Chapter 27
Word that the Emperor had gone straight to the White Tower reached Rosalyn at the Empress’s Palace as well. The knowledge left her utterly wretched.
“So in the end, the Saintess is the problem.”
Lucian had chosen to wound his own body rather than consummate the wedding night with Rosalyn. That was how much he loathed the thought of bedding her.
And now, to think that immediately after that night, he had gone to the White Tower and remained there for hours, it felt as though fire were surging through her chest.
“I should have been more insistent and demanded the abolition of the Saintess system.”
But Lucian had vehemently refused, and the Bellotien royal house had no other recourse. In the end, Rosalyn had been forced to tacitly accept the Saintess’s existence and go through with the imperial wedding.
She had never imagined, however, that Lucian would refuse to consummate even the wedding night and go running to the Saintess instead. Naturally, she was shaken by the turn of events.
“Are we even certain that woman actually possesses sacred power?”
“They claim she does, but… in all honesty, it is a difficult story to believe.”
Anna said, bowing her head.
“Reading stars and dreaming the future? Any child could spout such nonsense.”
“I agree, Your Majesty.”
“The problem is that His Majesty believes it.”
Lucian had flatly declared that he would not abolish the Saintess system, even if it meant breaking the betrothal. Which meant he undoubtedly believed in what the Saintess claimed.
“To be taken in by such deceitful talk… I feel nothing but resentment.”
Rosalyn murmured anxiously.
As a treasured princess of the Bellotien royal house, this was a reality she found difficult to accept. But the situation had already come to this, and nothing could be undone. The only way out was forward.
“But the time will come when that deceit comes to an end. When that happens, His Imperial Majesty will be furious upon realizing he’s been deceived.”
Rosalyn clung desperately to that hope. Above all, she bore the heavy duty of producing an heir to the Orbien imperial line. Lucian’s delusion could not be allowed to continue.
“That day needs to come sooner.”
Time would not wait for Rosalyn. Her beauty was fresh and splendid as a rose, but it would inevitably desert her with the years. When that day came, winning Lucian’s heart would become an even more distant prospect.
She was only twenty, yet the anxiety was inescapable.
“Anna, look into the Lumines clan for me discreetly.”
“Yes, I shall. I’ll seek assistance from the Bellotien royal house as well.”
“Good.”
Rosalyn tapped the armrest of her chair with her fingers.
For now, she had no idea how to redirect Lucian’s attention toward herself.
* * *
Lydia had a dream. A dream in which gold poured down from every direction. Treasures of gold and jewels shimmered before her eyes. It was a sight she had never witnessed in her life, yet it felt vivid beyond measure.
When she fastened a beautiful jeweled necklace around her neck, she felt as though she had become an empress. The necklace, carved with crimson rubies, fit as perfectly as if it had been made just for her.
“Oh…”
Lydia woke from the dream. Before her lay her room, which was as monotonous as ever. Just moments ago gold and jewels had been glistening before her eyes, and the sight of her dull room again drew a sigh from her lips.
The Lumines clan lived as a small tribe, and because their customs constantly emphasized purity, they were far removed from gold and jewels.
That was why, ever since childhood, Lydia had gathered pretty stones from the riverbank and fashioned them into necklaces and bracelets as she pleased. Once she had grown older, of course, she stopped bothering with such trivial things.
“Mother, I had a dream.”
“What kind of dream?”
Lydia’s mother, Marian, asked gently.
“Gold and jewels were pouring down from everywhere. And I dreamed I was putting a red ruby necklace around my neck.”
Marian’s brow creased slightly.
“Lydia, worldly things like that cannot be called a true dream.”
“What’s wrong with worldly things? I love anything that’s beautiful.”
“True beauty exists within nature.”
“I’m tired of that kind of beauty.”
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