27: Please Don’t Love Me Too Much

Back in the room, the Empress and the fraternal twins were present.

“Ella! Where have you been?”

“Did Lord Kael finish his chess game with His Majesty?”

“Yes, indeed. May my wife and I rest now? Ella still seems unwell.”

“Please do.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty, the Empress. Have a good night.”

Aella, who had been supported by Kael, placed a hand on her chest and bowed slightly.

“Ella! Are you feeling very unwell?”

“What happened?”

“Oh, nothing. Your Highness, the Prince, Your Highness, the Princess. I apologize for causing unnecessary worry.”

“Don’t say such things! Lord Kael! Make sure Ella gets a good rest!”

“Understood, Your Highness. My dear, should I carry you if walking is difficult?”

“Ka-Kael?! What are you saying! Let’s go quickly!”

“Hahaha! Let’s go together, Ella.”

Elena stared blankly as the Duke and Duchess Hormons left the room. She snapped back to attention at the Empress’s voice.

“Yes, Your Majesty, the Empress.”

“……”

“Please speak.”

Alenoa, looking at the pitiful princess who seemed on the verge of collapse, called the twin siblings to her.

“It’s time for you to return to your rooms and sleep.”

“We’re not sleepy yet.”

“Mai, Ren.”

“Alright. Goodnight, Princess.”

“Sweet dreams.”

After the twins left, Alenoa looked at the increasingly gaunt face of Princess Roden, who still wore an awkward smile. She held her thin, branch-like hands tightly.

“Your Majesty…”

“I wish for you to no longer be in pain.”

“……”

“As a mother with a daughter myself, I hope you can return to your homeland where there is better…”

Knock, knock.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me.”

Alenoa’s eyes widened at the sound of her eldest son Julius’s voice from beyond the door.

“C-Come in.”

Elena watched in surprise as Julius entered the room and approached them with determined steps.

“What brings the Crown Prince here?”

“I have something to say to the princess.”

“Oh, I see.”

“I’ve already informed my father on my way here.”

“What? About what?”

As the Empress’s gaze became sharper than usual, Elena lowered her head.

“I informed him that I will accept Elena Roden as my consort.”

“!”

“Is that true, Julius?”

“Yes, Mother. Princess.”

“……”

Elena, who had been doubting her ears, slowly raised her head. The gaze fixed on her was still cold. Just looking at him made her chest ache.

“Please forgive my indifference towards you all this time.”

Even though his voice was dry and devoid of emotion, and his cold hand wrapped around her right hand, Elena was simply happy, even if it was all a lie.

“It’s not… Your Highness.”

“Julius. Call me by my name, Elena.”

“Oh, yes. Yes…”

As Elena lowered her head and cried, clutching her chest with both hands, Alenoa watched Julius pat her shoulder.

‘Why suddenly… What happened with the Duchess Hormons…’

Before returning here, Alenoa had met with the crown prince’s aide. Curious about why the aide was alone, he explained that the Duchess Hormons had sought out the crown prince and he had escorted her to him before returning. This made Alenoa even more worried.

“Mother, I will escort Elena to her quarters.”

“Please do.”

“Have a peaceful night, Your Majesty, the Empress.”

“You too.”

Alenoa, who had a faint smile on her lips, watched as Julius held Elena’s hand and led her out, unable to take her eyes off their retreating figures.

Thud—

As the door closed, a long sigh escaped her lips, and she sank weakly onto the sofa.

“What on earth happened…”

Staring at the ceiling, Alenoa murmured softly.

“Rino.”

“Yes, my lady?”

In her vision, a small fairy appeared. Alenoa, who had lived as a princess of the Kingdom of Sertia, was a candidate for queen, capable of handling spirits and fairies. The reason she was now the Empress of the Albazar Empire was because she had fallen for the emperor who visited her kingdom.

Even if the emperor had a beloved woman already, or despite their age difference, none of that mattered. She wanted to become the emperor’s second wife, having fallen in love at first sight. Moreover, she wished to provide a little comfort to the young prince Julius, who still needed a mother’s touch.

The emperor was particularly harsh with his young son.

The reason was that the young prince was the only bloodline destined to succeed the emperor. But Alenoa seemed to understand why.

The emperor appeared to have no heart to give to the son born from a beloved woman who exchanged her life for his.

For the sake of the prince, who was hurt by such an emperor, Alenoa had to become the second empress of Albazar.

Even if she couldn’t receive the emperor’s love, being a comforting presence for the young prince was the greatest joy for her.

After pleading with the emperor to let her live as Julius’s mother, without any desire for an heir, Alenoa was able to become the Empress of the Albazar Empire.

After spending ten years devotedly caring for the young prince, she managed to melt the ice-cold heart of the emperor and experienced the miracle of giving birth to fraternal twins with him.

She hoped that the princess of the Kingdom of Roden, who was in a similar situation, might also experience such a miracle.

“My lady?”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

Rising from her seat, Alenoa faced the guardian fairy she hadn’t summoned in a long time.

“I want to know what conversation Julius had with the Duchess Hormons.”

“Just a moment!”

The small fairy clasped its head with both hands, concentrating. Suddenly, droplets formed, merging into a large bubble that displayed Julius and the Duchess Hormons facing each other.

Alenoa listened quietly to their conversation, watching as the Duchess Hormons left first and Julius stood for a while before heading straight to the emperor to declare his intentions to accept Princess Roden as his consort.

“What wind has blown?”

“…I no longer want to be hated.”

“Hah? By whom?”

“You know.”

“You scoundrel!”

“Slowly… I will forget. Very slowly. Just like my father buried my birth mother in his heart and accepted my current mother.”

“…I still cannot trust you, so the throne will remain on hold.”

“Do as you please. I hope the ceremony is quick, before my heart changes.”

“Julius… you scoundrel.”

Seeing the strained relationship between father and son, Alenoa felt her heart ache and shook her head, saying, “Enough.”

“My lady, are you alright?”

“I’m fine. Go and rest now.”

“Yes, call me anytime.”

“Will do.”

As the fairy disappeared, Alenoa lay back on the sofa, pressing her hands against her throbbing forehead, sighing repeatedly.

“Still, if Julius can open his heart to the princess little by little, perhaps…”

Alenoa adjusted her posture, clasped her hands, and closed her eyes.

“Oh, almighty deity, please grant peace to this empire.”

***

The next morning, Aella awoke and nearly fainted at the sight of Kael’s exposed chest.

Seeing his smooth and firm bare chest, she felt as if her breath might stop.

‘Is this a dream? What I’m seeing now…’

Aella reached out and touched his broad chest.

‘Soft. Warm.’

“Ella…?”

“!”

Kael’s voice, waking from sleep, pierced Aella’s ears.

‘I can’t bear to look at Kael’s face.’

“Ella, look at me.”

“…Kael.”

“Come on.”

Just hearing his voice made her heart feel like it might explode. Aella finally met Kael’s gaze as he wanted her to.

“Did you sleep well, my dear?”

“…Yes. How about you, Kael?”

“Of course, since I held my beloved wife in my arms as I slept.”

As Kael kissed her forehead with a bashful smile, Aella tightly closed her eyes.

“Chuckles.”

“!”

Aella opened her eyes wide and saw Kael laughing.

“Why, why are you laughing, Kael?”

“Because you’re so lovely, Ella.”

“!”

Facing Kael, who was smiling and pressing his chest against hers, Aella felt her eyes darting around uncontrollably.

“Ka-Kael… right now.”

“Ella, I love you.”

“Wait a moment… huh! Ah…!”

As his soft lips touched her neck, her body shuddered involuntarily, and a sensual m*an escaped her lips. Aella grasped Kael’s shoulders tightly.

“Kael, we shouldn’t do this here… Ah!”

Feeling his hand press against her thigh, Aella pushed Kael’s chest away roughly.

“Kael!”

“Ella…”

“Oh, I-I’m sorry, Kael. I-I…”

Kael gently wrapped his hand around Aella’s lowered right wrist and kissed her palm.

“Huh! Ka-Kael. Wait! Ah!”

Smooch, smooch, smooch—

Watching Kael repeatedly kiss her palm with closed eyes, Aella felt as if her heart might burst from her chest.

“Ella.”

“Kael…”

“I wish tonight would come quickly.”

“That…”

“I want to hold you close and express my love fully.”

“Oh, Kael.”

“I love you, my Ella.”

“Ka-huh!”

As their lips met, Aella couldn’t help but realize how sincere Kael Hormons was in his feelings for her. Holding Kael’s broad back with trembling hands, she slowly opened her eyes.

She met his half-open gaze.

“You’re truly lovely, Ella.”

“Kael… huh! Mm!”

The storm-like, somewhat rough kiss left Aella breathless and dizzy.

In the midst of it, Kael’s sweet voice echoed in her ears.

‘Please… Kael, don’t love me too much. No more…’

Looking at Kael, who smiled at her, Aella’s eyes became moist.