The Abandoned Empress Chapter 155

Chapter 155: Chapter 155

“Hey.”

“Huh?”

“Are you upset?”

“Huh? What the hell are you talking about suddenly? ”

When I looked at him curiously, his blue eyes stared at quietly. He looked at silently for a long ti and said in an unusually serious tone, “I an the crown prince. As you know, the noble faction is hellbent on making Duke Jena’s daughter the crown prince’s wife.”

“Well, I think…” I slurred, trying to avoid his eyes.

I felt sorry for the crown prince when he asked not to shun him, but even after my return and now, I had no intention of being his wife.

Even now, there was no way to stop Jiun from being the crown prince’s wife unless I replaced her. I was worried about the consequences on my family and the pro-emperor faction if Jiun beca the crown prince’s wife, but I could not live with the painful mories of my past, which kept coming to my mind.

“Why do you look like that again? Are you still bothered?”

“… No, nothing.”

“Hmm.”

Let ignore his question. Carsein grinned at , while looking at carefully as if he examined sothing. Then he asked with a puckish sense of humor, “Then how about ?”

“Huh?”

“You know, I’m from a great family and I’m competent. Just look at only one person. You don’t know much about , but I can reassure you I’m a first-rate bridegroom candidate.”

“… What the hell are you talking about?”

I giggled at him and stroked the silver cat asleep on my lap. First-rate bridegroom? I felt Carsein didn’t match the image of a first-rate bridegroom. Of course, he had a point when I looked at it objectively, but I felt such a mix was rather awkward.

How long was it? I felt the wagon stop. As soon as the door was opened, Luna, rubbing her golden eyes at the sound of raindrops, pricked her ears.

Lightly clicking his tongue, Carcein said, watching Luna fluffing up her fur with wary eyes.

“Anyway, she resembles her master. Hey, give the umbrella. I will open it. ”

“Oh, thanks, Sein.”

When I held Luna tightly with both hands, he unfolded the umbrella, got out and wrapped my waist with the other hand. I stepped on the ground with caution, relying on his strength.

The heavy rain soaked the hem of my skirt. I felt warmth from Luna and Carsein who got close to my body as well as the cold rain.

When I was about to walk away, trembling with cold, a familiar voice was heard from behind.

“Oh, you’re back now, Tia. It’s been a long ti, Sir Carsein. ”

When I turned my head, I could see my father getting wet in the rain. He was wearing a uniform.

I rushed to him, forgetting that I was holding Luna. The silver cat was soaked to the skin, crying sharply.

“Hey, she got wet because you rushed to him! ”

Carsein hurriedly ca running to and put an umbrella over . Looking at him, my father said, with a light smile, “Let’s go inside. Ah, Sir Carsein, why don’t you co in for a minute? I have sothing to tell you. ”

“Yes, sir.”

Since the rain ca after a long drought, it was pouring down. We got soaking wet during the short movent from the door to the porch of the mansion.

By the ti I entered the porch, water was already dripping from my wet clothes. Luna was trembling after jumping from my arms.

I took a towel from the butler on standby, and dried my face with a towel.

I gave him instructions, “Butler, please prepare warm bath water. Then, send a man to Duke Lars to bring so clothes for Sir Carsein. Also, get als ready as soon as we’re done taking a bath.”

“Okay, my lady.”

“Then I’ll go up first, Daddy. See you later, Sein. ”

Coming back to my room, I took off my wet clothes with Lina’s help. When I soaked in the warm water, my cold body got warm, and I felt relieved at last.

Co to think of it, I experienced the sa thing last fall.

One day during the National Founding Day festival I was soaked in the sudden autumn rain, so I rushed to the palace with the crown prince. Although I refused, he had the attendant prepare bath water ready for , so I could warm myself. He also asked to take a break instead of attending the banquet.

I shook my head strongly. Did I get sentintal because of the rain? Why do you keep thinking of him today?

‘I can’t live with him anyway. I can’t open my heart to anybody.’

I closed my eyes with a bitter smile. The warmth of heated water wrapped around . How nice would it be if this warmth could spread to my frozen heart? If so, I might have a little hope that I might be able to love soone. In that case, I might be able to revive the buds of hope which I thought sprouted but disappeared soon.

I was subrged in the water until the lavender scent attached to my body, then I ca out at Lina’s nagging. When I changed my clothes and entered the dining room, the two n who were chatting looked back at .

“Oh, co on in.”

“Yes, Daddy.”

When did they beco so friendly? After they got close after the raid, the two covered all kinds of topics on the knights, such as training, organization, operation, and tactics. They finally talked about the grand topic of swordsmanship.

“I promised to honor my deal with you, but I kept delaying it until now, I’m sorry for that.”

“No, sir. You have gone through lots of things until recently.”

“If you don’t mind, I can coach you about fencing after the imperial ball is over. How about that?”

“I’m fine anyti, sir. Thank you for your guidance in advance.”

“I’m looking forward to it. As you know, they call you the genius of swordsmanship.”

“I’m flattered, sir.”

After talking with him, my father got up, folding his napkin. Then he said with a faint smile, “Let go upstairs as I’m tired. So, see him off on my behalf.”

“Yes, I will.”

“Okay, Sir Carsein, see you next ti.”

“Yes, sir. Have a good rest.”

‘Daddy seems strange today.’ I tilted my head. ‘He looked a little tired, but he didn’t tell anybody about it.’

I knew that my father had good feelings toward Carsein after he saved my life in the recent raid by the unidentified hooligans, but he was unusually kind to him, compared with Allendis.

Besides, my father let spend ti with him on purpose. He always used to tell that I should be careful about my words and deeds, so that I could not be talked about in social circles.

While I was lost in thought, soone suddenly stuck his face out in front of .

I hurriedly pulled my body back, surprised.

“Oh my! You surprised , Sein.”

“Don’t look so dumb! Why are you so absent-minded like that? As a knight, co to your senses. Let give you so special training, starting tomorrow.”

“… Don’t do that. Let see you off, Sein.”

“No thanks. My house is not that far from here, Tia. By the way….”

“Huh?”

He quietly reached out and stroked my hair. When I looked up, feeling his gentle touch, he smiled at softly. Suddenly, the light of the chandelier was obscured with a darker shade because he ca closer to quickly.

‘As you stand there, you are much taller than I think.’

I thought he was tall, but I didn’t know he looked much taller up close.

‘Huh?’

I felt his face getting closer to , although I could not see it well because my view was blocked by the light. I blinked a couple of tis because I felt I saw it wrong, but sothing moist touched my forehead then fell off.

‘Huh? What is this … ‘

“What the heck did you, Sein?”

When I stepped back, surprised, he looked at quietly with a smile.

“Are you surprised? Why are you surprised? I think you probably kissed Allendis, right?”

“… Well, I was very young then.”

“When you were young? You’re still a little girl in my eyes! Hey, don’t imagine sothing weird.

You are too young to think of that. You need another ten years for that. Got it? ”

When I stared at him sharply, pouting, he gently tapped my forehead with his fingers and turned back, waving at .

“I’m leaving. See you tomorrow.”

“… ”

“Are you upset? That’s why you are a little girl…”

“… Just go away!”

I heard him laughing heartily at .

He walked with long steps and disappeared. While looking at him for a while, I headed to my room.