82. Since When Did I Care About the People of the Empire?

Joy rubbed his eyes with his hands. Though faint, it was unmistakably his master. Joy’s legs gave out, and he couldn’t stand, so he stayed where he was and began to cry. His master looked at him with a gentle smile.

“But Master, you’ve never called me Joy even once before.”

Joy wiped his tears and looked up at him. His master only smiled in response, offering no further words.

“Joy, everything you’ve prepared was for this moment. You are a Guardian. Now it’s time for you to fulfill your role. It may be harsh, but this is the reason you were sent into the world.”

His master didn’t specify who he was talking about, but Joy understood immediately.

“Larael Hedway.”

At those words, his master gave no answer, only gazed at him with gentle eyes. His figure began to fade. When his master disappeared, Joy remained on his knees, staring blankly at the place where he had vanished. Unknown emotions swirled inside him, and unwanted tears flowed endlessly.

Suddenly, a surge of anger roared in his chest. As grief and anger mixed, a cautious sense of joy gradually spread in his heart. Anxiety and fear also took root. And at the end of all those emotions was Larael.

Larael’s image became clearer and clearer in his mind.

With determined eyes and lips pressed tightly together, he stood up.

***

Joy said he wanted to stay by Larael’s side a little longer instead of going to the capital with Kali, but it wasn’t allowed, and he had to return to the capital with Kali. After Kali, who was quite annoyed, took Joy back to the capital, Dean also soon returned to the capital. As soon as Dean arrived, he ordered an investigation into Joy.

After spending meaningful time with her parents, Larael also returned to the capital.

Timed with her arrival at the palace, Edward was waiting for her in front of Abella Palace.

“Larael.”

When the carriage door opened and Larael stepped out, smiling brightly and reaching out her hand, Edward spoke in a choked voice. As Larael, smiling, placed her hand in Edward’s, she was startled to see tears in his eyes and froze on the spot.

“Your Majesty?”

When Larael called him with a stiff expression, Edward quickly turned his head slightly and wiped his eyes. Without meaning to, seeing her overwhelmed him and made his eyes well up.

“Are your father and mother doing well?”

Edward quickly asked, worried Larael might say something unnecessary. The fact that he called them “father and mother” instead of “the Count and Countess” brought a smile back to Larael’s lips.

“Yes, they’re doing well.”

“I’ll have a portal installed at Hedway County. That way, you can visit your parents whenever you wish.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Though she thanked him calmly, Larael’s grip on Edward’s hand tightened. In Larael’s eyes, filled with trust, she gazed at Edward with deep affection. She knew she could never let go of this hand.

Edward and Larael entered her bedroom together, glancing at the maids who followed them inside.

“Your maids are quite oblivious.”

Edward whispered in her ear, and Larael quietly laughed in agreement.

“Rest. I’ll finish work early today. Let’s have dinner together.”

Edward wrinkled his nose playfully and gently stroked Larael’s hair. Then he kissed her lightly on the forehead. She knew it was his way of saying goodbye for now, and though she knew he had come to greet her during work, it was disappointing to part so soon after meeting again. Still, she could only nod.

“Your Highness, Lady Layton has been waiting for you.”

After Edward left, Lillian informed Larael that Kali was waiting for her.

“All right. Tell Kali to come to my room.”

Lillian nodded and left the room, returning with Kali, who was carrying several boxes. Remembering what Larael had said, Kali had prepared them in advance. They set the boxes down next to the sofa.

“Everyone, please leave for a moment.”

Larael sent her maids out of the bedroom.

Joy, who always followed Kali, was nowhere to be seen.

“Where’s Joy?”

“The Grand Duke’s side has started searching for Dr. Hobbs. I sent Joy to keep an eye on them.”

“Isn’t that dangerous?”

Kali hesitated for a moment before answering. She had seen Joy wield a sword before. Though it had only been a few times, he seemed quite familiar with it.

“To be honest, I was hesitant to say this, but I believe Joy can protect himself. You don’t need to worry.”

Larael tilted her head, recalling Joy being dragged away by grown men. She didn’t quite understand Kali’s words, but Kali wasn’t someone to speak carelessly. For now, Larael decided to trust her.

“Did you find any merchant groups that meet our conditions?”

“Yes. Here they are.”

Kali handed over the organized documents to Larael. Larael flipped through them one by one.

After silently reading them several times, Larael put the documents down on the table and looked at Kali.

“The most suitable one is the Kameira merchant group.”

According to Kali’s report, the Kameira group had facilities capable of mass-producing medicine, but their finances were currently in dire straits. Because of their poor finances, they had stopped producing low-profit medicines, but with the right materials, they could resume production at any time.

“But the head of the Kameira group won’t give up control of the company. Kameira is an old and prestigious group. They run the business with pride and would rather see it dissolved than give it up.”

“That makes it perfect, then. It’s better if we don’t have to take over the group. Running a merchant group isn’t easy.”

If the Kameira group produced the cure, the medicine to treat the epidemic spreading through the empire would bear their name. What could be more of a source of pride?

“Arrange a secret meeting with the head of Kameira. Handle everything anonymously, not in my name. Secrecy is the top priority for the cure.”

“Yes, understood.”

Kali gathered the documents from the table and hurried out of Larael’s bedroom.

After Kali left, the maids came in and began tidying up the room. Larael instructed Lillian to organize the items in the boxes by the sofa. Inside the boxes were dazzlingly ornate items.

Larael watched the maids bustling about, her mind wandering.

If Herwen had deliberately spread the disease, wouldn’t it be better to tell Emperor Edward so he could prevent it in advance? But since nothing had happened yet, Herwen would just deny it, and it might give him an excuse to attack Edward. Herwen was watching both Edward and herself, and he would surely believe it was Edward who spirited Hobbs away. In the end, nothing would be gained from the Krauf disease.

But if she could make Herwen believe that Hobbs disappeared because he feared for his safety, and thus Herwen went ahead with his original plan, the epidemic would spread throughout the empire. By then, protecting Hobbs and producing the cure could all be credited to Edward, and he would regain the people’s trust.

After all, Larael had decided to live for Edward. Not for the people of the empire, but for Edward. Thanks to Edward, the people would be able to cure their illness. Their suffering from the Krauf disease would only be temporary. Yet Larael bit her lip so hard she didn’t even realize it was bleeding. Since when had she become someone who cared about the people’s pain or sorrow?

“Your Highness!!!”

Blood from Larael’s lips dripped onto her dress. Even as her maids hurriedly pressed a handkerchief to stop the bleeding and called for a doctor, Larael didn’t move at all.

‘Since when did I care? The cure wasn’t for them, but to save my own parents and raise Edward’s reputation.’