Return of the Female Knight

Carlisle was surprised by the sudden determination on Elena’s face, and he couldn’t stop a smile from spreading across his lips.

“Do you know how weak a man is to praise?”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. The more I taste it, the better I want to do. And—”

Hwiig!

Carlisle took Elena by the shoulders and pushed her against the pillar. Their positions were immediately reversed, and Elena was trapped as Carlisle loomed over her. An atmosphere of danger crackled in the air, and he leaned his head in close towards her.

“…You saying it in such a lovely voice makes it hard for me to bear.”

“Oh?”

Elena looked at him with rounded eyes. Although they were in a deserted part of the corridor, she didn’t know how long it would be until someone passed them by. Carlisle didn’t seem to care at all, however, and he kept his deep blue eyes fixed on her.

“Caril, what if someone walks by—?”

“Are we doing anything wrong? They’re free to look.”

“But…”

“If they make you feel uncomfortable, then I can dig out the eyes of the ones who look at you.”

“…What?”

Elena stared up at him in shock, and Carlisle gave a dark chuckle.

“Although the last thing they would see is a beautiful woman, so I’m afraid they’ll only keep thinking of you.”

“…Caril.”

At her troubled tone, he took another step closer to her. He was so close that his hot breath tickled her nose. His searing gaze seemed to penetrate her right into her soul.

“I told you. You keep testing my patience.”

Carlisle carefully lifted a lock of her long, golden hair, then pressed a kiss against it, keeping his eyes fixed on her as he did so. Elena’s breath caught at the sheer sensuality of his gesture.

“You best be prepared. The coronation will soon happen.”

***

That night, Ophelia moved silently towards the palace where Sullivan was staying. She had to make up for what happened at the conference hall somehow.

‘…The more time passes, the more disadvantageous of a position I will be.’

If Carlisle were to be coronated, it would be completely over, and there was no other path Ophelia could take. Redfield’s succession to the throne had to be restored by any means.

‘It doesn’t matter how bad the deal is. If I hand over the throne to Carlisle like this, the Anita family will end.’

Ophelia was determined to give up anything Sullivan demanded, as long as he restored her son’s birthright. She was ready to swallow her pride and beg on her knees before him.

She stopped in front of Sullivan’s door, her eyes shining brightly. The Emperor’s head butler recognized her, and he hesitated for a moment.

“Your Majesty…”

“What are you doing? Inform the Emperor I am here.”

Even if Ophelia would later have to pay for her crimes, she was still the Empress of the Ruford Empire. The butler could not stand in her way, and he finally announced her presence.

“Your Majesty, The Empress is here to see you.”

There was no reply from inside Sullivan’s room. Ophelia thought the lack of response was strange, but she was impatient to meet him. The butler turned back to Ophelia.

“His Majesty has been unwell and must have taken his rest early. If you come back when it’s light tomorrow—”

“Get out of the way. I have something important to say to him.”

“B-but—”

The butler blocked her from entering the room, and Ophelia threw him her most vicious glare.

“Do you really wish to die?”

Never before had an inferior acted this way to Ophelia. This alone was proof of how much Ophelia’s authority had plummeted.

“I may seem like a toothless tiger now, but I can still kill a rat or bird behind closed doors. Think carefully before you act.”

In response to Ophelia’s terrible threat, the head butler bit his lip and stepped aside. With no further obstacles in her way, she quickly opened the door and entered Sullivan’s room. Her demeanor changed instantly, and she spoke in a gentle voice.

“Your Majesty.”

There was still no response. Confused, she carefully approached the bed where Sullivan was lying. Her view of him was obscured by a thin curtain.

“Your Majesty, I must speak to you—ah!”

Ophelia reached out to Sullivan, but then immediately snatched her hand back when she felt the cold temperature of his body.

‘Surely…’

Ophelia’s eyes grew impossibly wide. She approached Sullivan again and carefully pressed her finger under his nose. There was no hint of breath.

Sullivan had passed away. It was a shocking development.