"Why does it concern me, you ask, Your Highness?" Belleah said, looking straight at Darius.
"Of course, Lady Westwood. I did say what you heard. There is no issue with your hearing at all," Darius replied.
"Your Highness, you are forgetting that I'm your betrothed. Or are you forgetting that once you brought your illegitimate child into the palace?" she warned, venom in her tone.
"And when did that happen, Lady Westwood? Can you enlighten me when you were betrothed to me? Because I see no memory in my head which confirms I am betrothed to you," he said coldly, glaring.
"Y—Your Highness, how could you deny an engagement between the royal family and the Westwood family?" she stuttered.
"Engagement? Deny? When did that happen? Did you hear any engagement ceremony take place in the palace, Ethan?" he asked, turning to his knight.
"I apologize, Lady Westwood, but in my recollection I see no such event," Ethan said, bowing his head calmly as he answered.
"You heard the answer, Lady Westwood. Now you are confirmed. If you're done with this, I have a meeting to attend," Darius said, about to leave, when Belleah stopped him again.
"The engagement took place between the previous Emperor and my father — a promise-based agreement," she insisted.
"Oh. Such a thing happened? I wasn't aware at all," he said, looking up with a questioning expression.
"So now you remember I am your betrothed, and I do not like that illegitimate son in the palace. You should kick them out," she said, smiling as if she'd won.
"But Lady Westwood, you forget I inherited the throne after killing my father, the previous Emperor. Why do you think whatever your father promised the previous Emperor would still hold? Don't you think a written contract would have more weight than a mere promise?" Darius said lightly — but his eyes stayed cold, and the words made her shiver.
"B-but Your Highness, that woman—" she began, and he stepped close.
"Remember how you finish that sentence, Lady, unless you want my sword to swing right at your throat and split you in two, parcel your father afterward. Do you understand?" he said, voice dead-cold.
"I understand, Your Highness," she said, trembling, clutching the hem of her dress.
Darius moved forward, then stopped.
"And did you tell her you are my fiancée?" he asked without turning.
"Y-yes, Your Highness!" she cried.
"Damn it!" Darius muttered, and strode toward the garden, leaving Belleah behind.
Her knees gave out; she dropped to them in terror.
"My lady, are you all right?" the maid asked, panic in her voice.
"That woman! I will kill that woman! Everything is happening because of her! I will kill her!" Belleah muttered, rage and fear tangled.
"Let us move. I need to see my father right now!" she said, and the maid helped her to her feet.
***
"Aria! Aria!!!" Darius ran toward the garden in panic, not caring about his status as the Emperor.
"Your Highness, no need to panic. I'm sure the Empress has gone to the garden to meet the Crown Prince," Ethan said, trying to match his pace.
"Keep your suggestions to yourself, Ethan. I know what I'm doing," Darius dismissed him and reached the entrance of the garden, panting hard, leaning against a pillar for support.
His eyes fell on the sight of Aria running after Ellian, trying to catch him.
"I found you," he muttered and entered the garden calmly, as if nothing had happened.
"I greet you, Your Royal Highness!" Seeing Darius, Aria bowed her head, greeting him from afar. Seeing her, Ellian did the same. "Gweeting, Your Highness!"
He clenched his fist in anger.
"What do I owe the honor of your visit, Your Highness?" Aria asked in the same formal tone she always used.
"Ethan, could you play with Ellian for a moment?" he said, turning toward his knight.
"As you say, Your Highness," Ethan replied and walked forward, picking Ellian up.
"So, what shall we play, Your Highness?" Ethan said playfully, looking at Ellian as he carried him away.
"So, what do you want to talk about, Your Highness, now that you've sent Ellian away? I'm sure you don't want him to hear, right?" Aria said sharply.
"Did you meet with Belleah?" he asked.
"Oh, you've come to enquire what I told your fiancée about you, haven't you?" Aria said with a small laugh.
"No! You're wrong!" he denied.
"I know I'm right, Your Highness. I'm sure you don't want your fiancée to know that you've kidnapped two commoners and brought them into the palace. That's why you came running as soon as you found out I met her," she said.
"How many times do I need to tell you it's nothing like that—and she is not my fiancée!" he shouted, his hand landing on Aria's shoulder, gripping her tightly.
"Oh, so you came to clarify that to me? A commoner? Didn't expect that from you!" she said.
"What did you even expect from me then? Do I look like such a bad person to you? Did you forget those times we spent together? Did you forget who I—Darius—was?" he said, still holding her tightly.
"I expect nothing from Your Highness. Because there is no relationship between us. You and I share only an employee–employer relationship. I am your subject, and you are my king. That's all that exists between us.
"And about those times we spent together—there were no such things, Your Highness. You may look like my husband, but you are not my husband. I haven't forgotten how Darius was, but I don't know who you are now, because the Darius I knew was my husband, not the Emperor."
"So, do you want me to step down from the throne?" he said coldly, making Aria freeze in shock.
"What do you mean, Your Highness? I don't get it at all," Aria said, trying to handle the situation.
"You heard exactly what I said. I asked if you want me to step down from the throne, Aria Lumiere. Tell me—yes or no!" he demanded.
"I want no such thing from Your Highness. It's your decision. It's not up to me—not to anyone," she said.
"Then what more should I do to have you back?" he asked, looking into her eyes.