Chapter 64

Listening to the soft, low whispers, Liliana didn’t bother to deny it.

Helio was a strange man. Liliana had never encountered anyone so contradictory in her life.

He was known as a cold-hearted man who sought revenge on his mother and subdued neighboring countries. But to Liliana, Helio was not a man without blood or tears.

He always cared for Liliana, whom he could quickly kill with one hand, and he genuinely loved his mother.

Those who described Helio as a parricide or a warmonger didn’t know him. Helio never waged more wars than necessary.

Furthermore, while he was endlessly arrogant, he took pride in not becoming an incompetent ruler who would sell off his sister to a foreign land.

Despite all this… he loathed himself for bringing Liliana from the Kingdom of Nieta.

“If you think of it that way, it’s only natural that you rely on me against your will yet still cannot trust me.”

“Your Majesty, I…”

Is that really not the case? Liliana wanted to say that she was only afraid of Gabriel Duchy. After all, she knew how the original Liliana met her end.

However, to Helio, that was nothing more or less than saying she didn’t trust him.

Even though Liliana hesitated, Helio didn’t seem hurt at all. He acted as if he already knew everything.

“There’s no need to struggle with your answer.”

Under the table, Helio grasped Liliana’s hand. She flinched slightly but didn’t pull away.

“I have countless ways to change your mind, slowly, one by one.“

Helio’s thumb gently stroked the back of Liliana’s hand suggestively. Liliana could feel the heat slowly rising from the skin where they touched.

Yet, even at that moment, she was relieved that Helio didn’t seem too displeased.

However, Helio’s teasing didn’t last long.

Taking advantage of a lull in the music, Agrina approached the spot where Helio and Liliana were seated. With a graceful gesture, as if she were wearing just a single layer of clothing, she greeted them and looked at Helio.

“Agrina Gabriel of the Gabriel Duchy greets His Majesty the Emperor. If it’s not too much trouble, may I have a word with Her Highness the Empress Consort?”

Though Agrina wished to speak with Liliana, her eyes and body language focused entirely on Helio. In the end, Liliana was merely an excuse.

Liliana tried to let go of Helio’s hand and stand up, but he didn’t let her go.

Instead, a subtle force seemed to pull her back into her seat.

Helio looked at Agrina with a displeased expression.

“After just one dance, it seems I have to give up the Empress Consort to everyone.”

Agrina, usually so adept, seemed taken aback by his blunt remark. But Helio continued.

“I’ve seen quite a lot of you today.”

“The Emperor and Empress Consort’s strong bond is the reason, I’m sure.”

It was clear that Agrina’s actions, despite her words, were meant to capture Helio’s attention. Nobles often lied, but rarely with the intent to deceive.

Helio wasn’t unaware of Agrina’s intentions, but instead of pursuing it further, he turned to Liliana.

“Empress Consort, didn’t you say your feet were hurting?”

Helio asked as if he knew she’d been wandering around the garden in new shoes.

But Liliana had no desire to stand up and leave, nor did she want to face Agrina’s gaze.

“Yes, I think my feet are a bit swollen.”

With Liliana’s response, Agrina had no room to insert herself further.

“That’s unfortunate. Then let’s look forward to next time, Your Highness.”

After saying that, Agrina finally bid farewell, her eyes lingering on Helio until the last moment.

To onlookers, it might have seemed like she had come to see Liliana, but the two people facing her knew better.

From that moment, Liliana could sense Helio’s mood souring, making her uncomfortable.

Not long after Agrina left, the banquet came to an end.

Helio stood and offered toasts to all the nobles in the hall. Even at the last moment, he didn’t forget to commend Liliana for her efforts.

As the nobles gradually departed, four people remained in the now-empty banquet hall: Helio, the Empress Dowager, Lucia, and Liliana.

In the Carlo Empire, it was customary for the royal family to remain behind after a large banquet to have a brief conversation.

Of course, Helio remained silent while the Empress Dowager and Lucia carried on most of the conversation.

“It’s even more enjoyable today with the Empress Consort present.”

The Empress Dowager smiled warmly at Liliana, offering her a glass of wine.

“Aren’t you tired? I didn’t expect you to participate in the hunting competition,“ Lucia remarked, surprised. Indeed, it was unusual for an empress to participate in a hunting competition.

Liliana shyly accepted the wine glass from the Empress Dowager, smiling demurely.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t tired but had fun. Oh, I also heard about Marquis Vilum’s first love.“

“My goodness.“

Lucia’s expression lit up with genuine interest. She leaned closer to Liliana and asked eagerly,

“How did you hear a first love story from such a stiff man?“

“He was kinder than I expected. He even helped me during the hunt.”

As Liliana explained how kind Sergei had been during the hunt, Lucia listened with the delight of someone hearing a famous opera singer’s story.

And then, unexpectedly, Helio, who had seemed downcast all evening, interjected.

“What did Sergei do?”

The three women present all looked at Helio with startled eyes.

Since earlier, he had been drinking his preferred wine, seemingly displeased with the one offered, but hadn’t done much else.

“I asked you a question.”

Liliana, wondering why he was asking again when she had already told him, answered again, though she thought this wasn’t the first time he had acted this way.

“Marquis Vilum carefully guided me while I aimed my bow.”

“And?“

“I caught a rabbit, which I then presented to Your Majesty.”

Helio seemed dissatisfied with something, but when he heard that the game was the rabbit she had mentioned, he simply clicked his tongue and said nothing more.

The Empress Dowager glanced at Helio, somewhat taken aback, before quietly laughing as if she found something amusing.

“What did the Princess and the Crown Prince of Sagreen talk about?”

The Empress Dowager inquired, causing Liliana to swallow her curiosity, as she had been wondering the same thing. Lucia lowered her gaze and chuckled softly.

“There wasn’t much of interest.“

“The Crown Prince of Sagreen was quite charming and well-mannered.“

“I think he was more impressed with Her Highness the Empress Consort than with me,“ Lucia teased, though the remark seemed directed at Helio rather than Liliana. Helio pretended not to hear and took another sip of his wine.

“He’s an educated and passionate person,“ Lucia continued.

“Really?” Liliana’s heart fluttered with excitement. In her previous life, she might not have cared, but in this life, she had never had a close friend, so this was the first time she had ever heard a friend’s romantic story.

Seeing Liliana’s eyes sparkle, Lucia smiled apologetically.

“While I think he’s a decent person, nothing else happened. The Crown Prince of Sagreen wants a woman who can prioritize the interests of Sagreen over anything else, and I’m not that person. I’ve invested too much blood, sweat, and tears into the Carlo Empire.“

Lucia’s eyes gleamed with deep pride as she spoke, revealing her firm confidence in what she had built.

“Ruling a country from the ground up might be interesting, but many areas in the Empire still need my attention. And if I go to Shagreen, who would look after Your Highness the Empress Consort?”

Liliana blushed at Lucia’s playful tone but was immensely relieved that Lucia would stay in the Empire.

While preparing for the Harvest Festival, Lucia tirelessly helped Liliana, never showing any sign of irritation despite Liliana’s constant need for assistance.

When two people chat and one remains silent, the atmosphere can be awkward, but now that there are more voices, it feels like a close-knit family.

However, when Helio placed his palm heavily on the table, the three women fell silent and looked at him. He rubbed his temples gently and spoke.

“It’s time for everyone to return.“

“Helio, we’re still having fun,“ the Empress Dowager protested.

“If I leave you alone, you’ll probably keep talking until morning. Everyone except the Empress Consort should return to the palace and rest.”

Lucia, who had been about to protest, nodded silently when Helio mentioned leaving Liliana behind. The Empress Dowager also seemed reluctant to go but signaled to her maid and stood up.

“Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, shall we return together? I’ll escort you,“ Lucia offered.

“Thank you. I hope you two have a good night. Empress Consort, forgive His Majesty if he is a bit mischievous.“

“Don’t worry, Your Majesty,“ Liliana responded as she escorted them to the banquet hall entrance.

If someone other than Helio had given the order to end the gathering, they might have stayed longer, as their reluctance to leave showed. It was a sign that the Empress Dowager and Lucia had grown quite comfortable.

When Liliana returned to Helio’s side, he still quietly drank his wine. She sat down diagonally from him, placing her hand over the one holding his wine glass.

“Please stop drinking. I think you’ve had too much tonight.”

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