27. A Gap in the Heart (1)

Duke Nox’s words were correct. In the end, it was true that all of this had happened because of her. And because she couldn’t bring herself to reveal the truth that it had all been orchestrated, Edward was going through things he didn’t need to experience.

Could she truly say she wasn’t in league with Herwen while just standing by and watching all of this happen?

“Duke Nox, watch your words in front of the Empress Consort. I’ll leave quietly, so please see to the conclusion of the banquet.”

The Marquis of Argen had plenty he wanted to say as well, but knowing Edward’s personality, he simply nodded.

The banquet would end once the nobles finished enjoying themselves and left when the time came. Wrapping things up wasn’t particularly difficult. However, there would undoubtedly be rumors about Edward and Herwen disappearing during the banquet.

“Your Highness, don’t worry too much. It’s common for the Emperor to make only a brief appearance at banquets and then leave. I also have people to introduce you to, so please follow me.”

Beatrice linked arms with Larael and spoke kindly to reassure her, but Larael’s darkened expression didn’t brighten. She kept glancing toward the direction Edward had gone and sighed intermittently.

“Over there is Count Winters. You’ve met him before, haven’t you? Count Winters!!”

Beatrice waved her hand and called loudly to Count Winters.

Count Winters, Dean, was mingling with a group of young nobles dressed in extravagant attire and chatting joyfully. At Beatrice’s call, he immediately came over.

“Greetings to Your Highness, the Empress Consort. I actually wanted to greet you earlier, but I couldn’t because His Majesty the Emperor was by your side. His Majesty is so terrifying.”

Dean imagined Edward holding his head in his hands and shuddered, rubbing his arms. Although Dean was sincere, his playful demeanor made Larael think it was a joke, and she finally managed a faint smile.

—

Herwen propped his feet up on the table and sank deeply into the sofa. He tilted his head all the way back, glancing around while humming a tune. He thought it was a good decision to attend the birthday banquet after all.

He had reminded everyone that the Emperor was a bastard who stole his younger brother’s fiancée and also tried to figure out what was on Larael’s mind as she avoided him.

When he heard movement near the door, he quickly lowered his feet from the table and adjusted his posture.

After a knock, Edward’s chief attendant, Trix, entered.

“Your Grace, I’ve heard from His Majesty. What kind of alcohol should I prepare?”

“Prepare something very strong. Ah! But His Majesty mustn’t lose consciousness again. Will that be alright? After all, I don’t even have a fiancée now.”

Herwen spoke mockingly to Trix. Trix kept his lips tightly shut and bowed his head.

“I will prepare it.”

Trix spoke briefly and left the reception room.

As soon as Trix left, Edward entered. Herwen greeted Edward with a sly smile. Edward sat across from Herwen with a hardened expression. The moment Edward sat down, he got straight to the point.

“If you had something to say, there were plenty of opportunities after the meetings. Why did you choose today, Herwen?”

“You already know, don’t you? It’s all about the presence of an audience. Isn’t it too unfair? Am I the only one who has to suffer like this?”

Edward ran a hand over his face several times and let out a deep sigh.

“I know very well that I was wrong. I’ve apologized to you repeatedly and even provided material compensation. If you keep acting like this, I don’t know what more I can do.”

Herwen didn’t want to confront Edward like this either. If only Larael had complied with his wishes, he would have been enjoying this situation from behind Edward’s back with a sneer. But Larael’s refusal to act as he wished was driving him increasingly mad, forcing him to take matters into his own hands.

Larael was too valuable to simply discard as a pawn. He would find a way to use her, no matter what.

After another knock, Trix entered with alcohol and snacks to pair with it. Edward, who rarely drank, poured himself a glass and downed it in one go. His mouth was dry, and now it felt as if his throat was burning.

“It’s about Larael.”

Edward stared at his empty glass for a moment before lifting his head to meet Herwen’s gaze calmly.

“Don’t trust Larael completely. I hate to say this, but I’ve recently heard that she may have approached me with a purpose. And that night… wasn’t her behavior afterward far too composed?”

“Herwen!!! Watch your words!!!”

Herwen lifted one corner of his mouth in a smirk.

‘Larael, do you think you can stay comfortably by the Emperor’s side without fulfilling your role?’

It only took a small crack for everything to fall apart.

‘Larael, you’ll regret not taking my hand. When you come begging, crying, and pleading for me to take you back, I might forgive you just once.’

The thought of Larael kneeling and begging him brought a smile to his face.

“Brother, instead of getting angry, you should just take it as a word of caution. Oh, and don’t you wonder what we talked about on the balcony?”

Herwen poured more alcohol into Edward’s empty glass as he continued speaking. The murderous glint in Edward’s eyes didn’t frighten Herwen; instead, it seemed to amuse him.

“Her Highness the Empress Consort said she wouldn’t meet me again because she was worried I might struggle with not being able to forget her. In fact, I sent her letters a few times, but they were torn up and returned. She has no intention of seeing me again. We’re completely finished, so you don’t need to worry.”

Edward couldn’t ignore the phrase “I might struggle” He knew Herwen had emphasized it to provoke him, but even knowing that, his heart felt uneasy.

‘How many times did Herwen send letters to Larael?’

Edward picked up his glass and drank it all in one go.

“I really have nothing to say to you.”

Reluctantly, Edward repeated the words he had said to Herwen countless times before. Herwen let out a small laugh.

“Today is your birthday, but I didn’t prepare a gift. Honestly, I didn’t even want to see you when I came to the palace. But sitting here, drinking and chatting with you, it’s nice. It reminds me of old times. I guess we are brothers after all.”

Edward felt uncomfortable with Herwen’s sudden shift to a friendly demeanor after mocking him. He couldn’t understand Herwen’s current attitude or what had put him in such a good mood.

‘Is he drunk?’

Herwen, for some reason, kept bringing up nostalgic memories. To match Herwen’s mood, Edward quietly listened to him speak enthusiastically.

Even though Herwen often claimed Edward had stolen their mother from him, the memories he shared were of happy times.

Edward’s childhood had been a series of struggles to gain recognition. After his mother, a foreign princess, passed away, there had been no one in the palace on his side. Instinctively, he had worked tirelessly to survive and earn acknowledgment.

Knock, knock.

Trix entered after knocking. He glanced between Edward and Herwen before leaning down to whisper to Edward.

“Your Majesty, the banquet has ended.”

Edward nodded and gestured for him to leave.

Herwen was smiling as he spun his glass, watching the liquid inside swirl and ripple.

“Herwen, the banquet is over. Let’s leave it at this. If you want, I’ll arrange more of these moments occasionally.”

At those words, Herwen’s smiling face instantly hardened.

“Your Majesty, why the rush? Ah! Now that the banquet is over, you’re going to spend a passionate night with Her Highness the Empress Consort, so you want me to disappear. Is that what you’re saying?”

Edward closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm his patience, which was nearing its limit. Once he regained some composure, he called for Trix. Waiting outside, Trix quickly entered at Edward’s summons.

“Escort the Grand Duke back to his residence.”

Edward let out a sigh as he looked at Herwen, who was laughing with half-closed eyes, staring at him lazily. He then left the reception room. Herwen yelled something at Edward’s retreating figure, but Edward ignored him.