Those Who Received Her Love (4)

The door was violently flung open with a loud noise, hitting the wall. As a result, the eyes of everyone inside the room turned toward Leonard.

Kilianerisa, who happened to be receiving a nail treatment from her maids at that moment, either didn’t notice Leonard’s angry expression or simply chose to smile at the fact that he had come to visit.

“Your Ma-“

Before her words could continue, Leonard interrupted her.

“Why can’t you understand, even after what I said?! Did you think I just stood by and watched your arrogant behavior because I didn’t know about your misconduct? This is my final warning. If you lay a hand on her again, I won’t stand by anymore! Do you understand?”

Leonard spat out his words in rapid succession, and whether it was because he couldn’t control his agitation or if it was due to a lack of breath, he let out a rough exhale as he glared at her coldly. When Kilianerisa, who had been taken aback by his sudden arrival and outburst, saw his expression, she stiffened, her smile freezing on her face.

However, after a moment, the smile she had hung on her lips dropped. Staring at her shocked expression, Leonard turned away from her, thinking he had done enough. At that moment, her voice, which had been silent all along, flowed out.

“Is that all you have to say to me? Aren’t you curious about why I did such a thing?”

There was a dampness in her voice, as if suppressing something. It felt strangely reminiscent of a situation he had experienced before, and a headache seemed to be coming on. Without turning his head, he replied in a monotonous tone.

“The reason is obvious. Isn’t it because of your usual jealousy?”

His emotionless, cruel voice stabbed her heart like a dagger. Kilianerisa bit her lip hard, as if she was trying to suppress something, before she finally spoke with great effort.

“Perhaps it might seem the same to Your Majesty, but that is my reason for living. How on earth can I make you look at me? Huh?”

Despite hearing the voice filled with earnest pleading, almost weakening his resolve, he still didn’t turn back. As if he made a promise to himself to never look back, no matter what happened.

“Considering what has happened so far, I don’t think that’s ever going to happen.”

Responding coldly, Leonard continued to stride out of the room without looking back. Watching his retreating figure, Kilianerisa, in a mixture of laughter and tears, fell to the floor. She sobbed and laughed at the same time. The sound echoed outside the wide-open door, even reaching Leonard’s ears. He furrowed his brow at the rising discomfort he felt.

The way she pretended to be an innocent victim of everything she caused, he found it utterly disgusting. His footsteps quickened as he moved further away from the room.

Would things have been different if Kilianerisa had understood his warning back then? Maybe, just maybe, it wouldn’t have gone as far as her dying.

However, she didn’t stop her wickedness. In fact, she acted as if she reveled in it, and it only grew worse with each passing day.

Leonard warned her every time, but in reality, there was nothing more he could do. Regardless of what she did or what her circumstances were, outwardly, she was the Empress of an empire and the only daughter of the Duke of Hameln.

Whenever Kilianerisa caused trouble, Leonard would go to her and hurl cruel words at her several times. But by that point, Leonard couldn’t help but notice that her actions, including causing mischief and accidents among people around her, were ultimately meant to lead to their encounters.

Leonard realized this and stopped visiting her place.

In his view, she was a crazy woman. All she seemed to know what to do was to be greedy and outrageous, and to come up with nonsensical arguments to cause chaos around her. Thus, it was only natural that he couldn’t develop any affection for her.

She had nothing but unreasonable desires and would often come up with absurd excuses to cause mischief around her. It was only natural that he couldn’t develop any affection for her.

‘But it’s ridiculous to be thinking about this now.’

Leonard’s lips curved into a bitter smile as he dwelled on the past, one that couldn’t even be considered a good memory. Looking back, it was just a pointless memory could only be described as a source of headache. Nevertheless, as if she were showing him a lantern in the dark, he continued to dwell on the past.

***

As rumors tended to do, they spread far and wide, regardless of people’s attempts to block their ears and eyes. As time passed and the rumors spread about the Emperor not seeking the Empress, her father, the Duke of Hameln, came to visit Leonard. Leonard had been tensed but also relieved about his arrival.

The Duke of Hameln was a man who, much like his daughter, was driven by ambitions. Metaphorically, he was close to being a stumbling block. Given him being more obsessed with honor than anyone else, it was rather strange that he had not come for a while. In fact, him coming earlier than expected was a fortunate thing for Leonard. After all, Leonard mentally prepared himself for this encounter.

“I hear there have been numerous rumors about my daughter lately.”

The first sentence that came out of the Duke’s mouth was exactly what Leonard had expected. Leonard looked at him for a moment. He has a complexion reminiscent of someone, and a vaguely familiar expression. His face was inscrutable, making it seem impossible to determine what he was thinking.

Even though it was a situation where he could have easily become angry, Leonard did not show signs of being agitated. At the moment when he was about to speak, Leonard held back, feeling that something was amiss.

“Of course, that might be the case. I understand. It’s not easy to love someone like my daughter.”

At the following words, Leonard’s slightly open mouth closed abruptly.

Is he being sarcastic? Leonard turned his head to observe his expression, trying to figure out his intentions. He was chuckling as if he was merely exchanging a light-hearted joke. Leonard found it perplexing. He knew if he rushed into this conversation, it would undoubtedly be a loss for himself.

Leonard didn’t know what kind of relationship Kilianerisa had with her father. There were no particularly striking rumors, and at official gatherings, the Duke had always presented himself as a father who held his daughter in high regard.

However, the words that had just come out of his mouth seemed unusual from a father like him. Whether he was aware of Leonard’s complicated feelings or not, he continued speaking, as if he was expressing regret.

“I’ve been with that child since she was born. So, I know her well. Even I would find it difficult to love such a child. I understand that Your Majesty holds her in high regard, but…”

He paused for a moment, as if carefully choosing his words. Leonard waited with a slight sense of tension, wondering if he was finally getting to the main point.

“…I don’t expect much. It’s enough as long as our family’s honor is preserved.”