I Won’t Accept Your Regrets

Marquis Sios estate.

At the entrance to their family estate, a maid was already waiting for me.

Although I didn’t reply to the letter, upon my arrival the gates of the Marquis immediately opened. They clearly knew about my visit.

"Lady Croft."

The gray-haired maid bowed low to me. When I saw her features, it was as if icy water was poured over me.

A stern, weather-beaten face, and a coldness in its impenetrable eyes.

At first glance, it is clear that this wasn’t an ordinary servant.

"My lady is already waiting."

"Show the way."

Led by a maid, I arrived at the greenhouse, where a tea-drinking scandal had recently taken place.

"You just have to go inside."

The maid bowed her head again and opened the door for me. As soon as I took one step, the scent of flowers immediately hit my nose.

It was so strong it made my head spin.

Further, across the garden, I saw a tea table in the already familiar gazebo.

As if everyone here knew about my arrival, the table was set in advance for two.

Lisa rose from her seat.

"Welcome, Lady Croft."

Approaching her, I smiled and answered.

"Lady Sios. It seems that my personal arrival didn’t come as a surprise to you."

"I’m only grateful that you responded to my call. Have a seat."

She sat down opposite.

“For some reason I knew Lady Croft was coming, so I made the tea beforehand. But black tea… You don't mind?"

"No, it’s okay."

Smiling, Lisa herself took up the kettle.

The flower garden was empty apart from the two of us.

It looks like she let all the people go on purpose.

Here she puts a cup in front of me and smiles maliciously.

"This is the famous tea from the Lund Kingdom. We have specially stocked them up for your visit. I can only hope that you will like it."

A familiar scent emanated from the cup.

This is truly a black tea from the Lund Kingdom. And the whole scene looks as if Lisa did it to please me.

I already know what's on your mind, no matter what face you make.

"Very tasty. Thank you for your attention."

"Lady Croft may not even suspect how much attention has been paid to her lately."

"Just the opposite. I recently learned that lady Sios was so interested in my life."

I put down the cup and looked her straight in the eye.

"Did you call me because of the child?"

I didn't want to keep up with her and continue this stupid acting.

As I pushed her closer to the point, her smile widened.

"Lady invites me to a direct conversation, so I will be honest. Yes. This is because of the child you hid."

"He is not a child of His Majesty."

Her facial expressions flinched sharply at my firm answer.

"Silver hair and purple eyes. I was told that the symbols of the royal family are invisible. But can't the appearance be changed by resorting to magic?"

"You have delved into this topic so deeply that you know everything about the appearance of the child. Weren't you informed that he is not wearing jewelry."

She continued with a sneer:

"I know that too. However, I hardly believe that Ellie Croft met a new man so quickly after the breakup. I know more than anyone under heaven how much Ellie loves the Emperor."

In the blink of an eye, the power drained from my hands.

Lisa reminds me of my painful past when she and Raymond were a couple.

She now had a worried face, as if she sympathized with my past grief.

However, despite the sad face, a strange look flashed in those green eyes.

Whether you laugh at those days or not, all this is now just in the past.

"I loved him very much and sacrificed everything for him. But I also broke this connection, and I don’t regret anything else. After all, I wished Lisa and His Majesty happiness. Unfortunately, I don’t see that you succeed in this."

Lisa trembled at my shameless tone.

She lowered her gaze and ran a finger along the rim of the cup.

"So you don’t dry up for Raymond, and this child isn’t his," she laughed, removing her hand from the cup.

It seems that she doubted my words.

"And why were you in such a hurry to visit me? You were in such a hurry, didn’t even fail to answer the letter. Are you afraid that I will find out anything?“

"I'm really afraid of different things. I tried to raise my child quietly, avoiding the attention of the public, and then they send me a letter that looks like a threat. But the reason I came here is to warn Lady Sios."

"Will you warn me?!"

Lisa laughed at that moment. It seems that, in her opinion, what was said was absurd.

That is understandable. After all, it is obvious that my weakness is now in her hands, not the other way around.

But there was one thing she didn't know about.

"Lady Sios, if you haven't noticed… the Empress's throne is still empty."

"What are you talking about?"

Lisa frowned and went deep into her thoughts, trying to explain such an unobvious turn.

"His Majesty wanted me back."

There is no better card than the throne of the Empress.

"But you have…"

As I expected, Lisa's green eyes trembled violently.

"The Emperor knows I have a child. And yet he told me to return to the place of the Empress. And enroll my son as a prince."

Lisa's face turned cold.

"And if I accept such an offer, will the first prince really be able to ascend the throne?"

Nothing has been decided about Edmund yet.

He enjoyed the influence of the crown prince only because the Emperor had no other successor.

But if I become an Empress, everything will be exactly the opposite.

Even without Carlisle being included in the bloodline, if I, as the new Empress, bear a new heir, Edmund's position would be in great danger.

Even though he was now the crown prince, he wasn’t the son of the Empress.

And legitimacy disappears in an instant.

Seeing her, dumbfounded and silent, I slowly finished my cup of tea.

I put down the cup and told her.

"Lady Sios. Although His Majesty made such a generous offer to me, I really don't want to live at the palace anymore. I don’t even want to raise my child as a prince."

Bam-

The cup hit the table loudly.

"But if Lady Sios touches my child again… History will suddenly be rewritten."

“…”

"You touch my son, and sooner or later he will become the new Emperor. And yes, I'm here to threaten you."

She looked at me and burst out laughing.

She called me here to threaten, but it turned out exactly the opposite. She had nothing to argue, and her whole reaction was reduced to hysteria.

"Do me a favor, think reasonably. I already have a lot of work to do, so let's finish it here and now."

I had nothing more to say. I’ve already conveyed my message to her.

There was no answer, I got up and turned towards the exit. I had no reason to stay here as a guest.

At that moment, when I wanted to leave the flower garden, I suddenly heard Lisa's voice.

"I want to ask you something."

I stopped and turned around halfway.

"What?"

"Were you happy in the Lund Kingdom?"

What are the questions?

Lisa stared at me.

There was no hostility or other feelings in her green eyes. She seems to be just curious.

I studied her expression for a while and slowly came up with an answer:

"I was happy and didn’t want to come back."

“…”

"But I did it."

Lisa's face became somehow lonely.

"Well, I have to go.”

Having finally caught how those green eyes dart in thought, I left the greenhouse.

* * *

Ellie left the garden, and Lisa took a sip of cooled tea.

The once sweet tea was now disgusting, so she spat it out on the floor.

"I was happy and didn’t want to come back."

"Happy …"

"I hate that you were happy."

Raymond, the power of the Empress, and even the child.

I hate Ellie, I hate that she has done everything that I lack.

I sincerely hoped that Ellie wouldn’t find a happy life.

On the way here six years ago, I dreamed of seeing their family crumbling, Raymond falling and they sinking into misery, helpless to do anything.

And now it turned out that I myself was left without arms?

"His Majesty wanted me back."

Raymond was going crazy all day long after Ellie dumped him. We must assume that he completely lost his mind.

To accept Ellie as an Empress, when it is not yet clear whose son her son was.

I brought him an heir, and he didn’t even think to call me the Empress.

Huh.

This Empress will eventually throw the noose over my neck.

"Milady."

Lisa turned to Lily's voice.

"Have you seen Ellie Croft?"

"Everything is done as it should be."

"There is a new assignment."

"Yes Milady."

"I need to write a letter to Duke Drua. I think it will be more convenient if we kill both of them."

Lisa showed an eerie smile.

"Get your paper and pen ready."