260 – Episode 260 a Clever Idea to Appease Longing
Episode 260: A clever idea to appease longing
A week later, the day came to leave for the Nedeville estate with his father.
At breakfast time, Cecilia took me to the dining room. Flora and Mulia were already there.
“Good morning, Lady Flora. And Lady Mulia.”
Then the maids also responded to the greeting with bright faces.
Originally, I usually ate breakfast in my room, but since today was the day I was leaving, Cecilia suggested that we gather together for a meal.
Immediately after Cecilia and I sat down on our chairs, a generous meal was set out on the table.
“We have prepared it especially for you who have to go on a long journey in the future.”
Cecilia gently curled her lips and smiled softly.
“I am very grateful, Your Majesty.”
Then Flora and Mulia also expressed their gratitude to Cecilia.
After finishing breakfast, we headed to the main gate of the imperial palace.
My father was standing outside the door with his arms crossed. As soon as my father saw Cecilia, he quickly bowed.
“Meeting Her Majesty Empress Cecilia, Mother of the Empire.”
“It looks like you’ve been waiting a long time.”
“No. “It hasn’t been long.”
Only then did my father straighten his back and look at me and the maids in turn.
“Did the ladies come out to see my son off?”
“That’s right. Since I haven’t been able to see you for a while, I’m going to try to see you as much as possible.”
Flora answered in a bright tone. Mulia nodded her head, agreeing with her opinion.
The reason the maids reacted like this was because they didn’t know the real reason I took the vacation.
Perhaps if Cecilia found out that she was planning to inherit her throne… You might be surprised and turn a blind eye.
“I will rest well.”
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I smiled at them. Then suddenly Flora and Mulia’s cheeks turned red.
… Why?
It’s not like I don’t know that I’m in a romantic relationship with Cecilia.
Haha.”
My father, who was watching this scene from behind, suddenly burst into laughter. But now was not the time to worry about that.
“Luke.”
Cecilia took a step in front of me.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Immediately after her answer, she took my right hand. It’s as if they don’t want to let it go.
“It’s one month. “You know, right?”
“Yes, of course.”
The month she was talking about was a month excluding the time it took me to travel between Deleson and Nedville. In other words, in reality, he was away for nearly two months.
“Remember your oath.”
Even though I promised that I would definitely come back, Cecilia kept bringing up my promise. He probably seemed very anxious about me leaving.
We didn’t do this when we weren’t in a romantic relationship.
That means they consider me special.
I was grateful and lovely for that feeling. However, I can’t express my feelings because there are so many eyes,
“I will definitely return on time, so don’t worry, Your Majesty.”
I just emphasized it again in a clear tone.
My father and I saluted Cecilia. Then I got into the waiting carriage, and his father got into his red horse.
This carriage was specially given to me by Cecilia.
After taking my seat, I gave instructions to depart for the coach seat. The carriage started moving, and I stuck my head out the window.
Cecilia, Flora, and Mulia stood there. I waved my right hand at them.
Then Flora responded by waving her arms widely.
Starting with that, Mulia and Cecilia also lightly waved their right hands. I waved my hands non-stop until they completely disappeared from sight.
‘I feel kind of tired… ‘ …’
As soon as I sat down in the right posture again, I felt like I was falling asleep for some reason. Looking back, it seemed like I hadn’t been able to rest properly after going to war with the rebel group.
There is a long way to go anyway.
“Whoa.”
I sighed softly and lowered my eyelids.
* * *
The first night we camped outside.
“Luke. “Put up a tent while I hunt.”
“Yes, father.”
I set up a tent in a suitable place with my driver and lit a bonfire.
If Ilayna had been by my side, she would have done all of this for me. However, he did not accompany her on this trip because Cecilia prevented Ilayna from accompanying her.
-Didn’t Ilaina confess it to you? Absolutely not!
As someone who had to send her lover away, it was only natural to worry about that. It was what I wanted too, so I followed her decision without saying anything.
Plus, if Ilayna had stuck around, she might have influenced my decisions.
Because I need time to think alone now.
After sitting on a suitable rock and watching the bonfire for a while, my father came back. Three rabbits were held in those large hands.
“I caught three fish.”
“This is like eating cold soup.”
My father put down three rabbits on a flat rock. He then skillfully peeled off the rabbit’s skin with a dagger he had taken from his chest.
“Do you make it into a stew?”
“Why bother making something like that? Just throw it in the fire.”
“Grilled food is also delicious.”
Then the driver next to me just nodded silently.
His father threw three of his fully groomed rabbits into the fire at once. I stared blankly at the bonfire.
As time passed, I could smell the smell of rabbit meat. It smells greasy and appetizing enough to make your mouth water.
“That’s it.”
My father used a long tree branch to pull the rabbit meat out of the campfire. Then he handed me a rabbit first.
“I will eat well.”
I carefully grabbed the rabbit. White steam was rising from the meat, and it was quite hot.
Fortunately, I had a wooden plate with me, so I put the meat on it and ate each part. I didn’t add any special seasoning, but it was more edible than I thought.
“It’s delicious, Baron Nedville.”
My father laughed out loud at the coachman’s words.
“How about you?”
“It’s worth eating.”
“This guy. Fortunately, my tastes haven’t changed, yeah.”
From then on, everyone was quiet and focused only on the rabbit meat in front of them. The coachman got up first and moved to his seat, saying he would sleep in the carriage.
“Luke.”
My father raised his voice. As I was about to get up to throw away the bones on my plate, I sat down on the rock again.
“Yes.”
“Are you okay with this?”
“…”
I quietly stared at my father’s face his. My father was looking at me with extremely serious eyes, unlike usual.
It was a somewhat vague question, but I was able to sense the implications.
“I’m not running away. I just needed some time to gather my thoughts.”
“I see.”
My father let out a heavy sigh.
“I swore to Your Majesty. “I will make up my mind and go back within the vacation period.”
“Your Majesty… Are you truly in love?”
Wow, I didn’t think you’d suddenly ask me something like this.
Although I was embarrassed for a moment, I quickly regained my composure.
I don’t know anything else, but I was able to answer that question without any hesitation.
“Of course.”
“I see.”
My father only responded briefly this time. Anyway, why are you suddenly asking that?
I asked my father a question about it.
Then my father chuckled lightly.
“I was just curious how determined you were.”
“I can bear to be separated from Your Majesty for a while.”
“Yes, I understand.”
My father shook his head.
“So, are you going to tell your family?”
“No. “I will keep this a secret until it is confirmed.”
After briefly replying that he understood, the father patted his knees and stood up.
“I’ll just go in now.”
“Yes. Good night.”
Even after his father left, I continued to sit there.
“…”
As I was staring blankly at the bonfire, this thought suddenly occurred to me. It seems like it resembles Cecilia’s eye color.
‘Not even a day has passed yet…’
I already miss Cecilia.
But as long as I make the decision, we can meet again.
“You have to try your best to make the right decisions.”
I looked up at the night sky and was lost in thought.
* * *
Several hours have passed since Luke left the imperial palace.
Even while working in the office, Flora and Mulia often glanced at Luke’s empty desk. And Cecilia was no exception.
Even during lunch time, they quietly focused on food.
They finished their day’s work in a strangely calm atmosphere.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“Thank you for your hard work, Your Majesty.”
The two maids saluted Cecilia.
“Okay. You guys had a hard time too. Let’s just go in and rest.”
“Hey, Your Majesty.”
Flora stood up from her seat and called out to her cautiously, and Cecilia turned her head.
“Are you okay?”
“…”
Cecilia immediately realized why Flora was asking such a question. She gave her answer with a calm expression.
“Okay. Anyway, I’ll be back in two months at the latest.”
Luke’s vacation lasted a month, but that didn’t include the trip to his hometown. It took him nearly a month to travel by carriage between Del Reson and Neville, so in reality, it was like not seeing him for nearly two months.
“…”
Mulia looked at Cecilia with worried eyes, but that was all she did.
When the maids left the office, Cecilia was left alone.
“Ha.”
Cecilia let out a sigh and got up from her throne. The place she headed was Luke’s empty desk.
Cecilia stroked his desk with her hand and then sat down on her chair.
“…”
She told Flora a little while ago that she was fine, but in reality, she wasn’t feeling well.
“Luke…”
It had only been a few hours since her lover left, and Cecilia was already missing Luke to the point of madness.
She didn’t want to give herself a vacation because she felt like this…
But she couldn’t bear to refuse Luke’s request, saying he wanted to think about it seriously.
Cecilia sighed and fell down on her desk. She then took a deep breath.
‘I thought it would smell like Luke… ‘ …’
Cecilia pouted her lips and showed disappointment. How is it that she doesn’t even notice a faint body odor in the same place she’s been sharing every day for over a year?
Cecilia placed her cheek on her desk and rubbed it back and forth. But she couldn’t satisfy this longing with just that.
“Should I just close my eyes and go to Nedville?”
After muttering to herself, she quickly covered her mouth with her hand. She didn’t want to do anything to make Luke hate her.
So what can we do to appease this longing even a little?
“What should I do… ?” …”
Cecilia, who was contemplating repeatedly, suddenly came up with a very good idea and snapped her fingers. The method she came up with was to embroider a portrait of her Luke on the long cushion she sleeps on!
“That will work.”
A blush appeared on Cecilia’s face.
The next day, Cecilia summoned her most famous tailor from Delleson, and he instructed her to embroider Luke’s face on her pillow.
The tailor completed it in three days, following Cecilia’s orders
“Luke…”
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In her private room, Cecilia rolled over on her bed, hugging her long cushion with Luke engraved on it. At the same time, she felt fortunate that she was able to appease her longing even a little.