Chapter203

Elara arrived at the gates of the inner palace and saw Oswyn, eyes red, leading a group of attendants charging in with great momentum.

The palace attendants guarding the gates looked troubled. They didn't dare let them through, but they also didn't want to offend Oswyn, who claimed he came from the rear court of the Princess's residence.

Oswyn clearly didn't care about any of that. He was filled with uncontrollable anger and bitterness, and he looked at the palace gates like he wanted to smash them down.

Behind the people he ordered to break the door, there were even more attendants carrying large bundles of various things, including clothes, wooden boxes, and huge amounts of medicinal herbs. It looked like he had come straight here after rushing back from Marigold City.

"Oswyn, you…"

Elara stepped in front of him and was just about to speak when Oswyn turned his red eyes to look at her. His expression became even more furious.

"Elara! How could you treat me like this!! What do you mean I can leave whenever I want? What do you mean return the proof of innocence?! I was dragged into your Princess's residence by force for so many years! Now that you're bored of me, you just want to throw me away?!"

Oswyn stared at her with a face full of rage, but his red-rimmed eyes looked like he was about to cry.

"Elara, I'm telling you, don't even think about it!! Am I someone you can summon at will and then discard when you're done?!"

"And why is it only us that you can summon and dismiss at your whim?! But the man you brought into the palace is allowed to live in your inner palace!"

"If that man can stay, why can't I?! What do you take me for, Elara!"

Oswyn's voice started out filled with fury, questioning and strong, but gradually became full of grievance and unwillingness.

Elara watched him as he questioned her, tears falling uncontrollably from the corners of his red eyes. She suddenly remembered how he had cried out of nowhere last time too. She couldn't help but think that "a man made of water" was a very fitting description for him.

"Oswyn, calm down and listen to me..." Elara raised her hand, wanting to pat him.

Oswyn smacked her hand away with a sharp sound and continued to glare at her.

"How am I supposed to calm down?! I've followed you through the north and south, I've done whatever you asked of me! I didn't even hesitate to give you the Nirvana Nine-Turn Pill that my master gave me! Even last time—last time I kissed you! Elara! ...Didn't you feel anything at all? Can't you feel anything?!"

"I rushed back from the southern region today only to hear that you don't want me anymore. That you're throwing me away! And instead you're bringing another man into your inner palace! Elara! You heartless and ungrateful woman! How could you treat me like this! Absolutely heartless! Completely heartless!..."

Elara: "...."

Elara: "...No, Oswyn, just listen to me first..."

But Oswyn didn't seem like he wanted to listen at all. "How is it not true? Weren't you the one who told us to leave?! Wasn't it you who said that was proof of innocence?! And now you've become the Empress! If it wasn't from you, who else would dare to fake an imperial decree?!"

Elara: "..."

So he already knew she was the Empress. But somehow, his temper had only gotten worse than before.

"And if you wanted to use me and then throw me away, fine! But why treat me differently? Why could that man enter the palace with you?! Why only him? Am I that much worse than him?!"

Elara: ...Even though those two things were indeed things she had said, she... never meant to treat anyone differently. Just because Mathias was in the palace didn't mean he had become her consort. He didn't even have a title, alright?

But seeing Oswyn, eyes full of tears and questioning her over and over, Elara opened her mouth but couldn't say anything. For once, she truly felt speechless.

Oswyn saw her stay silent and got even angrier. He turned around and grabbed the luggage from the servant's arms, holding it close like he was ready to charge into the palace himself.

"Anyway, Elara! Don't think you can get rid of me! I'm going to live there! You took me back then, so you'd better not think you can ever get rid of me!"

The palace attendants guarding the doors had all gone completely still.

Even throughout history, no consort or servant had ever dared to act like this in front of their ruler, crying and shouting and being this disobedient.

Their Empress didn't even get angry or order him dragged away. Instead, she let Oswyn vent, even though he interrupted her several times. Her expression didn't show the slightest impatience or displeasure... instead, it was more like helpless indulgence.

The palace attendants watching felt shocked and amazed.

It seemed this Oswyn really was deeply favored by the Empress.

Even when he made such a public scene, she still treated him like this.

That silent indulgence was stunning to them. Deep down, they decided they'd better treat Oswyn the same as Mathias, the one the Empress always kept by her side in the palace.

These two were both the Empress's most cherished ones.

Unaware that she had gained two "most favored" people, Elara waved her hand, dismissing the stunned and hesitant palace attendants. Then she walked forward and pulled Oswyn, who was about to force his way in.

"Alright, that's enough. You've vented enough. Calm down a bit and let me finish what I need to say, okay?"

With her arms around him, Oswyn gradually calmed down. He didn't speak or look at her anymore, only breathing heavily and sobbing quietly while pausing his steps.

Elara held his back and gently patted his trembling spine, helping him breathe steadily.

Once she felt him finally calm down, she let him go, then looked into his still slightly red eyes and said,

"The reason I brought Mathias into the palace is because his body was poisoned and altered by Lord Gregory and the others. Until you return to the capital and help him recover, he can't leave me. That's why I have to keep him with me every day."

"But even though he's temporarily staying in the rear palace, he isn't a part of it. I have no intention of accepting any consorts for now. Once you've helped him recover, I'll send him back to the Pei Family."

Hearing this, Oswyn finally turned his slightly red eyes back to her, half-believing, half-skeptical. His tone was much calmer now, though still full of displeasure.

"Another one like Haochen? Why do you keep getting tied up with men like this? It hasn't even been that long."

Elara: "...It's not quite the same as with Haochen. Mathias was hurt far more seriously by Lord Gregory and the others..."

Elara: "Anyway, there's a reason he's staying in the rear palace. You don't need to move in just because of that..."

But before she could finish, Oswyn suddenly stared at her, like a radar locking onto a keyword. "So after all that, you still don't want me to live there, do you?!"

Elara: "...", he only heard that last sentence?

"What are you going to do living there? I told you already, you have no name or title, and the rear palace is far from the outer court. It's really inconvenient..."

No matter the reason they entered the palace, Elara had no intention of giving any of them a title.

Otherwise, once she eventually left, those men would be stuck inside the palace forever, waiting their whole lives for someone who no longer existed.

"No name, no title, fine! He doesn't have one either, so why can he stay?! Elara! You're being too biased! Am I really that much worse than Mathias?! I'm moving in today! Don't try to sweet-talk me into changing my mind!"

As Oswyn spoke, he grabbed the big bundle the servant was holding and tried to charge in again.

Elara took a deep breath and grabbed him once more, speaking seriously.

"Oswyn! The rear palace isn't like the backyard of the princess's residence. Once you're in, it's hard to leave. And I might... never be able to give you what you want. Why make it hard on yourself?"

When Elara said she could "never give him what he wants," Oswyn froze in place. He slowly turned back to look at her, and his eyes began to redden again.

He understood now. She hadn't misunderstood his feelings. She just... didn't want to respond.

She didn't like him.