Chapter 45
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Edwin regretted his earlier silence before Diaz pieced it together.
His overconfidence had blinded him completely.
He justified the delay in correcting Rina’s initial mistake about his name—Everette Rohaus—because their connection had surprised him. Back then, he assumed their paths would diverge forever, making any clarification pointless.
Encounters multiplied, and the alias slipped into habit unnoticed. Their bond deepened, consuming his focus entirely during stolen moments together.
Lately, imperial duties overwhelmed him. Moments with Rina became precious gaps, narrowing his mind to mere survival until he could see her again.
Fleeting doubts surfaced now and then, yet passed quickly.
His affection for her rang true, so the deception faded from concern. Some days, he even romanticized their status-free intimacy as ideal.
He overlooked her perspective entirely, trapped in self-imposed blindness.
Edwin stole a glance at Rina’s face.
Explaining himself now might ease any unintended pain.
Learning from another source would sting worse.
Speaking up immediately could spare her deeper letdown.
Deep in reflection, Edwin heard Rina break the quiet.
“Lord Rohaus, is something troubling you?”
His gaze flickered with alarm.
The issue loomed large indeed.
Namely, unveiling his actual identity to her.
Her question struck like a timely cue, as if she grasped the full picture.
Their rapport resembled cooled caramel—delightful yet fragile on the surface.
Thankfully, cracks hadn’t formed.
Comfort from smooth sailing had lowered his defenses.
Edwin turned inward with sharp criticism, methodically framing his revelation.
Oddly, though, Rina persisted with “Everette Rohaus.”
The false label felt authentic these days.
Had he read her wrong?
Another aristocrat might imply sarcasm, but not Rina.
She preferred blunt outrage over pretense.
This delay granted him a window before fallout.
Awareness sharpened now, her unchanged address gnawed at him.
As he pondered her motives and his lapses, quiet expanded between them.
Edwin rushed to reply, nearly tacking on a temporary qualifier before holding back.
Rina studied him with worry mirroring his strain.
Her empathy bolstered his nerve, suggesting forgiveness ahead.
The moment felt ripe for honesty.
Diaz likely wouldn’t object.
An emperor suited romance far better than some lowborn guardsman.
His pulse quickened unbidden.
Rejection had never crossed his mind previously.
Royals rarely faced such risks.
Determination set, Edwin geared up to share his true name.
Fate toyed with them once more, syncing their impulses.
Despite resolve, he deferred to her.
“Nothing worth mentioning.”
Rina offered a shy grin, hesitant yet compelled, seizing the opening.
She weighed her phrasing deliberately before continuing.
“I’m no expert, but count on me. Lean on me anytime trouble brews.”
Her tone carried a vulnerable edge, bracing for hardship.
Edwin puzzled over her angle.
This resolve diverged sharply from his expectations.
He halted, piecing it together.
Did she suspect his imposture as Everette Rohaus?
Before he recovered, Rina pressed on earnestly.
“Don’t brush me off. I’m serious.”
Her insistence drew an uncharacteristically mild reply from him.
Power, riches, armies—few problems demanded her aid.
Yet his words missed her deeper wish.
Masking vulnerability with breeziness, she doubled down.
“You mean it, right? Even minor hurdles or chores, tell me everything.”
Her stress on details prompted his counterquery.
Suddenly, Edwin fretted over her well-being.
Was trouble shadowing Rina?
Her distant air in the sunlit rose garden clicked into place.
Disjointed vibes aligned at last.
Treasury woes perhaps?
Nothing concrete surfaced.
Camelot’s hidden funds were neutralized, and Kyle vouched for Rina’s successor’s caution.
Edwin clung to worry regardless.
Minor issues might evade his reports yet burden her.
He scrutinized her closely.
Rina mirrored the gaze.
Absorbed in scrutiny, they missed each other’s watch.
Dialogue flowed amid private interpretations.
Edwin dangled a gentle probe.
Any hint, and he’d dismantle barriers—even the treasury—for her.
Their hidden aims echoed perfectly, fulfilling her secret hope.
Rina replied guardedly, avoiding offense.
“Palace work throws endless curves. Overwhelming jobs, or blunders threatening key outcomes.”
Edwin cataloged her subtle cues.
He infused warmth into his reassurance.
“Team up for tough spots, and errors? They’re universal.”
Strict on faults normally, this came from sincerity.
Rina eased slightly, flashing a faint smile.
“Solid mindset.”
Emboldened, she ventured further.
“Steer clear of booze for stress. It solves zilch, yeah?”
Liquor dulled senses, a pitfall he avoided.
His quick nod irked her, sensing evasion.
Lips compressed in annoyance at his casualness.
Needing space, she tilted skyward briefly.
Tension lingered.
After pauses, she burst out, “Critical duties especially!”
Amused, Edwin chuckled, envisioning a stern spouse’s oversight.
Her frown deepened at his levity, cheeks puffing.
“Everyone calls the Emperor harsh—what if he crucifies slip-ups?”
Playful start hardened into gravity.
Dwelling on the sovereign deepened her dread.
