151. The Emperor’s Temporary Aide

“What? No. I will not attend.”

Edward opened his eyes wide and looked at Larael.

“I heard you attended regularly when I was absent?”

He was referring to how she had attended meetings to monitor the situation while the Empress Dowager was regent. Larael was momentarily blank before shaking her head lightly.

“That was…”

Edward, already guessing what Larael was about to say, interrupted her.

“From today, you will attend the nobles’ council. I’m going to appoint you as my temporary aide. I’m telling you in advance so you won’t be surprised when you hear it at the meeting.”

“Your Majesty!! What are you saying? The nobles will object…”

“Larael, who would dare object to me?”

His somewhat glib tone made Edward seem unfamiliar to Larael.

“Your Majesty, I will return to Abella Palace.”

Larael didn’t feel like Edward’s words were a joke. The thought that what he had said earlier about being together from morning till night might be sincere suddenly made her alert. He hadn’t yet heard what Larael needed to confess. Since Edward regained consciousness, he had been relying on Larael. And his attitude made her more afraid. She thought that the more he depended on her, the greater his anger and disappointment would be when she revealed the truth about her past life.

“No, don’t go.”

Edward’s words were more of a command than a request. At his words, Larael, who had been rising from the sofa to go to Abella Palace, stopped and looked at Edward.

“Do as I say, Larael.”

Seeing Larael’s expression suddenly harden, Edward spoke to her gently again. At his words, Larael forcibly lifted her stiff lips into a smile and sat back down on the sofa.

“I will do as Your Majesty says. I will attend the nobles’ council, but please withdraw your statement about keeping me as an aide. Everyone has their proper place.”

“Larael, do you remember that I said I would conduct the Empress Appointment Examination after the Founding Festival? Your rightful place is not as Empress Consort but as Empress.”

“Your Majesty!!”

Larael exclaimed in alarm, glancing around nervously. Edward raised his eyebrows and pursed his lips. It wasn’t something he couldn’t say. Then he began to laugh out loud. Larael’s reaction seemed quite cute to him. At the sound of his laughter, Larael’s eyebrows twitched.

***

Larael had been sitting two seats away from where Edward would sit, but anticipating his reaction, she moved to sit right next to him. She looked at Edward surrounded by people, then turned her head and sat blankly. Ironically, when Edward was absent, she had entered the council chamber with a combative and dignified posture each time, but entering with Edward as the Empress Consort made her feel intimidated. Dean approached her.

“I pay my respects to Her Highness the Empress Consort.”

“Dean!”

Larael called his name with a pleased expression.

“Your Highness, you don’t look well. Is something wrong?”

Dean, who had been watching her enter with Edward from a distance with a bitter expression, saw that her expression wasn’t as bright as he expected and approached Larael as if entranced.

Seeing Dean’s face, Larael felt both happy and suddenly sorrowful.

‘Since Dean knows about my regression, should I consult with him?’

Larael thought briefly before giving a bitter smile. Dean was the only person who knew about her regression, but if he learned about the things she had done and even her attempt to poison Edward, things would be different. She herself thought he would probably find it difficult to treat her as before.

“I suppose the fatigue from before hasn’t dissipated yet. Now that His Majesty has returned, everything will find its proper place.”

Larael said, looking toward Edward who was barely visible surrounded by nobles. After gazing in that direction for a while, she turned her gaze to look at Dean.

“Still, among all these people, only Dean thinks of me.”

Just as Larael added this, Edward broke through the nobles surrounding him and walked toward her. He cast a glance at Dean standing beside Larael.

“Count Winters… Count Winters…”

Edward looked at him and murmured his name softly.

“I pay my respects to His Majesty the Emperor, the sun of the Empire.”

Dean bowed respectfully to Edward.

“It’s been a while, Count Winters. I heard you served the Empress Consort well in my absence. I wanted to express my gratitude to you.”

“Not at all, Your Majesty.”

“Let’s have a meal together sometime soon.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Dean bowed briefly to Edward and Larael before returning to his place.

“Why did you leave instead of staying by my side?”

Edward whispered to Larael as he sat down. Larael didn’t answer but only smiled faintly. When Larael gave no response, Edward awkwardly turned his head and looked around the council chamber.

As Edward took his seat, the room fell deathly silent. Nobles who hadn’t yet taken their seats stood frozen, unable to return to their places in the suffocating silence, staring at Edward.

With Edward’s appearance, the attention that had been focused on him now instantly shifted to Larael. They couldn’t even gauge what was happening, seeing the Empress Consort sitting confidently next to the Emperor even though the regency had ended.

“Let’s start the meeting at ten o’clock sharp.”

Edward quietly told Marquis Argen who had approached him.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

With those words, the tension in the council chamber broke. The atmosphere became chaotic with people whispering, hurrying to their places, and so on.

Larael could easily guess what they were whispering about as she noticed them glancing at her.

“Larael, why are you so concerned? The only person you should care about is me.”

Looking into Edward’s deep, profound eyes, Larael felt momentarily at peace. If they weren’t in the council chamber, she could have spent all day quietly gazing into those eyes.

But the momentary peace was shattered with the sound announcing the start of the meeting.

“I heard that while I was unconscious, you all served the Empress Dowager very well, with one heart and one mind, for the sake of governing the nation. I hope you will actively cooperate with me in the same way from now on. Don’t disappoint me.”

At Edward’s words, the sound of people clearing their throats could be heard here and there. Edward snorted at this and continued.

“I know today’s meeting is to announce my return. And as everyone is waiting, discussing the punishment of those who violated the law should be the priority, right? Feel free to express your opinions.”

The council chamber fell silent again at Edward’s words. It would be disastrous to step forward and be misunderstood as taking sides. Even the nobles who had been on Duke Anderman’s side sat silently today as if they had honey on their lips.

“What happened while I was unconscious? Before, everyone seemed to have so much to say, but suddenly you’ve all become so well-mannered?”

“Your Majesty.”

Larael whispered softly beside him. Edward’s sarcasm was continuing endlessly. Edward looked at Larael when she whispered, then turned his head again.

“And since the Empress Consort briefly served as regent and led the state affairs in my absence, I wish to receive her assistance. Therefore, I will appoint the Empress Consort as my aide and representative for the time being to participate in state affairs. If there are any objections, raise your hand.”

At Edward’s words, Larael felt the blood drain from her body, turning pale as she became dizzy. She had called Edward to stop his sarcasm, not to encourage him to say such things. She even felt resentful toward Edward for saying such things without understanding her intentions.

She now found her position beside Edward unbearably uncomfortable.

But contrary to her feelings, Edward looked at Larael with eyes full of trust. Although it was unbearably uncomfortable and unwanted, Larael couldn’t refuse Edward’s trust. And to respond to that look in his eyes, she reluctantly opened her mouth.

“I will do my best to assist Your Majesty.”