The Abandoned Empress Will Not Return

“I don’t think you’re curious.
I heard that he’s a pretty good father.”

 

“Ah….”

 

Rodelia was quietly accepting his touch, bit her lower lip.

 

“He was a good father.”

 

Soon, a fake smile appeared on her lips as she stared at him calmly, vowing never to be found out by Cerdian.
She really didn’t want to get caught by him.

 

It was because she felt that if he were to find out about her weakness, even this kind man would try to ensnare and restrain her like Kane.

 

He will definitely change.
For Cerdian to change like that… Rodelia never wanted to experience being hurt like that again by someone especially dear to her.

 

However, it seemed that fate was not on her side until the end.

 

Cerdian still stroked Rodelia’s cheek with a friendly touch and opened his mouth.

 

“Actually, we have the Marquis with us.”

 

“…..What?”

 

“I thought you’d be sad.”

 

Once again her happy days have collapsed.
As if she didn’t deserve to be happy forever…..
As always, it seemed like everyone was urging her to enjoy only misery.

 

If she showed him what he wanted, could she really be happy?

 

Staring at Cerdian’s red eyes, Rodelia smiled as if she was happier than anyone else.

 

A smile as bright as the sun came across her lips.

 

 *

 

Outside the window, the rain and wind blew hard.

 

It was a quiet room, hence the sound of the pattering rain could be heard exceptionally loud.
Inside, Cerdian’s face was cold and stiff.

 

“Go and find out more about the relationship between the Marquis of Florence and Rodelia.”

 

Cerdian slowly opened his mouth as he stared dryly at the rain.
Angela, who was waiting behind him, asked in a slightly puzzled voice.

 

“What? Isn’t that something you’ve already investigated?”

 

“I meant to uncover the hidden things, not the superficial things.”

 

“Hidden things…?”

 

Brushing aside Angela’s question, Cerdian recalled Rodelia’s expression which he had seen during the day.

 

She certainly looked the same as always.  Whenever she was in a good mood, she would have a comfortable expression, an upbeat tone, light steps and her eyes curved into crescent-shapes.

 

But all of those disappeared in an instant, as if they were merely a mirage.
Exactly at the same time the name of the Marquis of Florence came up.
At first, he wondered if it was an illusion, but she was clearly….

 

“She was afraid.”

 

“What…?”

 

“She was afraid of Marquis Florence.”

 

Cerdian twisted his mouth.
His cold, sunken eyes were still looking out the window but his thoughts contained Rodelia.

 

“Try to find out as soon as possible.”

 

Angela trembled at Cerdian’s low voice.
Even though he didn’t do anything, the energy was so vivid that she broke into a cold sweat.

 

“I heed your orders.”

 

Angela ran out of the room, unable to bear the heavy air that seemed to weigh her down.
Cerdian’s hardened expression didn’t seem to get any better after that.

 

He recalled the image of Rodelia smiling happily at him from a while ago.

 

She smiled as if she was happy on the outside, but the darkness hidden underneath was so thick that it could not be easily covered.

 

Of course Rodelia would think that she was hiding it perfectly…..
So he sent her back to her room without saying anything, however…

 

‘Why do I feel terrible?’

 

He didn’t know since when.
He observed every single change in her expression, paying close attention to her.
When he saw her sorrowful expression, a maddening anger set in.

 

“Is it possessiveness?”

 

He still hasn’t figured out the exact cause of this strange feeling that had suddenly risen from a while ago….

 

Right now, he just didn’t want to see Rodelia sad.
That was it.

 

‘Rodelia Florence, I’m afraid you won’t even notice my feelings.’

 

Cerdian smiled bitterly, thinking that it was still a long way before she can give him her absolute trust.

 

 *

 

The rain and wind grew stronger.

 

The windows made a loud noise as if they were on the verge of breaking.
The sound of the wind seeping in between them also made a chilling sound, waking Rodelia from sleep.

 

Rodelia, waking up disheveled, slowly raised her body and made her way to the door.
It wasn’t voluntary, she just followed her body in its own way.

 

As she finally reached her door, Rodelia quietly turned the doorknob.
The cherry wood door opened softly with a squeaking sound.

 

She walked slowly down the dark, long hallway.
At the end of the hallway was a staircase.
Rodelia’s steps, which stopped for a moment, began to move again.

 

Her surroundings were still quiet and there were no servants in the mansion.

 

As she reached the end of the seemingly endless stairs, Rodelia skillfully placed her hand on the wall in front of her.
It was at this moment that the sound of stone scraping was heard and the wall slowly began to hide itself.

 

“Lady Rodelia…! What are you doing there!”

 

One of the servants on patrol rushed over to Rodelia.
It was only then that her eyes, which had finally regained focus, began to move around.
When she came to her senses, she looked behind her with a surprised expression on her face.

 

“Here is….”

 

“Come down quickly.
How did you get up there and why are you up so late at night?”

 

“Me?”

 

The maid beckoned at her, shining the lamp under the steps then climbed the stairs toward Rodelia, who was still staring down with only her eyes blinking.

 

“There is nothing here.
So come down quickly.”

 

“…..
Yes.”

 

Rodelia came down the stairs holding the hand the maid stretched out.

 

“You shouldn’t be walking around late at night.
Hurry up and go to bed.”

 

She took Rodelia to her door and after begging her several times not to wander around when it was dark, she resumed her patrol.

 

She couldn’t understand.
She clearly remembered and was conscious.
But she didn’t know why she went there…

 

She didn’t know.

 

Thinking that she should visit the place after waking up tomorrow, she fell asleep.

 

 *

 

Kane impatiently waited for news about Rodelia.

 

As the days went by, Sola’s extravagance increased and the dissatisfaction of the nobles also piled up.

 

Their finances were in chaos and his public audience was being delayed.

 

Everything was a mess. 

 

Looking back, everything was all thanks to Rodelia.
Thebes’ fame and his own reputation….
What made the Thebes empire the most prosperous was not the most powerful imperial authority but its solid internal stability.

 

With the way things are going… Thebes may be on the path to ruin.

 

Therefore he had to find Rodelia as soon as possible and put her back in her place.
What cured the poison… it would be okay to repay her with something other than the position as empress.

 

Rodelia poisoning him was also something to turn a blind eye to.
He just needed to pretend he was re-investigating then make it look like the Marquis of Florence did everything alone.

 

Rodelia must also have a lot of lingering feelings for her role as empress, so she will silently accept it.

 

[T/N: Oh gosh… ]

 

It was because she was the woman who got down on her knees to keep her place…

 

[T/N: Ugh! D*mnit Kane, don’t remind us!ಠ_ಠ]

 

“We seem to have found traces of Her Majesty and the Marquis of Florence.”

 

“Lead the way.”

 

Kane’s steps following Ferna became more urgent.

 

Eventually, when he arrived at the dungeon of the imperial palace, his face turned pale.

 

“Why are you finding something like this only now? Besides, these aren’t even small traces.
What have you lot been doing?”

 

“I’m sorry.
It wasn’t urgent at that time…”

 

The guard followed Kane’s gaze and continued.

 

“It seems Marquis Florence had been kidnapped.”

 

“You’re reporting that now? I’m guessing you couldn’t tell just by looking at this….
if that’s the case, it’s pathetic.”

 

There were so many clear signs of struggle, like trying not to be dragged away, why are they discovering this only now?

 

Kane was brushing his hair annoyedly, and soon remembered the reason.

 

‘So, everything was my fault.’

 

[T/N: well, duh!!]

 

[It doesn’t matter if he disappears or not.
You guys just have to keep an eye on Rodelia.]

 

At that time, he was not to stop the investigation regarding Marquis Florence.

 

As far as he knew, there was only one person who was bold and capable enough to kidnap them both.
Kane clenched his fists enough to make his veins bulge, let out a deep sigh.

 

“Cerdian Aizen…”