Chapter 33
. Why Have You Been Alone Until Now?
Why is she asking me this?
The question was so sudden that Eleusis was curious, but he answered first.
“I haven’t.”
“Really? Then what about a lover?”
“…I don’t have one.”
“Lies. How can someone this handsome have been alone until now?”
Her genuinely astonished expression made Eleusis let out a small chuckle. Just like at their first meeting, she was the sort of bold woman who spoke openly about his looks without hesitation.
“I’ve been so focused on my work that I’ve never had the chance to get close to a woman.”
“Really? That’s a problem. But don’t worry. From what I’ve seen, the women here in the palace can’t take their eyes off a handsome man. You’ll be popular in no time.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course. And then I’ll have to suffer for it. Do you know how scary their eyes get if I stand next to a good-looking man, even for a moment?”
Shanellica’s frank and cute way of speaking made Eleusis laugh again. She tilted her head, puzzled at how often he was smiling.
“Administrator, you’re smiling a lot today.”
“It’s because what you say is amusing. And the warm weather is nice too.”
Maybe he was being too open with his feelings, Eleusis thought, and added an unnecessary remark.
“It’s nice to know I can make someone smile. You shouldn’t hide your smile, Administrator. You’re handsome even without it, but when you smile, it suits you much more. It’s like your looks shine even brighter.”
The compliments never stopped. Eleusis thought it might be the first time he’d been praised for his appearance so much—most people just took it for granted.
“Thank you for the compliment. But why did you ask if I was married?”
“Oh… I was wondering if you know about love. Something I was curious about.”
Her tone dropped slightly, making Eleusis feel uncomfortable as well. Love…
“Is this about your fiancé?”
“Ah… I did tell you I had a fiancé, didn’t I?”
“You did. Have you met him since then?”
“Yes, I have.”
It was a disappointing answer.
What kind of man was he? To have such a beautiful woman as his fiancée and yet leave her alone like this…
But Eleusis hid such thoughts and said calmly,
“You must love him.”
“Rather than that, I was just thinking… how many different forms does human love take?”
“That’s a difficult question.”
Who was her fiancé, really? Was it truly Stern?
He’d learned that Stern had vouched for her identity, and he was also the one rumored to be seeing her. They were often seen together in the palace.
But Eleusis didn’t think Stern was her fiancé. He had known Stern for a long time—knew his personality, his taste in women, and also knew that Stern had a negative view of marriage.
He had never ordered anyone to investigate Shanellica’s fiancé. After all, it had nothing to do with him. But now, at this moment, Eleusis found himself genuinely curious.
It seems I’ll have to look into it.
“To answer that question, I think I’d have to experience love myself.”
Hiding his real thoughts, Eleusis replied. Shanellica widened her eyes.
“You don’t know love either, Administrator?”
“I’ve never experienced it.”
“Really? Not even once?”
“That’s right.”
“…”
“I’ve been too busy working…”
Seeing her incredulous expression, Eleusis hastily added the excuse. Shanellica’s expression hardened with determination.
“No, that won’t do. Administrator, come into the banquet hall with me. We’ll walk around once, and all the beautiful noble ladies will fall for you instantly. Then you can start a new romance.”
“Pft. Is that so?”
He couldn’t hold back his laughter. The same could easily be said for her—he couldn’t imagine how many men would lose their heads over her in a ballroom. Of course, given how the rumor had spread that she belonged to Stern, no one would dare approach her openly.
“Don’t laugh, I’m serious. Don’t you know how handsome you are?”
“I know, I know.”
“If I didn’t have a fiancé, I might have fallen for that handsome face of yours myself!”
The smile vanished from Eleusis’s face. The phrase if I didn’t have a fiancé rang vividly in his mind.
Yes, that’s why I’m so curious who this fiancé of yours is.
“I’ve heard that uninvited guests can’t attend the banquet. If someone of low status like me were to go in, I could be severely punished. I won’t enter.”
Eleusis decided to leave it at that. He also decided not to reveal his true identity to her today.
He wanted to keep meeting Shanellica as “the temple administrator.” Not because he had any intentions toward an engaged woman, but because he wanted to get to know her more. Perhaps just spending time together would be enjoyable. And for that to happen, the king could not appear at this banquet tonight.
But Shanellica didn’t seem inclined to give up.
“No, come on. I’m a foreigner and I’m going in, aren’t I? If you get in trouble, just give them my name. I’ll take full responsibility.”
“Then you’ll be the one punished.”
“No way. This country isn’t that harsh. And there’s something I haven’t told you yet.”
Glancing around to make sure no one was listening, she whispered,
“I’m friends with someone really high-ranking here. We’re good friends, so it’ll be fine.”
“Kuh.”
Eleusis burst out laughing again. The way she said it so solemnly, as if revealing a great secret, was just too cute.
Meanwhile, from a distance, the emperor’s guard, Glyn, was watching the scene with growing concern.
Didn’t you say you weren’t interested? And yet here you are, laughing every other minute with that woman. Where’s your conscience?
Glyn was exasperated. They were already late to the banquet, and yet the king seemed in no hurry to enter—standing around chatting with some woman, even concealing his identity.
What exactly are you trying to do?
“I’m sorry, but I’ll have to go back today. I’ll see you next time, Miss.”
Leaving the disappointed Shanellica in front of the banquet hall, Eleusis turned away. Since he had decided not to attend, he wanted to leave before meeting anyone who recognized him.
“Brother?”
Just then, a clear female voice came from the direction of the banquet hall doors. It was a voice Eleusis knew well.
Too late to slip away, then.
With his back turned, Eleusis debated whether to keep walking or turn around to greet her.
Suddenly, someone shoved him toward the side of the road. It was Shanellica.
“Shh! The king must be coming. Let’s move aside!”
Looking at the street where they’d just been standing, he saw a well-dressed young man approaching. Eleusis instantly understood the situation.
So, she’s mistaken him for the king?
Eleusis stifled a laugh. His guards had started to move when she touched him, but he stopped them with a glance.
I wonder how she’ll react when she learns she just put her hands on the real king.
Standing at the roadside, Shanellica positioned herself in front of him, shielding him, and even pushed down on his shoulder hard enough to make him bend. Then she whispered in his ear,
“It’s just for a moment. When the king passes, then you can stand up.”
While pressing down hard on his shoulder, she bent low herself and stayed that way for a moment.
But something was strange. More than enough time had passed for the “king” to walk by, yet no one did.
Shanellica finally peeked up and looked around. Eleusis, whom she’d told to bend, was now standing straight, watching her. Stranger still, Lydia was suddenly standing beside them, her mouth opening and closing wordlessly in shock.
Oblivious, Shanellica said urgently to Eleusis,
“That’s the princess. Show some respect.”
But it was as if her words didn’t reach him.
Why is the administrator acting so strange?
The thought something’s very wrong crossed her mind—
“Shanel.”
“Huh? I mean, yes?”
Startled by Lydia calling her name, Shanellica hastily corrected her tone.
“Next to you…”
But Lydia couldn’t finish her sentence. Shanellica spoke in a serious whisper that only Eleusis could hear.
“Administrator… don’t tell me even the princess has fallen for you because you’re too handsome?”
“Kuh.”
Her comment showed she hadn’t even considered that Lydia liked Derwin.
Ah, it’s too late now.
Eleusis laughed again. He decided it was already too late to keep hiding his identity.
“Miss, take a good look at my face.”
She blinked.
“Why? I already know you’re handsome.”
“Pft. Not that—look closely. Blond hair, blue eyes. Don’t I look like someone?”
“This isn’t the time to be comparing faces. Show proper respect to the princess—huh? Princess?”
Finally, Shanellica began glancing between Eleusis and Lydia.
They looked alike. The atmosphere, the features—everything.
“…No way, right?”
With a faint smile, Eleusis leaned in and whispered,
“Sorry for deceiving you until now, Miss Shanel.”
He stepped forward and removed the cloak he’d been wrapped in, revealing the splendid black ceremonial uniform worn only by the king.
“I greet Your Majesty.”
The young man Shanellica had mistaken for the king now stepped forward to greet Eleusis. It was Render, the third prince of the Kingdom of Larta. Render already knew the man before him was King Eleusis and had stopped to pay his respects.
“What’s going on, Shanel? You know my brother?”
Lydia, still flustered, spoke to Shanellica.
“…He’s really your brother?”
“He is.”
“Haa.”
At Lydia’s confirmation, Shanellica let out a sigh—not from shock, but from disappointment in herself. She looked back and forth between Lydia and Eleusis again.
How could I not have realized? They look so much alike!
When she’d first met Lydia, she’d felt she’d seen her somewhere before. She never imagined the “temple administrator” she knew was actually the king.
“I’m going inside.”
Without saying anything more to Eleusis, who was talking with Render in the street, Shanellica walked straight into the banquet hall. By the time Eleusis turned to look for her, she was already gone.
