Episode 82

I wasn’t sure why, but I placed my hand atop the head of the dog who had suffered to follow my command.

As I stroked Aiden’s dark hair, praising him, he lowered his head meekly. Then, slowly, he edged closer.

He bent his neck and waist, resting his forehead gently on my shoulder, and murmured softly, “Your Majesty…”

His oversized frame acting so childishly made me chuckle.

To me, it was endearing, but behind me, the maid gasped audibly.

She fidgeted, her mouth opening and closing as if unsure what to do, and then clenched her fists as if making a grave decision.

“Th-that… Sir… You mustn’t… with Her Ma—eek!”

She froze mid-sentence when Aiden turned his fiery gaze toward her, clutching her chest and sinking to the ground.

So many people were willing to risk their lives to protect me, from the White Shadow members to the palace maids.

I must be a fortunate empress.

Of course, it wasn’t proper for a man to rest his forehead on the empress’s shoulder in front of others, but I wondered if I could make an exception by calling him an outsider dog instead of an outsider man.

Yet even that didn’t feel right. He was no longer just a dog, nor could I simply call him a man.

When Aiden, eyebrows furrowed, looked at me anxiously, I stepped back and held out my hand.

His eyes sparkled as he reached to place his hand in mine, but upon noticing the bloodstains, he hesitated, his eyebrows drooping again.

“I’ll wash my hands first.”

“It’s fine.”

“…No, I’ll wash them.”

Dejected, Aiden turned and trudged off.

With his gaze still not entirely back to normal, the White Shadow members awkwardly dispersed after confirming that their commander hadn’t completely lost his mind. Stifling a laugh, I headed toward the kitchen.

When I entered, Amy, who had been drinking warm milk at the table, sprang to her feet.

“Y-Your Majesty!”

She dropped to the floor in a deep bow.

I gently pulled her up by the arm, but she wouldn’t straighten her back, instead frantically exclaiming,

“I’m sorry! I didn’t realize you were the empress—please forgive me!”

“What does Amy have to apologize for? You’ve done nothing wrong, so don’t apologize.”

“I’m sorry!”

“There you go again.”

“Sorr… I mean…”

Unable to say or do anything else, I guided her to sit in a chair and took a seat beside her.

Her hands, resting on her lap, were trembling uncontrollably.

Of course, they were. After all, she had gone through something so terrifying.

I held her hands firmly and spoke gently.

“You were scared, weren’t you? But it’s all over now. You’re safe.”

“That… that person told me to stay still. He said he was coming to save you, Your Majesty, so I stayed put.”

“You did well. It must’ve been frightening, but you did very well.”

“I was a little scared, but since the person who came to save Your Majesty was kind, it wasn’t too bad.”

Amy was such a sweet child. Anyone would have found Aiden’s appearance at the time terrifying, yet she spoke kindly of him.

I patted her head, touched by her kindness. Tentatively, she asked what would happen to her now.

“You can do whatever you want, Amy. Should I send you back home?”

I thought she might miss her home, but she shook her head with a gloomy expression.

Lian’s words about her being sold by her parents came to mind.

Though I didn’t know the full story, I didn’t want to force the child into anything she didn’t want.

“Then, would you like to come with me?”

“Can I?”

“Of course. Come with me, Amy.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you too. Thanks to you, I was able to stay comfortably here.”

When I smiled and thanked her, she burst into tears.

Covering her face with her hands, she sobbed into her lap like a child.

I gently stroked her bony back, comforting her until her tears subsided.

When I left the kitchen, Aiden was waiting for me.

“You said you were just washing your hands?”

Seeing him in a fresh outfit, I couldn’t help but comment. Aiden scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

“My hands weren’t the only thing dirty.”

It wasn’t a lie—he had been practically drenched in blood earlier.

Though his face had been clear even then, after cleaning up, he looked much better.

His eyes were back to normal, and his expression and aura were noticeably calmer.

As I looked at him with satisfaction, I suddenly burst out laughing.

It took me a moment to realize why he seemed so awkward: he was wearing a flamboyant mint-green jacket embroidered with bright red flowers.

Having no clothes of his own, it seemed he had rummaged through Lian’s wardrobe. Lian’s outfits, as bold and extravagant as his face, suited him well.

On Aiden, with his rugged demeanor, the result was almost comical. The contrast was so extreme it was both amusing and oddly endearing.

When my laughter persisted, Aiden seemed embarrassed, so I cleared my throat and pretended not to have laughed.

“The jacket seems a bit tight.”

It was.

The cuffs barely reached his wrists, and he had undone three buttons—not because of the heat, but because the shirt was too snug.

Aiden, broad and muscular, was simply too large for Lian’s slender-fitting clothes.

“I’m taller, after all.”

Paying no mind to the clothes, Aiden extended his hand, and I took it.

His hand was large, firm, and warm as it clasped mine tightly.

Suddenly, my throat felt hot.

I thought I was fine.

Lian no longer posed a threat, and I had believed Aiden would come to save me.

So, I was fine—completely fine.

Yet now, inexplicably, I felt tears welling up.

Moments ago, I had been laughing at Aiden’s unfitting jacket. Now, the emotions washed over me unexpectedly.

The servants and guards from the Summer Palace were cleaning up the bloodied entrance hall.

White Shadow members bustled around, and the maids stood quietly behind me.

* * *

Even if I had been foolishly kidnapped, I was still the Empress, and the Empress of Belpator must always carry herself with dignity. Yet, my hands were trembling.

It was all because of Aiden’s hand.

It was unnecessarily kind and warm, making me feel as though I might cry.

I glared at the bad hand that seemed intent on breaking my composure, only to realize that it wasn’t my hand trembling—it was his.

When I looked up at Aiden, his eyes were quivering just as much as his hand.

“I was terrified,” he said, his voice breaking off mid-sentence, his face contorted with anguish.

After taking a deep breath to steady himself, he continued, “Terrified I might never get to hold your hand again.”

The moment his words ended, so did my fragile patience.

I thought I had been holding back, but perhaps my tears had been waiting, ready to spill.

A single tear rolled down my cheek.

A few steps away, a guard watching us hastily dropped to his knees, bowing his head. His companion, seeing this, quickly followed suit.

Even the servants scrubbing the floor and the maids peeking out to check on me lowered their heads in unison.

No one dared to meet the eyes of the Empress shedding tears. Only Aiden, the one guilty of this grave crime, stood frozen, unable to move as if awaiting his punishment.

Looking like his soul was leaving him with every drop of my tears, Aiden stammered, “Your Majesty, I’ve made a terrible mistake.”

“What mistake?”

“I… I’ve done everything wrong.”

I thought I would stop crying soon, but the tears kept flowing.

It was absurd, really—Aiden looked as though he might burst into tears himself while muttering about his supposed wrongdoing.

Afraid I might break into sobs if I let myself go, I lifted my tear-streaked gaze and spoke firmly.

“If you’ve done anything wrong, it’s that you’re offering foolish apologies to someone who’s crying.”

Aiden faltered, unsure of what to do, before taking a deep breath and extending his hand cautiously.

“Forgive me,” he whispered.

I wondered what he meant until his hand gently cradled the back of my head and pulled me forward.

He wrapped me in an embrace, letting my face rest against his ridiculously out-of-place mint jacket. His hand, tentative and featherlight, began to pat my back with the utmost care.

He was so gentle that I could barely feel his touch, and yet, it made me cry even more.

I had acted composed, pretending to be fine in front of Lian, but I had been overwhelmed and afraid.

Lian was pitiable, terrifying, and unhinged, and I had been scared.

Trapped in an unfamiliar place, watching him waste away—I wasn’t strong enough to endure that.

I had been afraid that no one would come for me, that I, a mere Empress of a few months, would be forgotten as if I had never existed.

I believed Lothania wouldn’t abandon me, but on those dark, oppressive nights, fear had crept in.

So now, Aiden’s hesitant, uncertain pats on my back brought tears to my eyes.

Because this man, no matter where I was, felt like he would come for me.

Because these hands felt like they would never let me go, no matter what.