Published at 21st of November 2020 06:12:37 PM
Chapter 98: 98
That day, Fabian wiped Evelyn’s tears silently . Then, he took out his handkerchief from his pocket and handed it over, holding her hands warm to comfort her . But, he looked sad, feeling guilty that he couldn’t stay with her longer because of his official duties .
After Fabian left, Evelyn sat there alone for a while and didn’t move . “I don’t know… … what’s wrong with me?… . ” She looked confused .
“Your Majesty… . . What kind of person is he, really?”
It was a really interesting question . Then, Evelyn felt something strange .
“Ah…”
Just like a meteor shower, suddenly, something seemed like a ray of light passing through in Evelyn’s head . She soon knew what it was . Little by little, scenes from her previous life began to appear in her mind .
[‘There’s no need for the Empress to manage the Palace . ’]
It was announced by Fabian shortly after the Empress’s opening ceremony . But still, Evelyn had absolute power in her Palace . In other words, she got rights without the need to carry out obligations . Back then, she couldn’t understand Fabian’s reason .
[‘Do I look so old? I don’t need a successor yet, so you don’t need to listen to the nobles . ’]
Fabian was a cold man, so she thought he didn’t have much desire to have children .
[‘The Empress does not need to attend gala dinner in the future . ’]
[‘There’s no need for the Empress to host the ball . ’]
[‘The Empress doesn’t have to do anything . ’]
After the Emperor said so, all the people stopped to expect something from Evelyn . But Fabian still visited her at night .
He was such a blunt man, so Fabian never said words of love to her . Every day, he would ask if she was tired? Did she eat three meals properly? Or if there’s something she didn’t like?
That was all . Fabian went to sleep immediately after he heard her answer . Evelyn never knew what the couple’s conversation was like .
[‘Evelyn . ’]
Fabian used to call Evelyn by her name while they were alone in the Empress’ Palace . Around that time, Fabian was the only one who called Evelyn’s name . But in the midst of boredom and loneliness, that fact was easily forgotten .
But, Evelyn still remembered . Her name sounded so sweet and lovely when she was hugged in his arms .
[‘You don’t have to do anything, Evelyn . ’]
Since when did it start to get worse?
[‘There’s no need to welcome me or see me off when I come here’]
[‘But, …… . . I don’t really have anything to do . ] She sobbed in hushed tones one day .
The disappointment gradually became loneliness, and hatred grew as helplessness piled up . At that time, in Evelyn’s eyes, the whole world looked gray and cloudy . It’s just a helpless life just waiting for Fabian to come .
[‘Evelyn, you just need to be there . ’]
“And I really died without doing anything . With nothing left……alone . ” Evelyn talked to herself in despair . She was nothing at that time . Nothing .
“I don’t want to live like that again . ”
A beautiful Empress trapped in a beautiful cage . The life of a woman who waited only for a busy emperor .
“Can a person really change?”
Fabian had changed . He was a different person now . Maybe if he’s now……A cruel hope filled her heart .
“…… it’s a risky gamble . ”
He was still an Emperor . He had to live his life in split minutes, and he couldn’t put down the crown before he died .
“And to the end…… he’s someone who breaks my heart . ”
In her previous life, that cold man always made her heart ached . Now, he was courting Evelyn, putting down his noble pride .
Evelyn couldn’t even tell which was more painful .
“Well, Princess?”
Evelyn turned her head, and she saw that Nora was standing there, staring worriedly at her .
“I’m sorry, but you didn’t answer my knock . ”
“No, it’s fine . What about Adrian?” asked Evelyn .
“Sir Philip said there’s an improvement in his condition, so now he has a goodnight sleep . ”
There’s a relief smile on Evelyn’s lips after she heard Nora’s report .
“… … Princess, that’s in your hand… … . ”
Evelyn was startled and hid the Queen’s ring in her hand quickly, even though there was nothing wrong with it . It was only beyond common sense that Evelyn, who wasn’t the Empress right now, had the Empress’ seal .
“Nora, please keep quiet about this for a while . ”
Nora nodded firmly, “Of course . ”
“You’re having a hard time following me these days, aren’t you?” Evelyn tried to change the subject awkwardly .
“It’s all right, Princess . Besides, there’s good news . When His Majesty called the Duke and Lady Akshire, Lily seemed to be coming with them . ”
“Really?” Evelyn seemed excited .
While Nora was a nanny maid who raised Evelyn . Lily was the maid who followed Evelyn to the Imperial Palace when she was married . Both of them would be a great help for her .
“Maybe she’ll arrive the day after tomorrow . ”
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“Yes . ”
Evelyn already missed her parents in the Felice Kingdom . But now wasn’t the time to complain about it . The presence of Akshire’s siblings and Lily already warmed her heart .
“Nora . ”
“Yes, Princess?”
Evelyn stared into the air for a moment…… . . “If I feel anxious because things seem to be going so well… … Am I weird?”
Nora, the old maid, had a deep relationship with Evelyn . Of course, she understood Evelyn’s anxiety . It’s made sense since life was usually like that .
“It must be because you are concerned for the Prince . ”
“… . Maybe . ” Evelyn nodded at Nora’s comfort . Then, she could hear Adrian crying in the bedroom . Both of them ran into him together at once .
At least, Evelyn could leave her complicated mind when she cared for her child . Now, that’s enough .
***
The problems that Fabian directed to Congress hadn’t been resolved until now . It seemed like it was only the Emperor’s tricks to avenge the noble’s shameful behavior while he was away openly, aside from one of his ways of buying time .
“The weather is nice . ”
Fabian was in a secret garden that only could be accessed by the Emperor .
“That’s right,” Serus answered, and Logan, who was behind him, bowed his head as if he also agreed .
“But autumn seems very short . ”
Fabian had never appreciated the season before . But Serus knew that Fabian always felt sad at the end of autumn . A heart-sick season, when the scent of the golden wood smelled so sweet, and also the season when Evelyn left . And it all happened in this place .
“Duke Metis . Did he already move?”
“Yes . Your Majesty’s prediction was right . ”
“How far do you think he’s found out?” Fabian gave him a sour look . It was unpleasant that only his bad predictions were correct .
“First of all, I think he’s been spying on Sir Philip . I pretended I didn’t know at Your Majesty’s command . ”
“It’s obvious what he’s doing . ”
There was no way that Sagan, who was quick-witted, didn’t know that Philip was in the Imperial Palace . That old Duke was a veteran-opponent, and it was impossible for Fabian to keep this secret until the end .
“He probably thought there’s something wrong with my health . ” Actually, at first, Fabian had intended to pretend that he was ill to avert his attention for a moment .
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“But I can’t do that . ”
“Because Your Majesty stills young and looks healthy . ”
The Emperor’s stamina was far beyond ordinary humans like nobles . If there were rumors about a fatal abnormality in the young Emperor’s health, the parliament would be filled with people seeking power here and there . If that happened, Fabian wouldn’t be able to control it even though he still ruled the roost .
“And Sir Phillip has called his students as well . because he said he was understaffed in research and treatment alone … so Duke Metis must have been suspicious about the blood treatment . ” Serus sighed .
Originally, Sagan wasn’t supposed to know about the existence of blood medicine . But Monica, Fabian’s mother, quickly passed the secret to her family .
“If I delay time like this …… the clever Duke Metis will quickly figure out immediately what’s going on . ”
Serus didn’t dare to give a response .
“What will happen after that is clear . He will drive Evelyn into an insane woman, take her to death, and treat Adrian as an illegitimate child . Only then can he push her daughter to become an Empress . ” Just thought about it, Fabian’s dark eyes were filled with anger . “I must take a leap first . ” He said firmly .
“…… . . No, I’ll have to root out all the problems at this point . ”
Serus, who kept silent since the beginning, looked surprised but was also filled with doubts .
“During my reign, I don’t think there will be any other chance my enemies to bite me apart from this . ”
From young aristocrats, including Duke Metis and the Vatican, who had been hostile to him since Fabian ascended the throne . And the minister who often opposed the Emperor’s orders . When it came to the Imperial successor’s matter from the divorced Empress, they could all unite on this battlefield .
“…… it’s going to be a difficult job . ” Serus wasn’t wrong . Fabian had to deal with totally different enemy forces alone . Perhaps it would be the biggest ordeal since his crowning .
“But I have to face it . ” Fabian had made up his mind . “I also have a weapon . ”
His weapon was the Black Hawk Knight . In history, only Fabian, the Emperor who had such a private organization . He had created a special knight squad for himself even before he was crowned . No one could argue that he was an extraordinary Emperor .
“Logan . ”
When his name was called, Logan bent his knees with an honorable face, “Yes, Your Majesty . ”
“Everyone, be it Duke Metis or the Vatican, don’t let them interfere in Senate’s matter . ”
It was a warning that there was a danger of attempted murder .
“…… I’ll send competent knights to escort the journey of Five Elders . ” asserted Logan . Fabian then nodded as if he was satisfied with his answer .
“Go and carry it out at once . ”
“Yes, Your Majesty . ”
Logan withdrew with courtesy . Then Fabian turned his back and looked at Serus .
“What about the thing that I asked you to find out . ”
There was a story that had been bothering Fabian all this time . It was the first time he heard the legend about demons who hated the Imperial family’s descendants and craved for their blood . But, there was no reason for Evelyn to lie .
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“There’s a similar story, but it’s too old to interpret . But, it might be possible when the Elders come . ”
“But the Elders won’t help . They don’t obey the Imperial family . ”
“Duke Akshire will soon arrive in the capital,” reported Serus .
Fabian then asked him back with his sharp eyes as if saying, ‘why did you mention him?’
“Oh… . , he said he would bring a book that the Princess had seen . ”
“……it seems your sensitivity has improved . ”
“Yes, Your Majesty, Duke Akshire, is basically a very sensitive person . ”
“Serus, you…… . ” Fabian sighed .
The two of them weren’t aware, but the people in this Imperial family had changed little by little . However, it wasn’t because of their own will, but because they met their rival and ex-family member .
“The edict will be issued as soon as tomorrow arrives . ”
“What…?!”
“I will deprive the current- Empress-position . ”
“What’s that… … Are you serious, Your Majesty?” Serus’s brain was unable to grasp the meaning of Fabian’s words .
“The Palace will be preserved, and only the Empress-title will be deprived . ”
Nevertheless, Serus’ face was full of questions . He still didn’t know the Emperor’s plan .
“The Empress Palace is a palace where the Empress is the owner . Even so, all of the palaces in this Imperial Palace belong to me and under my control . ”
With Fabian’s intuition, the time for Evelyn and Adrian to stay in the Chamber of Secret would be over soon . If he postponed the edict any longer, it would be too late to prepare for this .
“Since the founding of the Empire, a divorced-Empress can’t be the Empress again . I know about that . ”
But, it wouldn’t be a problem for Fabian since it could be easily handled .
“But if it’s for the birth-mother who gave birth to my successor …… With my sincerity, she can live in a better place . ”
“I see . If it weren’t for the Empress, then, there won’t be a problem with Your Majesty’s orders . ”
Fabian thought so, too . At first, he was hesitant to put Evelyn in a secret room and hide her from the Imperial people . Moreover, it was only a matter of time before their identities were revealed . So, it would be best to deprive the Empress’s position first and give the Palace to Evelyn .
“Just take care of it immediately . ”
“Yes, Your Majesty . ” Serus stepped back with an example . Fabian only glanced dimly towards the garden at night . Maybe all the reasons just now weren’t the main reason . Because above all, Fabian had his own reason .
It was one of his wishes .
One day, he wanted to see Evelyn return to the Empress’s Palace, where they had slept side by side together .