I Won't Accept Your Regrets

“So is it true that this man is now in the lands of the Empire?”

“It’s also true that he doesn’t leave the Drua estate.”

The name of the Drua family that came up didn’t surprise me much.

Now I wondered if he was the son of a Duke?

Even when I met him for the first time, I felt that he was an unusual person.

And when he appeared at the reception of Marquis Sios, I realized that he was a nobleman. When we arrived in the Lund Kingdom, my conclusion was confirmed.

His manners, his small unconscious gestures, were so smooth and graceful that I naturally understood his high status.

And if he really returned to the Empire, I’d like to help him with something.

I wanted to repay him for his help.

“I think, Ellie knew in advance that this man came from the Drua family? You are not surprised at all.”

“I guessed.”

“If he’s from a Duke’s family… Wouldn’t it be better if we didn’t interfere?”

Lumont anxiously asked if I dreaded attention from Duke Drua.

The Duke, who only had his name left, was already teetering on the edge of the abyss without me.

I wasn’t particularly worried about the Duke.

Although his greed was widely known in high society.

And if I didn’t know Jeremy, this case would have become completely uninteresting to me, but now…

Of course, the point here is not that I will rush to the aid of a family rejected by the Emperor.

It’s just that if Jeremy needed help, I’ll go to meet him, even if it means opposing Drua.

I smiled at Lumont, who was sitting on pins and needles.

“Everything will be okay. I know we need to stay away from Duke Drua. Thank you for finding out everything. ”

“No problems.”

I looked at my watch. Noon has already passed.

“I think I should go. I’ll send someone as soon as I get the perfume.”

“Yeah.”

“Jed, shall I go?”

“Um? Uh… yes.”

Jed muttered to himself, somehow avoiding my eyes.

Today he was on his mind. But what can I do? Someone else’s soul is darkness.

* * *

“Milady!”

As soon as I returned to the estate, the butler hurried to me.

I was worried if something terrible had happened, but the butler’s expression suggested otherwise.

Rather, his face was delighted and even somewhat proud.

“Good news?”

“An official letter from His Majesty has just arrived. Congratulations to Duke Croft and thanks for your large donation. ”

“Oh, this…”

The announcement should be in a few days, right?

So that’s why there was such a noise in the square?

All the way to the estate, I saw heralds reading the latest news here and there.

“And not only that, but also the gifts of His Majesty.”

“What?”

While the unexpected words confused my mind, the butler turned and pointed aside.

Piles of boxes in the middle of the lobby.

And beside Raymond’s personal servant and my father.

I went up to my father.

“Lady Croft.”

The servant bowed and greeted.

“Are these gifts sent by His Majesty?”

“Yes. The finest fabrics from the southern rims and gold ingots. And I have to give you something personally.”

A servant handed me a small velvet-lined box.

I open it slowly.

There was a necklace in the box.

A beautifully crafted flower-shaped piece with a deep purple spinel in the center and small diamonds on the sides. It looked like a violet.

The glittering necklace was beautiful enough to hold any gaze, but I couldn’t even squeeze out a smile right now.

It was just another hint.

“These flowers are like you.”

I remembered what he once said to me.

His current behavior contrasts so strongly with his indifference from the past.

The words ‘I will never love you’ and his current affection formed a very strange picture.

Has your heart suddenly changed, Ray?

The question stuck in my throat.

Is that what you have been looking for me for 6 years? Because it’s too late for you?

If that is true…

While I was looking at the necklace with a burdened gaze, my father called me.

“Ellie.”

Turning my head, I saw that everyone was looking at me now.

I just received a gift from the Emperor and froze there without saying a word of gratitude.

I answered the servant with a forced smile:

“Please convey to His Majesty my thanks for such a generous gift. Tell him, I will soon pay him a personal visit.”

“Now, I have fulfilled the will of His Majesty, so I have to go.”

The father saw the servant out of the mansion. The cart left and my father came back to me.

“Is there something wrong with the gift?” asked the father with a preoccupied look.

“No. I was just really surprised. What a surprise.”

I closed the box and handed it to the maid.

“Put it in my room.”

“Yes Milady.”

“By the way, such a breadth of his generosity says that the Emperor really wants to return his right hand to its place.”

I looked at the pile of gifts.

It was too much of a gift for a simple gesture of appreciation.

An expensive gift was needed to emphasize how much the Emperor treasured Duke Croft.

The servants and the escort witnessed such a phenomenon, which means that in just a couple of days rumors will spread with great speed.

From servants to nobles.

And since Raymond made such a move, I wanted to speak in person and clarify everything at once.

“Father, I need to hold a big party.”

“What kind of reception?”

“I returned home, and my father was acquitted. I think it would be nice to have a party to remind them of the dignity of the Duke.”

The Emperor personally took the initiative to rehabilitate the Duke, so now was the best time for such an event.

The news of the Emperor’s gifts will clearly interest them. They will definitely come.

My father agreed.

“Okay. It would be fantastic.”

“I’ll arrange everything right now.”

“Don’t overdo it there.”

I smiled and went to the office.

* * *

“Is His Highness feeling better?”

Garden of Marquis Sios.

Lisa drank tea with Rose, the youngest daughter of Count Vistein.

She smiled at Rose’s concern.

“The courtiers said the bones would quickly heal.”

“Oh, thank God. As expected, he isn’t only wise, but also strong in body. He will surely sit on the throne, and his fame will sweep across the continent.”

“He’s just a prince so far. Please hold yourself.”

“Ah, but it’s obvious that he is our next monarch.”

The current Emperor had no children besides Edmund.

Lisa didn’t answer and calmly sipped her tea. Unlike the chatty Rose, an atmosphere of elegance reigned around Lisa.

Rose fussed even more, wanting Lisa’s approval.

“My sister is too shy. You are the future mother of the Emperor, and you can afford a lot.”

“You’re going too far. As I just said, Eddie is still just a prince. Don’t talk nonsense.”

“And what is the matter? We are alone in the garden. And even if everyone is silent about this, but I know for sure. His highness will be the Emperor.”

Lisa’s calm expression was replaced by a grin from the phrases that continued to pour from Rose.

“The Empress’s palace is still empty. And now, unless he wants to bring Ellie Croft back…”

“Rose.”

Lisa put down her cup and quietly called Vistein by name.

The latter bit her tongue when she faced Lisa’s cold eyes.

It was only now that Rose remembered how sensitive the story of Lady Croft had been.

Vistein swallowed, looking at Lisa’s petrified face.