I Won’t Accept Your Regrets

The third day of the imprisonment of Leon Sios.

The lack of news bothered me so much that I decided to find Raymond myself.

"Empress.”

The palace courtiers quickly left the office, was it because they noticed my unusually stern face?

"Your Majesty, is Leon still keeping his mouth shut?”

"He doesn't open his mouth easily."

He sighed wearily and wiped his face with his hand.

It's been three days now. He wasn’t subjected to terrible torture, but he wasn’t allowed to eat or sleep.

He hasn’t yet opened his mouth, even though the news was slipped into him that we had found another informant.

"He heard that we had another witness in our hands, but he didn't seem nervous at all?"

"He said no. When he heard that, he didn’t show any agitation.."

Raymond turned his head.

Leon was locked in the basement, unable to sleep and starving for three days. If he was an ordinary person, he would have already started to lose his mind.

Does the fate of Lisa and Edmund really matter to him?

"He's come this far… I don't think I can wait any longer."

Raymond's eyes sharpened for a moment.

It seems that he decided to turn to torture. But this time, even I can't stop him.

There was simply no other way to open Leon's mouth.

"If he doesn't sing even on the brink of death, we'll catch Lisa and find out the truth."

Raymond seemed almost certain that the first prince was his brother's child. Of course, my opinion was not different either.

At first, I saw this as just one possibility. But over time, I was more and more inclined to believe that it was a cruel joke from Lisa.

And even when Raymond killed his brother, Lisa tried to push Edmund to the throne. It's like a murdered prince rebelled and seized the throne.

“…Do as Your Majesty wishes, I will look for the Western Kingdom again just in case.”

"…I'm sorry to burden you with some of the work on First Prince."

“Our trouble isn’t limited to Edmund alone. Okay then. Just don't overdo it. As important as it is to reveal the truth… The health of the Emperor is also important."

"I'll keep it on mind."

From behind the door came the voice of a servant.

"His Majesty, Her Majesty. His Highness the Crown Prince arrives."

Raymond stared at me with a puzzled face.

"Carlisle?

"It looks like the fencing lesson has come to an end," I looked at my watch and said.

"Mother, father!"

When Carlisle entered the office, Raymond's sullen face changed in an instant.

Carlisle was no longer shy in the presence of the Emperor.

"Prince, do you care about me anymore?"

Oddly enough, he approached Raymond first, and hugged him.

"I greet Her Majesty the Empress."

Despite this, Carlisle didn’t let go of Raymond's hand. I was overtaken by regret, but now he liked his gather. Carlisle was so sweet right now that I just couldn't help but smile.

We were happy to take a short break with Carlisle after much agony over our problem.

Raymond asked, stroking Carlisle's hair gently.

"Was the fencing class fun?"

"Well, today I learned to cut sideways. It was difficult, but fun! Hold on, I'll learn how to fencing, then I'll beat my father!"

"Hmm, then I have to do my best not to lose to the Crown Prince."

"Oh, you don't need to try too hard… The Master said that in order to defeat my father, I need to be twenty years older. Or shall we try?"

When Carlisle asked that question sincerely, laughter burst out of me.

And Raymond was so cute now, too, with his smile.

"Well, if the prince asks so… why not try."

"Yes!"

Suddenly the office door flew open. The butler bowed his head and spoke.

"Your Majesty, the maidservant of His Highness the First Prince has come with news."

"Let him in."

Raymond frowned at the unexpected guest.

"What's the matter?"

"Your Majesty. His Highness the First Prince requests permission to dine with you this evening."

The mention of Edmund brought Raymond and me back to earth.

"Tell him it's impossible."

Raymond firmly stated that he wouldn’t even think about it.

The answer was cold, but how can I blame him?

He was almost certain that the first prince was a child from his step-brother.

“Your Majesty, His Highness the First Prince begs you. His mother is far away, his house has fallen, and he can’t eat properly. Please take a look at his Highness, the First Prince."

The maid shook her head as if pleading, but Raymond's gaze didn’t show even the slightest sympathy.

As the heavy silence fell, Carlisle's cautious voice was heard.

"Can't we eat together?"

"Prince. This is not your concern."

"But… I want to have dinner with my brother! All of us, together! For the first time, the whole family is together!"

Carlisle looked at Raymond and at me in turn.

Carlisle wasn’t yet aware of the difficult circumstances of adults. Therefore, it would be natural to want to eat with the older brother whom he wished to see.

Because Carlisle is deeply attached to Edmund.

I couldn't tell Carlisle what was happening, and even if I did, young Carlisle wouldn’t understand.

"Mother and father, let's eat together. I ask you."

Carlisle took our hand and spoke in a serious tone. Now I just couldn't refuse him.

Raymond fell into the same trap.

He looked worriedly at Carlisle and eventually raised the white flag.

"…Tell the first prince to attend the dinner.."

* * *

"Your Highness, His Majesty told you to attend the dinner."

The maid, who had gone to the Sun Palace for permission, returned bright-faced and spoke to Edmund.

"Okay."

It was Edmund, who had always lacked his father's affection.

At first glance, it seemed that he would be happy to have dinner with his father after so long. But contrary to expectations, Edmund's face didn’t glow with enthusiasm.

Even when he got permission.

The maid asked, surprised at Edmund's dark complexion.

"Your Highness. Are you unwell?"

"…No, no. I‘m fine."

“It looks like His Highness is worried about the meal with His Majesty,” Lily replied to the maid. The moment Lily interrupted the conversation, the servant's face wrinkled, but she had nothing to do.

Despite the fact that Lily's status was low, none of the inhabitants of the palace of the first prince considered Lily a real servant.

"If everything is all right, then I'll go check if all the desserts are ready for dinner."

"I'll check it myself, so bring it over."

"Yes."

After the maid left, Edmund looked anxiously at Lily beside him.

Lily had arrived for a visit two days ago. It happened on the orders of his mother.

"Your Highness will have to put this in the food for all three."

"What is it?"

"The only way to protect your future."

To put it so emphatically, Lily handed Edmund a bottle of colorless liquid.

Even a child would understand that it’s poison.

"Are you telling me to poison my father, the Empress and stepbrother?" Edmund asked in a trembling voice. But Lily looked coldly at Edmund and conveyed Lisa's words to him.

“It just means that in order to open the way for you to future achievements, you also need to get your hands covered in blood. Only in this way can you protect yourself and your loved ones."

"I can’t. I never…"

"If His Highness can’t, he will die."

"What nonsense?

“If His Majesty lives, you die, but the opposite is also true. Or will you silently watch your mother die?"

She grabbed Edmund by the shoulder and said, strengthening her hand.

Edmund was frightened by these words. He can't believe his mother is going to die.

After all, she was the only person left with him. He has who to this day wandered as an outcast in the imperial palace.

Edmund was so afraid that she disappears too. Just thinking about it he started to cry and his whole body trembled.

"If I do this, will my mother really be safe…?"

"Of course. Both she and Your Highness will be safe."

Lily stroked Edmund gently on the shoulder and smiled.

Edmund was so afraid of this smile, from which goosebumps ran all over his body, but at that moment, he had no choice but to squeeze the glass bottle and nod because he thought he had to save his mother.