Chapter 354 (2/2)

If the empress were with him now, he would cheer them up with comforting words, but he didn’t feel up to it now. In fact, it was her way of appeasing them, not his.

”If you feel bad, bring the empress back here.’

Suddenly, he felt out of sorts, so he snatched the document from one of his aides and opened the first page.

How come they are so slow-witted! They could have scratched his itch if he was hesitant for the sake of his honor.

‘Well, he’s the only guy who is quick-witted to know what I want.’

When he recalled the guy’s broad and sly smile, he felt frustrated, hysterically turning over the document.

That knight with blue eyes, Carsein. He was one of the few friends of Tia’s who once used to stick around her to win her heart.

Although he knew that Carsein maintained his relationship with her only as a friend, and that Carsein also had a happy family, Rublis was still bothered by his close ties with her. Granted, he also had more than ten years of friendship with Carsein, he didn’t like Carsein’s continued friendship with her.

“… Oh, is it?”

“Pardon, Your Majesty?”

Stunned by his murmuring suddenly, his advisors checked his expression furtively. Frowning a bit, he waved at them and said, “It is nothing. So, go ahead.”

“Oh, ah, yes, Your Majesty. Then I will continue. In this case …”

Caring little about what his advisors reported, he picked up a quill pen. It happened already a month ago, but he felt bad when he reflected on the matter, no matter how much he tried to leave it behind.

How come Carsein was included as a member of the empress’s delegation visiting her family’s estate? Why was he among other knights selected?

Moreover, when he thought about his daughter who kept begging him to let her out to play with Gradis, Carsein’s son, in the morning, he felt awful. He murmured, tightening his grip on the pen, ‘Damn it. I don’t like anything about Carsein and his son.’

When he was lost in thought about them for a moment, one of his aides shouted with a trembling voice, “Oh my God! Your Majesty?”

“…What the heck?”

“Your quill pen…”

“What’s wrong with it?… Whew.”

He sighed anxiously, looking down at his hand stained with ink. His palm was stained with ink here and there because of the broken quill.

Watching him hysterically putting down the quill, his aides said, “Your Majesty, you had better put it off until tomorrow. Why don’t you take a break? You look very pale.”

“I agree, Your Majesty. We’ll give you a briefing again tomorrow after fleshing it out with more details. So, please have a rest today. You really don’t look good.”

“Your Majesty, I’m afraid you’re going to get sick. So, please resume your work tomorrow.”

“…Okay. You may leave, too.”

He thought he could not concentrate any more, so he just nodded at their suggestion.

When he saw them hurrying out of the office as if they were being chased, he felt worse than before. He pulled the string silently and told the servant to bring some water to wash his hands. He didn’t want to use the handkerchief Tia made for him on an occasion like this.

So, he wiped his hands clean with the hot water that the servant brought and reopened the letter from her with a sigh a few days ago. At the bottom of the letter was the empress’s own crest engraved with a spear, shield, and lion and a tiara. It was the special crest he gave her, who was not only the empress but also the successor of the Monique family.

After touching the letter that seemed to contain her warmth, he read it again. He had almost memorized by now. Thanks to his repeated reading, he was already gazing at the end of the letter written in her own handwriting style, even though it was rather long.

<Dear my love, Rube,

Are you doing well? Are you comfortable these days?

I am doing fine. All the attendants are also keeping well…So, I would like to stay a little longer here. Is it okay with you? My father is very happy to stay here, and when I am about to leave, I suddenly feel like I want to stay here a little more. I’m really sorry. You know how much I miss you, right? Say hi to Diana. Then, I will be waiting for your reply.

With love, Aristia.>