Chapter 97

“…Lady Beatty of House Gabriel greets His Majesty the Emperor.”

Beatty was startled, swallowing nervously as she offered her greeting. However, Helio passed by without acknowledging her.

He naturally took Liliana’s hand and scolded her.

“Why are you out here in this weather?”

“All the other gardens have lost their flowers, but this one has the most blooms in winter,“ Liliana replied.

“Then you should be wearing gloves.“

“I did but took them off momentarily to touch the flowers.”

Beatty listened to their affectionate conversation and subtly lifted her head. Even though Liliana’s attendant quickly presented the gloves, Helio didn’t let go of Liliana’s hand.

As if trying to warm her cold, frozen hand, Helio even removed his own gloves and wrapped her hand with his bare ones.

Beatty felt an intense rage boiling inside her. She no longer wanted to watch the two of them.

What irked her was that Helio did not hear her greeting, so she spoke up again in a clear, sharp voice.

“Lady Beatty of House Gabriel greets His Majesty the Emperor.”

At last, Helio, wholly absorbed in Liliana, turned his head. Clearly, he hadn’t heard her the first time.

Beatty smiled more beautifully than ever.

Helio, with an emotionless expression, asked Beatty coldly,

What brings the Lady of Gabriel here?”

Before Beatty could answer, Liliana spoke up.

“She came to introduce me to a foreign sailor. I need a new dress for spring, after all.”

“I told you I’d gift you one. Is that not enough?“ Helio asked.

“It’s not that it’s lacking, but I was curious. You said it would be a secret until spring, and you wouldn’t show me.“

“If I gave it to you early, you’d wear it too soon and catch a cold.“

“Oh, goodness,“ Liliana sighed, smiling as if dealing with an overprotective lover.

Beatty clenched her teeth.

Why? Why on earth?

The place beside that beautiful, strong, and noble man should naturally be occupied by someone equally beautiful and noble—like herself.

So why was Helio smiling so tenderly at that woman? He didn’t need to go this far if it were just a political move to keep House Gabriel in check.

“Your Majesty,“ Beatty called out, biting her lower lip.

“Why do you treat me with such disregard?”

Her voice trembled with frustration and bitterness.

But Helio’s gaze, directed at her, remained icy.

“Disregard? Me?“

“Yes, Your Majesty. You know this well. I am the one destined to become Empress!“ Beatty declared proudly, placing a hand on her chest. Liliana gasped in shock.

But Beatty seemed utterly unaware of the mistake she had just made.

Helio slowly released Liliana’s hand, making Beatty’s face slightly brighten. She thought he had come to realize something from her words.

However, Helio gently pulled Liliana behind him as if shielding her, as though Beatty were some wild animal recklessly charging at people.

Looking down at Beatty’s shocked expression, Helio asked,

“Who told you that you were going to be Empress?“

“Everyone in the Empire, of course…”

Everyone had said it wasn’t just her father, Duke Gabriel. But Helio sneered coldly as if he couldn’t bear to listen any longer.

He took a heavy step toward her. The movement was silent, but to Beatty, it felt like a loud, threatening *thud*.

“Not everyone in the Empire—just the sycophants who flatter you and your father. Isn’t that right?“ he said.

“But…“

“Yes, I’ll admit, there was once a possibility that I could have made you Empress. But do you know who threw that chance away? Your father, Duke Gabriel. If he had held the engagement ceremony as planned, you would already be Empress. But he must’ve found your value too great, so he delayed the marriage without any promise. You can’t imagine how relieved I was that day,“ Helio said as if telling an old story, his voice calm and deliberate.

Feeling the oppressive weight of Helio’s words, Beatty instinctively stepped back. Even then, the only thing she could rely on was her father.

“I am the beloved daughter of Your Majesty’s benefactor. How can you treat me with such disrespect? My father is trying to unite us to make the Empire stronger…”

“Benefactor?” Helio cut in.

Beatty shut her eyes tightly and shouted,

“Everyone knows that my father gave Your Majesty the opportunity!“

“Lady Beatty! Have you gone mad?“ Liliana, unable to listen any longer, tried to intervene, stepping forward to remove Beatty from the situation. But Helio firmly blocked her path.

Without a hint of anger, Helio asked calmly,

“What opportunity are you talking about?”

At Liliana’s outburst, Beatty briefly regained a sliver of her sanity.

Everyone present understood the meaning of the “opportunity“ Beatty mentioned. Naturally, it referred to the chance to become Emperor.

However, to speak such words to the ruler of this vast Empire was a grave offense.

“What opportunity?“ Helio asked again, but Beatty remained silent. Even she knew that speaking further would only harm her.

She tried to deflect the situation with a feeble smile.

Helio’s gaze as he looked down at Beatty was anything but ordinary. The tension in the air was so thick that Liliana could barely breathe.

She wanted to take Helio and quickly leave the garden, but Helio stood there like a beast guarding the gates of hell, fiercely staring down Beatty, not moving an inch.

“The Empress Consort saved you,“ he said.

“…”

Beatty couldn’t deny it at that moment. If Liliana hadn’t intervened with her outcry, what would have happened to Beatty by now?

But just because she didn’t speak it aloud didn’t mean Helio didn’t understand. He lowered his head, bringing his lips close to her ear.

Usually, her heart would have fluttered with excitement, but now it felt like it might stop from sheer terror.

“Lady Beatty, don’t cause a scene like this if you want power. Kill your sickly brother instead.“

Beatty’s head snapped up. Her once-pretty face was now filled with shock.

On the other hand, Liliana didn’t understand what Helio had said, merely looking on with concern.

“Y-Your Majesty, I couldn’t… I would never do something so cruel…“ Beatty stammered.

“Oh, you could. After all, whose daughter are you?“ Helio replied, not even bothering to smirk. He looked at her with dark, smoldering eyes as if something inside him had burned away.

Beatty was too terrified to even collapse. She feared that if she fell, Helio would ensure she never got up again.

“Your Majesty.”

A careful voice pierced the dangerous tension, like stepping on a blade. Beatty blankly turned her head. Of course, it was Liliana.

She gently touched Helio’s arm and softly shook her head. That small gesture was enough to melt away the dangerous aura surrounding him.

“It’s getting cold, and the conversation has gone on too long. It would be proper to send the Lady back now.”

Liliana wasn’t comfortable in this situation either. Her expression was just as stiff.

But unlike Beatty, she wasn’t gripped by fear. What’s more, Helio’s face softened as he looked at Liliana, even carrying a hint of regret, as though blaming himself for putting her in such an uncomfortable situation. His usually sharp gaze became gentle and calm.

“The Empress Consort is right.”

Liliana, Liliana, Liliana.

“Lady Beatty, you may leave now. Empress Consort, let us return to the Emerald Palace together.“

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

A vulgar and wretched woman. Beatty’s mind was on the verge of exploding with terror, rage, and envy.

As Liliana passed by Beatty, escorted by Helio, she lightly tapped Beatty’s arm.

When Beatty instinctively turned around, Liliana tilted her head slightly and mouthed, ‘See you soon.’

Beatty didn’t even nod in response. Instead, she quickly turned away and stormed off. No matter how tightly she clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms, it couldn’t erase her humiliation.

***

As soon as they arrived at the Emerald Palace, Helio pulled Liliana into a tight embrace. His hurried steps towards the bedroom made her wonder if something was wrong, but it seemed that he only wanted to hold her.

The way he glared at the maids, preventing them from entering, was slightly disconcerting. But more critical to Liliana was comforting Helio, who was still tense.

Helio buried his nose into her neck and muttered, “You should’ve just let her be. I could’ve used that as a pretext to punish her, and you would have been satisfied.”

His breath brushed against her neck with every word, making Liliana squirm. She shrugged at the ticklish sensation but didn’t push him away.

“I don’t know much, but… I felt like what she said would wound you, Your Majesty. Besides, I’m sure the Duke would have wriggled out with excuses, leaving only the Lady to be punished. That wouldn’t have meant much to me.”

Liliana gently stroked Helio’s neck to soothe him. Instantly, his tense body calmed, focusing solely on her touch.

Helio was surprised at how quickly he relaxed. He pulled back, placing his hands on her shoulders.

“What’s wrong?“ Liliana asked, her face filled only with pure concern.

Helio looked at her momentarily, then wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her.

Liliana, surprised by the sudden change in height, instinctively grabbed his shoulders. But when she realized how stable her position was, she relaxed.

“You scared me! You always do things like this…“ she began to scold, but Helio, completely unbothered, made a bold request.

“Stroke me again.”

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