146. Dream (1)

Larael answered before Edward could finish asking. If Edward knew how much had happened during that time, he would be surprised. And how shocked would he be to hear about the life stirring inside Larael’s belly?

Edward seemed quite shocked to learn that he had been unconscious for such a long time. He focused his attention on the wound where he had been attacked. There was no pain. But he was afraid to look at the wound. He had never received an attack severe enough to lose consciousness like that, even in major battles. He feared that seeing the wound would make him feel again the fear and helplessness of possibly losing Larael.

Edward deliberately pushed those thoughts away and felt overwhelmed with the feeling of finally returning as he breathed in Larael’s scent. What occasionally troubled him was the cold, contemptuous gaze of Larael he had seen in his dream.

When he opened his eyes and saw Larael’s expression, he felt relieved. He was grateful, immensely grateful, that the dream which had seemed impossibly real was not reality, and that this was the reality in which he lived.

How much he had longed for her became clear when she was before him. From that moment, Larael was the very purpose of his life. With her within reach, drowsiness overwhelmed him again. Edward tried to fight his closing eyes, but ended up falling asleep leaning against Larael’s head.

“Your Majesty?”

Larael turned her head at the weight of Edward’s head. Edward’s head, having lost its support, drooped forward. Larael looked at the doctors in confusion. The watching doctors approached, helped Edward lie down, and examined him again.

“Your Highness, he has just regained consciousness, so he seems to be experiencing extreme energy consumption. It appears he has simply fallen asleep from fatigue, so there’s no need to worry.”

“Ah…”

Larael nodded with an anxious heart. But she decided to trust Edward. Larael rose from the bed while arranging Edward’s place. She looked around the bedroom, which she hadn’t properly noticed earlier because she was preoccupied with Edward. It was packed as if all the attendants of the main palace had gathered in the bedroom.

“Trix, His Majesty has fallen asleep, so everyone please leave. I’ll call if anything special happens.”

At her words, everyone left Edward’s bedroom like the receding tide. Larael, who had been standing quietly in the suddenly silent bedroom, went to Edward’s bedside.

“Thank you. For waking up.”

Larael had always told those around her that Edward would wake up soon, but deep in her heart, she had hidden the anxiety that he might not regain consciousness. Larael began to feel sorry toward Edward for harboring such thoughts.

Larael lay down beside Edward. She covered herself with the same blanket and placed her hand on Edward’s chest, which was thinner than before. How much she had missed his embrace—Larael nuzzled her face against his chest.

Knock knock.

She heard a knocking sound, but fatigue suddenly overwhelmed Larael. She hazily heard that Marquis Argen had arrived.

***

“Your Grace!!!”

While Herwen was sitting at his bedroom desk rolling a pen, his aide entered, calling him urgently. Herwen frowned. The aide had done one of the things Herwen hated most. But since he looked so urgent, Herwen refrained from scolding him and rested his chin on his hand, gazing steadily at his aide’s face.

“What is it?”

The aide’s lips trembled. He anticipated Herwen’s reaction.

“His Imperial Majesty… has regained consciousness.”

“…”

Herwen stared blankly at his aide with an expressionless face, maintaining the same posture as before. But his fidgeting foot stopped. His pupils gradually darkened. He lowered his head and ran his hands through his hair several times.

“Are you certain?”

“Yes. It’s certain.”

Herwen rose from his desk.

“I’m going to see Duke Nox.”

“At this hour of the night?”

When Herwen glared at him, the aide bowed his head and continued.

“I apologize. I’ll prepare immediately.”

The aide quickly prepared a carriage and sent someone to Duke Nox’s residence. Herwen boarded the carriage and closed his eyes. A headache came on as everything was thrown into disarray again by the rapidly changing situation. He gazed at the darkness outside the window, his lips firmly sealed.

***

“Larael.”

At the voice tickling her ear, Larael stretched pleasantly and opened her eyes. Not sensing anything unusual, as if it were just an ordinary day, she opened her eyes to find Edward’s face filling her vision. Larael opened her eyes wide in surprise. It felt like sleep had completely fled.

“Your Majesty! Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. Much better.”

“Are you really alright?”

Larael felt somewhat reassured seeing Edward speak slowly but quite smoothly. Her worry that Edward might lose consciousness again had now completely disappeared. She felt Edward’s breath on her forehead. Edward’s soft lips touched Larael’s forehead.

“I had a terrible dream while I was asleep for so long.”

Larael hugged Edward tightly. She never wanted to let go.

“A dream? Please tell me what dream. I also have something I want to tell you first. After you tell me, I’ll tell you.”

Edward didn’t want to speak of it. Just talking about such a terrible thing felt like committing a sin against Larael. Edward firmly closed his mouth and smiled gently at Larael.

Larael wondered what state Edward had been in while unconscious. She didn’t want to miss even the smallest thing about him.

“No.”

Edward weakly shook his head slightly. He buried his nose in Larael’s hair and spoke again.

“What did you want to say?”

Larael raised herself up slightly.

“I seem to have fallen asleep like this.”

Larael said, looking down at her dress. Edward closed his eyes weakly and smiled. Larael got up and rang the bell. As if they had been waiting, Trix entered. The attendants who came in with Trix quickly checked Edward’s condition. More precisely, they were checking if Edward was conscious.

“Trix, please call the doctors and prepare something for His Majesty to eat.”

“Yes.”

Though Trix answered, one of the attendants standing behind Trix quickly left the bedroom.

“Marquis Argen visited last night. He waited a while and then left.”

“Tell Argen and the other aides to report on state affairs during my absence.”

Edward instructed Trix as he slightly raised himself.

“Your Majesty, after your body recovers more…”

“No, it’s been left vacant for too long.”

Trix, who knew what had happened, looked at Larael with a troubled expression. He was asking for her opinion. Larael sighed softly and glanced briefly at Trix. Unable to make a decision, she supported Edward as he tried to move.

“Your Majesty, some complicated matters have arisen. We haven’t even uncovered who was behind the attack on you. First, that matter…”

Larael started to speak but then closed her mouth. It was out of consideration for Edward, whose physical condition was not yet fully recovered.

“Larael, I’ll hear it from Jayden. But why has your face become so thin?”

Edward asked, gently cupping Larael’s cheek. He hadn’t noticed yesterday because he was disoriented, but now facing her, she looked quite worn. Larael smiled faintly.

“Did you think I would be fine while you were lying here like this?”

Though it was said lightly, not meant as a reproach, Edward couldn’t raise his head out of guilt toward Larael. That wasn’t her intention, but seeing Edward’s expression darken rapidly, Larael quickly spoke to comfort him.

“Your Majesty, no. I was joking. My face is fine. Look again.”

Larael smiled and tilted her face in front of Edward. But Edward’s darkened expression did not brighten.

“Your Majesty, please tell me what dream it was.”

Larael said to Edward, trying to change the atmosphere.

“…”

“Can’t I comfort you if you tell me it was just a bad dream?”

Larael sat on Edward’s bed, took his hand, and slowly rocked it side to side.

“…I dreamed that you poisoned me.”