I Will Surrender My Position as the Empress - Chapter 90
On a dark, stormy night, Karl stormed out of the imperial palace, his mind in turmoil. His attendants scurried after him, but their efforts were futile; they couldn’t keep pace with his urgent steps. His destination was clear—the Empress’s palace.
“Do not follow me,” he commanded, his voice a low growl. The attendants bowed deeply, not daring to protest. Karl threw open the palace doors, stepping into the cold, space. The once-vibrant halls felt eerily lifeless, the moonlight casting long shadows in the absence of any lamps. He ascended the stairs, his footsteps echoing, until he reached the door to her room.
He flung the door open but hesitated on the threshold. The sweet scent of spring blossoms filled the air, a stark contrast to the emptiness he felt inside. His eyes scanned the room. Everything was perfectly in place, from the small clock ticking softly on the table to the luxurious ornaments that adorned the space. Everything except her.
Karl’s breath caught in his throat as he slowly entered the room. He walked to the dressing room connected to the bedroom, where her dresses hung neatly, and her jewelry lay untouched. His vision blurred as tears welled up, and he began searching the room, frantically at first, then slower, as if realizing the futility of it all. Finally, he sank to the floor beside the bed, his back against it. A single tear escaped and traced a path down his cheek.
“You didn’t take anything with you,” he whispered, his voice trembling. As Empress, she hadn’t even taken a quill with her.
“I relinquish the title of Empress.”
“No… it can’t be…” Karl muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. He had been the one to strip her of the title, yet it was she who truly abandoned the throne—and him.
“Come back… please… come back,” he pleaded, his voice breaking as tears streamed down his face. He had thought he could endure the humiliation of her rejection, but he had been wrong. If he had known it would come to this, he would never have resorted to such extremes. She had truly left everything behind. If only he had kept her bound to the title of Empress, he might have had a chance to reach out to her again.
How can I get her back? He still had a few months before the envoys in Gottrov could inform her of her dethronement. Time was slipping through his fingers, but he couldn’t see a way to win her back in that time. The fractured moonlight pierced through the window, cutting into his soul like shards of glass. He clutched his chest, consumed by a regret so deep it seemed to have no end.
“Come back… please… Adelaide.”
****
Adelaide awoke as if surfacing from a deep, dreamless sleep. She blinked slowly, taking in the unfamiliar ceiling above her. As her mind cleared, she realized where she was—Lionel’s home.
How much time had passed? She rose from the bed and cautiously pulled back the curtains. The world outside was cloaked in darkness. For a moment, she stared at her reflection in the window before letting the curtain fall back into place. Reality crashed over her, heavy and inescapable. Whether she sat or paced the room, she couldn’t shake the oppressive weight of her situation. The emptiness inside her chest swelled, threatening to consume her.
Adelaide clenched her teeth, forcing herself to focus. What could she do right now? She needed something to drown out the void, something to immerse herself in. Fortunately, there was work to be done. She lit the lamps around the room, then sat at the desk. Inside the drawer, she found paper, a pen, and ink, all neatly arranged. With steady hands, she began to write, her thoughts flowing onto the page effortlessly. What she penned was a record of the magical knowledge she possessed.
＊ ＊ ＊
The documents Lionel handed to Theseus and Elizabeth were nothing short of a blueprint for revolution and treason. The Echmont Empire was a powder keg, ready to explode at any moment. Until now, the Emperor and Duke Despone had kept it from blowing up, relying on fear and suppression. Duke Despone believed that removing the Empress—the spark—would calm the situation. But the truth was, even without her, the explosion was inevitable.
In the short time since the Empress had been deposed and left the palace, an overwhelming number of noble families had pledged their support for Lionel’s cause. Thanks to this, a formidable force was forming, one that could challenge both Duke Despone and the Emperor. However, the most critical element of this plan was the control of the Mage Corps. Fortunately, Brunhill Alexa, the top-tier striker, had accepted Lionel’s outstretched hand.
Brunhill’s crimson eyes flickered with uncertainty. Lionel addressed her directly.
“The wild card is the mages loyal to Duke Despone. Can you identify which ones can be swayed to our side and which ones cannot?”
Brunhill hesitated briefly before nodding. “Currently, magic cannot be used within the capital. However, if a tower is erected nearby, enabling mages to harness their power, this plan will be doomed. The moment mages can freely use their magic, the gap in strength between knights and mages will become insurmountable.”
“Duke Despone destroyed the Tower of Vuetta because he wants a larger tower built in the capital. A new, more powerful tower will likely be erected soon. That’s why we must act quickly if we want any chance of success.”
The lower tower in the capital had been destroyed in anticipation of something greater. Though its location was a concern, the urgency of the situation was clear. Lionel nodded thoughtfully. As per his request, Brunhill categorized the mages within the Mage Corps and handed over the list. Theseus focused on recruiting noble families for the cause, while Lionel took charge of rallying the knights. In truth, little persuasion was needed—the knights, who had long suffered under the oppression of mages, were like starving predators, eager for revenge. When Lionel mentioned the plan to Henri Jacal, his response was immediate.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment.”
While the Emperor drowned in his despair and Duke Despone struggled to manage the growing discontent among the nobles, Lionel carefully put every piece of the plan in place. Adelaide had said she could not return to Gottrov. But could she stay in Ehremont, under the rule of Karl Ulrich? No, Lionel was determined to create a place where she could finally find peace.
Around that time, the butler at the Marquis’ estate brought news to Lionel. She had awakened.
＊ ＊ ＊
Lionel rushed to the Marquis’ estate. His body felt heavy from days of sleeplessness, but his mind was sharp. As soon as he entered the main garden, his eyes were drawn to a single point—the faint light shining from the window of the room where Adelaide was staying. He stood there, silently watching. Even while meeting people and moving through the motions of his day, Lionel’s mind had never strayed far from that room. The demon that lived in his heart was elated just knowing she was there.
He stood in the cold garden, hesitating for a long time before finally taking a step forward. His heart pounded as he climbed the stairs and walked down the corridor, one step at a time. When he reached the hallway where Adelaide’s room was located, he encountered Mrs. Geeks, who was just leaving after checking on her.
The elderly woman, who had long noticed the love Lionel harbored for Adelaide, looked at him thoughtfully. She stepped closer, her voice a whisper.
“She may seem strong, but in truth, she is quite delicate.”
Mrs. Giggs spoke with genuine sincerity, acknowledging the depth of Lionel’s feelings.
“She’s pretending to be fine, but she’s writing as if she can’t bear to sit still without doing something,” Mrs. Geeks said softly.
“…”
“Even when it feels like everything has crumbled, there’s always a place to retreat to in life. Please, remind her of this. Coming from you, it will have a greater impact than if I were to say it.”
Lionel clenched his jaw, nodding in agreement. Mrs. Giggs bowed respectfully before stepping aside. Lionel took a deep breath, composed himself, and approached Adelaide’s room. Standing before the door, he adjusted his clothes and exhaled slowly, trying to steady his nerves before finally knocking gently.
“…”
The brief moment stretched into what felt like an eternity. Just as he swallowed dryly, a quiet voice came from the other side of the door.
“Come in.”
Lionel wiped his damp hands on his clothes and slowly turned the doorknob. The dim room flickered with the soft glow of a golden-red light, and in the center of it all, she was there. She had been writing something, with papers neatly arranged around her. The warmth of the room, different from the cold outside, seemed to carry her scent. Adelaide’s eyes widened in surprise as she realized it was Lionel who had entered. He hesitated at the doorway before speaking.
“May I come in for a moment?”
Adelaide, still caught off guard by his sudden appearance, nodded slowly, almost as if in a trance. “Come in.”
He looked as if he had just returned from a long journey, exhaustion etched deeply into his features. As he approached, stopping beside her desk, she set down the pen she had been holding. Lionel glanced at the papers on the desk and spoke.
“You’re not sleeping?”
“I slept for a long time, and now I can’t seem to fall asleep again.”
“What is all this?” he asked, gesturing to the papers.
“I was organizing the things I know.”
“…”
Lionel stared at the papers for a while, his expression unreadable. The flickering firelight cast long shadows across his sharp features. Adelaide, holding her breath, studied his face before lowering her gaze and picking up the pen again, more out of nervous habit than necessity.
“Where have you been?” she asked quietly.
“You once spoke of creating a better world, didn’t you?”
His voice came a beat later than expected, drawing her attention back to him.
“I intend to hold those responsible accountable.”
The weight of his words was both bold and dangerous. His deep blue eyes were dark, like the depths of an ocean, difficult to read.
“And I plan to correct the wrongs and build the better world you spoke of.”
And in that world, I want to reach out to you.
He swallowed the words he couldn’t bring himself to say and instead offered a faint smile.
“That’s why I’ve had so much to do. The rumors about the tower have started to stir up the nobles. Their fear that their lands could be turned to ruins at any moment has finally boiled over.”
“Ah, those rumors… I suspected as much, but it was you who spread them.”
“More truth than rumor, isn’t it? Oh, and I met with Brunhill Alexa today.”
At the mention of her name, Adelaide’s expression grew more serious.
“Please, finish what you were working on. I can wait.”
Lionel excused himself and settled into the nearby sofa. Adelaide watched him take his seat, her teeth lightly pressing into her lower lip. The thought of telling him to return and rest, given how exhausted he looked, circled in her mind, but the words wouldn’t come out. The hours dragged on slowly in the oppressive silence, and even when she immersed herself in writing, time moved cruelly at its own pace. Yet, just having him there with her made it easier to breathe.
Adelaide tilted her head, dipped her pen in ink, and looked down at the paper.
Where did I leave off…?
She had been writing so effortlessly before, but now, she found herself re-reading what she had already written, needing to regain the flow before she could continue. Lionel, having sunk into the sofa, watched her in silence. The way she sat with perfect posture, her hand moving gracefully across the page, struck him as both elegant and beautiful. Her black hair shimmered as it fell over her ear, and her lips, slightly pressed together, looked delicate.
The path he had chosen was shrouded in uncertainty, a precarious journey where nothing could be predicted. He was like a dreamer, chasing after a faint, nearly impossible hope. Would she stand by his side on that perfect day when everything fell into place? Could the princess of Gottrov truly be with a mere marquis of Echmont? The question lingered, heavy and unresolved. Lionel closed his eyes, feeling the weight of his thoughts. The sound of crackling firewood, the scratch of her pen on paper, the rustle of turning pages, and her steady breathing filled the room. As he counted these sounds, sleep gradually overtook him.
＊ ＊ ＊
A drop of black ink fell from the quill, creating a small blot on the paper. Adelaide sighed softly, shaking her head as she placed the quill back in its holder and pressed a cloth against the stain to blot it. Even as she tried to finish her writing, her attention kept drifting towards him. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t refocus on her work. Without realizing it, she turned her head to look at him.
“…”
Her previously tense expression softened. The tension in her shoulders and back gradually eased.
“Marquis Herbert,” she called out softly.
“…”
“Lionel.”
“…”
But the man, who was fast asleep with his head resting against the back of the sofa, did not respond. Adelaide tilted her head slightly, her gaze lingering on him.
“Lionel.”
The name, now laden with emotion, felt like magic on her lips. Perhaps it was because she had become so vulnerable, or perhaps because he was the only one she had been able to call by name in this harsh world. His name had etched itself into her heart, and he had somehow become her source of comfort. Drawn in as if in a trance, she rose from her seat and slowly approached him. With each step, her emotions rippled like waves. Her shadow first touched his feet, then climbed up to his shoulders, his neck, his lips, his nose, his forehead, and finally engulfed all of him.
She was close enough that their knees almost brushed against each other. Adelaide knelt slowly, positioning herself to look directly into his face. Though it seemed like her shadow had swallowed him, it was she who had become enveloped by her feelings. She carefully traced his features with her gaze, as if committing them to memory—his finely shaped brows, the sharp bridge of his nose, his philtrum, lips, chin…
Adelaide…
The echo of his voice, a remnant from a dream, lingered in her ears. As she recalled his gentle voice, she finally accepted her abdication in its entirety. And she acknowledged the truth of her feelings.
I love you.
Just then, without any warning, Lionel’s tightly closed eyelids fluttered open, revealing the deep, oceanic blue of his eyes.
