****
***
The Empress’s bedroom a few days later at night.
Theodore and Liv went for a walk in the garden with beautiful flowers in front of the Empress’ palace while the wind blew outside.
After how much fun he had with Jane, Theodore returned to the bedroom and fell asleep as soon as he lay down on the bed.
Liv, wearing her nightgown, came into her bedroom and saw Theodore sleeping soundly in his outdoor clothes. Carefully, she changed Theodore’s clothes.
Then Jane went inside.
“Your Majesty.”
“Shhhhh!”
Liv put her index finger to her lips, signaling Jane to be quiet so she wouldn’t wake up Theodore. But at that moment, Carius, standing behind Jane, came into her sight.
He was coughing incessantly, unable to enter the room.
“Your Majesty.”
Liv hurriedly got up from the bed and greeted him .
Carius looked undisturbed, dressed neatly in his black uniform, but for some reason there was a faint scent of aromatic wine wafting from him.
Liv stealthily approached Carius and gently tucked her nose into his clothes. Then she narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
“It seems that every time Your Majesty visits the Empress’s Palace, you always drink.”
Carius paused for a moment, then stretched out his shoulders proudly again.
“Hmph! I’m here to see Theodore.”
“Shhh!”
Carius’s drunkenness had made his voice quite loud, and Liv, who hastily covered his mouth with her hand and said in the lowest voice possible.
“The Prince is sleeping. Your Majesty.”
“But……..!”
Carius didn’t seem to have any intention of lowering his voice.
“Isn’t that my place…….?”
“What? What are you talking about…..?”
Liv understood his words and hastily covered his mouth. She couldn’t believe he said that the place in the Empress’s bed was his.
It was true, but Liv, who was listening to it, was blushing for no reason.
Carius was getting closer and closer to her nose.
“You’re not going to let Theodore sleep here forever, are you?”
Liv wanted to tease Carius, who was hurried to claim his place. She also wanted to scold him for his terrible drinking habit. She replied in a calm voice.
“It’s possible.”
“That’s outrageous!”
Carius spoke in an even louder voice, and Liv hurriedly covered his mouth again.
“Your Majesty, the Prince will wake up!”
“We can’t keep letting the Prince sleep here, no matter how much we want to.”
“No, but his palace hasn’t finished repairing yet.”
“We are newlyweds, and the sleeping quarters of the emperor and empress are of the utmost importance to the imperial family.”
Liv was embarrassed by what he said and was speechless. Soon Carius muttered to himself.
“Do you know what it’s like to spend every night alone…………”
“……what?”
“Anyway, I can’t allow it!”
Carius slumped and sat down in the chair beside her. Liv had never seen him like this before, and she laughed without even knowing it.
She covered her mouth and laughed, and Carius narrowed his eyes at her.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Oh, nothing.”
When Liv squeezed her bottom lip shut and turned around. Carius grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms.
Liv, who had lost her balance and was sitting on Carius’s lap, inadvertently made eye contact with him.
“Your Majesty.”
Liv hurriedly tried to push his chest away, but Carius only brought his sculpted face closer to hers.
This kept Liv busy avoiding his eyes, not knowing that her cheeks had turned red the whole time. Carius said to her in a low voice.
“Why do I like the way you look like this?”
Carius slowly scanned Liv’s face. Before he knew it, his gaze fell to her small, seductive lips.
When his eyes met Liv’s again, Carius held her tighter. It was as if he wouldn’t let go.
Only the sound of their hearts could be heard in the room where only silence enveloped them. Carius looked at her deeply and said.
“I would like to give you a present.”
Liv’s eyes widened at the word gift. Carius’s mouth lifted at her reaction.
“It seems that even the heavenly Liv likes presents.”
“Any gift feels good. Especially when it comes from His Majesty, it’s the greatest honor.”
Carius’s lips raised even more at her words.
“Anything………?”
Seeing Liv nod, Carius took a short, deep breath. Then he kissed her gently on the lips.
It was in an instant. As soon as his lips touched hers, Liv couldn’t help but be surprised.
His quiet but hot breath made Liv feel like she was on fire.
The faint scent of Carius’s hair, and the hot heat that came out of his uniform.
Was it because of the strange atmosphere? Or perhaps it was the scent of wine wafting from him, but to Liv, the feeling of being intoxicated by this atmosphere tickled her mind as much as it did her lips.
Liv, who had been soaking in Carius, finally realized what was happening and rushed to escape from him.
“Get out of here, Your Majesty!”
Liv squeezed her eyes shut and stood up without even looking at Carius. Carius remained motionless in his seat.
Eventually, she pushed him out of the room.
Liv stood at the door and grabbed her pounding heart tightly. Then she raised her trembling hand and put it to her lips. There was still a lingering sensation on her lips.
Instantly, Liv’s eyes began to quiver. She seemed confused by an emotion she didn’t understand.
Because she shouldn’t be swayed by his heart. She knew that the more she gave him false hope, the more she knew how it would end.
She tried to keep her spirits up, reminding herself…. But the more she did, the more there seemed to be no way to catch her swaying heart.
***
The Empress Dowager’s palace after the imperial meeting.
A rumor was secretly spreading among the palace attendants that the Dowager Empress had been fasting for several days after the imperial meeting.
Grand Duke Edgar also rushed into the palace after hearing the story from one of the Empress Dowager’s close attendants.
Edgar gradually approached the Dowager Empress who was lying on the bed and sat down beside her. The Dowager Empress in her nightgown glanced at him when she saw the presence of people, but turned her face away as if she did not want to look at him.
Edgar said, comforting her.
“Mother, you must cheer up.”
His words, instead, seemed to be a fuse for the Dowager Empress to vent her latent anger. She had no strength, but sat up quickly in bed.
She raised her voice to her son, her eyes filled with anger.
“I’m even angrier because of the Duke. For what reason did you say you would help the Empress? It’s not the reason that I think it is, is it?”
Edgar looked at her clearly even at his mother’s words.
“It’s not just because I want to help the Empress.” (Edgar)
“Then what is the reason?” (Patricia)
“I also have a lot of resemblance to my mother’s personality.” (Edgar)
The Empress frowned deeply at his words, which she had no idea about. Edgar said in a firm voice.
“It’s a passion I can’t stand to be deprived of either.” (Edgar)
Patricia snickered in exasperation. Then she asked in a sharp tone.
“So you’re saying you want to take back the Empress?” (Patricia)
“To become the Emperor’s successor, I must maintain close relations with the envoys of the Delta Kingdom. That’s why I said I would help the Empress.” (Edgar)
Edgar methodically conveyed his intentions. Patricia finally sighed in relief and said,
“Regardless of other reasons, if the idea is to get the Empress back, I will not be silent.” (Patricia)
Edgar’s eyes widened.
“If you hadn’t been so still……..?” (Edgar)
“You don’t mean you don’t know how you get to your position?” (Patricia)
“Mother!”
Edgar’s face reddened and he raised his voice. However, the Empress Dowager’s deadly gaze showed no signs of abating.
“The more obsessed you’re with the Empress, the more I will have no choice.” (Patricia)
“It’s always my fault, isn’t it? Have my mother’s past schemes really been for my benefit?” (Edgar)
Patricia could no longer speak with only two eyes enlarged. Edgar said with an even firmer voice, looking at her.
“Anyway, I am going to concentrate on receiving the envoys of the Delta Kingdom this time. So please leave it to me for the time being.” (Edgar)
Edgar bowed briefly and quickly left his seat. Patricia only clicked her tongue, unhappy with her son.
“Tsk, Tsk, thanks to me, you got your position, but anyway, you will have to obey my will!” (Patricia)
“…”
Edgar couldn’t bear his anger and tried to speak, but he turned and walked out of the bedroom.
The Empress Dowager made many threats, but her gaze stayed on the door. And muttered to herself.
“Keep in mind, Edgar. The more you try to have the Empress, the shorter your life will be.”
The Empress Dowager didn’t like such a son, for he was usually very obedient and kept his words to himself.
She just couldn’t understand why he was so determined to have the Empress.
At that moment, a maid came in and secretly informed her.
“Your Highness, Priest Jack is here.”
After the imperial meeting, the Empress Dowager learned that priest Jack was locked up in the prison, so she pulled him out in a clandestine way.
Priest Jack entered the bedroom, looking around several times. As soon as he saw the Empress Dowager, he took off his long black cloak and knelt down.
‘’Your Highness, you have saved my life. I’m thankful.”
The Empress Dowager got up from the bed and went to the table next to her. As soon as she took her seat, she cornered him with a sharp look.
“How in the world did you manage the priests to create this division!”
Jack said, slightly raising his long eyebrows.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. The Empress took care of it first. She found the financial documents regarding Easter and threatened them……”
The Empress Dowager’s eyes widened at the unexpected turn of events.
“How did the Empress know about this…? Does that mean that the rest of the priests are all in the hands of the Pmpress?”
“I’m afraid so, Your Highness………..”
The Empress Dowager slammed her hand down on the chair angrily. Priest Jack whispered while looking at her.
“Your Highness, by the way, there is something suspicious about the Empress.”
“What do you mean?”
“Isn’t it strange? The Empress has calculated and prepared her actions as if she knew the future.”
The Empress Dowager shook her head at his words.
“I’m sure she heard it from somewhere.”
“As far as I’m concerned…………The Empress’s aura is not that of this worldly person.”