The Abandoned Empress Will Not Return

“Has there been no answer yet?”

 

Sola, who was sitting on a chair whilst shaking her legs, bit her lips.

 

[Cerdian likes that woman, Rodelia Florence.]

 

She hasn’t calmed down since Prince Gray left.
She sent a letter to Cerdian to calm her anxiety but she’s going crazy because she has not yet received an answer.

 

“Really, His Highness Cerdian didn’t abandon me, right?”

 

He couldn’t have. However, it didn’t make sense that she couldn’t contact him until this point.
Unless Cerdian really has feelings for Rodelia…..

 

“Does he?”

 

Sola’s black eyes began to shake aimlessly.
Come to think of it, even when she used her poison on Rodelia, Cerdian was the one who got very angry.

 

He had never been so cold to her except when she used her poison on Rodelia.
At the time, she thought it was just because Rodelia Florence was the person he needed.

 

If there is another reason… 

 

Sola’s hands trembled.
No matter how hard she tried to clear her mind, Cerdian’s incomprehensible behavior continued to torment her.

 

Cerdian Aizen had to be hers.
From the day he saved her, she had always assumed she would.  But it was her own illusion.

 

If she stays still, she could really lose Cerdian to Rodelia.
She couldn’t stand still any longer.
She had to make Cerdian hers.

 

A fire blazed in her firm heart.

 

[Sola, if you help me, you can have Cerdian.
Think about it carefully.]

 

Sola’s face hardened coldly as she recalled the words Prince Gray whispered.
She no longer had time to think it over.

 

‘This is all His Highness Cerdian’s fault for not thinking of me.’

 

Having finished her thoughts, she immediately moved to find Gray.
He was sitting in a chair and greeted her casually, as if he had been expecting Sola to visit him.

 

“Come.”

 

“Can you really make His Highness Cerdian mine?”

 

Sola no longer cared about the face that an empress had to keep, so she went in front of Gray and questioned him recklessly.
Her upbeat voice rang in Gray’s ears.

 

“Of course.”

 

“How can you…?”

 

When Sola asked in disbelief, he answered indifferently.
He had already anticipated her reaction.

 

“Wouldn’t it all work out if I took the bride?”

 

“What?”

 

“In any case, the Howard family also has the blood of divine beasts weakly mixed in them.”

 

Hearing it now, it sounded right.
As Sola sorted out her confused thoughts, he made her an offer she couldn’t refuse.

 

“You only need to take Cerdian.”

 

“….”

 

“I get the power of the divine beast and you get Cerdian Aizen….”

 

He added, leaning back on his chair and raising his chin.

 

“I think it’s a pretty good deal.”

 

“… But they said that if the ritual is not performed, he will live in pain and die.”

 

“That’s not a problem either.
Listen carefully, if I do the ritual for you, the pain will go away too.
After all, we just need someone who will inherit the power of the divine beast.”

 

Sola chewed her lips for a long time as if she was agonizing over it.
She hardened her expression seemingly having made up her mind and gave an answer that satisfied Prince Gray.

 

“That makes sense.
Alright, I will help you.”

 

Prince Gray’s lips coldly went up.

 

 *

 

Sola Howard was a princess of the Silver Kingdom.

 

“Sola, what the hell can you actually do?”

 

“Look at your brother.
Even though he’s an illegitimate child, isn’t his ability so outstanding?”

 

“Do you want to lose your seat?”

 

These were the admonishments that were poured on her every day.
She really didn’t have any skills.  On the other hand, her half-brother, Gray Howard, excelled in every way.

 

“Sola, you are useless.
Why is a child like you the legitimate heir….
what an unfair system.”

 

Gray hated Sola because all she knew how to do was hide behind her bloodline and ignore him.
She would be ascending the throne only because of her lineage.

 

So Gray decided to get rid of Sola.
Because without her, the throne will be his.

 

It was the day he went hunting with Sola, as always.

 

“What will happen if you die?”

 

It was an unexpected surprise.
Gray aimed at Sola’s vitals.
She couldn’t even fight back from the sudden attack and was forced to fall to the ground.

 

“Gray you dare….”

 

“You won’t die right away.
I’m not that cruel either, so I don’t want to kill my own flesh and blood.”

 

“You….”

 

“Even if you survive, don’t come back here.
You will die more painfully next time.”

 

Those were the last words she heard from Gray as she started losing consciousness.

 

The surroundings were getting darker and the weather was getting chillier.
The sounds of wild beasts echoed here and there.
It was the moment when she thought that if she stayed like that, she would become their prey.

 

“Are you from the Howard family?”

 

As the cold man’s voice resonated in her ears, her last remaining consciousness faded.
And when she came to her senses, she owed her life to Cerdian.

 

It was from then.
The reason why the man named Cerdian Aizen settled in Sola’s heart…

 

“Please let me stay by Your Highness Cerdian’s side.”

 

From that day on, she abandoned the Howard family name and lived as an Aizen.

 

 *

 

“Why did you come if you weren’t going to give me any information? Are you here to tease me again?”

 

Kane greeted Prince Gray in an annoyed voice.

 

“It’s sad that you see me as such a bad guy.
I really wanted to tell you this time….”

 

At their last meeting, Gray left him only with questions.
He pretended to know about Rodelia’s whereabouts and offered to give him important information, but then left only to tell him later.

 

So his pride must be hurt.
Kane stared at him with a sullen face.

 

“Your Majesty, do you know the identity of Cerdian Aizen?”

 

“What are you talking about all of a sudden? Identity…?”

 

He was annoyed that after offering information about Rodelia, here he was bringing up the cursed Cerdian.
It was clear that he was only talking about strange things because he knew nothing.

 

And just when Kane, thinking that he wasn’t even worth listening to anymore, was about to tell him to leave…

 

“Rodelia Florence.”

 

The name he wanted popped out of Prince Gray’s lips.
Kane straightened up and stared at him as if urging him.
Seemingly satisfied with his reaction, Gray smiled and continued.

 

“Your Majesty would have expected it to some extent but it is correct that she is with Cerdian.”

 

“What did you say?”

 

Kane’s eyebrows twitched.

 

“You want to get rid of Cerdian Aizen, don’t you?”

 

He clearly brought up Rodelia’s whereabouts.
That’s why he was interested, but Gray was spouting strange words again.
What the heck does he want to talk about?

 

He was right, he was here to tease him again.
The displeased Kane hardened his expression coldly.

 

“I too, wish to get rid of Cerdian.”

 

“….What do you mean? Are you saying we should join forces to eliminate Cerdian?”

 

“That is correct.
I think we’ll be pretty good partners, what do you think?”

 

Kane thought Gray was crazy.
He didn’t know what happened between him and Cerdian, but Cerdian Aizen was an opponent that could never be defeated even if he and Gray 

worked together.

 

“The prince seems to be doing this because he doesn’t know how powerful Grand Duke Aizen is….”

 

“We used to be enemies but now we have a common goal.”

 

“Ha, it wouldn’t be something a prince of a small kingdom can do.
And even if we use the forces of Thebes and the Silver Kingdom, we will never be able to defeat Aizen’s army.
You don’t know….”

 

“Do you really think so?”

 

Gray was confident.
He stared at Kane and let out a creepy laugh, as if mocking him.

 

“I know more truth than Your Majesty does.
I also know how strong they are.
Does Your Majesty know why Cerdian is so strong?”

 

“….How would I know that?”

 

“Shall I tell you?”

 

Gray turned his head and gazed at the towering Bator Mountains out of the window, then spit out unbelievable words.

 

“Members of the Aizen family are not ordinary humans.”

 

It was absurd.
Kane was sure Gray was making fun of him.
He couldn’t believe he seriously thought of listening to this person’s words.

 

He must have been weakened by the fact that he knew news about Rodelia.
He was still listening to such nonsense that he’s not human.

 

“Ah, of course they are human but they have special powers.
For example, the power of divine beasts.”

 

“What are you talking about? If you’re going to play around again, why don’t you stop.”

 

Kane waved his hand at him in annoyance.
However, Gray did not give in and steadfastly expressed his opinion.

 

“It’s true.
They are descendants of divine beasts.”