I Will Surrender My Position as the Empress - Chapter 84
The night, filled with countless events, gradually gave way to dawn. Light began to chase away the darkness. As soon as Elizabeth left the imperial palace, she headed straight for the Baldr’s manor. The lights there were still brightly lit. The calm butler, who seemed to have been waiting for her, led her to the Duke’s office.
“Is Marquis Herbert also here?” she asked.
“Yes, Your Highness,” the butler replied.
They walked briskly through the dim hallway. When Elizabeth entered the office, the two brothers, deep in their thoughts, rose simultaneously. Exchanging a glance with Theseus, Elizabeth then turned her gaze to Lionel.
“!”
The moment she saw him, Elizabeth froze. A sharp aura loomed over Lionel’s face, shadowed by the lamp. It wasn’t an explosive rage but a cold, heavy chill that enveloped his entire being. Lionel bowed respectfully to Elizabeth before lifting his head and speaking.
“What is the reason for the abdication?”
Elizabeth was inwardly surprised. The Lionel she knew was usually unemotional, but now he was like a river about to overflow. She steadied herself and answered his intense gaze.
“It was an irrefutable reason. The grounds for abdication were…”
“……”
“…Refusing the bridal chamber.”
A heavy silence descended upon the three of them. After a moment, Theseus let out a short sigh and spoke.
“Did the Empress accept it?”
With a bitter expression, Elizabeth nodded.
“…She said she wanted to end it.”
Lionel recalled Adele’s face, heavy with the burden. His chest tightened painfully, and he struggled to breathe. Elizabeth placed a stack of documents on the table.
“First, let’s review these documents. These are the evidence the former Empress, now Princess Gottrov provided.”
Lionel and Theseus lost in their thoughts, sat opposite Elizabeth and picked up the documents. Their eyes moved swiftly and skillfully over the extensive materials. The documents, collected over a long period, were more than sufficient to accuse Duke Despone and the Emperor of their crimes. However, the problem remained that the Mage Order was still under Duke Despone’s control, and the Empress had been dethroned. After a long silence, Lionel spoke first.
“Before we present the case, what if we spread some rumors?”
“Rumors?”Elizabeth tilted her head, prompting Lionel to elaborate.
“The palace is in chaos. The Mage Order is still under the control of Duke Despone and the Emperor, so revealing this now could result in it being brushed aside. It would be better to spread rumors first, letting everyone know, and then present the case,” Lionel suggested.
Theseus pondered Lionel’s words and nodded in agreement. “Yes, that might be the best approach. What do you think, Grand Duke?”
Elizabeth nodded in agreement and added, “Not just in the capital, but we should inform all territories across the country. Let the common people know as well. I will take full responsibility for this.”
“That could be dangerous,” Theseus warned immediately.
Elizabeth shook her head. “I have never once fulfilled my responsibilities as a princess. I have never dedicated myself fully to any part of my life. It is time I did.”
Her violet eyes glinted with determination, stronger than ever before.
****
After discussing with the Baldr brothers, Elizabeth left the Duke’s office and walked down the corridor. She planned to stop by the Grand Duke’s manor to change out of her elaborate dress. As she walked, she suddenly heard hurried footsteps behind her. She stopped and turned around. It was none other than Lionel running towards her.
“Marquis Herbert,” Elizabeth addressed him as he stopped just a step away, fixing her with an intense gaze.
“Do you have something to say to me?”
“When you say you will dedicate yourself fully, what exactly do you mean?” Lionel asked.
“To what extent?”
“You must know that Duke Despone is not the only one responsible for all this.”
Elizabeth’s expression grew serious. “Yes, I am aware. But this isn’t just about responsibility. It’s about justice and righting the wrongs that have plagued our kingdom. We must be willing to do whatever it takes.”
Lionel’s eyes softened slightly, yet his resolve remained firm. “Then let us ensure we do this right, together.”
Elizabeth nodded. “Together, we will bring about the change this kingdom desperately needs.”
With that, they continued down the corridor, their hearts and minds united in their shared mission.
Of course, under the Duke’s orders, no one except the butler could approach this place, but it was still a very dangerous statement. However, Elizabeth did not tell him to be careful with his words. As she silently listened, Lionel continued.
“If they persist in denying the truth and refuse to change, what will you do then?” Lionel’s dark blue eyes pierced into Elizabeth’s deep violet ones. They exchanged a tense, unyielding gaze as the first light of dawn began to filter through. Elizabeth thought of the hundreds of pages detailing Adele’s actions and the last 14 years of Ehmont’s history. She recalled the burning Grand Forest and the pitiful children wandering the streets. The hot anger she had suppressed for so long surged up her throat.
“If they persist in denying it and try to drag the empire into hell, they have no place on the throne.”
Her response made Lionel’s gaze flicker coldly. He bowed respectfully, then turned and quickly disappeared.
****
As the pale dawn began to paint the world in a misty light, Lionel was racing towards the imperial palace. He now understood the meaning of the phrase “anxious through the night.” The palace gates opened at dawn unless there was a state of emergency, and this morning was no exception. The palace gatekeeper watched Lionel’s rapidly retreating figure with a bewildered expression.
“…There’s an entry ban for Marquis Herbert… Catch him!”
But Lionel had already disappeared.
“Damn it! Find him quickly!”
****
Through the long night, facing death, Adele had shed the heavy garments that wrapped her one by one. Pushed to the edge of the cliff, she realized that many things she thought were important were just shells. The throne, power, honor, beliefs… all of them were stripped away, leaving only Adelaide. Strangely, once all the shells were gone, she felt lost. She had never lived for herself, and now it felt like she was wandering through a dark, fog-covered mountain. As she struggled with despair deeper than death, he appeared like a miracle. He looked disheveled as if he had run all the way. Adele habitually started to call him “Lionel” but stopped herself. Instead, she straightened her posture and called him by his title.
“Marquis Herbert.”
“…”
Lionel stopped breathing at her unfamiliar address. Adele rolled his name in her mouth, then steadied her voice to continue.
“If I had known it would come to this, I would have had you resign as my aide sooner. I’m sorry.”
Lionel’s eyes softened for a moment, then he took a step closer. “Don’t apologize. You did what you had to do.”
Adele shook her head. “No, I failed to protect what was most important. Now, everything is in chaos.”
“But you are still here,” Lionel said softly, his voice filled with determination. “And as long as you are, we have a chance to set things right.”
Adele looked up at him, hope flickering in her eyes. “Do you believe that?”
“I do,” he replied, his hand reaching out to gently clasp hers. “Together, we can bring justice to this empire.”
As the first rays of sunlight bathed them in a warm glow, Adele and Lionel stood united, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
Lionel gazed at Adele with trembling eyes. Her pale complexion, tightly locked voice, and body that seemed to have withered overnight all tried to mask her true state. Seeing her muster all her strength to stand tall and maintain her composure, Lionel’s world came to a halt. His eyes reddened as he struggled to hold back his emotions, staring at her endlessly. In the silence that enveloped the room, it felt as if time itself had stopped. Though he said nothing, his whole body was screaming, Are you okay? Is this too much for you?
Adele’s facade of calmness began to crumble. The reason she couldn’t take that final step towards death, despite clutching it repeatedly, was because of his gaze. When stripped of everything else, the last thing she held onto was not her homeland or any material possessions but this man’s concerned eyes. The man who, without fear, stretched out his arms to catch her as she fell.
At that moment, the brilliant morning sunlight streamed through the window, flooding the room. In Lionel’s field of vision, a small glass vial glinted in the light. Slowly, he turned his gaze to the table where the vial lay.
“……”
Noticing his gaze, Adele hurriedly reached for it, but Lionel was faster, snatching the vial before she could.
“Marquis!” she exclaimed.
“Forgive my rudeness,” Lionel said, looking intently at the vial. It was a small glass bottle engraved with Gottrov’s insignia, containing a dark blue liquid.
“Give it to me!” Adele demanded firmly, extending her hand. But Lionel, holding the vial tightly, asked in a strained voice, “What is this?”
“A tonic for fatigue,” Adele replied quickly. Lionel, still staring at the vial, slowly turned his gaze back to her. His eyes, filled with turmoil, caused her to waver, but she maintained her lie.
“It’s a tonic from my homeland. I was simply too tired and decided to take it out,” she insisted, her face crumbling under the weight of her deception.
Lionel bit his lip hard and, without hesitation, opened the vial’s cap. “Then, may I drink it first?” he asked, bringing the vial to his lips as if he were about to drink it.
“Don’t!!!” Adele cried out, leaping from her seat and reaching out to stop him.
