~Chapter 76~
A special table was prepared for Arwen and Lovelace. Behind the curtain, the rich merchants and nobles were eager, hoping to talk even for a moment with the Emperor.
Lovelace glanced at the shadows of the people peeking in. Then she turned her gaze to Arwen.
“You did something interesting. Count Lovelace, you’ve shown more than I expected.”
“Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty.”
“No, I should be the one thanking you. Because of talented people like you, the Empire’s future is very bright. I heard people are coming from other countries just to buy sugar. The port is busy every day.”
Every word from Arwen was filled with kindness. A gentle smile never left his face.
Lovelace gave a formal greeting. Besides saying thank you, she didn’t know what else to say.
Everything she did was only for Harmelda county. The rewards of success also belonged to Harmelda.
She was glad Arwen thought it helped the Empire, but it didn’t feel important enough for the Emperor to come and praise her himself.
‘He seems to want to say something else. Should I ask?’
But Lovelace chose not to ask. Arwen’s eyes drifted down to Lovelace’s hand.
Today, Lovelace was wearing the ring Larvihan gave her. It was big, with a black gemstone that spun on her finger.
She didn’t want to wear it because it felt like too much, but Judith had forced it on her.
“You shouldn’t let any useless men hang around,”
Judith had said.
“Is it from Larvihan?”
Lovelace blinked, not sure what Arwen was asking. Arwen pointed at the ring.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
There was no need to hide her relationship with Larvihan. Everyone knew about it anyway.
She had even once asked Arwen to approve their marriage. Things had gone quiet because of the succession, but it wasn’t a secret.
Arwen’s expression changed slightly as he looked at the ring. The smile was still there, but now his face felt colder.
“He’s a gentle man.”
It was strange to hear those words from Arwen.
“I mean Larvihan.”
Arwen added as he sipped his champagne.
Calling Larvihan “gentle” was the last thing most people would do. Judith would have gagged if she heard that.
But Lovelace knew.
She knew Larvihan could be gentle, but only to her.
But how did Arwen know? Was Larvihan gentle with Arwen, too?
“I heard there was trouble at sea. Sirens, right? You must have had a hard time, Count Lovelace. How difficult it must have been. It would have been better if Larvihan could have gone with you, but he had work with me. You understand, right?”
Arwen made it clear that he was close to Larvihan. Lovelace’s stomach churned.
Not because Larvihan was with Arwen, but because Arwen knew about the sirens.
Lovelace had asked everyone involved not to talk about the sirens.
People would surely ask how the sirens were dealt with.
There were no magicians or priests on Lovelace’s ship strong enough to fight sirens. If people questioned it, Lovelace’s own power would be revealed.
And Lovelace didn’t want that kind of attention.
“I heard you’ve gotten good at using Larvihan’s power.”
She had asked people not to talk about it, but it was revealed anyway.
“Were you a genius magician?”
Arwen murmured as if to himself.
“Or was there something I don’t know?”
Lovelace tried to hide her worry. She hadn’t even told Larvihan the full story about the spirits.
After they argued once, Larvihan never asked about her powers again.
Lovelace should have brought it up first, but she had been busy.
And she had no reason to tell Arwen about things she hadn’t even told Larvihan.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Sometimes acting dumb saves you from trouble.
“Just talking to myself, Count Lovelace.”
Arwen lied obviously and clinked his champagne glass against Lovelace’s.
Clink! The sound was clear.
Her hand was sweaty and the glass almost slipped. Lovelace gripped it tightly and drank the champagne. The now-warm champagne tasted terrible.
Maybe it was the food she ate at dinner, but her stomach started to hurt.
Arwen kept talking about Larvihan—how careful he was, stories from the magic tower.
Lovelace tried not to listen, but her ears couldn’t help it. Arwen knew many things about Larvihan that Lovelace didn’t know—things not even in the novel.
She learned Larvihan hated carrots. She remembered eating with him—he had eaten carrots in front of her without showing anything.
‘Did he hide it from me? Maybe Larvihan never lets me see his weaknesses.’
She felt more and more uncomfortable.
‘Is Larvihan more comfortable with Arwen?’
She wanted to hit her own head for thinking such obvious things.
There’s a thing called the history of time. Each relationship has its own length of time, its own memories, and its own feelings. But Lovelace still felt bitter.
‘Why am I listening to all this?’
She didn’t like hearing about Larvihan from someone else. Lovelace put down her glass.
“I should go now, Your Majesty.”
“Wouldn’t it be better for you to stay a bit longer?”
Arwen hinted that being friendly with her would help Lovelace in her work.
“If people see we’re close, your work will be easier.”
“Did you come here just for that?”
“You just noticed, Count Lovelace? You’re slower than I thought.”
Arwen leaned forward. He smelled a bit like Larvihan.
“Because of our work together…”
Lovelace remembered Arwen’s earlier words and clenched her fist.
“I’m helping you, Count Lovelace.”
“Why?”
Lovelace forgot about being polite and just asked.
“Because Larvihan cares about you. Maybe I should care about you, too.”
It felt different from when Arwen wanted to be friends last time. Even though he said he wanted to be good to her, Lovelace felt cold.
She quietly rubbed her dress, hiding her discomfort.
“Let’s meet often, Count Lovelace.”
“Your Majesty, I’ll be busy for a while…”
“Does it sound like I’m asking, Count Lovelace?”
The gentle smile vanished. His purple eyes shone coldly.
‘That nice side was just a mask.’
Seeing the real Arwen made chills go down Lovelace’s back.
“Let’s be close.”
Arwen held out his hand. Lovelace’s eyes fell to it.
Arwen wore a ring just like hers, but his had a purple gem instead of black.
“Does this sound like an order? Take my hand, Count Lovelace. People are watching.”
Arwen was so pushy it was uncomfortable. Maybe it was normal for an emperor, but Lovelace didn’t like it. She turned her body and kicked the table.
“Oh my!”
She pretended to be surprised and caught her falling champagne glass, getting her hand all wet with champagne. She smiled to herself, acting embarrassed.
“What should I do, Your Majesty? My hand is dirty now…”
Arwen took back his hand and smiled sweetly.
“That’s the second time you’ve refused me. I’m not used to being rejected—it hurts.”
He whispered so only Lovelace could hear, then got up from his seat. As soon as Arwen left, people crowded into the room.
“What did you talk about with His Majesty?”
Ricocel was the first to get the honor of talking with Lovelace. He had brought her here and was her only friend in the room.
“Nothing special.”
“It’s chaos outside, Count. Everyone says you’re favored by the Emperor. They’re begging me to set up a meal—or even just tea—with you…”
Ricocel’s voice faded.
For some reason, Arwen wanted to show off his friendship with Lovelace and offer her help.
Before Lovelace could even wonder if she wanted his help, her value shot up.
But Lovelace didn’t like it at all.
She was building her reputation on her own. Just because someone got her there a little faster, did she have to be grateful?
She was sure he would ask for something big in return.
“Sorry, Ricocel.”
“Yes? Please say it.”
“I want to go home now. I don’t feel well.”
Even though Ricocel tried to stop her, Lovelace left first.
On the way home, Lovelace’s mind was full of worries.
Arwen and Larvihan together, Larvihan smiling at Arwen, the two saving each other on the battlefield—her mind spun with these images.
It was all just her imagination, but her mood crashed.
“Welcome back.”
So when the servants greeted her, Lovelace only replied half-heartedly and locked herself in her room.
Her worries kept bothering her, so she even shut her eyes tightly.
She wished she could sleep. She repeated over and over, “Go to sleep, go to sleep.”
Just then, the door opened. Even though Lovelace knew who it was, she didn’t open her eyes.
The night wind followed the visitor as he sat by Lovelace’s bed, quietly watching her.
“If you want to pretend to be asleep, I’ll pretend not to know.”
He already knew, but acted as if he didn’t.
Lovelace turned to face the other way. Silence filled the room. She thought not talking would help, but instead, the bad feelings grew. Lovelace finally opened her eyes.
“I finally see your pretty eyes.”
Larvihan whispered sweetly.
She remembered Arwen calling Larvihan gentle. Suddenly, all her emotions rushed out and her logic vanished.
“Are you close with His Majesty?”
Lovelace asked, as if spilling out her feelings.
