It’s Not Night - Chapter 202.2

Ansel, instead of sitting in the vacant seat beside the Emperor, sat quietly in the chair the attendant brought and stared at her.

“Don’t worry too much. I haven’t forgotten my promise.”

“…Thank you, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor turned her gaze to survey the garden. She had already been out to check it this morning, but there was no change. The only difference was the flowers blooming and wilting. Ansel watched the Emperor quietly as she continued to gaze at the hydrangeas.

“By the way, it’s a momentous occasion. The union of Avelin and Airak—this is the first time, isn’t it?”

Suddenly, the Emperor spoke. Ansel quickly composed himself, trying not to let his face freeze. He might have ignored it if it were anyone else, but the person sitting before him was the Emperor, the highest authority in the Empire.

“Your Majesty, nothing has been decided yet…”

“Do you think I don’t know Albert? Your father sent Lady Avelin to the North, didn’t he? By now, it’s already a done deal.”

“…”

When Ansel fell silent, the Emperor smiled faintly, clearly enjoying the moment. It was obvious that Avelin’s eldest son was displeased with his only sister’s choice of her marriage partner. The normally stoic Marquis had unwittingly shown his feelings all at once.

Even though the Emperor knew everything, she pretended to ask Ansel.

“What, you don’t like it?”

“I still don’t understand. Why did she choose Airak? How could she make such a choice…”

“What’s wrong with Airak? Are you upset because you were beaten twice?”

“That’s not it…! It couldn’t be!”

Ansel raised his voice but quickly suppressed his emotions. The Emperor found his reaction amusing.

“It’s Lady Avelin’s choice. You should respect it.”

“You’re saying the same thing as my father.”

Ansel sighed inwardly and let go of the tension he had been holding. In truth, the Emperor’s words were right. The moment his father, Albert, sent Andra to the North, Avelin had essentially made their decision.

But Ansel couldn’t accept it. How could he let his sister, who deserved someone better, be tied to a scoundrel like Airak? Andra deserved someone more refined, with a good character, to live peacefully. He couldn’t just send her to a mere swordsman…

Ansel let his shoulders slump. What was the point in getting angry now? His father had already made his decision, and his sister’s resolve was strong. Once Andra made up her mind, Ansel knew well that she wouldn’t change it.

‘But still, of all people, why Airak…’

The moment Ansel heard the news, he couldn’t help but think of Viola, who had discarded him like an old shoe and then gone on to marry Airak, the enemy family of Avelin.

She had broken the news to him without a single change in her expression, as if it were nothing. Ansel quietly lowered his gaze.

He didn’t harbor no resentment toward Viola. Their relationship hadn’t been brief, and Ansel never imagined that their courtship would end like this, even if he didn’t get to be the Princess’s husband

At the very least, Ansel never envisioned being pushed out to the East by Airak.

‘I knew you were the kind of person who would shatter expectations, but I never thought you’d take it this far.’

What had Viola said at the time? Ansel had never forgotten that conversation.

How could he forget? It was the day his pride as Ansel Avelin was ruthlessly trampled.

‘Let’s just go back. As a princess and as an Avelin.’

For someone who had been his lover for years, Viola’s words were strikingly brief. So, Ansel didn’t hold onto her. He had a lot to say, a lot of questions, but he decided to do what Viola wanted and return to Avelin.

Still, when she had deliberately pushed him aside and forced him out of the center, he felt a little betrayed, but that was all.

“In fact, I don’t care much for Airak. Those people are predictable… What matters to me is my sister. I just hope she doesn’t get hurt.”

It had been the same back then. He had been angry that the person Viola chose for herself had to be Airak, but he held no real feelings toward Anthony Airak.

It made sense. Ansel knew Viola well. Their years together had left him with plenty of understanding about her.

‘That guy is just the same.’

Though Anthony Airak had taken the place of the Princess’s husband, that was as far as it went. Even if the two of them were to live under the name of a married couple and build a family, the end was always predetermined. After all, Viola would never allow more than that.

So Ansel didn’t hold onto her.

There was no reason to. From the start, the princess had never been his to hold onto.

Ansel lifted his head and looked at the Emperor and the blooming hydrangeas beyond her shoulder.

Cold, indifferent, heartless, fickle, capricious…

‘Your Highness is like the Emperor.’

And, the enduring love.