Being anxious over government matters really meant he feared he might never ascend to the throne, and his sleepless nights were actually due to the intimate encounters he shared with a certain noblewoman. Amalia seemed to grieve for the imperial prince she herself had slain, yet there was a subtle note of irony in her words.
Of course, only a few people could fully grasp the details and understand her implications. Lucas's lifelong efforts ultimately became a wedding gown for Amalia, and in the end, he at least received a funeral far better than Alistair's
Feeling Amalia's hand resting on the back of hers, Astrid neither pulled away nor turned her hand to interlock their fingers. Instead, she continued standing beside her like a lady-in-waiting attending the emperor, accompanying her as they looked down upon the masses below.
Come to think of it, in the history of the Valeria Empire, few people had ever walked up the steps alongside the emperor to stand beside the throne.
