Chapter 201

Chapter 201

Two moons hung in the zenith. Bright moonlight permeated deep into the room because we intentionally left the curtains open.

I sat on the bed with Ridrin and talked late into the night.

“My mother was originally a maid in this imperial palace.”

His story, which began from his birth, continued throughout the night.

It was difficult to hear, filled with the torment of his step brothers, the story of meeting Lilliana, the tragedy that occurred after her disappearance, the story of losing his mother and almost dying in a palace fire, and the story of rediscovering Lilliana while moving from one battlefield to another.

“That wasn’t human behavior,” Ridrian continued to speak in a choked voice as if still in pain. No matter how much time passed, the unhealed wounds were vividly revived.

He was sharing this painful memory with someone for the first time. His face twisted as if he could burst into tears at any moment, but he did not shed a single tear until he finished telling Lilliana’s story.

Then, the story continued about how he was filled with self-blame for not being able to protect his loved ones and how he acted like a wild warrior on the battlefield.

“At that time, Raven proposed to me to seize the throne. He had been preparing for a long time to rebuild this corrupted empire with young nobles and even Marquis Vibrio on his side, so he had a plausible support base.”

Ridrian did not know that Raven had put him on the throne for such a purpose. That was a story that was not even mentioned in the original.

He also talked about the reason why he started to collect dolls.

“After that, he brought women who looked like Lily to me from somewhere.”

As he talked about the dolls, he seemed to be trying to gauge my reaction. I roughly knew about it, but hearing it from him made me realize how serious his state was. However, he talked about it as if he didn’t really know, which made it even more heartbreaking.

“After that, as you know, I took the throne of this empire.”

Before I knew it, dawn had arrived. The early morning sunlight was seeping in through the window and it was so dazzling that it made my eyes water.

“Iona, don’t cry,” Ridrian said as he gently touched my eyes. It was then that I realized that tears were streaming down my face.

“Why are you crying?” he asked, looking at me with concern.

Upon realizing that I was crying, I suddenly felt a sense of sadness. Even the original novel, which was written in a calm tone from the perspective of an outsider, had made many people’s hearts ache. But hearing the story from Ridrian, who had gone through such a difficult time, mixed with the original story and made my heart ache even more.

“Rian isn’t crying.”

“I cried like this when I won the lottery.” Icontinued with a smile. “But it’s okay. Those were tears of happiness.”

“How about now?” the emperor asked.

“Now, I’m crying because I think it’s amazing how Rian endured through that difficult time.”

“It just happened that way, so stop crying.”

Even with his calm words, it only made my heart ache even more. He gently wiped away the tears from my eyes with his pale fingers. My tears continued to flow down his fingers.

“Don’t worry, I’ll make you happy.”

Those were the words I had said to the past Ridrian, but I had yet to say them to the current him.

I smiled, my eyes round and moist.

“Let’s be happier than we have ever been before. I promise to make you happy,” I said.

“Iona,” he replied, his face twisting as if he was trying hard to hold something back. His earlobes, barely visible, turned red.

Taking my hand, he placed it gently on his cheek.

“I’ll make a promise.”

“Rian?”

He closed his eyes for a moment as if he was thinking about something, then looked straight at me with his golden eyes.

“When this war is over…”

He had a careful expression as if he was choosing his words. Then he looked at me again.

“I’ll be entirely yours, Iona.”

“Rian…”

“No matter what I do, no matter where I am, I can’t be without you. So…”

“I believe you. I know.”

As he awkwardly confessed his heartfelt feelings, I smiled through my teary eyes. In response, his golden eyes softened and melted together with mine.

I knew exactly what his words meant, more than anyone else. He had declared his separation from Lilliana, who had been the foundation of his life. It was no different from showing his will to overcome trauma, more clearly than anything else.

I knew how much courage it took to make that decision. I was grateful for his determination. It felt like he cared for me as much as I did for him. That was why I was able to strengthen my own resolution.

“I will too…” I glanced briefly out the window before taking Reidrian’s hand firmly. “Ridrian, are you tired?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“But you haven’t slept for three days.”

“I’m okay because you’re here. Besides, there won’t be anything important to do today, and even if there were, there are plenty of people who can do it for me.”

At his last words, I couldn’t help but chuckle, thinking of him as a tyrant.

I raised the blackout curtains by the window where the morning sun was about to come in, getting out of bed. The room became dim again.

“Would you listen to my story?”

“Sure.”

“It may not be interesting or easy to believe, but….”

I began to tell my story to Ridian, starting with my childhood in this life. I told him about my happy childhood memories in this world and the difficulties I faced as a slave.