Chapter 59

Agrina stepped back, her hands neatly folded near her navel, but her mind raced.

‘As my brother said, the Empress Consort is certainly useful. If there’s something he didn’t predict… it might be that she’s more influential than we thought.’

Helio was an excellent ruler, yet he was an emperor whose thoughts were impossible to read.

Agrina concluded that Helio showed his true feelings to someone in a public setting, which was invaluable.

Liliana glanced at Agrina before cautiously asking Helio.

“What’s the matter? I’ll have to decline if you’re asking for another dance.”

Helio laughed as if finding her words absurd.

“Dance? No. Let’s go to a room for a moment.”

“A room? But the banquet is still going on…“

“That’s why we’re escaping. From now on, my sister will handle it.”

At Helio’s urging, Liliana sighed deeply and bid farewell to Lady Liston and Agrina.

“I’m sorry, I have to go now.“

“Of course, you must go if His Majesty calls.”

Lady Liston replied with a satisfied smile, and Agrina also bowed politely, seeing Liliana off.

“I look forward to seeing you again.”

Liliana smiled once more before walking away with Helio. The nobles, standing around irregularly in the banquet hall, parted to make way for the two of them.

Lady Liston and Agrina exchanged polite farewells and went their separate ways. They had no reason to stay together without Liliana to act as a bridge.

Thanks to Liliana, Agrina could blend into a small group of noblewomen. She elegantly sipped her champagne and thought.

‘Lady Liston is dangerous to keep close, holding a knife in her heart. The Empress Consort is exceptional for melting her, something nobody can do.’

Agrina smiled, formulating a new plan.

* * *

Liliana quietly followed Helio. She couldn’t think of what to say, seeing his displeasure.

Did something Beatty said to Helio during the dance upset him?

As Liliana pondered, Helio suddenly turned, causing her to jump like a startled fish.

“What were you thinking that scared you so much?“

“You just seemed to be in a bad mood.”

Helio sighed, running a hand through his hair, his rigid expression softening into a rare, pleasant look.

“It seems you know me well now. Quite cheeky.”

She didn’t understand why he smiled while calling her cheeky. As Liliana looked confused, Helio stepped closer and lifted her off the ground.

Liliana almost screamed but first checked their surroundings.

Seeing the empty, long hallway, she finally smacked Helio’s shoulder. She used all her strength, but he didn’t budge, which frustrated her.

“What if someone sees us?“

“There’s no one around.“

“But Sir Ternz is here!”

Liliana whispered urgently, chiding him. Ternz, standing unobtrusively, gave an awkward smile and shook his head.

“Oh, I’m just here to guide you to the room. I won’t be around.”

Ternz remained nonchalant and kind. Liliana, with no choice, stayed stiffly in Helio’s arms.

She wanted to relax, but Helio’s firm chest against her arms and his incredible scent felt too close.

As Liliana remained silent and uncomfortable, Helio asked curiously.

“Are you uncomfortable?“

“No, not at all…”

Liliana shook her head, trying to act naturally, but her ears gradually turned red under her thick hair, especially her neck, which was glowing red under the lights.

Helio wanted to kiss her reddening neck immediately, but he feared she might faint. He deliberately thought of something else and kept his gaze forward.

When Ternz turned the ornate bird-shaped doorknob, a luxuriously decorated room appeared. Liliana recognized it as a place she had once rushed into without thinking.

Realizing her foolishness, Liliana bit her lower lip in embarrassment.

“I’ll take my leave now.”

Ternz took Liliana’s two maids and exited, leaving the room silent. Helio gently placed Liliana on the sofa like a delicate bird.

Looking down at her, Helio spoke with a hint of grievance.

“If someone saw this, they’d think I was tormenting you.“

“What did I do…“ Liliana muttered softly as she adjusted her disheveled dress.

Instead of responding, Helio knelt on one knee in front of her. Liliana tried to pull her leg back in surprise, but there was nowhere to go.

Helio looked at her calmly and said, “Shall I lift your dress?“

Liliana’s face felt like it was about to explode.

“Why would you…”

However, seeing that Helio showed no sign of backing down, Liliana reluctantly lifted the hem of her dress with trembling hands, just enough to reveal the tips of her shoes.

Even though she had once lain next to him in even thinner nightwear, lifting the hem of her dress now felt unbearably embarrassing.

Unable to endure the strange atmosphere any longer, Liliana tried to get up, but Helio was faster, grabbing her ankle.

“Your Majesty, please, let go,”

Liliana pleaded, not knowing what to do. It was the first time someone had grabbed her ankle, and she hadn’t realized how ticklish it would feel.

Liliana wriggled her foot to escape, but Helio didn’t budge. With a gentle yet firm touch, he removed her shoe. Liliana felt like her foot was finally freed from a narrow prison, a sense of relief washing over her.

Seeing her face light up, Helio chuckled softly and lifted her other foot. Understanding his intent, Liliana offered no resistance, though she couldn’t help but grumble.

“What kind of emperor takes off his empress consort’s shoes?“

“The one right in front of you.”

Helio tossed her shoes aside, leaving Liliana looking crestfallen without footwear.

“What am I supposed to do without my shoes?“

“Why wear shoes that hurt your feet?“

“Shoes always hurt if you wear them for a long time, Your Majesty.”

Helio looked puzzled, as if he couldn’t understand.

“There’s no ‘always‘ with me. I’ll prove it to you.”

Helio seemed as if he might have a rare disease where humility was fatal. Though Liliana pouted, she didn’t feel like arguing against his confidence. Once Helio said he would do something, he would indeed do it.

Helio placed a soft cushion under Liliana’s feet and sat beside her. Leaning his head against the back of the sofa, he closed his eyes.

From this close, Liliana could see how tired he looked. She realized that he never seemed to enjoy himself at the banquets.

Liliana reached out and cupped Helio’s forehead with her hand. His eyelids fluttered, and his blue eyes fixed on her intensely.

“I thought you were lying about your feet hurting.“

“It was bearable, so I suppose it was a lie.“

“You do have a good deal of patience.”

“Hmm, that’s true.”

Liliana agreed readily, but Helio didn’t mock her. He simply stared at her with a gaze so intense it felt like he might draw her in.

After a few minutes, Liliana started worrying that her cheeks might burn from his stare.

When she pulled her hand away from his forehead, his large hand grabbed hers and placed it back on it.

“You said you’d give me your hand.”

Liliana quickly understood his reference. She misunderstood when he asked for a letter and gave him her hand instead.

While she kept her hand on Helio’s forehead, she couldn’t help but chatter in protest.

“I didn’t give you ownership of my hand, just a loan. The time has passed, so I can’t lend it to you any longer.”

Helio laughed, finding her audacity amusing, but Liliana stood firm.

“You belong to me.“

Helio’s confident declaration left Liliana speechless and frozen in place.

“How can you say such things… Your Majesty… how… don’t you feel embarrassed?”

Her stammered words were barely coherent.

Helio watched her with a relaxed smile before closing his eyes again. Without his gaze, Liliana’s discomfort slowly ebbed.

Her palm rested on Helio’s cool forehead, his soft hair brushing against her skin.

Though two maids stood in the hallway, the room was so quiet that she could hear nothing but Helio’s steady breathing.

It felt surreal, as if she had never been part of a grand banquet moments before.

This kind of life isn’t bad. No, it’s good.

As Liliana smiled faintly, Helio spoke.

“If your pained foot was just an excuse, why did you need that excuse?”

At that moment, Liliana realized how naive her sense of peace had been.

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