SEM 46

chapter 46

“What, there’s no need to go that far.”

The Emperor muttered awkwardly, clearly embarrassed. His anger toward Gredy had already completely faded, leaving no trace behind.

“I understand the Duchess’s feelings well enough. Now tell me the real reason you came to see me.”

The Emperor, now fully gracious, lifted his teacup elegantly and looked at Eliana. In truth, from the moment she entered the office, he had been unable to take his eyes off her.

Like a fisherman regretting a lost catch, the Emperor showed no attempt to hide his desire and longing for Eliana. Feeling the full weight of his gaze, Eliana clenched her teeth to keep from trembling.

“Yes.”

Eliana lowered her head. The tip of Gredy’s shoe, who was hiding under her dress, lightly tapped her shoe in a playful gesture.

Avoiding the Emperor’s gaze, it was a subtle prank. Yet that small act melted the tension between them like spring thawing snow.

Encouraged by the thought that she was not alone, Eliana spoke calmly.

“I wonder if Your Majesty summoned him because of my father’s unreasonable demands.”

“You mean the Duchess’s father, Count Hoffman?”

“I’m afraid that is correct, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor’s furrowed brows twitched. As his red lips pursed and parted, he briefly lost himself in thought, then closed and opened his eyes. Suppressing his anger, he wore the gentlest expression he could muster.

“What unreasonable demands?”

His voice came out much lower.

Eliana gave a bitter smile.

Good feelings develop slowly, like winter welcoming spring, but bad feelings hit suddenly—like an unexpected summer rainstorm. They swept in fast and thick, pouring toward her like a violent storm.

She was used to being covered in filth, but she wanted to hide it, especially in front of Gredy.

Glancing involuntarily at the man beside her, Eliana spoke again, her voice lower and stronger than before.

“I believe the estate of my deceased former husband, Marquis Neumann, rightfully belongs to me.”

Her soft voice tickled the Emperor’s ears like a feather. The more she thought about why the late Marquis’s property was being withheld, the more she understood.

“But…”

“I’m ashamed to say my father’s greed knows no bounds and he refuses to give up what he holds.”

Contrary to what she had feared, Eliana was smoothly holding her own against the Emperor. Though trembling inside, she raised her head to meet the fierce gaze of the Emperor as if fighting against it.

“Count Hoffman did that?”

The Emperor shamelessly avoided the question, raising his voice arrogantly like a boastful suitor.

Quickly, he began to think things through.

The one who interfered to prevent the Marquis’s property from transferring to Eliana was Duke Lloyd. The greedy old man wanted more wealth, and it was natural for someone to covet an estate whose owner had disappeared. The deal between Count Hoffman and Duke Lloyd was easily guessed without having to be told.

And the Emperor had knowingly stood by, watching it happen. This was his way of venting his frustration that Eliana could not claim what was rightfully hers. He could not bear to watch his own half-brother not only win the hand of a beautiful woman but also take a massive fortune.

No matter what, Gredy was one of the wealthiest men in the empire, despite the Emperor’s interference. Even at gambling, he was a winner.

“My father’s greed has only grown worse, so I had no choice but to send him in my stead. Please do not blame him too harshly, Your Majesty.”

Eliana smiled gently and placed her hand over Gredy’s, who had remained silent beside her.

The Emperor’s lips curled up dangerously as he saw the tender moment between the couple. In fact, he had been so distracted by Eliana that he had forgotten Gredy’s very existence.

His gaze turned fully to Gredy, who had kept silent the whole time.

How clever he was.

Who in the Empire didn’t know where Gredy Kriber’s eyes were always focused?

During the pillow talk with his wife, he had raided Count Hoffman’s warehouse and sent the rarest “Red Winter” wine to Empress Rosella.

The Emperor was sickened by such cunning. The more he tried to shake off the presence of his half-brother, the more tenaciously it clung. The Emperor gritted his teeth in frustration.

“If one isn’t enough, he wants two!”

Reading Gredy’s petty thoughts, the Emperor clicked his tongue in disbelief at the outrageousness.

“So, what will the Duchess do now?”

Matteo, who had been watching Gredy with displeasure, smiled faintly and called to Eliana.

“Yes?”

At the Emperor’s question, Eliana finally lifted her head and met his gaze. A chill ran through her entire body.

They were close enough to touch, but she was her brother’s woman.

The Emperor clenched and unclenched his fist, trying to quell his desire. It was a craving he hadn’t felt in a long time.

“I hear the Duke gave a painting to the Empress last night?”

“I know.”

Eliana’s reply was mixed with a sigh. The slight bite of her lips caught the Emperor’s eye — such a fleeting change that if he hadn’t been watching closely, he might have missed it. Emperor Matteo smiled at that subtle shift.

“By the look of it, the Duke sent the painting to the Empress without the Duchess’s permission.”

Gredy’s expression immediately stiffened. The Emperor spoke as if he had seen the whole act.

But even so, the Emperor couldn’t hide his smile.

Despite everything, Gredy Kriber was still just a novice who hadn’t forgotten Empress Rosella. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have sent the rarest of the Duchess’s private possessions to her without permission.

“Clinging to a first love. How pathetic.”

A mocking smile played at the Emperor’s lips. His thinly open eyes swept across Gredy’s profile, whose deeply furrowed brows showed his displeasure clearly — which the Emperor found very satisfying.

“…I believe it is proper to give precious things to precious people. I bear no grudge.”

Disappointment was heavy in Eliana’s voice. Emperor Matteo’s lips curled slightly. He forced himself to ignore the twitching joy at the subtle crack in the Duke and Duchess’s relationship.

“Very well. I will keep that in mind.”

“Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor regarded the couple with a more tolerant heart than when he first met them. Especially seeing Eliana, clearly hurt by Gredy’s behavior, pleased him greatly.

“Duchess, you should visit the Empress’s palace. You said there’s a painting you want to see.”

Eliana hesitated briefly at the Emperor’s invitation but then stood.

She did not want to witness his forehead crease again because of her. The Emperor’s teasing about the painting was clearly an attempt at sowing discord, but his mood seemed to have improved. Gredy, however, stiffened even more.

Eliana sighed inwardly. Nothing felt easy. She only hoped Gredy wouldn’t misinterpret her words.

She exhaled softly and stood.

“Baron Bliss, please escort the Duchess to the Empress’s palace.”

The Emperor gestured elegantly and summoned Baron Bliss. Baron Bliss, who had stood tensely behind the Emperor, answered quickly and stepped forward.

As Eliana completely disappeared from the office, Gredy had to face the Emperor’s gaze alone.

The Emperor set aside the matter of the painting Gredy sent to Empress Rosella last night and everything about Eliana. He had already confirmed all through Eliana, so there was no need to ask twice. He merely savored the mistakes of the foolish young man.

“Count Hoffman said some amusing things.”

As Gredy reached out his hand, a lit cigar was placed between his fingers. He drew deeply on the thick cigar, the red flame glowing like an eye watching him.

Gredy silently stared back at Matteo, closing his eyes against the white smoke being blown at him — a silent challenge: “How dare you look at me.”

“Arrogant brat.”

Avoiding the thick smoke, the Emperor closed his eyes briefly but his gaze remained on Gredy.

Gredy’s black hair shone in the sunlight. Darkness that glistened in the light — that too displeased him.

“I too heard some amusing things from the Count.”

His tone was surprisingly composed, as if he couldn’t believe the story that Gredy was drunk at dawn and refused the Emperor’s summons.

“Really? I’m curious what nonsense Count Hoffman spread about me when he never even met me.”

Matteo puffed out smoke with an ease he never showed around Eliana.

“The Count spoke nonsense about Your Majesty. So I gave him a proper scolding. Am I not Your Majesty’s loyal dog?”

Though calling himself a dog, Gredy was confident and proud.

“Was the ‘proper scolding’ the burning of the unknown artist’s entire sketchbook?”

Though they never met, it seemed the Emperor was fully informed about Gredy’s deeds via Duke Lloyd.