156. The Secret She Had Been Hiding (3)

Edward canceled all his appointments and went to the training grounds. It was his habit to organize his thoughts by focusing on physical training and sword practice whenever his mind was troubled. He repeatedly swung his sword and then collapsed onto the ground.

The cool breeze seeped through Edward’s wet hair.

‘Why did Larael have to go through something like that?’

Many questions cluttered his mind. Unanswerable questions piled up, forming a solid wall. It would be nice if someone could answer clearly in Larael’s place, but there was no such person.

‘Is such a thing really possible?’

Amid his endless questioning, her expression from his dream surfaced again. He ran his hand through his hair, trying to shake off her face that kept appearing. But the more he tried, the more vividly it appeared, tormenting him.

For Edward, Larael was the most important thing right now.

He decided to focus only on that. If he hadn’t had that dream, he would never have known about any of this. Though it felt as real as reality, that didn’t mean it wasn’t a dream. Perhaps Larael had simply had a similar dream and was mistaking it for something she had actually experienced.

‘Is there anyone around her who knows about this?’

It was too heavy a burden to bear alone. He slowly thought about the people around her.

‘The Count and Countess, Larael’s maids, her escort knight, Joy who suddenly appeared, who else? Her aide, and… Count Winters…’

Edward sat up abruptly. Was that why the man’s gaze had always bothered him? That look suggesting he knew something, and his glances toward Larael—Edward recalled when he had proposed the Empress Appointment Examination.

“Why do you think it’s an absurd proposal? Do you have so little confidence in Her Highness the Empress Consort?”

Starting with Count Winters’ challenging demeanor, all the things he had said came to mind one after another.

“I believe that if given the opportunity, Her Highness will certainly become the Empress.”

“Do you know if the true owner of Kazel’s heart is waiting somewhere?”

“The true owner of Kazel’s heart…”

It flashed through his mind how Count Winters, who had never shown any interest in politics and never attended meetings, suddenly appeared to provide information about the magical stone mines and offered opinions about the record drought. Was it a coincidence that it happened after Larael became the Empress Consort?

Edward left the training grounds and hurried back to his office. When the Emperor, who had canceled all his appointments, reappeared in his office, all the aides stopped what they were doing and looked at him.

“Bring me the materials from the investigation into the Empress Appointment Examination, and all the records of the previous Empresses as well.”

Momentarily confused by this sudden request unrelated to current affairs, some of the aides left the office to find what Edward wanted, while others busily searched through the piles of documents stacked beside the desk.

“Your Majesty, what’s the matter? Is it because of Her Highness the Empress Consort?”

“The Empress Consort? Yes. I suppose so.”

Edward gave a vague answer to Marquis Argen’s question and sat down at his desk, deep in thought. Marquis Argen had more he wanted to say to Edward but couldn’t, so he returned to his place.

Edward occasionally brushed back his cascading blond hair, but otherwise sat motionless. And as the materials found by his aides were placed one by one on his desk, he flipped through them with flashing eyes, like someone who had lost his mind.

The aides exchanged glances with Marquis Argen, who was closest to Edward, seeking an explanation, but the Marquis could only shrug his shoulders as he didn’t know the reason either. He was merely speculating that it might be related to Edward’s sudden cancellation of all appointments after having lunch with Larael.

Edward examined everything the aides had brought him until late into the night.

Darkness had fallen outside, and the harsh night wind was still beating against the windows. There was no rain, but it was a night of dry thunder. Marquis Argen had sent the other aides home and remained by Edward’s side.

At some unknown hour, Marquis Argen nodded off unintentionally, only to be startled awake by Edward’s laughter. The light was particularly bright over Edward’s desk. Edward was laughing out loud alone in the deep silence. It looked almost eerie. Marquis Argen frowned and quietly observed Edward. After a while, when Edward stopped laughing, he got up and went to stand in front of him.

“…Your Majesty, what is it?”

“Nothing, I just found something amusing…”

Even as he spoke, the smile didn’t leave Edward’s face. Edward pressed his forehead and tilted his head back, starting to laugh again. Marquis Argen couldn’t even begin to guess why Edward was so amused.

“Jayden, I’m going to bring an incredible Empress.”

Edward jumped up from his seat, shaking his head as he left the office.

***

The next day, Dean and Kali entered the imperial palace as Larael had requested.

“We pay our respects to Her Highness the Empress Consort.”

Larael received Dean and Kali’s greetings with a faint smile. Somehow, that smile looked sad.

“Your Highness, is something wrong?”

Kali asked with a worried tone, voicing what Dean also wanted to ask.

“It’s nothing. Do you know why I called you both to the palace today?”

“I’m guessing it’s about Duke Anderman. I relayed what I heard from Your Highness to Lady Layton on my way here.”

“Yes, Dean’s guess is correct. His Majesty wants me, or rather us, to conclude the Duke Anderman matter. That’s why I need both of you.”

“Command me to do anything.”

“I too will do whatever Your Highness orders.”

Dean said confidently. Kali, having lost the initiative, repeated what Dean had said a beat later.

“We need to form an investigation team and begin the investigation as soon as possible. We need to gather people who can help us with our work. Dean, could you take care of that?”

“Yes, I understand.”

“We’ll set up the investigation headquarters at Abella Palace. Nora, a mage from the Magic Tower, has agreed to secretly assist the investigation team. Officially, the Magic Tower will maintain its current neutral stance.”

Since the magic ledger was the key evidence, the help of a mage was necessary.

Larael felt relieved facing the two of them. At the moment, she felt like the Duke Anderman matter would be resolved smoothly.

“Will Duke Anderman submit to the investigation willingly?”

“…We’ll make him submit? Since His Majesty the Emperor is behind us…”

Larael was about to say it was reassuring but closed her mouth firmly. Thinking of Edward caused yesterday’s memories to flood her mind in a dizzying rush. Larael’s complexion gradually turned pale.

“Your Highness, are you really alright?”

Dean asked Larael with concerned eyes. Larael forced a smile and nodded.

“I’m fine. I just didn’t sleep well last night, so I’m a bit tired. Please go back and start the preparations as discussed. I need to rest a little.”

Dean and Kali quickly rose at her words, bid farewell, and left Abella Palace. After they left, Larael remained seated on the sofa, debating whether she should go to the main palace to meet Edward.

‘I need to meet with Edward again and talk…’

They hadn’t had a deep enough conversation for everything to be perfectly understood. Edward must be very confused right now and would have many questions for Larael. Yesterday, emotions had been running too high to rationally organize thoughts and ask and answer questions. She needed to see him again before any misunderstandings deepened.

Larael stood up and went to the window, looking outside. Lost in thought, she turned her head resolutely and said to Sasha:

“Sasha, please prepare the carriage. I’m going to the main palace.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

When Larael arrived at the main palace, she asked where Edward was. Contrary to her expectation that he would be in his office, she was told that Edward had not yet risen. Larael’s heart grew heavy. Thinking that Edward had been unable to sleep all night and had only just fallen asleep, Larael was about to return to Abella Palace but changed her mind and headed toward Edward’s bedroom.

She carefully opened the bedroom door and approached Edward’s bed. Larael sat beside the bed where he was sleeping and gazed at Edward’s face. Seized by the urge to brush back the disheveled hair on his forehead, Larael carefully pushed his hair back little by little, afraid of waking him.

After staring intently at his face for a long time, Larael slowly rose from the bed to return to Abella Palace.

“Don’t go.”

Edward said in a low voice, gripping Larael’s wrist tightly as if afraid to let her go.