Chapter 19

Chapter 19

“Greetings, Crown Prince. You are here again today?”

That’s right. That’s right.

It was Seian Varenne, the crown prince of Gemina Kingdom, who was brought in so that he could not oppose the Empire.

Meanwhile, the gardener, who was trimming the trees, quickly descended from the ladder and bowed his head politely.

“I don’t have anything special to do. I was going to find you anyway, but it worked out.”

His voice was as sweet as his looks.

At the same time, his soft smile was more beautiful than any other woman.

“For what reason?”Asked the gardener politely.

“I’m thinking of planting flowers, but it’s my first time doing that, so I need your help.”

The gentle tone of voice fluttered like a spring breeze.

“Are you going to plant it yourself?”

The gardener rolled his eyes.

“I was wondering if it would be okay if I had something to do.”

How much more can you do with being watched as a hostage.

“Do you have any favorite flowers?”

“Well, can I get the pansy? It doesn’t matter if it’s a seed or a seedling.”

“It’s not difficult. I’ll visit you in a few days.”

“Thank you.”

Seian’s gentle smile was as warm as a spring day. Yes, there is no way such a kind person could be a plotter.

But, why did Declan choose Seian?

Seian was not mentioned much in the original story. He only occasionally came out to help Stella.

“How kind you are even now. You are smiling at people even in this situation.”

According to the original story, he was a man who would go back to his own country on his own.

I don’t have to worry about him, but the sooner he gets back, the better.

“I’ll try to convince Declan later.”

I left Seian behind and started looking around the garden again.

On the other hand, Declan, who was in the office, looked at the doll every few minutes instead of looking at the paperwork.

Then, he sighed.

“She said she’d be back in a while, but why isn’t she coming?”

He wanted to run to the garden right away, but he was holding back because of her request.

“You always acted like you’d never leave my side for even a moment.”

Declan grumbled to himself and then wiped his face.

“…What am I doing now?”

He got up from his seat and headed towards the window.

Beyond the window was the endless garden. Looking at the entrance to the garden, Erica was nowhere to be seen.

“She said she was only going to the entrance.”

Leaning against the window, he looked up and saw a softly gleaming blonde hair.

“There you are.”

Fortunately, she doesn’t seem to have gone too far.

As soon as he saw Erica’s appearance, his anxious mind calmed down.

“What if something happens while she’s alone? Other people can’t even see her.”

It was clear that there was a problem when he saw that she was trapped inside the doll again. Still, he didn’t like it when she walked around like that.

“The soul that dwells in a doll.”

They’ve been seeing and chatting for a few days with each other, but it’s still unbelievable.

“…I hope it’s not an illusion.”

Declan gently caressed the corners of his eyes.

The way she acted when he was crying.

It was a hard, cold hand with no warmth, but when she touched his chest, it was more than any other comfort.

“She’s not Chloe.”

He mumbled softly as if he was telling himself to listen.

At first, he knew he was crazy, but he expected that she might be Chloe, though he had to realize that she wasn’t in her every move. Nevertheless, Erica was resolutely smashing his futile hopes every time. Just like before.

[ “I am not the Princess.” ]

He appeased his longing for Chloe by overlaying her with Chloe, and whenever he tried to cover up his guilt, she slapped the truth to him.

Declan was bitter and resentful, but at the same time, he felt apologetic as he went through the wounds he had been trying to ignore.

How could he possibly call her Chloe in front of her brazenly?

“I can no longer call you Chloe.”

His eyes twitched softly.

To get revenge, he had to become the Emperor, and to do that. He had to be insane.

[ “I’ll be by your side.” ]

As soon as he heard those words, his body, which had been chilled by loneliness, became warm.

‘I can’t deny that I was willing…’

[ “You can cry. In front of me. ” ]

When was the last time he cried in front of another person? He doesn’t even remember anymore.

[ “I will protect Your Majesty.” ]

The words she had said kept ringing in his ears.

Declan rested his hand on the window.

A drizzle fell silently on his dry heart.

“Pft. Then, she’s going all the way to the end of the garden.”

After staring at the window for a while, Declan grabbed the doll and headed out. Noah, who was waiting outside the door, followed him with a puzzled look as his steps were filled with urgency.

“Your Majesty, where are you going?”

“Garden. To find Erica.”

Noah looked down at the doll in Declan’s arms with a puzzled expression. “Ah, how did she get back out…”

“I do not know either.”

Declan hurried his steps as though he didn’t want to speak any longer.

Even after entering the garden, Declan, who only looked to where Erica was, showed his displeasure to those who stood in the way.

“The Sun of Burgundy. Greetings to His Majesty the Emperor.”

Seian, Crown Prince of Gemina, greeted Declan with courtesy.

“Long time no see.”

“Yes. It’s the first time I’ve seen you since I came to the Imperial Palace.”

Seian answered politely with a smile that is unknown if it was sincere or a lie.

“Yes. Well, goodbye.”

Still, his gaze remained fixed in Erica’s direction.

At that, he was staring at Declan’s back, which vanished as if he was busy with something.

There was no emotion on his face that had lost the smile.

“Is this the entrance to the garden?”

I turned around reflexively at the voice that couldn’t be heard here.

“Your Majesty?”

At first glance, Declan’s expression hardened like an angry person. He didn’t look very happy when I left the office, but now he looks worse.

“The garden is pretty, so I guess more people came in as I wandered around. But how did you get out? You’re very busy.”

“Someone didn’t come back soon, so I came to find you myself.”

Declan’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.

“Has so much time passed?”

Gazing up at the sky, it didn’t seem like much time had passed.

Declan just looked at me without saying a word.

‘He must have been angry because I didn’t come sooner…’

His stinging gaze made me a little nervous.

“Don’t you know that your condition is unstable? How can you be so careless?”

Was he just angry that I didn’t come…?

‘Is he just worried about me?’

I thought it was impossible, but I was secretly looking forward to it.

“You didn’t have to come. I can’t go far because I don’t know the way, anyway.”

“That’s why I came out. I’ve made sure you’re okay, so let’s go back.”

No matter how large the garden is, it’s not enough to get lost. Somehow, my heart was tickled.

“Now that you’re out, would you like to visit the garden with me? We haven’t been able to walk properly before.”

Declan’s eyebrows twitched as I smiled and drew closer to him.

“Sometimes it’s good for your health to get some air. You said earlier that you’ll also show me the way to the garden.”

After thinking for a moment, Declan nodded his head.

“I have to keep the words I said.”

Saying so, he moved slowly.

Hours passed, and the sky had turned red.

After the walk, we returned to the bedroom.

“Today, I will stay by Your Majesty’s side until you’re asleep.”

Shortly after washing, small drops of water fell from his hair. Declan’s eyebrows twitched as if he didn’t like something.

“I said it disturbed me from sleeping.”

I knew you’d say it like that, but I have no intention of giving up, though. I wanted to see if it was really because of me that he didn’t have nightmares last night…

“When your Majesty is asleep, I will get out of bed.”

“Are you going to disobey my orders?”

Declan’s sharp eyes shone brilliantly, but I made a louder noise.

Don’t you know that the person with the loudest voice wins at times like that?

“Even if you stare at me like that, I’m not afraid at all. Hmph!”

“Hah, how surprising.”

Declan’s face turned into a disgruntled smile.

I quickly added my words due to his look. “I’m not trying to harm your Majesty, I’m trying to protect you.”

‘…From nightmares.’

I had no choice but to swallow those words.

“What if an assassin comes in while you sleep?”

Declan gazed at me with strange eyes.

‘Was he impressed?’

“Come on, lie down. I’ll sing you a lullaby.”

He, who was not usually excited about the word lullaby, raised his voice. “Huh, you’ll be the only one who treats the Emperor as a child.”

“I’m doing this for your Majesty’s sake.”

I smiled a harmless smile as if I was really serious.

“It just disturbs my sleep.”

Declan hardened his expression.

“Ah, even in the children’s book that Your Majesty read, everyone sleeps well when they hear the lullaby, right?”

“It’s for children…”

I quickly intercepted his words. “The chief attendant was also worried that Your Majesty was not sleeping comfortably. I’m worried, too.”

His expression softened as I lowered the corners of my eyes and glanced at him.

“I plan to try various methods for His Majesty’s sleep in the future.”

“What else?”

His tone was blunt, though he didn’t look bad.

“I’ll try a lullaby today, and if it doesn’t work, I won’t do it tomorrow. All right?”

As I spoke with a smile, Declan was quiet with a questionable face, then laid down and closed his eyes.

‘Phew, like trying to soothe a stubborn child.’

Just like yesterday, I rested my hand on Declan’s forehead.

At that moment, he suddenly opened his eyes…

“It was this feeling.”