23. Even When Trying to Rise

Edward wiped the bloodstains from his disheveled golden hair with a handkerchief and looked at Dean, who had just stepped out of the tent. The madness that had flickered in Edward’s eyes was gone, but Dean couldn’t forget the involuntary trembling that had overtaken him.

Edward asked Dean about the location of the mana stone mine with the same calmness as if he were inquiring about someone’s well-being. However, even Larael didn’t know the exact location.

That was when Ferma began to shine. While Ferma couldn’t use magic to pinpoint the location of the mana stones, one of her specialties was t*rture magic. She took the wizards who had been hiding in the rear and the captured Hawthorn into the tent.

—

Dean wrote a brief note to Larael, who would be waiting for news, and sent it off. After returning to the capital, he ordered Zahara to add further records about Edward, then sat at his desk with his chin resting on his hand.

‘But it seems the Empress Consort isn’t as interested in Grand Duke Vellaus as I thought?’

He found himself intrigued by the peculiar relationship between Grand Duke Vellaus and Larael. Why was Larael helping the Emperor who had violated her?

Before Vellaus had fallen for her by chance, proposed, and brought her to the capital, no noble in the capital had shown even the slightest interest in her. Dean thought of Larael’s radiant silver hair and her jewel-like crimson eyes that grew more vivid in the light. How could someone so striking have lived quietly in a mere count’s estate?

He thought it wasn’t surprising that Vellaus had fallen for her, and he considered the Grand Duke incredibly lucky. Embarrassed by his own envy, Dean tried to calm his lightly stirring emotions by forcing himself to laugh. However, his eyes betrayed his unease, and he repeatedly pressed his fingers against his eyelids to hide their trembling.

—

“Your Highness, His Majesty the Emperor has returned to the imperial palace. Typically, when His Majesty returns after being away, the Empress or the Empress Consort visits the palace to check on him. Shall we make preparations?”

The head maid informed Larael of Edward’s return and what she should do. Larael’s lips curved into a faint smile. It had only been a few days since his absence. Even without this, the gazes directed at her weren’t kind, and appearing overly eager would only make her seem more conspicuous.

“No, I won’t go.”

The head maid hesitated momentarily before bowing her head and leaving Larael’s bedroom. After the maid left, Sasha approached Larael with excitement.

“Your Highness, in that case, His Majesty might come here tonight. Shall we prepare to welcome him?”

At that, Lillian chimed in from the side.

“We’ve used up all the Trabella flower oil, so I’ve already placed an order for more. In the meantime, we’ll need to use a different oil. Which one should we use?”

“His Majesty doesn’t like Trabella flower oil. He prefers Armen flower oil. Do we have any?”

Just as Lillian was about to respond, Larael spoke in a frustrated tone, furrowing her brow.

“Wait! His Majesty has just arrived. He might be too tired to come, so there’s no need to prepare in advance.”

“But, Your Highness, we’ve always prepared Trabella flower oil because it’s said to be your favorite. Is it not?”

Kara, who had been listening nearby, cautiously asked Larael. Larael looked at Kara with a nonchalant expression. Wasn’t Trabella flower oil something Edward liked, not her?

“No, I don’t particularly like it.”

“Oh…”

A short gasp escaped from Kara.

“His Majesty said it was your favorite and even sent all the Trabella flower oil from the palace to your residence.”

Kara relayed what she had heard, explaining why she thought Larael liked Trabella flower oil.

‘Trabella flower oil? Me? I only used it on the day I entered the palace because my mother had gifted it to me… on the day I entered the palace…’

Larael recalled the day she had entered the palace, escorted out of the carriage by Edward.

‘Could it be…?’

Larael shook her head vigorously. As she thought of Edward gripping her hand tightly that day, her heart began to race.

The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became that Edward had remembered the scent she wore that day and sent her the Trabella flower oil. It was exactly the kind of thing Edward would do.

The scent she disliked but Edward liked—it wasn’t for Edward’s sake but rather Edward’s consideration for her. The more Larael learned about Edward, the more she became aware of her own malice and ugliness.

Larael closed her eyes quietly. The emotions swirling in her chest rose to her throat, causing her nose to sting. She began to breathe evenly, trying to calm her quickening breaths.

“I want to be alone. Could you all leave?”

Larael felt she couldn’t suppress her emotions any longer. However, she didn’t want to let them burst out in front of the maids. They wouldn’t understand her sudden emotional outburst.

“If I need anything, I’ll call you. Please go.”

When the maids hesitated, Larael spoke again with effort, her voice trembling. Sensing that something was wrong, the maids exchanged glances before finally leaving the bedroom.

Once alone, Larael went to her bed and collapsed onto it, burying her face in the soft pillow. All the emotions she had been suppressing poured out at once. She began to cry silently.

She couldn’t escape. She thought she was improving, little by little. But in the end, she was back at the bottom.

Larael was still the same person she had always been. She had deluded herself into thinking she could escape by living differently. It was all meaningless flailing—she was nothing but trash.

“I want to kill Herwen.”

Larael’s voice was filled with rage. She wanted to find Herwen, the person who had made her this way, and kill him on the spot.

‘Did I really think I could destroy Herwen?’

She sneered bitterly, mocking her past arrogance.

But she didn’t even have a single dagger to stab Herwen with. All she could do now was waste her emotions hating and resenting him, even if it consumed her. She couldn’t stop, because there was nothing else she could think about.

After sobbing quietly for a long time, Larael eventually fell asleep without realizing it.

“Larael.”

A gentle, soft voice called her name, and Larael hurriedly sat up in bed.

She was still wearing her dress. Edward was sitting on the edge of her bed in the darkness, without even lighting a lamp.

“You were sleeping so soundly that I didn’t wake you.”

“I didn’t think Your Majesty would come. Let me prepare…”

“I came because you didn’t come to see me today.”

Larael recalled what the head maid had said earlier. She hadn’t thought Edward would wait for her. Lowering her head, she felt regret for not heeding the maid’s advice.

“I really wanted to see you.”

“….”

Larael couldn’t meet Edward’s gaze and kept her head down. Edward gently lifted her chin with his hand, raising her head. Her heart began to pound as she looked into his deepened eyes in the dim light.

“Your Majesty, would you stay here tonight?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

Edward spoke as he softly stroked her hair. His tenderness made Larael’s chest ache.

“I just want to fall asleep in your arms. Otherwise, I don’t think I can endure today.”

Edward smiled gently at her words but soon stopped and tilted his head, studying her face closely.

The moonlight streaming through the window revealed her swollen, reddened eyes. Edward’s expression gradually hardened as he looked at them.

He opened his mouth as if to ask her what had happened but then closed it firmly.

“Would it be enough just to stay by your side?”

Instead of asking why, Edward carefully wrapped his arms around Larael’s shoulders and patted her back reassuringly.