“I found it!”
Since they can take a day off as a reward, it was found quickly. The person who found it is a boy knight the same age as Dalia.
The title of the book where the letter was hidden this time was 《10 Years of Validity》.
‘What did she mean by 10 years? The expiration date of love? Is it an accusation that Her Majesty’s marriage will not last long?’
The title is written in such a subtle way that it is impossible to guess.
Dalia hid the letter from the boy knight in her handbag.
“Thanks to you, I found it. Thank you, Sir Knight.”
“Don’t mind it! Thank you for your hard work!”
As Dalia bowed her head, the knight bowed his head too. Dalia felt awkward.
“I haven’t done much work..….”
“No, that’s not true!”
The boy knight slightly glanced up at Dalia. Then, for some reason, his face turned white and he bowed deeper.
“…… I don’t think we should make a fuss for too long, so let’s go back.”
Hikan said, holding Dalia’s shoulders gently.
Dalia smiled and nodded in joy that she had finally found all eight letters.
* * *
Dalia breathed out a shaky breath and arranged the eight letters one by one.
The last letter has not been opened yet. Her heart was pounding.
Of course, she was most delighted to be able to help Her Majesty, but she also had a little self-interest.
‘Finally! I’m going to find out the secret that no original gamers could find!’
Dalia opened the last letter with excitement. What’s written there is…….
“Dalia.”
Then, Hikan knocked on Dalia’s door. He spoke briefly before hearing Dalia’s reply.
“Your guest is here.”
“Oh, who is it?”
“A guest that I don’t really welcome.”
But if it’s a guest that Hikan has to come and find Dalia himself…….
“Sir Cedric?”
“…….”
Silence is an affirmation.
Dalia brushed her hair and hurried downstairs in surprise. Originally, he was very polite, so he wasn’t the kind of person who showed up like this without saying a word to Dalia. It was clear that there was something else.
When she went to the drawing room, Cedric was really there.
He looked very tired, and as soon as he saw Dalia, he got up and approached her.
“Dalia. My mother……is unwell.”
“…….”
“Her condition is getting worse. I think she thinks my aunt is ignoring her, and she thinks it’s her fault. That can’t be true. Even though my aunt personally went there to stop her, she just said, ‘what’s the use of it now’.”
Cedric looked down at Dalia with a depressed expression.
There was a complex emotion in his eyes that could not be expressed in any words.
“I have confirmed that Kelsion is not at the Holy Empire. I also figured out how to purify his brainwashing. But it’s already been too long…….I guess he’s already done with it. Then they say that purification is of no use. Now my mother has to get through it alone……. Will she be able to endure it?”
“…….”
“Dalia, I’ve done a lot of things in the meantime. To save you, to save my mother. But…… everything else works out, but this one doesn’t work at all. No matter what I say, I don’t think I can change my mother’s mind.”
“…….”
“Even though this is the most important thing.”
Cedric’s voice grew smaller. It was the first time she saw his weak side.
Dalia couldn’t find anything to say and bit her lips.
He spoke with difficulty.
“I remembered what you said before. I’m sorry I have no choice but to visit you at this time. My aunt’s letter……did you find them all?”
The corners of his mouth contorted downwards, his jaw muscles stood out as if he had clenched his teeth.
“Sorry. I’m asking you this. I wanted to do well, but it’s not working.”
“It’s not Sir Cedric’s fault.”
Dalia holds his hands.
Hikan’s eyes shook with shock, but that wasn’t the point now.
“That, I told you before. I think I can be of help to Her Majesty the Empress.”
“…….”
“Let’s go together.”
* * *
Dalia and Cedric rode the carriage to the Imperial Palace.
On the way, Cedric closed his eyes in exhaustion. His eyelashes trembled. Dalia’s heart quivered strangely.
“I feel extremely foolish of myself. I’ve never felt this way before.”
“…… What did Her Majesty the Empress say?”
Cedric’s eyes sank even heavier. Dalia spoke again.
“It’s not just because of Lady Beolde is it?”
That’s because Cedric’s expression looked too painful.
Cedric continued after a while.
“Yes. You’re right.”
“…….”
“My mother just…… you might think I blame you. I’m not.”
“…….”
“Maybe it’s because of my manner. I’m a little tired.”
Dalia watched as he sighed and wiped his face.
Somehow she can feel something warm rising from inside her chest.
Trauma spreads very, very far. The feelings that began with Beolde were now spreading to Cedric.
There was a very old misunderstanding between Cedric and the Empress. Because of that, maybe Cedric…….
“Sir Cedric!”
Dalia called his name out loud. Cedric looked at her in surprise.
She raised her hands and slapped Cedric’s cheeks slightly, to be slightly painful. And she looked straight at Cedric.
“You have to calm down. Everything will be fine.”
It was fortunate that Dalia collected all the letters.
If the cause of Her Majesty’s depression is what Dalia thinks is, then this letter will surely help.
She hurriedly shook her head.
If Dalia went in with Cedric like this, Her Majesty could have misunderstood again.
So she urgently ordered Cedric’s attendant to contact Merida.
Merida came out in a very elegant outfit and got into the carriage, even though she had never been contacted in advance.
“So I’m going to introduce my close friend to Her Majesty as the next lady-in-waiting……that’s the setting, isn’t it?”
Dalia nodded eagerly.
“Well, that will be easy.”
“Thank you, Merida.”
“It’s nothing.”
However, the look in her eyes as she sat next to Dalia was somewhat dazed.
Then, fumbling to the side, she placed her hand on Dalia’s. Like a drowning person finally managed to hold the only plank.
“……Huh?”
Dalia looked at Merida in surprise.
She was so aristocratic in nature that Dalia thought that it would be rude to put her hand on the hand of someone she was not familiar with yet.
Merida said bitterly.
“It’s a rehearsal to pretend to be close, so please don’t think badly of it.”
“Oh, I, I see.”
“Miss Dalia.”
“Yes?”
“I bet everything on Miss Dalia. You can’t say you don’t know me.”
While Dalia was pondering what that meant, the carriage quickly arrived at the Imperial Palace.
Dalia and Merida went to the Empress’s Palace.
Just as she was about to pass through the entrance of the palace, Dalia met the Emperor who had just left the palace. Merida hurriedly bowed down. Dalia also tried to show courtesy, but the Emperor stopped her.
“Our Miss Dalia.”
He tickled Dalia’s face with an affectionate touch. But there was the same melancholy in his eyes.
“Thank you for coming to help us.”
“No, please don’t mind it.”
“Can my dear wife get better?”
He asked with a playful smile, but there was an indescribable desperation in the voice.
Dalia nodded her head unconsciously.
“Kelsion made my wife like that. I will find him and make sure he pays the price.”
“…….”
Dalia saw the Emperor’s eyes gleaming like a beast.
But soon, the Emperor stroked Dalia’s head and disappeared.
Dalia took a deep breath and headed with Merida to the Empress’s bedroom.
Merida knocked on the door with a cheerful rhythm and said affectionately, “Your Majesty, I’m here”.
“Ah, it’s Merida. Have you been worried about me? Come in.”
A muffled, cracked voice was heard from inside.
Merida beckoned Dalia to go in and opened the door. Dalia followed her awkwardly from behind.
The Empress was sitting alone on the bed, wiping her eyes with a handkerchief soaked with tears.
Her face was pale like a sick person, and her expression was dark. She seemed to be much thinner than before, perhaps because she hadn’t eaten at all.
Her face broke into a smile looking at Merida and then slightly stiffened at Dalia.
“……What are you doing here, Miss Dalia?”
Translator Note: I was too lazy to do anything today but when I thought of you guys waiting for update, I managed to drag my lazy ass from bed to sit and tl HAHA
**TMI: I went to my sis’s school yesterday to get her report card then we went for lunch afterwards…I only went out for 3hrs then instantly went K.O once we reached home…So I guess I will be recharging at home for a month before I can go out again ┐(￣ヘ￣)┌
