Chapter 50

A week had passed. On a peaceful morning, the commander of the Third Imperial Knights visited the Emerald Palace.

Liliana wasn’t particularly pleased with the visit, as she was tired from reviewing past records of the Harvest Festival until the early hours of the previous day. However, upon meeting the commander’s loyal gaze, her thoughts began to change.

The commander she had met before was imposing due to his large stature. But now, he seemed more restrained, like a well-trained hunting dog.

“Your Highness, I have come to report.”

“If it’s about the carriage accident, you can report it to His Majesty,“ Liliana replied, masking her curiosity with a nonchalant tone.

The commander responded in a precise and disciplined manner.

“Since Your Highness experienced the incident directly, His Majesty has permitted me to report it to you as well.”

Liliana blinked rapidly. She wouldn’t have been surprised if Helio had ordered the report to be conveyed. However, the commander’s seeking permission from Helio to come to her was pretty remarkable.

The commander stood at attention and began his report.

“It’s confirmed that the carriage accident was orchestrated. The horse that pulled the carriage ingested a large amount of hibiscus, likely about eight hours before the incident.”

Though much of this was already known thanks to Lady Liston, there was also new information.

“Does that mean the culprit is someone who was with me?“

“Yes. The coachman or the porters are the most likely suspects, so we intend to interrogate them first.“

“What about the maids?“

“His Majesty has instructed me to ask Your Highness’s opinion. We could preemptively detain the maids who accompanied you…“

“No, there’s no need to drag innocent people into this. Let’s announce that the investigation into the culprit faces difficulties in lowering the perpetrator’s guard.“

Liliana didn’t want Sophia and Minelli to suffer confinement. However, the commander seemed to interpret her words differently. To him, Liliana appeared as an ideal royal who valued and cared for her subordinates.

With a loud thud, the commander knelt on one knee. Liliana nearly jumped at the sudden movement but maintained her composure for the sake of dignity.

“Your Highness! All of the Third Imperial Knights sincerely thank you.”

Liliana thought he was referring to the meal she had provided. While it was confirmed that she had offered a luxurious meal, she didn’t think it warranted such fervent gratitude.

“Please, rise. I’m glad to hear everyone enjoyed it.”

But the commander shook his head vigorously and continued.

“Not only did you provide a meal, but you also granted a reward. The morale of the knights has never been higher. Furthermore, we heard that you requested leave from His Majesty for us. Everyone is deeply moved by your grace!”

What is he talking about?

While Liliana had provided the meal, the reward and the leave were not her ideas.

She received his thanks in a daze. The commander stood only after she told him to rise three times, then exited the palace after loudly pledging his utmost efforts.

As Liliana turned back with an exhausted expression, she realized something.

“His Majesty…”

Anger flows downward. Perhaps Helio understood this well, too. Liliana gazed far into the distance towards the unseen Imperial Palace from the Emerald Palace.

She wanted to see Helio soon.

* * *

The Harvest Festival, held in October, consisted of a hunting competition and a royal banquet.

Although two months remained, organizing a hunting competition she had never attended was no easy task.

That’s why Liliana found herself in the corner of Helio’s office, sitting at a desk and pulling her hair in frustration. She worried the pen sticking out from her pink hair might break.

Helio stopped working at his desk in the center of his office and looked up at Liliana.

It wasn’t that she was being loud or flipping through documents noisily, but his gaze kept drifting toward her. She silently expressed her pain in different postures each time, which he found genuinely intriguing.

Helio indulged in Liliana’s distress for a while before reluctantly getting up. If he left her as she was, she seemed likely to collapse, claiming she had a headache.

As Helio slowly approached deliberately, Liliana sensed his presence and looked up.

Like a wary cat, she narrowed her eyes and covered the documents she was scribbling on with both hands. However, her small hands couldn’t entirely hide them.

“Don’t look.“

“What you write will end up with me eventually.“

“No, it will go to Her Highness the Princess first for review.“

“That’s not incorrect.”

Helio nodded in agreement, and Liliana let her guard down. Helio swiftly snatched the documents like a swift bird when she relaxed her grip.

Liliana reached out belatedly, but the documents were already in Helio’s hands.

“Your Majesty!”

Liliana called out to Helio in a voice full of displeasure, but he walked away, reading through her notes.

“You’ve drastically reduced the number of rare animals purchased for the hunting event. Why?”

Liliana put down her pen and pouted. However, she didn’t ignore Helio’s question.

“Rare animals aren’t considered food. The Harvest Festival is an event that aims to bring a bountiful year of food. I thought it didn’t align with the purpose. Also, capturing them from distant places and bringing them to the capital would cost a lot, and many would die before surviving the journey, which seems wasteful.“

“The nobles might think the national event is too modest.“

“Hmm…”

As Liliana fell into deep thought, Helio smiled with genuine interest.

“I don’t think your idea is wrong. For commoners, food is essential for survival, but nobles won’t starve without rare animal hides. However, nobles also support the empire, so they can’t be completely ignored.“

“Yes…”

When Liliana responded softly, Helio paused momentarily before quickly stepping up to stand before her desk, looking down at her with what seemed like a hint of concern.

“Why so glum? Is it because of what I said?“

“Pardon?“

“Are you upset because I questioned your budget proposal?“

Liliana blinked in surprise, wondering if he was worried his words might hurt her. She shook her head vigorously.

“No, it’s not that. It’s frustrating that I didn’t think of such an obvious thing despite being of royal blood.”

At her words, Helio let out a small sigh of relief.

“That’s not your fault; you can learn. You have a distinguished teacher and Lucia to help you. Even if you make mistakes, you don’t need to be frustrated; I’m here.”

Liliana blushed and smiled at his unexpectedly kind words.

“Still, I want to do well.”

She mumbled, twisting a strand of her hair.

“It’s the first time people around me keep telling me I’m doing well. I really want to do well. I don’t want to disappoint Her Highness the Princess, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, or Your Majesty…”

This was why Liliana had been racking her brains all the time.

She slowly realized that she was being given a chance. For the first time in her life, she had a precious opportunity, and she wanted to do her best at every turn.

Helio looked at Liliana’s sparkling pink eyes and suddenly blurted out,

“Call me Helio.“

“…Pardon?“

“Try calling me Helio.”

It was an impulsive remark, almost ridiculous. Naturally, Liliana looked up at him, her lips parted in a daze.

In the empire, the only person who called Helio by his name was his half-sister Lucia.

She did so only privately, and unfamiliar palace staff were often startled and trembled.

Such a noble name could not be called by Liliana.

“I can’t.”

As soon as she came to her senses, Liliana immediately refused. But Helio was persistent.

“You’re confusing your words.”

“What do you mean?“

“You said, ‘Her Majesty the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty.‘ Who do you mean by Your Majesty?“

“Of course, you! The one in front of me!”

At his absurd argument, Liliana raised her voice. She continued, fuming.

“You’re just trying to tease me again, aren’t you? If I call your name, you’ll say I’m being presumptuous, and if I don’t, you’ll say I’m defying your orders. I won’t fall for it anymore!”

Liliana stood up abruptly, snatching the documents from Helio’s hands. Then, she deliberately glared at the papers, refusing to look at him.

Surprised by her sudden boldness, Helio couldn’t react, so the documents were taken from him. His empty hands hovered in the air, grasping at nothing.

He hadn’t meant to tease her this time, but his past habit of playing pranks for amusement seemed to return to bite him.

“Empress Consort.“

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Liliana responded promptly without even lifting her head. Helio thought that either he had gone mad or Liliana was being too much because he found her behavior endearing.

He leaned over her desk, supporting himself with one hand, and spoke softly.

“Lily.”

The gentle and sweet tone was enough to make Liliana look up. Helio felt delighted as he saw her large eyes waver with uncertainty.

With a mischievous expression, he lightly lifted her fingers covering the document.

“Everything looks good, but why did you draw this rabbit? Is it a self-portrait?”

Liliana followed Helio’s gesture with her gaze. At the tip of his finger was a “bear“ that she had doodled in the corner of the document. A small and cute teddy bear!

Liliana bit her lower lip hard. Once again, she realized she had fallen for his prank, which frustrated her.

TL NOTE: A more advanced chapter of this story is already up on the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories.