I Won’t Accept Your Regrets

"His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived."

I could hear the voice and the door was immediately opened. Arriving first, I smiled softly as I saw Carlisle walk into the dining room.

"Prince."

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

"It's time to say hello, so hurry up and sit down."

Carlisle's manners was now neat and clean. Carlisle, who raised his head, smiled and raised the corners of his lips, sat down next to me.

Lightly caressing the boy's cheek, I felt strange when I saw the door closing.

"His Majesty didn't come?"

"My father said he couldn't come because he had work to do."

"What kind of work so late?”

Carlisle nodded and I narrowed my forehead.

How busy are you for you to skip dinner with us?

For Raymond, nothing is more important than Carlisle and me. And it's not even my bloated ego. He really gave Carlisle and me everything he could.

‘Did something bad happen that I don't know about? A battle broke out on the border or…'

I anxiously asked the servant:

"Why couldn't His Majesty come?"

"…He couldn't come because he had some urgent documents to take care of."

"Documents?"

"Hey? No! I heard someone came,” Carlisle said without a second thought. At that moment, I saw the face of the servant covered with embarrassment.

Apparently, it was Carlisle who told me the truth now, not the servant.

‘What are you hiding from me, the Empress?'

It was surely Raymond's order , but I couldn't let it go willingly.

"Prince, could you see what kind of man asked for an audience?"

"Well, I didn't see anyone, but I heard the name. It was said that it was Leon Sios."

"…What?" I was so surprised that my mouth dropped open.

‘What do you mean by Leon Sios? Raymond found him?'

"Mom?"

Carlisle tilted his head at my face that had hardened at that moment.

"Oh, it’s nothing."

I smiled in case the boy was surprised, but the corners of my mouth didn't turn up well.

What if Raymond will kill Leon without further ado?

I was nervous. If Leon says something and Raymond loses his mind…

Leon Sios shouldn’t have die.

My lips felt dry.

“Prince, I have to leave. Would you like to be here with Helen?"

"…Yes, it's okay."

Carlisle's face was grim, but now I couldn't afford to calm him.

"I'm sorry. Let's eat with your father tomorrow."

I kissed Carlisle on the cheek and left the dining room with an urgent step.

* * *

At this time, Raymond was facing Leon Sios.

"Greetings to Your Majesty the Emperor, the Sun of the Empire. Please forgive me my poor etiquette, but my leg is numb,” Leon said, nodding towards his legs, which were tightly tied to the chair.

"It's been ten years since I last saw your face."

“It's been a long time since I ran away looking for freedom, but I never thought I would come back like this," Leon snapped in disappointment. “Your Majesty, what did I do wrong to be taken to the dungeon? Is it because of my father's actions?"

There was something that came to his mind when Carter came to get him, but he hoped it wasn't that thing. He hoped that even if there was no eternal truth, it wouldn’t be revealed.

Not only Lisa but also his nephew, who is innocent, will be killed.

" I suddenly dragged you here, and you must have been embarrassed. I hope you will understand me."

Leon bowed his head.

"…Yes, I’m okay. I just want to know why you wanted to find me so much.."

Raymond, like an animal that overtook its prey, slowly moved his lips:

"I found you because I have something to ask."

"And what is this?"

"If you give me an answer without a single lie, I will spare your life. But… if you tell a lie…" Raymond stopped in front of Leon and grabbed his chin.

"…"

"I will kill you in the most painful way I can find."

Raymond opened his red lips again, looking into those green eyes opposite, once again reminding him of Lisa.

"Now just tell the truth. Who is the biological father of the First Prince?"

“What is this… Of course, His Highness's father is Your Majesty?”

Leon played a fool who didn’t understand what was said. Releasing his chin, Raymond took a step back.

“A letter was found in the Drua duchy. It was a suicide note left by the Duke by his own hand shortly before his death, and it said that the former Marquis Sios had committed a crime of public outrage. This was that the blood of the slain Crown Prince through the First Crown Prince was passed off as my son and placed in the position of the Prince."

Raymond lied to Leon.

All that Freud Drua left was a portrait of Edmund, and the name of the murdered prince on it’s back.

But that alone wasn't enough to make Leon open his mouth, so Raymond lied to him and looked directly into Leon's eyes, to see if there was any tremor.

Leon held his breath and gave confidence to his gaze. He hoped all the way that things were different, but God didn’t listen to his wishes. From the moment he heard about his father's fall, he thought that such a day could come.

‘But I can't reveal it like this, now.'

Otherwise, his fate is a dog's death. His whole life won’t end in vain, but he just wanted to save his young nephew.

Leon, who had been trembling for a very short time, soon hardened his face.

“A damn serious statement for a simple letter from a dead criminal. I heard he died trying to hurt the imperial family? And will you believe the words of such a person? Your Majesty?"

"Lisa Sios, your older sister was involved in the assassination attempt on the imperial family. Why would it be an unreliable story?"

At that moment, Leon scrunched up his face… He couldn't believe what he has heard.

"What are you going to do, Your Majesty?"

Leon spat those words out without taking his eyes off the Emperor's dangerously shining black eyes.

Maybe the Emperor hasn’t noticed it yet, but Leon didn't think he can hide it to the end. It may be better to admit it sooner rather than later. However, Leon wasn’t sure if the Emperor would spare the First Prince.

No, if the Emperor finds out the truth, he will surely kill the First Prince. Leon wasn’t afraid of death, but now his nephew was in trouble.

This innocent child. Too young to die like this.

"Is your silence mean agreement? Should I think that the First Prince's biological father is the dead Prince?"

Leon looked up at the moment Raymond asked the question.

He couldn't bear to tell the truth.

"…Your Majesty, I really don't know anything."

Raymond's eyes turned fierce at Leon's response. The moment he tried to spit out a brutal order, there was a commotion outside the door.

* * *

It wasn’t hard to guess where exactly Raymond might be.

The place where people who were secretly arrested by Emperor’s order were in the basement of the Imperial Palace.

I entered the basement, bypassing the servants and guards. The servant at the door widened his eyes in surprise.

"…Your Majesty."

"I have to see my husband."

"It's… It's not a good time right now."

"Are you thinking of forbidding me? Hurry up, open the door immediately."

The servant gave up quickly.

"Is that Ellie?"

"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress, the Moon of the Empire."

Raymond and Carter turned to me in amazement.

"I beg your pardon for coming without an invitation, Your Majesty."

Raymond frowned, as if he caught something in my voice.

"Where does the Empress come from… Oh, you know that too."

Raymond guessed that I had found out about the secret of the birth of the first prince.

‘And Leon Sios is here.’

He stepped aside before my sharp gaze. Then a man who was hidden by Raymond appeared before my eyes. The man sat tied to a chair. The same hair as Lisa, the same green eyes. And outwardly he looked like Lisa.

I didn’t often see the face of Leon Sios, and that was faded in my memory. But now there was no doubt.

Fortunately, it doesn't look like he's been tortured before.

At that moment, I met Leon's green eyes. He looked at me with a surprised look.

"I'll take care of this. So take a step back," Raymond turned his eyes to Leon.

"He opened his mouth?"

"Empress."

“Your Majesty, I can’t leave now. I know better than anyone how much you hated the dead Crown Prince."

His glowing black eyes suddenly trembled.

“I should also know the truth,” I threw in pursuit.

Raymond said nothing.

As if accepting defeat, his grin relaxed a little. He took a deep breath and opened his mouth.

"She hasn't opened her mouth yet."

I turned to Leon.

"Do you know anything about the relationship between the dead Crown Prince and Lisa Sios’s son?"

"Even if they kill me here, I have nothing to say," After saying that, Leon closed his lips. He looked like he wouldn't say anything.

It was expected that he would not open his mouth easily.

If he admits it, not only Lisa's life but also the First Prince's life will be in danger, but no matter how much he has abandoned the family, could he lead his family to death?

"If you play as a hero, I will have no choice but to keep my words. Carter."

Raymond's quiet voice sounded.

Even before I arrived, Raymond's eyes, as if he had been arguing for a bit, were shining with anger.

"Are you saying you want to kill me?" Then Leon asked Raymond.

"There's nothing I can't do," the corners of Raymond's lips twitched.

“…You can't kill me without a definite reason. It doesn't matter how bad my family is. Even so, I am also a noble.”

“It's been ten years since you abandoned your family name. If I kill you here and now, no one will even know."

"…"

Leon fell silent at the clear sight of Raymond. He must have sensed that Raymond's anger was unusual.

"Bring the sword. I personally…"

"Your Majesty.”

I called him as soon as he started giving orders.

"Empress, step back."

"Your Majesty,” I called him one more time as if blaming.

When I look at Leon's determined face, I can tell that the torture won't open his mouth…

We need another way.

"Your Majesty, please let me talk for a moment."

"Talk?"

He was indignant, as if there was no room for words in our situation.

"I have something to tell. I beg you, Your Majesty."

When I bowed my head and begged, a sigh spread across his face.

“…Carter, prevent a single ant from entering.”

"I am receiving your orders."

"Empress, let's go outside."

Raymond coldly told Carter and left the prison first.

I followed Raymond and saw Leon looking at me with a strange look.