Chapter 189 (2/2)

I hesitantly touched his fingers with my fingertips. His hand that I held first for the first time was very cold, as usual. Is it because of that? I thought I might feel creeped out, but I didn’t. Rather I felt sympathetic, I didn’t feel scared or tremble.

Now I took a little more courage and carefully wrapped his hands. When I patted the back of his hands as if to comfort him, he said with a surprised voice, “…Aristia? ”

“Your Majesty, please harden your heart!”

“… ”

“Don’t you tell me to harden my heart all the time?”

I spoke to him with a low voice. He was always a level-headed man, so I didn’t want to see him crumble helplessly.

“I know how hard it is for you now. It’s natural that you are so sad because the emperor, who was your only blood, died in Vita’s arms. ”

“… ”

“Please overcome your sorrow. The late emperor would not want you to crumble like this.”

“He would not want me…?”

While listening to me silently, he spoke in an unstable trembling voice.

“Maybe. He was only concerned about the empire even until the last moment of his life. ”

“… Your Majesty.”

“He would be more worried about the empire than me, his only son.”

“No, that’s not true. The late emperor loved you from the bottom of his heart.”

“I don’t think so. He thought of me only as his successor, and he was worried about the empire until the last moment, not trusting me.”

When I saw his wounded feelings in his eyes, I was really emotional.

‘Ah, Your Majesty. You shouldn’t think so.’

I sighed unconsciously, thinking about the late emperor.

‘Why did sadden your son who craved your love so badly? Why didn’t you love and care about him? You were so mean. Why didn’t you say some kind words to him until the last moment?’

I looked at his eyes and said, “No, the late emperor was…”

When I opened my mouth to help him clear the air, there was suddenly a loud noise from outside the cemetery.

What is going on? The owner of the voice looked like a woman, given its high tone.

Frowning his eyebrows, he stood up, raising me carefully. Then he adjusted his dress after shaking it off, and touched my hat with his soft hand.

I thanked him in a little voice and headed for the entrance to the cemetery, holding his hand.

I saw a woman bickering with the royal knight there.

“Nobody can enter here.”

“I’ve got something to tell the emperor.”

“Please speak to him later.”

“I am an official candidate for the emperor’s wife. Why do you stop me without asking the emperor?”

It was none other than Jiun and the royal knights who made the loud noise. While quarrelling with them in anger, she rejoiced to see the emperor, then frowned badly. Obviously, she saw me coming out with him side by side.

Regardless of her reaction, who was breathing roughly, he said to them, “We’re much delayed. Let’s go back.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

I felt a bit relieved to see him giving instructions, but he looked back at me and said, “Let’s go.”

“Pardon?”

“I said we should go back. What’s wrong?”

“Ah…it’s nothing, Your Majesty. ”

Squinting at Jiun who was staring at me sharply, I was escorted up the stairs.

My father standing at the entrance of the stairs looked at me coming out with him and frowned a bit. After a while, he said to my father who bowed silently, “Marquis, may I talk to her for a moment?”