Chapter 85
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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Chapter 85
I realize now that I've been harboring prejudices against The Emperor all this time.
Though I was born as the original work's heroine, I possess my own sense of self—just as the original male lead can forge a new narrative beyond the story.
Just as I've been given a new life, the fact that The Emperor has developed feelings for someone other than me, the original heroine, was proof of that.
"If he has someone he loves but must still maintain an engagement with me, isn't that precisely the reason?"
"I don't understand what you're saying."
"Your Majesty simply needs a woman to maintain the engagement with. Isn't that right?"
"!"
"I found it strange. There was no reason for Your Majesty to tolerate me for years when I postponed the proposal."
The Emperor, having reclaimed supremacy, mercilessly purged his subordinates to build a powerful imperial authority.
A ruthless sovereign who showed no leniency, conducting recruitment based purely on merit.
Yet it was indeed peculiar that he would bestow endless grace upon a mere lady like myself.
I was an impudent woman who had embarrassed The Emperor and fled.
Now I understood—he had left me alone because he needed me to remain unmarried and compliant.
"The Lockhart Family follows Your Majesty absolutely and with unwavering loyalty, but I doubted they would forgive my presumptuous behavior to that extent."
"...."
"So Your Majesty also had reasons to postpone this marriage."
"...."
"That's why you didn't search for me with particular urgency."
"...."
"Because the marriage could be delayed for reasons stemming from me, not from Your Majesty's circumstances."
The Emperor, who was looking at me, offered no response.
"When I emerged from hiding, it must have been inconvenient for you. That's why you appeared at the Charity Event Venue—to make a favorable impression on me."
"...."
"Or perhaps you were curious whether I was someone you could reason with."
The Emperor's marriage entangled countless interests.
The Emperor and me.
The Imperial Family and the Lockhart Family. The Lockhart Family and the Hexagon Family.
The New Nobility Faction and the Old Nobility Faction. The convergence and restraint of powers.
"Your Majesty, I will never blame or resent you, so please tell me—why did you propose to me of all people?"
A cold silence persisted within the cave.
"I believe the reason Your Majesty chose me is because you cannot marry that person."
"!"
"Perhaps there's a difference in status between you and that person, or some other reason that makes marriage impossible. And since I'm politically useful, you selected me."
"...."
"Your Majesty may not have anticipated it, but I fled—and that worked in your favor."
"..."
"I can continue to be of service to Your Majesty. I can maintain the facade of an engagement that you desire."
The Emperor regarded me quietly, then after a long pause, he ran his hand through his hair.
"Your imagination is quite intriguing, Lady Enya."
It seemed he was suppressing a smile.
"If that's the case, how exactly would you assist me?"
"I won't propose breaking off the engagement."
"!"
In that instant, The Emperor went rigid. I felt it distinctly through the arm I held.
"I'll help you marry her, convince my father, and work to ensure the other nobles cannot thwart your will by helping you achieve greater accomplishments."
"You truly won't break off the engagement with me."
"I won't. Since I have no intention of marrying either, I'll simply help you."
"So you'll remain bound to my side."
"That phrasing is a bit odd, but yes—I'll work diligently at your side. If possible, I'll even help ensure she can earn merit, so it won't seem strange when Your Majesty personally grants her a title."
I was willing to do everything for The Emperor. I was one hundred percent committed to surrendering my fate to that woman.
"Ha."
The Emperor laughed then.
His laughter sounded both deflated and refreshing, and my own heart eased.
"Is this truly your intention?"
"Yes! I promise."
I spoke with my hand over my heart.
"I won't pester Your Majesty and will quietly help while maintaining this false engagement."
"Lady Enya has stated she won't break off the engagement."
Hmm? Something felt oddly unsettling just now.
"Very well."
The Emperor agreed to my proposal.
So it seemed The Emperor truly had no intention of actually marrying either.
"Then we're strategic partners now. Is that acceptable?"
"Acceptable."
The Emperor appeared to have quite a magnanimous temperament.
"Even though I'll maintain the engagement, I have no intention of wielding power as his fiancée. It would be troublesome if his beloved misunderstood."
"Understood."
"I also promise there will be no physical contact."
This time, there was no response. But I was satisfied enough not to dwell on it.
'I should have had this honest conversation with The Emperor sooner.'
Relieved, I stood abruptly and moved away from him.
"And like this—I'm grateful for your help, but to avoid any misunderstandings, we won't have contact."
After standing and returning to my spot, I noticed the bag in the corner of the Cave.
Ah, right. I did bring that.
I retrieved the first aid kit from the bag. It contained saline solution and disinfectant.
"Your Majesty, it looks like your leg is scraped. Why did you hide it? Let me see for a moment."
The Emperor shook his head and drew his leg closer, clearly reluctant to show it to me.
"Are you embarrassed?"
"...."
The Emperor hesitated, uncertain whether that was truly the reason.
But for my grand plan to succeed, I needed to examine The Emperor's leg.
"Hngh."
I dragged his leg—stubborn as iron—toward me and rolled up his trouser leg.
The Emperor's dark trousers had concealed the blood already soaking through, and a long, jagged wound ran across his leg.
"Fortunately, it wasn't a monster's claw. It appears to be from a marsh plant with thick thorns."
I could deduce as much from the depth and pattern of the wound.
I sprayed saline solution over The Emperor's leg, disinfected it thoroughly, applied medicine, and wrapped it with bandages.
Now, time to activate merchant mode.
"Speaking of which, Duke Lockhart will be submitting a proposal to Your Majesty regarding first-aid kits."
"Your father."
"Yes. It was my idea, but it's not something I could do independently. I needed the backing of a noble. Your Majesty has just personally tested this product made by the Lockhart Family—what do you think?"
"You've used me."
A soft chuckle escaped The Emperor.
He gazed at his bandaged leg, then covered it with his trousers.
He extended his hand to help me up, then seated me on the same rock beside him.
"If this is the manner of use, I find it agreeable. It's worth considering positively."
"As the daughter of the Lockhart Family, I would never do anything to harm Your Majesty. Besides, we share more than just my role as your betrothed—we have a common objective."
"You speak of the House of Hexagon."
"Exactly."
The Emperor and I seemed to think alike. He regarded me intently.
"It would be more effective if the lady came to speak with me directly, without going through Duke Lockhart."
"Going forward?"
"Yes."
The Emperor added one more thing.
"Would it not be more effective to demonstrate that we have established a betrothal relationship?"
The Emperor's words made sense. I nodded in agreement.
"However, only for matters concerning the state and business."
"We don't encroach on personal matters."
"That's exactly what I was thinking!"
Surprisingly, The Emperor and I thought similarly and communicated well.
"What about meetings?"
"Do we need to meet?"
"Formal meetings are necessary to maintain a proper betrothal relationship. It has been quite some time since the edict was issued, and many are beginning to find our distance suspicious."
The Emperor spread his fingers.
"Three times a week."
"There are quite a few. Your Majesty is busy, after all."
"By making time despite being busy, it will appear as an undeniable engagement."
The Emperor's mouth opened. The Emperor, whom I'd thought was taciturn, had offered many good suggestions.
"If it feels like too much, let's make it twice a week."
"That's acceptable. The time should include ceremonial walks and leisure time—one hour total. Does that work?"
I'd thought even once a week was excessive, but with Duke Hexagon's release date approaching, it seemed wise to discuss preparations for him more frequently.
"And don't ask about the other person's romantic partner."
"...Do you have a romantic partner?"
The Emperor suddenly stiffened as he asked.
He seemed sensitive about the possibility of my betrayal.
"I meant you, Your Majesty."
Even if Dale might appear that way, there was no benefit in revealing his existence in the first place.
"Understood."
"Then we have a contract."
"We'll discuss the details after returning, invite the Duke to the Imperial Palace, and then prepare proper documents."
I agreed with the Emperor's summary 200%. I extended my hand with genuine pleasure.
"I look forward to working with you."
"...."
The Emperor, who had shaken my hand, gazed at me silently.
His hand, which I'd held briefly before releasing, was warm.
Time passed, and evening arrived, but no one came.
Fortunately, I had some biscuits in my bag, so we shared them.
"Oh! My kit has medicinal herbs that monsters dislike. What if we sprinkle them around and get some rest?"
I crushed the herbs finely and scattered them in all directions as if drawing a magic circle.
Since dawn was approaching, I felt relatively at ease.
"Then I'll sleep for just a bit. You should rest too, Your Majesty."
"Sleep won't come, so it's fine."
"Is that so?"
I couldn't resist sleep and lay down on the ground.
I was concerned that the Emperor wouldn't sleep, but I was drowsy, so....
* * *
Enya fell asleep within seconds of laying her head down.
"...."
She seemed to be the type who rarely woke once asleep—her eyes remained closed even as he fashioned her clothes into a blanket and arranged a makeshift pillow beneath her head.
Dale was genuinely astonished by Enya's deductive prowess.
She possessed remarkably sharp intuition, yet at times seemed utterly oblivious to the obvious.
'A calculated move, perhaps.'
It could have been a deeper scheme to test him. After all, Enya was remarkably skilled at playing games.
'Regardless, the engagement remains intact.'
For now, that was more than enough to satisfy him.
At that moment, Enya rolled over, and her soft cheek brushed against his hand.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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