Chapter 16
【 Unusual silence means something is happening 】
It’s particularly serious today. Normally, Nell wouldn’t say anything but would at least listen. Today, however, he wasn’t even pretending to listen and was just blankly staring at the ceiling.
“Up until now, we could excuse it by saying Your Majesty was new to the throne and still settling in, but we can no longer delay this matter.”
“An excuse? Duke, your choice of words in front of His Majesty is truly poor.”
“Have I said anything improper?”
“Do you think taking an Empress is an easy matter? There are still so many accumulated issues to resolve.”
“If we wait to resolve all accumulated issues, we’ll all be old and in our graves by then.”
Of course, this topic isn’t a pleasant one, so it’s understandable he wouldn’t want to listen, but still…
“I hear a certain young lady has been staying continuously at the Imperial Palace.”
So that’s why they didn’t bring it up, you foxes.
Arthur cursed inwardly while looking at Duke Manister with a clueless expression. Fox #1 grinned at that.
“I hear His Majesty is personally showing her the imperial treasures, one by one? How could he commit such a reckless act!”
“You speak as if you saw it with your own eyes, Duke Manister?”
Arthur laughed, ‘Haha,’ and pretended to turn his head, sweeping his gaze over the others.
Hmm. Six seemed to know about Marcella. Two were acting surprised as if they didn’t know. One was thinking something entirely different.
“We were worried because His Majesty showed no interest at all, but it seems that’s not the case, so I’m relieved.”
“Wait. Who is this young lady?”
“I would also like you to understand that such matters must be settled before bringing in an Empress.”
Duke Manister ignored Duke Doris’s question about the young lady’s identity and spoke to Nell as if giving a warning.
Nell acted as if he didn’t hear him, simply keeping his eyes downcast, lost in thought.
“That is not a matter for Duke Manister to comment on this way and that. Is the future Empress perhaps your daughter, Duke Manister? Or could it be that the young lady His Majesty is hiding is…?”
Duke Martinez, who had been listening quietly, chuckled.
Duke Manister glared at her and frowned.
“In that case, what is Duke Martinez’s opinion on the matter?”
“My opinion on what? His Majesty is having a bit of a romance; what is there for me to think about?”
“How irresponsible.”
“Northerners are always so rigid…”
Duke Martinez muttered and made a disgusted sound. At that, veins bulged on Duke Manister’s neck.
He widened his eyes and glared at Duke Martinez.
“Go ahead and say it, Duke Martinez.”
“Ah, well, there’s no Empress right now, is there? With no one in that position, I don’t care who His Majesty sees. Once *someone* becomes Empress, then we can talk.”
“That’s why we need to decide on that Empress now!”
Arthur laughed and intervened to stop the increasingly heated conversation. Empress? It was premature for Nell.
“Empress… you mean my wife?”
But then Nell suddenly cut in.
The one shocked wasn’t just Arthur, who had been about to speak but was preempted. All eyes turned toward Nell in unison.
“Your Majesty?”
Arthur cautiously called to Nell. Duke Digory watched Arthur from the corner of his eye and frowned.
Duke Manister, whose veins were bulging as he glared at Martinez, and Duke Martinez, who had been silently mocking him with her expression, both looked at Nell in surprise.
In the silence, Duke Martinez was the first to let out a deflated laugh.
“Whom else would we be referring to?”
“I see. Manister.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Manister answered with propriety, but the look in his eyes was not kind.
“Is it a problem that I’m showing treasures to a young lady who is not the Empress?”
“Your Majesty, the point I wish to make is not about showing treasures, but that it is improper for Your Majesty, who is so busy, to devote time to a mere young lady.”
“I see.”
“Ahem, *cough cough*, *cough*, Your Majesty?”
Arthur couldn’t tell what Nell was thinking now, but he sensed Nell was on the verge of doing something reckless.
“In that case, the problem would be solved if I made Marcella my Empress.”
Seeing Duke Manister’s face turn crimson red, Nell thought he must be pleased the problem was solved and offered him a faint smile.
Of course, since that expression didn’t look like a smile to anyone else, Manister’s face grew even redder with anger.
“Seeing as no one says anything, it seems there are no objections.”
“Your Majesty! Please wait a moment!”
“What are you saying?”
“Arthur, was what I said not clear enough?”
Arthur rolled his eyes, stealing a glance at the foxes, then smiled brightly.
“Not at all, Your Majesty. It was perfectly clear and sufficient.”
Nell gave a slight nod and rose from his seat.
“You’ve worked hard.”
And so, he ended the meeting and left alone. He seemed to hear Duke Manister’s shouts from behind but paid them no mind. He also ignored Arthur, who followed, gnawing on his nails and muttering something. He had a place he needed to go.
Arriving at the detached palace, the Phoenix was now perched on Marcella’s head as if it was its rightful spot.
Nell glanced at the Phoenix like that and stood before Marcella.
“Today, I have a request for you.”
Marcella was puzzled by the sudden request but nodded.
He never sent her home, but aside from that, he never refused her requests, so she intended to grant his if possible. Perhaps if she agreed, she could set the condition of being sent home.
“If it’s something I can do for you.”
“Your Majesty!”
Arthur loudly interjected, stepping between Marcella and Nell. He tried to convey something with his face, but Nell, as always, couldn’t read his expression.
He seemed to be saying something shouldn’t happen, but what exactly? Unless it was urgent, Nell dismissed Arthur, telling him they could talk later.
“I wish for you to become my Empress.”
Marcella’s eyes blinked rapidly.
She looked at Nell’s utterly serious face, then at Arthur’s face, which seemed to say ‘this is a disaster,’ then back at Nell.
Instinctively, she took a step back.
As Marcella took one step back, Nell took one step forward. When Marcella took two steps back, Nell took two steps forward.
“Marcella?”
Feeling it was like the day of the Founding Festival when they met again, Nell called her name.
Marcella’s face stiffened as she forced a smile and retreated further.
“What are you saying, all of a sudden?”
“Was it difficult to understand? Empress means my wife.”
“Why are you saying such a thing all of a sudden!”
Why all of a sudden? Nell wasn’t prepared to answer her question. The reason for asking her to be Empress. The reason for asking her to be his wife.
He didn’t want her to leave. He wanted her to stay in a place he could reach with just a few steps. He wanted both the Phoenix and her by his side.
“The Phoenix is lonely.”
Marcella’s eyes widened as she looked at Nell.
Marcella grabbed the Phoenix, who had been sitting quietly on her head, and pushed it toward Nell as if throwing it. Nell’s eyes widened as he caught the warm Phoenix.
Just last night, he had felt an emptiness because the Phoenix hadn’t returned to his side. But now, even with the Phoenix back by his side like this, he didn’t feel very happy.
“I refuse.”
This was Nell Highley, the Emperor’s first failed confession.
Marcella conveyed her will in a clear and firm tone.
Nell slowly closed and opened his eyes, tilting his head.
“You refuse?”
However, Nell didn’t properly understand Marcella’s meaning.
“I’m refusing Your Majesty’s request.”
When Marcella repeated herself, Nell slowly nodded, then looked back at her. For Nell, it was a quick reaction.
“I hadn’t considered the possibility of refusal.”
“Did you… did you think I would just naturally accept?”
“Naturally… yes. It seems I did.”
“Let me say it again. My answer is—”
“Young Lady Marcella!”
Arthur loudly cut off Marcella’s words.
He squeezed between Nell and Marcella, moving his hands up and down slowly.
“You were startled, weren’t you? I know. It’s all out of order, completely topsy-turvy.”
What to do. What on earth to do. You should have at least given me time to plan how to propose, Your Majesty! Proposing out of the blue like this, and getting rejected so sharply… what am I supposed to do, really!
“I, Arthur Digory, will explain everything.”
Arthur smiled and tried to put his hands on Marcella’s shoulders. Marcella immediately stepped back.
Marcella’s guard was up high.
She pressed her lips together tightly, glaring at Arthur, and finally spoke.
“I’m going home.”
“Young Lady, how can you say that?”
Arthur’s palms were sweating.
“Thank you for everything until now, Your Majesty. Lord Digory.”
Before the tenacious Emperor’s aide could grab her, Marcella slightly lifted her skirt in a curtsy, turned around, and ran.
She felt lost about how to get back to Morris Territory, but decided to think about it after first leaving the Imperial Palace. With luck, there might still be an eastern noble or two who hadn’t returned home yet.
Pushed toward Nell by Marcella’s rejection, the Phoenix slightly lifted its head and stared in the direction Marcella had run. The Phoenix’s body was quietly burning.
“Snap out of it.”
Tamarin had appeared behind Nell at some point. He looked at Nell and the listless Phoenix and clicked his tongue.
“If you’re confused, we get confused too.”
“I know.”
“If you know, then do better, is what I’m saying.”
“Right.”
Nell stared blankly at the listless Phoenix in his arms. The immortal bird’s fire hadn’t gone out, but it felt cold to him—perhaps it was just his delusion.
Tamarin looked at Nell disapprovingly and crossed his arms.
“I had a suspicion, but…”
Tamarin lifted his chin.
“Did you sincerely think that woman would accept your proposal?”
“You knew Marcella would refuse.”
“Why are you surprised? The fact that *you* didn’t know is more surprising.”
Tamarin was so astonished he let out a laugh.
