Episode 57

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Everyone dies eventually.

And for Lian, due to certain circumstances he couldn’t share with anyone, that time was going to come a little earlier.

Using the serpent’s power on Marquis Senwood wasn’t part of the plan.

He had been too hasty.

Lian acknowledged his mistake cleanly.

Winning over Sione’s heart, who had such unusual tastes, had been more difficult than he had expected, making him anxious.

He thought that removing the source of her distress would be enough.

He believed it was a gift she couldn’t possibly refuse, but it couldn’t be helped.

She had unique preferences.

Still, he felt a bit disappointed. However, when she looked like she might cry at the mention of him dying in four years, his heart softened.

As expected, Sione was the kind of person most easily swayed by appeals to sympathy.

She tried to maintain a stoic expression as if she wasn’t affected, but Lian saw through it.

He saw her green eyes trembling.

And then he smiled, satisfied.

Although he had shortened the already limited time he had left, he didn’t mind as long as he could spend that time by Sione’s side.

Sione was weak and kind.

That’s what made her interesting.

Most weak people were either servile or despicable, which made them annoying to watch, but Sione, despite her lack of strength to protect herself, was generous.

Even when she got angry about orders being disobeyed, she couldn’t hide the pity she felt for someone with only a few years left to live.

Ah, truly, she was an amusing woman.

Once she calmed down, he planned to discuss things in more detail.

It seemed the dog had been fully tamed, and he was going to quietly get rid of the eagle, asking her for just four years of her life in return.

He was certain it was a deal she couldn’t refuse.

Lottie would grow up and ascend the throne, the dog would protect both Sione and Lottie.

And as for Melbrid, who was completely infatuated with Lottie, there was no need to even mention him.

This way, Sione could live a glorious life as the mother of the Emperor.

Exchanging just four years for this was a bad deal for Lian, in his opinion.

He despised deals that didn’t favor him, but since the other party was Sione, he decided to be generous.

But then.

Sione started avoiding him.

She ignored him when they crossed paths at the Marquis’s funeral.

She rejected his requests for an audience at the palace.

After being denied a second audience, Lian locked himself in his room.

With his greatest rival gone and Sione under the protection of the dog, she was now beyond his reach.

The fact that he couldn’t see her unless she wanted to made Lian stew over the matter for several more days until, finally, a message came from the palace.

“Lian, come in.”

Sione, who had been sitting at her desk in the office, stood up as she spoke.

“It’s been a while, Your Majesty.”

“Has it been a week? Have a seat.”

“It’s been eight days.”

For Lian, those eight days had been long and tedious.

Sione looked as graceful as she had eight days ago, which only irritated him further.

Yes, irritation.

Lian had been plagued with irritation for the past eight days.

When he received Sione’s summons, he forgot all his irritation and rushed over like a dog, but even then, the dog was standing behind her.

Aiden was stuck to her like her own shadow.

Lian knew that he needed him for the future, but the urge to kill him on the spot without a second thought flared up inside him.

“Lian?”

Sione, now seated on the sofa, called out to Lian, who was glaring at Aiden with fierce eyes.

Even as she called his name, Lian continued to stare at Aiden as he responded.

“I’ve held back twice. Today, get rid of him.”

There was no need to ask what he meant by “get rid of him.” It was clear from the way Lian was fixated on Aiden.

Sione had called him today to discuss something important.

Seeing that conversation wasn’t going to be possible like this, Sione sighed and turned to Aiden.

“Aiden, please step outside for a moment.”

“Your Majesty, this is dangerous.”

“Lian may be dangerous, but I don’t think he’ll harm me today.”

When I learned about what Lian had done to Marquis Senwood eight days ago, I was horrified.

But after taking some time to think it over, I realized that, in his own way, he did it for Sione.

If what he said was true—that he merely stoked the Marquis’s suspicions about his wife—then he couldn’t have predicted that the Marquis would go as far as to kill Henry as well.

Someone who had exhausted himself to the point of endangering his own life for such a task was unlikely to harm me now.

But unlike me, Aiden didn’t trust the serpent.

His hand rested on the hilt of his sword as he whispered, his gaze fixed on Lian.

“He could still use his abilities.”

Lian snorted, interrupting their conversation.

“Do you think I would do something like that to Her Majesty?”

“I think you’re capable of far worse.”

“Curious about what I could do?”

The moment Lian finished speaking, his pupils narrowed into slits.

His eyes transformed, taking on the appearance of a serpent’s, and Sione quickly shouted in alarm.

“Stop! Both of you, stop! Aiden, I told you to leave us.”

Aiden glared at Lian, who was practically radiating a beastly aura, but eventually, he bowed his head.

Reluctantly, like a dog obedient to its master’s command, Aiden left the office, his steps heavy. Only then did Lian’s eyes return to normal.

Lian stared at the tightly shut door with a dissatisfied expression before turning to Sione.

“So, has he decided to stick to you like glue now?”

Sione let out a small sigh of exasperation, knowing exactly whom he was referring to.

Indeed, Aiden’s overprotectiveness had increased recently.

“He worries about me, so try to understand.”

“Dogs may be an unusual breed, but he’s not the only one concerned for Your Majesty.”

“It sounds like you’re saying you were worried about me.”

“Of course. I thought of nothing but Your Majesty in every moment I couldn’t see you.”

Had those words come from an ordinary man, they might have seemed quite romantic.

But because it was the serpent saying them, Sione couldn’t help but wonder if that level of obsession was less concern and more like a grudge.

“You don’t seem to be looking at me with worry today, Lian,” Sione remarked.

Lian ran his long fingers through his hair, realizing that he wasn’t smiling, though his expression didn’t change as he sat down heavily on the sofa.

“It’s quite unpleasant to feel frustrated when you can’t get what you want.”

Hearing this cryptic remark as soon as they sat down, Sione thought Lian hadn’t changed at all.

His appearance only seemed different because he wasn’t smiling as he usually did.

The unsmiling Lian was unfamiliar and dangerous, but Sione responded calmly.

“People generally strive to get what they want. Most go through life without ever attaining it.”

“I’ve never failed to get what I want.”

“Of course. I’m sure you have.”

“Which is why I intend to get it this time too.”

Sione was about to offer some vague encouragement when she suddenly remembered a similar conversation they had in the past.

He had said he had obtained everything he wanted, save for two things.

One was to be freed from the binding of the oath, and the other was the absurd notion of marrying her.

Feigning disinterest, Sione picked up her teacup and casually inquired.

“If you’re talking about freeing yourself from the oath, that’s practically accomplished already, isn’t it? You must have heard about the pact between Lottie and Melbrid.”

Lian, who noticed that Sione was pretending not to know, lifted his own teacup as well.

A smile began to form on his lips, something that hadn’t happened all day. Talking to Sione seemed to bring it out naturally.

With a painted-on smile, Lian mirrored Sione’s actions and responded slyly.

“You know what the other thing is, don’t you?”

Sione avoided his gaze, taking a sip of her tea.

She deliberately made a sound, hoping to distract him, but Lian’s violet eyes relentlessly followed her every move.

Setting her teacup down, Sione shook her head.

“I believe I declined that. Didn’t I say I wanted my second marriage to be with someone I love?”

“I do love you.”

“I believe I told you to stop lying about that as well.”

Lian set his teacup down with a sharp clatter, forcing Sione to meet his gaze as she reflexively looked up.

When their eyes met, Lian smiled widely, to the point where his eyes almost disappeared.

“I couldn’t say it with confidence before, but I’m certain now—it’s not a lie.”

“Think it over carefully. That can’t possibly be true.”

Sione was certain that a serpent, who lacked empathy and humanity, couldn’t possibly understand love.

But this time, Lian didn’t back down.

“It is true. There’s no other explanation for these feelings.”

Otherwise, how could he desire her so much, even though it drove him mad with frustration?