I Won’t Accept Your Regrets

"Is that really you…"

"Dad, I'm sorry. I'm late."

As I gripped his bony hand tightly, I felt how much weight he had lost. It was because from the moment the whole incident broke out, he couldn’t eat or sleep properly.

My father, who was holding my hand, suddenly pushed it away.

"Ellie, you shouldn't be here. When it will be known that you have returned, it will dangerous for all of us. You don't know what's going on here."

"…My father is stuck in such a drama. I won’t leave."

"Ellie, it's not so simple. Our family is hanging by a thread. Also, think about Carlisle!"

"Carlisle is in a safe place, so don't worry. And also, father."

I hugged my father tightly and said, looking into his eyes.

"This is my family. I will protect it."

"No way. You no longer have power."

I didn't tell my father about the Phoenix organization.

My father thought I was just living in Lund Kingdom and running a shop.

"Ellie, no. This is dangerous. You can't get involved…"

"Don’t worry. I have a plan."

"What the hell are you planning?"

"No time to explain. I just came to see if my father is okay…"

When I took my father's hand again and spoke, suddenly a visit was announced from outside. My father and I tensed at what we heard.

I took off the ring. What if I get caught. If a knight enters here now …

"Sir, I'm sorry that without knocking…"

"Harpen."

The newcomer was embarrassed by the appearance of a stranger in the room. And then he goggled his eyes as if he saw the incredible view.

"…Milady!"

"Ah… praise the Lord."

Fortunately, it was not Raymond's knight. It was Dr. Harpen, the Duke's loyal vassal.

I smiled at him, and he froze with his mouth wide open.

"Long time no see. How are you doing?"

"How are you here… No, is that really lady Ellie?"

He still couldn't believe his eyes.

"Huh. You haven’t identified yourself."

Harpen sighed, as if he wanted to beat his fast heart rate like that, and hastily slammed the door.

"How did you get here at all?"

"I came because I was worried about my father. Now it's time for me to leave. I have no time."

"What were you thinking when you climbed into a place teeming with knights of His Majesty! What if you get caught!"

"Don’t worry about me. I have my own tricks."

I put on the ring again. Harpen goggled at me again, as did my father.

Of course, they couldn’t imagine that such a small ring is fraught with magic.

When I saw the ring and small earring that Jed gave me, I felt the same way.

"Father, I really have to run. I won't be able to sneak in here anymore. But I'll find out if there is a way to send a letter."

I have already verified with my own eyes that my father is relatively safe. Now is the time to leave.

"Ellie, don't worry about me… Don't do anything stupid."

Smiling at my worried father, I turned to Harpen with a request.

"Please take care of my father. We'll see you again soon."

"Be careful, milady."

The hallway was empty. The path to the kitchen was open.

When I left through the small door, I saw the back of an impatient merchant who was waiting for me.

"I apologize for taking so long."

"Hurry."

Before the visit, I was very worried about my father, so when I left the kitchen, my previously pale face took on color. I saw my father, and the way out was no longer so disturbing.

However, as if fate wanted to punish me for my complacency, the moment I entered the lobby of this house, the unexpected happened.

"Oh sorry…"

At that moment, I felt the texture of a cold blade on my neck.

"Ah!"

What touched my neck was a well forged blade.

"You wanted to knock His Majesty off his feet? Do you want to die today?"

An icy voice rang in my ears.

My heart sank into my feet. Not the feeling of a thrown across the throat and not the voice of a knight, but two words "his majesty."

I slowly raised my head. In front of me I met emotionless black eyes looking down at me.

Raymond.

He was actually in front of me.

I had to meet him again six years later.

"You dare to raise your head? Are you really want to die?"

The edge of the sword went further into the neck.

Only then did I come to my senses and hastily bowed my head.

"…My fault."

"Take the sword away."

"Yes? But Your Majesty…"

The knight was embarrassed by the order. And not only him. I, too, couldn’t understand his sudden command.

Even if he ordered to kill a commoner at this very place, no one would be able to put in a word.

But ‘take the sword away’…

"You, raise your head."

It was an order for me. There was a feeling that at his short command, all the blood in my body froze.

Why suddenly… Did you notice something? No, it can't be.

"I said to raise your head."

His cold voice rang out over my petrified head again. I slowly raised my head, giving strength to the numb neck.

His eyes and mine met again.

Dark, unfeeling eyes were now sliding over my face. As if he was looking for something.

"You, tell me again…"

"Sire.”

His words were cut short because my father's voice rang out in the lobby.

He raised his eyes and looked at my father.

"The Duke."

"Hail His Majesty the Emperor, Sun of the Empire."

The sound of my father's boots soon stopped beside me.

Raymond has now completely switched to my father.

"Your Majesty, why are you suddenly here?"

"I was worried about your health. But…"

Raymond turned to me.

"Are you in trouble?"

Father's voice rang out. Raymond's tenacious gaze diverted completely from me.

"No. Let this woman go. Duke, come and talk to me in private."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The knights lagged behind me on the orders of the Emperor. The footsteps of Raymond and my father died away.

"Oh, I thought it was certain death. Just think, the Emperor himself… Are you okay?"

The merchant's anxious voice rang out. I exhaled.

But as soon as I took one step, my legs went limp and I stumbled.

I had planned to see him again when I returned, but I didn’t know that everything would happen so suddenly.

I remembered how those black eyes looked at me. His aura and eyes grew colder and colder. And his handsome face never changed.

One by one, all our shared memories came out again.

My heart was still hammering, but it was no longer love or excitement.

The reason for the unexpected meeting was only my impatience and great anxiety.

The Duke's position was extreme, and now I needed to move as quickly as possible.

"…It's okay, let's go."

Anyway, I hurried out of the mansion until he came back down.

* * *

"Duke, you've lost a lot of weight. Are you eating well?"

Raymond furrowed his brows at the Duke's emaciated face. The latter replied with a slight laugh:

"You never stopped lecturing me about health, Your Majesty. Better tell me what’s with Your Majesty’s face? Have you slept badly the last days?"

"It's because of you, Duke."

Raymond reacted to the Duke's taunt.

"If I ask now where Ellie is, will you tell?"

He still hasn't given up.

When he finds out that Ellie was under his nose…

Duke Croft said calmly:

"Your Majesty, this is already over. Ellie doesn't want to know you anymore."