Chapter 43
Her jaw tightened naturally as she chewed, and even her breathing grew rough.
Perhaps her breathing bothered him.
Elion’s gaze returned to Rubiana.
But Rubiana didn’t notice his eyes; she focused solely on chewing her food.
When she finally realized his gaze was fixed on her, she quickly held her breath.
‘Why is he staring? Was… was my chewing too loud? Is he giving me a warning?’
She disliked everything—
but more than anything, she hated sitting here, in this exact moment.
She wanted to finish everything in front of her and escape this mansion as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, contrary to her sulky assumptions, all of Elion’s senses were fixated on her.
From the moment she stepped into the dining room:
her light footsteps, the faint sweet scent she carried, the fleeting touch of her skin as he handed her the fork, her bright, pure face—
everything shook his mind and struck his heart.
‘Especially those lips…!’
He found it difficult to tear his gaze away from her red lips as they moved while she chewed.
An intense urge rose within him—
to slowly and softly lick those small, full lips and melt them against his own for a long time.
‘Damn it… I’ve completely lost my mind.’
Maintaining a poker face was his specialty, yet his facial muscles were refusing to obey.
He couldn’t even tell whether the food in his mouth was beef or dirt.
At that moment, a knock sounded and the door opened.
Scott entered.
His movement and expression were uncharacteristically urgent.
“My lord.”
“What is it?”
“You… have a visitor.”
“This early in the morning? Who?”
Elion frowned.
After taking a deep breath, Scott finally answered.
“Your visitor… is His Imperial Majesty.”
…What?
His Imperial Majesty?
Rubiana and Elion both widened their eyes as if they might pop out.
And in the very next second, the dining room doors burst open.
‘His magic must’ve become unstable… so why hasn’t he come to me? Did the drug not work? Impossible…’
Listening to information broker Marco’s report, a boulder-like question sat heavily in Florentia’s mind.
Today, Marco appeared in the form of an elderly woman in her eighties.
“The Grand Duke was injured on the head and shoulder, and is currently receiving treatment in the capital. He was advised to recover first in Darrow, but he insisted on returning to the capital as quickly as possible.”
“And the severity of the injury?”
“Not severe, but more than mild. The accident wasn’t major, but there were many witnesses who said His Grace looked noticeably unwell.”
“I see.”
Florentia’s eyes narrowed in thought.
If the accident wasn’t serious but Elion’s condition was poor, then the pill she had secretly given him must have taken effect.
‘Then why hasn’t he asked for my help? No matter how skilled the estate doctor is, unstable magic is beyond them.’
Her refined brows twisted delicately.
But Marco’s continued report forced her thoughts to halt.
“And… it seems the Grand Duke and the second daughter of House Fayson have become lovers.”
“What?”
“After His Grace returned to the estate, the Grand Duke’s carriage headed straight to the Fayson residence. Then, an hour later, a carriage brought Lady Rubiana Fayson to the Grand Duke’s manor.”
“No. That’s impossible.”
Florentia shook her head.
Elion having a lover?
Impossible.
He had no intention to date, marry, or create a family.
A boy born lonely and raised lonely didn’t even know how to dream of such things.
‘Right. Rubiana Fayson cannot be his lover. Then why did Elion send a carriage for that woman? Why?’
A possibility flashed through Florentia’s mind.
‘Could it be… that woman is related to his magic?’
No.
She dismissed it.
Even the Empire’s best physicians—and she herself, a saintess—couldn’t handle Elion’s unstable magic.
There was no way some ordinary noble girl could.
‘Wait… wasn’t there something about that young lady also being unwell recently?’
The question struck her, and she immediately asked Marco:
“Rubiana Fayson—how is her health lately?”
“You remember the hotel scandal involving the Grand Duke and the lady? I found information saying she collapsed and he rushed to the hotel because her condition worsened.”
“So she’s still in poor health?”
“Yes, presumably.”
“……”
What was going on?
Two people with poor health suddenly growing close… and then attending a party together?
Elion and Lady Fayson.
There was definitely something suspicious between them.
But Florentia currently had no way of uncovering what it was.
“Any other reports?”
“Ah, well… there is one more…”
Marco hesitated before speaking carefully.
“Lady Fayson, who entered the estate yesterday afternoon, is still there.”
“…What?!”
Florentia shot to her feet with a shout.
That meant they spent the night together.
Had she stayed to nurse him?
Why?
What were they to each other?
Could Elion… really be dating that woman?
Was it just nursing? Or… something else?
‘No. Impossible. Absolutely not.’
Her clenched fists trembled violently.
Her fair face flushed red, then pale, then red again.
She had to see it with her own eyes.
She had to ask Elion herself.
“I must go to the Grand Duke’s estate immediately.”
“Elion!”
“…Brother.”
Emperor Christopher strode in quickly and immediately checked Elion’s condition.
He seemed to be assessing the severity of the injury.
“I heard you were hurt. Are you unharmed?”
“It was nothing serious.”
“That is fortunate. I received a report that you seemed unwell, so I came straight away out of concern.”
After confirming his brother was safe, Christopher finally noticed Rubiana standing to the side.
Their eyes met, and she bowed gracefully.
“It is an honor to meet Your Majesty. I am Rubiana Fayson, second daughter of Count Fayson.”
“Oh! So you’re the Lady Fayson I’ve heard so much about! A pleasure.”
Christopher’s eyes shone brightly with curiosity as he looked at her.
‘Oh-ho!’
He understood instantly.
Two young people exchanging glances, a breakfast table overloaded with food, and such an early hour…
Christopher’s eyes gleamed sharply.
He looked at Rubiana and asked:
“There are rumors the two of you are lovers. Is that true?”
“Brother, that’s—”
Elion tried to answer, but Christopher raised a hand, stopping him.
His eyes and palm clearly said:
‘I asked her, not you. Stay quiet.’
Rubiana swallowed dryly under the emperor’s expectant stare.
Only a handful of people—Count and Countess Fayson, Stephanie, and Chad—knew the made-up story that she and Elion had begun dating.
Yet the rumor had already reached the emperor. His information network truly was impressive.
Rubiana answered meekly:
“Yes, Your Majesty. We’ve been together less than a week, but… yes.”
“I see! Not even a week, yet you’re already sharing breakfast—ah, youth is wonderful!”
Christopher burst into hearty laughter while Rubiana’s face drained of color.
‘Oh no… the way he emphasized “sharing breakfast”… is he hinting that he knows we spent the night together? Isn’t he? Ahhhh…!’
Rubiana cursed her weak will that had so easily succumbed to last night’s magical temptation.
Soon enough, Christopher joined them at the table for breakfast.
Rubiana assumed they would bring out a special meal for the emperor, but he didn’t ask for one.
He simply joined them without hesitation, even though the meal wasn’t prepared for him.
‘Is he this easygoing only around his younger brother?’
Thus the awkward breakfast continued.
Well, only Rubiana and Elion were awkward.
Christopher happily stuffed himself with food, smiling the entire time.
Rubiana’s steak felt like grains of sand in her mouth—
because Christopher’s gaze was fixed on her almost nonstop.
‘Ugh… that stare is too much!’
Afraid of choking, she cut the steak into tiny pieces and let them melt in her mouth.
After glancing between the two of them, Christopher spoke again:
“You two. It’s fine to date freely and passionately, but what do you think about holding an engagement ceremony first?”
“An… engagement ceremony?”
“An engagement…? Kh!”
Rubiana almost choked.
She discreetly spat the piece of steak she had been melting into her napkin.
Nothing felt like it could go down her throat properly now.
Seeing both Rubiana and Elion staring with wide, stunned eyes, Christopher chuckled broadly.
The emperor was clearly enjoying this.
After pretending to ponder for a moment, Christopher tapped his chin and added casually:
“No, no. Perhaps a wedding would be better?”
Rubiana and Elion both turned completely pale.
