Chapter 240 (2/2)

“By the way, how about Mrs. Verita’s condition?”

“Ah, I saw her asleep when I came out.”

“I see.”

Slowly nodding, he said after staring silently at the rain falling on the night street, “I know I shouldn’t say this, but I still envy them.”

“Pardon? What do you mean…”

“They can mourn the death of their relatives purely without being conscious of losing their face or caring about what others think of them.”

He was referring to the close relationship of my father and Duke Verita.

“Your Majesty.”

“Well, I don’t think I’ve ever mourned the death of my relatives. I had no affection for the late empress, and I should not even pretend to know the death of my biological mother. And the late empress was…”

“…It is the same with me. Well, I can’t even remember not only my mother, but all my childhood memories. ”

Although I knew I was rude, I cut him off because I felt sorry for his bitter loneliness.

He might have resolved his resentment towards the late emperor after hearing some episodes from me, but his cold relationship with the late emperor left a scar in his mind. The same may be true of his biological mother whose existence he had to deny, or the late empress from whom he never received love.

After looking at me silently, he smiled faintly. He seemed to notice that I was trying to change the topic.

“Yes, that’s true. Then, don’t you have any childhood memories? ”

“No, Your Majesty.”

“What a pity! At that time you followed me a lot.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Come to think of it, you were a very lovely child. You were bright and cheerful. You liked everyone around you, so you were loved by them.”

As if lost in memory, he stared into the air.

“At that time, I was up against a wall…So I didn’t treat you well. Perhaps that’s why I’m still being punished right now. ”

“… ”

“In that respect, I understand why you can’t love me easily. How can you feel affectionate for me when I have treated you coldly? Like they say, I reap the harvest of my own sowing.”

“…Your Majesty.”

“Remember what happened at your estate? The moment I saw you standing aghast, I recalled the last glimpse of your mother. Even while I was inspecting the border, I kept recalling it.”

His subdued eyes turned towards me. When I was fidgeting with the hem of my dress because I had nothing to say, the wagon stopped and a light knock was heard from the outside.

I breathed a sigh of relief deep down and slowly bowed to him.

“Goodbye, Your Majesty.”

“…Goodbye. Thanks a lot today.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I’ll see you tomorrow. ”

Watching his wagon disappearing in the rain while standing under the shade of the umbrella unfurled by a maid, I slowly walked into my house.

Back to my room, I changed into clothes and headed straight to the office.

Because I already reported to him, all I had to do was to review the documents sent by the head of the palace affairs department and consult with my father about it.

When I saw a pile of paper piled up like a mountain, I let out a sigh unconsciously. But I pulled myself together and picked up the thick documents.

How much time passed?

When I saw the name I was looking for in the pile of documents, a smile came to my lips.

It took me a lot of time to search through all the names of the palace affairs department.

“Let me see…”

A man of good conduct and sincerity?

After pulling myself together, I opened my mouth slowly. There was no way other than trusting him now, as long as there was no antidote, or someone else I could trust.

Even if the temple was involved in this, the High Priest would not protect the rebellious people.

So, no matter how much I think about it, it was best to offer him a deal.