I Will Surrender My Position as the Empress - Chapter 4.2
At the same time, Karl was also dressed formally, with Diane at his side, carefully selecting every aspect of his clothing, from the cloth to the pattern. As she buttoned his robe, her slender hand trembled uncontrollably. Karl reached out and took her hand in his own.
“Diane,” he called her with an uncommonly warm tone. Diane’s light-blue eyes filled with tears, and she softly put her forehead on the emperor’s chest. She wondered if she should push him away, but ultimately, she remained still in his embrace.
Karl looked down at her golden, curly hair, hugging her lightly, as if she were fragile and could break if handled too roughly. He was reminded of her petite and vulnerable nature, and the guilt washed over him. He wanted to shield her from the title of empress, but also knew he couldn’t avoid it.
When Diane learned that the empress’ palace had been vacant for some time and a new owner had moved in, she became so sensitive that she couldn’t sleep. The thought of the word “empress” caused her stomach to ache. Her attendants had asked if they could meet the future empress at least once, but she had denied their request.
With her forehead still resting on Karl’s chest, Diane slowly raised her head and looked at him, her eyes filled with tears. “Do not cry,” Karl said in a deep voice.
Diane’s body shook with sobs as she whispered, “My apologies, Your Majesty. I vowed not to cry, yet my eyes are full of tears.”
Diane kissed the emperor’s lips, who was dressed in a robe. As usual, the emperor maintained his silence. Her lips carried the flavor of salty tears.
“The empress is lovely,” Diane said, trying to provoke a response from him.
“She asked whether I was a maid,” she added.
In response to these comments, Karl’s body tensed. Diane, whose body was pressed against his, detected the change immediately. She rested her forehead on Karl’s chest and inhaled deeply. Karl grabbed Diane’s shoulders and drew her away from him. He looked at her with a harsh, icy gaze.
“Didn’t you mention that day, the day you went to say hello, that nothing happened?” Karl asked, his tone accusatory.
“Nothing occurred. It was only logical for her to inquire as to whether I was a lady-in-waiting,” Diane replied, trying to defend herself.
He had heard something similar.
“I was unable to respond to that question. I dare not reply to her.” Diane raised her hand and caressed Karl’s face gently. “I just need Your Majesty…is it possible? All I need is your Majesty. I guess my greed is too much.”
Karl’s heart raced as he watched Diane’s breathing become more labored. He had never seen her like this before and it scared him. He knew she had a frail body, but he didn’t expect her to collapse like this. He could see the resemblance to his mother, who had also been weak and easily succumbed to illness.
“Diane. Take slow, slow breaths,” Karl urged her, trying to calm her down.
Diane was still breathing heavily as she clutched onto Karl’s arm, but soon she sat down as if she were dizzy. Karl panicked and called out, “Is there anybody out there? Hurry, call the doctor, hurry!”
Upon hearing the emperor’s urgent plea, the exterior of the door became abruptly noisy as servants and attendants rushed to the scene. Diane’s weak voice captured Karl’s attention as she spoke.
“You cannot leave me. Please do not abandon me, Your Majesty…”
Following her statement, Diane eventually passed out.
＊ ＊ ＊
Did he mean to mock me?
Adele stood alone, her wedding gown billowing in the wind as she gazed out at the horizon with a cold, hard stare. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess as the minutes ticked by, and her heart ached for the friends and family she had left behind in Gottrov. The nobles surrounding her whispered and sneered, and she couldn’t help but feel like a fish out of water in this foreign land.
As the laughter of the aristocrats reached her ears, Adele felt a bitter smile twist her lips. The emperor, her betrothed, was late to their own wedding, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that she had been dropped into the middle of enemy territory, defenseless and alone.
But as she thought back to the words of her nanny, who had held her tightly and whispered in her ear as she left Gottrov, Adele’s resolve hardened. “Remember, Adelaide, you are the only person you can trust here. Your honor and dignity are yours to safeguard.”
With a deep breath, Adele straightened her spine and turned to her attendant, her golden eyes commanding and her voice clear. “Bring me a comfortable chair until the emperor arrives. I will need to sit for a while.” The nobility around her fell silent, stunned by the unexpected display of strength from the foreign princess.
As the maids scurried to bring her a chair, Adele sat down with a regal smile on her face, showing no sign of frustration or disappointment at the emperor’s tardiness. Instead, she commanded a chair be placed in front of the High Priest, not at the entrance of the Great Temple. As soon as she sat down, facing the palace entrance, the dynamics between her and the nobility shifted. Her piercing golden gaze swept across the crowd, and a heavy silence descended upon the chaotic palace.
For a moment, Adele’s gaze lingered on a single figure: Lionel, whose midnight blue eyes stood out among the crowd. When their eyes met, Lionel bowed in silent respect, and Adele gave a small nod before turning her gaze away. His brother, Theseus, seated next to him, muttered softly, “You invert the situation as if you were flipping your palm.”
Whispers could be heard among the nobles seated behind Lionel. “Oh, Princess,” “You are the type of person I cannot tear my eyes away from,” “You have excellent demeanor.”
Adele smiled. The aristocrats who had been snickering at her casual demeanor now snuck glances and cleared their throats.
