43. Congratulations on Your Engagement to Ariella

“The weather is getting hotter, so it must be tough on your body.”

Not wanting to talk about them anymore, Larael changed the subject.

“Fortunately, I’m not sensitive to heat. I can’t tell you how lucky I am. If my husband were pregnant, he’d probably collapse. He struggles so much in the summer… Oh, are you going to the summer palace for vacation with His Majesty this year?”

While talking about the heat, Beatrice suddenly remembered the summer palace and asked about it. Hearing about the summer palace, Larael couldn’t help but smile, thinking of Edward as she recalled those words.

“I think we probably will.”

Beatrice spent quite a while talking nonstop about everything she had heard regarding the summer palace. As Larael responded and listened, the time for her next appointment drew near.

Beatrice was disappointed by the short visit. She said goodbye, promising to visit Larael at the palace once she felt a little better.

Larael left for her next appointment, heading to the address she had received in a letter.

The place was just outside the city center, where the commoners’ residential area began. It was a building in a suitably secluded spot, not drawing too much attention. Larael, along with Sasha and Joanna, walked from the city center. At some point, they all pulled their pre-prepared cloaks over themselves.

Sasha and Joanna knew whose letter Larael had received and why she was heading there, but they kept their mouths tightly shut and followed her with tense expressions.

She had been told the door would be open to match her arrival time. When she went inside, a servant had her maids wait on the first floor and guided Larael alone to the second floor. Sasha and Joanna watched Larael climb the stairs with anxious eyes.

“Sasha, is this really okay?”

Joanna asked Sasha, but Sasha said nothing, only watching Larael’s back.

Entering the designated room, Larael slowly looked around. Bookshelves lined all the walls, with a plush sofa and table in the center. Herwen was sitting on the sofa in a relaxed pose. Seeing Larael, he brightened and stood up.

‘He must have met Ariella here.’

Even without being told, Larael sensed this was the place of their secret meetings.

“Welcome, Larael. Come sit here.”

As Herwen reached out his hand and approached, Larael turned in the opposite direction and sat on the sofa.

“I saw the news of your engagement.”

“What…?!”

Herwen’s expression twisted in surprise at Larael’s informal tone.

“What kind of way is that to speak?”

“Why? We’re of similar rank, aren’t we?”

Larael took off her cloak, folded it neatly beside her, and looked straight at Herwen.

“Larael, that tone is rather charming, I must say. But did something upset you?”

Herwen quickly changed his expression and tried to soothe her.

“Oh! Is it because of the engagement news? It’s just a fake engagement. Don’t misunderstand. I told you, didn’t I? The only one who owns my heart is you…”

With a wistful look, Herwen moved closer to where Larael was sitting.

“Herwen, if you come any closer, I won’t just sit here. My maids are still downstairs.”

“Why are you being so prickly? You remember what I said, right?”

Herwen shrugged, a sly look on his face.

“Herwen.”

Larael called his name in a low voice, suppressing her anger.

Had Herwen’s name ever sounded so pleasing from Larael’s lips?

Suddenly, Herwen was seized by a desire to possess her. He licked his lips and swallowed, wanting to taste those lips right away.

“You’re not seeing Ariella anymore, are you?”

Larael asked, wary of the desire flickering in Herwen’s eyes.

“What are you talking about??”

Herwen shouted, flustered.

“I just can’t understand how someone who claimed to love me so much could change his heart so quickly.”

“Larael, I told you, it’s a misunderstanding. Duke Nox is such an important person, so my mother decided everything on her own. Why can’t you understand me? Even if you tried to use me to get close to the Emperor, I could still forgive you.”

Larael couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Herwen interpreted her laughter however he pleased, apparently taking it as a positive sign and starting to laugh himself.

He clearly thought Larael was a fool. Even with a picture of him kissing Ariella’s forehead, Larael decided to just play along. The more he thought she was stupid, the less suspicion she would arouse.

“Fine. I get it. So, what do you want from me?”

“What I want from you…”

Herwen looked at Larael’s red lips and slowly ran his eyes down her entire body. Larael frowned, feeling disgusted by his gaze. It made her skin crawl.

“Just know that I love you. And there are a few favors only you can do for me at the palace… But it’s not now, so don’t be too nervous.”

At his words, Larael closed her eyes for a moment and sighed.

‘Yes, maybe it’s better for me to hear these things directly, rather than someone else using them to harm Edward. Until I leave, I have to protect Edward.’

Thinking of leaving Edward’s side made her heart ache. She wanted to stay by his side as long as possible.

“As long as it’s nothing unreasonable…”

“Of course not. Larael, what do you think I want? Your happiness, of course. Isn’t that right?”

Larael bit the inside of her cheek hard and forced a smile at Herwen’s laughter.

“Well, I’ll be going now.”

“Why? Why not stay a little longer?”

He leaned back lazily, looking at her with half-closed, suggestive eyes. Larael suddenly felt nauseous. She turned away from his face and grabbed her cloak.

“In any case, congratulations on your engagement to Lady Nox.”

***

As soon as Larael returned to the palace, she ordered bathwater to be prepared so she could wash. She felt so disgusted by the places Herwen’s gaze had lingered that she wanted to scrub herself clean.

While the bath was being prepared, she heard that Ariella’s maid had come to deliver a letter, so she ordered her to be brought in. Ariella’s maid was Anna, whom Larael knew well. Seeing her made Larael smirk.

After Herwen became Emperor, Anna had been the one to torment her more than anyone.

‘Now you can’t even meet my eyes.’

Anna had delivered letters before, but this was the first time she had met Larael in person. She greeted Larael, handed over the letter as instructed by Ariella, and left.

Larael didn’t even want to touch Ariella’s letter. But she was curious about its contents.

“Lillian, would you read it for me?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Lillian neatly opened the letter and stood by Larael’s side to read it aloud.

“Dear Empress, I am sorry I have not been able to visit you. I’m sure you have heard about my engagement to Grand Duke Vellaus. Due to complicated circumstances, it happened this way, but there is nothing between me and Grand Duke Vellaus. The first time I met him was really at the opera house where I was supposed to meet you.”

Lillian paused. Lillian—and indeed, the entire empire—had seen the photo in the article and knew about their relationship. Lillian glanced at Larael. Larael was smiling. It was amusing how Ariella and Herwen both treated her like a fool.

“Go on.”

“…I would like to meet and explain in person. Please let me know a date that works for you.”

Lillian put the letter back in its envelope and set it in front of Larael. Larael stared at Ariella’s letter for a moment, then called Sasha.

“Sasha, burn this.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Sasha immediately took the letter and left the bedroom.

‘Ariella, I have no reply for you. Why don’t you feel a little anxious for once?’