I Won’t Accept Your Regrets

Walking into the room, I bowed my head because I couldn't see Carlisle.

"But where is Carlisle?"

"His Highness the Crown Prince is now putting on a tailcoat in the dressing room."

After these words, the door to the next room opened.

Carlisle appeared behind a line of maids in a tailcoat.

"Oh my."

As soon as I saw Carlisle, I opened my eyes wide and exclaimed.

For the first time I saw him in a tailcoat, and what I saw was beyond my imagination.

The tailcoat, woven specially for the prince, was beautifully embroidered with gold, and a frilled tie was fastened with an obsidian brooch, a symbol of the imperial family.

Carlisle's graceful and charming appearance made me breathless for a moment.

‘How can he be so charming?'

I immediately wanted to run up and hug him tightly, but the room was full of people.

I took a deep breath to calm my excitement. Carlisle seemed a little shy among the maids who stood on either side, but approached me with impressive steps.

"Your Majesty."

In general, it wasn’t easy to teach him the courtesies of the royal family, but at least there was no room for flaws.

"Your Highness, you are so handsome today."

"Well, thanks for that."

Carlisle paused and smiled.

I know that he has not yet got used to the naming ‘Your Highness’.

But in the future, he would have to get used to the title and position, so I called him that every time.

He's too old to be a foolish child. I also wished I had put too much of a burden on Carlisle.

Carlisle laughed and asked.

"Is my brother coming for the party today?"

My fingertips stopped at the question about the First Prince.

"Of course he will come," I replied, taking my hand away from his soft cheek.

This was an official event in honor of the naming of the heir and the return of the Empress.

Of course, the first prince have to present. That tormented me for several days.

I heard that the former Marquis Sios lost everything and remained a slave in the mine, and the Marquis's wife, having lost her status, collapsed and wandered around as if dead.

Although Lisa received a new title as the mother of the first prince, she didn’t receive estates or any valuable property.

All she received was a mansion and servants to live in the Imperial Palace.

And since the mother's family fell apart without any opportunity for revenge, the position of the first prince also quickly fell.

In addition, the name of the crown prince must have cut his eyes.

I thought of everything, and the plan came true. But now I was embarrassed to think of the innocent first prince.

So, I hesitated whether to call Edmund or not, but concluded that I should.

Of course, words will sprinkle, reviling the first prince, but if I forget about him and don’t invite, public opinion will be much worse.

‘I didn't mean to destroy that boy.'

Having driven Lisa to the periphery, I still wanted the first prince to live peacefully.

"He will come! Oh…! Do you think it's alright?"

Although he couldn't figure out the details, Carlisle understood what had happened to Edmund.

The point is that his grandfather was expelled, and besides, he was excommunicated from his mother.

I answered with an embarrassed smile.

"The first prince will come to the party. But you'd better not bother him with conversation."

"But why?"

"…Your Highness. The first prince has been through a lot, and he needs to be alone. So far, you can only look from afar."

"Can't I comfort him? This is my brother!"

I was worried about the naive look of my son.

Carlisle will want to comfort his brother, but he didn't know the deep inside of adults… Carlisle’s comfort will only make Edmund even more miserable.

"Next time… When the First Prince gets better, let's do it then."

‘I don't even know if such a day will come.’

Hiding the bitter taste and straightening Carlisle's tie, I got up and pulled away.

This happened because time didn’t wait, and it was time to change clothes so as not to be late.

"Are you going to change?"

"Right. As for you, there should be no folds on your outfit, so sit still."

"Yes."

Carlisle said softly, pursing his lips. He was completely different from the past when he was told to keep calm.

I left the room, catching the confused child getting used to the prince's life.

Since the wedding didn’t take place, today was my first official appearance as the Empress.

It's actually pretty awkward to call it the first time, but since the last marriage didn't end well, no one mentioned it.

Today I will see Carlisle as a real prince for the first time, so I put in a lot of effort to dress up.

Everything from head to toe should be perfect, and the sun was setting when the dressing was done.

"Bring a mirror."

Finished with her hair, Helen ordered the maid. I slowly stood in front of the mirror.

"Hmm…"

"You are amazing, Your Majesty," the maid's admirable words came from behind.

It may have been just a routine to please the hostess, but my reflection in the mirror was truly magnificent.

The Empress's dress was unique.

One of a kind that all the famous designers of the Empire sewed for 15 days.

The dress, which was tightly embroidered with crystals and gold threads on a white fabric, seemed to come from not at all from this world.

In addition to light makeup to match this dress, I applied perfume to my silvery hair to make it shine even more.

Now I was just like a bride at a wedding.

But it doesn't matter, because it was a banquet, not a wedding.

Such splendor would be just right to show the returning prince and Empress.

After looking at myself in the mirror again, I turned to Helen.

The latter was holding a jewelry box.

"His Majesty sent it."

"His Majesty?"

"Yeah."

Helen opened the lid.

"This is …"

‘Necklaces, rings and earrings with black diamonds.’

A beautiful gem that also contains the symbol of the imperial family, and it is a very valuable treasure, exclusive to the family of the ruler.

It was the treasure of the imperial family, which the first Emperor presented to his Empress.

But not all Empresses received it from their Emperor.

When the first Emperor presented these diamonds to the first Empress, he swore eternal love to her, so the message in jewelry also meant eternal and true love."

Thus, of the many Emperors in history, only the Emperor who sincerely loved the Empress presented her with such a gift.

And I didn’t receive this gift during our first marriage … I didn't know the day would come when I would get this from him.

In the past, I once hoped to receive a black diamond as a gift before marrying him… Although it all ended in wishful thinking.

Now I looked strangely at the black diamonds in front of me.

Up to this point, the fact that I married him again didn’t really matter.

But looking at the stones now, I suddenly realized that I suddenly got married again.

I wasn’t happy, angry or sad. I only felt bitterness and an emotion close to insensitivity…

‘Is this a marriage without love?'

On the eve of our first wedding, I was so excited that I couldn’t sleep.

And, probably, now he feels the way I used to.

Looking towards the black diamond with a cold gaze, I slowly reached out my hand. I wore earrings, hung a necklace and finally wore a ring.

In the mirror stood the perfect Empress, hung with splendor and beauty.

It was similar to what it was 7 years ago, but exactly the opposite.

"Your Majesty! His Majesty has arrived."

"I'll be out soon."

The sun went down to mark the beginning of the banquet.

Throwing away my thoughts, I left the room.

* * *

"Wow…"

In the lobby, I saw Carlisle and Raymond, who were faster than me.

And as soon as Carlisle saw me, he opened his eyes wide and shouted.

"You are so beautiful…" Carlisle told me, twinkling his eyes.

He always said that his mother was the most beautiful, but this was the first time he had such a sincere expression.

Carlisle's compliment was nicer than any other compliment.

"Thanks. Your Highness is very cool today too."

When I smiled brightly at Carlisle, I felt Raymond's gaze, and when I saw his face, I raised my eyebrows. The face of him looking at me was somewhat pale and his focus seemed to be slightly blurred.

Then, when our gazes met, he turned away in confusion, then moved his lips slowly.

"Hmm, you are truly beautiful today, Empress."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

I felt his gaze slide over my earlobe and touch my neck.

"I didn’t know that you would go out like that. So even better."

His low voice echoed in my ears. He seemed to have thought that I wouldn't wear them because he gave them to me as a gift… But I didn't wear the black diamonds because they were his gift.

"This is my official appearance as the Empress. Since it's a noisy situation, shouldn't we show a harmonious imperial appearance?"

If the Emperor shows that everything is all right with the Empress, the position of the heir to the forest will get stronger… And there was nothing better to prove it.

It was like expressing solid support for the Empress. Of course, there is no reason for me to refuse.

As if sensing that my calm words contained no personal feelings, the pale smile that had spread around Raymond's mouth faded.

Turning away from him, I turned to Carlisle again.

"A lot of people are waiting for us. It's time to go to the party now."

"Yeah," Raymond, who answered slowly, looked away and approached me.

When we held hands, her hand shook mine as if she didn't want to lose it. The heat from his body was transferred even with gloves.

It was a strange feeling, as if he was desperately clinging to me.

Feeling something strange, I consciously took a step towards the party without giving strength to my hands.