Chapter 86
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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 86
"Mmm...."
A smile played at Dale's lips as he murmured in his sleep.
Her face, lost in slumber, was as beautiful and endearing as an angel's. I wanted to touch her, but I couldn't allow myself that indulgence.
"Cough."
Dale carefully touched the cheek beneath his hand, then moved Enya closer to the warmth of the fire.
Dale felt his health deteriorating with each passing day. It was then that Cassion brought him a medicine.
"Adeline made it."
Of course, it hadn't been made for him—Cassion said it was a remedy for mana poisoning.
Cassion had shared his portion of the medicine, and it proved effective for Dale as well. Enya didn't know it, but in his darkest moments, in every instance of suffering, she had been there to help him.
"Everything is spiraling out of control."
Yet now it was veering in an entirely different direction. He was reaching the limit of what he could forcibly hold together.
I loved Enya, but I couldn't declare it openly.
It was because she didn't desire marriage.
Even as her contractual husband, I had failed to win her heart.
Now, as Dale felt his anxiety mounting, Enya's decision to enter into yet another contractual arrangement became an opportunity for him.
As The Emperor, it was an excellent chance to draw closer to her.
"I-I only accepted the commission to seduce Your Majesty. I had no intention of attempting your life."
Someone was suspiciously investigating my background, and when I subdued them, it turned out to be a mercenary—a female mercenary at that.
The mercenary never revealed her client to the end, but I could easily guess who it was.
Enya.
Dale gazed intently at the sleeping Enya.
Today, Enya had promised me she would maintain our engagement.
While she was officially my fiancée, it was also a promise that Enya herself would not meet other men.
Dale seized the opportunity without hesitation.
Silver hair and blue eyes—it was unmistakably referring to her.
He intended to appeal everything to her.
Enya keeps her promises.
Her words about staying by my side to help and maintaining our engagement were certainly sincere.
The possibility of Enya meeting other men while I'm away from her side has diminished considerably.
That uncertainty had troubled Dale.
Enya had already secretly met several other men before.
'How dare they approach Enya like that.'
Enya was extraordinarily captivating. Beyond her status as Adeline, she possessed an inherent allure.
I needed to keep a careful watch on any man who approached Enya.
"Achoo!"
At the sight of Enya sneezing, Dale made the fire burn brighter. He spent the dawn awake with his eyes open.
* * *
"...Huh?"
I must have slept far more deeply than intended—when I opened my eyes, morning had already arrived. I'd meant to take only a brief nap, yet I'd surrendered completely to sleep.
"The Emperor must have arranged the blanket for me."
I gazed at the makeshift quilt fashioned from his garments. My head felt remarkably comfortable; he'd actually crafted a pillow for me.
"...Your Majesty?"
But where had The Emperor gone?
The moment I thought his figure had vanished, I spotted a man sleeping with his back against the wall.
Golden hair obscured his face, rendering it indistinct.
'Is this my chance to see The Emperor's face?'
His mask lay discarded on the floor.
The Emperor slept now without his mask.
Was it permissible to look at his face?
'But The Emperor kept me safe while I slept.'
No. I shouldn't look.
Whether The Emperor resembled a rabbit, a horse, or a lion mattered not to me.
...Yet!
Why did he conceal his face? I couldn't help but wonder.
I circled The Emperor and gazed down at his face.
His jawline was faintly visible—sharp and refined. He bore a mark on his neck, and if I looked closely, I might glimpse his lips.
His eyes were narrowed so thinly? Wait?
His eyelids trembled delicately as they squeezed shut.
I crouched before The Emperor and studied him. His nose appeared quite prominent. And, and....
'And somehow... not unfamiliar.'
Have I seen The Emperor before? What is this feeling?
I reached out cautiously toward his golden hair.
"...No, it's improper to do this to someone sleeping."
I hesitated, then withdrew my hand. The Emperor wished to conceal his face; I had no reason to expose it.
Click.
The instant I attempted to rise, The Emperor seized my wrist.
"...!"
"...My lady."
The Emperor called to me in a drowsy voice. For a moment, I glimpsed his eyes between strands of hair.
"...W-well, Your Majesty, I was indeed attempting to see your face, but I hadn't actually tried yet—I was just about to stand up! Your Majesty might misunderstand, but this isn't what you're thinking—it's not like that...."
"Give me the mask."
"Oh, yes!"
I obediently retrieved the mask and offered it to him.
An awkward silence settled between us.
"Your Majesty made the blanket for me, didn't you? Thank you."
The Emperor nodded lightly and reached for his mask.
"I didn't see anything."
"...."
"I was indeed curious about Your Majesty's face and reached out to touch it. But I truly didn't see anything, so please don't worry."
"Are you curious what I look like?"
Denying my curiosity would be a lie, yet admitting it seemed equally strange.
"I am curious."
"Does it matter how I look?"
The Emperor's words didn't really ask whether I was curious about his face—they seemed to ask whether I could handle knowing his secret.
"W-well then, I won't look."
"...."
I heard The Emperor chuckle softly.
"You may be curious. I don't think poorly of it, but it does seem we need to grow closer, Adeline and I."
"Aren't we already closer than before?"
"You said you would help me, and the method is a fake engagement, is it not?"
"That's right."
"A relationship that shouldn't appear overly intimate, but rather appropriately affectionate."
Then I heard faint voices from a distance.
Ha— ha— ha...?
What?
"Your Majesty-!!!!"
It was the voices of people searching for us.
"The knights have arrived!"
"...I see."
The Emperor didn't seem particularly pleased. Whether it was his nature to remain composed at all times, I couldn't say, but I was delighted.
"Finally we can leave! Escape!"
"...."
The mere thought of leaving this dark place where I didn't know how much longer I'd be trapped made me feel as though I could fly.
"Your Majesty, let's go!"
"We have spent four days here."
The Emperor rose and caught hold of me.
The presence emanating from his towering frame was distinctive. The Emperor spoke gently.
"Then it would be acceptable to appear a bit closer."
"Let's plan that after we leave."
"Is there not a better moment than now to make it convincing?"
"Your Majesty! Lady Adeline! Are you here?"
"Your Majesty The Emperor—"
The moment Cassion and the Imperial Court attendants finally reached us, I.
"I think now is best after all."
Suddenly drawing me close, The Emperor pulled me into his embrace as I stumbled forward.
"Like this."
"...!!"
* * *
"Hehe... so that's how it happened?"
Emma, who had been arranging my hair, laughed with a sly grin.
"Did you know?"
"Of course. There are all sorts of rumors about The Emperor and the lady having quite the passionate relationship."
"And you're pleased about it?"
Emma seemed delighted that something had changed between The Emperor and me.
Her smile never faded from her face.
"I'm thrilled, miss. All this time, so many people have been carelessly spreading rumors that you were plain or had some flaw! But our young lady is so beautiful and adorable!"
Emma snorted dismissively and fastened jeweled ornaments into my hair.
"Even though you know I didn't want to marry The Emperor."
"But that's been resolved now, hasn't it? You said it was a fake relationship?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Then everything's perfect!"
Emma laughed with genuine delight.
"Our young lady looks absolutely stunning. It's such a waste that only I get to see you like this."
As I gazed into the mirror, my thoughts suddenly drifted to Dale.
Compared to how I looked now, my appearance back when I lived in the Countryside was dreadfully shabby.
Would Dale think I was beautiful too? Dale was kind, so he would certainly say I was pretty.
"... I miss Dale. Being held by The Emperor has left me feeling unsettled. It feels like I've done something wrong to Dale."
My heart felt strange, even though we weren't actually married.
"Are you talking about that legendary handsome man from Grunvalt again?"
"It's been so long since I've seen him. Emma, has there been a reply from Dale? Still nothing?"
That was absolutely unlike him.
There was no way Dale wouldn't have sent me a letter.
"I need to go see Dale."
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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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