Soon Liam, with a hesitant look, came in and set an example to him. And Fabian looked down at Liam from his higher seat.

Duke, when are you going back? he asked.

Im going back tomorrow.

Good for you.

Fabian thought about what to say while looking at the paper he had written before, Will you stop by Kingdom Felice on your way?

Yes, my sister is there.

Do you mean Lady Rebecca?

Liam lifted his head, looking at Fabian with a suspicious eye. He didnt even want to know why the Emperor remembered his sister. Its probably hard to avoid his sisters popularity if she often stayed at Felice Palace.

I heard from Serus that Lady Rebecca seems to have a strong prejudice towards the Empires man.

Prejudice? Liam asked back, pretending not to know.

Yes, false rumours are circulating about the heartless and insensitivity of the Imperial men. Fabian couldnt help, but this time he said it on purpose.

Liam just asked back with a calm face, False rumours? Putting on a poker face was an ability he had learned when he was hit by an opponent named Rebecca. Really, it wasnt her sisters opinion, but Rebecca seemed to have spoken the wrong thing.

Is that true, then?

I dont know.

Is the Imperial citizen a monster? Fabian asked.

But Liam shut his mouth to his difficult question. It was also the ability to avoid that he learned from Rebecca.

So, you think like that, too? Fabian was irritated, so he had no choice but to ask the question first.

I never lived with an Imperial man. Liam gave an ambiguous answer, either positive or negative. And Fabian felt awkward, staring at Liams green eyes, which didnt feel hesitant about him.

Well, itd be easier to tell your sister to refrain from rumours.

My sister doesnt listen to anyone.

Fabian raised one of his eyebrows, Even though the Emperor said it?

Ill tell her its Your Majesty.

Its over. I dont want to take this issue any further.

Liams face was still calm. But in fact, he was annoyed. He felt a moment ago that her sister was being blamed. Fabian, who had no one to take care of in his life, didnt know or understand Liams line of thought. And it was a good thing for both men.

I have a message for Princess Evelyn. I want you to tell her.

Liam blinked his eyes.

That theres no special message, only send my greetings. Fabian clenched his finger, lost in his own thoughts, Are you doing well, is there a problem? Honestly, he had more to say on the writing paper, but he couldnt find out which one would be best to say.

Oh, yes. Im using the scented candle she told me in the letter.

Huh?

When you say that, shell know, Fabian answered bluntly. Liam remained calm, however, and was able to control his expression. Even though he couldnt be compared to the Emperor, he was an amazing Duke. Above all, he was a proud man who respected others.

I dont know why I should tell her that.

On your way back, you can tell her.

Youve already given a black hawk to the kingdom, so please ask by letter.

Liams words were piercing the corner of Fabians heart. You will go there anyway. Besides, it will take time to tie the letter on the hawk.

But you have three. Ive heard that the Imperials black hawk is faster than anything else.

Yeah, that was true. But, Fabian couldnt say that the hawks didnt return to him.

Does this mean that the Duke will disobey my orders? Fabian looked at Liam with his eyes wide open.

What? That was the order? Liam asked back and raised his voice purposely.

This is not a formal order.

The Imperial Order is all official, Your Majesty.

Thats not it.

Fabian swallowed a sigh, trying to be patient. He couldnt easily judge whether the young Duke in front of him was stupid or smart. It was a matter, of course. Until now, there was no person like Liam around him.

If it isnt an order, is it a royal edict?

No matter how great the emperor was, it was a disgrace he issued such an edict. Fabian sighed in annoyance.

No, just forget about it.

Im sorry, Im not used to serving Your Majesty.

Liam had the nerve to answer him back. If Rebecca saw it, she would give him a standing ovation.

If you have nothing more to say, Ill leave.

Fabian shook his head as if he didnt want to answer. The young Duke of Akrshire seemed subtly dumbfounded by this situation.

The most annoying thing was that there was nothing that could be justified. This was a lesson as well as a survival technique that Liam had learned while growing up with older sisters like Rebecca.

I dont like him . Fabian stared at Liams back, knocking the table nervously.

That night, he didnt know that the hawk, which he had been waiting for so long, would return.

On the night before the congress, Evelyn visited the gardens of the palace. She saw Fabians black hawk, which grew bigger every day, and kept looking up at the sky as if he wanted to fly.

Im so sorry for you .

It was a hawk who had to do his job and fly across the sky. But now Evelyn felt sorry for him. Because of her, he was locked up in the cage.

Perhaps Evelyn hated seeing the hawk whose freedom had been robbed of because she had thought of herself. She knew the feeling that she couldnt meet anyone, and Evelyn hated it every time she remembered it.

I was trying to write the reply, but

As Fabians letters piled up, she thought there was something wrong with it. But while Evelyn was thinking about her answer, the time had passed. Whatever the answer, Fabian would know the rejection. Yes, he should.

There was no right answer.

Evelyn came close to the hawk. No words or sentences could fully describe Evelyns heart. Above all, she was worried about Fabian, who would stubbornly answer her with another question.

I should have done this from the start. Evelyn untied the string attached to the hawks ankle.

Fly away now.

The hawks, who didnt even know they had become free, were still sitting peacefully in the cage.

Go away from me.

Evelyns voice sounded a little lonely. In the end, the answer she chose was to say nothing. Sometimes silence was an answer. It was more resolute than any other answer. So, she decided to return the hawks without writing a single letter. Fabian would face reality, whether he wanted to or not.

Go away now!

Fabian told her to keep the hawks because there were still lingering regrets, hopes and memories of love in his heart.

It was all right if it wasnt right now, then I didnt have to make a decision, then wouldnt it be all right to have a little more conversation with Fabian? Such a weak and foolish mind continued to hold Evelyn in.

Go!

Before her heart broke, Evelyn threatened the hawk with a pole. Only then did the hawks spread their wings and flew up, realizing that there was nothing to hold them back.

Go! Go!

Typically the highly-trained-hawks wouldnt just fly away, especially if they saw Evelyns face, who was already considered as their master. However, after shouting countless times, it seemed they realized Evelyns wish.

Yes, go away!

The hawks were flying over until they eventually soared into the sky.

Now, dont come back here again.

Evelyn said a lonely farewell to herself. It wasnt long before the hawks disappeared from her sight forever. Evelyns cold, unspeakable rejection of Fabian had flown, just like that.

.Good-bye.

In the end, a painful word lingered. Tonight, Evelyn had to comfort herself and think that this was the right decision. And after a long night, she would go back to her daily routine. The everyday life of the most precious things. To protect it, Evelyn could be a cold-hearted person.

On the night of the congress, Serus had been away for a while to meet his returning spy. On his behalf, it was the chief officer who informed Fabian that the three hawks had arrived. Fabian rushed to the garden where the hawk was, without hiding his excitement.

Thats all.

But his joy soon turned into doubt and denials.

Yes.

There wasnt anything else?

Yes.

Fabian took a cold breath for a moment. It felt like his heart, which was excited with anticipation, was falling all of a sudden. His head shouted that something was wrong, but his heart knew that this was a silent rejection.

Get out of here, all of you. Dont let anyone in!

Fabian, who shouted fiercely, collapsed. As an Emperor, he couldnt show this side to others. He wasnt allowed to be sad or heartbroken.

Evelyn. He couldnt even call the name of the person who passed by.

Whos heartless and insensitive one? Who?! Fabian couldnt even sigh out of his pain. Two times you stabbed a knife into my chest.

Ive been left alone again. Without knowing the reason for that

He couldnt be broken with just this, and he couldnt be weak in the face of loneliness. However, Fabian wasnt an Emperor now. He was an ordinary man who was frustrated with his own thoughts.

Evelyn.you abandon me.

Even his resentful words were filled with longing, and Fabian couldnt help it even if he despised himself.

So easy..

Fabian hated her. Once, Evelyn shared a ring and vowed to love him, but it seemed easy only to her. Even him, who ruled the Empire, had to swallow his pain secretly for a single rejection. It was very difficult for him, but it was always easy for Evelyn to end their relationship.

Its cruel. Its not easy for me to hate you like that.

The darkness deepened.

Its not easy for me to hold on to now.

The bitter words came out, and there was silence all along. Her unspoken rejection without a single word was too cruel. Evelyns refusal had the power to make Fabian helpless. For the first time, he realized that Evelyn had such a cold side.

Why is it difficult only for me?

The stupid feeling that remained in him was very painful.

Cruel.

Under the full moon, the grieving mans shadow slowly fell down. He tried to grab what he couldnt hold, and he had no strength left to take a single step. He could only swallow the pain and bitterness in his heart. Thats the only thing he could do.

The Emperors loneliness, which nobody knew, was very deep.

Serus climbed to the tower which was used as the secret base of Black Hawk Knight. Not long ago, on Fabians instruction, a spy was sent to get information from the Vatican. And he just returned tonight.

Logan was his name. He was the spy and also the most capable knight in Black Hawk. He arrived first and greeted Serus with a glance.

Well done. Serus reached out his hand. But Logan didnt give him any document. Instead, Serus got a cautious answer. And his face was severe.

It wasnt a text message..I cant tell you that.

The spy-knight kept his mouth shut. Serus thought for a moment, and he nodded. If Serus, who was Fabians trustee, couldnt hear it, it must be a secret that Fabian must listen to by himself.

I must inform His Majesty first.

Only

Logan, its already late

No. Logan shook his head firmly. I have to tell your Majesty as soon as possible.

There was a strong sense of responsibility embedded in those words. But Serus couldnt just let Logan go.

According to the chamberlain, His Majesty has now ordered that no one is allowed to be near him now. As a knight, dont let your life throw away. Serus made a quick judgment. First of all, stay with me today.

Yes.

Logan followed Serus with a heavy secret that one knight could not handle, I hope I can deliver this news quickly.

He couldnt delay it for a second. Since only the Emperor, as the person concerned, could hear this secret.