Chapter 9
What Kind of Shame Is This in Front of the Emperor
A reward… and I could say anything I wanted?
“Umm…”
I couldn’t answer right away.
Of course, there was something I clearly wanted—having the Emperor as my backing.
But if I bluntly asked something like “Could you become my supporter?” without any explanation, he would definitely ask why.
And if I answered honestly—that I had forged my identity, illegally entered this country, and needed protection from the Pope who was hunting me…
Wouldn’t I just get labeled shameless and be exiled before I even received a reward?
I had healed him, yes. But I hadn’t fully cured him yet. It felt too early to make such a request.
That kind of demand… should only come after I had completely healed him.
If I became something like a life-saving benefactor, maybe then he would consider it.
“Why aren’t you answering?”
The Emperor’s voice pulled me back.
“I… couldn’t think of anything I want.”
“You can’t think of anything?”
His tone turned slightly odd.
Wait. Why is he reacting like that? Did I look too fake saying I didn’t want anything?
“Then think about it slowly until the day you return to the palace next week.”
He added casually,
“And if you still can’t think of anything, I’ll decide for you.”
That only made me feel like I absolutely had to come up with something.
Thankfully, that seemed to end the conversation.
At his permission to leave, I immediately stood up.
But after only a few steps—
I had to stop.
My legs…!
They were completely numb.
Probably from sitting too long in one position while tensed up. A prickling sensation spread from my thighs down to my toes.
Why now of all times…!
Of course, I could heal it with divine power—but that required placing my hands directly on the affected area.
Absolutely impossible.
I couldn’t even bend my knees properly, let alone touch myself.
I grabbed the thin curtain nearby as a support. No matter how much I gritted my teeth, the numbness didn’t go away. My nausea also worsened because I was still wearing Chloe’s ridiculous glasses.
The Emperor noticed something was wrong.
“What is it?”
His voice sounded closer than before.
“N-nothing… I’m fine.”
“It doesn’t look like nothing.”
Please just ignore me.
“Really, it’s not—”
That was when it happened.
The fabric I was gripping slipped—
Ssshhhkk—
“Ah!”
The thin curtain I had been holding finally tore under the strain.
“W-wait.”
At the same time, the hook holding the top of the curtain snapped with a metallic crack.
The recoil sent me tumbling straight to the floor.
THUD!
The sound echoed loudly in the silent room.
That hurts…
Pain shot through my knee—but humiliation hit me far harder.
Please… someone knock me out right now.
I buried my face into the floor, eyes shut tight, wishing the Emperor would just ignore me and leave.
But instead—
A shadow fell over me.
“…Are you alright?”
His voice was right above me.
I was doomed.
I couldn’t stay like this forever.
The numbness in my legs had already faded from shock, at least. I fumbled for my glasses and pushed them back up.
Then I slowly pushed myself up from the floor.
Through the foggy lenses, I could barely see his shape.
I couldn’t focus properly, but I could tell—
The Emperor had extended his hand toward me.
“Take it.”
“T-thank you…”
I instinctively grabbed his hand.
It was warm.
With his help, I finally stood.
And now I was fully facing him.
Silence fell.
Not a single word was spoken. Only restrained breathing filled the space.
Then—
Something strange surged through me.
Without hesitation, I removed my glasses.
The blurry world cleared instantly.
And his face came into full focus.
“…Wow.”
He looked similar to what I had seen before—but also different.
Black hair falling over slightly bronze-toned skin. Dark lashes framing eyes no longer closed.
And those eyes—
A piercing golden color, like a wild wolf.
“He’s… really handsome…”
“What did you just say?”
His eyebrow twitched.
I snapped back to reality.
“I-I-I’m terribly sorry! That was extremely disrespectful—!”
I immediately bowed my head deeply.
I really thought I might lose my head this time.
When I cautiously looked up, he didn’t seem angry.
But his gaze… was still strangely fixed on me, like I was some unknown creature.
I forced a smile.
A painfully awkward, overly polite smile.
Meanwhile, Rishard stared at the woman in front of him.
A smile like a criminal caught at a crime scene.
It had been a long time since he felt this level of confusion.
So this is the woman who treated me…
He observed her silently.
Silver hair falling to her waist. Straight lashes. Violet eyes trembling slightly. A faint blush on her cheeks.
She looked normal enough.
And yet everything about her behavior was strange.
She had just collapsed on the floor in pain a moment ago. She wore absurd glasses that seemed to blind her completely.
But the most bizarre thing was—
He’s… really handsome…
She had looked directly into his eyes and… didn’t faint. She didn’t scream. She didn’t collapse.
She just said that.
That reaction didn’t belong to fear, shock, or submission like everyone else showed him.
How?
Anyone who met his gaze should have been overwhelmed by his power.
Without thinking, he murmured,
“…You didn’t faint. Why are you fine?”
It wasn’t really a question.
But her response was worse.
“Oh! If you meant I should faint as an apology for earlier, I can do it right now!”
Her already pale face turned even whiter.
“No. That was just me talking to myself.”
He turned toward the door and called out.
“Alec.”
Alec rushed in immediately.
“Yes—Your Majesty—!”
And froze.
“What… what is going on here?!”
He saw Lena and the Emperor standing extremely close together, the fallen curtain crumpled on the floor.
Rishard ignored him and glanced at Lena.
“I think my physician’s mental condition is questionable. Take her for an examination.”
Lena’s eyes widened.
“My mental condition? I’m perfectly fine!”
Her protest had no effect at all.
Alec still looked completely lost.
“More importantly, I need an explanation for this situation—”
Rishard looked at him coldly.
“Stop pretending to be surprised, Alec.”
He kicked the fallen curtain lightly.
“Wasn’t this all your arrangement?”
