~Chapter 28~
“It’s been a while.”
“…!”
It was a familiar voice.
Eliana turned her stiff face and saw a white-haired man glaring at her.
It was Marquis Valkyrie.
He gave Eliana a sly smile.
“I heard you caused me a lot of trouble.”
Marquis Valkyrie walked straight toward Eliana.
There were still signs of magic damage on his cheek. Even his speech was a bit slow, probably because his cheek and tongue had been frozen.
Eliana stepped back.
“I didn’t expect to see you here, Marquis.”
“I didn’t think I’d see you here either. So, do you feel like you own the world now, just because you’re hanging around the dying emperor?”
He suddenly grabbed Eliana’s shoulder tightly.
Her shoulder stung.
How could an old man be so strong?
Eliana grabbed his wrist.
“Let go of me!”
“Ha, just thinking about what you did to me makes my blood boil. Just wait. I’ll make you pay for it.”
Marquis Valkyrie looked like he could barely control his anger, running his other hand through his hair.
His open hostility was scary.
Eliana forced herself not to shrink back.
There was no reason to be scared of him.
They were already broken off, and he had hit her first that day. She hadn’t started the fight.
Eliana spoke seriously.
“You should watch what you say. There are a lot of people watching.”
“You wicked girl,”
he spat, clearly annoyed by her talking back.
He shoved her shoulder hard. Eliana almost lost her balance.
She tried to stand firm, but then something touched her back.
A refreshing scent tickled her nose.
Right behind her, a sweet voice spoke.
“I’m late, aren’t I?”
“Greetings to the sun of the empire. I am Marquis Valkyrie,”
the Marquis quickly greeted Velkirei when he saw him.
He acted completely different from a moment ago.
He quietly cursed under his breath, annoyed that he hadn’t noticed the emperor coming up beside him.
Velkirei looked in the direction of the Marquis’s voice with a proud face.
The Marquis stayed bowing low.
Velkirei replied in a slow voice.
“Ah, it was you.”
“Thank you for remembering m—…”
The Marquis started to flatter Velkirei, but suddenly stopped as he saw Velkirei’s arm naturally resting on Eliana’s shoulder.
He stared for a long moment, then gave a silent sneer, knowing the emperor was blind.
If he knew Velkirei could actually see, he wouldn’t make that face.
“So the rumors were true. Count Mush’s daughter is acting as a mistress.”
But the Marquis was worse than expected—he spoke recklessly, unable to drop his old habits.
He looked at Eliana with open contempt.
Eliana’s face hardened.
She knew exactly what he meant by “mistress.”
Her shoulder trembled from humiliation.
She remembered people from her past, including a certain senior who used to bully her.
She was furious, but couldn’t say anything.
This time, she had come to Velkirei on her own—unlike before, when she was only a victim.
Just then, Velkirei gently patted Eliana’s shoulder.
It was a kind pat, as if he understood she was angry.
Eliana looked up at him in a daze.
His face was stiff and cold—so unlike his usual self.
“It seems the rumors are wrong, Marquis. Eliana is not my mistress.”
“Ah, I see. But honestly, she’s too good to just be a mistress.”
The sarcasm was obvious.
Eliana’s hands trembled, but she couldn’t do anything.
She was just the daughter of a minor count—not someone who could stand up to a powerful marquis.
Velkirei suddenly agreed with the Marquis, with a sly smile.
“Yes, she’s too good for that.”
Eliana’s heart dropped.
She never thought Velkirei would take the Marquis’s side.
It hurt more than she expected.
The Marquis also looked surprised at Velkirei’s words.
But then, a mocking smile appeared on his lips.
Eliana looked at Velkirei in shock.
He must have felt her gaze, because he turned toward her.
Her eyes shook, and his face came closer.
A moment later, Velkirei lightly kissed the top of her head.
“Your Majesty…?”
Both Eliana and the Marquis were shocked.
Velkirei spoke in a calm voice.
“Eliana will be my empress. You should show her proper respect.”
“What?”
“W-What?!”
Eliana was stunned.
She never imagined that being “too good to be a mistress” meant this.
She’d never wanted to be empress. She only wanted a quiet, peaceful life.
The empress’s position was nothing but a thorny path.
While Eliana was frozen, Velkirei continued,
“So if you hear more rumors, tell everyone the truth. She’s not a mistress—she’s the future empress.”
“If I hear that rumor again, I’ll assume you’re neglecting your duties.”
“I understand,”
the Marquis answered with a deep frown.
He looked frustrated, like he’d just made things worse for himself.
If any similar rumors spread now, it would be blamed on him.
Eliana twitched her lips, feeling satisfied watching the Marquis turn red and pale.
He glanced at her mouth, then cleared his throat and quickly left.
But Eliana’s smile faded as she realized—
“Empress…!”
This had never been discussed before.
She looked up at Velkirei to see what he was thinking.
He wore a pleased smile, while Eliana’s face grew darker.
All she ever wanted was to stay on Velkirei’s good side, so she wouldn’t get killed.
‘I never wanted something as huge as being empress…’
Her biggest worry now was how Hera would react.
She whispered softly, so the Marquis couldn’t hear,
“Are you serious?”
“Do I look like I’m joking?”
Velkirei gave a small smile.
He didn’t look like he was just saying it to get out of trouble.
Eliana pressed her lips together and fell into thought.
Velkirei looked toward her.
Even though his eyes didn’t focus, there was something intense in his gaze.
He leaned close and whispered in her ear,
“Why are you so surprised? You were the one who said you wanted to stay by my side.”
His voice was so cold that Eliana shivered.
Velkirei laughed out loud at her reaction.
She really had asked to stay with him—but not like this.
She couldn’t say anything and just stood there, dazed.
All she ever wanted was to survive the villain’s schemes…
Eliana gave an awkward smile and looked away, not knowing how to get through this situation.
Velkirei’s hand on her shoulder was cold, and she couldn’t stop shivering.
“Excuse me. I’ll return to my seat,”
the Marquis said stiffly, then hurried away.
Eliana barely noticed him go. She nervously fidgeted with her fingers.
Then suddenly, she remembered something.
She clapped her hands.
“Oh, right! The princess called me. I’ll be back soon! See you at the banquet!”
Eliana made an exaggerated gesture and hurried away from Velkirei, too embarrassed to stay.
Velkirei quietly watched her walk away, a gentle smile on his lips.
