Chapter 73

“When on earth was it planted?”

Liliana asked in disbelief. When she waved to Helio from the window, the tree hadn’t been there the night before.

The tree that had miraculously appeared overnight was as astonishing as it was delightful, but her strongest emotion was simply joy.

As she continued gazing at the tree outside, Liliana brought the branch to her nose and inhaled its sweet fragrance, which seemed to ease her weariness.

“I’ve never seen flowers like these before.”

“They say it’s called a Rhenia tree.“

“Rhenia…”

Liliana smiled as brightly as the white flowers, clearly pleased.

But the smile didn’t last long. Soon, large tears began to fall down her cheeks, so much that the delicate petals couldn’t hold up under the weight of her tears and drooped.

“Oh, Your Highness! Why are you crying all of a sudden?”

Liliana shook her head, trying to dismiss her maid’s concern. Minelli, sensing that she might be intruding, quietly left the room.

Even as Sophia patted Liliana’s shoulder, she bit her lower lip, struggling to hold back her tears.

“The Emperor is doing all he can for me, yet I’m still deceiving him.“

Sophia’s face grew sorrowful at Liliana’s self-reproach. She momentarily set aside the roles of mistress and maid, gently taking Liliana’s hand like an old friend.

“Your Highness, it’s normal for the Emperor and Empress Consort to have secrets from each other. Don’t blame yourself. You must prioritize yourself. But what worries me is…”

Sophia hesitated, concerned about upsetting Liliana, and carefully asked her question.

“I don’t understand why you’re so opposed to having a child. Instead of thinking that you must protect the baby, consider that the baby might protect you. Especially now, when His Majesty cherishes you—this, I believe, is an opportunity.”

Sophia grew up with Liliana in the abandoned palace. Her advice was more grounded in practicality than anyone else’s.

“No one knows what might happen if another Empress or concubine enters the palace. Another concubine could very well become the next Empress. So, Your Highness, please…”

Liliana gently pushed Sophia’s hand away. She didn’t want to imagine Helio welcoming another woman as Empress or consort.

Yet, another part of her fiercely scolded herself, saying it was an unreasonable thought. Clutching the branch Helio had given her to her chest, Liliana spoke with difficulty.

“Later. Let’s talk about it later, Sophia. For now, I just want to be alone.”

Sophia sighed quietly, making sure Liliana didn’t hear, and bowed. She reverted to her role as the loyal maid.

After Sophia closed the door behind her, Liliana abandoned all pretense and perched on the windowsill.

She could sit there for hours, simply gazing at the white-blossomed tree. And there was only one reason she could do so.

The person who gifted that tree was Helio. And Helio had become someone very special to Liliana.

As her tears slowly dried and her gaze became clearer, Liliana knew one thing for sure. As long as Gabriel Duchy remained, she would forever be trapped in this cycle of deceiving Helio and herself, constantly fearing when her life might be threatened.

But if Gabriel Duchy disappeared, would she finally be able to find happiness and be honest with Helio?

Liliana didn’t think so. Her death was a pivotal event in the original story.

Liliana had to die for that little girl, isolated in the imperial palace, to break free from her loneliness and find happiness.

If a force that controlled fate existed, another enemy would rise instead of Gabriel Duchy.

“Becoming the Empress…”

If she could seize power equal to that of Gabriel Duchy, things might be different.

She had always dismissed the idea as impossible. Even when Lady Liston urged her to become Empress, she had recoiled in fear. But was it truly impossible?

In fact, Liliana now felt that even if it were impossible, she wanted to try. She didn’t want to sit idly by, doing nothing but crying.

Liliana stepped down from the windowsill and carefully placed the branch on the table. Then, she pulled the bell cord. Sophia, worried as she waited outside, hurried in.

Liliana, her voice now clear and free of tears, spoke decisively.

“Will you help me get dressed? I’ve just remembered something I need to do.”

* * *

The imperial palace had a road paved with intricately carved stones. It was the most frequented path in the palace, leading directly to the main gates.

A large, ornate carriage moved leisurely along this path. Everyone entering or leaving the palace couldn’t help but stare at the magnificent carriage and then whisper to those nearby.

“That’s the Empress’s carriage again.“

“Be careful what you say! What if someone from the Gabriel faction hears you calling it the Empress’s carriage?“

“But it bears the Empress’s seal, doesn’t it? No matter who is inside, even if it’s a consort from another country, they must be treated as the Empress as long as they’re riding in that carriage.“

“At this rate, I’m afraid the Gabriel Duchy might do something terrible.”

Liliana was at the center of gossip, just as Helio had once predicted. Being the subject of rumors wasn’t necessarily a bad sign; it meant that people could no longer ignore her presence. Some even went out of their way to gain her favor, lingering near the Emerald Palace, hoping to catch her eye.

This behavior had intensified recently, and the reason was quite apparent.

“No matter how much favor she enjoys, which concubine is allowed to leave the palace so freely?“

“She even requested it herself. At this rate, she might even travel to the Kingdom of Nieta.“

“…It doesn’t seem impossible these days.”

They were right. Liliana had convinced Helio to grant her the right to leave the palace.

She had prepared various documents with Lucia’s help to persuade him, but Helio didn’t even glance at them. He only asked one question.

“What do you plan to do outside?”

And Liliana answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“The Gabriel Duchy has lost the nobles’ trust and economic dominance, and I want to take that for myself.”

As soon as Helio heard that, he smiled in satisfaction and instructed Ternz to issue her a palace pass.

Ternz was initially shocked by the audacious idea of giving a concubine such a pass, but he faithfully prepared it as requested.

When Liliana’s carriage reached the palace’s main gate, no guard dared ask her for the pass. The carriage seemed to serve as a pass as the guards opened the gates in advance, and the carriage smoothly exited the palace.

It was the first time Liliana had left the palace since the day a few months ago when she had gone out under the pretext of recuperation. The imperial carriage Helio had provided then was just for show, so she hadn’t experienced it.

But this time, Liliana was genuinely riding in the Empress’s carriage.

After deciding to pursue the position of Empress, sitting in this carriage brought a whirlwind of emotions.

Liliana ran her hand over the soft, spacious seat. When she decided to become Empress, she hadn’t considered the luxurious life it entailed. Yet, she saw no reason to reject it, either.

The carriage, likely crafted with the empire’s finest technology, was incredibly comfortable. Liliana looked out the window with a satisfied expression. The beautiful Liston Marquisate was already in sight.

As the carriage arrived at the Liston residence, the Marchioness of Liston came out to greet her as if she had been waiting.

“Your Highness, it’s cold out here. Please, come inside quickly.”

Though today’s sunshine was warmer than usual, the Marchioness fussed over Liliana and led her to the parlor. Soon after, a maid brought in warm tea.

“The palace has been quite noisy lately, hasn’t it? His Majesty hasn’t treated you poorly, I hope?”

As Liliana listened to the Marchioness speak so freely about the Emperor, she wondered if this was what having a family felt like. Smiling softly, Liliana shook her head.

“On the contrary, he’s been treating me better than before.”

He had given her not just flowers but an entire flowering tree, and he had granted her the pass to leave the palace.

The Marchioness’s gaze grew sharper. She could sense that Helio’s affection for Liliana was more profound than she had realized.

She wanted to ask again if Liliana was serious about becoming Empress, but she also worried about overwhelming her.

Liliana could feel the Marchioness’s concern and gently took her hand.

“Godmother, I’ve decided to follow your advice.”

The Marchioness’s eyes widened her full attention now on Liliana. Liliana felt the warmth of the Marchioness’s hand in hers and looked into her eyes.

“I want to become Empress. No, I’m going to become Empress.”

“Your Highness…“

“I know it won’t be easy. I feel overwhelmed, not knowing where to start. But I want to try, step by step.”

The Marchioness’s face lit up with joy, though it was tinged with worry.

“I will follow your guidance, Your Highness. But why the sudden change of heart?“

“That’s because…”

Liliana hesitated, her lips opening and closing several times as she searched for the right words. Where should she begin?

She hadn’t wanted to become Empress in the first place because she had wanted to survive, even if it meant groveling on the ground.

She didn’t want a life where she would lose a child, have her body ruined by a miscarriage, and die, leaving behind a daughter she would never meet.

If she aligned herself with someone else who would become Empress, she could survive by avoiding having children herself and taking contraceptives forever.

But she would grow distant from Helio. She would have to watch as he took another woman as his wife, had a child, and showered that child with love.

Liliana didn’t want that. She wanted to be the sole recipient of the intense, beautiful gaze Helio had given her when he held her.

“I want to be closer to His Majesty. You might think it’s a foolish reason…”

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