Previously
The Empress Dowager reveals her tragic past to Liliana, explaining how the Late Emperor broke his promise to return her home and how her subsequent neglect of Helio led to their current estrangement. Liliana refuses to intervene in their relationship, feeling it is not her place and empathizing with Helio's childhood pain.
Liliana suddenly flared with anger. In this matter, if she truly had to take a side, she would always stand with Helio.
Even so, it felt unfair to say the Empress Dowager deserved no sympathy at all. In the end, the Empress Dowager had also been a victim in all this.
Liliana shook her head and spoke.
The Head Maid withdrew with a modest bow. Liliana felt relieved that she would be spared these troublesome reports for a while, freed from the painful talk that so stirred her conscience.
Yet, as was always the case, life refused to go as one wished.
While she was leisurely enjoying her dinner and unwinding, a knock sounded at the door.
Moments later, the Head Maid entered, bowed respectfully, and began to speak.
Liliana asked in surprise. If she was bringing a report already, it meant something else had happened. And there was only one thing it could be: the Emperor had finally accepted the Empress Dowager’s food.
Yet the Head Maid’s answer was entirely different.
Liliana’s jaw dropped in disbelief before she pressed a hand to her chin, forcing her expression back into composure.
Under the Head Maid’s direction, the maids hurried to dress Liliana. The lovely yellow gown she put on had been a gift from Helio not long ago.
‘Is it truly wise to wear this? It looks as though I am desperate for his attention…’
Though Liliana worried inwardly, it was hardly something she could voice aloud. A queen’s maids were bound by duty to ensure their mistress looked her best before the Emperor.
Liliana looked stunning in the gown. When the maids tried to drape a heavy necklace around her neck, she adamantly refused, so they settled on a simpler piece instead, which ended up looking far more elegant.
Before long, when she went out to greet the Emperor at the entrance of the Emerald Palace, she saw Helio approaching in the distance. She wore a hairpin adorned with bright blossoms in her hair, though her face looked nowhere near as radiant.
Liliana gathered the hem of her yellow gown and offered a deep curtsy.
Helio looked down at her with an unyielding gaze, merely tipping his head slightly without extending a hand toward her.
Liliana remained on her knees for a moment, but a sharp ache flared in her injured leg, forcing her to rise on her own.
Liliana spoke, slightly breathless from the strain. Helio let out a faint smile and remarked,
An urge rose within Liliana to swat his hand away. Yet even if the Emperor’s greeting was unconventional, how could he ever forgive a queen who struck him?
She had always possessed great endurance, yet she could not comprehend why her blood boiled every time she laid eyes on this man.
Liliana vented her irritation by gripping Helio’s hand firmly, yet he seemed oblivious to her ire—or simply indifferent to it—wearing nothing but an arrogant smirk.
Regardless, now that the Emperor had arrived, it was improper to keep him standing outside. Liliana guided him to the parlor near her bedchamber. With Sophia attending to them, Liliana spoke candidly.
Helio leveled a stern gaze at her as though reprimanding her, yet there was no real malice in his expression. Dropping three sugar cubes into his teacup, he added,
If she were to jump again, her body would never survive the fall.
As Liliana gave the matter grave, desperate thought, Helio chuckled derisively.
Startled, Liliana gave a faint, terrified shudder before feigning innocence.
At her words, Helio pointed an index finger toward his own face, as if to say, ‘It was written plainly across your face, so do not bother lying.’
Liliana lifted her teacup quietly, offering a faint smile.
Helio grumbled playfully, tapping the toe of his boot lightly against her shoe in jest. Startled by the sudden movement, Liliana jerked her head up.
Helio met her eyes with a broad grin that revealed his dimples. His smooth brow and handsome blond hair fell gracefully, while his blue eyes carried a mischievous glint, making him look almost boyish.
Liliana felt the breath catch in her throat the moment her gaze locked with his. Not even before the sacred statues in the temple had she ever felt so breathless.
How could a human being be so breathtakingly handsome? ‘If only I could touch him, just once…’ Liliana startled herself with the thought and quickly dropped her gaze.
Liliana replied, pressing a hand against her racing heart.
Helio rested his chin in his hand atop the table and shook his head.
As Liliana froze in place, Helio delivered the final word.
Astounded by his declaration, Liliana cried out in protest.
Sophia had not yet managed to procure the contraceptives.
With her movements confined to the palace as well, finding them quickly had proved impossible. And in the midst of this predicament, Helio had descended upon her, making everything far more perilous.
Faced with Liliana’s fierce refusal, Helio smirked, looking mildly amused.
Truthfully, Liliana cared very little about history’s judgment. If shame were to fall on anyone, Helio would be the one disgraced.
Even so, it was not merely a matter of historical records; whispers could spread through the palace as early as tonight or tomorrow. Liliana had no choice but to quietly yield to his words.
Liliana sighed deeply, finding no path of retreat. Could the master of the empire ever be expected to take back his decree? Of course not.
And since throwing herself from the window was out of the question this time, she had no choice but to trust Helio’s word.
A maid approached to announce that the bedchamber was prepared. Helio stood first and offered Liliana his hand.
His fingers were so long and pale that merely looking at them reaffirmed how handsome he was. One could easily say Helio was aesthetic perfection… yet Liliana felt only that her future had grown dreadfully bleak.
Helio undeniably wanted an heir through Liliana, and Liliana had to prevent it at all costs. Yet her adversary was far too alluring, tilting the board entirely in his favor.
Seeing through Liliana’s hesitation, Helio let out a quiet chuckle.
Liliana took Helio’s hand, pretending she had heard nothing. Helio smiled and escorted her into the bedchamber.
Helio’s absolute confidence in his actions was so utterly self-evident that Liliana could do nothing but let out a quiet, pained murmur.
❈❈❈
After changing their clothes, Helio and Liliana reunited in the bedchamber. Once the maids ensured the bed was in order, they quietly withdrew, leaving behind only the soft, ambient flicker of candlelight.
Wearily, Liliana sat on the bed, the familiar rustle of linens stirring beneath her.
Helio watched her from a distance for a moment before stepping closer to make himself comfortable on the bed. Reclining against the headboard with a book resting across his lap, he looked undeniably striking.
Sneaking glances at him from beneath her lashes, Liliana shifted restlessly, sitting up and lying down repeatedly, entirely unable to settle into a comfortable position.
Helio did not even look her way, engrossed in his reading without the slightest hint of disturbance in his composure.
As Liliana sat up once more in her nervous agitation, Helio suddenly pulled the blanket toward his side.
Helio scolded, pointing an index finger at her. Liliana hesitated a beat before sinking back onto the bed.
Helio frowned slightly and pointed at the pillow with an irritated expression.
Liliana drew a deep breath and finally lay down properly upon the bed.
Helio grimaced in apparent boredom and tossed the blanket over her in a swift motion.
Tucking the blanket around herself, Liliana breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed Helio’s promise to do nothing had been genuine after all.
Resting her hands over her chest, she shifted slightly, then lifted her rose-pink eyes toward Helio. He had already returned to reading his book.
Her gaze flicked briefly to the cover; it was a chronicle of war. She wondered how anyone could bear to read such a dreadfully dull thing.
Carefully rolling her eyes toward him, Liliana spoke slowly.
Keeping his eyes fixed on the pages, Helio asked indifferently,
Helio let out a soft sigh, staring straight ahead for a moment before turning his gaze toward her. Liliana lay curled in the bed looking smaller than usual, appearing more like a frail young girl than a queen.
She looked so much like a little girl rather than a woman that even if Helio were to devour her, he doubted he would even taste anything.
Helio required bloodline ties with the Kingdom of Niita, and taking Liliana by force would have cost him no effort at all. He possessed a hundred ways to make her bow before him without breaking a sweat.
Yet he thought to himself: ‘If I do that, she will hold it against me.’
It would not have been difficult, but the thought of Liliana looking at him with resentment—or falling utterly silent, refusing even to see him—sat uncomfortably with him.
He hated the thought of seeing those bright rose-pink eyes turn entirely hollow, like those of the palace servants.
Therefore, if he wished to have a child with her, he would need another way.
‘Such as making her fall in love with me.’