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The person who stepped out of the room wasn’t just the soldier who had gone in earlier. Walking slowly beside the nervous soldier was none other than Rayel.
“…Y-Your Majesty the Emperor?”
At his sudden appearance, I nearly blurted out his name. Even Alexandra, startled, spoke in a flustered voice.
“Brother, why are you coming out?”
“I happened to run into the soldier looking for the chamberlain while I was returning from a walk. He said two people had come, so I decided to see for myself.”
Saying that, he leaned casually against the doorframe. Because Alexandra and I had come? Did he really need to come out just for that? The Emperor wasn’t someone who had to greet visitors in person.
I forced myself to hide the awkward expression that threatened to form. Alexandra seemed to be thinking the same thing, for her face was equally bewildered.
“You could’ve just waited inside. Why trouble yourself to come out?”
“Sometimes, greeting people like this doesn’t seem so bad.”
“…Other people wouldn’t appreciate it much, though.”
“True enough.”
At Alexandra’s lukewarm response, Rayel let out a faint laugh. I silently agreed with her. While it was an honor to be personally greeted by the Emperor, it was also unbearably burdensome.
And right now, I wasn’t honored—I was uncomfortably self-conscious.
While I stood there unable to join their conversation, Rayel’s gaze locked with mine. After staring for a moment, he spoke in a seemingly indifferent tone.
“The Grand Duke has already gone back.”
“Ah, yes. I heard that from a soldier when I entered the palace earlier.”
“I see. When are you planning to return?”
“Before dinner time… I should be back.”
Why ask about my return time? Could it be… because I wasn’t with Lucius? Was he worried?
No, that couldn’t be. Rayel wasn’t the type to worry about me. If anyone, he would worry about Angelica or Alexandra. More likely, he would’ve been concerned about Lucius, who had left first.
“It would be better if you return as soon as possible today.”
“…Has something happened to Lucius?”
Wait—was he really worried about Lucius? His expression and tone suggested something had indeed happened. What could it be?
A cold sense of dread crawled up my spine. Hearing such words from Rayel only made my worry worse.
My expression must have hardened, for Alexandra quickly cut in with a trembling voice.
“What about Lucius, brother? Did something happen to him? Earlier, the two of you said you had important matters to discuss… Is it something bad? Did Lucius make some terrible mistake?”
“That’s not it.”
At her slightly raised voice, Rayel shook his head firmly.
“He didn’t do anything wrong. There’s no need to worry on that account. It’s just… he may be struggling emotionally. That’s why I thought it best if the Grand Duchess went to him.”
“Struggling emotionally? Then that’s definitely something to worry about! Tiana, shouldn’t you go right away?”
Alexandra scolded him lightly before turning toward me. My heart had already begun to pound with unease. Whatever conversation the two of them had, if Lucius was emotionally shaken, it must’ve been something serious.
The anxiety that had been simmering inside me rose higher. I wanted to return home at once. But…
“But what about Angelica’s matter…”
“Oh, right. You came because of Lady Werner’s issue…”
When I hesitated, Alexandra flinched as if she had forgotten it as well. Seeing us both like that, Rayel straightened from the doorframe and said:
“If you came because of the rumors spreading right now, don’t worry. You can leave it.”
“You knew about it, brother?”
She turned her head sharply toward him. At her accusatory gaze, he replied calmly.
“Yes. I found out before you.”
“Then why didn’t you take action? If you knew earlier, you should’ve stopped it before the rumors spread this far.”
“There’s no point trying. No—rather, it’s something that can’t be stopped.”
“What do you mean? Is there really something even you can’t resolve?”
Alexandra looked at him as if his words were absurd. From her perspective, it was only natural—how could the Emperor fail to quash mere gossip about a noble lady?
“…Yes. Even I’ve found there are things I cannot resolve.”
At her reaction, he gave a bitter, self-mocking smile. I thought I understood the weight behind his words. His expression carried a cold, painful irony, as if berating himself.
It must be about the thing he failed to stop before his regression. That’s why he chose to turn back time.
In the original story, Rayel had pride—both as Emperor and as a man. And rightly so; he truly had the ability to resolve anything.
But even he had been helpless before the unforeseen. Power meant nothing if it wasn’t the kind needed for that specific crisis.
Could this matter with Angelica be the same?
If Rayel said it was useless to resist, then no matter what measures were taken, the outcome wouldn’t change. After all, the laws of the “original story” still seemed to govern this world.
Events themselves might differ, but in the original too, before Rayel and Angelica’s marriage, noble ladies had slandered Angelica to ruin her reputation.
Even if the timing was earlier now, the story continued to unfold. Perhaps that was what he meant.
“In any case, I neither intend nor need to take action on that matter right now. Don’t concern yourself. If a time comes when help is needed, I’ll let you know. For today, just return.”
“…Understood. Thank you for telling me, Your Majesty.”
In the end, I accepted his words. Interpreting them, it seemed he meant that there was no need to move prematurely.
Then I had to go to Lucius. Angelica’s matter was important, but nothing outweighed Lucius.
“…You should hurry. Right now, more than anything, your presence will be a great comfort to him. I’ll have the Grand Duke’s carriage brought here directly—you don’t need to go to the stables.”
“Yes, I will. Thank you, Your Majesty.”
He urged me on, clearly concerned about Lucius. I nodded and turned to Alexandra.
“I’m sorry, Alexandra. I think I’ll have to leave for today.”
“No, don’t apologize. If Lucius is in pain, of course you must go. It’s fine—hurry.”
“Yes. I’ll contact you again soon.”
“Alright. I’ll be waiting.”
She understood and nodded without hesitation. After ending the conversation, I forced down my rising anxiety while waiting for the carriage.
I just wanted to see Lucius as soon as possible.
I rode in the Grand Duke’s carriage, urging the driver to go as fast as possible toward the mansion. The forest road we always passed seemed unbearably long, stretching without end.
“Lucius…”
I didn’t know what he and Rayel had discussed, but the thought of him suffering alone filled me with worry. He had a tender heart—if he had suffered a heavy blow, he must be struggling greatly.
My anxiety deepened. I clasped my hands tightly together on my lap. Jane, seated beside me, looked at me with concern and tried to comfort me.
“My lady, please don’t worry too much. His Highness will be alright.”
“…Yes. Thank you, Jane. You’re right—he will be fine. And in times like this, I need to stay strong.”
Just as Rayel said, the only one who could stay by Lucius’s side now was me. It was my duty—not anyone else’s—to comfort and support him. He was my one and only husband, the man I loved.
Being apart from him now was unbearable. His face lingered before my eyes, and I closed them tight, focusing on the sound of the carriage wheels rushing along.
After some time, the sound of the wheels on dirt shifted. Opening my eyes, I saw we were approaching the mansion. A knight riding alongside relayed news through the window.
“My lady, we will arrive at the mansion shortly.”
“Understood. Please tell the coachman to hurry just a little more.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Not much farther now. My heart pounded faster at the thought of seeing Lucius again. Please, let his condition not be as bad as I feared.
The carriage picked up speed and finally arrived at the Grand Duke’s mansion. As we passed through the gates, I quickly looked toward the entrance hall.
“Ah…”
The sentry must have already relayed word of my arrival, but only servants were gathered at the entrance. Lucius wasn’t there.
As the carriage neared the entrance, I saw Warren stepping out alone. Strange. Surely he would’ve told Lucius of my return. Why didn’t Lucius come out?
Normally, he would have greeted me without fail. Was his condition truly so poor? The sight of his absence sent my suppressed anxiety surging again.
The carriage rolled to a stop, and a knight opened the door for me. As I stepped down, Warren approached.
“Welcome back, my lady.”
“Warren, where is Lucius? Where is he?”
“Pardon? Ah, His Highness…”
I cut off his greeting with my question. Seeing my unusual urgency, he faltered before replying hesitantly.
“He returned about an hour ago. Said he was tired and went straight to his chamber. I believe he fell asleep, so I didn’t inform him of your return. Forgive me.”
“…No, it’s fine. I already knew he came back early. I’ll go to him now. Until I say otherwise, don’t let anyone upstairs.”
“Understood. I’ll send the servants downstairs as well.”
Sensing the gravity of the situation from my firm tone, Warren nodded quickly. I hurried past him, entered the mansion, and climbed to the second floor where the bedchamber was.
I went straight to the door. Placing my hand on the doorknob, I took a deep breath. Just as I was about to open it, I heard a faint, trembling voice from inside.
“…Nia… Tiana…”
“…! Lucius…!”
My fear had been right. I threw open the door and rushed inside.
On the bed, curled up and trembling—was Lucius.
He was crying. Alone.
