Chapter 14 – Part 3

Pulling Ferrell by the wrist, Carly couldn’t hold back her tears. She bit her lip hard to stifle the sobs that threatened to escape.

Carly led Ferrell into a secluded drawing room.

After closing the door, she turned to face him.

Her expression was heart-wrenchingly sorrowful.

She opened her mouth as if to speak, but all she could do was sob in the face of the overwhelming emotions.

Ferrell could only hold her hand with a pained expression.

No matter the reason, he had deceived Carly. He had no right to comfort her.

“…Carly, please stop crying. Okay?”

After a long silence, Ferrell spoke gently, worried she might collapse.

“Why didn’t you look for me if you were alive? Why?”

Carly’s legs finally gave way.

“Carly!”

Seeing her waver dangerously, Ferrell instinctively reached out.

“My Lady, are you alright?”

But it was Kyle who caught her.

He had followed Carly but couldn’t bring himself to enter and waited outside the door.

Sensing the danger, he entered the drawing room and caught Carly just as she was about to fall.

Ferrell froze at the sight.

“Sit down, My Lady, and let’s talk.”

Kyle gently guided Carly to the sofa, sitting her down tenderly. Ferrell avoided their gazes, shaking his head.

“No, I have other engagements. I…”

“Ferrell!”

Kyle sighed softly at Ferrell’s attempt to evade the situation.

“Please spare a moment. If you knew what Miss Carly had done to find you, you wouldn’t leave so easily.”

Kyle grabbed Ferrell’s shoulder, looking at him with a firm gaze.

He couldn’t bring himself to mention that Carly had gone as far as the border to look for him. That was something Carly needed to say herself.

After a moment, Ferrell nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. Kyle patted Carly once more before heading to the door. They needed time alone.

Seeing the two settled on the sofa, Kyle left the room and closed the door behind him.

Feeling a pang of melancholy, he leaned against the door and gazed out the window.

* * *

“Carly.”

Carly looked at Ferrell with tear-streaked cheeks and reddened eyes.

“It’s alright. I just got a bit emotional. What are your plans now? We should proceed with our engagement.”

Her tone was unexpectedly calm, which felt strange.

Ferrell drew a line in the sand with his respectful tone.

“My status has been revoked. A person without status is no different from a slave.”

“We can restore your status.”

“No, we cannot.”

Ferrell sighed deeply, running a hand over his face.

“We’ve come too far to go back.”

Carly let out a bitter laugh.

His death had been just a year ago. Even after he left for the battlefield, they had frequently exchanged letters.

Carly still kept the letter proposing marriage after the war in the depths of her drawer.

‘But why?’

“Ferrell… I’ve longed to see you. I prayed every night to see you, even in my dreams.”

“…”

“If we’ve come too far, we can go back. As long as you’re by my side, I can wait for as long as it takes.”

Her tearful plea left Ferrell speechless.

“Answer me. Don’t just let me speak, you speak too!”

Ferrell bit his lip, his heart aching.

He never imagined she would be waiting for him all this time.

The time apart had been like a blade, cutting her deeply, and he only realized this now, seeing her in pain.

If he stayed with her, the past wounds would never heal and would only continue to fester.

“Sometimes it’s better to let go of a lost connection. Our relationship has changed. Just looking at me causes you pain.”

“No.”

“Can you stop crying right now?”

Carly nodded vigorously, but tears continued to fall from her chin.

Carly was still young. Her desire to marry Ferrell seemed more like a desperate attempt to escape the strict rules of the Dehart family.

To Carly, Ferrell, a free-spirited knight, must have seemed very appealing.

But Ferrell had ignored Carly’s true intentions, wanting her by his side at any cost.

Now, understanding her recent actions, Ferrell steeled his heart.

It was time for a belated farewell.

“You’ll find someone better. When that happens, please don’t cry and always smile.”

As he began to rise, Carly grabbed his sleeve.

“No.”

Ferrell gently pried her soft hand away.

“It was nice seeing you again after so long.”

“No, don’t go. Stay with me. Please?”

“Carly…”

Carly collapsed to her knees, her desperation palpable.

Worried about her struggling to breathe through her sobs, Ferrell lifted her back onto the sofa and quickly walked to the door.

“Please look after her.”

Kyle was startled by Ferrell’s appearance.

He looked as if he might burst into tears at any moment.

Despite his deep affection for Carly, Ferrell’s determination to distance himself was puzzling. But Kyle couldn’t bring himself to stop him from fleeing.

Kyle gently helped Carly, who had slumped on the sofa.

‘This isn’t something that will heal quickly.’

***

The Empress, gripping Mary tightly, shouted anxiously.

“What on earth is happening?”

“…”

Mary, equally distressed, could not answer.

This was because all of Conor Johannes’s activities, which Mary had orchestrated, had been revealed.

If the investigation proceeded as it was, not only Mary but also the Empress would be punished for colluding with the enemy nation.

Unlike the cases involving Duke Davis or Ailon, this time there was clear evidence. The likelihood of mere house arrest was slim; a severe punishment was almost certain.

If the plan to overthrow Terossa with the help of Vails was also uncovered, they would not escape the death penalty.

“Mary! Speak! Tell me you have a solution!”

“…”

Mary remained silent, despite the Empress’s hysterical outburst.

“Are you ignoring me? Answer me!”

“…”

“How dare you!”

Laviela stood up abruptly, grabbing Mary’s hair and shaking her. The pain from her pulled hair was sharp, but Mary showed no reaction.

After being slapped several times while her hair was held, Mary finally spoke with a twisted smile.

“Nothing is decided yet, so what do you want me to say?”

“…What?”

“Conor Johannes’ activities have been revealed, and the investigation into those involved will begin.”

“Then what about my situation? Didn’t I collapse at the banquet hall earlier? What about the punishment for Vanessa’s daughter?”

Mary couldn’t suppress a derisive laugh.

At this point, with the prince of the enemy nation and an innocent duke defending Anne Vanessa, did she really think punishment was an option?

After the large-scale investigation began with Vails’ cooperation, the banquet hall incident would likely be considered a mere accident.

Most importantly, if the Emperor learned that the Empress had miscarried, he would undoubtedly discard her. He would charge her with all crimes, including treason, and then expel her, using the incident to promote the royal family’s integrity.

Fortunately, the Emperor did not yet know about the Empress’s miscarriage. As long as the Empress, Mary, and the palace officials remained silent, they could get through this.

Yet the Empress’s desperate cries for punishing Anne were pathetic to Mary, who replied with unveiled irritation.

“Your Majesty should just stay put.”

“What?”

“No. It’s better to get pregnant again quickly and produce an heir. And when the investigation begins, just insist that you know nothing and that you are being falsely accused.”

All the evidence had been destroyed. Although they hadn’t anticipated the border officer keeping records of the exported items, they could dismiss any accusations as slander.

The Empress’s eyes flickered with unease at Mary’s suddenly different attitude.

The Empress subconsciously placed her hand on Mary’s thigh, which Mary irritably brushed off.

Then, with a cold expression, Mary continued.

“Listen carefully. If we get through this…”

“Mary?”

“You will give me all the businesses from the Kazachef mine you received after marrying the Emperor.”

The Empress’s face twisted with rage at the blatant demand, and she slapped Mary hard.

It was a powerful blow, but Mary didn’t budge.

“You! Thief! Just the jewels from that mine…”

Mary glared at the Empress with a mocking smile.

Even though she had helped arrange the celebration for the future heir, all she had received in return was her monthly salary.

She couldn’t continue to work without any additional benefit.

“If you don’t immediately sign over the rights to me, I will leave the palace. Of course, I’ll need to undergo the investigation first, but how much could they expect from someone like me? I can easily claim ignorance and walk away.”

Mary was the only one who could help the Empress now. The Empress knew this very well.

Therefore, she couldn’t expel Mary.

If the Empress lost control and dismissed Mary, or if things went wrong, Mary was prepared to expose everything and take them both down.

‘You should have treated me better from the start.’

Mary smiled slyly as she quickly drafted the documents. They were papers transferring ownership of the Kazachef mine to her.

All that remained was to stamp them with the Empress’s seal and get them notarized.

“You, you!”

“Given the situation, don’t you think I deserve at least this much?”

Mary gazed at the documents with a peculiar expression.

After all, saying it out loud, it seemed like a small thing.

The Empress, desperate this time, knew she needed Mary’s help more than ever.

In fact, without Mary, the Empress had become nothing more than a puppet.

Mary had become adept at handling this empty-headed woman. Despite her greed and tendency to make a fuss over minor losses, she was easy to manage due to her stupidity.

After hesitating for a while, Laviela forced a smile and moved closer to Mary.

“I’ll do it. Mary, you’re on my side, right? I was going to do it anyway. It’s just your frightening face…”

“When have I ever frightened you? I am still on your side, Your Majesty. How could I ever threaten you?”

Laviela felt relieved at these words.

“Then, let’s call that man. I’ll get pregnant again as soon as possible, just as you said.”

The Empress clutched Mary’s hand, her eyes sparkling, looking foolish but pitiful.