I Won’t Accept Your Regrets

"You heard right. Now that Carlisle can’t escape life as a prince, I must become an Empress in order to properly cover my child."

Ellie looked at him with fire in her eyes.

"I’m constrained by the status of the daughter of a Duke, and my powers have a limit. To oppose the Sios family, I must become an Empress."

In her eyes there was a firm determination to uproot the Marquis house.

"So, to oppose the Sios family…"

He himself suggested that Ellie return to the throne.

Not just to the throne, but to return to him.

But now it seemed that their plans diverged at one point.

Raymond's half-hearted whisper alerted Ellie.

"I only want to become an Empress to end the house of Sios and protect Carlisle. There are no other intentions here. So I hope His Majesty will give me a promise."

"What a promise?"

"When Marquis Sios falls and Carlisle's position is strengthened, please send me to the palace farthest from the capital."

When it's done, let me get away from you.

That's what she told him.

She plunged the dagger into his chest without batting an eye.

Do you have any other intentions?

After all, Raymond didn't care if Carlisle was a child from another.

But Ellie stubbornly drew a line between them.

Despite the fact that Carlisle turned out to be his son, Ellie told Raymond that she didn’t want to have him in her future.

Shall we unite just to fight a common enemy?

"What if I don't let you in later?"

"Will you abdicate the throne again?"

"Won't you think about Carlisle?"

If she cares so much for the child, the best place for her is on the throne.

The Empress' power was of great help to Carlisle.

Although he knew it was mean to ask such a question, he wanted to keep Ellie even this way.

Ellie looked at him menacingly, and moved her dry lips.

"Don't you dare use Carlisle in front of me. This is beneath the dignity of the Emperor."

He had nothing to fend off such cold words.

She was right.

"You are the Emperor, so decide. If you say a word against it, I'll leave."

Everything turned out exactly the opposite. Now Ellie had the initiative in this relationship, and Raymond got only the reaction.

Because he couldn’t miss her again.

"I will declare you Empress."

"Thank you, sire."

That's the whole dialogue with her.

After the conversation, he returned to his office in order to take care of the problems of Duke Drua and immediately issued a decree concerning the Empress and the new prince.

Soon the people of the Empire will find out about Carlisle, and Ellie will return to the palace.

"Haa…"

Raymond sighed hard and looked at the moon palace in the window.

When he found out about the deception and betrayal, he almost lost his mind with anger.

How could you hide my child?

“You threw me to the wolves to be torn apart, so don't expect more favor.”

He remembered the harsh words.

At the moment when he heard the echo from the past, he had nothing to parry such a prick.

When Lisa showed up with Edmund, he really didn't give a damn about Ellie.

At that time, the nobles now and then besieged him due to the lack of a successor, whole detachments of concubines were lined up to him, and he didn’t care about his wife.

After all, after her miscarriage, there was a belief that it would be difficult for them to have children, so he thought that everything would settle down by itself if he took Edmund to the role of crown prince.

It was so simple that it was stupid.

Raymond thought she would understand his decision and still stay by his side.

That's why when she announced the divorce, he thought it was jealousy.

But really, how could she tell him about pregnancy, if all he did was to solve the problems of the sovereign?

He realized this the moment he poured out his righteous anger on her and saw her eyes turn red.

I can't blame her.

"Butler."

"Yes, sire."

"Put things in order in the lunar palace and pick up a faithful servant there."

After so many years, the light in the lunar palace will turn on again.

Of course, this is not for long.

Marquis Sios will fall, Carlisle will stay here. But Ellie…

“Send me to the palace farthest from the capital.”

Her words that she would leave when everything was clear was overwhelming, but there was only one thing he could do.

Play along with Ellie, even if the ending is known in advance.

For him, she was already everything.

"Yes, sire."

"And prepare the second prince's palace. Let's take the Regulus palace."

The butler froze at the order.

The Regulus Palace, located near the Empress's Palace, has been used for generations as the heir's palace.

And if the second prince gets that palace, they will see a transparent hint in that.

In particular, it will be a statement by the Emperor that the first prince may not be the next monarch.

The butler shook his head, expecting strong winds to blow over the Imperial Palace soon.

"I'm getting to work, sire."

After Raymond finished the formalities, he fell asleep as if in extreme exhaustion.

* * *

This familiar ceiling reopened to my gaze. I turned to the red light in the window.

The sun was already setting.

And under the red sky, a nearby palace caught my attention.

A beautiful silvery palace located near the Imperial one.

Its high peak shone brightly.

Soon I will return to this glittering prison.

I told Raymond to make me Empress again.

And now I didn’t regret the choice.

Not only do I have to destroy Lisa Sios, but continue to protect Carlisle.

As my thoughts deepened, I heard Harpen's voice.

"My lady, you are awake."

"How long have I slept?"

"A little over five hours."

Hearing his answer, I got up.

Naturally, Harpen put an extra pillow behind my back.

"Didn't Carlisle come?"

When Harpen was about to answer, the door to the room opened slightly. Black hair appeared through the door.

"Come on in."

The child threw open the door wide and lunged at my call.

"Mom!"

Carlisle rushed into my arms.

"Things are good? You sleep so much… I was worried that there would be something again,” there was concern in Carlisle's voice.

In the end, it looks like he came to me several times while I was sleeping.

"No, mom is better now."

I stroked his back and kissed Carlisle's soft cheeks.

"What did you play with your grandfather?"

"We went around the whole palace! So big! Such a great building! All the offices… Besides, there is such an interesting statue."

Carlisle explained to me what he saw folding one finger at a time.

Carlisle's face showed his excitement, as if it were an exhilarating experience.

I was worried about what I would do if he was intimidated by an unfamiliar environment, but I was lucky. This time Carlisle seems to have gotten used to the atmosphere.

When I gently stroked Carlisle's head, the child laughed.

The sparkling black eyes reminded Raymond so much.

Black hair and black eyes.

Except when Carlisle was very young, I always hid his hair and eyes.

Perhaps that is why his true appearance seems strange to me.

It always seemed that you were the same as me…

Now, if you look at it, he looks just like Raymond.

Hiding my strange sensations, I brushed Carlisle's silky hair and turned to face my father.

"Father."

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay."

It was much easier than when I woke up in the morning.

I smiled and looked at Harpen. And Harpen caught the hint, took the court doctors and left the place.

When the door was tightly closed, the father was the first to speak:

"His Majesty has declared you Empress."

"What, already? However, it’s smart."

I only slept for five hours.

"You… you go back there."

There was darkness in my father's voice. Just as I didn't want Carlisle to live the life of a prince, my father would like to keep me from living the life of an Empress.

"I'm sorry I troubled my father."

For a loyal Emperor’s servant, it would have been difficult for him to betray Raymond, hiding the birth of Carlisle.

However, my father always did his best for me.

However, it was even more unfortunate that I would end up returning to the palace anyway.

"What are you sorry for? Don't tell me that. Your choice was natural. And a lot has changed since then. Perhaps even…"

I suspected what my father might have told me.

"I have already told His Majesty my position. As soon as the Sios house goes into history and the position of Carlisle is established, I leave this place."

My firm tone left my father speechless.

"And the Emperor agreed?"

"Oh yeah."

"Whatever decision you make… I just want you to be happy. But not alone," said the father with a serious look.

"Well, of course."

"I was taught that the Empress is the wife of the Emperor… Then my mother… Are you marrying His Majesty the Emperor?"

I heard a voice full of undisguised curiosity.

Carlisle's eyes were of mixed curiosity and anxiety, and his eyes were fixed on me.

"His Majesty… that terrible uncle? Mom, will you really marry him?"

How can I explain to you…

It was difficult to explain to little Carlisle such a sudden change.

I want my child to learn what happened with as little shock as possible.

I hesitated and couldn’t find the right words.

"Carlisle, do you remember your mother said that your father works in far lands?"

"Yes! I remember!"

"If… What if your father lived with us?"

"Well… that's great. I want to live with both mom and dad. But if mom marries this uncle, how are we going to live with dad?"

Then I said, grabbing Carlisle by the arm.

"His Majesty is your dad."