EOSL CH 29

Chapter 29

As more shocking words continued to fall from his lips, I couldn’t even breathe properly. His Majesty looked at my face and smiled.

“I was annoyed seeing tear stains on your cheeks, so I told the Hortons that if they wanted to keep seeing my face in the capital, they had better learn. I never checked whether they truly learned. I only confirmed that they apologized.”

They did learn.

I already knew the aftermath. The Horton family invited a female politician as an instructor. That woman was Maria’s mother.

Maria began to see Timothy differently. The two of them soon got married.

And now he was saying that it all started because of something he did.

More precisely, something he did for me.

What on earth was this?

I swallowed the scream rising to my throat.

“Aira, I know every moment of your life. I have always loved you. I just could not say it. If you ever dreamed of me, I swear I never dreamed of you any less. I always dreamed of confessing too late and begging your forgiveness.”

Could this be a dream?

Was I still unconscious in bed?

He looked down and sighed.

“And I didn’t do anything for those three years.”

I looked up sharply.

“What?”

“Elpine… No. Never mind.”

He stopped himself and dragged a hand over his face.

“It would all sound like excuses.”

Then he looked at me again carefully. In his violet eyes, I glimpsed something raw.

Pain.

The same kind of pain I once felt.

My chest tightened.

“As I listened to your answer, I kept wondering whether there had been a way to show my feelings without putting you in danger… without making it obvious.”

He sighed deeply and leaned back in his chair. For a fleeting second, exhaustion shadowed his face.

“But… there were many ways. Too many. Which means my excuses were shallow and foolish. My imagination was only imagination. I was complacent. I was stupid. I deceived you. You are right. I was wrong. I was cowardly.”

His calm voice filled the room.

“I was wrong. But words cannot turn back the years.”

He gave me a faint smile.

“Lady Wildenbiston.”

“…Yes.”

He used my formal title again.

It felt distant and suffocating, but I answered anyway.

Despite my stiff voice, he smiled gently.

“I understand your answer. I respect your will.”

“…”

He sounded like an ordinary nobleman gracefully accepting rejection.

Too polite. Almost absurdly polite.

His tone was warm but restrained.

I froze in place, lips trembling slightly.

“The thing I regret most in this moment,” he continued softly, “is that I should have spoken sooner. I will regret that for the rest of my life. I will carry it like a debt in my heart.”

At that moment, a thought struck me.

Perhaps I would regret this moment for the rest of my life too.

After watching me silently for a while, he spoke again.

“It is time to say goodbye.”

He rose from his chair and approached me slowly, murmuring something about how I should rest.

The word “goodbye” hit me like a heavy weight.

As he drew closer, I instinctively leaned back—

But before I could move far, he gently took my hand.

Then, very carefully, he lowered his head and pressed his lips to the back of my hand.

It was slow. Formal. Respectful.

He looked almost like a craftsman concentrating on delicate work.

When his violet eyes shone warmly, I knew.

It was over.

The end of everything we had been.

The end of fifteen years.

***

Of course, calling it an “end” did not mean we would never see each other again.

That was impossible.

Rubellus was the Emperor of Zahard. I was a subject of Zahard.

Not just that—how many members of my family received royal salaries?

We could never simply cut ties.

I might even have to attend his wedding someday. Perhaps wave a flag at his marriage parade.

Could that really be called an end?

And even if I pretended it was… I couldn’t even leave the palace right away.

“Your departure is scheduled for Thursday this week.”

“What?”

At Lady Guiden’s words, I jumped up.

“Thursday? Today is Monday!”

“You will remain for three more days.”

Lady Guiden adjusted her monocle and replied firmly.

It was a killing blow.

I clutched my cheeks and sank back into my seat.

Three days.

Three whole days.

It had been exactly three days since the unprecedented disaster—His Majesty’s proposal and my rejection.

And now I had to remain in the palace until Thursday?

If I had known, I would have timed my rejection better!

“This is the worst…”

I muttered to myself.

Staying in the palace after rejecting the emperor’s proposal.

Even I, who had never dated anyone, knew how absurd that was. I had read enough romance novels.

After a breakup or rejection, the couple usually parted immediately and dramatically.

But not me.

Because of palace departure procedures.

The Zahard Palace was infamous for its strict exit inspections. Entrance procedures were strict too, but nothing compared to departure.

Security checks. Personal inspections. Reviews of belongings.

The process could take hours—or even days.

I understood the necessity. Zahard was a dominant empire.

But still… couldn’t they make an exception for me?

Surely the Emperor wanted me out of here too?

As I buried my face in despair—

“Lady Wildenbiston.”

Lady Guiden called me.

“…Yes?”

To my surprise, the stern woman before me was smiling gently.

“Is there something urgent? If you are in a pressing situation, please tell me. I will look into other options.”

“It’s not urgent.”

I shook my head quickly.

Urgent in my heart, yes. Like wanting to escape a burning building.

But how could I explain that?

Lady Guiden was no ordinary attendant.

A Viscountess. Head of the palace attendants. Member of the Court Affairs Department.

She had entered the palace alongside Empress Dowager Epina and had served her for over twenty years.

In other words, she was one of the Dowager’s closest confidantes.

Her influence surpassed many high-ranking nobles.

And of course I knew her well. I had spent twelve years running in and out of this palace under the Dowager’s protection.

“But you seem quite desperate,” she said gently. “If it is not impolite, may I ask what troubles you?”

I lowered my chin.

She was kind to me, as always.

But how was I supposed to explain this?

“Well…”

Should I say it?

And even if I did… How would I possibly explain something like this?