7. A Private Conversation (2)

Edward looked at Larael. She was someone he now had to protect, someone whose life had been completely upended because of his mistake. The first thing he needed to do was offer her a sincere apology.  

Edward stood up from his seat and walked over to her. Larael looked up at Edward as he stood before her. The close proximity made her instinctively catch her breath.  

She slowly took in his indescribably beautiful face, his sharp, striking eyes, and his deep teal-colored irises framed by long lashes. Her gaze followed his eyes downward, lower and lower…  

The Emperor of the Empire knelt before her.  

“Your Majesty… What are you doing?”  

Startled, Larael quickly stood and grabbed his arm, trying to pull him up.  

‘I’m the one who should be kneeling and apologizing.’  

Larael felt like she couldn’t breathe. If she let herself breathe, all her emotions might come pouring out, and she feared they would overwhelm her.  

“Lady Hedway, I sincerely apologize. Everything is my fault. I will not force you to forgive me.”  

His cracked voice carried his heartfelt sincerity, and Larael couldn’t hold back her tears any longer. She began to sob.  

‘It’s not your fault. There’s no need for you to apologize.’  

Larael helped Edward, who was still kneeling, back to his feet.  

She felt so stifled that she wanted to tell him everything. The words, “We were both used by Herwen,” rose to her throat, but she swallowed them back down.  

What would happen if she told him? No matter what, Herwen would find a way to escape unscathed. Everything would fall on Larael, and her family would be destroyed.  

“Please stand up and take a seat.”  

When Edward didn’t move, Larael nearly shouted in desperation. Surprised by her outburst, Edward stared at her for a moment before rising and sitting back down in his chair. He handed his handkerchief to her. Larael took the handkerchief and wiped her tears.  

After crying for some time, Larael finally calmed down. Occasionally, her sorrowful breaths echoed in the otherwise silent reception room.  

“Are you feeling a bit better now?”  

“…”  

Larael glanced at Edward briefly before lowering her head again. Instead of answering, she fidgeted with the handkerchief he had given her. She had come to the palace intending to say, succinctly and clearly, that she didn’t want to become a consort. But Edward’s actions had reduced her to tears instead.  

“Lady Hedway.”  

“Yes?”  

Edward, who had been seated at the head of the table, moved to sit across from her. He placed a small gift box on the table.  

Larael looked back and forth between the box and Edward’s face. When she didn’t immediately reach out to open the box, Edward opened it himself and pushed it toward her.  

Larael’s expression showed a flicker of surprise.  

‘Have I ever received something like this before?’  

She couldn’t remember. If she had, she might have tossed it aside or thrown it away. Inside was a beautiful jewelry set consisting of a ring, earrings, and a necklace.  

The red and silver tones were clearly chosen to match her hair and eye color.  

‘I want to try them on just once.’  

Larael found herself reaching out to touch the ring but stopped and withdrew her hand with a bitter smile.  

“Your Majesty, I cannot accept this.”  

“Do you not like it?”  

“That’s not it. Let me explain why I came to the palace today. You must have been surprised by my sudden visit.”  

“It was sudden, but I wasn’t surprised. Soon, it will be announced that I have decided to appoint you as Empress Consort.”  

“That’s precisely why I came.”  

Her eyelids slowly lifted, and her vivid red eyes met Edward’s. She bit her lower lip lightly before speaking again.  

“Please rescind the order appointing me as Empress Consort. I do not wish to become one..”  

“…”  

Edward’s mind went completely blank. No thoughts came to him, and his mouth felt dry. He swallowed nervously and leaned forward. His sharp eyes grew even more intense.  

“Do you want the position of Empress instead?”  

He suddenly remembered what Marquis Argen had said. What if Larael had orchestrated everything to aim for the position of Empress? He also recalled her unusually composed demeanor that morning.  

“No, Your Majesty. I do not wish to be Empress or Empress Consort. That’s what I came to tell you.”  

Edward let out a hollow laugh. He felt as though he had wronged her yet again. How pathetic and incompetent he was—it made him despise himself.  

“Larael.”  

Edward called her name as she calmly looked at him with her crimson eyes.  

“May I call you by your name?”  

“It’s fine.”  

“We spent a night together, and I want to take responsibility for that.”  

“It’s not such a big deal for a man and a woman to spend a single night together. Please let go of your guilt and live your life, Your Majesty.”  

‘Not a big deal? Then what about your life?’  

Edward wanted to ask. Was she planning to return to Herwen?  

“Larael, I’m honestly a bit taken aback.”  

Everything he had done for her felt pointless now. Edward ran his hand over his face several times, his expression troubled. Larael nodded slightly, as if she understood, and looked at the box of jewelry. Then, she closed the box and pushed it back toward Edward.  

“I know that you’ve done your best to handle the situation.”  

Edward alternated his gaze between the box that had been returned to him and Larael’s face.  

“Let me ask just one thing. Are you going back to Herwen?”  

“If His Grace the Grand Duke wishes, I’ll consider it.”  

‘But I wonder if he’d even want that. Without me by your side, I’m of no use. I’m curious how he’ll react when he finds out I’ve refused to become your consort.’  

Larael gave a bitter smile and stood up.  

“Your Majesty, I will take my leave now. I pray that the blessings of the gods will always be with you.”  

Edward opened his mouth to call her name again but couldn’t get the words out. He closed his mouth and watched as Larael bowed and left the reception room.  

When Herwen heard that the appointment of a consort had been postponed, he immediately went to see the Empress Dowager.  

“Mother, what is the meaning of this?”  

“I don’t know either.”  

The day after Edward had ordered the appointment of a consort, he suddenly postponed it.  

“I heard that Larael Hedway visited the Emperor that day.”  

“Larael?”  

Herwen frowned. It didn’t even occur to him that Larael might have rejected the position herself.  

‘Did she do something foolish to fall out of the Emperor’s favor? What a stupid girl.’  

If she had just stayed quiet, she would have become consort. Anger surged within him, and his fists tightened.  

“What’s the reaction from the nobles?”  

“Those who originally opposed it seem relieved. The pro-Emperor nobles, in particular, look pleased.”  

“I can’t meet Edward myself, so Mother, you should speak to him. You must push for this. There’s a chance she could bear a royal heir. I’ll go see Larael myself.”  

Herwen quickly left the palace and headed for the Hedway estate. He couldn’t just sit back and watch. He had to meet Larael immediately and find out what had happened.  

—

When Herwen stepped out of the carriage, the estate’s staff recognized him and greeted him. But he didn’t have time to acknowledge their greetings. He rushed into the mansion as if it were his own and ran straight to Larael’s room.  

Without giving anyone a chance to stop him, he flung open the door to her room.  

Contrary to his frantic state, Larael was sitting elegantly on a sofa, bathed in sunlight, calmly reading a book.