Chapter 266 (2/2)

What?

My head was messed up. I was out of my mind with her bombshell announcement.

‘So, I… I may not be infertile?’

I can have a baby? Then, all the wild imagination about me as an infertile woman up to now was nothing but a horrible dream?

“Oh my…”

My heart was pounding like crazy, and I was consumed by some intense feelings beyond description. I felt like I would cry at any moment.

However, his trembling eyes made my excitement subdued in a moment. I noticed him turning around and looking out the window.

My pounding heart suddenly became cold.

I raised my cold hand and put it on my chest as my heart ached. I felt very empty somehow.

‘You are really funny, Aristia.’

I bit my lips. I pushed him out even though he begged you to stay with me. How could I feel upset towards him because he was standing, with his back to me? I said confidently I could suffer more hardship than this, but how could I be upset with his cold attitude?

After taking my eyes off his back, I forced a smile that I had practiced for a long time. If I was hesitant here, it was clear that the royal doctor would think of me wierd.

“Thanks… ”

The moment I tried to say something, I heard him speaking to the royal doctor with a calm voice, “Both of you doctors, keep this secret for the time being. It’s my order as the emperor.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Got it, Your Majesty.”

“Then, you can go out for a minute. Let me call you back a little later. ”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

In fact, there would be nothing good if this were leaked. It was obvious that the pro-emperor faction would install me as the empress again, while the noble faction would put up the utmost resistance as they couldn’t sit on their hands.

“…”

I thought he would also give me directions, but even after the two doctors went out, he was still looking out the window silently. It looked as if he was setting up a barrier against me.

As I couldn’t stand it anymore, I opened my mouth, clearing my subdued throat, “Your Majesty, please allow me to leave. I’ve been away for a long time, so I think I should go back now. ”

“… Sure, go ahead.”

Looking back at him who was still cold to me, I slowly closed the door.

Standing with back to the tightly closed door, I put my hand on my chest as if I felt jammed up inside. Although I knew I had to go back, I could not move despite the royal knights’ intense gaze on me.

‘Come to your senses, Aristia.’

In the end, I took my eyes off the door, looked back, then went back to the banquet hall slowly.

Somehow, my legs felt very heavy.

***

“Good job, see you tomorrow. ”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

It was already after the banquet was over when I came to my senses, taking care of all the big and small stuff at the banquet.

He turned after thanking me out of courtesy. After showing due manners to him, I headed for the palace with heavy strides where I would be staying during the festival days.

Was it because of the tight corset? I put my hand on my heart because I felt jammed up on the inside very much today. When I was taking a big breath, I saw a familiar and welcome man coming toward me.

With his silver hair shimmering faintly under the moonlight covered by clouds, he was my father. “Tia, you’re back now.”

“Yes, Daddy. But you still haven’t called it a day? I thought you would be working until evening today…”

“How can I sleep comfortably as my only daughter is working late at night?”

“But you must be very tired…”

“I’m fine. Let’s go home now. Go home and take a rest. ”

“Pardon? Going home?”