61. A Visitor at Abella Palace
The blazing sunlight streamed intensely into the drawing room, filling it with a bright, cheerful atmosphere.
Larael, who had been reading a book in the drawing room, was informed that Dean had arrived at Abella Palace. She instructed the servants to prepare refreshments and closed her book.
From the moment his carriage entered the palace grounds, Dean straightened his appearance.
As he stepped out of the carriage, he looked around nervously, his anxiety plain to see. The walk to the drawing room, guided by a servant, felt like a path of thorns.
All eyes and ears in this place seemed to be focused on him. News of his visit to the Empress Consort’s palace would soon spread throughout the entire imperial palace.
In the center of the picturesque drawing room, Larael sat gracefully.
When she saw his familiar face, she welcomed him with a natural smile. If she hadn’t smiled, one might have mistaken the scene for a painting.
Dean felt his tension melt away at her smile, and for a moment, he stared at Larael in a daze before hastily turning his head.
“Your Majesty, the Empress, it is an honor to see you.”
He greeted her and sat down on the sofa. As soon as Dean sat, Sasha, who had been waiting, set teacups before Larael and Dean and poured them hot tea.
Sasha, having finished her task, left the drawing room. Once she was gone and only Larael and Dean remained, Dean took a deep breath.
“Count Winters, your hairstyle has changed, hasn’t it?”
“…Yes.”
Dean’s earlobes turned red. He felt as if she had caught on to how many times he’d changed his hairstyle because he wasn’t satisfied after receiving her summons. He didn’t want her to know how much effort he put into meeting her.
If Larael realized this, he felt she might draw an invisible line between them.
“More importantly, this is my first official visit. There are many eyes and ears here—why did you suddenly summon me to the palace?”
“There’s no reason we must always meet in secret. Besides, today, I have a reason.”
Larael shifted her gaze to the gift box on the table.
“Please give this to Beatrice.”
“Yes. But, are you feeling well?”
Dean certainly knew that Larael had returned from her vacation earlier than expected after being attacked by a monster.
He had been planning to send a messenger bird to inquire about her well-being. He hadn’t expected to receive a message from Larael first.
Larael gave a faint, bitter smile at his question.
“Thanks to the High Priest’s treatment, my physical wounds have healed completely. But the psychological shock isn’t so easy to overcome. I’ve also realized just how useless I am to Edward.”
‘Edward?’
Seeing Larael speak Edward’s name so naturally, Dean felt his heart drop with a strange sense of displeasure. It wasn’t because of any particular loyalty to the Emperor.
“Actually, the Magic Tower recently requested information on Fenrir’s trades and subjugations.”
Larael, about to sip her tea, widened her eyes and looked at Dean.
“Really? What information was it?”
“….”
Dean only stared at her intently, not answering. Larael, remembering he was a merchant, let out a small laugh.
“I’ll pay for it.”
“No, it’s not that…”
Dean felt suffocated at being seen as someone obsessed with money.
“…I was just thinking for a moment. There was a recent Fenrir subjugation, and the one who led it was Baron Brandon, a vassal of House Anderman.”
Larael nodded, feeling as if her suspicions had been confirmed. She stared into space, lost in thought for a moment.
“But just that isn’t enough to connect it to House Anderman. Officially, the Fenrir they captured has already been disposed of. You probably won’t be able to track what’s been released into the black market.”
Dean carefully studied Larael’s face as she pondered deeply. Her long eyelashes cast shadows over her half-closed eyes, but her clear red pupils stood out.
‘If only my reflection could be the only thing in those eyes…’
Dean bit his lip gently.
“You’re not surprised at all, are you?”
Dean was just as surprised at Larael’s calmness. It felt as if he were confessing his sins before a goddess who already knew everything, simply waiting for her judgment.
“No, I am surprised.”
Larael replied in an even, formal tone. Dean gave a hollow laugh at her response.
“Please investigate everything about House Anderman.”
“House Anderman? That’s not hard since it’s my job, but if you’re thinking of confronting them, honestly, I’d reconsider. They’re lying low for now, but…”
However, Larael didn’t seem to be listening to Dean at all.
“And I’m thinking of hiring a personal secretary. Could you recommend a good candidate?”
“Should it be a woman?”
“Yes. But just because I asked you, don’t think I’ll let you plant one of your own people.”
Larael smiled as she spoke, but Dean, feeling as if his intentions had been read, waved his hands in denial.
“No, I’m hurt that you don’t trust me enough to say that. How could I ever…”
At that moment, the door to the drawing room suddenly burst open with a loud sound.
As the door opened, the Emperor of the Kazel Empire, Edward, entered the room. At Edward’s appearance, both Larael and Dean stood up at once. Dean, too startled to even be embarrassed, bowed deeply.
“Your Majesty, the Sun of the Kazel Empire, it is an honor to see you.”
Edward fixed a cold gaze on Dean and walked straight past him to Larael. Just as Larael was about to bow, Edward wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him.
Despite Larael’s startled expression, Edward lowered his head slightly and pressed a long kiss to her forehead.
Larael’s wide eyes lost focus and trembled.
Edward did not release his hold around Larael’s waist but sat with her on the sofa.
“What brings Count Winters to the Empress Consort’s palace?”
Before Dean could open his mouth, Larael spoke first, sensing the wariness in Edward’s eyes.
“I asked him to deliver a gift to the Marquis Argen’s wife.”
Larael pointed to the gift box on the table. The moment Edward’s cold gaze met the gift, his stiff expression instantly softened.
He released his hold on Larael’s waist and gently took her hand, resting it on his thigh.
Edward had come to Abella Palace for lunch with Larael, still troubled by yesterday’s events. When he arrived and heard from the head maid that a guest was with the Empress Consort—and that the guest was Count Winters—he was embarrassed by his momentary irritation.
“Larael, if you’d brought it to me, I could have sent it to Marquis Argen’s wife myself…”
Dean glanced at Edward’s hand around Larael’s waist, then lowered his gaze and picked up the box.
It was painful to see Edward and Larael together. Although Larael had been startled when Edward embraced her, the clear affection in her eyes for Edward made Dean’s chest feel even tighter.
“Then, I’ll take my leave.”
“Go ahead.”
At Edward’s curt reply, Dean bowed and left the drawing room. With every step he took, his heart seemed to sink deeper and deeper.
He recalled the first time Larael had confidently visited the Four Seasons’s office. He had never imagined his feelings would change so drastically.
He’d started their relationship out of simple curiosity about the bits of information she brought, never expecting she would shake him so deeply. A strange jealousy toward Edward sprouted in Dean’s heart.
Larael stood up to see Dean off, but unable to brush off Edward’s hand, she simply gave him a brief farewell. Edward watched her, and as soon as the door to the drawing room closed, he pulled Larael’s hand forcefully.
Larael lost her balance and landed right on Edward’s lap.
“Your Majesty!!”
Larael exclaimed in surprise.
Edward hugged her tightly as she sat on his lap, burying his face in her scent. Her presence made his mind dizzy and his heart at ease.
He stayed like that for a long time, gently stroking her soft hair. He had always vowed to protect Larael, but it pained him to see her suffering because of him.
He wanted to comfort her wounded heart, but in the end, it was always Edward, not Larael, who was comforted.
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lavender
She really is the embodiment of heroine 😂 so beautiful, has power like a saintess, looks innocent, makes men love her easily, very kind. Ariella can’t win against her.