made Liliana a bit scared, so she huddled her shoulders. However, Helio wore a smile, as if he was full of anticipation.

Liliana looked at Helio and asked, “Why did you do that earlier?”

“What do you mean?”

“You said something about making the child a king in front of everyone.”

Thinking about the attention she had received still made her shiver. Liliana pouted as she said, “If you think saying that will make me want to have a child, you’re mistaken.”

Helio leaned against the carriage window and stared at her. Even in the dim light from the carriage lantern, his gaze was clear. Feeling increasingly embarrassed, Liliana lowered her head.

“I mean it.”

“Liliana.”

Helio’s voice, calling her, sounded quieter than before. Feeling intimidated, Liliana replied softly,

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

“I am not like the Emperor. It is true that I need the child, but when I declared today that I would make him king, it was to protect you and the child.”

Helio finished speaking and laughed self-deprecatingly.

“It may not be different for you, but I brought you to this unfamiliar land.”

Liliana thought she should say something. She wanted to say that it wasn’t true, that he and the previous emperor were both involved in politics but seemed different.

But what did Liliana really know about Helio? Saying something carelessly might hurt him even more.

She hesitated before murmuring softly, “If you’re sorry, change it to two times.”

Helio raised an eyebrow and looked at Liliana, leaning slightly forward as if he hadn’t heard her clearly.

“What are you talking about?”

“You promised to help me once when I was fighting with Lady Gabriel. Change it to twice.”

Helio laughed and asked, “What do you want to do to her?”

“It’s not about wanting to do something. I just want to survive.”

Helio arrogantly crossed his long legs, looking handsome even in this casual pose, which flustered Liliana a bit.

With a smile, Helio gazed at Liliana, studying her from her fair forehead framed by pink hair to her small chin. Then he made a decision.

“Alright.”

“Thank you!”

Liliana responded loudly and bit her lower lip in excitement. Helio leaned back against the carriage seat, tapping the window with his fingers in a slow rhythm.

“You have a stronger will to survive than you seem.”

Instead of answering directly, Liliana tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled.

Her gaze turned toward the window. Sometimes, her pink eyes, usually so lovely, held a strong will.

“I like living.”

“Why? Your life hasn’t been that good.”

Helio’s assessment of Liliana’s life was blunt and honest, as her life had indeed been wretched.

However, Liliana looked at him sharply and said, “Even if life isn’t good, good things can happen, Your Majesty.”

Her response intrigued Helio.

“For example?”

At that moment, a distant firework burst with a loud pop. Liliana’s eyes widened as she opened the window and leaned out.

The hem of her robe flipped back, and her pink hair flew wildly in the strong wind.

“Liliana, it’s dangerous…”

Helio tried to pull her back, but Liliana turned back into the carriage, exclaiming, “Wow! It’s so beautiful!”

Another firework exploded, and Liliana watched it through the carriage window. Helio, worried she might hit her head, gently pulled her arm.

Her slender body was quickly pulled back into the carriage, but her excitement was evident.

She laughed like an excited kitten, her nose turning red. Despite her disheveled hair, she didn’t seem to care.

“See? I was right.”

With Helio looking puzzled, Liliana pointed outside at the ongoing fireworks. She smiled broadly.

“Even if life isn’t good, good things can happen.”

The fireworks were indeed beautiful, lighting up the dark sky with colorful bursts like shooting stars.

But that was all they were—momentary joy, fleeting pleasure. Yet Liliana was genuinely enjoying the moment.

She knew how to enjoy life.

Helio found it oddly fascinating. This small, seemingly insignificant woman’s joy had a certain value.

It was a value far removed from material wealth, something that couldn’t be measured in gold coins or compared to honor.

Helio knocked on the window leading to the driver’s seat. Shortly after, the carriage stopped by the roadside, and Helio got out.

“Come.”

Helio extended his hand to help Liliana out of the carriage. She adjusted her disheveled hair and put her robe back on.

The fireworks were still going strong, allowing Liliana to watch the bigger bursts in the sky.

She opened her mouth slightly and widened her eyes, each red and blue firework reflecting in her bright eyes.

“Is this your first time seeing fireworks?”

“No, I’ve seen them before.”

Liliana answered quickly, and Helio asked, finding her cute, “Yet you still enjoy them so much?”

“It was a long time ago. A really long time ago.”

It wasn’t just a distant past—it was from a previous life. With that thought, Liliana’s smile suddenly faded.

‘Huh? How did I die in my previous life? When did I see fireworks?’

She was sure it wasn’t her first time seeing fireworks. However, she could only vaguely remember watching them from a much higher and distant place, not from a busy market like this.

“Empress Consort?”

Seeing Liliana, who had been as excited as a puppy in the snow, suddenly froze, Helio placed his hand on her shoulder. She looked startled but then shook her head.

“It’s nothing. What shall we do now? Shall we eat something delicious?”

The Liliana who asked this was the same hamster-like Liliana as usual. Helio found her brief change unsettling but had no intention of reprimanding her.

Helio held out his palm in front of Liliana.

“Hold on.”

Liliana touched the back of her neck and blushed.

“It’s a bit embarrassing.”

“If you were a bit taller, I wouldn’t ask you to hold on. You’re so small that if I lose you in the crowd, how would I bring you back to the palace?”

At this, Liliana placed her hands on her hips and huffed, clearly indignant.

“I’m not that small! I’m just a little below average. Do you think I’m some kind of rabbit?”

“Similar. Small but with a bad temper.”

With that, Helio grabbed Liliana’s hand. She grumbled but obediently let him hold her hand and followed him.

Having attended the banquet, both Helio and Liliana were quite hungry since they hadn’t had a chance to eat. She wondered if she could suggest eating street food, but it seemed inappropriate. Just then, Helio asked,

“Do you want to eat that?”

“Oh, Your Majesty, how could you eat such a thing?”

Liliana laughed, thinking he was joking. However, Helio, with a nonchalant expression, took out a few coins and approached the vendor to pay.

He received two hot skewers, handed one to Liliana, and kept one for himself.