The Abandoned Empress Chapter 256

Chapter 256: Chapter 256

When I looked up with my trembling eyes, he said, pulling hard with a smile, “Much closer now.”

“Your Majesty.”

“Let’s hurry up. Otherwise, we won’t finish taking a walk today.”

“Well…”

“How about walking to the Ver Palace? You wondered about the silver flowers there last ti, right? ”

“… Yes, Your Majesty. ”

Surrounded by cool, damp air, I didn’t feel cold. I felt rather hot because of the warmth from his body that was close to and his arms wrapped around my shoulder.

When I turned my head hesitantly, I saw my silver hair hanging over his arms wrapped around my shoulder. That put in mind of what happened that night when he cautiously swept my hair and kissed passionately.

‘Co to your senses, Aristia! I told you to forget it! ‘

As I shook his head vigorously, he asked curiously, “What’s wrong?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

“Are you sure? Hmm.”

I breathed a sigh of relief because he didn’t ask any more. I now saw a glimpse of the silver flower tree at a distance. The closer I went to it , the more my heart pounded. This ti I was very curious to see if the flowers blood.

How long did I walk? Suddenly, he approached the tree and stopped there. I also stopped and raised my head.

As he was holding the umbrella from behind, I had no problem looking up. While glancing at the buds slowly, I scread exclamations unconsciously. The silver buds on the tree were all about blooming half apart.

My heart was full. Are they finally showing flowers to ? Are they really getting ready to bloom fully after overcoming the intense flas, the hot sumr sun, and even the harsh weather?

‘Are you going to show flowers this winter?’

I really hope so. When I look at you in full bloom, I feel like I can get out of my harrowing past fully.

When I was looking up at the silver buds, murmuring to myself, I heard him saying with a subdued voice, “That flower…”

“Pardon? Your Majesty?”

“That flower resembles you.”

“Pardon? What do you an…”

When I looked back at his unexpected remarks, he said, gazing at after he withdrew his arms around my shoulder, “I didn’t know it at first, but the more I look at it, the more I think it looks like you. Like you, it’s in a precarious condition, but it has prevailed at the end of the day. Like you, it is stubbornly refusing to show sothing. ”

“… ”

“I wonder if you can open your heart to when those buds fully bloom.”

My heart ached at that. When I looked at his trembling eyes, he also looked down at silently.

The sound of raindrops falling on the ground, a world that turned gray in the rain and the serene silence between the two of us.

His navy deep blue eyes were looking at silently under the white shade of the umbrella.

“Lady Monique?”

“… Oh, I’m sorry, Grace. What did you say? ”

When I hurriedly apologized, Grace looked aside, smiling awkwardly. Next to her was Jiun, who was staring at as if she was dumbfounded.

“How can you be absent-minded at this important ti. I really can’t understand you.”

“…Sorry, Lady Jena.”

Anyway, it was true that I made a mistake, so I apologized readily instead of getting choked up. Then I tried to refrain from turning my eyes to the window and picked up the paper in front of .

I sighed, looking at the paper written in full. What mattered was the contents.

I had already been arguing with Jiun for several hours.

“… I told you already I can’t accept this.”

“Why? I think it’s a reasonable offer.”

I replied with a sigh, pressing my stinging temple. My head was throbbing because Jiun differed with about every item on the paper.

“Lady Jena, you are now overstepping your authority. That’s why I’m telling you you shouldn’t do it.”

“Why? As you are given the full authority to host the festival, don’t you have to decide on the matter of the escort and security of the VIPs?”

“Even if I have the authority, it has been delegated by the palace affairs office. So, the escort and security business is to be taken care of by the knights divisions. It’s not a matter for to ddle in.”

When I made my position clear very firmly, Jiun was silent for a mont. I narrowed my eyes because she was still grumbling. Had she overstepped the authority of the knights division in the past in the na of her candidacy for the empress?

“…Good. Let’s forget about it. Then, what about the servants? I want them to work in four shifts because they must be pretty tired from lots of work during the festival. Why are you opposed to my idea?”

“Well, if they work a four shift, it will only add confusion to their work. Above all, it will take ti for them to get on top of their assignnts. Do you want to show the foreign dignitaries how ssed up they are? For efficient work, I prefer them working in two shifts.”

“If you move in shifts, you are very likely to be too cluttered. The job grasp will also be delayed.”

“Are you ignoring the competence of the n with the palace affairs office? If they work on two shifts, they will have to overwork themselves.”

I was really frustrated because of her trying to pick a quarrel with in every way.

What she said made sense, but the problem was that she would not listen to at all.

Was it because she was overwheld by the war of nerves between and Jiun?

Watching nervously as if she was sick and tired of our argunt, Grace said cautiously, “Well, how about taking a break before resuming? I don’t think we can finish the job, as things stand now.”

“Oh my… how can we have a break again when we already did a little while ago?” Jiun balked.

But I accepted Grace’s opinion. “Good. Let’s take a break.”

When I tried to cut her off firmly, Jiun stared at , raising her eyes fiercely. I looked out the window again, avoiding her gaze.

The sound of rain falling down in silence was heard, along with that of sobody splashing water while walking in the rain and laughing cheerfully.

Suddenly, his voice calling faintly seed to hover in my ears, who said he loved deeply, asking to open my closed mind to him.

But I didn’t reply to him yesterday. Even though I tried so hard to empty my heart, I couldn’t reply. Even though I vowed that I would only shed tears of happiness only one day, I couldn’t reply, either. It was only an excuse that I could not refuse him coldly in such a situation. It was also a poor excuse that I could not utter anything because I was too choked up.

The mont I heard his serious confession to in the rain, I had to admit that my closed mind was already open to him, and my frozen heart began to lt little by little..

Again… I ca to love him.

When did I begin to change my mind? At first, I was so scared of him. I was always anxious and vigilant against him at the thought that he could change anyti and take away my second life, although I began to realize little by little that he was different from the old him. I vowed again and again that I would never love him even at the mont I breathed my last breath.

Then, why did I open my heart to him again, when I was clearly aware that he and I could not make a couple, and would only end up hurting each other?

Despite all my strong vows, I was opening my heart to him.

Although I felt heartbroken so much, it was ti for to return to the bitter reality.

Looking at Jiun and Grace, I said calmly, trying to swallow my sorrow, “Shall we start again?”

“Lady Jena, you don’t want to change your idea on these items, do you?”

“No.”

“Whew! Okay, let’s do this. Since the pri minister is absent, I must attend a political eting to get our budget approved. Let table all the major agendas including the ad hoc work shifts of servants at that eting. For a fair judgnt, let keep our opinion secret. I’ll ask the participants which idea they like better, Lady Jena’s and mine. How about that?”

“Good. I’ve no objection.”

Jiun, who looked sullen all along, answered with a satisfied smile. Watching her feeling triumphant, I broke into a bitter smile. I felt uncomfortable about bringing their attention to our festival agenda, but given her attitude, I had no other choice.