🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 23
‘Finally done….’
Cecilia stretched her arms.
Thanks to Christine’s hard work, she was able to finish organizing the materials faster than expected.
‘A good talent has come in.’
If Christine had become her maid purely out of sincerity, it would have been rather uncomfortable.
Cecilia wasn’t so shameless as to accept such devotion without feeling guilty.
But then again… if Christine harbored ambitions of becoming empress, shouldn’t she endure at least this much?
‘She’s basically getting hands-on experience for her future duties—hardly a loss for her.’
Of course, compiling the materials Christine had researched into neat, official documents was Cecilia’s job.
No matter how clever Christine was, that only extended as far as her knowledge.
Convincing the stubborn nobles and the overworked bureaucrats required not book knowledge or intelligence, but authority and eloquence.
And most importantly…
‘I’ll need Edward’s cooperation.’
Cecilia gathered the files and stood up.
Björn grumbled loudly.
“Do you really have to go out in this sweltering heat?”
“Want me to turn you into an ice dragon?”
Björn shut his mouth.
Cecilia smiled faintly. Her pocket had been chilly for a while now.
He had been whining about going outside even though he could regulate his own temperature perfectly well with magic.
If he liked the cold so much, freezing him solid might just be the right answer.
‘Come to think of it… this is the first time since then.’
Since the assassin attack, Edward hadn’t come to see her once.
The empress’s palace and the emperor’s palace were completely separate, and Cecilia hadn’t gone to see him either, so it had been three days since the couple last met.
She wasn’t exactly worried—but she did feel a little hurt.
After such a big incident, was it really so difficult to at least show his face once?
‘Well, I can always go see him.’
With light steps, Cecilia left the study.
She didn’t bother with teleportation or any flashy tricks.
Contrary to what people thought, great magicians didn’t use magic for every little thing.
Magic consumed enormous amounts of mental energy!
Do what you can yourself. Better yet, have someone else do it for you if possible.
“Your Majesty, we’ll accompany you!”
Rosemary and Isabel, who had been nodding off, hurriedly ran after her.
“It’s hot. Why bother? Just rest.”
“But…”
“I’ll only be gone a moment.”
Her voice was gentle but firm, leaving the two maids unable to argue further.
Christine, having stayed up all night working, was fast asleep and didn’t even stir.
‘She’s probably still working in her dreams.’
Cecilia could have easily tracked Edward’s location with magic, but for once she chose not to.
Instead, she took her time, crossing the garden and familiarizing herself with the palace layout.
Never expecting that she would spot the very person she was looking for right in the middle of the garden.
‘Edward…?’
Unbelievable as it seemed, it was definitely him.
Instead of his usual immaculate uniform, he wore a loose white shirt and black trousers, leaning against the fountain and staring blankly into the air.
His slightly furrowed brow, the downward tilt of his eyebrows, and the intensity of his golden eyes radiated deep contemplation.
Cecilia blinked.
What on earth was he doing here?
Of course, he had plenty to worry about.
But he could have brooded anywhere.
In his own office, for example—where no one would see him pulling grimaces.
And yet here he was, lost in thought in plain sight of any passerby…
“…Cecilia?”
Since she hadn’t bothered hiding her presence, Edward noticed her right away.
“What are you doing here?”
“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”
“…I was thinking.”
“In my garden?”
“It’s my garden too.”
Cecilia burst out laughing.
True enough, the empress’s gardens technically belonged to the emperor.
Still, that hardly explained why he had come all the way here in this suffocating heat just to think.
But she decided not to press further.
That wasn’t what mattered right now.
“Anyway, perfect timing. I was looking for you.”
“…?”
Edward raised his head and fixed her with a sharp gaze, as though asking what scheme she had in mind.
Cecilia wanted desperately to bring up the matter of the mysterious handprint, but she decided to prioritize something more urgent.
“Did the assassins say anything?”
“…”
Instead of answering, Edward stepped closer, leaning in until his lips brushed her ear.
‘Worried someone might overhear, huh.’
Pointless worry. Cecilia had already cast a barrier around them.
“Nothing.”
“So you didn’t get anything out of them.”
Cecilia sighed. It was what she had expected, but disappointing nonetheless.
“That means something like this could happen again…”
“I’ve tripled the guard around the empress’s palace.”
Cecilia frowned.
“Pointless. Use that manpower to protect yourself instead.”
“You needn’t worry about me.”
“It’s worrying about me that’s pointless.”
Neither one willing to yield, Cecilia thought to herself:
They’re both right.
After all, both she and Edward were more than capable of protecting themselves.
The real problem was innocent people being dragged in and losing their lives.
But Edward seemed to see things a little differently.
“No matter how strong you are, you could still fall to a completely unforeseen attack.”
“Impossible.”
Cecilia’s reply was sharp and firm.
“You really don’t know what a great magician is capable of…”
“Your pet lizard would disagree.”
“…Björn and I are not the same.”
“Calling each other by name, are you?”
Cecilia ignored the childish jab and changed the subject.
“When’s the next council meeting?”
The abrupt shift startled Edward, but he quickly answered.
“Tomorrow afternoon. Planning to attend again?”
“Of course.”
Cecilia nodded.
“And I’ll need your help.”
“Understood.”
His ready agreement made Cecilia blink in surprise.
“You’re not even curious what kind of help?”
Edward’s lips curved into a smile.
“Because it’s about your invention, isn’t it?”
“…”
So transparent?
Cecilia reflected briefly on whether she had been too obvious.
While she was lost in thought, Edward continued.
“Thanks to you, there are virtually no heatstroke patients left in the capital. The Imperial First Hospital can finally operate normally again. But the Cecilia I know would never be satisfied with something so small.”
“…You got me. Should I give you a prize?”
Edward’s smile softened.
“Hardly worth a prize for guessing that.”
“Oh, but you’ll get one anyway.”
Cecilia shoved the file folder into his hands.
Edward flipped through it with a knowing look—but the more he read, the more his expression changed.
By the time he reached the final page and looked up, his astonishment was plain as day.
“How did you manage to compile all this?”
“The information’s all out there if you know where to look. The hard part was organizing it… but my maid Christine did most of that. Make sure to praise her next time you see her.”
Edward shook his head.
He looked genuinely perplexed.
“Why, exactly, should I be the one praising your maid?”
