CHAPTER 97……………………………………….
“I have a lover.”
As soon as the emperor finished speaking, his firm voice echoed without hesitation.
Theo responded calmly, as if it were no surprise at all.
“I know.”
The blunt, straightforward answer left Peredil flustered. So even knowing he had a lover, he would still carry out the order? The ruthless streak reminded him that the current emperor resembled the previous monarch more than his own younger brother.
“I think it is an unjust command to ask me to meet the princess, knowing I have a lover. I ask that Your Majesty treat me as one of your subjects, whom you are meant to care for.”
In the past, he would have obeyed the command without hesitation. But after meeting her, his world had changed. He had learned to prioritize himself over everything else given to him. He could now boldly reject choices that didn’t make him happy.
“So, you see me as a shameless man who sells out the people for the sake of national interest, even knowing I have a lover. Perhaps you also think I’ll take revenge on you for my personal feelings.”
He quietly listened to the slow, sarcastic applause from the emperor, laced with deliberate mockery.
“Exactly.”
So he intended to maintain the order after all. The thought of the solid trust between him and Coventin being destroyed was unpleasant. Perhaps it had been inevitable ever since he loved the same woman.
“Duke Seymour.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
A subtle tension filled the room.
“Calm down. The princess wants to meet you simply because she’s a fan.”
“Excuse me?”
“The second princess of the Kingdom of Copès, Chase, will visit Coventin as a state guest. During her stay, she specifically requested you as her assigned attendant. Well, I also thought you were the most suitable, but she emphasized it herself.”
“So that means…”
“Yes. I never intended to arrange a rational meeting between the two of you in the first place.”
In other words, all the excitement was pointless. The momentary embarrassment passed quickly. Couldn’t he have just spoken clearly from the beginning to avoid misunderstanding? Feeling misled by the suspicious applause, he continued his subtle defiance.
“Anyway, this news won’t make my lover happy. As her attendant, you’ll have to stay close to the princess at all times.”
Theo didn’t like hearing the word “lover” pointedly in front of him. The transparent intention to irritate him made it worse.
“You think Joyce would even be jealous of your work? People usually project their own feelings, but are you jealous even of work matters, Duke?”
“Jealous… of work?”
Peredil’s reason finally snapped.
“Doesn’t Your Majesty feel jealous too? Weren’t you jealous when you saw Joyce and me together?”
Oops. Irritated by the word “jealous,” he had acted out. But since this was his superior—and the emperor—he glanced around carefully, realizing he might have crossed a line.
The emperor chuckled, propping his arms on the table and covering his mouth, though his eyes stayed completely serious, staring downward.
He’s angry.
“I-I’ll be her attendant.”
He spoke quickly, hoping to calm the emperor’s temper. Whether it worked or not, the sound of the emperor lowering his hand and striking the desk echoed loudly.
“Duke Seymour.”
The previously imposing emperor now smiled brightly, as if nothing had happened.
“If a woman you love is with another man, of course you’d be jealous. But that doesn’t mean you get jealous while she’s working. I’ve seen Joyce perform on stage with countless male actors—did I care about every single one? The same goes for her. So don’t make her jealous.”
Was he not angry at all? He didn’t seem to be forcing himself to hold back, which was a relief. As Peredil vowed not to lose his composure again, he was handed an envelope.
“Here.”
He took the mysterious envelope.
“What’s this?”
“What else? It’s the official reply for Copès, sealed with the royal insignia. It confirms that Coventin’s diplomatic envoy, Duke Peredil Seymour, will serve as Princess Chase’s attendant, just as requested.”
“Sealed?”
“Yes. I sealed it as soon as you said you’d be her attendant. I was going to refuse until the end, but since you agreed, I had no choice but to approve it.”
Damn it. The desk strike was actually the seal being pressed. Feeling tricked, he took the envelope and headed to the messenger. Though such a minor errand shouldn’t have been necessary, he swallowed his pride and left the emperor’s room.
Wait, he said he doesn’t get jealous about work? I’d probably get jealous just seeing Joyce near another man.
He wondered how she would react upon hearing that he had been assigned as the princess’s attendant. He imagined Joyce pouting, her cheeks puffed out cutely, and eagerly anticipated the end of the day.
“Princess of the Kingdom of Copès is coming?”
“Specifically, the second princess, Chase Copès.”
As soon as he finished work, Peredil came to find me, wagging his tail like a fox tempting someone with a delicious dinner.
Before I could even sit, he began describing his new assignment. I already knew the details since Theo had planned this, but I played along as if I didn’t.
I’d read in books that the Kingdom of Copès was a friendly neighboring country to Coventin. I had thought Copès only had an only child. So a second princess? Theo must have set up Peredil perfectly to draw him in.
“You’re not unhappy?”
I was chewing on soft pork when he asked.
“I usually prefer a chewier texture, but this meltingly soft one isn’t bad occasionally.”
He shook his head, so I assumed my answer was off.
“No, not that. I mean, aren’t you unhappy about becoming the princess’s attendant?”
“Why would I be? It’s an important duty. Congratulations are in order.”
His lips protruded slightly more than usual.
“You probably don’t know what attendants do. You have to stay with her all day. Hardly any time apart.”
“That’s exactly what I understand the attendant’s duties to be.”
“You have to accompany her to all the Coventin sightseeing spots she wants to visit, and eat meals together.”
“Of course he should.”
I spoke indifferently and focused on my meal. I could see his sulking face, but he didn’t want to show it. He picked at the meat without eating it.
“If you said you hated it, would you back down?”
“No. Copès already knows, so I can’t back out.”
“Then I guess it can’t be helped.”
He seemed like he wanted me to be jealous, but there was no way he would be.
On the first day the fake Princess Chase arrived in the empire, Theo invited me, and the four of us dined together. Chase, with her mysterious long silver hair and blue gleaming eyes, seemed well-versed in royal etiquette—poised and calm.
After the meal, Peredil, who had been watching me at first, busied himself showing her around the palace. Their conversation flowed naturally, creating a warm atmosphere.
From a distance, I whispered to Theo:
“She’s really taken your attention from me, hasn’t she?”
“Exactly. The duke hasn’t even paid attention to you all this time.”
“I see you’ve recruited a skilled actor. Very clever.”
I gave him two thumbs up. But Theo frowned, puzzled.
“Actor? What are you talking about? I don’t know why you think that. There was no separate actor hired. She’s the real princess of the Kingdom of Copès.”
