# 38
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After Edwin was sure Dana was comfortable, he headed to the kitchen.
He made her a cup of warm tea, poured it with a discreet movement, and placed the cup in front of her.
The sweet smell of herbs calmed her dazed heart.
"Thanks."
She gripped the cup with both hands, and the heat of the liquid transferred to her body.
I stared at the rising steam for a long time.
The turbulent wave that had been dominating her heart finally calmed down, and her soul was at peace.
“Senpai.”
Edwin opened his mouth, watching her carefully.
“In the previous recording...”
“You mean about me losing my memory?”
Dana had predicted exactly what he was going to say. Edwin nodded cautiously.
The Viscount was relieved that Dana had lost her memory. Certainly some accident had left her memory imperfect.
'How do I explain this...'
Dana looked inside herf, trying to organize her thoughts, as if she didn't understand it yet.
“In fact, I don’t remember anything until I was six years old. My family says I got into a car accident and hit my head. I lived by that belief.”
“What about the memories of the accident itf?”
“I don’t know, I was young then, so the memories seem blurry. When I regained consciousness, I was in the palace, and my father told me that I was his daughter.”
Little Dana was unable to assess the situation.
In addition, her head would hurt if she tried to think about the incident.
She had no choice but to obey her so-called father. But what I got was nothing but ignorance and coldness.
Edwin continued with suspicious questions.
“If those statements are false, isn’t it possible that your age is also false?”
“I don't think so, there was my birth date engraved on my necklace.”
Dana suddenly stopped, as if something had struck her.
“Edwin, isn’t this necklace proof of the identity of my biological parents?”
From what he remembered, the necklace looked very precious. It didn't make sense for the miserly Viscount to buy it for her.
'I've had it since my first memory.'
Her memories were fragmented, like pieces of a puzzle, their boundaries blurry.
"Where is it now? That necklace."
Dana's features darkened at Edwin's question.
"Maybe they sold it. They needed money."
One day the necklace suddenly disappeared.
She remembered the days she spent crying about it. Until she asked to take it back, the noble couple refused and coldly dismissed her.
Edwin tilted his head to the side.
His serious face showed deep thought. Then he slowly opened his mouth.
“It would be better to investigate this incident in depth. It could have been a kidnapping, and then the story would be completely different.”
Kidnapping…
Dana returned to conjure the sounds of the recording.
'We should have left her in the street! Why did we pick up a child whose origin we don't know and raise her...?
'Don't say such things! Fortunately, she lost her memory...
'How did they benefit from my memory loss?'
Dana was lost in thought. Edwin did not want to disturb her, so he sat silently.
"Relax. I'll meet the lawyer and come back."
He patted her on the back.
“Thank you, Edwin.”
Dana smiled brightly.
Whatever the circumstances, she now has Edwin, her husband, her family by her side.
Dana whispered to herf as she watched Edwin walk away.
Even if she was deceived by the entire world, or by those she thought were her family...
Edwin would always be true to her.
That's what Dana believed.
***
Inside the vast imperial palace, servants were busy performing their duties.
As for the Emperor, he was resting in his room, enjoying a few quiet moments amidst his busy schedule, moments that were very precious to him.
He looked at the chessboard on the table, and put down the chess piece with a groan.
“Today was very stressful. Why is all the work being put on me alone?”
“Because you are the Emperor.”
The person sitting across from him answered in a calm tone.
“Your answer is boring. I want someone to console me.”
“Comfort is only offered to those who deserve compassion.”
“Hmm, you are staying the same as usual.”
"Thank you."
The moves on the chessboard were repeated several times, and with each inappropriate development of the Emperor, his face became clouded.
“...Let's get through this time.”
"Not possible."
“Please, Karl Royden... Haven't we been friends for a long time? When your father, Count Royden, was my teacher... We have built our friendship ever since! We attended classes together, read books, and did homework...”
The Emperor began to appeal to him with affection.
“Exactly, Your Majesty copied my duty when I went to the toilet.”
So, I received a severe reprimand.
Karl remembered those moments coldly.
“Your Majesty’s turn now.”
“And… and you have become a loyal legal advisor to the Empire! So please excuse me this time.”
Karl pointed with a dry face, telling him to stop talking nonsense and continue playing silently.
The Emperor curled his lips strangely, then pointed his fingers toward the window.
“Ah, dove!”
The Emperor tried to move the chess piece at that moment, and met Karl's eyes, a look full of disdain.
The Emperor wiped his sweat anxiously, let out a faint sigh, then returned to the chessboard muttering.
“Ah, Edwin!”
“I won't be fooled.”
“What are you doing here, my youngest son?”
“I said I won't be fooled.”
Suddenly, a heavy and lonely shadow loomed over the chessboard, an irresistible feeling of dread.
Karl raised his head, summoning a majestic presence.
“…His Highness the Third Prince.”
Edwin was truly there, the third prince, as he had seen him all the years ago, still brimming with beauty and charm.
But Karl knew that his bright smile should be careful, as it carried a hidden purpose.
Carl tried to rise to greet him, but Edwin stopped him.
“There is no need for this between us.”
Between us? What is our relationship?
Karl suppressed his surprise with difficulty, despite his long years of imperial service, he had not had much direct contact with Edwin.
The Third Prince's smile was suspicious, undoubtedly carrying a hidden intent.
Edwin continued.
“Karl Royden, you are a competent lawyer, loyal to the empire for a long time.”
"…Thanks."
“You even taught me the Imperial Laws for a while.”
Edwin smiled deeper.
“Would you like to come with me?”
now? Where exactly...?
Karl, who had seen a lot inside the imperial palace and was not alarmed by anything, seemed confused in front of two people who always caused concern: the Empress and Edwin.
Edwin only studied for a short time, but it remains etched in his memory to this day.
Everything about him seemed calculated and precise, with an eye that lacked the innocence that the prince's other brothers possessed.
“Come on, let's go.”
Edwin extended his hand cordially, as if he were escorting an aristocratic noblewoman.
Karl turned to the Emperor, seeking help from an old friend.
They met eyes, and the Emperor was astonished.
The Emperor tried to move the chess piece during this.
Karl realized that he should not expect anything from this emperor.
He calmed down and spoke politely.
“Your Highness the Third Prince, you should explain to me what the matter is before I get ready.”
“I'll explain on the way.”
Edwin pointed an eye at the emperor, and Karl realized that the matter was a secret from the emperor himf.
"…Good."
Edwin choosing him of all advisors was a wise decision; Karl will not reveal the secrets of the palace no matter what happens.
Loyalty to the empire has been rooted in his family for generations.