Chapter 74
After finishing the emergency treatment, I asked Kyle.
“Your Majesty. Please allow this old man to be taken to a physician.”
Since I had dared to interfere with what the emperor had done, it was necessary to ask at least this much. The warning had been sufficient, and I thought that someone who valued his authority above all else would give his permission.
As expected, the emperor nodded, a twisted smile on his lips.
“Very well. I will allow it.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. Someone, please help support him. I’ve done rough hemostasis, so he needs to be taken to a doctor.”
At the request of the noblewoman who was with the emperor, people finally began to move little by little.
Perhaps now that someone had taken the lead, they felt it was safe to muster courage. Two sturdy men approached, helped the old man to his feet, and moved toward the inside of the village.
“Thank you.”
As he turned his back and left, the old man offered his thanks—directed at no one in particular.
“Go on.”
“Step back.”
The emperor’s guards stepped in and dispersed the gathered crowd.
Until then, the emperor had been quietly watching only me.
I brushed the dust off and stood up, looking at him. The emperor was staring at my hair. Following his gaze, I saw that the ends were stained red with blood. It must have gotten on me while I was treating the old man earlier.
The emperor lifted his head.
Then I met eyes that gleamed, filled with interest. The desire lodged within them was burning fiercely.
So he noticed. I’m done for—I’ve been caught red-handed.
I regretted my actions a little, putting myself into a trap of my own making, but it was already too late.
First, I needed to look at the situation objectively.
The emperor was undoubtedly convinced about the relationship between Raymond and me. That was why he had declared me his own and threatened me not even to think of defying him. On top of that, my healing ability had been exposed.
How useful would my healing power be to the emperor?
Looked at another way, wouldn’t it be better to at least prove my usefulness?
That was why, through an entirely rational judgment, I had used my healing power even in front of the emperor. It wasn’t because I was some apostle of justice who saved the old man.
…Damn it!
How could I just stand by when an innocent person was dying right in front of me? I even had the ability! No matter how I looked at it, I was still a citizen from a society that respected human dignity!
Inside the carriage returning to the duke’s residence, I grabbed my pale pink hair with both fists. Beating myself up would only make my hair fall out; nothing would change.
In any case, the emperor had no intention of letting me go, and today was clearly a day he had decided to unleash a festival of threats—this was just one more thing added on top of it all.
In the end, it was proven that the scenario I had carefully planned had been completely thrown off.
Wheee-wooo! An alarm blared inside me. It felt like real danger was right at my doorstep.
So I resolved to revise the scenario to Plan B.
That night, when I arrived at the archduke’s hideout, I was noticeably quieter than usual. I could feel his subordinates finding my demure demeanor unfamiliar, but I didn’t care. Today, I needed to be desperate—and I truly was.
“Aileen.”
Raymond entered the room and greeted me like sunlight reflecting off the sea. He came over and sat beside me, carefully examining my complexion. Finding that 모습 cute, I gave a weak smile—only for him to wrap an arm around my waist and pull me onto his lap. He’s really gotten completely unreserved with physical contact now, hasn’t he?
“Raymond. I have something serious to say.”
When I squirmed, trying to escape his arms, he tightened his grip as if unwilling to let me go.
“Say it.”
“How am I supposed to say it like this?”
“There’s no reason you can’t.”
I tried to push him away, but when he didn’t budge at all, I finally gave up. Instead of meeting his face so close to mine, I fixed my gaze on the edge of his shoulder.
“There’s something I’m curious about. Can you answer me?”
“Anything.”
I hesitated briefly, then parted my lips.
“I’m the emperor’s fiancée, aren’t I? So why did you say something like that to me at the lake?”
It was about his confession—when he had asked me to become his lover. He seemed to grasp my meaning immediately and answered without delay.
“Because first, I needed to confirm whether our feelings were the same.”
“Then what comes next? The emperor won’t let me go.”
“Kyle’s opinion doesn’t matter. What matters is Aileen’s heart. Now that I know your heart and mine are the same, I’ll never let you go.”
Raymond’s eyes shone with resolve. It was a determination of a different kind from the emperor’s eyes, which had been brimming with desire.
Then it was time to drive the final nail in.
“Raymond. If you respect my wishes, let’s run away together.”
“Run away?”
“Yes. Let’s hide somewhere no one can find us and live together.”
I nodded, deliberately putting extra emphasis on the word “together.” I reached out with a tempting hand, inviting him to flee together—whether you called it an elopement for love or a midnight escape.
He seemed to sink into thought, pondering. But it didn’t take long before he gave his answer.
“If that’s what Aileen wants, then I’ll do it.”
Raymond accepted my suggestion more readily than I had expected.
Huh? Weren’t you sharpening your blade for revenge for your parents?
His quick agreement puzzled me, but it didn’t matter. What mattered was that he was willing to follow my will.
I expressed my gratitude with a bright smile. And within that smile, I carefully hid my inscrutable inner thoughts.
There was a truth I hadn’t told him. To achieve that, I had spoken a lie.
I said “we,” but in truth, I planned to send only Raymond away. While I drew the emperor’s gaze onto myself, I intended to push Raymond far away from the capital.
I had possessed this novel to save Raymond’s life, so for his sake, I decided to remain by the emperor’s side.
After the hunting grounds incident, the emperor began summoning me to the imperial palace again.
Unlike that day when threats had flown freely, he treated me kindly now. Perhaps he was satisfied that I behaved meekly, like a well-trained cat that listened well.
At least one fortunate thing was that he didn’t attempt any forced physical contact. Since we both knew how uncomfortable it was, he seemed to keep his distance, careful not to cross the line. It was as if we were a couple in a contractual marriage—cautious not to break the outward appearance of a good relationship.
“Have this, Aileen.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
The emperor slid a piece of chocolate cake toward me, which a maid had brought out to the terrace. I set aside my usually faithful instincts and politely used my fork. Still, I couldn’t hide everything and quickly finished the entire plate. Desserts aren’t guilty of anything!
As I scraped up even the remaining cream from the plate with my fork, I felt a watching gaze and set the fork down. Pretending nothing had happened, I propped my chin on my hand and looked out over the distant garden. The clear sky and lush greenery blended together, boasting a refreshing scene that soothed my eyes.
Nature looks so peaceful, yet human life is an endless struggle. With nothing to do, I sank into such old-fashioned, philosophical musings. The emperor, seemingly focused only on appearances, didn’t say a word. Lately, it felt like I came to the palace only to pass time.
Knock, knock.
Suddenly, there was a knock, and the door leading to the terrace opened.
The service was already over, and there shouldn’t have been anyone else coming—so who was it?
Sensing something different from usual, I turned my head—and gasped in shock. The figure stepping onto the terrace through the opened door was none other than Raymond.
Meanwhile, Raymond, who had accepted Aileen’s proposal to run away together, was harboring a completely different dream from hers.
If Aileen truly wanted to go far away and live with him, he intended to negotiate with Kyle.
He remembered the showmanship Kyle had displayed at a party held in the imperial palace before. That incident had convinced him that what Kyle needed wasn’t Aileen, but simply a fiancée.
Raymond planned to demand Aileen in exchange for giving up everything and leaving permanently. He would say he’d disappear exactly as desired—so long as he could take her with him. With that purpose in mind, he visited the imperial palace.
However, this plan collapsed the moment he arrived. On the terrace, not only was the emperor present, but Aileen was there with him.
The emperor wasn’t someone you could meet anytime just because you wanted to. Raymond, despite his status as an archduke, had also arranged an appointment in advance to visit the palace. Therefore, the fact that Aileen happened to be present at the exact date and time of the appointment meant one thing—it was entirely Kyle’s intention.
As Raymond stepped onto the terrace, Aileen looked up and showed a startled expression. He clearly perceived her reaction, yet maintained a poker face.
“Raymond, you’ve come?”
Kyle greeted his cousin in a relaxed manner, completely hiding his slyness. Raymond straightened himself and bowed deeply.
“To the sun of the empire—”
“Ah, that’s enough. We agreed to be casual when it’s just us. Why are you being like that?”
“But your fiancée is present.”
“All the better, then. No need to arrange a separate occasion for introductions. Raymond, you should sit here too.”
Kyle naturally claimed the seat beside Aileen and gestured to the seat opposite. After briefly glancing at her, Raymond obediently went and sat across from them.
“Alright. Let’s greet each other. You’ve already met before, but this is the first time in a private setting.”
As he spoke, Kyle casually draped an arm over Aileen’s shoulder. At the unfamiliar sensation against her skin, she flinched, but she forced herself to act as if nothing was wrong. Then she looked at Raymond and smiled awkwardly.
“Hello. Your Grace, the Archduke of Ruslo.”
Aileen greeted him politely. At that sight, Raymond pressed his lower lip tightly between his teeth.
Endure it.
He had known that Aileen visited the imperial palace from time to time, but seeing it with his own eyes stirred up anger beyond imagination. Still, seeing her barely holding onto a pretty smile, he suppressed the emotions rising within him with all his strength.
