I Won't Accept Your Regrets

Chapter 150

Jeremy shouted joyfully, and the man chopping wood in front of the house jerked at the noise.

Jeremy left me and walked over to him.

And so the two grappled in an embrace. More specifically, Raker did not reciprocate the gesture.

Because Raker's gaze was on me.

"Jeremy, it can't be..."

Raker's deep voice was heard. He seems to have noticed who I am.

It would not have been difficult to recognize me, because I was not in any way disguised.

Silver hair and purple eyes were not common in the empire.

Raker frowned and pushed Jeremy roughly away.

"Get out."

A couple of steps back, and Jeremy laughs awkwardly.

"Haha, Raker, listen to me first..."

"I don't want to hear anything. Get out and don't poke your nose at me anymore."

Very angry, he is unlikely to listen to anything.

I didn't want to take that approach. But, apparently, it will have to.

Sighing, I walked over to both of them. And I told Raker, who was looking at me with eyes full of hostility.

"We are in the lands of the Egrit Empire. You cannot push the Empress herself out of here."

"Then I'll go."

"If you ignore me and leave, I will order you to be arrested for disrespecting the royal family."

Raker froze. He just had to stop. His face was full of displeasure.

There was also contempt.

"I'm sorry to force you. But my choice is not great."

"If you're sorry, please leave me alone."

"I can not. Otherwise, there will be no chance at all that you will go to meet me."

"I have no reason to know the emperor's family."

"Raker."

Jeremy resented the disrespectful tone. But Raker didn't slow down.

He, as before, looked at me with a confident look, as if he wanted to kill.

It turned out that I would encounter a lot more hostility towards my side than I thought.

"The sage did not cease to turn away from those who ask for help. You don't even want to listen to me."

Raker, who had previously frowned and shot me with eyes full of fire, suddenly stopped.

"As you can see, I did not come in the guise of an empress. But as a mother of a child, I came to ask for a favor. But you hate us so much... that I can only turn around and leave."

The moment I turned away, I heard Raker's voice.

"Stand."

"Stand?"

"What kind of help are you asking for... I want to hear first."

Even if he hates the foundations of the empire, it seems that he cannot refuse the code of the sage. Finally Raker raised the white flag.

"Stay outside."

"As you wish. I will watch over your beautiful firewood."

Laker dropped Jeremy and took me to the hut.

The hut was small but neatly furnished.

"You will sit there."

Raker pointed to the wooden table.

"Is this all your job?"

"Yes, and I don't see any problems here. I put things in order every day."

"I didn't say that it's dirty here. I'm just asking, because everything looks so neat here. The work of the master can be seen from a mile away."

There was not a single sharp corner, not a crooked board, as if everything had been carved out by a good carpenter. Raker showed surprise at my sincere admiration.

He gave me a strange look and put a cup of tea in front of me.

As soon as he sat down opposite, he immediately got down to the point.

"Are you telling me to be your prince's teacher?"

"Exactly."

Raker spoke calmly, but there was regret in his eyes.

"Leaving the castle does not mean living and knowing what is happening in the empire. In particular, your story with the emperor is popular not only in the empire, but throughout the continent."

"Of course you say no."

"Yeah. I am not going to be the teacher of His Crown Highness. And not even because he is the prince of the Egritian empire. I don't want to have a relationship with the authorities," he said firmly. It seemed that there was no intention to cave in.

After a moment of silence, I slowly opened my mouth.

"I knew you would refuse. But I cannot refuse such a rare talent, which is why I came here."

"The Empress. I..."

"I know you hate power. But you yourself understand: this power is amenable to change."

"What do you want to tell me?"

"You have traveled the continent and selected poor but capable students. These are the students who were once like you. Wouldn't you like to bring these disciples to a higher place and educate them?"

"Teaching children while sitting in the mountains is a waste of talents. Wouldn't you like to change the world, make it fairer, using these very abilities wisely? Build a society where a person is recognized for his ability, regardless of status and financial power."

Raiker's eyes trembled violently. For the first time since the beginning of the dialogue.

"And this is the world that I also want to see. And I need a teacher who will guide the young prince to achieve such an ideal, because the time will come and he will become the emperor."

The fact that he became disillusioned with the empire does not mean that the ideal world that he dreamed of as a scientist has also disappeared.

If he had abandoned his ideas, he would not have nurtured his students.

Raker's lips parted in confusion. My proposal was too tempting to say no.

I smiled as I saw the inner conflict on his face.

"You don't need to answer right now. Today I just arrived to make an offer. I hear you will stay in the empire for a while. When you have made your decision, send me a letter through Duke Drua."

"As you say, Your Majesty."

Raker spoke in a tone completely different from the previous one.

"Actually, it's... I didn't even think you could do it."

As I left Raker's hut and walked down the mountain trail with Jeremy, he cautiously told me.

"Because Raker is a man who harbors a strong hatred of all authority. He made many enemies in other kingdoms, and here and there he entered into battles with the nobles. So I doubted it. But Raker's heart seemed to shake."

It was amazing to me myself.

Added to this was Jeremy's sincere admiration.

"The case has not yet been crowned with success. I haven't heard Raker's answer yet."

"It's almost a success. He will definitely agree. I put my whole fortune on it."

Jeremy laughed mischievously.

"Well, if you say so, then I'll be sure."

"Do not worry about anything. If it doesn't work out, I'll just tie him up and throw him into the palace."

I lost all focus, either from his jokes, or maybe because picturesque mountain landscapes opened up in front of me.

"It's been a long time since I just walked in the mountains like that."

"So much work has been done. Your Majesty the Empress. Come to think of it, I, too, have not been able to afford this for a long time."

"So many things fell on us at once. Is your estate back in order?"

"Yes. All the workers are organized and enthusiastic to build the new Drua estate."

"You will succeed."

As we walked slowly along the trail, exchanging lines and admiring the scenery, I turned and looked Jeremy in the face.

He looked down at his feet with a kind of concern on his face.

"Jeremy, what's going on?"

He flinched at my question. I saw indecision flicker in his amber eyes.

"If you have something to say, tell me."

"It..."

If there is a problem, which he should be afraid of... There was only one such problem.

I put forward a guess:

"Is it about the first prince?"

"Yes. It worries me. Let the truth be revealed, but it seems that I ruined the life of the first prince, and he is still so young."

I saw his face, unable to hide the feeling of guilt.

When I was thinking about the fate of the first prince, there were many things that didn't suit me either.

After all, it was just an innocent child.

"I don't like all this. But this is the truth that cannot be buried."

"Indeed, the first prince... I will never kick him out of the palace until I get proof that he is not the son of his majesty."

"Can we find proof?"

"The Sios family has a son."

"Oh yes. Come to think of it, I've heard of this. There was a boy there, in whom nothing particularly outstanding could be found. But what does he know?"

"The moment he disappeared was after a big quarrel with the late prince. He must know at least something that we do not know about the relationship between Lisa and the murdered prince."

"I hope I can find him."

"Forget this story for a moment. I will always be grateful to you for everything."

"Yes? What is it for..."

"From the time I sailed to the Kingdom of Lund until now, I would not have stood here like this if it were not for you. Thanks a lot, Jeremy."

It may not be enough to just say thank you, but at least I've always wanted to express my sincere thanks.

Jeremy's amber eyes trembled. He chuckled awkwardly.

"There is nothing to be modest here. You have proved yourself so many times."

The moment he regained his composure, I slipped on the damp ground.

"Ouch!"

At the moment when I had already tightly closed my eyes, someone's hands grabbed my waist.

Jeremy's face was in front of my eyes.

It was so close I could see, his amber eyes seemed to be sprinkled with gold powder.

And while I was embarrassed by his face right in front of my nose, Jeremy smiled smoothly.

"And again I help you out. Your Majesty."

"Thanks."

"The road is slippery, so we'd better join hands."

And held out his hand.

I feel like I want to sink into the ground. But, as he said, the road was slippery.

I still took his hand, not looking in his direction.

When we passed the mountain path, and the danger receded along with embarrassment, I told him:

"If you need anything from me, tell me anything."

His formerly smiling face suddenly tightened and his steps stopped.

I made a mistake?

I just wanted to pay off somehow.

Maybe he was in a bad mood and his lonely face passed me by.

"Jeremy?"

When I called him in surprise, he seemed to look right through me and only smiled, as if nothing had happened.

"I do not know. There was something I longed for, but now... Leave my hand, just drop it. I really don't want anything more."

These were significant words.

I wondered what he wanted, but I could not penetrate into his sorrowful look.

"Then maybe something else..."

"It's just... I think it's not bad, after all, everything has grown together? Her Majesty is fine... The Crown Prince is safe. And I, too... safe."

It was a gentle but decisive refusal.

A reward that he did not ask for will become a burden to him.

I no longer pressed on this question and retreated.

"Good. Well, the sun is about to set. Better hurry."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

His face, his awkward smile created a sad picture. But I don't think he will give out the reason. So I turned away and pretended not to see it.

So, Jeremy and I hurried down the mountain in order to be in time before sunset.