The Abandoned Empress Will Not Return

“What happened yesterday? I was surprised to suddenly see you collapsed.”

 

Cerdian made a worried face as he carefully inspected Rodelia’s body.

 

It has been quite a while since anyone worried about her like this, so she didn’t know how to react.
She just smiled and tried to reassure him.

 

But Cerdian still couldn’t erase his worries.
As expected, he sighed as he blamed himself .

 

“Are you okay now? I shouldn’t have left….”

 

“I’m alright.”

 

“Is that true?”

 

Rodelia smiled to say that she was really okay and nodded her head.
Then, taking out the paper from her arms, she tried to tell him what happened yesterday.

 

“More than that, I have something to say….”

 

As she struggled to figure how to get the words out, Rodelia shut her mouth again.

 

It was because Cerdian, who greeted her with a rather serious face a while ago, came to mind.
It must have been pretty serious if he had to leave like that yesterday.
And it doesn’t seem to have been resolved yet.

 

She didn’t want to burden himself with it.

 

Furthermore….
The words ‘beware of the man with red eyes” reminded her of Cerdian.

 

Biting her lips as she looked down her toes, Rodelia then raised her gaze and stared at Cerdian.
He was looking down at her with curious eyes.
He looked curious about her last words, but seemed to be waiting calmly.

 

“No, thank you for not leaving me behind.”

 

Meeting the old woman was something she could tell him later.
For now, she just wanted the things that bothered him to end well.

 

Rodelia smiled casually and continued.

 

“Rather than that, were things resolved yesterday? Was it a big deal?”

 

“Rather than resolved….”

 

Cerdian made a troubled expression.
He pursed his lips as if he was about to speak then said with difficulty.

 

“Actually, I have something to discuss with you about that.”

 

“With me? What….”

 

“I thought you should know.”

 

Following his words, Cerdian looked unsteady.
He handed Rodelia the piece of parchment in his hand.
The moment she accepted it and heard his next words, Rodelia’s face lost color.

 

“The emperor has sent a letter.
I think he is coming to Luvenia.”

 

 *

 

A shimmering light penetrated through the black hair, shining through it.

 

“So, does that mean it was that b*st*rd Cerdian who poisoned me?”

 

Kane’s angry voice turned to Sola.
He clenched his fists tightly to contain his uncontrollable anger.

 

“I asked if all these disgusting things spreading throughout my body is Cerdian’s doing!”

 

Sola nodded her head slowly.

 

He wanted to grab her slender neck with one hand and break it right away but he couldn’t.
The moment rumors circulate that the emperor, who had already dismissed an empress once, had killed the new empress, his own reputation would plummet to the bottom.

 

Recently, he has been criticized everywhere saying that the state affairs were a mess.
He couldn’t afford for the emperor’s face and prestige to be further reduced.

 

He took in a deep breath and asked coldly.

 

“Then why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

 

“That….”

 

“It’s obvious.
Because you were also in on Cerdian’s plan.”

 

But his anger did not subside.
Kane was sarcastic and continued to lash out at Sola, not even giving her a chance to make excuses.

 

“….”

 

Although she had expected this kind of reaction, Sola frowned as she was taken aback by the sharp attitude that was more than what she anticipated.
If it had been up to her, she wanted to stop all of this right away but if she did that, Cerdian could be taken away by that woman, Rodelia.

 

That can’t happen.
She has been working hard to please Cerdian.

 

Testing the limits of her own patience, Sola decided to listen to Kane.

 

“Why didn’t I doubt it? You were the one who instigated it, saying that Rodelia used poison on me, it’s all your fault Sola..….”

 

In fact, he knew why.
He was poisoned and his mind had become clouded.
At that time he was just obsessed with finding the culprit.
But he didn’t want to admit it.

 

That he had kicked Rodelia out like that was something he refused to admit.

 

Kane tried to swallow the bitterness and blamed everything on Sola. 

 

“… Were you really that greedy for the empress’ position? Is that it?”

 

Sola’s face crumpled.
She couldn’t agree with him at all.
She had no desire to live as a bound empress.

 

She was sitting in this position that didn’t suit her just to help Cerdian.
But to think that he thought she was greedy for the empress’ position.
It was a misunderstanding that truly annoyed her.

 

Sola suppressed her rising nausea and faked a calm voice.

 

“I didn’t know either.
I’m telling you.”

 

“Why don’t you say something that makes sense.”

 

Kane snorted at her and gnashed his teeth.

 

“It’s true that I was greedy for the position of empress.
So I listened to my brother’s suggestion and came to treat you.
It was because I have the ability to detoxify….
I really didn’t know that my brother had poisoned you.”

 

In the end, she was mad at herself for saying this, but it was all to have Cerdian.
She would have said more just so that she could have him.

 

Sola, who irritably looked at Kane whose eyes had become wide open, added some back talk.

 

“I was greedy for the position of empress, so I just relayed what my brother told me.
Because without Rodelia, I can rise to the empress’ seat…!”

 

“…What? Are you saying that now?”

 

“Kane, all the pieces fit together.
Weren’t you fooled too? How could I have known whether it was true or not?”

 

Sola’s excuse was indeed plausible.
Kane observed her over and over as he pondered whether her words were true.

 

“I didn’t know, so that’s why I’m telling the truth like this.
If I knew the truth then, why would I bother revealing it now?”

 

“….”

 

“Because I don’t want to be kicked out of the position of empress.
That’s why I’m telling you.”

 

“What are you saying?”

 

With an incredulous tone, Kane cut off her screeching voice.
Sola had just made a bold demand with an even more brazen attitude.

 

“Since I gave you the information, I want you to keep my position even if you bring Rodelia back.”

 

The acting was perfect.
Kane was conflicted and she just needed to drive a wedge.
Sola coldly added to Kane, who was breathing heavily.

 

“Please come to your senses and listen to me.
Rodelia is now in Luvenia.”

 

[T/N: *sniff* I smell regret arc]

 

 *

 

“Oh God….
What the hell have I done to Rodelia?”

 

After Sola had left, Kane grabbed his hair and buried his face in his hands.

 

All this time he thought it was Rodelia’s fault that he was poisoned.
Viscountess Cohen, Revlon….
How many of Cerdian’s people were in the imperial palace?

 

Everything was clearly pointing to Rodelia.
If Sola hadn’t told him, he would still be thinking that Rodelia did it.

 

It was Rodelia, who always devoted herself to him… Why couldn’t he trust her a little more?

 

Kane groaned in pain as he remembered all the terrible things he had done to Rodelia.

 

When he thought that everything that had happened was Cerdian’s plan to have Rodelia, he felt his blood gushing backwards.
Didn’t he become a fool in one of his skits?

 

He was belatedly overcome with shame.
The emperor of the great empire of Thebes, begged for detoxification.
To the very person who had poisoned him.

 

His stomach became twisted and his teeth grinded.

 

He didn’t know why he did that, but, shouldn’t he bring back what was stolen?

 

[T/N: You mean, discarded..
don’t flatter yourself, Your Majesty]

 

He didn’t need any help from Prince Gray.

 

“Rodelia….”

 

Gray had long since disappeared from his memory when he talked about Cerdian being a descendant of a divine beast.
Although Cerdian was repugnant, he was not confident of winning against him.

 

Besides, this was not a matter where he can put his emotions first and act recklessly as Thebes could be affected.
All he had to do was put Rodelia back in the seat next to him.

 

Obviously, Rodelia would follow him, so there would be no armed conflict.
He just needed to make an official visit and bring her back.
If she refuses…….
He would have no choice but to drag her back as a sinner.

 

He had no time to delay.
He had to send an official notice right away.

 

After thinking, Kane quickly picked up a fountain pen and began writing an official letter to be sent to Luvenia.