Chapter 89

Liliana interpreted Vail’s expression of displeasure as wariness. Vail would benefit from maintaining a favorable relationship with Emperor Helio to secure the title of a direct successor.

She tried to reassure him as if to dispel his concerns.

“If you promise to create a new Gabriel, different from the current one, I’m sure His Majesty will support you. That’s why your reason is important to me.”

“…If that’s the case, my reason may not be so significant. Wouldn’t the most plausible reason be that I couldn’t stand the corruption of the current Duke Gabriel?“

“So, that’s not the truth?”

“It is one of the reasons, but it’s not the decisive one.”

Liliana shook her head, her expression subdued.

“Then it will be difficult.“

“Why is that?“

“I cannot lie to His Majesty.”

Vail felt a surge of emotion rising inside him. However, he couldn’t raise his voice at Liliana, so he spoke in a controlled tone as if holding back something.

“Your Highness, aren’t you aiming to become Empress to gain power? Then you must deceive His Majesty.”

He maintained a calm expression as if offering political advice. However, Liliana smiled gently, like dandelion seeds drifting away in the wind.

“Lord Vail, I don’t want to become Empress to gain power. I want to gain power to become Empress.”

“…”

“Besides, I don’t want to see His Majesty marry someone else. That’s why I aim to become an Empress with power.”

Liliana clasped her hands together with a shy expression.

She thought momentarily, then realized this wasn’t the time for such thoughts and pulled Vail to his feet by his arm. Vail, looking up at her the whole time, now saw from a higher perspective.

“So please, tell me. I want to persuade His Majesty and help you and Agrina secure your positions safely.“

Liliana’s white face was filled with only goodwill.

When Vail first met Liliana, she was wary of him and outright afraid. To a degree surprising for a foreigner, she was openly hostile toward the House of Gabriel.

The fact that she now wanted to help him was undoubtedly a significant change.

Yet, Vail felt a profound desolation, as if the calm lake within him was drying up.

He momentarily looked down at the handkerchief box in his hand before finally speaking. He couldn’t disregard Liliana’s goodwill despite feeling stuck in a pit.

“It is for revenge.“

Liliana’s face immediately softened with sympathy. Vail was surprised to find that pity could be so sweet as he continued.

“My father was the second son of the former Duke Gabriel. The current duke, the eldest son, was ten years older than my father. Until my father was born, the current duke was the designated heir. But as you know, the current duke is incompetent, foolish, and arrogant. He was far from capable of leading such a grand house.”

Liliana nodded, finding no reason to disagree.

“My grandfather, the previous duke, judged that the current duke did not have the qualities of an heir, so he named my father the successor. But the current duke did not stand idly by. As soon as my grandfather passed away, he rallied his forces and made himself duke. My father was furious but did not want to fight his own blood over a title, so he moved to the provinces. Then the duke…”

Vail laughed bitterly as if it were absurd even to imagine.

“He expelled my father from the direct line, claiming he lacked a sense of responsibility. Even then, my father did not protest and quietly managed his estate in the provinces. But the world continued to compare the foolish duke with my wise father, and eventually, the duke killed him.”

Liliana closed her eyes tightly. She knew the duke was cruel; he was the sort who would kill his own brother.

But hearing the story from the son’s perspective was unimaginably horrid. On the other hand, Vail seemed to have rehearsed this tale many times, maintaining a composed tone laced with refined anger.

“Revenge is taking away what someone holds most dear. Therefore, I will expel the duke from his mansion while he is still alive. He will become a beggar wandering the streets, not even receiving a single coin for his lands.”

When Vail finished speaking, he gazed at Liliana.

“Is that sufficient to convince His Majesty?”

Liliana had listened to Vail’s story with a look of sympathy and anger. But the moment he asked that question, her pink eyes were filled with firm resolve.

“Of course. Lord Vail, please return safely.”

Helio, too, wished to condemn Duke Gabriel to a living hell so their goals did not conflict.

“If you return safely, His Majesty will surely support your cause.”

* * *

After Vail left, Minelli approached cautiously. Before she could even speak, Liliana nodded.

“You may go to His Majesty. Since Lord Vail came by today, His Majesty will be curious.”

With Liliana’s prompt permission, Minelli sighed softly as if still feeling uneasy.

“What’s wrong? That’s not like you, Minelli.“

“It’s nothing, Your Highness.“

“Don’t worry too much. I like you, and I don’t want you to suffer unnecessarily. Who would dare defy the Emperor’s orders? Even the Empress Dowager cannot raise her voice against His Majesty.”

Still looking like a criminal, Minelli bowed her head slowly and retreated. As she did, Agrina, who had been arranging flowers nearby, shook her head.

“No wonder you don’t take Minelli to the Rhenia Trading Company. Can she truly be called Your Highness’s person with such behavior?”

Liliana found Agrina’s words amusing and covered her mouth to suppress a laugh.

Liliana commented with a slight smile, “I don’t feel like you’re my person, either.“

“What! No matter what anyone says, I’m yours, Your Highness. How hurtful!“

“As a temporary hire?“

“Isn’t it better to set a clear duration than not knowing when you might get stabbed in the back?“

“It’s the same with Minelli. It’s better to know she’s going behind my back to His Majesty than to have it done without my knowledge.”

Agrina shrugged, looking like she still didn’t quite understand. Her antics, once irritating, were becoming endearing to Liliana.

Agrina placed a vase filled with Rhenia flowers on Liliana’s desk, and Liliana gazed at it with affection.

Despite being busy, seeing the flowers Helio had gifted her always lifted her spirits.

After resting her chin in her hand, Liliana decided to bring up her current top concern.

“Have you learned more about the Gathis River?“

“Your Highness, I’ve been thinking deeply.“

“Why aren’t you answering my question? So you haven’t found anything?”

Agrina pouted, as if Liliana had hit the mark, then continued with her words.

“The Gathis River is perfect. It has no flaws. You need to dig another well immediately. I understand that winning in a battle of legitimacy leads to fewer casualties, but we can’t always aim for an ideal victory.“

“Then what?“

“As I always say, that’s for you to think about directly.”

Liliana sighed and stretched out her arms and legs. Even after stretching, she couldn’t come up with anything, and her head throbbed.

Still, Agrina was right. Liliana began to read through the stack of books she had borrowed from the library, which was as tall as she was.

Indeed, there had to be a way to win this exhausting battle of legitimacy somewhere in those pages.

Even though Liliana loved books, the letters were beginning to feel suffocating, but she had to find the answer.

Just as Liliana had quickly worked through several books, creating a small tower on the opposite side, Sophia entered briskly and spoke urgently.

“Your Highness! His Majesty has arrived at the Emerald Palace!“

“And?”

Helio usually arrived before informing anyone. He disliked being bound by protocol, so Liliana was not surprised and answered calmly.

“This isn’t the time to be so relaxed! He seemed angry for some reason!“

“Angry? Who? His Majesty?”

Only then did Liliana lift her head. Over Sophia’s shoulder, a man who was a head taller than everyone else, impossible to hide, was striding into the office.

“Oh, goodness…”

Seeing Helio advancing like a storm, Agrina panicked. She quickly pressed herself against the wall, but fortunately or unfortunately, today’s Helio seemed too preoccupied to notice her.

“Empress Consort.”

As Helio stood in front of her desk, Liliana rose from her seat and signaled Agrina with a glance.

It was a sign to flee before she got caught in the crossfire, and Agrina, grateful beyond words, swiftly retreated toward the bedroom.

“You don’t seem to care that I’m here at all.“

“You frighten the maids of the Emerald Palace, Your Majesty.“

“The maids are more important than me?”

At Helio’s sulky remark, Liliana tilted her head slightly.

“You seem to be in a bad mood?“

“Yes, very bad.”

Helio seemed as if he was about to embrace Liliana, but instead, he lifted her up. Surprised, Liliana wrapped one arm around Helio and held onto her skirt with the other.

“If you’re in a bad mood, why lift me up?”

Liliana protested, but Helio did not waver and continued walking in that state.

It would have been fine if it had been confined to the office, but Helio carried Liliana out, heading toward the bedroom.

“My goodness! This is my palace! What about my dignity?”

Liliana thumped Helio’s back, but his back was so solid that only her hands hurt. She had no choice but to bury her face against his shoulder, pouting.

When Helio reached the bedroom door, Agrina, who had just slipped in, opened it with her head bowed as low as possible.

She moved naturally as if she hadn’t just fled there but had been waiting to open the door.

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