The Abandoned Empress Will Not Return

Cerdian laughed at Kane’s decision.

 

And he laughed once again at the fact that Rodelia’s fever still hasn’t gone down.

 

‘You can’t even cure a fever so you’re being frantic like this?’

 

Cerdian thought Rodelia was a fragile person.
Or she was exaggerating.

 

The exceptionally thin wrist he grabbed at first glance also played a part.
It was as if it was going to break with a snap.

 

But there was something about it.
It was not until he contemplated for a long time where the uncomfortable feeling originated from that he realized its true nature.

 

Was it the day Rodelia held a tea party at Stella Palace to appease the ladies?

 

Late at night on that day, Sola came to him with a bright face.
And Cerdian knew very well why she had looked for him.

 

Perhaps she’d been had by Rodelia.

 

He also contributed to Sola’s upset feelings to some extent so he left her alone because he thought it wouldn’t be bad to match her mood.

 

He half-heartedly listened to the bitter words she had spewed out and let it go.
He let it pass lightly, thinking that she was just whining.

 

[How about using poison on the Empress?]

 

[She doesn’t have to suffer, she just has to hold on and not die.
The emperor doesn’t want an empress who has become a fool.]

 

[How to greet as a bride… I don’t think the Empress is the only one who knows.
There must be a record somewhere, so wouldn’t it be fine to just look for it?]

 

[Why aren’t you answering me?… Then, I can do whatever I want, right?]

 

Since then, he has completely forgotten about it as he was helping Rodelia deal with the slave trade matter.
In the end, Sola caused trouble.

 

“D*mn it.”

 

A low curse came out.

 

The hot-tempered Sola acting unexpectedly was already a somewhat predictable fact.
He couldn’t believe he only realized it now, he had never felt so pathetic.

 

Cerdian left the room with quick steps, roughly sweeping his silver hair that blocked his view.

 

Rodelia was poisoned by Sola.

 

***

 

Rodelia barely opened her heavy eyelids.

 

As time went by, her body became limp.
Even her eyelids were so heavy that it was hard to open her eyes.
With the help of the Viscountess Cohen, she laboriously got herself up.

 

Viscountess Cohen secretly shed tears as she looked at Rodelia who had become thinner in just a few days.

 

Lady Aden and Baroness Verna deliberately did not come in.
As if they shared a promise, they both cried at the same time upon the sight of Rodelia, so this was a decision they made as they felt that it would only be detrimental to the patient.

 

“Your Majesty, you must get up.”

 

The madam’s voice, as she clasped Rodelia’s hands tightly, began to tremble uncontrollably.
The clear shadows that settled on her face deepened.

 

“Today is the hardest.
If you overcome it today…….”

 

The madam’s words did not continue.
It was simply speculation as the physician did not even know the cause.

 

Rodelia, whose consciousness was faint, slowly nodded.
It was an act to reassure her, but the one who was most afraid was herself.

 

‘Really… Will I really overcome it after today?’

 

No, she knew her physical condition better than anyone else.
Her body, which has become fragile in a few days, will surely perish without getting past today.

 

The evidence was her gradually fainting consciousness and her sagging body that felt as if someone was bearing down on her.

 

The fear of death gripped her entire body.
She tried to suppress it, but the tears that ended up flowing down slowly soaked the pillowcase.

 

‘If I lose my life, it will be known that I died in an accident at a resort…….’

 

Though her tenure was short, wasn’t this a really shabby end to an empress who had a good reputation?

 

Tears streamed down endlessly.
Rodelia, who didn’t want to show her tears to the madam until the end, turned and looked out the window.

 

Though the sky was distant, she could see that the weather was clear and the sun was shining brilliantly.

 

“Your Majesty, let me change the water for a moment.”

 

The Viscountess, who was looking at her figure with mixed emotions, left her seat.
She fixed Rodelia’s quilt and left the room with the basin on her side.

 

The madam hurriedly stepped away but it wasn’t long before she was forced to stop.
Due to her surprise, she dropped the basin in her hand.

 

“Your Highness, G-Grand Duke……!”

 

Cerdian in a slightly sharp state was staring at her.
Viscountess Cohen quickly bowed.

 

“What brought you this far…….?”

 

Staring coldly at Viscountess Cohen whose hands were shaking, he said frigidly.

 

“Don’t let anyone in the room until I come out.”

 

***

 

It hasn’t been long since he saw Rodelia.
Nevertheless, her face had become surprisingly gaunt over the past several days.

 

Her white skin became paler, and the moist and red lips were dry and chapped.
Her hair that used to cascade pleasantly seemed like its strands would break off at any moment because all the nutrients had drained.

 

Cerdian approached Rodelia with slow steps.

 

Lying motionlessly, she looked like a corpse.
Only the slight fluctuations of her chest proved her alive.

 

Only the sound of her strained breathing echoed in the room.
Not long after, Cerdian was sitting next to her with a crumpled face.

 

“Rodelia…”

 

Cerdian sat still and softly called out her name.

 

“Rodelia Florence.”

 

It felt strange.

 

It was not until Cerdian repeated her name over and over again that he realized that he was scared if something were to go wrong with Rodelia.
That he considered her more special beyond his need for her.

 

He didn’t want to see her lying so motionless like this.

 

The way she was startled whenever he appeared, her forehead narrowing a little when she was in deep thought, and her face flushed red when she was embarrassed.

 

He wanted to see it all again.

 

Rodelia was a person who could make many facial expressions so she shouldn’t have to keep her eyes closed like this.
He frowned as the weirdly strange feelings raged inside him.

 

Was this merely attention due to his need, or instinctive attraction?

 

He didn’t know what it was.
However, for now, the feeling of wanting Rodelia to be safe prevailed.

 

Cerdian slowly reached his hand out to Rodelia’s cheek.
The boiling fever that was as the poison ate away reached him.

 

“This is why no one has realized.”

 

He remarked bitterly and gnashed his lower lip.

 

Has her grudge really gone this far? Sola used her own blood on Rodelia.
Of course, she would have only used a very small amount, but her body, which was weak from worrying about many things, couldn’t stand it and came to this point.

 

It seems as though Sola needs to be warned.

 

He gazed at Rodelia with complicated thoughts and slowly opened his mouth.

 

“Your Majesty.”

 

Rodelia lightly lifted her eyelids at the sound of her name being called.
It was hard to tell whose voice it was because she couldn’t hear very well, but it somehow seemed friendly.

 

She turned her hazy eyes to the man in front of her.
His face looked blurry, but his brilliant silver hair was something she could never forget, so Rodelia noticed at once that he was Cerdian.

 

“Cerdian…?”

 

Rodelia uttered in a raspy voice.
Even that was almost completely cracked, and there was hardly any trace of her clear voice.

 

Was it this painful to see someone so broken?

 

For now, there was only one way to detoxify the poison that spread to Rodelia.
Cerdian, who was looking at her with a deep-seated gaze, uttered in a low voice.

 

“I.”

 

“…….”

 

“I think I might be able to cure you.”

 

Her eyes, which did not move at all, shook a little from Cerdian’s words then.

 

“Do you want me to heal you?”

 

Did Cerdian know how to end this suffering?

 

She thought it wouldn’t be strange if she stopped breathing right away.

 

Though strange and cunning, she somehow trusted Cerdian’s words.
Thanks to this, the fear that was crushing her body began to gradually dissipate.

 

She wanted to spit it out loud, asking him to please end it.
But her parched lips did not budge.

 

‘I want to live.
I want to live.’

 

She wanted him to know how she felt.
Perhaps because she was so desperate, Rodelia’s body trembled.
Cerdian, who was looking at her figure calmly, continued to speak again.

 

“It may sound ridiculous, but there’s only one way for you to get better.”

 

“…….”

 

Even though he didn’t say much, Rodelia seemed to know instinctively what the method was.
It was the same atmosphere as that day, the low air and his sinking cloudy gaze.

 

If she chooses to do this, she will be an immoral empress.
But she wanted to live.
It was a ridiculous way, but she was desperate for that littlest possibility.

 

Though she couldn’t completely believe that this choice would save her life, still…….

 

In any case, her life came first before anything else now.
Rodelia nodded slowly toward Cerdian.

 

“If you don’t like it, push me away.”

 

After the strange atmosphere, Cerdian leaned over Rodelia and lifted her body slowly.

 

With his breath coming close, Rodelia lifted her struggling gaze and stared into his red eyes.

 

It was a brief eye contact, but Cerdian read the affirmative sign from Rodelia’s eyes.
He tugged gently at the nape of her neck.

 

Their lips, which seemed to hesitate for a moment, touched softly.
His careful kiss, as if he was tickling, soothing her, gradually deepened, and soon persistently trapped her hardened tongue.

 

Not long after, a fishy taste lingered on the tip of her tongue and ran down her throat.

 

A strange, cold feeling went down her esophagus and circled throughout her entire body.
Her body became lighter, almost as if she had taken a fever reducer.
Her hazy mind also cleared up, then awkward embarrassment.

 

Rodelia’s body quivered slightly.
Feeling the tremor, Cerdian grabbed her waist and pulled her closer.
Between his narrowed eyes were red irises that were so deep that the end was unknown.

 

Rodelia opened her eyes wide.

 

‘Oh my goodness, what did we do just now?’ Rodelia turned her head and pushed Cerdian away, unable to hide her embarrassment.

 

Fortunately, he was easily pushed back, and she was able to catch her breath.

 

“What in the…”

 

Rodelia got up from her seat and looked all over with disbelief on her face.
She felt so light it was as if she hadn’t been sick in the first place.

 

No matter how much she wrapped her mind around it, it was strange.

 

She tried to understand what the situation was, but she couldn’t.
Did it make sense that sharing a kiss with him made one feel better in an instant?

 

But the feeling that preceded her was shame.
However, Cerdian had the same calm countenance as usual, as if nothing had happened.

 

“I guess you’re all better now.”

 

“…….”

 

“That’s a relief.”

 

He said it in a dry voice.
Perhaps because of that, Rodelia grabbed the hem of her clothes with an unknown bitterness.
Unlike him, who seemed insensitive to their kiss, she was curious about his inner feelings.

 

‘Was it just to help me? Didn’t you feel anything?’

 

Rodelia nodded toward him, feeling her mind getting clearer and clearer, not knowing that her face was red.

 

And…

 

As her mind slowly became clearer, she started to recall her childhood memories.