TRETTHD 70

#70. He Was My Light

In the endless darkness, she kept replaying her tragic past over and over again.

At first, it was Raoul, then Erze, and finally Khalid who mocked her misery. Belia felt powerless, like someone sinking into a swamp.

“A notorious villainess, blinded by love, who even offered her own country to the empire…”

Raoul’s words lingered in her mind like a permanent scar.

She wanted to shout, “Wasn’t it you who ruined everything?” But from the moment she had taken Raoul’s hand, a terrible thought began to weigh heavily on her: maybe his words had been true all along.

Khalid had said it was “taken away,” but that wasn’t it.

“I only wanted what was never really mine in the first place.”

Alone in the silent and desolate imperial palace, Belia stood by herself. There was no one left by her side.

The old, poorly maintained palace seemed to mirror her own state. Every corner bore the marks of her regret—the moment Raoul had brought Erze here, she should have let go first. Those regrets were etched like scars across the palace.

“Belia.”

The voice sounded foreign, unfamiliar.

For the sake of others’ happiness, her own misfortune had become fertilizer. The abandoned fell slowly into ruin.

If there were a hell, this must be it.

Why couldn’t she be happy?

Tears ran down Belia’s cheeks.

“Belia. Please…”

Red blood pooled on the cold floor. Following the flow of her own blood with her gaze, she saw her lifeless body—the last image of herself she couldn’t even bear to close her eyes to.

Everything pooled on the floor had drained from her own body. Belia let out a silent scream.

Please.

She wished someone would end this endless nightmare.

Her consciousness blurred as though sinking into the deep sea.

“Please don’t cry, Belia.”

A cool touch brushed against her cheek.

In that moment, she realized that someone was watching her in this place of despair.

The gaze upon her was so tender that her heart ached.

Even in the pitch-black darkness, the trajectory of that gaze shone warmly and brightly.

Belia wanted to follow that light. She wanted to escape this hell.

So she fought against the words of the curse clinging to her, struggling with her last ounce of strength.

And the moment she finally grasped that light…

“…….”

Returning to reality, Belia lifted her heavy eyelids and found Khalid’s blue eyes, glistening with moisture, filling her hazy vision.

“…Why are you crying?”

Her voice cracked and hoarse, and a single tear fell onto her cheek.

“Huh? Khalid.”

“…I was a little afraid you wouldn’t wake up.”

“That’s impossible.”

Belia smiled faintly and reached out her hand.

He held her hand and rested his cheek against hers.

The warmth in his palm felt comforting.

“…You’ve been sick all day.”

“You’ve been lying down for a long time.”

“Call it overwork.”

Belia nodded slightly, understanding.

“I just wanted to finish some urgent work and rest… I feel so embarrassed.”

Belia smiled, but Khalid’s expression remained serious, almost slightly irritated.

He squinted one eye and spoke heavily, as if displeased.

“I asked the ladies-in-waiting, and they said you didn’t eat well unless I was with you.”

“Hmm…”

It wasn’t that she hadn’t eaten at all.

But Belia swallowed her excuses and chose to listen quietly, knowing he spoke out of concern for her.

“You need to take a break from work. Most of the urgent matters are settled, as you said.”

“But…”

“Your office will be closed for the time being.”

Her heart skipped. There were still a few unfinished tasks.

Yet Belia exhaled softly and agreed with him.

“…Alright.”

She realized she had been unusually sensitive lately.

The busy schedule had drained her physically and weakened her mentally.

The negative feelings she felt toward Erze were probably fears she had long buried deep inside.

Belia couldn’t argue with Khalid when he said she needed rest, knowing those fears had slipped out during her weakened state.

“For now, go to the library you love, read books, have snacks, and in the evening, eat with me. Make time to take walks, too.”

Khalid gently stroked Belia’s hair and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.

“I will.”

“That’s good.”

His tone was gentle, like soothing a sulky child. Belia chuckled softly.

“What about Lady Kinetra? She must have been very worried yesterday.”

“She comes by every hour to ask about you. But if you don’t feel like meeting her, it’s fine not to.”

Belia was grateful he allowed her to refuse anything she disliked.

“…Then just for today.”

Belia said playfully.

“When you feel better tomorrow, we can have tea in the garden. We promised before, remember?”

“If you want to, we shall.”

His gaze was full of affection.

“…I’ve gone too deep.”

She shouldn’t have given her heart to Khalid.

She shouldn’t have loved him as she had first decided.

But feelings are tricky. Once they move, they can’t return to what they were.

“Everything’s fine, just please don’t overdo it.”

He was her light.

In a world of darkness, chasing the light was only natural. No matter how many times she fell, she could not give up the light guiding her forward.

In Belia’s world, Khalid was that light.

He was her savior, the one to pull her from hell.

“I won’t overdo it. And… I think everything will be alright now.”

Belia closed her eyes and smiled.

Somehow, she felt she could finally sever all ties with Erze without regret.

“Your Majesty! You cannot go in!”

“Let go! How dare you stop me! I’ve come to see my son, move aside at once!”

Raoul’s calm expression darkened at the commotion outside.

The attendant beside him glanced anxiously at him. He sighed.

“It’s fine. Escort Her Majesty inside.”

With Raoul’s permission, the door opened. The Empress entered Raoul’s office, her usual elegance replaced by a fierce determination.

“What is the meaning of this?”

“…I heard that you took the tiara from Vigo.”

Her angry voice left no room for greeting. Raoul chuckled lightly and responded in a teasing, casual tone.

“I took it and put it back.”

Her anger only grew.

“You intended to give it to Princess Ronica? Are you out of your mind?!”

“Of course I’m sane.”

Raoul rose from his chair and sat comfortably on the sofa. He gestured to the attendant.

“Bring water for Her Majesty instead of tea. She’ll be thirsty.”

“Yes, understood.”

The Empress exhaled an incredulous laugh.

“You’ve truly become strange. Completely irrational.”

“I think I’m more rational than you, mother, rushing here just because I took the tiara from Vigo.”

Raoul was slightly annoyed at the Empress for making a fuss over such a trivial matter.

Crossing his legs arrogantly, he looked down at her and spoke.

“You have many duties. Explain why you’ve come, mother.”

“The entire palace knows that you’re still hung up on that princess. You’re even engaged to Princess Kanteerif, so why do you keep doing this?”

“I will handle it myself.”

“You didn’t care before, so why now? Did that girl from Ronica trick you in some way?”

Raoul no longer wanted to hear her words.

He smirked, unable to hide his amusement.

What trick? Belia did nothing to trick me.

“You know how frustrated I am hearing about what you took! I couldn’t even use it myself…”

“Despite all this fuss, isn’t it because you were upset? Isn’t that right?”

Even though the Empress caused a scene, Raoul constantly thought of Belia.

“These tiaras may be excessive for you, mother, but they are only natural for Belia.”

“What do you mean…!”

Raoul uncrossed his legs and leaned forward, speaking softly, warningly.

“I intend to make Belia the Empress. So please watch your words and actions, mother.”

The Empress stammered, bewildered.

“Y-you! Do you realize what you’re saying? You still have Princess Kanteerif…”

Raoul ignored her, stood, and leaned by the window, gazing at the Second Prince’s palace across the garden.

He couldn’t resist the urge to pull Belia from there immediately, but he restrained himself for now.

“Don’t worry, mother. I will treat Princess Kanteerif well until I become Emperor.”

Raoul’s voice softened.

The Empress relaxed slightly.

“…You need the Duke family’s support. Even with the Emperor’s blessing, without noble support, it’s useless. You understand, don’t you?”

“Of course.”

So he endured having Elin Kanteerif by his side.

“Too bad. I really wanted to see Belia wearing the ‘Sun’s Radiance.’”

Raoul chuckled softly and cast a cold gaze at the Second Prince’s palace, now glowing red in the sunset.