34. Garden Walk (1)

“I’m truly relieved.”

“My father was unconscious, but after giving him the remedy prepared as Your Highness instructed, he regained consciousness and is now slowly starting to move his hands. It’s all thanks to you, Your Highness. I don’t know how I can ever repay this grace…”

“I’m glad. If Sir Berser’s father fully recovers, I’d like to invite him to Abella Palace for dinner. I haven’t invited anyone to a formal dinner yet, but if I do, would you allow me to invite you?”

“Your Highness, it would be an honor!”

It was Larael’s first formal dinner invitation. Berser’s expression was sincerely moved.

“I thought Sir Handelson might feel left out, so after Sir Berser’s return, I decided to give Sir Handelson three days of leave as well. Go and discuss it with him.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Berser bowed and left the bedroom.

Watching Berser’s retreating figure, Larael felt a little guilty.

She was already curious about what expression the Empress Dowager would make upon seeing Berser’s father.

‘How will you feel, knowing I’ve uncovered the secret you tried so hard to hide?’

Before her return, Herwen had quietly gotten rid of him as soon as she learned of his existence, fearing he would become her weakness.

No one even knew whether Lord Berser was alive or dead, but it turned out he had been nearby all along, and when Larael heard he’d been killed by Herwen, the Empress Dowager acted as if nothing had happened. Still, Larael remembered the sound of her heart-wrenching sobs outside her bedroom, and knew she hadn’t been as calm as she appeared.

‘If that weakness is in my hands, how would you feel? Would you rather he died at Herwen’s hands? Or would you prefer him alive, even if he’s in the hands of your enemy?’

Larael suddenly burst out laughing, then pressed her lips together to hold back her laughter. It was only moments ago that she had felt sorry for Berser.

“Your Highness, did something amusing happen?”

Joanna entered the bedroom and asked.

“No, it’s just…”

Larael sat down at her dressing table.

She was finishing the hair styling she hadn’t completed earlier.

Today, Larael resolved that she must write the tea party invitation to Ariella.

***

Ariella opened the tea party invitation sent by the Empress Consort.

It was like a love letter, painstakingly written by a country noblewoman who wanted to become friends. Ariella read the invitation, which must have been written with great care, and let out a scoff.

After seeing Larael by chance at the bookstore, Ariella had grown anxious when no invitation arrived, but the one she finally received was so earnest it was almost laughable.

Ariella had already told her father, the Duke of Nox, that she wanted to meet the Empress Consort. As expected, the Duke objected, but she persuaded him with the plausible argument that, if she became Empress, Larael would be her subordinate anyway, so it wouldn’t hurt to get to know her in advance.

Ariella placed the invitation back in the envelope and sent it to Herwen.

Lately, Herwen’s attitude had been subtly irritating. Ariella intended to remind Herwen that she was the true center of this plan.

Now, she would take matters into her own hands. They were no longer children clinging only to love. Ariella had no intention of staying by Herwen’s side if she failed to become Empress. Now was the time to choose.

“Rosalie, go check on the progress of the dress I ordered.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Even before she received the invitation, Ariella had already ordered a dress to wear for her first meeting with Larael. Rosalie hurried out of the ducal residence to check how far along the dress was.

***

Larael closed the book she was reading and instructed Kara to return it to the library. It was a thick book containing portraits of the former empresses of the Kazel Empire. Kara barely managed to carry the heavy book out of the bedroom.

Larael would later realize that the dresses Ariella wore when they met were all modeled after those worn by past empresses. If Larael had paid a little more attention to the portraits, she would have noticed.

Larael was always complimenting Ariella’s beautiful dresses, not realizing she was being mocked. Thinking about how Ariella must have felt, seeing Larael gaze at her dresses in admiration, made Larael grit her teeth.

Ariella had even recommended that Larael read the book containing portraits of the empresses.

Ariella’s delighted smile, as she watched Larael’s shocked expression while flipping through the pages and seeing the same dress designs as Ariella’s, was etched in Larael’s memory.

What kind of comfort did she find in that?

Did wearing dresses identical to those of the empresses make her feel like she was already Empress?

“Your Highness, His Majesty asks if you would like to take a walk in the garden with him.”

The head maid entered with a message from the main palace after knocking.

Sasha and Joanna’s eyes widened as they quickly looked at Larael. It was the first time the always-busy Edward had suggested a garden walk.

“Tell him I’ll go right away.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Larael spoke slowly and clearly, but her actions quickened without her realizing it. A smile spread across her face.

“Why does the head maid even bother to ask something so obvious?”

Sasha muttered as she hurriedly fixed Larael’s hair. Joanna smoothed the lace on Larael’s dress and arranged her skirt.

Once ready, Larael headed to the garden in front of the main palace.

“Your Highness, you’re walking unusually fast today.”

Joanna quickly caught up behind Larael.

“Haven’t I always walked quickly?”

Larael pouted, making Sasha and Joanna burst into laughter. This was the Larael they remembered from the count’s estate. Seeing her like this again made them both laugh and feel reassured.

Edward, waiting in front of the main palace garden, waved vigorously when he spotted Larael approaching from afar.

“Your Majesty, she probably can’t even see you from there.”

“Jayden, can’t you see Larael waving at me?”

The Marquis of Argen’s mouth dropped open. It really did look like the Empress Consort was waving from a distance.

“You two seem to be quite in sync.”

The Marquis of Argen, who had been waiting to greet Larael, still couldn’t believe Edward’s behavior. While he was lost in thought, Larael quickly closed the distance and approached.

“Greetings to the Sun of the Empire.”

“Greetings to Her Highness, the Empress Consort.”

“So you’re here as well, Marquis Argen.”

Larael greeted Edward with her gaze fixed on him, then belatedly noticed the Marquis and responded.

“Yes, I was just on my way home.”

“One of my appointments was canceled, so I have some free time. This is our first time walking together, isn’t it?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Marquis of Argen felt thoroughly ignored.

“Ahem. Well, I’ll be going then.”

With a cough, the Marquis excused himself and quickly left the two alone.

“I don’t often take walks in the garden either. I hear you often stroll through the Abella Palace gardens.”

“Yes.”

Edward glanced down at his left arm. Following his gaze, Larael blushed slightly and then took his arm. Edward’s eyes curved in delight.

They began to walk toward the garden.

“When I have free time, I usually practice swordsmanship in the training grounds rather than take garden walks.”

“Then, am I taking up your time unnecessarily?”

“That was in the past. Things are different now, aren’t they? Since you’re by my side…”

Edward tilted his head and looked at Larael affectionately.

Larael looked up at Edward. The sunlight reflecting off his blond hair made her squint slightly. The deep blue-green eyes, overflowing with tenderness, drew her in. His smooth skin, prominent nose, and well-shaped lips—all of it. Larael couldn’t believe that such a dazzling person was by her side.