“I asked him to let go of you because your promised deadline was over. After remaining for a while, he asked me if it was because of the nightmare that you rejected him. I remained silent because I felt it awkward to reply, so he said with a bitter smile that as expected, the woman was Lady Jena.”

“Oh, how did he…”

“In fact, I asked him, too, because I was curious, but he didn’t answer. He told me to leave as he got the message. Then, I received an official letter from him about the breakoff of his engagement with you.”

“Ah…”

I suddenly recalled my father who looked down at the breakoff paper for a long time, then thanked him. That’s why he said he would like to express gratitude to the emperor on behalf of his family because he wanted to show that the breakoff affected not only him as the head of the family but also me, his successor.

“At that time, I thought it was the best option. But, Tia, I would like to ask you now. Did you really want to break off?”

“…”

“Well, I saw your eyes trembling whenever you met the emperor. You’ve felt like that for a long time, but I know you were bothered by several things when you made such a decision. But Tia, it seems that it looks like you are regretting your decision in my eyes.”

“… Daddy.”

“I will support whatever decision you make. So, do whatever you want. Don’t worry about your family or the pro-emperor faction. I can no longer watch my daughter suffer in her life.”

When I looked up at him with trembling eyes, a faint smile came to his lips. Suddenly, tears welled up in my eyes. How did he know that I was hesitant because I felt sorry for the people of my family and my father?

He reached out to me when I was blinking silently. He patted my shoulder as if he understood me. I sprang to my feet, looking up at him, then said, clearing my throat, “…I’ll go and see him.”

“Sure, go ahead.”

I smiled at him, then hurriedly left the room. I breathed a sigh of relief at the familiar shape of the hallway. Yes, this is the Central Palace I used to know. Where is he now? Maybe in his executive office?

I quickened my pace. The servants and maids were surprised at my walking fast. Although the royal customs embedded in my mind and my twenty years of life tried to stop me from walking past, my anxiety to meet and share my genuine affection with him made me walk faster. I decided to forget about all the complicated thoughts in my mind.

When I turned around the last corner of the hallway, breathing hard, I saw the royal knights on duty.

While stopping them trying to say something to me, I looked at the chief attendant. With a gentle smile, he knocked on the door, “Your Majesty, Lady Monique wants to see you. What shall I do?” “… Let her in”

My heart was pounding. When I entered with a trembling heart, I saw the young man with blue hair turning over the documents, with his legs crossed on a comfortable sofa.

“Whew…”

After taking a deep breath, I cautiously approached him and greeted him. Lightly gesturing to me, he said, lifting the quill and writing something on the paper, “Sit down. So, are you feeling okay? ”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Good. The culprit is under investigation now. As they arrested two of the attackers, it will not be difficult to uncover the mastermind soon. Except for one apprentice knight who was shot in the chest, all other knights are safe. So, you don’t have to worry. And…”

I looked silently at the young man who continued to talk.

His neatly combed hair, his straight brows, and his navy blue eyes fixed on the documents.

I felt a bit upset about him because he didn’t look at me. I missed his face so much.

“… Finally, you don’t have to worry about the breakoff document anymore. As I told Duke Verita about it, he will take care of it today. ”

I suddenly came to my senses when he mentioned the breakoff document.

‘Oops, the breakoff document!’

When I was trying to say something, I saw his hands with the documents trembling.

I felt heartbroken because I felt he was now hiding his genuine feelings.

“So, I think I can punish the mastermind, too…”

“Your Majesty.”

“And your ties with the imperial family will be over soon…”

“Your Majesty.”

“You don’t need to worry about it…”

My heart ached. I felt so heartbroken when I saw him saying things what he didn’t mean without casting a glance at me.

How cruel I have been to him! I hurt him so much for the sin that he had not committed against me. I didn’t know how troubled his mind was while I was preoccupied with protecting myself.

I sprang to my feet and walked toward him. I reached out to him, while looking up at him. Then, I pulled his shoulder and hugged him slowly.

I felt him stiffening. He asked in a subdued voice without moving at all, “What are you doing now…?”

“On that day when my body was growing cold in your arms…”

“…”

“I thought I was lucky because I could have the last moment of my life, held in your arms.”

“…What are you talking…?”

“I was sorry that I didn’t appreciate your affection for me.”

“Are you serious…?”

“And I regretted that I didn’t realize it earlier. ”

He slowly disengaged his body from me and looked at me blankly. His navy blue eyes were trembling violently. The longer he looked at me, the more his eyes were trembling. Breaking the silence after some time, he asked with a trembling voice, “Are you serious about what you said a moment ago…”

“…”

“Are you serious? Did I hear you right? You said you also loved me? Is that true?”

He looked at me with trembling eyes as if he couldn’t believe his ears. When I smiled at him with a nod, his hardened face became relaxed.

The moment I thought his eyes were full of joy, he suddenly said in a refreshing voice, “Oh God…”

His voice was wet with tears. Although I was breathless because of his tight embrace, I grabbed his neck, pretending not to notice his trembling all over his body.

“How long have I been longing for this moment! I’ve been yearning for this moment so much and so long…”

“Your Majesty.”

“I said I would be satisfied as long as I could live with you under the same sky, as long as I could see you even at a distance… So, I prayed and prayed to God that He could save your life. Thank you, God! Thanks so much, God!”

“Your Majesty…”

I remained silent as I had nothing to say. I felt somewhat sad at the moment.

How much time passed? He looked at me after disengaging his body from me, with his robe getting wet with tears little by little. His navy blue eyes, glowing more deeply because of welled tears, looked at me.

Slowly reaching out, he touched my cheek. When I trembled, he raised my hand, then leaned forward.

He closed his deep blue eyes and put his soft lips on the back of my hand with warm breathing. He whispered after kissing my lips as lightly as a bird’s feather, “I love you, Aristia.”

“Me, too… I love you, Your Majesty. ” I hesitantly replied at his whispering.

Even though I took pains to avoid his eyes to hide my shyness, I could see him looking at me in surprise.

The moment I bowed my head to hide my blush on my face, I suddenly heard his rough breathing. I looked at him, forgetting that I was going to hide my face, startled. His blue eyes were already up close to my nose. As if he was asking for my permission, he earnestly looked at me, which made me blush again.

Is he waiting for my greenlight for fear I might be scared?

As I was so much choked up with emotions, I closed my eyes, reaching out to him.

I moaned in spite of myself when he hugged me so tightly, but it couldn’t come out of my mouth because his lips touched mine. Unlike his kissing the back of my hand softly a moment ago, he kissed me violently. I was getting short of breath because of his passionate kiss. My lips felt burned because of his hot breathing.

Although I was absent-minded because he smothered me with kisses, I put my arms around his neck. Then, I opened my mouth when he kissed me passionately like roaring waves.