Episode 99
So, that was the reason for Callisteon’s hurried visit.
A few days ago, while chatting through the communication orb, I had casually mentioned painting a portrait, and he had been restless ever since.
The point was, he wanted me to sell this newly painted portrait to him.
I laughed, answering as if he couldn’t be dissuaded.
“The paint hasn’t even dried properly yet, Carl. Do you want to see the painting more than me now?”
It was the moment when, even though I wanted to hug him, I was about to give up prematurely, thinking we wouldn’t even properly touch because of my belly.
Callisteon quickly sensed my feelings, came around behind me, and wrapped his arms around my waist.
“How could that be? It’s just that if I don’t hurry, it seems someone else might snatch it away.”
The man’s body temperature against my back was cool, as always.
Feeling an inexplicable relief at that temperature, I leaned against his broad chest.
“I’m not selling that to anyone. It’s a painting to show the baby later.”
“That’s a shame.”
When his breath, from his bowed head, touched my earlobe, I broke out in goosebumps.
Even though we had met just a week ago, I was unnecessarily tense.
Callisteon’s palm carefully swept over my round belly.
“Has our Rue’s… baby been well?”
He was making a preemptive move, saying ‘our’ baby, probably expecting a scolding if he said ‘our’.
Astonished, I turned slightly to look up at him.
But the moment I met those jewel-like, sparkling blue eyes up close, I stiffened for reasons I couldn’t precisely explain.
At that, the laughter completely vanished from the corners of Callisteon’s mouth, and he just stared at me intently.
When I tried to turn my head away belatedly, a large hand gripped my cheek, stopping me.
“Rue.”
“…Yes?”
Now we were too close.
The breath felt at close range grew increasingly warm.
His bare, gloved palm hesitantly brushed against my lower lip.
I couldn’t possibly miss what his earnest blue gaze desired.
When I secretly pursed my lips and kissed his palm, he abruptly closed the distance between us.
‘Ah…’
I couldn’t bring myself to say anything.
Callisteon also just looked down at me without even blinking an eyelash.
His ample palm moved slowly, stroking my cheek, and his thick thumb traced my lips.
Throughout it all, our gazes never parted for a moment.
I just watched as he slowly drew closer to me.
I knew what he intended to do, but I simply couldn’t refuse.
Rather, my tongue felt dry, and I felt parched.
It was the moment when our lips were about to finally touch.
Knock knock.
A clear knocking sound was heard.
Only then did I remember that Phoebe had gone to fetch the portrait to show him.
Callisteon still hadn’t moved away from me in the slightest, but unlike before, a hint of laughter now lingered at the corners of his mouth.
“How can I not have expectations when you act like this.”
His quiet voice seemed precisely meant to tease me.
He was clearly referring to the conversation we had had in Babenberg.
“Who would you choose if not me?”
Callisteon had been so confident back then too.
The moment I barely managed to turn away from him and avert my gaze, Phoebe’s voice rang out.
“I’ve brought the portrait. May I come in?”
Callisthene gently held my shoulders, bent down, and kissed my forehead.
Even though it was clearly far from what he originally intended to do, he didn’t seem particularly regretful.
I felt so frustrated, as if I were the only one feeling regretful.
“You may come in.”
Callisthene answered for me.
The door opened, and Phoebe entered with two servants carrying the portrait.
Since I was frantically fanning my flushed cheeks with my hand, there was no way the perceptive maid wouldn’t notice my state.
Phoebe, pretending not to know anything, naturally struck up a conversation with Callisteon.
“Look, Your Excellency. Isn’t it truly so beautiful?”
Callisteon didn’t answer.
He just stared blankly at the painting for a while, then asked me,
“Tell me the price, Rue. If it really can’t be helped, could I at least have a copy made?”
“…No.”
I wondered if I refused because his attitude moments ago was somewhat irritating.
Callisteon grinned as if he had expected that.
“Once we’re married, we’ll have a couple’s portrait painted, and when the baby is born, we’ll have a family portrait painted.”
The words ‘with me’ were omitted, but there was no one in the room who didn’t understand that meaning.
Because the strange atmosphere from moments ago still enveloped me, I couldn’t bring myself to harshly retort that it was my affair.
“Rue.”
I looked back at him discontentedly, but Callisteon whined mischievously.
“Let me have a copy made, hmm?”
“…I said no.”
Having said that, I fled the room as if running away.
Even though the stupid act of leaving him alone in my room was of no help at all.
A month later, the Imperial Capital.
Weeks had already passed since the coronation, but the tasks for the new Emperor only seemed to multiply endlessly.
The duty Rurik found particularly burdensome was meeting with the nobles.
The Empire, with its long history, had many nobles, and thus, they all wished to maintain their own distinct positions and attitudes.
However, not only the nobles who had helped Rurik ascend the throne, but also those who hadn’t helped but turned a blind eye, and even those who doubted his legitimacy and hid daggers under their tongues, all eventually lined up before the Imperial Castle, requesting an audience with the new Emperor.
“How many are left?”
When Rurik asked the Chamberlain, the answer came immediately.
“Seven, Your Majesty.”
‘Endless.’
He struggled to swallow those words.
He wanted to take even half a day off to visit his sick sister, but it seemed impossible to find the time, even if he died and came back to life.
The Chamberlain whispered,
“Count Sellar’s father made his money in trade in the past and entered the Sellar family as a live-in son-in-law, obtaining the title.”
It was an obvious statement, but the Chamberlain knew well that Rurik had spent most of his life on battlefields until now.
So, before the new Emperor met an unfamiliar noble, he recited brief information about them.
It was greatly helpful for Rurik.
At that moment, Helena appeared from behind the screen.
“Not only that, but the Countess is also acquainted with Her Highness Louise’s lady-in-waiting. The Sellar family will be friendly towards Your Majesty, so simply remembering the name will be sufficient.”
The Chamberlain flinched imperceptibly.
Just half a year ago, she had been a mere convent maid.
Yet, in his eyes, Helena knew a suspiciously large amount and offered accurate advice to the Emperor.
Seeing the Chamberlain’s surprised expression, Rurik chuckled softly.
‘At this rate, we won’t be able to keep the precognitive dream story secret for long.’
Helena still held no official position, but she worked as hard as the new Emperor himself, from a place where others couldn’t see.
The moment Helena hid herself again, the Count appeared and bowed his head.
“I congratulate you on your ascension, Your Majesty.”
His attendant, carefully holding something wrapped in velvet, followed, placed it at Rurik’s feet, and unwrapped it.
“It is a humble gift offered in celebration of Your Majesty’s reign. Please deign to accept it.”
Even though he was merely presenting a gift, the Count’s shoulders trembled.
Then again, considering Rurik’s epithets, it was understandable.
The Emperor’s Dog, Mad Dog, Emperor’s Sword, War Demon, Sword God, God of War…
Even the best among them, ‘God of War,’ was enough to instill fear in an ordinary person.
Rurik looked down at Count Sella and forced the corners of his mouth upward.
“Thank you. I have often heard the name Sellar from my sister. Please convey my regards to your wife as well.”
The Count bowed his head repeatedly and continued in a trembling voice,
“I-I am honored that you remember. Our family will serve with utmost loyalty for generations.”
Rurik maintained his forcibly drawn smile until the Count disappeared, but it was uncertain whether the Count had realized it was meant to be a smile.
Only after dealing with the remaining six people did Rurik get a brief moment of rest.
During the break, he dismissed the Chamberlain and buried his face in the nape of Helena’s neck.
“Have you thought about it?”
