Honey, Don’t Love Me

47: Honeymoon

Alenoa was enjoying tea time in the garden with Elena when she cautiously began to speak.

“Elena.”

“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”

“I’ve told you to call me more comfortably when it’s just the two of us.”

“Yes, Mother.”

Although they were smiling at each other, Alenoa couldn’t help but see the overlap of Elena’s current face with the bloodied one she had seen before. She tightly clenched her trembling hands.

“Mother? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

“No, it’s nothing, my dear.”

“Yes.”

“The Emperor has also said that he will help you return to your homeland whenever you wish. Even if you return as the former Crown Princess, it would still be better than living here…”

Alenoa couldn’t continue speaking. She was met with Elena’s firm gaze, which seemed resolute beyond words.

“How could I not know that you and Father are concerned about me? I am truly grateful for that.”

“…”

“But I love it here. I’ve come to love the Empire of Albazar more than Roden, where I was born and raised.”

“…”

“At first, I fell in love with His Highness the Crown Prince. But now, I have come to love both Your Majesties, the adorable Princess Mai, and Prince Ren. And… the Duchess of Hormons, who has become my dearest friend. I now have precious people here who feel like family, so I can’t leave this place.”

Elena placed her hands over her heart and continued speaking to the Empress, who looked at her with a face on the verge of tears.

“His Highness the Crown Prince told me that he would never take a mistress, that he would keep me by his side as his Empress when he ascends the throne, and that he would make my child the Crown Prince. That is enough for me. I want to live beside the man I love and with the people who love me even more.”

“…”

“Even if someone calls me foolish or stupid, I can’t help it. I love him too much to give up. Even if it means my death.”

Closing her eyes, Elena thought of Aella, who had willingly sacrificed her life for the man she loved.

‘If I were to die, would this miserable life finally end? If I die… would the Crown Prince finally… No, that won’t happen. Aella and I are different. If I die, it might even…’

Elena clutched her chest, which felt like it was being torn apart, and lowered her head.

“Elena.”

“…Mother, the truth is, it’s so hard and overwhelming.”

“…”

“I can endure the cold treatment from the nobles, but I can’t bear the Crown Prince’s piercing words and gaze… I keep hoping that, with time, he might see my sincerity… but I’m afraid. I’m terrified that he’ll never acknowledge my feelings, even for the rest of my life. Even if I become Empress… I’ll always have to live with this unease. If only… if only I had never come to Albazar. I regret it every day… yet, when I see him, my heart races so much that I sometimes wish I could just die.”

Elena poured out all the pain she had kept bottled up inside, tears streaming down her face.

“Elena.”

“Mother…”

“I understand your heart.”

Elena cried in Alenoa’s arms for a long time as the Empress gently wiped her tears. Then she looked up at her again.

“I’m sorry for showing you such an ugly side of me.”

“It’s okay to show me any side of yourself.”

“…”

“To me and the Emperor, you’re not just a daughter-in-law. We think of you as our eldest daughter.”

“…”

“It may be hard to believe.”

“I believe you. Of course, I do. How could I not believe it when you’ve always been on my side?”

Alenoa embraced her tearful daughter-in-law once again, gently patting her back.

“Elena, I’ve seen your future.”

“…”

“I saw Julius holding you, covered in blood, and crying out in anguish.”

“!”

“I’ve never seen him cry like that before. It doesn’t feel like a good omen.”

“Is that true? Did His Highness really… cry so sorrowfully while holding me?”

“…”

Alenoa was at a loss for words. Elena’s face, now filled with joy, was a stark contrast to the grim vision.

“Mother.”

“Yes, that’s what I saw.”

“…Haha. Do I seem strange to you? Even though you said I would die, I’m so happy to hear that the Crown Prince cried for me. I don’t think I’m normal either. I must be madly in love. I once heard that when someone is consumed by love, they become a fool who knows nothing. I must look just like that.”

Tears continued to fall from Elena’s laughing eyes.

Alenoa stood up and hugged the trembling girl with all her strength.

“Elena, I don’t want you to end up like what I saw. Please, don’t let that happen.”

“…”

“I’m begging you. Please, take care of yourself.”

“Mother, thank you. Whenever I missed my mother’s embrace after coming here, I was able to endure because of how warmly you treated me. Truly.”

“Elena.”

Elena stepped back from the embrace and smiled faintly.

“Even if I’m called foolish, I can’t give up this feeling. Even if it means my death.”

“Elena, my dear, please, for my sake…”

“I’m sorry, Mother. And thank you. Truly, thank you.”

Alenoa, realizing that her words couldn’t stop her, hugged Elena tightly again and wept with her.

From a distance, Julius watched the scene. Standing beside him with her arms crossed was Mia, while Ren clung to his twin sister, staring up at his elder brother.

“Brother, stop making Sister-in-law suffer. Look at her! She loves you so much. Why do you make her suffer?”

“Yeah! Brother, you’re mean! You shouldn’t do that! A man who makes a woman cry isn’t a real man!”

“…”

Startled by Julius’s gaze, Ren quickly hid behind his sister.

“Ugh, Ren! Get off me!”

“Sister!”

“Anyway! Brother! I’m telling you! Stop hurting Sister-in-law and making her cry! Even if you’re my brother, I won’t stand by if you keep doing this to her!”

“Y-Yeah!”

“Ugh! Let go of me, Ren! Brother! Where are you going? Brother!”

As Julius walked out of the garden, he was met by his father, the Emperor, who stood with his hands behind his back and a displeased expression.

“If you have something to say, say it.”

“You’re pathetic.”

“…”

“If you keep acting like this, the woman you love will only hate you more.”

“…”

“The dark sorceress… her final target will likely be this place. You must remain vigilant.”

“…”

Derek sighed heavily as he placed a hand on Julius’s shoulder.

“You’re just like me, and that worries me even more.”

“…”

“I couldn’t forget Lesia, the woman who gave birth to you. I hurt Alenoa with my words and actions without hesitation. I thought that by being cruel, I could make her give up on becoming Empress. No, back then, I despised her because I believed she wanted to use you as a pretext to take the vacant Empress’s seat. But as I watched her endure every wound, every insult, and protect you, even as the nobles treated her as an outsider… I realized how foolish I had been.”

Derek tightened his grip on Julius’s shoulder and continued, his face unusually gentle.

“Julius, you’re young. You don’t have to follow in the footsteps of your foolish father.”

“…”

“I resented you for Lesia’s death. I foolishly thought I lost her because of you. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for making you so cold.”

“Father… Your Majesty.”

Julius could hardly believe his eyes. The father he thought was unshakable was now crying and apologizing to him.

“Julius, it’s not too late. Accept Elena. If you can’t… then let her go. I’m begging you. Please, my son.”

Despite his father’s plea, Julius couldn’t give an answer. His heart was still filled with Aella, but he couldn’t deny that Elena, who loved him so much, was slowly finding her way into his heart.

“Your Majesty.”

“Yes.”

“I don’t know my own heart anymore.”

“…”

“I know I need to let go of Aella… but I hate myself for being like this.”

Derek stared at Julius, who was shedding tears, and gripped his arms tightly.

“Stop hurting the woman who loves you. Do you understand?”

“Yes, I will.”

“Good. And make sure to apologize to Elena for everything.”

Julius nodded silently as Derek returned to the garden. There, he saw Alenoa comforting Elena, who was crying in her arms, while Mai scolded Ren.

“The dark sorceress… no, Letia. Is she coming to destroy this happiness? It’s my fault for merely exiling her after she broke the taboo. All of this is my fault. Sigh.”

“Your Majesty.”

“!”

Alenoa appeared before him, smiling brightly.

“Are you feeling guilty about something?”

“G-Guilty? Of course not!”

“Then why are you stammering?”

“Ahem! Alenoa, this isn’t the time for jokes…”

“I know. I’ll make preparations as well.”

“…”

“She won’t act recklessly, knowing I’m here.”

Derek nodded at her words and took her hands gently.

“Don’t overdo it. You’re not young anymore.”

“Oh my, that’s quite rude. I’m still twenty years younger than you.”

“Ahem!”

“Oh my, are you sulking?”

“S-Sulking? I’m leaving!”

“Pfft.”

“Don’t laugh!”

Watching her parents-in-law bicker, Elena smiled as she took the hands of her young siblings-in-law, who urged her to go inside. As she walked, she looked up at the sunset sky.

‘Aella, I hope I can find happiness like you someday.’

—

After four days of travel, they arrived in Chervel. Aella marveled at the beautiful scenery of the village Kael had described to her.

“Don’t be too surprised yet, Ella. This way.”

Following Kael’s lead, they arrived at the sea. The emerald waves sparkled as they rolled in.

“How is it? Beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Yes… It’s truly beautiful. I never knew the sea could be this stunning.”

As Aella gazed at the sea, Kael turned her to face him.

“Kael…?”

“Let’s spend our first honeymoon here.”

“Honeymoon?”

“Yes, it’s late, but… I’m sorry, Ella.”