Published at 13th of December 2020 10:26:38 AM
Chapter 32
Of course, this time, he had a dubious reason; but he wasn’t the kind of person to tell his younger brothers what it was .
“One is a saint, and one is evil, isn’t it? We’ll see the answer soon . ”
“Then, will Princess Lania investigate with you? For the sake of speeding up the process . ”
“Why would she? If she comes along, then it’s better if I don’t go . ”
Rashid, who threatened to take care of it by himself, approached the window .
He spotted the silhouette of someone climbing the stairs from far away, his face grimly set in satisfaction .
“…and I’m much more needed here . ”
As I climbed the endless stairs, I forgot my words for a moment at the sight . The Dukedom of Evendell is magnificent, being the most powerful house in the North; but His Majesty’s palace is completely different .
Just looking at the view is overwhelming enough to make my legs shake .
They call it the winter palace . Every area is majestic, from the marble steps on the floor to the endless columns . At first glance, it was like a sacred temple .
This is the place where I had committed countless sins .
Holding my fluttering chest, I saw the scenery spread out in front of me .
I had never dreamed that my heart would be this desperate enough, even ignoring all the food I missed from my previous life, like tteokbokki, galbi, and japchae .
‘Let’s calm down . ’
If they had known I had Haniel, they wouldn’t have sent me away like this . That great tyrant’s character would have left me tied up in chains and dragged me away, hovering around a short distance away .
‘They don’t know yet . All I have to do is do well . ’
I have a child to protect!
I followed the attendant inside, thinking of Haniel, who would cheer me up .
My eyes got blurry when I thought of my baby princess who still clung close to me .
“Mommy, mommy! Don’t go . ”
“Mom will come back alive . Okay? Listen to nanny . ”
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Mommy should go to sleep . I’ll be with you .
“Hugh…”
“Here you are, Duchess . ”
A huge door opened before me, and I stepped aside . Just like the owner of the palace, the delicate sculptures seemingly carved out of ice sparkled everywhere .
I couldn’t escape anyways, so I loosened my shoulders and took a step inside .
“Greetings to the great emperor; may you be protected by the Lord Teresa . ”
“…Stand up . ”
The cold voice of the emperor made me tremble .
I couldn’t believe his words flowed so smoothly .
Last time, there were a few people present, but now there are only the two of us, the emperor and I .
“You look nervous . ”
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“M-me?”
I raised my head towards the emperor, my eyes meeting his crimson ones . It was the same as when I first saw him, but he still was simply breathtaking .
“Hmm . ”
His blood red eyes were clearly illuminated in the backdrop of the winter palace; his eyes were cold as if it was implying that he should reign .
Nevertheless, it was strangely familiar .
Of course . He resembles Haniel .
His eyes were the same color as my baby swan’s eyes . Of course, she can’t be compared to a tyrant like that, but his vivid eyes were familiar; they were the same as the eyes of the child I loved to hug .
“…Huh?”
“What?”
I shook my head, even if I was white as a sheet .
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You look like my daughter!
Our topic was about any newly-caught herbivore animals, causing me to start .
“Maybe the Duchess knows something interesting that I don’t know . ”
“No!”
Was my voice too loud?
The emperor crossed his legs and lifted his chin . My chest couldn’t help but flutter . I felt like my heart was going to explode, but I pulled myself together when I thought of Haniel, whom I left behind .
‘He doesn’t know everything, does he?’
I couldn’t believe that my whole body felt small and twitchy when I faced him . It was just so weird .
I felt like I was being stabbed by his gaze .
However, I had no choice but to hide the truth unless he revealed his purpose .
“I am living alone, wasting away every day after his death . There cannot possibly be anything interesting involving me . ”