Chapter 40
“…What was that…?”
“You asked about my relationship with Duke Creyman, didn’t you?”
I glared at him with a face as cold as ice.
“I’ll answer you.”
“…”
“Of course… it’s nothing more than the relationship between a sponsor and the sponsored. You’re asking something far too obvious.”
I sneered at him mockingly. Flustered, he asked again.
“Then why is it that you only receive sponsorship from Duke Creyman’s house?”
“That is because…”
Just as I parted my lips to answer, a voice came from elsewhere.
Both the man and I turned our heads at the same time.
“I’ll tell you why. It’s because she has no need of any other house’s sponsorship.”
“Duke… Creyman.”
Startled by his sudden appearance, the man muttered in shock.
When did he get here?
I stared blankly as the duke walked closer.
He smacked away the man’s hand that had been gripping my wrist, the sound ringing out sharply. The man clutched his stinging hand and staggered back a step.
Naturally, all eyes in the room shifted toward us. The man’s face flushed red from being shoved aside by Duke Creyman.
“Duke Creyman! What do you think you’re—!”
The man tried to protest, but the duke no longer looked at him. His gaze was fixed on me, making my body tense. His eyes lowered.
“Your wrist… it’s bruised.”
“Oh, this… it’s fine. It doesn’t hurt much.”
“Duke! I haven’t finished speaking!”
The ignored man shouted in fury. Only then did the duke turn his eyes to him.
But the moment their eyes met, the man faltered, overwhelmed, and stumbled back again. His body trembled.
Then, in desperation, he pointed at me.
“And you call this nothing? How could anyone see this as just the relationship between a sponsor and the sponsored!”
“I don’t know what you mean, but it was because you were acting coercively that I intervened.”
“Coercive? When did I ever—”
“You grabbed her when she said no, and you didn’t let go.”
I cut in, showing my wrist. The clear red marks made the crowd stir. Voices of reproach for the man rose from all around.
“Ugh, that’s only because she tried to walk away while we were talking!”
“Forcing your will upon someone who does not want it and resorting to physical means—that is the problem. Do you not understand even that most basic principle?”
The duke looked at him with open contempt. The hall erupted once again, almost entirely siding with Duke Creyman.
The man’s face turned scarlet. Then, I noticed him doing something strange.
Is he… looking at someone?
His eyes darted sideways as if pleading for help. I followed his gaze.
There was a man sitting high above, observing everything.
The Emperor…
When our eyes met, a smile curled at his lips.
So this was planned.
The Emperor must have called me here to test my relationship with Duke Creyman. He had planted someone to provoke me.
He wanted to see how the duke would react.
I looked at the duke. There was no way he hadn’t realized it, either.
Yet he still stepped forward to protect me, even knowing the Emperor was watching.
The Emperor gestured. At once, his attendant entered with knights and began dragging the man away. The man resisted violently.
“What is this, what are you doing?!”
“You’ve caused a disturbance in the hall. You must leave.”
“Do you even know whose orders—!”
“It is His Majesty’s command that you be removed.”
“…!”
At those words, the man’s eyes widened. He tried to shout again, but he was already dragged out.
The moment he was gone, the atmosphere in the hall froze.
Everyone knew what awaited someone who had displeased the Emperor.
“Such disorder on a joyous day.”
The duke and I lifted our heads. The Emperor was suddenly before us, smiling as if satisfied with what he had discovered.
His gaze locked onto me. I met his penetrating, dark-blue eyes without wavering.
“You were the director of Ciela Orphanage, weren’t you? The one who refused my sponsorship.”
His voice wasn’t scolding, yet it was far from warm.
I bowed deeply.
“It is an honor to meet Your Majesty. I apologize for that matter.”
“Haha, think nothing of it. With Duke Creyman already sponsoring you, there is no need for further patronage.”
“…”
The barbed remark left me silent. The hall was utterly still; not a soul dared breathe loudly in the Emperor’s presence. Everyone knew too well his temperament.
It was suffocating for me as well—his gaze felt like blades cutting into my flesh.
But then, suddenly, I felt relief and lifted my head.
Duke Creyman?
The duke had stepped in front of me.
“My apologies, Your Majesty. Baron Peirunt seemed deeply unsettled, so I intervened.”
“…I see. That is understandable. She is under your care, after all. I hope she recovers from the fright. Then, until next time.”
With those words to me, the Emperor returned to his throne. The orchestra cautiously resumed playing, and nobles tried to ease the frozen air with dancing.
Before I knew it, only the duke and I were left together.
“Are you all right? You should step outside and rest.”
“Ah, yes.”
That was my plan anyway—the stares were becoming unbearable.
I turned to leave, but strangely enough, the duke followed close behind. I glanced back and asked,
“Your Excellency, where are you headed?”
“…I was following you.”
“I’ll be fine on my own…”
“You’ve just gone through something unpleasant. Are you truly all right being alone?”
His gaze fell on my wrist.
To be honest, my body was still trembling. My heart was racing from the sudden ordeal.
But the Emperor…
As if reading my mind, the duke said,
“His Majesty has already retired.”
And indeed, the throne was empty. Only Saidem, seated below, looked at me in shock, clearly too wary of the duke at my side to approach.
“Then… would you walk with me?”
The Emperor was gone, and truthfully, I was still afraid the man might be waiting outside.
At my request, the duke nodded and came to my side. Together, we left the palace hall and walked toward the annex where my chambers were. I fell into thought as we went.
This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.
Tonight’s banquet was meant to prove to the Emperor that there was nothing between Duke Creyman and me.
This is bad.
Instead, it only left him with more reason to suspect, thanks to the man he had set on me.
What was the duke thinking?
I glanced at his profile. He must have known the Emperor was watching—so why step in?
He must have realized the Emperor was already doubtful of our relationship.
“…You look as though you’re wondering why I interfered.”
“Ah.”
The duke spoke, as if he had read my mind.
By then we had reached the garden before the annex. Stopping, he turned to look at me. Under the moonlight, his black hair shimmered faintly, and his golden eyes gleamed like the moon itself.
“…I don’t know either. I just saw you in danger, and my body moved on its own. If I’ve caused you trouble, I apologize. I’m sorry.”
“N-no, Your Excellency has nothing to apologize for. On the contrary, I’m grateful.”
When he began to bow his head, I hurriedly stopped him. Caught off guard, he looked at me, and I awkwardly explained,
“I pretended I wasn’t scared, but I really was. I felt safe when you appeared. Thank you.”
“…When a benefactor is in danger, of course I must help. Didn’t I tell you? If you’re ever in danger, I will save you.”
At his quiet words, I looked at him. His expression was so earnest that I dropped my attempt to laugh it off and answered seriously,
“But… will it be all right?”
I didn’t say it outright, but he understood, nodding.
“I told the Emperor it was Rick who aided with the trade matter, so your safety won’t be threatened immediately. Still, you must always be cautious. Though, since this is the first time I’ve openly stepped in for a lady, there may be needless rumors.”
“Needless rumors?”
“That you and I might be lovers.”
“What?”
The unexpected words burst from me in a louder voice than I intended. I quickly pressed my lips shut.
Me, in a relationship with Duke Creyman? Absurd.
Utterly ridiculous.
He was the Empire’s highest noble, and I was from a fallen house.
Instead, I worried it might insult him.
Wanting to ease any offense, I said,
“That’s nonsense. The idea of Your Excellency and me as lovers…”
“Yes. Utter nonsense.”
The duke agreed without hesitation.
But hearing his instant agreement hurt even more somehow…
I sulked, wounded in spite of myself.
And then, his next words made me look up in shock.
“How could someone like me possibly be worthy of someone like you?”
