Chapter 48

“I have been Onderon’s fiancée since you were young. You probably didn’t know how much Onderon liked you. He loved you, cherished you terribly….meanwhile to me…!”

 

To me….

 

Josephine knew everything about the story. It’s been a long time so Josephine might be okay with it, but not with Carmun.

 

It was a memorable event that left him in severe pain.

 

Moreover, didn’t he get the curse because of that?

 

He couldn’t accept Josephine even more when she seemed to forget it and said that she loved him.

 

“Let’s stop here.”

 

Carmun took Josephine’s hand away harshly from him as if he was getting tired of the situation.

 

Josephine squeezed her dropped hand and looked at Carmun with insulted gaze, but he never looked back at her.

 

“You’re not a woman to me even if you were to die and be born again as one again.”

 

Carmun opened the door and went out after spitting out those words.

 

She could hear the maid murmuring outside.

 

“Haha….”

 

A dejected smile ran across Josephine’s lips.

 

Staring at the door with an embarrassed and grim expression, Josephine frowned at the feeling of blood flowing through her torn lower lip.

 

Sweeping the blood with her palm and looked at it.

 

‘I knew this wouldn’t work either….’

 

Her eyes got colder.

 

Her face was a mess with blood and tears, but there was lunacy in her eyes. The lunacy in her that Carmun had never seen.

 

“You will regret it. Your Majesty.”

 

Josephine couldn’t withstand the rising anger inside her.

 

Ever since she was born, anything that she wanted was hers. The crown prince, the empress position, the precious treasure, wealth, and power.

 

She could accomplish whatever it is.

 

Only one thing. Carmun didn’t behave as she wished him to.

 

It made Josephine’s stomach turn, and Josephine started to throw things inside her room as she couldn’t relieve her anger.

 

At that time, a maid entered Josephine’s room, where she was taking out her anger on things while panting tremendously.

 

“Your Majesty!”

 

“…what’s with the fuss?”

 

Those words meant Josephine was strongly offended as going against Josephine’s temper meant she had an important matter to inform.

 

Josephine placed the cup she was holding back on the table, ruffling her hair nervously.

 

“I just stopped a doctor who came from the Lion Palace and asked him, he said that Concubine Edith is now in the Lion Palace!”

 

“…haha…….”

 

She could have been this miserable.

 

He left her in this empress palace, and summoned Concubine Edith into his palace.

 

He didn’t even know who sent that poisonous herb.

 

“This is not worth it at all.”

 

Pretending not to hear Josephine’s murmur, the maid, who had investigated the whereabouts of Carmun and Concubine Edith, closed the door and walked away.

 

Josephine trembled with anger. She couldn’t get rid of the anger inside her.

 

At first, it started with a mere curiosity.

 

How would Carmun react if she got intoxicated by poisonous herb? Would he want to pay her a visit?

 

Would he come to see her at this empress palace, where he had stopped visiting for the last ten years?

 

She thought and fell asleep after getting drunk. When she opened her eyes, she imagined Carmun came to visit her and said he was worried.

 

Funnily enough, there was really Carmun, who looked worried when she opened her eyes.

 

Now that he had left, it made her feel more miserable than before.

 

She made all sorts of fantasies for even one small act done by him.

 

What am I to him?

 

Staring at the Lion Palace that was a bit farther away, Josephine changed her mind.

 

Let’s just kill the annoying thing.

 

***

 

 

Carmun let out a long sigh at his complicated thought.

 

‘I just want to take a rest.’

 

Since ascending the throne, he has been suffering from chronic fatigue. He couldn’t have a rest during the night, therefore had to deal with everything during the twelve hours he was conscious.

 

Her nerves were on edge day by day, and his personality was an absolute mess compared to when he was young.

 

Just because he did his job well, it didn’t mean that he was a great emperor.

 

He could tell just by looking at himself. His father might bolt out of his coffin and strangle him seeing his son bringing along numerous scandals on his back.

 

One great thing about becoming an emperor was that you didn’t have to look at that d*mn old man’s face.

 

If he had known that d*mn old man was having his life perfectly under his control up until now, he would have preferred to die.

 

He was unable to hide his exhausted face as he entered the Lion Palace and opened the door, Viester was taking care of the political affairs while sitting on the sofa inside the room.

 

“How’s Concubine Edith?”

 

“Her breathing and pulse returned, but she’s still unconscious.”

 

Carmun turned around and headed to bed.

 

She looked the same as she was in the morning.

 

If he took a mere look at her, it would look like she was asleep.

 

Carmun got goosebumps when she slept like she was dead.

 

Carmun was lost in his thoughts for a moment, he then lifted his chin toward Viester.

 

“I’m here.”

 

“…Pardon me?”

 

Viester tilted his head as if he didn’t hear him well.

 

“I said I’m here.”

 

“Where?”

 

Carmen pointed his hand to the floor.

 

‘Is it that surprising that I’m going to stay in my room?’

 

It would have been better if he could explain it in a simple way, but Carmun had no skill to be that way.

 

It’s also bothersome for him to explain. As today is a particularly tiring day.

 

He pulled a chair near the bed and looked down at Concubine Edith’s face with an exhausted look.

 

While taking a close look at Concubine Edith, who was still fast asleep, he frowned and measured her forehead using his hand.

 

He was wondering if she was asleep because of the fever.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

Viester spoke with a bewildered tone after looking at him sideways, as if he had seen something ridiculous.

 

He was so surprised that he almost dropped all the documents in his hold that he would have to report to the emperor.

 

“Attending her.”

 

He almost thought how calm he had been most of the time.

 

He wasn’t fond of touching someone’s body.

 

Viester frowned at the bad hunch that passed through his mind.

 

He really wished it wouldn’t be her.

 

He wasn’t very delighted when Josephine settled in the empress’ position. It’s just that there was no second-best solution.

 

Carmun, who had a weak political base and ascended the throne due to treason, had to gain recognition from the nobles so that he didn’t have to meander in war.

 

As if waiting for that moment, Duke Torre offered his daughter to him.

 

If he walked on the same path as his father’s, the public sentiment of the empire’s people would be shaken.

 

Viester didn’t intend to see him become like that while he was working as his aide.

 

Carmun squeezed the towel soaked in the basin and used it to wipe Concubine Edith’s cheeks.

 

“So why are you like this, Your Majesty?”

 

Viester snatched the towel held by Carmun.

 

The act was crossing the line a lot more than usual, but Carmun didn’t stop him.

 

He only looked up at Viester with clear eyes.

 

“Because I want to.”

 

It wasn’t just Viester who crossed the line today.

 

Carmun was also acting strange today.

 

‘What had happened at the empress palace…’

 

Viester shrunk back at Carmun’s languid voice. He didn’t seem scary when he [the emperor] lost his temper or if he was being shouted at. Actually, it was the most difficult sight to endure when seeing him so depressed and so tired.

 

Knowing that I’m weak at this look, I don’t even have the power to hide it today.

“….”

 

Biesder let out a short sigh.

 

Carmun didn’t pay attention to Viester and picked up the towel again.

 

“Why hasn’t she woken up yet?”

 

He wasn’t sure whether he was asking him or just muttering to himself.

 

“The doctor had come earlier. He said she’d wake up tonight.”

 

“What kind of poisonous herb did she suffer from?”

 

“It seems the herb doesn’t come from Idelberg. The doctor said he didn’t know about it at all. And I heard from Van that the scent was very strong when he saw the burning leaf for the first time at Concubine Edith’s abode.”

 

Viester recited the information he had received while Carmun was in the Empress Palace.

 

He handed over the papers that had been filled with written testimonies from the maids and testimonies from Van to Carmun, and he was looking through it.

 

“You must find them since it’s not a light problem.”

 

“Yes.”

 

The Empress and concubine were almost assassinated at the same time.

 

Viester also knew this problem was not something to be taken lightly.

 

However, what bothered him more than that was Carmun in front of him.

 

He wiped off Concubine Edith’s sweat with erratic hand, treating her like a delicate thing.

 

His attitude was very different from the way he didn’t wipe off the wetness that derived from his activity that washed her.

 

“If Her Majesty finds out about this, she’s not going to let it slide.”

 

“I think you always say the same thing. Do you think I’ll be scared of her?”

 

“No….”

 

“Then why don’t you just leave the papers here and go out? She will get up soon.”

 

“Who?”

 

Carmun lifted his chin and wrinkled the bridge of his nose.

 

As if it’s troublesome to say anything more.

 

Viester blinked and soon caught the meaning, he straightened his back that had bent slightly.

 

She could see the sun setting through the window.

 

The time for his night self to awaken soon.

 

“…I’ll be on my way now! See you tomorrow.”

 

Viester hurriedly left the room after handing in the prepared documents and a list of political affairs.

 

His night self was the scariest person for Viester.

 

It became quiet when Viester, who had been tittle-tattling loudly, left the room.

 

Inside the room where he was only able to hear Helen exhaling calmly, Carmun looked down at Helen with his chin resting on one hand.

 

His red eyes were only filled by the sight of her.

 

“Get up quickly.”

 

Carmun was rather distracted due to his tired body.

 

He wondered why Concubine Edith kept making him concerned, but the answer was not important.

 

That bothered him. It was important in itself.

 

He had never been angry such as now when Viester almost died.

 

Weirdly enough, he couldn’t get himself to concentrate on work due to the twisted anger that rose from the depth of his stomach.

 

He was afraid that she wouldn’t wake up again.

 

After meeting Josephine, it was easy for him to sort out his mind.

 

‘It’s really strange.’

 

Carmun’s veins were sticking out in worry. Looking at Helen with an empty gaze, he let out a long sigh out of frustration.

 

It was at that time. When Helen stretched out her hand in the air while letting a weak sound escape her mouth. Carmun unconsciously offered his hand at the gesture that seemed like she was looking for something.

 

Carmun unwittingly muttered nonsense when Helen’s warm hands brushed against his.

 

“Oh….”

 

She extended them as if telling him to catch it, but he was embarrassed to really catch them.

 

He held her hands, which were hanging in the air and kept the awkward posture for a moment since he didn’t know what to do.

 

Helen didn’t open her eyes, she was just probably talking in her sleep.

 

“…….”

 

He wondered if she was somniloquy.

 

[t/n: somniloquy also known as sleep talking.]

 

Carmun couldn’t move as if his body was frozen in his spot until her hand, which he thought had stopped moving, gradually moved over his shoulders and face.

 

… Such a brash woman.

 

Carmun took Helen’s hand that rested on his cheek and inhaled briefly.

 

He almost got swooned by a woman who was currently sleeping.

 

‘She fainted when she saw me.’

 

Carmun frowned at the way his feeling was hurting upon thinking so.

 

At the same time, he liked the sensation of Helen’s touch on his face, so he took off the mask that covered his face.

 

“Wake up now. Before I do what I really wanted to do.”

 

Knowing that night would be falling soon, Carmun couldn’t endure the greediness inside of him.

 

However, there was nothing he could do other than placing a brief kiss on Helen’s hand.