Chapter 2 - My Ex-Lover’s Wedding (1/2)
“A delegation?”
It was from Haizens. It was clearly a letter from Haizens!
Latille’s heart pounded with anticipation, but soon, a nervous energy overcame her. What if this was a goodbye letter?
Latille held her breath and opened the envelope. It felt like an eternity when she pulled out the letter. She was afraid the words would run away in the meantime.
She bit her tongue and read the letter.
“What does it say?”
Latille’s silence stretched, and the governess couldn’t contain her impatient curiosity.
“Is it a letter explaining his justification?”
“No.”
“No?”
The governess looked on angrily, but Latille kept her face carefully blank. It was just a letter, but she just stared down at it. She sighed and tore the paper apart.
“Your Highness?”
“He asked me to come to Carrisen.”
“Pardon?”
“He couldn’t talk about the details in the letter.”
“What kind of nonsense is that? Did he hurt his arm? Was he so injured that he couldn’t write just a few more words? I mean, even if he hurts his arm, it’s not like he didn’t have anyone else to write for him.”
The governess wore an annoyed expression, but Latille simply shook her head sadly.
“I don’t know, Governess. What should I do?”
“What else? You should write a letter too.”
“W-what should I say?”
“‘You worthless bastard, I feel sorry for the people of your country because someone like you became their emperor.‘”
Latille burst into laughter after hearing the governess’ harsh language. However, her laughter soon died away. When Latille turned completely expressionless, the governess looked on in more worry.
“Aren’t you going to write the letter?”
“I don’t know. I’m still thinking about it. It’s hard to decide.”
It was three hours later when Latille finally made her decision.
“Father. I’m going to Carrisen.”
Dinner time.
The Emperor’s eyes widened at Latille’s sudden declaration.
“Where?”
“I’m going to Carrisen.”
Her daughter’s words were close to a notice of departure. The Emperor was taken aback and looked at the Grand Chamberlain in dismay. However, the Grand Chamberlain gave a shrug, since he didn’t know the reason either. The Emperor calmly turned back to his daughter.
“Why are you going to Carrisen all of a sudden?”
“…”
Latille hesitated. It was not easy to say that she was leaving because of a man. She could freely give that reason if Haizens was single, but his wedding delegation just arrived that afternoon.
“Are you going to meet Haizens?”
The Emperor seemed to read her mind and spoke in a somber voice.
Does Father know my relationship with Haizens? Latille stared at her father in surprise. When their eyes met, the Emperor smiled bitterly.
“Haizens is a good man. But he’s not the one for you.”
He must have known already.
“Father.”
Don’t attach yourself to a broken relationship.”
“I…”
“I think this is the best.”
The Emperor set down his teacup, rose from his seat, and approached Latille. Then, he held his daughter tightly in his arms.
“If you marry him, you will have to go to a faraway land. I want my daughter to stay by my side for a long time. I want you to have love and live within my authority’s reach so I can see you.”
“I…”
“Don’t ever say that you want to marry Haizens, even if you become his concubine.”
Latille shook her head and spoke in a flat voice.
“I’ve never even thought about that.”
“Good.”
“But I want to go to Carrisen.”
The Emperor frowned slightly and looked at his daughter’s determined face. Latille’s mouth was tight as if she had already made up her mind.
“Latille. My daughter. Why do you want to see the man who left you and married someone else? I’ll let you go if you’re going to curse at him.”
“I want to ask him why he did this.”
“Will it mean anything?”
“It’ll make me feel better than now.”
The stubborn look remained on her face, and the Emperor. clicked his tongue. No one could change her mind when she made that face.
“From whom did you inherit your stubbornness from…?”
The Emperor patted Latille’s hair and then returned to his chair. However, his next words were spoken in a firm voice.
“You cannot go.”
She thought he was about to give her permission, but he dashed her hopes. Why? Latille’s expression crumbled and she shouted at him.
“Father!”
But there was a twist to his words.
“But I’ll let you go if you meet two conditions.”
“Please tell me. I’ll do it.”