Chapter 79

Chapter 79

‘When the Duke died, Zachary must have been alone…’

Even though she knew they didn’t like each other very much, they were still father and son. Zachary had to be shocked by his father’s death. How was he feeling right now in the Duke’s castle?

‘He’s probably still protecting the Duke’s castle alone.’

It was daunting just thinking about it. She had no idea how much sadness and despair he would be feeling right now.

‘Where did Zachary go?’

It would have been better if he had lived a comfortable life while he didn’t come to see her. Her whole body trembled.

“Lady Blanchett. Are you okay?”

Iellie’s complexion was pale. It was understandable.

Seeing her like that, Lady Rondo said in a worried voice, “Of course, Lady must have been very surprised. I understand.”

“….”

Iellie was at a loss for words.

…The Duke’s death and Zachary being left alone. As she took a deep breath to calm herself, her nerves went sharp.

“Keep a firm hold on your heart. Sooner or later, the Duchy will contact you separately.”

Iellie nodded her head slightly at her words. Seeing at her face, Lady Rondo thought.

‘There’s no way the Young Duke would leave the Lady like this.’

It was her hunch. She remembered the Young Ducal couple’s appearance, whom she first saw during the last Emperor’s accession. As if he could see no one else, that gaze was only fixed on Iellie.

‘The Duke will not give up on Lady.’

The Young Duke’s passionate eyes as he gazed at Iellie — the intense affection and obsession — there was no way she wouldn’t know. In addition, her father seemed to have made the same decision. When Marquis Rondo heard the news of the Duke and Duchess’s divorce, he had said.

“Perhaps, something happened.”

“Does father think so, too?”

“Yes. Still, there can be a reunion after a divorce, right?”

His voice was almost certain.

Lady Rondo also agreed with her father’s thoughts. The situation has not been confirmed yet, so the two could be reunited. Besides, didn’t the Young Duke inherit the Duke’s title this time?

“…I want to go.”

“Yes?”

Iellie suddenly mumbled in a low voice. When the startled Lady Rondo glanced back at the sound, Iellie repeated again.

“I have to go see Zachary.”

“But, Lady Blanchett…”

“I have to see his face somehow. Zachary will be alone now.”

No one was with Zachary. Iellie thought, biting her lip. She decided to stay by his side, even if he were abandoned by the whole world, she would be by his side. Especially when the situation was like right now…

‘It seems that the Young Duke and Lady are of the same mind.’

The fact that they couldn’t give up on the other is exactly the same. Lady Rondo took a step back.

“I see.”

“…Lady Rondo.”

“Even if I stop you anyway, I don’t think you’ll hear me.”

Hearing those words, Iellie smiled for the first time. Though after a while, the tip of her smile froze and became stiff.

“Then, see you next time.”

“Take care.”

As Lady Rondo sent her a short greeting, Iellie slipped out of the terrace.

The Princess was aboard the carriage heading to Duchy Hessenweitz. Her mind was quite complicated.

‘…Was it really the right thing to tell the Lady this news in advance?’

Even if not, Iellie seemed to be already deeply troubled inside her heart, so she didn’t know if she really did the right thing by doing this. Immersed in troubles, the Princess tapped the window sill with her fingernails.

Her head was throbbing.

‘Well, it’ll be all right. Isn’t it more meaningful than this?’

Honestly, even if she went right away, she couldn’t even attend the funeral. It was because the new Duke, who would be in charge of the funeral, was absent. Nevertheless, the Emperor sent her down with condolences as an excuse.

‘You still haven’t given up on the marriage with Hessenweitz, Brother.’

A scowl crept on her lips.

The Emperor’s attitude of pushing her to do things he could never do with his own greed was pathetic. As she thought so, the Princess slowly closed her eyes.

She had a long way to go.

As Iellie hurriedly crossed the ballroom, people squinted at her with surprised eyes. Nonetheless, the thoughts that she had to stay a little longer, keeping her manners, had long since disappeared from her mind.

‘…I have to go to Zachary quickly.’

That was the only thought Iellie had that controlled her whole body. She must somehow quickly reach Zachary’s side. She couldn’t tell how he felt now as he endured his father’s death alone.

“Lady Blanchett.”

All of a sudden, she could hear a voice calling for her. Iellie stopped her steps abruptly and glanced back slowly.

“I have prepared something for you.”

“…For, me?”

When Iellie asked with a suppressed voice, the Emperor smiled before parting his lips again.

“Bring it in.”

“….”

At the same time, the attendants walked with a large bouquet of flowers. She could feel people’s eyes gravitate towards her. Still, the Emperor, who had accepted the bouquet, spoke in a slow voice towards her.

“I couldn’t give you the Asha flowers like in the previous jousting.”

“Your, Your Majesty…”

“Instead, I prepared a bouquet of flowers.”

He presented her with a bouquet. It was a gorgeous bouquet made from only bright red roses and packed in abundance. The scent was so strong that her head felt dizzy.

Then, the Emperor pulled out a rose.

“Of course, the flower that suits you best is the Asha flower…”

“….”

“Though the red rose, called the queen of flowers, suits you quite well.”

The Emperor, who put a rose in her hair, smiled sweetly. Iellie felt her shoulders tremble.

“What do you think?”

“…I—”

The surroundings went silent as everyone in the banquet hall focused on the Emperor and her. In this atmosphere where she could not refuse his words, Iellie bit her lip firmly and pondered how to overcome the current situation.

‘…What to do?’

Of course, she planned to decline the bouquet, but she didn’t know what to say and how to say no. Preparing a bouquet of flowers and speaking publicly in front of people like this were proof that he had already made up his mind.

“Well… I am very much grateful for Your Majesty’s kindness.”

Iellie swallowed her breath as she paused her following words. At the same time, the Emperor stared at her with a strange face.

She clenched her fist.

“I am not yet ready to accept Your Majesty’s favor.”

“That is fine. I can wait.”

At that, he just answered her in a soft voice. The Emperor, who blinked languidly, continued his words, “Still, I just want to make sure our relationship is clear… until Lady gets her heart right.”

‘Sh*t. I should not waste time like this.’

Iellie bit her lips. The meaning of his words was showing his will to establish a relationship with her somehow.

“Will you answer?”

With him continuously oppressing her with a gentle demeanor like this, what should she do? She felt suffocated.

At that time.

“By the way, Lady Blanchett.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What is that bracelet?”

The Emperor pointed to Iellie’s wrist with his chin. Beneath her long sleeves, there was a bracelet she wore.

“…Ah, this.”

Iellie unknowingly wrapped her arms around it. It was a birthday present from Zachary, which was a slender bracelet that he bought in pair with his own as well. Meanwhile, the Emperor’s eyes narrowed with displeasure.

He uttered again.

“By the way, Young Duke Hessenweitz was also wearing this bracelet.”

“Yes. However…”

“You’ve already ended the relationship, but you’re still wearing that bracelet.”

Iellie could feel her hand tremble slightly. It had been half a year since the divorce though she still hadn’t organized any of the Duchy’s belongings — this bracelet, along with the silver fox scarf Zachary gave her — was an item of memories.

…A bracelet the two of them shared, promising eternal happiness.

‘I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have shown this bracelet to the Emperor.’

Not knowing what to do, she clenched her teeth. The next moment, in a noble manner, the Emperor extended his hand to her.

“Lady. Could you give me that bracelet?”

The pale green eyes trembled slightly. Like a little beast driven to a dead end, she stared at the Emperor.

“Instead, I’ll give you a diamond bracelet worthy of Lady.”

“….”

“If you don’t like it, you can tell me any gems you want.”

The Emperor said so as if he was giving her a great favor. His eyes gleamed, and he persisted, “I just want you to take off that bracelet.”

“…I don’t want to.”

“What?”

Iellie took a deep breath. It was true that Iellie and Zachary’s relationship was done…

“I said no, Your Majesty.”

…However, no one has the right to touch her and Zachary’s memory. Iellie resolutely shook her head at the thought.

“Your Majesty has no right to compel me to act.”

“Lady Blanchett.”

“No jewel is more valuable than this bracelet. I can never give it to you.”

“Oh dear, don’t be stubborn. If you think about it again…”

The Emperor opened his mouth as if to appease her. Nevertheless, she was still unwavering. Iellie replied.

“It’s something I don’t even need to think about.”

In response, she put her hand to her head before pulling the rose out of her hair and crumpling it in her hand. Seeing that, the Emperor’s face contorted.

Iellie smiled with a ferocious expression.

‘Has she ever had a face like that before?’

He was stunned. Iellie had been keeping at least the minimum courtesy. But now, it seemed that she had even forgotten that, and she had clearly rejected the Emperor.

Iellie met his gaze with a cold face.

“There is only one flower that suits me.”

“….”

“And, that flower is the Asha flower that Duke Hessenweitz gave me.”

As Iellie spread her hand slightly, the crushed roses tumbled to the floor slowly. She repeated sarcastically.

“I want you to correct your idea that if you force it, everyone will just accept it.

Iellie took a step back. She had no regrets at all, rather, it was an easy move.

“Then, I will leave, Your Majesty.”

It was only a couple of seconds after he heard her words that the Emperor realized. The present Iellie was calling Zachary the ‘Duke Hessenweitz.’ That meant she knew of the Duke’s death and Zachary’s succession to the title.

“Lady Blanchett! Even if you go now, do you think the Duke will accept you?!”

The Emperor raised his voice. He knew the efficacious words to attack her.

“Face it. The Duke has already left you coldly!”

“Your Majesty.”

The light green eyes stared straight at the Emperor without even a smile. She answered in a calm voice.

“The issues related to our separation are our own issues. Still…”

The end of her words was cold.

Something was wrong… The Emperor bit his lip.

“I want to assure you that Your Majesty has no right to interfere with my relationship with Zachary.”

Iellie strengthened her hand that was holding her collar as she added, “…Even if all the people in the world disappear, I would not choose Your Majesty.”

There was a chilling silence.

Even though the Emperor glared at her with piercing eyes, Iellie only moved her steps without hesitation. Nothing could stop her from leaving.

“Sh*t!”

The Emperor clenched his fists tightly.

It was always like this. He didn’t know why she always slipped right through his hand every time he thought he was on the verge of having her. Seeing his wrath, people held their breath quietly. At the same time, Lady Rondo, who entered the ballroom late, seemed amused.

And so, the banquet ended in a mess.

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