Chapter 72

The two stood face to face at a short distance. Helio cupped Liliana’s cheeks and lowered his head. Liliana, too, gazed at the approaching lips and obediently closed her eyes.

Their touching lips felt not warm but cold. Strangely enough, Liliana liked that.

She found it endearing that a man like Helio, who feared nothing in this world, was nervous while kissing her.

As Helio brushed Liliana’s hair over her shoulder and caressed the nape of her neck, Liliana exhaled, and Helio swallowed that breath.

As Liliana was gently laid down on the soft bed by Helio’s guiding hand, she thought.

She wanted to kiss his rough palm, embrace his firm back, and feel the joy of his hands touching her body…

More than anything, what once felt fearful about his gaze now seemed so beautiful that it felt more valuable than any gem.

Liliana had never been in love but gradually realized that her feelings for Helio differed from mere dependence or affection.

But if this feeling was indeed love, Liliana thought she would be unhappy. In the history of the empire, no empress had ever been pleased by genuinely loving the emperor, as they were often used as tools.

Unlike the original Liliana, who had risked her life to bear a child for survival, she thought she might make the same choice out of a desire for his love.

Her complicated thoughts ran endlessly, but they halted whenever Helio kissed her eyelids.

“Look at me.”

Helio whispered so close that she could feel his breath.

“So I can know if you’re afraid.”

Helio still seemed to be gripped by that worry. Liliana tightly embraced his shoulders as if to say she wasn’t.

Suddenly, she turned and saw a tiny teacup on the nightstand. It was the cup that Sophia had prepared before Helio arrived, the one that had contained the contraceptive.

The now-empty cup seemed to reproach her.

They said Helio was the most duplicitous person in the world. But Liliana could only laugh at herself.

The person most different on the inside and outside wasn’t Helio—it was herself.

* * *

In his dream, Helio was in a carriage heading somewhere. Looking out the window, he saw familiar scenery rushing by. He was probably going to the Emerald Palace.

The sun was almost set, and the sky was painted with dusk hues. As Helio gazed out the window, Ternz spoke in a voice full of concern.

“The Empress hasn’t spoken a word since she arrived in the empire. It’s been two weeks already.”

Helio wanted to ask what he meant, but he couldn’t move for some reason. When he finally managed to open his mouth, strange words came out.

“What do you want to say?”

“I was wondering if you could be kinder to her. She’s a pitiable person, isn’t she? The King of Nieta didn’t even know his daughter’s age when he sent her as a hostage. He wouldn’t know her name if it weren’t for this. So please, treat her well.“

“If I’m kind to her, will that woman be happy?”

Words Helio didn’t intend to say came out on their own. It felt like his body, yet it didn’t move according to his will. Ternz looked appalled at his cold and harsh words.

“Even if she doesn’t become happy…“

“I have no intention of pretending to be virtuous. I brought her here for the empire’s interests and intend to use her thoroughly. There’s no need to deceive her.“

“Who would call that deceit? You’re so harsh…”

Helio was puzzled. What on earth was this situation? Ternz spoke as if Liliana had just arrived in the Carlo Empire.

Moreover, his attitude toward Liliana was cold and distant.

“Send everything she needs. Make sure to choose capable close maid and servants for her.“

“If you said that directly to the Empress Consort, she might rely on you, Your Majesty.“

“Enough. Is there anything more useless than false hope?”

Helio thought of the Empress Dowager in the words of his dream self. His mother had endured all the suffering because she believed she could return to her homeland, only to fall into more profound despair when her hope was shattered.

In the dream, the carriage stopped, and Helio got out in front of the Emerald Palace.

No lovely woman was running out to greet him, complaining that learning proper manners was useless since he never waited for her.

In the deepest chamber of the Emerald Palace, there was a face Helio knew well. But Liliana couldn’t even meet his gaze, her shoulders trembling as she clasped her hands together.

Yet, even though she was terrified, she didn’t seem to want to die. She struggled to maintain her composure and bowed to Helio with trembling legs.

No one had taught her the Carlo Empire’s etiquette during those two weeks, as her every move was that of the Nieta Kingdom.

“Your Majesty, it is an honor to serve the sun of the Carlo Empire.”

There was no sincerity in Liliana’s face. She was terribly afraid of being here.

But simultaneously, she seemed determined to endure it no matter what.

Helio wanted to comfort her and joke that he had come only to exchange pleasantries, but in the dream, he did not do so.

“… I’ll come back another time.”

Helio could tell. In the dream, Helio just wanted to leave this place quickly. It seemed like the only mercy he could offer this pitiful woman.

“Do you pity me?“

Liliana’s trembling voice quietly echoed through the chamber.

“If you truly pity me, you cannot leave like this. You know this too, Your Majesty.”

Despite being a discarded princess, she understood the world’s ways better than anyone.

They shared a formal and obligatory night together, adhering to protocol. Helio dressed quickly and left the bedroom before Liliana could say anything.

With every fiber of his being, he could feel how uncomfortable Liliana was around him, and staying by her side made him feel like a monster, no different from the previous emperor.

“Tell the Empress Consort that she need not bother with formal morning greetings. She needn’t come to me nor to the Empress Dowager.”

At Helio’s words, Liliana’s maid trembled as she clasped her hands.

Helio had said this, thinking Liliana must find every royal family member terrifying and repulsive.

But with those words, Liliana lost all excuses to leave the Emerald Palace.

* * *

What a horrible, ghastly dream it was.

As soon as Helio opened his eyes, he pressed a hand to his forehead, feeling the cold sweat that had gathered on his palm.

He tried to sit up and reach for the bell cord but felt a weight on his shoulder and turned his head.

Liliana’s pink hair covered her face so he could barely see her. Yet she was asleep, clinging to his arm and resting her forehead on his shoulder.

She looked so peaceful and at ease, entirely different from the Liliana he had seen in his dream. Or perhaps, the same in that she didn’t retreat even in fear.

It was such a strange dream. He had never considered himself a dreamer, but now he wondered if he should reconsider.

Helio brushed Liliana’s hair aside and looked at her face. Her cheeks were warm and flushed, probably because she was deeply asleep.

He wanted to watch her like this for a long time, but the emperor’s morning was busier than ever.

Helio carefully pulled his arm away so as to not wake Liliana and put on his clothes. Then, he meticulously covered her bare shoulder with the blanket.

Even during all this, Liliana didn’t wake up, only breathing softly like a child. Helio chuckled softly at the sight.

“I guess I’m the only coward here.”

* * *

Liliana didn’t wake up until the sun was high in the sky. The previous night’s physical toll had been so intense that she buried her face in the pillow and didn’t want to move.

“You should eat lunch, Your Highness.”

When Sophia nagged her, Liliana pulled the blanket over her head. Unable to stand it, Sophia walked over and pulled the blanket off.

Liliana, squinting from the light, mumbled something as she shielded her eyes with her hand.

“What did you say, Your Highness?“

“…His Majesty?“

“Of course, he’s gone.“

“Of course.”

Liliana sat up and let Sophia help her into her robe. It wasn’t until she sipped some lukewarm tea that she started to feel a bit more alert.

Knowing how busy Helio was, she wasn’t too disappointed that he had left the bed. But she couldn’t help feeling a bit lonely.

As she absentmindedly ran her hand over the empty space beside her, she heard a knock. Minelli, holding a silver tray, entered the room and was unusually cheerful, smiling brightly.

“Your Highness, look at what His Majesty sent.”

“His Majesty?”

Liliana reached out to Minelli. Minelli quickly approached and presented the tray, and Liliana saw the two items on it.

One was a small paper envelope, no larger than her palm, and the other was a small branch with tiny white flowers in bloom. Liliana gently touched the little flowers with her fingertips before opening the envelope.

“When you wake, look outside the window.”

Holding the branch, Liliana quickly moved to the window.

She saw a tree in full bloom with white flowers at the front gate of the Emerald Palace. Despite the cold weather, the tree was in such full, radiant bloom that it looked like a bouquet from a distance.

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