CHAPTER 59 - EZEKIEL’S CONFUSIONEzekiel felt sorry for Harriet for the first time in his life. He knew how hard it was to love someone he shouldn't love. But seeing that woman wearing Almandine gems made him feel uncomfortable.
Having an affair while wearing her husband's clan symbol was what made this all ironic.
Ironic and… somehow, thrilling.
He didn't expect to find another naughty and taboo side of the woman he hated to make him so tempted.
"You may go."
Ezekiel let the woman go. However, his eyes didn't leave her back for a second until she was out of sight. Ezekiel started letting thoughts of Harriet fill his head and stopped rejecting them since he saw her having an affair. He didn't know why–
For him, having an affair was one proof that humans were not perfect. It was wrong and very disappointing, but at the same time, it was also a phenomenon that equated humans with ninety per cent of the other animals on earth.
Ezekiel believed in true love, so for him, an affair based on love was inevitable.
Just like when he fell in love with Cecilia, even though his father repeatedly said that Harriet was the best choice for him. What he was doing at that time might not be counted as an affair, but Harriet had a day where she was strictly educated as a candidate for Empress, so their engagement could be said to have been confirmed.
He was grateful and thanked the gods because he managed to escape the relationship he didn't want and find his true love, and at the same time, he hated Harriet who took out her anger on Cecilia.
But it was Ezekiel who decided to choose Cecilia.
Everyone said it was natural for Harriet to be angry with the woman. It was only natural that Harriet did everything she did. Everyone was also confused as to why Harriet had given up and left on her own feet away from the capital, stopping the fight for the throne completely. And everyone who was confused also included Ezekiel.
He thought Harriet would try harder to separate him and Cecilia. But every time that woman appeared before him, he didn't see the slightest emotional fluctuation. He saw no disappointment, pain, or betrayal in her eyes. As if…
As if Ezekiel never meant anything to her.
A year ago, he thought it was because Harriet only wanted the throne as the Empress. But if Harriet's relationship with her secret lover had been established for a long time, then things might have another explanation.
Harriet had never really loved Ezekiel, and she had left the capital to live a quiet life with her lover.
But her brother turned into a monster and so she had to marry a monster family.
Moreover, the man she married was a dying old man who was on the verge of death.
Who would be happy and loyal to him in such a state?
It was clear that Harriet must have chosen to stay in touch with her lover.
The strange thing was that no one knew about Harriet's secret relationship. Maybe even his father, the emperor, didn't know. Because if his father found out, he wouldn't want to betroth Harriet and Ezekiel together. The Emperor loved Harriet so much that Ezekiel believed his old man would definitely prefer Harriet's happiness.
Then perhaps the identity of the long blonde haired man would be more difficult to investigate or predict than he thought.
Ezekiel remembered the name engraved on the piece of cane he still had.
At least he still had one clue to reveal his identity.
Ezekiel continued on, decided to leave from there and sent a letter to the capital to his subordinates to find out about a man with long blonde hair with extraordinary fighting abilities named Theo.
***
Harriet climbed the tower.
Judging by the wrapping of this bouquet of flowers, she felt that maybe Liam had just bought them from town. If the man just got home, maybe he was tired and decided to take a break? Or did he feel sick and decided to take a nap?
Harriet knew even though most of the time she saw her husband full of energy and capable of going around, he was probably pushing himself to the end.
When she reached the top of the tower and opened the door, she saw Liam, as expected, fast asleep in bed. She closed the door, softened her footsteps and placed her bouquet of flowers on the sofa table. After that, she sat down on the chair beside the bed.
As usual, Harriet stared at Liam in a familiar suffocating silence.
Harriet shook off the complicated feeling in her chest as she slowly realized the man was still wearing his dirty shoes after he had left the castle. Harriet stood up and gently removed her husband's shoes, then dusted the bed off the dirt. Carefully, she also slowly loosened Liam's shirt.
Unable to take off his jacket, Harriet just checked the man's pocket to see that there were no hard objects that would make him uncomfortable in his sleep.
And she found a small notebook.
Harriet had never seen the book before. She thought nothing of it and put it on the table. Perhaps the book was a notebook of her husband's research progress?
She could ask later.
After that, she sat back down and read the castle's monthly financial audit book, which she had to finish checking the next week. Harriet spent a fair amount of time reading the book, seeing that by almost four in the afternoon, she had almost finished reading it all.
Harriet got up from her seat and rang the bell for the maid. She asked them to prepare warm water for Liam's bath and to prepare Liam's early dinner. Her husband didn't have time to eat lunch, so she would make sure to fill his stomach faster once he woke up.
Besides that, Harriet asked for a flower vase.
***
Liam opened his eyes to the evening sky in the window. The transparent roof panels were still closed, indicating that it was not too late, even though the sun was already tilting far to the west. On the bedside table, he saw the silhouette of his wife, who was arranging red tulips in a flower vase.
He smiled. "Madam," he called in a voice that turned out to be hoarse.
Harriet turned to him and smiled sweetly.
"You're awake, Milord," the young woman climbed up the bed and kissed his lips softly. "Thank you for the flowers. I really like it," said Harriet in a crisp and melodious voice.
Liam raised his eyebrows.
The man grabbed Harriet's waist from running and hugged her.
"I didn't expect to get a kiss for a bunch of flowers," he whispered still hoarsely. He heard Harriet's sweet laugh fill his ears and echo in the corner of his empty chest.
He was glad he could wake up. He was glad he was alive and saw Harriet's sweet smile and laugh.
"I've asked the maid to prepare the bathwater. Do you want to go take a bath now?" she asked.
Liam got up from his lying position and lifted Harriet in his arms. "Right on time. Come on, help me take a bath, Madam," he said excitedly.
Harriet put her arm around Liam's shoulder with an amused laugh. The two chatted about dinner and other small talks as Liam made his way to the downstairs bathroom, leaving a few tulips on the table which had not been arranged in the vase.