157. The Secret She Had Been Hiding (4)

Larael, who had been about to stand up, sat back down on the bed when her wrist was grabbed. Edward was looking at her with his deep eyes, slightly open and frowning.

“Your Majesty, are you awake?”

Edward gently pulled Larael toward him. Losing her balance from the pull, she fell into Edward’s arms.

The moment she was in Edward’s embrace, all the emotions that had been complicating her heart dissipated, replaced entirely by love for Edward. The swirling feelings for Edward in her heart consumed all her worries and brought her peace.

“Larael.”

Edward called her name in a languid voice. Larael truly didn’t want to lose Edward. She hugged him tightly. Feeling her tight embrace, Edward smiled faintly and closed his eyes.

“My Empress.”

Edward murmured. He thought Larael would certainly bristle at this, but she either didn’t hear or remained deeply buried in his arms. Edward looked down at her face, caressed her flushed cheeks, and lifted her face. His gaze was profound. He gently kissed her forehead, then sat up.

“Larael, did you rush here because you were worried about me?”

Edward asked casually. It was true that she had come because she was worried. Larael was pulled back to reality at his words. But contrary to her expectations, Edward’s expression and tone were calm. Yet somehow, that made her even more anxious.

“Your Majesty… are you all right?”

“…”

Edward tilted his head and stared blankly at Larael.

“Let me change clothes first, then we’ll talk. Have you had breakfast?”

“…Yes, I ate before coming.”

“Judging by the time, I should have lunch.”

Edward got up, put on the robe his attendant helped him into, and sat on the sofa. Larael approached and sat beside him, saying:

“Your Majesty, if you have more questions for me…”

“Wait.”

Edward raised his hand to stop Larael, then dismissed all the attendants from the bedroom. After everyone had left as Edward commanded, he spoke again.

“What should I ask you?”

Larael felt a strange disconnect with Edward’s tone and behavior. She lost her words and stared at him, unable to decipher the emotions in his deep eyes.

“Well, whatever I say won’t help if your mind isn’t at ease.”

“…”

“Then I’ll just ask a few things. After I was poisoned, as you said, were you happy?”

This was a question Larael hadn’t anticipated at all as she waited tensely for Edward’s questions. Her heart sank. With each pounding heartbeat, she felt like she was digging deeper into an abyss.

“Was I… happy?”

Larael repeated his words as if in a trance. Of course, the answer was absolutely “no.” Silence fell between Edward and Larael. Edward was looking at her with a calm gaze. Larael felt as though his eyes were seeing right through her, and she wanted to hide somewhere.

“You don’t have to answer. I can tell from your expression. Next question. The magical stone mines, the drought that hit the empire, and the other problems that Count Winters solved—what do you think?”

“…How did you know? Did Count Winters perhaps…”

“No, I haven’t even met Count Winters. So what I thought was correct. But why was it Count Winters?”

A smile appeared and quickly disappeared from Edward’s lips as he spoke with excitement. He asked Larael with a puzzled expression. But it didn’t matter what her answer would be. Edward wasn’t really asking to hear her response. Right now, Edward’s heart was filled with joy ready to burst. Whether Larael’s words were true or not, whether he believed them or not, that wasn’t what mattered anymore.

What mattered was that he now had a justification to place Larael on the throne as Empress.

As Count Winters had said, “the true owner of Kazel’s heart” had appeared. Though he regretted not realizing it before Count Winters, his concerns about forcing the Empress coronation after resolving the Duke Anderman matter had vanished. He needed to research more deeply the traditional Empress Appointment Examination that had been suspended due to the complicated events that had occurred. Surely Larael would pass that test brilliantly.

“Larael.”

Edward called her name emphatically. He would place her on the throne as Empress. Larael, who had been sitting in a daze, flinched with surprise.

“Larael, I have no more questions for you.”

“…”

“Now that my questions are finished, I will pronounce judgment on your crime.”

Larael’s eyes widened. Bewilderment flashed across her red eyes. It was because of the phrase “judgment on your crime.” She felt a sense of emptiness and couldn’t help but laugh.

‘Did I trust Edward too much?’

Edward stood up, went to Larael, and pulled her to her feet. Then he embraced her so tightly that it felt like her body might be crushed.

“Your Majesty?”

Larael called Edward in a confused voice and gently pushed him away. He had hugged her so tightly that she could barely breathe. Edward loosened his arms and looked down at her. Her eyes trembled with uncertainty.

“From now on, I forbid you to mention what you think you experienced, to feel guilty about it, or to torment yourself.”

Larael didn’t answer. She just looked at Edward. Her long eyelashes began to quiver.

“Larael, please don’t torment yourself. This is both an order and a request. If you truly care for me, focus only on the days we will spend together from now on. I’m not living with your past. I want to share your future.”

At Edward’s added words, everything Larael had been rigidly holding up collapsed. With trembling hands, she brushed back Edward’s golden hair.

Not mentioning it wouldn’t make it disappear, and she couldn’t simply stop feeling guilty, but Edward’s order was an effort to completely separate Larael from her life before the regression and to prevent her from feeling anxious. A future with Edward—that was what Larael had been struggling for all along. Yet she felt disgusted with herself for having doubted Edward even for a moment.

“This foolish man…”

Edward chuckled at her words. He hadn’t expected such words to come from her lips.

“Yes, I am a fool. Because I lose all reason when it comes to you…”

“Even if I were to stab you to death with a dagger right now, you would open your chest to me, wouldn’t you?”

“Larael, that’s a bit…”

That was Edward’s way of loving. How could anyone love like Edward did? Larael couldn’t even fathom it. How could anyone receive such love? Even God couldn’t love like this. In the end, Larael felt deeply sorry toward Edward.

“I’m carrying your child.”

The only way to repay his love was to love him more in return. That was all.

“…Larael, what did you just say?”

“I am carrying Your Majesty’s child.”

“Larael…”

Edward’s voice, which had maintained its composure, trembled. But that trembling was due to the joy and thrill that filled his entire body to overflowing. Edward hugged her tightly.

“Your Majesty.”

When Larael called him, struggling to breathe in his tight embrace, Edward released her with a start.

“Ah, I didn’t think. Are you all right?”

Edward asked worriedly, looking at her stomach. Seeing him like that, tears welled up in Larael’s eyes. She held back her tears and nodded. Edward looked alternately at Larael’s stomach and face, clutching his head with both hands.

“We must call a doctor immediately for an examination.”

“Your Majesty, I am fine.”

Edward looked back and forth between the bedroom door and Larael, then sighed deeply and carefully embraced her again.

“Larael, why didn’t you tell me first? When did you find out?”

“I found out when Your Majesty was unconscious.”

“…I’m sorry I wasn’t by your side at such an important moment…”

“No. Your Majesty, please stop saying you’re sorry and thank you to me.”

“All right, I understand. Thank you, Larael. Thank you so much.”