Chapter 52 - Liam’s Green Eyes

Every day, Evelyn was anxious. Finally, the day she woke up one day, the Empire replied.

When Evelyn heard the news, she was still standing as if the time around her had stopped. Yet what she had just heard was still floating between her mind.

“· · · · · · okay.”

It was news that the trade route with the Empire had been blocked last night.

Thump! Thump! At the moment, Evelyn’s heart sank. “If that’s his choice, that can’t be helped.”

The timing was bad, but Evelyn’s declaration of war on the Empire was answered immediately. The news of plant endemic diseases had to be heard in the Empire. If Fabian had made this decision, knowing the situation would have meant that Evelyn’s conviction was wrong.

“I didn’t know anything about him,” she said. At least she believed Fabian wasn’t a mean person. Perhaps, because of Evelyn’s arrogance, he did things like this.

“It’s all right. We’re not supposed to trust the Empire anyway.” Evelyn thought that way, but she couldn’t help but feel the pain.

Although he was was a heartless husband, he was a great emperor. Evelyn was again trying to remember that from now on.

“I knew he was a cold-hearted man, and what did I expect?”

He was also a cold husband to Evelyn when she was the Empress. Even when Evelyn miscarried his child twice in her previous life, he didn’t shed a tear. She still remembered the sound of his footsteps leaving Evelyn, who was still crying.

“To be a great Emperor in the Empire… it meant to be a heartless person.”

Evelyn did not know how Fabian looked like in public affairs. She just knew that he was against the Vatican and had a strong Imperial power in Congress. And that’s what made him far from compassionate, but Evelyn wanted to believe that Fabian had a big heart.

“Cold….” Evelyn squeezed her arms tightly, and the cold swelled in this clear summer

“He’s so cold….”

After giving birth to Adrian, Evelyn remembered the chilly pain she had forgotten for a while. When she suffered a ferocious cold on the day, she lost her child. The coldest thing was Fabian’s expressionless face, the child’s father, whom she once loved. Even though she had erased the nightmare future, Fabian was still a cold man for Evelyn.

A cold tear fell down her cheeks. And though she said she didn’t expect anything, Evelyn still had a broken heart, like a fool.

Evelyn wasn’t frustrated for a long time. When she saw Adrian, who fell asleep in Miriam’s warm embrace, was getting bigger again. She decided that she couldn’t stay still.

It wasn’t that she had big ambitions. But she could imagine how it would feel if there weren’t enough food to give to Adrian. Her people must fell the same way.

After thinking like that, Evelyn felt like she had to do something about it.

“Princess. The Duke of Akshire is here.”

“I’m busy now, so take him to the Oval Office right now.”

After a while, a knock rang, and Liam entered the Oval Office. He saw Evelyn rolled up her sleeve and wrote a letter to another province with sincerity.

“Welcome. Just skip the greeting for this situation.”

Liam nodded. Akshire’s territory was also infected by endemic crop disease. So Liam was also tired and had fatigue as he had been busy went around. But, his green eyes still shone vibrantly.

“Sir Liam, there’s good news?”

“Yes, Princess.”

Evelyn raised her face. Liam felt that his fatigue was washed away with that alone.

“The corn planted in the southern farmhouse, which has already been damaged, is growing safely. It does not seem to be affected by endemic diseases.”

“Ah,” Evelyn said, breathing a sigh of relief. She couldn’t wait for the ship to be sent to the east, so she visited some locations, and her decision to grow other crops on the damaged farm was right.

“I should be thankful and grateful to Akshire.”

“No, because the Akshire plantations are huge and there are a lot of farms, so it’s only natural for us to research different kinds of seeds, and it turned out that it was the will of God that we’ve learned to be useful.” Liam’s modesty was exaggerated. Few citizens were willing to share a lot of seeds with other kingdoms. Whereas, perhaps many in the Akshire family were against his decision.

“I will not forget the sacrifice of Akshire.”

“It is not a sacrifice.” Liam smiled warmly.

“I know it wasn’t easy to give Akshire ‘s fortune for free.”

“So, then, are you sacrificing yourself?”

“Well, It’s my royal duty.”

“The Felice Kingdom is at the northernmost point of the southern continent. It hasn’t been damaged yet but as a this Kingdom’s princess, why you help other kingdoms first?” Deep thoughts melted into Liam’s clear green eye.

“I don’t mean to be so compassionate. But If the southern continent gets hurt, it’s all hard.” Evelyn said.

“But, that’s not enough to shake our Kingdom.” This time Liam didn’t simply retreat. Standing right in the sunlight coming through from the window, his brown hair was gently filled with light. “You took the gold coins from the national treasury and sent them to the east to buy food. How can I stay still in Akshire when the Princess gave us what she had first? I also have my pride.”

“I don’t want anyone to starve to death. What’s the point of that if there were only gold coins left after things got terrible.” Evelyn’s blue eyes always had an honest and straight mind. She had transparent and friendly eyes that couldn’t sway once she looked at him.

“Your kindness will save many people, Princess.”

“I hope it’s going safely.”

“The other Kingdoms have now started to open their gold vaults. Everyone has seen and decided to follow the Felice kingdom.”

Liam was too humble even though it was all possible because they saw the power of Akshire. But Evelyn didn’t hate that. She was relieved to see that some Kings were kind and warm.

“I know not all the Kingdoms are going to follow me,” Evelyn said calmly.

“There are some who are still protesting the Empire’s decision to block trade routes for a week.”

All kinds of rumors became widespread because the details of the Imperial letter had not been publicly disclosed.

Not long ago, there were rumors that the Emperor who had left the Felice Kingdom a while before took revenge. And there were rumors that there was a nerve war between the former Empress and the Emperor who had been divorced in the first place.

It seemed that Evelyn was involved in any rumors.

“It’s just gossip.”

But instead of being clumsy, Liam expressed a sincere heart to her. “I believe you’re not wrong, Princess.”

“Really?” Evelyn smiled a little sadly. “But I’ve already made a mistake.”

Fabian was a fair emperor. But In the worst-case scenario, he dared to cut off their relationship by the most heartless means.

“No, didn’t you hear me before? I said that I didn’t believe you’re wrong,” said Liam.

“Huh?”

“Princess, I think you’re right. I believe you’re not wrong. I won’t be wrong about you.” Liam was sometimes so honest that he would take away what to say from Evelyn.

“But I’m just an ordinary human. I can’t always be right.”

“You’re always right…….For me, it is.”

At the moment, Liam’s green eyes and Evelyn’s blue eyes met.

Liam, who spoke sternly, didn’t look like a boy who had been bullied a lot by Rebecca. Suddenly, Liam was turned into a young man who was strong and brave, who was able to tell his feelings honestly.

“· · · · · · · · Thanks.” Evelyn had barely opened her mouth, and it was more complicated because she was vaguely aware of Liam’s feelings. “But don’t expect me too much, I’m not good enough to give you all your hopes back.”

Liam’s eyes were not shaking, looking at Evelyn, speaking as calmly as possible. It was as if he had been prepared for this from the beginning. “The princess is not lacking, but if you really want to do that, that’s all fine with me.” Liam smiled brightly. It was soft, but at the same time, it was full of determination.

“Well then, I just need to be a bigger man and fill up all your shortcomings. I prefer that.”

“Sir Liam. I am…”

Liam was a sweet and warm man. He was bright and straight. And he was honest and sincere with his feelings. So it was more difficult to push him away.

His natural warmth had the power to reassure people. It was the power that Evelyn once needed before she died.

“I don’t know anything else, but I’m more patient than anyone in waiting,” said Liam. He never rushed Evelyn, even though he had conveyed his overflowing emotions with his shining green eyes. Instead, he smiled bravely for fear that Evelyn, who refused, would get sick.

“As you can see, I’m big and strong, so I can’t get tired easily. So, you don’t have to worry about anything.”

Evelyn couldn’t refuse after he said like that. Because he didn’t ask for an answer right away, but he just said that he would wait. So What else could she say?

“I can’t do anything for you, because it seems like I’m the one who always receives everything.”

“Okay, you just have to remember that I’m here.” Liam smiled brightly, and he didn’t seem like a broken-heart man. “And if I want to be a little greedy … often, really rarely, I want you to look at me cutely.”

Listening to that, Evelyn bit her lips to hold back her laughter. Without knowing what was going on, Liam quickly opened his eyes and looked at her. ” …… no, I was too shameless. Please pretend you didn’t hear me.”

“No, I’ve already heard it.”

Liam looked like a big, soft puppy. He was a pure and friendly man who was always smiling at Evelyn. He was quick to rejoice, and he was also quick to worry.

“Don’t worry, Sir Liam is enough….”

Evelyn looked at Liam with a smile on her face. Liam realized what it was like to have a beautiful view.

At the moment…..

“Princess, there’s an urgent message!”

Sadly, though, fate didn’t support Liam’s happiness.

“The Emperor is coming!”

“What?”

Immediately, kicking out her seat, Evelyn left the room and followed the Chief.

Liam looked silently at the empty spot where Evelyn had left, looking sullen.

The sky was so cold today.