I Will Surrender My Position as the Empress - Chapter 4
Duke Despone bid farewell to Adele like a parent sending off a child on a long journey, and Adele, in return, offered her greetings as gracefully as one might do when parting with a dear friend. Her golden eyes, which had gleamed with warmth and charm just moments ago, turned icy as she elegantly turned away. The corners of her lips, which had been upturned in a smile, now subtly drooped. As Adele took a step forward, the smile that had adorned her lips faded just as smoothly. Adele moved with a demeanor entirely different from when she faced Duke Despone. The Duke, too, was no exception. His benevolent smile, which had graced his face moments ago, disappeared as Adele turned her back. He watched the receding figure of the Empress with a cold, frozen gaze and swiftly turned, his long platinum hair swirling as he disappeared into the palace.
Whether or not to play the role of Empress was something that needed further consideration. After the Duke vanished into the palace, Adele, who had been striding confidently, suddenly halted and turned to gaze at the palace. The Duke was nowhere to be seen; only a few magicians remained, watching the Empress. Among them, Adele locked eyes with a woman with fiery red hair. Even from a distance, it seemed as if the Empress had noticed her gaze, as the red-haired woman began to perform a respectful curtsy. After briefly staring at the palace, Adele nodded to her and then turned away. Though she had stayed only briefly, it felt as if the energy had been sucked out of her.
As she recalled the Duke’s taunting words about becoming the mistress of the tower and his face resurfaced in her mind, cold sweat broke out on her back. It wasn’t fear but rather a visceral aversion. The greedy glint in his eyes, the selfishness that would stop at nothing for personal gain—Adele felt an instinctual revulsion toward such qualities.
“Your Majesty, are you feeling unwell?” A maid, following closely behind, asked with concern, her eyes fixed on Adele’s pale face.
“I’m fine. Let’s continue,” Adele replied, dismissing the maid’s worries.
Setting aside the maid’s concern, Adele quickened her pace.
“Lady Giggs will throw a fit if she sees you like this. I told you not to go.”
The handmaiden, watching the Empress grow paler by the moment, hurried to catch up.
“Your Majesty.”
Suddenly, a deep voice echoed in their ears, causing both the handmaiden and the Empress to stop in their tracks. They simultaneously turned their heads in the direction from which the voice had come. There stood a man in black attire, silhouetted against the sun. The unexpected encounter brought a smile to the Empress’s face.
“Lionel.”
****
News of the Empress waking up had been haunting Lionel incessantly, threatening to drive him mad. He had tried his best to quell the tumultuous emotions, but instead of subsiding, they seemed to vividly recall that day. The sight of the Emperor wiping the Empress’s forehead as she sat on her bed and his own unwavering determination to protect her Lionel couldn’t bear it any longer; he impulsively walked outside. The wind rustled through his clothes, but the sun beating down was still warm. It was the height of autumn, a season that was both warm and cool, and it seemed to calm his restless heart slightly.
How long had he walked? He suddenly realized where this path led and came to a halt. He wasn’t some teenage boy suffering from the fever of first love. Lionel let out a bitter laugh and ran his fingers through his tousled eyebrows.
“I must be crazy.”
It felt as if he had become a wild beast, ready to turn back, mumbling to himself.
“Your Majesty, are you feeling unwell?” The familiar voice brushed against his ear.
“I’m fine. Let’s continue.”
At the sound of the familiar voice, Lionel froze in his tracks, still facing away. The moment he heard that voice, surprisingly, all the turmoil that had been consuming him vanished like a flood receding. Lionel followed her with his eyes, as if drawn by an invisible force. The Empress was walking briskly somewhere. Her jet-black hair fluttered in the wind, revealing a side profile as white as snow. Her expressionless face was not just pale but almost translucent, and her closed lips lacked any hint of color.
“Your Majesty.”
The one calling out to her wasn’t his rational self.
*****
The sunlight streaming behind him made Adele squint slightly.
“Lionel.”
Lionel approached her. The pouring sunlight gradually concealed his broad shoulders. As he stood in front of her, Lionel’s shadow swallowed Adele. He glanced at her complexion and noticed the beads of sweat on her forehead.
“It seems you haven’t fully recovered yet. Please return to the palace quickly.”
“It was like this even before.”
The sweat on her round forehead was undoubtedly cold sweat. Lionel quickly estimated the distance to the Empress’s residence. Even walking quickly, it would take at least another five minutes to reach If she walked with cold sweat on her skin, she might catch a cold. He glanced back at the maid, but the Empress didn’t have anything to cover herself with. Without hesitation, Lionel removed his conquest jacket.
“What are you doing?”
Adele asked in surprise as Lionel suddenly took off his jacket.
“If you expose yourself to the cold wind with cold sweat on your skin, you will surely catch a cold.”
“So you want me to wear that?”
“Just wear it until we reach the palace.”
Lionel calmly said, and Adele looked at him with a bewildered expression. He suddenly remembered how she used to whisper her name and lower her voice. As he offered the jacket to the maid, who accepted it quickly and draped it over Adele’s shoulders, Adele seemed like she had to put something on. When the large, sturdy jacket enveloped her shoulders, Adele could feel Lionel’s body heat still lingering on it. It felt as if someone had embraced her from behind. Adele couldn’t help but notice how big Lionel’s physique was. Even with her shoulders wrapped by the jacket, there was plenty of space left, and it covered her thighs. She blinked for no apparent reason.
“Please go on, Your Majesty.”
The maid encouraged the Empress, who was standing still. Adele started walking again, and Lionel matched her stride. Adele looked at him for no reason. The sunlight shone through his shirt, which was covered by the jacket, and his firm silhouette was faintly visible.
“Are you not feeling cold?”
“I’m fine.”
A cool breeze swept between the two of them. Lionel quietly watched the direction the wind was blowing. Until then, he had been standing where the sunlight was pouring, so Adele was now bathed in sunlight. Adele looked at Lionel, who had shielded her from the wind, and couldn’t help but smile.
“Stretching my arms toward the sky and having someone block the wind for me, you’re the only one in both Gottrov and Echmont who does that for me. You really are an excellent aide.”
Upon hearing her words, Lionel cleared his throat awkwardly. With the warm jacket, the sun, and now a reliable windbreaker, Adele’s body, which had been shivering, began to warm up gradually. Her stiff forehead had also softened without her realizing it.
“I’m sorry for making that strange request that day about bringing those people from Gottrov.”
“Should I send people?”
Since she had asked him to fetch them as if it were a matter of life and death, Lionel was determined to send people to Gottrov if she allowed it. However, at the same time, he had a subversive thought that he hoped she wouldn’t call for them. He gazed at Adele’s face as they walked. After walking in silence for a while, Adele finally raised her head slowly.
“There’s no need for that.”
“…”
“It’s fine.”
“…”
With that, silence settled between the two. In the clear and bright autumn weather, Adele simply walked, absorbing Lionel’s warmth as part of the sunshine. Lionel, on the other hand, took her shadow as he walked, his hand stained by her shadow. As Lionel looked down at his shadowed hand, he gradually lifted his gaze along with the shadow. The Empress, with her constantly crying face, looked back at him with a stern expression that almost felt like a lie. The road seemed long yet short. Eventually, they arrived at the palace. Adele, who had arrived first, lightly laughed and returned the jacket draped over her shoulders.
“Thank you. Thanks to you, I’m warm now. Would you like to come in and have some refreshments?”
“Your Majesty should rest. I will take my leave.”
In response to his loyal reply, Adele chuckled and turned around. Lady Giggs, who had rushed out anxiously, wrapped a blanket around her shoulders and led her into the palace. Lionel watched Adele go inside and then put on his clothes again. As the lingering warmth from the jacket penetrated his body, he stood still and savored it. It seemed to carry the unique scent of the Empress, so he inhaled deeply before quickly biting his lips and resuming his steps.
****
On the other hand, following Diane’s orders, Lorraine headed towards the Emperor’s study. She couldn’t help but worry about what would happen if the Emperor wasn’t there, but that was a mere thought. The Emperor, without a word, didn’t even look at Lorraine as she entered.
“What’s the matter?”
His voice was dry and devoid of emotion. As rumored in public, there was no doubt that the Emperor’s interest in and affection for Diane were gradually fading. It wasn’t so much that he despised or disliked her, but rather that he was growing indifferent. Lorraine cautiously assessed the Emperor’s mood before speaking.
“The Lady of Count Portier has requested an audience with Your Majesty.”
At her words, Karl furrowed his brow.
“Why didn’t she come in person? Why did she send you?”
“Because her Majesty is not feeling well today, coming in person would have been too much of a burden.”
Karl raised an eyebrow and leaned back in his chair, his expression uninterested.
“I’ll go later,” he said dismissively.
“Forgive me, Your Majesty. Lady Portier has something urgent to convey and has requested your presence immediately.”
The Emperor’s hand, which had been about to sign a document, froze in mid-air. Ink dripped from the pen, leaving a black mark on the paper.
“Right now?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I apologize for the inconvenience.”
Lorraine bowed deeply. Karl let out a sigh and put the pen he was holding back into the inkwell. He looked down at the document, now stained with ink, with an unsatisfied expression, and then handed it to the servant.
“Redo it.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor, who had already risen from his seat, left the room without bothering to put on any formalities, as it was within the palace. Lorraine followed quickly in his wake, trailing behind him. Following the Emperor throughout, Lorraine reached the entrance to Dian’s chambers and promptly knocked on the door.
“His Majesty, the Emperor has arrived.”
A faint, feeble voice could be heard from inside the room. Lorraine carefully opened the door, making sure not to make any noise, and then stepped back. Karl entered the room without hesitation.
“Your Majesty.”
At Diane’s frail voice, Karl let out an involuntary sigh. The voice now seemed irritating rather than sympathetic. He preferred the strength that he could break rather than the vulnerability that worried him. Karl slowly turned his head to look at Diane, and he chuckled.
****
Silence hung in the air. Something was subtly different. Puzzled by the strange discomfort, Karl paused, and that’s when Diane slowly extended her hand toward him.
“Your Majesty, come here, please.”
Karl reacted to her gesture. Diane, seated leaning on the bed, appeared indeed unwell, her complexion pale as if to confirm her claim of poor health.
“You mentioned you weren’t feeling well. Are you feeling any better?”
Instead of answering his question, Diane cautiously took Karl’s hand. Although the royal physicians had not yet provided a clear diagnosis, Diane couldn’t wait any longer. She was convinced that there was a child in her womb. Even if the official announcement had to be delayed, she wanted Karl to know at the very least.
Diane gently guided Karl’s hand to her belly. In that moment, Karl froze. He stared at his hand on Diane’s abdomen with a rigid expression.
“Your Majesty… there might be our child here.”
Silence continued to envelop them.
Diane gazed at the Emperor’s hand resting on her belly with tears of joy in her eyes.
“My child, your father is the Emperor of the realm.”
Her whole body trembled with happiness, and tears welled up in her eyes, streaming down her cheeks. Diane wiped away her tears and continued, “All the recent discomfort I’ve been feeling corresponds to early pregnancy symptoms.”
However, as she spoke, she suddenly realized that the Emperor was silent. She slowly raised her head, and in that instant, she almost screamed.
His eyes met hers, and she forgot to breathe. Instead of the warm gaze she had expected on her belly, the Emperor was looking at her as if he could see through her. When their eyes met, a shockingly cold gaze and expression met her, and she felt a shiver run down her spine.