153. If You Can’t Let Me Go

“Who told you that?”

His voice was colder than she had ever heard it, filled with a suffocating fury barely contained.

“No one said anything.”

“Tell me the truth. What did someone say to you?”

Adelaide shook her head, alarmed at his demeanor, which suggested he might kill whoever was responsible.

“Really, no one said anything. If you don’t believe me, ask Margaret.”

“Then don’t entertain such thoughts. And never speak of this again.”

“Callion, I—”

“It’s not as difficult a position as you think. If it’s too much, you don’t have to do anything. Just stay by my side. That’s all I need.”

He spoke quickly, his voice cracking with desperation.

“From now on, ignore anyone who says anything to you. No, just tell me. I’ll handle it.”

“…”

When Adelaide didn’t respond, Callion continued.

“If it really won’t work, I’ll give up the throne.”

“Callion.”

“If it’s too hard, that’s fine. We’ll leave everything behind and go to Tiflis. We’ll be happy, just the two of us, like before.”

“Do you know what you’re saying? You worked so hard to get here.”

Adelaide tried to calm him, feeling that he might actually abandon everything and leave for Tiflis.

She regretted bringing it up. She had thought it might be better to end things cleanly than to disappear quietly.

Callion, looking as if he might cry at the slightest touch, suddenly embraced her tightly.

“I’ll do whatever you want; just please stay with me.”

His body was burning against hers. His low voice broke into several pieces.

Adelaide stammered, trying to find an excuse.

“I’m sorry, Callion. I just, I had a lot on my mind. You don’t need to worry about it.”

“…”

She couldn’t see his face, but she could guess what expression he was making. His unusually emotional behavior made her swallow a sigh.

After a long moment, Callion lifted his head from her shoulder. His face was even paler than before.

When Adelaide couldn’t find the right words and lowered her gaze, Callion spoke quietly.

“Julian said he’d marry Shayla after the coronation.”

Shayla, who had returned to the empire with Julian, was staying at the House of Uclaire without announcing her survival.

To avoid confusion, they had decided to keep her presence secret until Callion had fully secured control over the nobles.

“As a longtime friend of theirs, I offered to be their witness.”

Adelaide realized why Callion was suddenly bringing up their wedding.

He wanted to make it clear that Shayla could never be her replacement.

“Things will settle down a bit after the coronation. It’s going to be tough, but please hold on until then.”

“…”

“Oh, did you contact your parents? They need to start traveling now if they are to attend the coronation.”

“Oh. Not yet…”

“Then let’s bring them here before the coronation. The Earldom of Cornwall is close, so they’ll arrive soon. The Countess is the problem. I’ll send the royal doctor to make sure she travels comfortably.”

“Your Highness.”

“Let’s also look into ways to treat her. Even if there’s no cure in the empire, maybe the sorcerers in the kingdom or Caucasian Autonomous Region can help.”

Touched and saddened by his efforts to console her, Adelaide could only offer a wistful smile.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

“Your Majesty, the Empress.”

A new maid entered the room. Adelaide frowned at the unwelcome title.

“The dress samples have arrived. Would you like to try them on now?”

“I’ll try them on later. I’ll call you if I need anything, so you can go.”

“Yes.”

The maid bowed respectfully and left. Adelaide clicked her tongue as she watched her go.

Since she mentioned divorce, Callion has become increasingly anxious.

In the council meetings, he no longer just listened to the nobles but actively pushed his opinions and constantly mentioned Adelaide to reinforce her position.

Not only that, but since Adelaide had not selected any staff, he had given Margaret the authority to choose maids and summoned Lady Roella through the Earl of Changeling to help with the coronation preparations.

Even the dress samples from Madame Daisy’s shop were sent under Callion’s orders.

Though she wasn’t pleased, Adelaide decided to go along with his wishes, pretending not to notice.

There was still time until the last day.

Adelaide gazed at the pocket watch wrapped in cloth.

Since Rosaline Harper’s death, she had checked the pocket watch daily, hoping for a change, but nothing had changed

The watch continued to move steadily towards the predetermined date, and she still couldn’t touch it.

She thought Rosaline Harper’s death must have been necessary to stabilize the timeline after the spell was completed. Sighing, Adelaide put the pocket watch back in its place.

‘I need to finish this before the coronation.’

She wanted to stay by his side until the last day, if possible.

But the death of an empress is different from the death of a grand duchess. She couldn’t afford to delay, considering the burden it would place on Callion and the empire.

The only thing that troubled her was what would happen after the spell was completed.

‘Taking all the blame with me is the best solution.’

Believing it was right for the departing person to take all the blame, Adelaide unfolded a piece of paper and began writing without hesitation.

She detailed her relationship with Elkius before her marriage, her intention to approach Callion, the secrets she stole from Tiflis under Elkius’ orders, and all the wrongs she had committed.

She added a confession that she couldn’t bear the guilt of her sins and a plea to forgive her parents.

Believing that if this letter was made public, at least Callion would be spared from blame.

Adelaide carefully folded the paper, placed it in an envelope, and sealed it. Then she called for Zatia.

“Did you call for me, Your Grace?”

“How are you feeling?”

“Better. Much better.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Zatia nodded with a pale face.

Adelaide handed her a letter.

“Keep this with you. If anything happens to me, deliver it to Lord Uclaire.”

“What is this?”

Adelaide turned away, avoiding the question. Zatia, understanding the silence, shook her head with a distressed expression.

“I-I can’t do it.”

“Zatia.”

“No, Your Grace. What about His Highness?”

“You heard what the sorcerer said. You know what will happen if the spell isn’t completed.”

Zatia, who had accompanied her to meet the sorcerer, bit her lip.

“But the future might change. The ex-emperor and that woman are dead, so it might not turn out the way the sorcerer predicted.”

“I can’t gamble on such a slim hope.”

“But Your Grace, this is…”

“It’s for His Highness. It’s for you, too.”

“…”

“Please, Zatia.”

Zatia took the letter, tears streaming down her face.

Adelaide silently patted her on the back.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

It was a few days later when Adelaide sought out Callion.

Since the talk of divorce, he had buried himself in his office, claiming he had too much work and hadn’t sought her out.

Instead, the maids he had assigned to her watched her around the clock.

Using the excuse of wanting to see Callion, Adelaide managed to slip away from the maids and knock on his office door.

“It’s me, Your Highness. May I come in?”

“…Come in.”

She sensed a clear disturbance in the short pause. With his reluctant permission, Adelaide entered the office.

“What is it?”

“Are you sleeping here again tonight?”

“I have a lot of work to do.”

“If you become emperor, you’ll be even busier. Are you planning to keep sleeping in your office?”

Callion avoided her gaze at her scolding. She approached his desk with a gentle smile.

“Try to get some rest while you work. You’ll make yourself ill.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine. Your arm hasn’t fully healed yet.”

“…”

“Sleep in your room tonight.”

At her firm insistence, Callion put down his pen.

Neither of them looked well.

Guessing that she hadn’t slept well either, he stood up.

“Alright, let’s do that.”

Callion followed her to the room.

A rumpled bed suggested she had been lying there. As he took off his outer coat and sat on the bed, he noticed the brandy on the nightstand and asked,

“Have you been drinking?”

“I couldn’t sleep, so I had a few sips. Would you like some?”

Adelaide poured him a drink without waiting for an answer.

Callion hesitated before draining the glass. The alcohol tasted sweeter than usual as it went down his throat.

Meanwhile, Adelaide began to undress from her layered gown.

The sight of her bare skin through the thin chemise was intoxicating. As she gathered her long hair and tied it up, her pale neck was exposed.

Feeling parched, Callion poured himself more brandy and drank it quickly. His body felt warm, likely due to the alcohol.

Having finished her preparations, she slowly approached and sat beside him.

“Your Highness.”

The faint scent of jasmine wafted over. His heart pounded as if it would burst from his chest. Adelaide, her eyes softly curving into a smile, whispered to him,

“Embrace me.”