Chapter 16
I tried to say more to Ain, but the carriage suddenly fell quiet, and the words I had planned refused to come out.
“It seems we’ve arrived.”
Ain stepped down first. After scanning the surroundings to ensure there were no dangers, he turned back and extended his hand to escort me. I took it carefully and stepped down from the carriage.
I wasn’t sure whether it was because of our conversation just now or because of emotions this body still remembered, but Anais suddenly came to mind.
I missed her.
Her smile, blooming between deep wrinkles. No matter what Elizabeth did, Anais always stood firmly by her side, supporting her without hesitation. Perhaps that was why she reminded me of my long-missed mother. Just seeing her face always made me feel at ease.
“By the way, do you think Grandfather is at the Imperial Palace today?” I asked.
“He’s probably here. He’s been busy preparing for the upcoming hunting festival.”
“Hmm… then, Ain, go help Grandfather. Since this is the Imperial Palace and you’ll be meeting His Majesty, there should be guards stationed everywhere.”
“Understood. Please call for me when you head to the Count’s residence. I’ll be at the training grounds.”
Arahan had arrived before my carriage and was waiting in front of the Imperial Palace. I nodded at Ain and walked toward Arahan.
“What were you talking about?” he asked.
“Oh, I was just wondering whether Grandfather is here.”
“Well, with the hunting festival approaching, he must be quite busy.”
The hunting festival.
In the Morc Empire, four major events were held each year, and the hunting festival was one of them. Knights from across the Empire participated in the hunt, and judges evaluated the game they brought back, ranking them accordingly. The knight who placed first received an honorable gift from the Emperor, and the game he hunted was later sacrificed to the gods during the harvest festival the following month.
One of the judges was none other than Anais, Commander of the Guardian Knights. No wonder she was busy.
“His Majesty will be in the sponsor’s area. We should head there,” Arahan said.
“Yes, understood.”
As we walked toward the sponsor’s area, palace maids, servants, attendants, and others glanced at me walking beside Arahan. I followed him while doing my best to keep a neutral expression.
“…Don’t worry too much about the gazes around us,” Arahan said quietly.
“I wasn’t worried to begin with.”
Well… not entirely.
Even as we walked, Arahan remained polite and cautious. I didn’t quite understand why he was being so careful now that we had already come this far. But clearly, the one who truly needed to be careful wasn’t me.
It was Arahan.
“And I think you, Duke, should be more cautious than I,” I said.
“If it’s that, don’t worry. This time, I’ll make sure the young lady doesn’t end up in the headlines.”
I understood that he meant newspaper headlines, but something about his wording felt strange.
It wasn’t I’ll make sure you don’t end up in the headlines.
It was I’ll make sure you aren’t the focus.
That was something Arahan could say to any woman. But the problem was that he was saying it to me.
Arahan treated Elizabeth differently from other women. Coldly. Distantly. So the one he should have been concerned about wasn’t me, but himself and his family.
Before I could untangle my thoughts, Arahan suddenly stopped and bowed deeply.
“The Duke of the Empire, Rath Arahan, greets His Majesty, the brilliant light and eternal ruler of the Morc Empire, His Majesty Emperor Karlcia Senil Morc.”
“Come in.”
At the Emperor’s brief response, his gaze shifted from Arahan to me. I hurriedly lowered my head.
“The daughter of Count Arlesia, Elizabeth—”
“Let’s skip the formalities and have a seat.”
“….”
Just like at the ball, I didn’t even get to greet him properly.
What was this? Did he not want my greeting at all?
I complained inwardly, but the man before me was the Emperor. I couldn’t say anything reckless. I couldn’t afford to die for the crime of disrespecting the Emperor before even reaching my destined end as a villainess.
If he was going to ignore me this openly, then I would exact the quiet revenge of a timid person.
I waited for Arahan to sit first. He gestured for me to take the chair, and feeling awkward standing alone, I sat. Only then did Arahan take his seat.
The Emperor, who had been staring at Arahan, spoke without looking at me.
“It seems you’ve become quite close.”
“Yes, it appears so.”
Still, the Emperor didn’t spare me a glance.
Seriously. We were supposed to be partners at the ball, and he wouldn’t even look at me? Did he intend to do this properly at all?
Since I wasn’t his chosen partner to begin with, it seemed he had no intention of showing even minimal courtesy. I clicked my tongue inwardly at Karlcia’s attitude.
Tch. No wonder my saintly sister didn’t receive any love from him.
Even if I died as a villainess, I would never let him have my good, saintly sister. If he was meant to be a supporting male lead, he should at least have some tragic charm. But that Emperor was nothing more than an irritating, useless one.
Someone like him didn’t deserve Osborne.
“Your Majesty,” Arahan said calmly, “could you speak with Miss Arlesia as well? She is your partner, not me.”
“I believe His Majesty personally sent a letter requesting Miss Arlesia’s visit to the Imperial Palace.”
At Arahan’s prompting, the Emperor finally turned toward me, immediately frowning.
Yes. That troublesome Emperor again.
I raised the corners of my lips into a flawless business smile.
His expression wrinkled further, but what could he do?
“As they say, you can’t spit on a smiling face.”
“……”
The Emperor said nothing.
I continued to smile, waiting.
Let’s see who gives in first.
After several minutes of silent tension, Karlcia finally spoke.
“The ball is in a week. We’ll discuss matters then.”
“Oh, I’m already looking forward to it. It’s such an honor to be partnered with Your Majesty.”
“Don’t misunderstand. This arrangement is unavoidable.”
“I’m simply glad that I’m the one who must do it.”
I kept smiling, deliberately provoking him. Noticing this, Arahan let out a deep sigh.
“…Miss. Didn’t you say you had something to ask?”
“Ah, yes. I was wondering about my role. Do I simply enter with His Majesty, or should I gather information on the aristocratic faction?”
I stopped smiling and looked directly at Arahan.
The Emperor, slightly surprised, cleared his throat and answered.
“Miss, you only need to enter with me. However, you will need to disguise yourself somewhat. Your hair and eye color are uncommon and easily recognizable. By chance, a foreign delegation recently brought a mysterious potion that temporarily changes eye color. I believe it may be useful.”
“Oh? I asked Arahan about that, but I’m glad Your Majesty answered me personally.”
I turned my business smile toward him again.
His face twisted further. He looked as though he wanted to say something, but his mouth snapped shut.
What was the point of being handsome if he couldn’t say anything worthwhile?
“Ha…?”
“…What?”
I hadn’t meant to sound so annoyed, but it slipped out. I immediately felt embarrassed.
Karlcia looked even more embarrassed than I did.
I glanced around and took a sip of the tea in front of me.
Why was no one drinking anything? There was an extravagant spread of tea and cakes, yet no one touched a thing. If they didn’t want to talk, they could have sent a letter instead of calling me here.
“…Would you like some?” Arahan offered, holding out a piece of cake.
I understood his attempt to ease the tension, but now was not the time for cake.
“Haha, no. I’m just concerned that I may have upset Your Majesty.”
“……”
“If there are no further remarks, I’ll take my leave.”
There was nothing more to be said, and everything I needed to know had been resolved.
After all, I was merely a shield, chosen for convenience. Noblewoman A, destined to provoke jealousy toward Osborne and prick the Emperor’s pride.
He couldn’t kill me without reason, after all.
“I’ll escort you,” Arahan said.
“It’s fine. I’m heading to the training grounds to see my grandfather. We’ll go together afterward.”
“Then… I’ll escort you in a week.”
Arahan bowed and saluted. I returned the bow to both him and the Emperor before turning toward the training grounds.
Toward Anais.
And Ain.
