Chapter 65

“I won’t get drunk from just this.”

In fact, Helio seemed perfectly sober despite the high alcohol content of the wine. As Liliana glared at the wine, Helio poured more into another glass for her.

“For me?”

“Or should I do something as odd as drinking from two glasses alternately?“

Helio’s tone was exceedingly calm. Liliana tilted her wine glass and inhaled its aroma.

The wine had a faint woody scent, but Liliana couldn’t quite discern what kind of wood it was.

Curious about the drink Helio enjoyed, she took a sip.

“Why the face?”

“Um, it’s just too good.”

Liliana lied with a slight tongue-out smile. Her expression clearly didn’t match her words, and Helio laughed lowly.

“This wine is made only from the finest grapes in the sun-soaked south. If you make such a face, those who crafted this wine would be saddened.“

“They’re not around anymore.“

“True.”

Liliana pushed the wine glass away and reached for her water glass.

Even as she rinsed the unfamiliar grape taste from her mouth, she couldn’t shake the question of why Helio had sent everyone else away, leaving only her. And there was one strong suspicion in her mind.

Releasing the people in the basement from their despair—Helio surely wouldn’t be pleased with that.

“Empress.“

“Yes, Your Majesty.“

“Why haven’t you confessed your wrongdoing to me?”

As expected. Liliana squeezed her eyes shut before opening them again. But instead of looking directly at Helio, she lowered her gaze, focusing on his chin and neck.

“I thought Your Majesty would overlook it.”

They were people sent by Duke Gabriel to kill her. She wasn’t forgiving them.

In fact, she feared that if they were released into the world again, they might come at her like madmen.

But the punishment they were given was far too cruel. It was as if they were cursed so that any water they touched would evaporate instantly.

“Me?“

“Yes. Some of it was permitted by Your Majesty.”

At that, Helio twisted one corner of his mouth into a smirk.

“I’ve never permitted such a thing.“

“That can’t be.”

Liliana was firmer than ever.

“I wouldn’t have been able to go there without Your Majesty’s permission. And I certainly wouldn’t have been able to throw a rope into that deep darkness. But if my actions displeased you, I apologize.”

Helio sighed and raised himself slightly from the chair. He seemed displeased, as every movement of his arms leaning on the table felt heavy.

He now fully turned his body towards Liliana.

“That’s not what I meant.“

“Then what did you—”

In that instant, Helio grabbed Liliana’s arm tightly and yanked her towards him.

Her thick hair, which had flowed down her back, now fell forward, cascading down her cheek. Her clear eyes widened, and her pupils dilated like a cat trapped in the dark.

“What did you trade with Gabriel?”

Helio asked in a low voice, with barely an inch of space between them.

His voice was so laden with emotion that it paradoxically conveyed none. It was like a murky black mixed with too many colors.

“What did you trade for that woman to have the audacity to stand before me?”

Liliana froze with her eyes wide open. She couldn’t move a finger or gesture as if bound by chains.

Helio released his tight grip on her arm and gently stroked her cheek. Liliana slowly breathed as if she had just regained her soul.

There was no point in lying now. It would clearly be futile.

“Agrina wants the Empress’s seat. If she becomes Empress, it would make taking over the Gabriel duchy easier.“

“It would be better to build the Empress’s palace over the tomb of the Liston heir.”

Helio expressed his disgust for Agrina without restraint. He probably had no interest in Agrina as a person at all.

What he truly despised was the bloodline of the Gabriel duchy.

“Promise me you’ll never do such a thing again.“

Helio’s voice was deceptively gentle, but the content was harsh and commanding. Yet Liliana did not fear Helio as a man.

She felt Helio’s hand brush near her lips as she slowly opened her mouth.

“I thought you would be fine with me joining forces with Lord Vail, a branch of Gabriel. You wanted me to gain power, didn’t you?“

“The reason I told you to seize power was…”

Helio, who had been replying swiftly, suddenly stopped. His head, close to hers, turned away, and she heard a sharp, incredulous laugh.

Helio rose as if distancing himself entirely from Liliana.

“It seems you’re not ready yet.”

He seemed about to storm off, but he extended his hand instead.

“You must be tired. Let’s head back.”

Liliana cautiously took his hand. His lifting motion was strong and gentle, allowing her to stand effortlessly.

Liliana remained silent, lost in thought, and Helio simply escorted her without a word.

Before getting into the carriage, Liliana paused and turned around. Her gaze traveled past his broad chest to meet his pale face, where it was impossible to discern what he was thinking.

“Your Majesty, when will those trapped in the basement finally meet their end?”

Liliana didn’t wish for them to live as if nothing had happened, but neither did she want them to live forever, longing for death.

“Are you afraid of having nightmares, Empress Consort?“

“Perhaps.”

Helio wrapped his arm around Liliana’s waist, pulling her closer to him.

“Their part is not yet over.“

“Are you planning to completely eliminate the Gabriel duchy?”

At that moment, a severe look of vengeance appeared on Helio’s face.

“No. I’ll make sure the Duke has a basement of his own.”

A deep darkness swept over his blue eyes. Vengeance can sometimes be a fierce force, making the heart race intensely.

A strange smile appeared on Helio’s face, far from the usual calm demeanor. This wasn’t just the face of someone confronting a political rival; it was a Pandora’s box filled with pure, personal hatred.

Liliana felt the air around her thin, and her breath grew shallow. When her face turned pale, Helio’s expression shifted to one of concern.

“Well, well.”

The chilling aura that had surrounded them moments before had vanished. He gently cupped Liliana’s cheeks, his voice tender.

“I thought you were alright, but you’re still frightened.”

Whenever she thought of that basement, her fingers would stiffen, making it hard to think of anything else. But it wasn’t Helio she feared.

A man who could express pure hatred without restraint could make anyone’s spine tingle.

“You’ll never have to see that basement again, so there’s no need to make that face.“

“…Yes.”

Right now, she didn’t dare to ask why he hated the Duke of Gabriel so much. So, all Liliana could do was nod.

“Now, you really should return to the palace.”

Helio seemed ready to release her as if he had nothing more to say. But this time, it was Liliana who gently grasped his hands.

“I’m truly not scared.”

She spoke in a small voice, but one clear enough for Helio to hear. He let out a faint, breathy laugh.

“You’re not very good at lying.”

Then, Liliana rose onto her tiptoes and hugged Helio tightly.

“To be honest, I was a little, just a little scared just now. But that was just a fleeting emotion, and compared to the many feelings I have for you, it’s nothing at all.”

Helio looked down at the tiny woman clinging to him, her head buried in his chest. Her hair was tousled, likely from her effort to appear brave.

Helio hesitated, his hands hovering in the air before slowly resting them on Liliana’s back. His hands paused only when they reached her slender neck.

Liliana’s body was soft and warm. She didn’t look like someone who was scared at all.

Helio, still holding Liliana, stared out at the darkened imperial palace. Did he look lonely…? The thought amused him.

“Alright, I believe you.”

Only then did Liliana slowly step back. The cool autumn night air crept between their fingers.

Her cheeks were flushed red, perhaps embarrassed by her sudden gesture.

“…Have a good night.”

Liliana hurriedly climbed into the carriage. Just as it seemed she might leave without another word, she looked up and met Helio’s eyes just before the carriage door closed.

The bright smile on her face was never obscured by the darkness.

However, once the carriage began to move, Liliana’s expression darkened.

She knew Helio disliked the Gabriel duchy, but she had always thought it was because they were political rivals, obstacles on his path to becoming emperor.

But what she had just witnessed was different. Helio despised the very name Gabriel. It was a sharp, raw emotion that transcended reason and entered the realm of instinct.

She searched her memory but found nothing in the original story that explained this.

Why? She could understand that her actions might change the future, but Helio’s relationship with the Duke of Gabriel was rooted in the past…

Confronted with an inexplicable situation, Liliana felt confused. But more than that, she pitied Helio for managing such cold emotions alone.

If only she were indeed his lover, she might be able to comfort him.

The thought scratched at her cold cheek like a cruel self-reproach.

* * *

Even after the Harvest Festival ended, the weather remained chilly. It felt like winter might arrive abruptly, freezing the ground.

Liliana spent her days reading books and practicing spirit magic in warmer clothes than before.

The empire had much to prepare for the coming winter, so meeting with Helio was out of the question.

Instead, Helio sent her short letters and gifts through Ternz, and Liliana gathered pretty autumn leaves from the garden to make bookmarks and postcards, which she handed to Ternz.

At first, Ternz’s expression seemed to suggest, “His Majesty wouldn’t care for something like this,“ though he said aloud, “I’m sure he’ll be delighted.”

Embarrassed by his reaction, Liliana didn’t prepare any more leaves the next time. But when Ternz returned, he begged her to give him even a torn leaf.

It was clear how much Helio had tormented Ternz.

Liliana felt slightly sorry for Ternz, but the situation made her smile.

It was during these peaceful days that Vail came to visit.

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