128. Time Passing Meaninglessly

For the moment, that was all Larael could say. With a stifled heart, she turned her head toward the bed where Edward lay.

“Understood.”

Rising once more, Larael walked over to Edward’s bedside and spoke.

“You may go now. You must have many tasks to attend to…”

“Yes. I will return with the Tower Master.”

Marquis Argen bowed respectfully to Larael before leaving Edward’s chamber. As soon as he left, attendants and Larael’s maids entered. Larael sat without moving for over an hour, staring at Edward. Unable to endure it any longer, Sasha finally spoke.

“Your Highness, you do not look well. You have not eaten, either… At this rate, something terrible may happen to you as well.”

“My complexion?”

Larael touched her own face with her hand. For a brief moment, her wandering gaze drifted toward her stomach.

“Yes… I should eat something.”

At her words, Joanna and Sasha’s faces immediately brightened.

Just then, Trix entered after a knock.

“Your Highness, the wizards from the Tower have arrived. Marquis Argen sent word that he will soon return here with them.”

“Very well. After they have left, prepare a light meal for me here. I feel quite hungry.”

“Yes, I will give the order.”

Not long after Trix departed, Marquis Argen arrived with two wizards from the Tower. They were Nora, whom Larael knew well, and the Tower Master, Ferma.

The moment Nora saw Larael, her face pale, she skipped any formal greeting and embraced her tightly. At first, Larael seemed startled, but the gentle touch of Nora’s hand was too much for her restrained emotions. She buried her face in Nora’s arms and began to weep like a child.

“Nora… Nora!!”

The Tower Master called Nora’s name in a flustered whisper as she watched her embrace Larael without a word of greeting. She had cautioned her not to act emotionally before meeting Larael, but it had been to no avail.

When news of the masquerade ball attack reached them—together with the report that Larael had been abducted—Nora had gone pale and insisted she would go rescue her immediately. Ferma had barely managed to calm her down. Of course, Ferma herself was also worried for Larael. Yet if they interfered before she became the rightful owner of the necklace, no one could predict which cog in the wheel might be thrown out of place. Ferma only hoped her decision had not been a mistake.

When word finally came that Larael had been rescued and safely returned to the palace, she had heaved a deep sigh of relief. Even now, calling Nora’s name to restrain her, she found her own eyes growing hot.

Once she had calmed somewhat, Larael looked at Ferma with reddened eyes and gave a silent nod of greeting.

“…You must have heard from Marquis Argen about the situation. I, too, wish to go to Count Winters’s estate, but I must remain by Edward’s side.”

Larael’s eyes grew cold as she recalled the assassin who had abducted her.

“And though it is a presumptuous request… may I ask you to remain in the palace until His Majesty awakens?”

She carefully addressed Ferma.

“Yes. I will do so.”

The reply came at once, despite her cautious tone.

“And Marquis Argen, when you return to the palace, bring Joy with you. After the Founding Festival, he is to join the Imperial Knights and serve as my personal guard. The Knight Commander should already have been informed. Though the commander’s seat is vacant, see that he is handed over to the order.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Then… I will await your return with meaningful results.”

Larael saw them off. Once outside the palace, they would join up with Joy in Larael’s office and teleport to Count Winters’s estate.

Larael then went to Edward’s bedside and gently stroked his hand.

“Your Majesty, please wake soon and hold my hand tightly with yours.”

Suddenly, fear gripped her.

‘What if Edward never wakes again?’

It was an ill-omened thought, but as she stared at his motionless figure, it kept coming back to her. Having vowed to live for Edward, she could not even imagine a life without him. Larael clasped his hand tightly, as though refusing to ever let go.

Two attendants, seemingly sent at Trix’s order, entered the chamber carrying food.

“Your Highness, please come this way and eat a little.”

Larael nodded weakly and rose from her seat.

***

Dean, meanwhile, had received swift reports about the palace attack and was consumed with trying to uncover the truth. The moment he heard of Larael’s abduction, however, he could no longer sit idly by. He summoned all the assassins under Four Seasons and commanded them to locate Larael Hedway immediately.

While he anxiously awaited word, Zahara came and informed him that Larael had safely returned to the palace. The instant Dean heard it, a flood of relief mixed with weariness washed over him.

He returned to his estate to prepare to go to the palace. He would not rest until he saw with his own eyes that Larael was safe. Just as he was about to leave, Joy drove a carriage into the count’s residence.

Inside the carriage lay Cloud—the man who had abducted Larael—unconscious, his arms severed. Though Joy said nothing, Dean knew at once who it was. Sharing a glance with Joy, Dean ordered a servant to fetch a large cloth. They wrapped Cloud in it and had him confined in the underground storage room.

Dean considered transferring him to the prison beneath the Four Seasons building, but decided against it. Too many people would be coming and going there for interrogations. It was safer to keep him in the storage cellar.

After briefly sending Joy out of the room, Dean struck the unconscious Cloud twice with his fists. Even then, his anger was not spent. He raised his foot, intending to crush him, but just barely managed to restrain himself, lowering it back to the ground.

Outside the storage room, Joy, who had been waiting, silently stared at Dean’s reddened fist as he emerged. Dean averted his gaze and quickly hid his fist behind his back.

“I was the one who saved Her Majesty the Empress.”

“Yes. You’ve done well. I have no choice but to acknowledge that.”

“So I’ll keep watch over this man. You can trust me now, can’t you?”

“……”

Dean pressed his lips together tightly and gave a small nod.

“I’ll tell the estate servants to stay clear of the cellar. Until Her Highness the Empress Consort gives further instructions, make sure he is well guarded.”

“Yes, I will.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Dean slowly raised his hand and patted Joy’s shoulder twice. Joy leaned back against the storage door and sat down. The tension that had unknowingly bound him snapped loose all at once. Dean stood beside him, watching him quietly for a long while.

“You look exhausted. I’ll set aside a guest room for you to rest. You and I can take turns keeping watch.”

“No, it’s fine. I can sleep on the ground like this—I always have. Just bring me a blanket. And I’m hungry… could you also bring me something to eat?”

“Are you sure?”

Joy nodded. Seeing this, Dean lowered himself to sit beside him.

“Do you know who those people are?”

“I don’t know for certain, but Her Highness mentioned the Kingdom of Hashiya.”

Dean’s brow twitched. If it was indeed Hashiya, then the conflict over the mana stone mines made it entirely plausible they bore a grudge. If that were the case, he could already imagine how deeply Larael must be blaming herself—even without seeing her.

“I must go see Her Highness right away.”

“No! It’s better if you don’t. No matter what we say, we cannot truly comfort Her Highness. The best way we can help her is by doing our part.”

Hearing such words from Joy left Dean with a strange feeling. Joy, like himself, was one of the few who could speak of supporting her as “we.” With a bitter look, Dean rose to his feet and looked down at him.

“I’ll send down a blanket and some food. If it becomes too much, tell me at once.”

“Yes, understood.”

With that, Joy leaned his head against the door and closed his eyes.

But even the next day, there was no new word from the palace. Joy grew restless that Larael had not summoned him. Leaving Cloud’s watch to Dean, he returned to his office. He could not predict when Larael might reach out to him.

While Joy sat idly at his desk, killing time in a daze, Marquis Argen entered with the Tower’s wizards. Ferma and Nora’s faces brightened with relief when they saw him. Marquis Argen exchanged a brief greeting with him before asking directly about the assassin’s whereabouts.

“Is the assassin at Count Winters’s estate now?”