261 – Episode 261 I Liked It First
Episode 261: I liked it first
A few days have passed since Luke left the imperial palace.
Immediately after Olivia received Cecilia’s reply, she set out for the imperial palace from her villa at Cainham, and only after about a week was she able to reach d’Elesson.
As her carriage entered the grounds of her imperial palace, her military band greeted her by playing its wind instruments. It was thanks to Cecilia, who received her call, preparing her hospitality in advance.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you all.”
Olivia got off the carriage, looked alternately at Cecilia, Flora, and Mulia gathered in front of her and smiled softly.
“Meeting Her Majesty, Empress Olivia.”
The maids politely bowed.
“Mother. Have you had lunch yet? “I’m almost ready.”
“Oh my goodness. “I wonder what dish was served today.”
“I’ll postpone the fun for later.”
Cecilia smiled, raising the corners of her mouth slightly.
“But Secretary Luke is nowhere to be seen.”
“That…”
Cecilia was troubled by what to say. Flora, who was watching, tried to step forward, but she was stopped by Mulia pulling her arm.
“I’ll tell you separately after lunch.”
“Sure.”
Olivia smiled her eyes.
Flora and Mulia felt doubtfully here. It was because they thought Luke had simply gone on vacation to relax.
‘Is there some other reason?’
The maids thought of that thought at the same time, but were unable to ask due to the atmosphere.
After lunch, Cecilia decided to spend time talking alone with Olivia.
“Let’s go to your room after a long time.”
“!”
At that moment, Cecilia shook her shoulders.
“Why are you doing that?”
Olivia asked back, tilting her head.
The reason Cecilia was embarrassed was because of her long cushion on the bed in her own room.
But when she immediately remembered that her maids had properly organized her room, Cecilia was soon able to square her shoulders proudly.
“No. “Let’s go quickly.”
‘Is there something?’
Olivia felt a moment of doubt, but that was all.
And she
Soon, the mother and daughter sat across from each other at the table in Cecilia’s room her her her her. They took a sip of the tea that her maid had prepared.
Olivia was the first to open her mouth.
“Is Secretary Luke on vacation?”
“Yes. For now, that’s it.”
“Hmm…”
Olivia’s brown eyes looked intently at Cecilia. It was a subtle urging to explain more about what happened.
Cecilia clicked her lips a few times before speaking.
“I asked my mother the other day. “I want to hand over the throne to Luke, but I don’t know if this is the right decision.”
“It was like that.”
“After receiving her mother’s reply, a firm decision was formed within me.”
Cecilia, who had said that much, let out a soft sigh.
“Did Secretary Luke reject your offer?”
Olivia asked again in a cautious tone, and Cecilia shook her head once.
“I spoke to Baron Nedville when we were together, but… She wanted time to think about it. “If possible, I would like to return to my hometown and think calmly.”
“So it looks like both of them are not in the palace right now.”
“Yes…”
Cecilia slumped her shoulders. Olivia stared quietly at her daughter’s downcast appearance.
‘It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Cecilia so downcast.’
Now she was twenty years old, but in Olivia’s eyes her, Cecilia still felt like a child.
“Now that I think about it, Cecilia. “What do you plan to do after handing over the throne to Secretary Luke?”
Of course, Olivia could well guess the answer. But she wanted to hear it directly from Cecilia’s mouth.
Cecilia said she would listen to her husband all this time, because she never said it to herself.
“I am…”
A light blush began to appear on Cecilia’s cheeks, and Olivia couldn’t help the corners of her mouth her turning up.
Because Cecilia looked so cute like that.
“I wanted to become Luke’s empress. Because she wants to lead the Eckhart Empire together.”
“Hehe. “I see.”
Cecilia nodded her head and dropped her gaze down her round table. Olivia looked at that figure for a moment and then spoke in a low voice.
“Are you worried that the secretary might not come back?”
“It’s not like that. “She swore to me that she would come back within the period.”
“Oh my goodness. It seems like the secretary really loves you too.”
“Love… Yes…”
As Cecilia continued to react like a fresh girl, Olivia wanted to tease her daughter a little. But since she was having a serious conversation now, she decided to put it aside for a while.
“Then what are you worried about?”
“…”
Cecilia hesitated for a moment and then let out a short sigh.
“Actually… I think I made a proposal that was too burdensome…”
Olivia was lost in her thoughts again. In times like this, what advice should she give?
“I think Secretary Luke must have felt the pressure.”
“…”
When her most painful part was pointed out, Cecilia was left speechless.
“Becoming the emperor who rules an empire is not as easy as it sounds, isn’t it?”
“So I wanted to become empress and rule with Luke. Am I putting my greed first?”
“Cecilia.”
Olivia called out to her in her soft voice, her expression full of worry.
“Did you even talk to Secretary Luke about holding a national wedding ceremony?”
“Yes. “I said we would spend the rest of our lives together.”
After hearing her clear answer, Olivia felt confidence in her heart. She was certain that if it were Luke, there would be no way for her to reject Cecilia’s offer.
However, perhaps because Luke was away from her, Cecilia seemed very anxious. She felt like she needed help managing her anxiety now.
“Then Secretary Luke will come back with a clear answer.”
“If she says she will not inherit the throne…”
Olivia shook her head slowly.
“If she thought she couldn’t do it, wouldn’t she have said no on the spot?”
“Ah…”
Cecilia gave her blank expression.
“Men sometimes need time alone to think about things. Especially this time, isn’t it usually important? “I don’t think I need to be too anxious.”
“Yes, mother…”
“Hehe. Secretary Luke is truly a sinful man. Even though she is the Empress, how lovely our Cecilia is.”
“Ugh. That kind of thing… I’m embarrassed.”
Cecilia twisted her body, and Olivia laughed, covering her mouth. She looked around her room slowly. Then, an object rising from her bed came into view.
“What is that?”
When Olivia pointed in that direction with her index finger, Cecilia’s head she naturally turned in that direction as well. Immediately after that.
“!”
Cecilia shook her shoulders greatly.
Did you hide something?
As Olivia stood up from her chair, Cecilia lifted her body at the same time.
“Uh, mother.”
“Cecilia. “Have you hidden anything strange?”
“Oh, no. Well, there’s nothing like that…”
‘No matter how I look at it, it looks suspicious…’
Olivia decided to check for herself and strode towards her bed.
‘If I keep this up, I’ll get caught!’
Cecilia, sensing her sense of crisis, grabbed Olivia’s waist.
“Mother? Would you like to go for a walk in our garden?”
“Cecilia. “Can’t we talk about it first?”
Olivia tried to free Cecilia’s arms from around her own waist. The more she did it, the more strength Cecilia put on her arms.
“…”
“…”
A power struggle continued for a while. Then she suddenly saw Olivia fall on her side.
“Oh, mother!”
Cecilia, embarrassed, quickly tried to help her mother up.
“Are you okay?”
“I suddenly feel dizzy…”
“Would you like to lie down in bed first?”
Cecilia decided that now was not the time to worry about her long cushion. She helped her mother and sat her down on her bed.
But that was Cecilia’s mistake.
Olivia quickly threw off her blanket,
“Ah!”
Luke’s face his, which had been hidden inside, was clearly revealed.
“Mother. You said you just felt dizzy…”
“Nothing is wrong now. So, what on earth is this?”
“…”
Cecilia, who hesitated, finally told the truth. She missed Luke so much that she embroidered him on the long cushion cover.
“Oh my goodness… “I didn’t know you liked the secretary this much.”
She looked surprised as Olivia covered her mouth. Feeling embarrassed, Cecilia lowered her gaze.
“Mother. Please don’t tell anyone else about this…”
Hehe.”
“Oh, mother!”
Even when Cecilia grabbed her shoulder and shook her, Olivia did not stop smiling meaningfully.
* * *
About ten days have already passed since she arrived at Nedeville Estate. She was now only two-thirds of the way to the deadline she had promised to Cecilia.
For ten days, I spent each day really leisurely.
When I got bored lounging around in my room, I would go outside for a walk or spend time with Emma. My mother took care to ensure that I had no inconvenience while resting.
And as he had promised, my father did not tell me why I was on leave.
Is it really right to inherit the throne?
From noble mtl dot come
I thought about that thought often while I was resting. However, it was not easy to make a decision.
“Luke. “The sun is already setting!”
“Oh. That’s right.”
I had a relaxing time on Nedville Hill with Emma today. We ate sandwiches for lunch, lay down on the mat and chatted or took a nap.
And now, they were lying side by side on the mat, watching the golden sunset.
… How is Cecilia doing?
While I was blankly thinking about this, Emma called me.
“Luke.”
“Huh?”
I turned her head towards Emma.
“How long did the vacation last?”
“I have to go back in three weeks.”
“I see… It would be nice to continue staying here.”
Emma showed a look of regret.
I looked at her profile and was lost in thought for a moment.
At one time, I thought I would have to spend my whole life in this small estate forever. And I vaguely thought that if I were to get married, it would be with Emma.
But I couldn’t do that anymore.
It wasn’t enough to live in the imperial palace once, but he also stole the heart of the woman who sat in the highest position in the empire…
“Emma.”
Still, Emma is my precious childhood friend. I decided to believe that and share my concerns.
“Yes, Luke.”
“Actually, there is one thing I am worried about.”
“Okay? “What is it?”
Emma immediately showed interest.
“I recently received an unexpected proposal from Her Majesty Empress Cecilia. She said she wanted me to succeed to her throne.”
“… “What?”
Emma reacted a beat late. Well, it’s surprising enough.
“So, His Majesty is handing over the position of emperor to you?”
“Yes.”
“!”
Emma was so surprised that she jumped up and looked down at me. I followed her and lifted her body up.
“No, you’re joking…” ” ” … “It’s not.”
Emma looked at me with her eyes, as if she couldn’t believe it.
“That’s right. “I’m not joking.”
“Well, I see…” ” … You become emperor… Wow, wow…”
I didn’t know how to react, but I found it cute that she couldn’t figure out what to do, so I smiled without knowing.
Oh, of course, the cutest woman in the world is Cecilia Campbell Eckhardt.
“That’s why I’m worried. Am I really qualified to inherit that position? I wonder if I can do it well.”
“Then the reason I took the vacation was…”
“I asked His Majesty to give me time to think.”
Emma shook her head with a blank expression. Then she suddenly tilted her head to one side.
“Hmm? Wait for a second. So what happens to Her Majesty, Empress Cecilia?”
“He wants to celebrate the national wedding with me.”
“Soup… “Hon?”
Emma’s face was once again filled with astonishment. She just blinked her eyelids and stared at me.
“Actually, I recently became a lover with Her Majesty Empress Cecilia.”
“…”
“Emma?”
“Ah! Ugh, yeah. “I see.”
It seems like the atmosphere has suddenly become awkward…
Emma was busy rolling her eyes back and forth as if she was trying to find something to say. I guess I said this for no reason.
“Shall we go back?”
“Oh, yes. Then.”
The sun was just before going over Seosan.
We got up from our seats and packed our mats and lunch baskets.
“Luke.”
“Yes.”
“It’s just my opinion… “I think you would do really well if you become emperor.”
“Really?”
“Huh. “There is no reason, but I think so.”
I burst out laughing at that answer. There is no reason, but it seems like it.
But I was able to find a very small clue in Emma’s answer
I guess Cecilia also thought that way.
I think I would do well.
Moreover, unlike Emma, Cecilia must have been more since she and I have worked confident together for over a year.
… Of course, I’m not sure myself yet.
‘Still, it’s the best scenario, with Cecilia.’
“Emma. Thank you.”
“I’m glad it helped.”
Emma looked at me and smiled, but it was a smile that gave me a sad feeling.
“And I’m sorry.”
“No. There’s nothing to be sorry about. Rather, it is something to celebrate.”
“Thank you.”
I expressed my sincere gratitude.
* * *
After parting ways with Luke, Emma trudged towards her house.
My eyes were clearly looking at the darkened road, but only one thought kept lingering in my head.
‘I see. Luke became a lover with Her Majesty Empress Cecilia…’
As she continued to walk absent-mindedly, Emma arrived in front of the house.
But she couldn’t bear to go in. Emma turned to her side and went to the small flower bed behind her house.
Emma sat there and looked up blankly at the night sky.
“…”
She looked back on her daily life with Luke over the past 10 years. She cried, laughed, and at times, all the things that made her heart flutter passed by like a panorama.
“I liked it first…”
Emma sniffed her nose. As she felt her eyes getting hotter, she rubbed them with the back of her hand.
She didn’t want to cry.
But as time went by, she became unable to bear it.
“Ugh…”
Tears welled up and flowed down my cheeks. Emma buried her face in her knees as she was.
“Oh my, Emma! “When did you come back?”
At that time, her mother appeared next to her. However, Emma could not respond properly and just sobbed.
“What’s wrong? Huh?”
“Mom…”
As soon as her mother she came to her her side her her her, Emma grabbed her by the hem of her dress her her her. She then buried her face there and spoke in a sobbing voice.
“Lu, Master Luke, dear… Well, you have a lover…”
“Oh. I see…”
Emma started crying again. Her mother patted her daughter’s shoulder without saying anything.
Emma couldn’t stop crying until she collapsed from exhaustion.