8. Why Are You Acting This Way?

Herwen let out a scoff at her overly calm demeanor. He glared at her and snatched the book from her hands, throwing it aside. Larael frowned slightly at his actions but stood up from the sofa. She straightened the crumpled hem of her dress with her hands and bowed politely to him.  

“Your Grace, even if you are who you are, entering without knocking is…”  

Before Larael could finish her sentence, Herwen exploded in anger.  

“You!!”  

“Me?”  

“What?”  

Larael pointed to herself with her finger, her eyes wide in feigned innocence.  

“I’m sorry, Your Grace. I was so startled by your shouting that I got confused… Have you perhaps come to take me away, as you once suggested we run away together?”  

“What?”  

“Is that not it?”  

Larael scratched the bridge of her nose with her finger, her eyes darting playfully.  

“What?”  

“Your Grace, I am always ready to leave. You said as long as your feelings didn’t change. So, take me with you.”  

“You’ve gone mad.”  

At that moment, Herwen genuinely thought Larael had lost her mind from the shock.  

“Your Grace, I’ve been waiting, trusting only in your words.”  

“Ha…”  

Herwen let out a hollow laugh, dumbfounded.  

‘Trusting whose words? Did she really take my words seriously? Is she naïve, or just stupid?’  

“Larael, calm down and listen to me. You’re already the Emperor’s woman. The happiest path for you is to become the Empress Consort. So why did you refuse that position? I told you, no matter what position you’re in, I’ll always be by your side.”  

“Are you suggesting I take you as my lover, Your Grace?”  

“Ha… Lover…?”  

Herwen glared at Larael, who looked at him with an innocent expression as she uttered the word “lover.”  

“Trusting in your words, I requested the Emperor to rescind the decree appointing me as Empress Consort.”  

‘This foolish girl!!!’  

Herwen barely managed to suppress the urge to shout.  

“Larael.”  

Herwen called her name in a gentle voice, struggling to contain his trembling anger.  

“The person suffering the most right now is me. I’ve lost both my brother and you. But as long as you’re happy, I don’t care.”  

Larael lowered her head with a sorrowful expression.  

“Your Grace, your words have changed. In the end, you don’t want me by your side either.”  

“Larael, what are you saying? I want nothing but your happiness. If becoming Empress Consort makes you happy, then maybe I can forgive my brother, even just a little.”  

“Do you think I’ll truly be happy? Your Grace, you don’t want me either. Please leave. I can’t bear to look at you any longer.”  

Herwen saw Larael looking at him with a cold gaze he had never seen before. She, who had always blushed shyly and smiled innocently, as if his words were divine, now stared at him with icy eyes. The shock was enormous. Herwen couldn’t accept this situation.  

“I won’t see you off. Goodbye.”  

Larael turned her body abruptly. Her beautiful silver hair swayed softly, catching the sunlight streaming into the room and shimmering brightly. Herwen realized he had never seen Larael’s back before. She had never turned away from him first.  

Herwen stood frozen, waiting for her to turn around and cling to him, crying. But she didn’t look back. The shock hit him hard.  

“Larael Hedway!!”  

“Are you still here?”  

She spoke without turning around.  

Herwen’s shock turned into anger. Where had everything gone wrong? He thought everything was proceeding perfectly. He had to convince Larael not to stray from his plans.  

“Larael, you’re misunderstanding. I still care for you deeply and love you. Everything I said was for your sake. And yes, I meant it when I said I wanted to run away with you. But the timing isn’t right now. I’ll come back tomorrow. Think carefully about what path will make you happiest.”  

‘The happiest path? How dare you talk to me about happiness?’  

Larael clenched her teeth as she gazed at the well-manicured garden. Her hands instinctively tightened into fists. But she took a deep breath to compose herself, determined not to show any emotion.  

When the sound of footsteps and the door opening and closing reached her ears, Larael glanced behind her. Confirming that no one was in the room, she walked to the sofa and collapsed onto it as if her strength had left her.  

“You need to be stronger. Steady your heart. You can be strong.”  

Larael repeated the words she had told herself over and over again.  

—

“What if Lady Hedway is carrying a royal heir? I didn’t want to say this, but it’s unbecoming for the Emperor to already be swayed by a woman. What will the nobles say? A lady who dares to defy the Emperor’s orders—how insolent can one be?”  

“Mother, I understand Lady Hedway’s situation perfectly.”  

“Oh, please. Then what about the royal consorts taken from defeated nations after the war? They endured their humiliation and lived on. This woman has toyed with both of my sons, and instead of being grateful for being elevated to such a high position, she dares to reject it…”  

The Empress Dowager clicked her tongue and shook her head.  

“This is my fault. She has done nothing wrong.”  

“So, you’re not even considering your mother’s thoughts? I worked hard to persuade everyone who opposed this!”  

“I am grateful for your efforts.”  

“There’s still no Empress, so it’s only right that I step in. This is a matter concerning the imperial succession, so I will summon Lady Hedway and the Count and Countess to discuss this. If she refuses again, I will charge them with treason and insulting the imperial family.”  

“Mother, please don’t. Larael has already expressed her refusal, and I have postponed the matter.”  

“That’s exactly why I’m stepping in!!! How much more will you let the imperial family be mocked? I’ve already summoned Lady Hedway to the palace. I’ll handle it, so be aware of that.”  

The Empress Dowager delivered her decision unilaterally and left the Emperor’s office.  

As soon as she left, the aides and attendants who had been waiting outside entered the room.  

“What did Her Majesty discuss?”  

“Lady Hedway. She wants her appointed as Empress Consort.”  

Duke Nox tilted his head, puzzled. There were already candidates for Empress that Her Majesty’s side seemed to support. But now they were pushing for Lady Hedway to be consort? And she was the former fiancée of the Emperor’s brother? There had to be a reason for this insistence on appointing Larael as consort.  

“Is Her Majesty perhaps worried that the Grand Duke and Lady Hedway might reunite?”  

Edward shot Duke Nox a sharp glare. Duke Nox gulped nervously and avoided the Emperor’s gaze.  

Edward sat quietly at his desk, thinking of Larael. The possibility that she might be carrying his child had never crossed his mind.  

It was possible, given that they had spent a night together. As Edward’s thoughts reached that point, memories of that morning resurfaced. A vivid image came to mind.  

‘Ah… She had seen me n*ked.’  

Edward let out a deep sigh, burying his face in his hands and leaning onto the desk. He had forgotten about that moment. Suddenly, his entire body felt as if it had been set on fire, turning red with embarrassment. He banged his head on the desk repeatedly, wishing the memory would disappear.  

—

Larael received the Empress Dowager’s summons and arrived at her palace.  

‘Stay calm.’  

The Empress Dowager had always been an intimidating figure. She was Herwen’s birth mother and had also acted as the Emperor’s mother. While she pretended to be a kind and caring mother to the Emperor, she had secretly supported Herwen’s misdeeds behind the scenes.  

But whenever she faced Larael, she would look at her with contempt. Larael had thought it was only natural to be treated that way since she had hurt her son, Herwen.  

“Welcome, Lady Hedway. The most famous person in the Empire, aren’t you? Is this our second meeting? Ah!! Including Edward’s bedroom, it’s three times, isn’t it?”  

The Empress Dowager slowly closed her eyes and opened them again, lifting one corner of her mouth into a smirk.