Fabian rode his horse roughly. The black mane fluttered in the strong wind. Fabian’s speed was terrifying as he continued to spur even after surpassing the Black Hawk Knights.
‘Because I’m used to this.’
No matter how fast he spurred the horse, he couldn’t forget Evelyn’s blue eyes, which were looked at him at the time. Her figure was more irritating than those who laughed with their tongue.
The conversation he had overheard between noble women sounded very natural, that he could easily guess what Evelyn looked like when she was an Empress.
‘Frustrating, stupid!’
Fabian couldn’t stand it at all when Evelyn said she was used to that. After he gave her everything, he was unable to understand why she acted so stupidly. Above everything, just thinking about it made his heart burn like a bottle of decay.
‘Who said that … Who told you to stay still to their crap!
Once his mind was chaotic, it was hard for Fabian to get rid of his anger. He was just upset with all that had happened. Evelyn, who didn’t make a face about it, and the ladies who picked up trashy words, were dared to be sarcastic about the Emperor’s marriage.
‘A stupid woman.’
But the thing that hurt him the most was Evelyn of the past. Fabian was angry with her, who had endured such words so many times in a place where she didn’t appear by chance like today.
The more he thought about how Evelyn put up with those words, the more frustrating he was.
If only she told him once, he could have pulled out the ladies’ tongues. No, Fabian could do even more than that.
“Who ordered you to take the misfortune on your own? Why do you always do as you please?”
Evelyn had never asked Fabian for help. She didn’t say anything at all. Her excuse that she was afraid of his eyes didn’t make sense, because the Empress was the only person who could be alone with the Emperor.
Fabian couldn’t accept that she kept silent until the end, foolishly endured alone, and told him she wanted to divorce.
‘Only, for that reason, you’re leaving.’
For the first time, Fabian was angry at Evelyn. No, actually, he was mad at himself. He’s angry at Evelyn because he didn’t want to admit that he knew nothing.
One day, when he thought he could have stopped a sudden breakup, he became so distressed, so he was deceiving his feelings in this way.
‘If you talk so coldly, do you think anyone will regret it?’
The Emperor was in a position not to have any regrets. At least while he was alive, all his words and actions were right and perfect. If something went wrong, it wasn’t Fabian’s fault, it’s the other’s lack.
‘Who’s doing that? Someone has regretted it too late.’
Fabian’s hands were tightened with the reins. The emperor had no such feeling. He had to. So Fabian was just angry now. He was angry at the disrespectful nobles, and he was angry at the stupid princess’s attitude.
Fabian still didn’t seem to know that such a scene was the trigger for their breakup.
****
The hosts looked satisfied, even though the banquet ended badly. The King and the Queen left their tired guests and went to rest happily and Evelyn had a nice time with the Akshire’s brother and sister who were still full of energy.
“Ha, I feel like I’m finally breathing after His Majesty has left.”
Evelyn smiled at ease and Liam couldn’t figure out why she seemed more happy. Between the two, only Rebecca read a strange atmosphere between them.
“Come on, Liam. Tell me more about it.” asked Rebecca.
“…..What do you mean?”
“Why do you think that you’ve been called here, with no fun and no speech?”
Liam blazed his eyes at Rebecca’s beating. He meant, it wasn’t good intentions to help his heart a little while she criticized him for everything.
“You saw the Emperor’s party off to the border. We want to hear that vivid story!”
For a moment, he forgot what kind of person his sister was. Liam stared at Rebecca with a dissatisfied eyes, but of course she couldn’t get it. As soon as he sent the Emperor away, he thought it was strange that he was suddenly invited to come here.
“Isn’t the princess curious, too?”
“Well, a little.” But for Evelyn, it wasn’t a big deal.
“I-I’m here to tell you the details, actually.”
Rebecca smiled inside when Liam immediately changed his posture. Even though her younger brother was nauseous, she couldn’t hate his innocence.
“His Majesty….It seemed like he was very angry on his way back.”
“Hmm, can I expect more punishment for those ugly ladies?” Rebecca replied positively, but Evelyn shook her head, “No, he’s mad at me.”
“What? That’s ridiculous. There’s no reason for that!” Liam jumped up. Rebecca felt her younger brother was getting change a little by little. “Those who insult the Princess are sinners, it’s not your fault.”
“I know.” Evelyn gave a faint smile, “But His Majesty is honest about his feelings, he was angry with me when he said that he knew what I meant.”
Fabian was human, too, so he surely had feelings. Even Evelyn, who lived as a couple, could notice his faint expression a little bit.
“Oh, that’s good for me. Now that he’s mad at me, he doesn’t have to put pressure on me to stay in the Felice Kingdom.”
“That’s great!”
Pure Liam didn’t understand all of Evelyn’s words. The feelings between a man and a woman, and between a couple who had already separated, were still too difficult for him. But one thing for sure, that Evelyn’s ex-husband had left in anger was the good news.
“I hope it doesn’t harm the Felice Kingdom in the future.” Evelyn mumbled casually, but in contrary, Liam’s face was filled with tension.
“You don’t have to worry about it. I · · · · · · · No, the Akshire will always be a powerful ally of the Felice Kingdom for ever.”
‘Good job, Liam.’ Rebecca only cheered her brother in her heart.
“Not only the Duke, but our Akshire could be your strength.”
“Thanks for the word, and you’re the Duke….. you’re too humble.”
The Duke of Akshire’s wealth was similar to the Felice Kingdom. They had a long story, as well as the property, and the business of estate were also behind them. In other words, it was grateful that Liam, a worthy monarch, promised a strong alliance.
“The Empire has never been friendly to the Duke or to any other kingdom, so you don’t have to worry about Your Majesty.”
Liam looked at Evelyn with a serious face. And that was the best courage for her.
“I and Akshire will be the power of the Princess and the Kingdom of Felice. So… You can forget about the Empire.”
“Thank you. I feel reassured listening to Lord Liam.”
The atmosphere was warm. Liam was already imagining the centennials of Felice Kingdom and Akshire. Like his burning heart, he wanted to paint an immortal alliance that would never be broken.
“Well, in my eyes, he’s still not enough, he seems like it’s a little Duke, right?”
Rebecca stepped up on purpose and broke the the atmosphere. It was obvious what Liam was thinking. But literally a hundred years was his quick idea. Even more, he couldn’t do anything about the love in front of him.
“And if you’re a great Duke, it’s time to fulfill your responsibilities. It’s tactless to sit on women’s tea-time, isn’t it something you don’t notice?”
“Sister…..” Liam bit his molar tightly and spoke low, but Rebecca pretended not to hear.
“Woman don’t like a tactless man, Even though he’s a Duke.”
It was a magical word that forced Liam to leave on his own. Liam said goodbye to Evelyn and left the door under Rebecca’s trick, even though he still wanted to be there.
“You’re good at things like this all the time.”
“Oh, no matter how old my brother was, he’s a simple human being.” Rebecca laughed in victory.
“But he said something useful…..”
“Huh?”
” That I don’t have to worry about the Empire. I think I’ve come back from my divorce, and and I think too much of it.”
“Is that so?”
Both Evelyn and Rebecca weren’t from the Empire, but they had married and divorced an Imperial man. And Rebecca’s ex husband was the Duke of Perth, a long time Imperial’s right-hand.
“My father was thinking about the distant future, so he was trying to build a relationship with the Empire. So we can expand the geographical boundaries and territorial problems of Akshire.”
The same was true for Kingdom of Felice. The Empire’s southern land was very prosperous but the culture, customs, and crops were quite different compared to their Kingdom.
“Well, Akshire and our Kingdom are all focused on trade. Expanding the territory is an important matter.”
“It was wrong to say that marriage would solve that problem.” Evelyn nodded with the same heart.
“The predecessor of Akshire, like my father, is a wise man, unlike Liam.”
“I know that. He’s my father’s old friend.” Evelyn said.
“When I came back from my divorce, I still remember what my father said.”
Honestly, Evelyn was curious about it, but she couldn’t ask. When Evelyn returned, her father Arthur grumbled, but he welcomed her with warm arms. And Evelyn knew it wasn’t easy.
“My father was always strict, so I was prepared to be kicked out, but when he asked me casually if I really came back without a problem, I just went back to my daily life.”
Indeed he was a great father like Arthur, without reason, there was no way they could become friends.
Only
“But the overall situation was not good. It happened just before all agreements were signed with the Duchess of Perth to expand the trade network ….” Rebecca said with a smile, but Evelyn could see how painful her heart must have been.
“I had no choice but to say I was sorry, but my father laughed at me. And he told me. After being divorced, it’s impossible for us to meet, so we should never again have such a stupid plan to ask how to seek unity with the Empire.”
It was a wise and bold word. It wasn’t the races or languages but the cultures that were very, very different.
“So I felt relieved. It’s not that I couldn’t adapted, but I think between us and the Imperial people we’re very different from each other from the beginning….”
“Yes, definitely.” Evelyn nodded.
It wasn’t simply Liam’s good will or her friendship with Rebecca.
Evelyn had lived in the present, free from the past. And the time had come to paint the new future.
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