Chapter 182

unedited

Ejed’s face, who was handling government affairs with his back to the window, shone brighter than the afternoon sun. When he smiled like that, her heart was beating so much that it hurt.

Annie touched her lips with her hand unconsciously. Not long ago, the two had their first kiss. Also in this office.

Annie, worried about him being in the office till late, brought snacks when she came. And, as she is now, while she waited on the sofa, she fell asleep at some point.

When she opened her eyes, a warm and cozy embrace was wrapped around her. As she slept, she rubbed her cheek against Jezede’s shoulder, and his hand ran through her hair.

The large hand wrapped around her cheek and slowly raised her face. And she met red eyes.

Annie no longer looked at Ejed and closed her eyes. As if waiting, and looking forward to it.

Then something warm touched her lips. Annie blushed as she remembered that sweet breath. After that, the two often kissed each other.

Of course, it’s not her first kiss unlike Ejed, but Annie was very moved by that moment.

It was the first time she had a kiss so full of consideration and love.

‘You’ve changed more actively these days, but…… It’s not bad either.’

Annie blushed and shook her head. It would have been better to let her frivolous delusions come and end to this point.

Annie, who raised her body, went to the window to cool off.

Then, the path of her eyes, which stopped walking, reached the desk. The desk he used and the seat he sat at.

Somehow, wanting to touch it, she ran her fingertips across the polished surface of the desk, and sat down on the black chair.

The chair was softer than any chair she had ever sat in, although of course it was large enough to cover her small body.

It was fun to feel like she was with Ejed for some reason. Annie lifted her shoes and leaned back comfortably in the chair.

After repeating the motion for a while, Annie brought her body closer to the desk. She smiled as she looked at the neatly arranged writing instruments on the desk.

The owner’s preference for neat things was reflected in the black-oriented things, but even the clothes he wore were like that.

Annie tried to get her body up again. But she discovered something new. It was a piece of paper protruding from the desk drawer.

Has he ever made such an unusual mistake? After a moment’s hesitation, Annie gently shoved the paper with her hand. However, contrary to her intentions, it got slightly wrinkled.

‘Uh…….’

Flustered, Annie opened the drawer a little and tried to put the paper back in properly. But at that moment, her hand stopped.

Countless letters filled the drawer. Also, the same colored envelope she saw on the night of the banquet.

Even the edges are not worn and very clean, but there are some that have faded color. Annie felt that the letters were hers.

So, after hesitating, she pulled out the letter.

[Today too, I started the day wishing Annie to be happy. Thank you. If it wasn’t for you, I would have always lived without knowing this kind of happiness.]

As the confession-like story continued, Annie wiped her eyes with her trembling hands.

The letter dates back quite a while. There was also a time when the emperor, Ejed, visited an empire directly for trade.

There was also a moment when he went to war. Annie looked at the letter paper, which had a slightly reddish tint, and gave a blank expression.

6 years?

No, it was more than that.

‘How…. Since when?’

Although Ejed treats her with a gentle demeanor, he would generally turn away from the kind of questions. Stories about since when.

Annie had guessed that he was shy and turned away. But it was only now that she was able to get an answer to that question.

His consideration again.

It was overflowing with love. She blamed herself for that time and counted the pain.

As Ejed expected, Annie couldn’t escape the guilt. Could there be anything more sad than her loved one walking down a lonely road?

Her hand gripped the letter.

‘What am I to say to this? Like this.’

Regret and sorrow entangled like a stain in her heart.

“Annie.”

When she lifted her head, she saw Ejed approaching with a bright smile. Fortunately, he couldn’t see her hand hidden under the desk.

Annie hurriedly put the letter in the drawer and got her body up, but she didn’t even have to walk.

Suddenly he stood in front of her, and Ejed hugged her tightly.

“Thank you for coming.”

“… … Hey, don’t say thank you. I came here because I wanted to.”

Annie groaned, tightening her eyes. Then Ejed laughed out loud.

His heart ached a little at that voice, but it was okay. Annie whispered, slowly wrapping her arms around his waist.

“Because I missed Sir Ejed

too.”

She could hear his heart beating hot through the soft cloth. Annie closed her eyes as if appreciating it.

A sweeter voice resounded above it.

“I love you.”

Love.

Every day she heard the words she thought she would never be able to hear again. It sounded more sincere as time passed.

“I love you too.”

Annie responded with her trembling lips.