Ellie, who had already left the imperial palace and was about to get into the duke's carriage, stopped. After all, she saw a person walking in her direction.
That woman also froze when she saw .
It was Lisa. Our views crossed. She took the first step.
Lisa ca up to , leading her son Edmund by the hand.
"I greet Her Majesty the Empress."
Seeing her accentuated politeness, I slowly opened my lips.
"Raise you head."
I turned my gaze to the child who was standing next to her.
Black hair, like Raymond's, his black eyes Ah, the child felt my gaze and turned to look.
His naive eyes turned to , far from the difficult circumstances of adults.
I smiled tenderly.
In whatever situation we find ourselves, the child had nothing to do with it.
"Hello."
"Hello."
The child bowed his head and greeted shyly. I turned to Lisa again.
Lisa stood like a pillar and didnt take her eyes off .
At first, I felt uncomfortable when I saw her.
When she showed up in the garden of the sun palace, I was outraged at how perfectly she matched with Raymond. But now I didn't give a damn.
I had already dropped everything and left.
Now that I recognized this fact, my heart felt better.
And if you think that way, even though our situation is difficult, we didn't have any animosity with her.
I smiled at her and spoke:
"Are you heading to His Majesty?"
"Yes, and you"
Lisa's eyes ran over my clothes and reached Helen and the duke's carriage.
Whoever saw it would have understood that I was moving.
Lisa calmly looked at , but didnt dare to ask about the main thing.
"I'm leaving the palace. Have you already heard that we are getting divorced?"
Lisa opened her green eyes a little wider, as if she was surprised that I spoke so openly. But right after that she told :
"I heard about it. But as for the reason It never occurred to that the Emperor would exchange you for ."
No one could believe that I was leaving the emperor, whom I loved so dearly.
I looked into her eyes, asking , are you really leaving?
"As they say, nothing in the world lasts forever."
"Yes?"
I smiled brightly at her.
"I just knew that my happiness was coming to an end. Lisa, I hope you will be happy with His Majesty."
I looked into Lisa's trembling eyes, and then turned around and got into the carriage.
After the departure of my crew, Lisa, who was still standing there, muttered coldly to herself:
"Happiness"
And why is the word happiness so oppressive to her heart?
Lisa's face was distorted by a grin, but then a child's voice sounded:
"Mom"
Lisa glanced at Edmund. She smiled and gently stroked Edmund's head.
"Eddie, let's go to Father."
Ellie's bright smile, thrown into her face at parting, and for a while frozen in front of her eyes, was now forcibly driven out of her head. And Lisa hurried to the palace.
* * *
The familiar estate ca into view.
"Empress, please."
After arriving at Duke Croft, Helen opened the carriage door for .
As I walked out, holding Helen's hand, I saw my father and his servants lined up in front of the mansion.
I hurriedly walked towards my father.
"Father. How many years I havent co here."
"Youve already spent a lot of ti in the capital. I just couldn't wait for you to co. And here you are. Everything will be okay, Ellie."
When I heard my father's words, I realized that I had really returned to my ho. I took my father's hand and stepped inside.
"I ordered to clean up your room, but if you want another, just tell ."
"No, I like the room in which I once lived. And I want Helen to be allocated a room in the mansion."
My father's gaze turned to Helen, who stood quietly behind the entire ti.
Before leaving the imperial palace, I had already sent a letter to my father informing that I would be arriving with Helen.
In response, father said that he would find out more about her family.
He sumd up.
"I've already prepared everything. Ellie, go to your room and rest. Ill see you soon."
"See you then. Helen, you may go."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
First of all, I went up to the second floor, where my room was located. The maid in front of stopped and opened the door for .
As I entered the room, bathed in bright sunlight, I smiled at ease.
"Everything is as it was before."
Nothing was different from the day I left for the imperial palace. Appearance, even objects, their location nothing.
"The Duke told not to touch it," said the maid who ca in after .
I was so happy to be married to Raymond, so I didn't care what was going to be on our estate.
Looking around the pristine room, it seed to that it was so in the style of my father.
I felt grateful for his deep affection, but also guilt for the way I treated him.
"Your Majesty, would you like to change into more comfortable clothes?"
"Yes, let's do. But Sherry"
I handed the hat to the maid and called it by na.
"Yes Milady?"
"From now on, do not call Her Majesty the Empress anymore. Just call lady like you used to."
"Um As you command."
Sherry hesitated. Although I left the Empress's Palace, technically, I am still Her Majesty.
I had to finish everything in the temple, issue an official announcent, and then I would be Lady Croft again.
But This was my ho. And Sherry served my mother and was the nanny who raised .
So, I wanted to drop the formalities.
"Yes, it's okay. The answer from the temple, at best, will be only tomorrow. So call lady. Im now at ho and no longer wish to be called Her Majesty the Empress."
"Okay. Lady Ellie. Wait, I'll bring sothing comfortable."
Sherry entered the dressing room connected to my room and walked out with an ivory dress.
When I changed into my casual clothes, there was a knock on the door.
"Ellie, can I co in?"
"Co in, father."
When the father entered, the maid naturally left. I sat down at the table with my father and was the first to open my mouth.
"Thank you, and I'm sorry. I should have co to see you more often I could not think of anyone besides my husband."
"Good. Now everything will be the sa."
I smiled as my father gently took my hand.
"Yeah. Now everything will be like this I will soon forget the past. So, have you checked out Helen's family?"
"Yes, and be that as it may, now we need to be more careful with whoever you trust."
"Exactly"
Because of the divorce from the emperor, a lot will still be said about , so it would be good to avoid squabbles as much as possible.
And I also had a big secret in my belly.
"I investigated and found Helens house is not very well off. They say that Baron Foyd was crazy about gambling and squandered all the money, and the Baron's wife died a long ti ago."
This was news that I didnt know.
Helen never told about family matters.
"So Helen disowned the family?"
"Looks like Helen has nowhere to go. I dont think shell lie to you."
And while I was overwheld with pity for her, my father quietly called :
"Ellie."
"Yes?"
"I thought a lot and decided. May she continue to remain near you. She has nowhere to go. And if Duke Croft himself declares that he will take responsibility for her life, won't Helen be faithful to us until the grave?"
faithful to the grave I an, true until she finds out that I have the emperor's child?
"Should I tell her I'm pregnant and check her?"
"So be it. After all, I cant leave you alone while I myself go to distant lands. I would like her to keep an eye on you for the ti being. But, how can I not want to leave"
"Everything is okay. If father leaves, neither the emperor nor the empire will go anywhere."
Even though Raymond had personal problems with , my father remained the Emperor's closest friend.
He had a strong sense of responsibility for protecting the imperial power, because it was he who contributed the most to the coup. Therefore, even if I divorce Raymond, my father will remain loyal to the emperor.
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