CHAPTER 100……………………………………………..
“Are you saying that, as an emperor, you completely ignore state affairs and just waste time?”
I burst into the emperor’s office, throwing the door open. As soon as it opened, Theo, looking utterly exhausted, snapped at me.
“I’ve been handling work all day and am just now finally taking a break!”
Was he trying to play innocent? Since he wouldn’t admit it, I held up irrefutable evidence right in front of his nose.
“You’re too busy to be manipulating the newspapers?”
Seeing the undeniable evidence, the culprit made a guilty-looking expression but, with a cocky attitude, crossed his legs and leaned back. I couldn’t quite figure out what his plan was, so I decided to observe for now.
“But I don’t quite understand,” he continued.
In an instant, I felt like the suspect. Though I had done nothing wrong, my heart was pounding at Theo’s arrogant expression.
“I was expecting you to be really grateful for my actions. But to me, it looks like you’re angry about the Duke of Seymour’s scandal. Almost like you don’t want to break up with him?”
I barely maintained my composure, almost losing my balance under his counterattack.
The reason I nearly lost my balance was because I felt a twinge of guilt. Part of me thought Theo wasn’t entirely wrong.
I wanted to break up, but… I didn’t want to. That fickle feeling—even I didn’t fully understand it—and I didn’t want him to see it, so I denied it. Although, in truth, it probably had already been revealed.
“No? I’m just too grateful, that’s all.”
His displeasure was written all over his face, not even hidden. I heard him click his tongue and sigh.
“Joyce, can’t you be a little honest?”
“Honest?”
“I don’t want you to walk my path. Sometimes I regret it. I should have tried being honest.”
Theo looked straight at me. Was he challenging me to a staring contest?
I glared back and didn’t back down. Amid the nonsensical eye battle, he snickered. It was a strangely bitter laugh—one I couldn’t comprehend.
“Well, it’s too late for that now.”
The confrontation ended in my favor. Theo quickly changed the topic, avoiding my gaze.
“Anyway, I think it’s only a matter of time before Miss Chase and the Duke become a thing.”
“Is it really that easy to read people’s hearts?”
“You manipulated the Duke of Seymour’s heart, so why can’t I do the same?”
Who is he even comparing? Me, who’s written several works, to himself, who barely contributes to the story?
I snorted at him, dismissing his underestimation of my strategy—my careful character interpretation, plausible narrative, and perfectly fitting romantic relationships.
Theo continued after clearly hearing my reaction:
“Whether the Duke is disappointed you don’t get jealous, or gets fed up seeing your possessiveness when you’re together, you just have to choose the method. Besides, lately you haven’t spent time with him, so hearts drift apart. Remember what you told me before? When bodies are distant, hearts grow distant too.”
By now, I was confused. Was he always this clever, or did becoming emperor make him smarter?
So strategic? I had a new respect for Theo. If properly trained, he could probably excel in drama. Losing such talent is a huge loss to the arts.
“The King of Cophes will come to Coventin soon.”
Seeing my intensely curious gaze, he shared some news.
“Why is he coming?”
“To see his beloved second daughter, of course.”
Just thinking about the Cophes king’s second daughter made my mood instantly sour.
I kept recalling the two of them laughing and chatting while I was absent. The mental replay morphed into strange imaginings.
Eyes meeting in a deep gaze. Hands tightly intertwined. Lips promising eternal love. Even though I thought it impossible, a script starring the two wrote itself in my head.
“What are you thinking?”
Theo’s voice pulled me back to reality.
“Uh? Nothing. Just… nothing.”
I tried to casually ask, pretending not to be interested, as he eyed me suspiciously.
“But what about the second daughter? Any marriage proposals?”
“The king naturally wants her to marry the emperor.”
“And?”
“But the emperor has no intention of marriage. Too busy.”
Theo, who spoke flatly, smiled wryly, heightening my unease.
“But it seems the king has other thoughts lately. If not the emperor, he wants her to marry a diplomatic envoy.”
Marriage? The rapid development caught me off guard.
“The king asked me if the duke has a fiancée. But surely he wouldn’t force a marriage if his daughter doesn’t want it… unless Miss Chase desires it herself.”
Thanks to Theo trailing off at the end, a mental scene of their wedding almost played out.
Luckily, the show ended before it began. Theo continued speaking.
“There will be a ball to welcome the Cophes kingdom soon. I’ll do my best to make sure Miss Chase and the Duke become partners.”
Ha, the partner dance with Feredil I’ve never done before… and Chase gets to do it first?
“Don’t you want to?”
Of course I didn’t. Knowing he’d ask, I gritted my teeth and answered contrary to my true feelings.
“No? I’m so grateful. You’re helping so wholeheartedly I could cry!”
Pretending to wipe nonexistent tears, my dry eyes stung. Theo, seeing me, asked with newfound seriousness:
“Joyce, this is your last chance. If you say no, I won’t do it. Being partners could bring Chase and the Duke closer, but if you dislike that method, I’ll find another partner for her.”
The last chance. My only opportunity to partner with Feredil before returning to Bria.
As an equal noble, entering a royal ball with him by my side might never happen again in my life.
“Last question: You’re not against Chase and the Duke becoming partners, right?”
“We can’t even be partners once.”
Before the ball officially began—to welcome the Cophes king and princess and strengthen ties with the Coventin Empire—Feredil, sticking close to Chase, took a moment to greet me.
I stubbornly kept my pride, answering Theo that I wasn’t against them being partners. I had my reasons: what’s the point of creating more memories when we’re about to part ways?
Probably right. Every time Feredil came to a ball, memories with me would sting.
Unlike my considerate feelings, Feredil spoke cheerfully:
“We can do it next time.”
Does he not care? Acting indifferent boiled my blood, but I stayed composed. Hmph! Even if you regret it later, there won’t be a next time!
After greeting me, he returned to Chase’s side.
Once I parted from him, it was natural for another woman to stand by his side. But just because it’s natural doesn’t make it easy to accept.
Soon the king approached the princess. The three laughed and talked cheerfully.
Watching them, my steps moved forward involuntarily. I’m a noble lady myself, and having dined with Chase before, surely a greeting is acceptable.
I didn’t plan to do anything beyond that; I just wanted to briefly interrupt the warm atmosphere.
“Your Majesty?”
I stood before them, offering a formal greeting. The king smiled at me.
But before he could respond, Feredil interjected:
“Ah, we’re in the middle of an important discussion. If it’s not urgent, we can talk later.”
