Chapter 54

“Sergei.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Helio called Sergei in a fierce voice. Everyone present, including Liliana, noticed the change in tone, but Sergei remained steadfast and answered respectfully.

Standing behind Helio, Reid made an X with two fingers, but Sergei only tilted his head slightly, not understanding the gesture.

In the end, Liliana, feeling embarrassed, grabbed Helio’s arm. She didn’t understand why he was making such a fuss about receiving a hunting prize from a vassal, which was a common occurrence. Helio always told her to gain more recognition and strength.

Liliana realized she had to diffuse the situation herself.

“Marquis Vilum, it’s fine. I’d rather catch the prey myself than receive it.”

Liliana spoke with a hint of awkwardness, and Sergei bowed his head even more profoundly.

“I apologize for not understanding Your Highness’s wishes.“

“No, it’s okay. I’m glad to see your impressive archery skills.”

After wrapping up the conversation, Liliana poked Helio in the side. As she gestured to whisper, Helio leaned in first.

“Why are you bothering a loyal subject? I know you like to joke, but this is too much.”

Liliana bit her lip firmly and gave him a stern look. Helio laughed incredulously.

“A joke?”

“Yes. You just want to fluster Marquis Vilum.”

Despite his reputation, Sergei seemed quite endearing up close. Skilled but oblivious and compliant, he resembled a large, handsome, but obedient black dog.

Helio never missed a chance to tease someone he found amusing, and Liliana was sure this was another such instance.

Smack!

Helio flicked her forehead with his fingers. Liliana winced, holding her forehead in pain. Being hit in front of so many people was embarrassing and painful.

“Who said it’s a joke?“

“You always joke around!”

Liliana shouted in frustration and moved toward her horse, wanting to leave the scene quickly.

Helio approached to help her mount, but Liliana turned her head sharply, glaring at him.

“Over there, help me.”

A servant quickly knelt by the horse, and Liliana stepped lightly onto his thigh and mounted the horse.

With one hand on his waist, Helio watched the entire scene unfold. He seemed perplexed by Liliana’s reaction, not expecting her to be so upset. However, it was clear that treating her like a child in front of everyone was his mistake.

“Empress.”

Helio approached Liliana’s horse and grabbed the reins. She looked down at him with a still-angry expression.

At that moment, a sharp whistling sound came from nearby. It was a signal arrow. Golden smoke scattered in the sky, indicating they were looking for Helio.

“Your Majesty.”

Reid called out urgently, but Helio kept his gaze fixed on Liliana, ignoring the sky. He reached out and cupped her forehead with his palm.

“Does it hurt?”

The warmth of his large hand made the spot where she was flicked feel even hotter. Liliana mumbled, looking down.

“We need to go.“

“You stay here.“

“What?“

“You were having fun. There’s no need to return because of me. Sergei!”

Helio called for Sergei, who immediately knelt beside him.

“Yes, Your Majesty.“

“Guard the Empress Consort.“

“I will obey.”

Liliana was filled with confusion. She grabbed Helio’s hand as he moved it away from her forehead. He interlocked their fingers and spoke.

“Sergei is trustworthy. Enjoy the rest of the hunting competition and then return.”

Though uncertain if it was appropriate, Liliana had been looking forward to the competition, so she accepted Helio’s kindness. Besides, he seemed genuinely sorry for flicking her forehead.

When Liliana nodded, Helio narrowed his eyes and spoke sharply as if giving a warning.

“Remember, Sergei has a fiancée.”

He had already mentioned this earlier.

“I know.“

“Just don’t get distracted by his good looks. Let him do his job.”

Liliana laughed, exasperated.

“I won’t bother you. Just stop making weird jokes.”

Helio stared at her smiling face for a moment, then sighed.

‘Just when I thought there couldn’t be anyone worse than Sergei…….’

He tapped her hand a couple of times before mounting his horse. With Reid’s continued urging, he could no longer stay.

After giving Liliana one last look, Helio spurred his horse and rode off through the forest path.

Once Helio was entirely out of sight, Liliana turned to Sergei. He took that moment to speak loudly.

“It is an honor to serve Your Highness. I will do my utmost.”

Liliana nodded awkwardly. It felt strange to be alone with Sergei after all the banter and teasing when they were with Helio and Reid.

She had never encountered Sergei in the original story, only his son.

“Shall we go? I wouldn’t want to leave without catching anything.”

At her words, Sergei guided his horse, leading her. When she was with Helio, Reid would join in the banter, but now there was an uncomfortable silence.

Liliana wondered if she should have followed Helio, who was standing by as he worked.

“Um… Marquis Vilum.”

“At your command.“

“It’s not a command; I’m just trying to make conversation.“

Liliana knew little about Sergei. He had earned significant merit in war, and Helio had even arranged for him to gain noble status in a foreign land to grant him a title.

If a slave received a marquisate, he could be killed out of jealousy.

Sergei wasn’t a frequent character in the story, but his son, a second male lead, was.

The second male lead faced ridicule when it was revealed that his father was a former slave. The main character, the female protagonist, helped him overcome this, leading to the second male lead’s deep affection for her.

The second male lead had grown up witnessing his parents’ love and respect for each other, and he dreamed of a future with the female protagonist filled with the same passion.

That story had endeared him to readers, including Liliana.

“How did you meet your fiancée?”

It was a casual question to break the ice and satisfy her curiosity. She didn’t expect Sergei’s stoic face to turn red like an apple.

“Uh, well…”

He even began to stutter, and Liliana secretly admired him. This level of reaction was necessary for a pure love story to be known.

She also felt curious and envious of the woman who had captured such a stern man’s heart.

“Do you really like her that much?”

Liliana asked playfully, starting to understand why Helio liked teasing Sergei. Sergei, however, took no notice of her teasing and bowed his head deeply.

“Yes, she is the one I love with all my heart.”

Liliana covered her mouth in surprise. She hadn’t expected such a straightforward declaration. It made her heart race like she was reading a romance novel.

“Since when have you felt that way?”

She asked, feeling like a young girl experiencing first love. Sergei, embarrassed, avoided her gaze and covered his face with his hand.

“Since the first time I met her… on the battlefield.“

“On the battlefield?“

“Yes. She was volunteering as a nurse despite being a noblewoman. I thought she was an angel when I first saw her.“

“Wow, that’s so romantic. Who confessed first?“

“That… uh…”

Sergei hesitated. Liliana wondered if she had overstepped by asking about the confession. Should she reassure him he didn’t have to answer?

Before she could speak, Sergei continued.

“Actually, after returning from the battlefield, I never met her again.“

“What? Then how did the engagement happen?“

“His Majesty proposed the match to her family. I later sent a letter saying they could refuse but received no response. Then her family accepted the proposal, and that’s how…”

Liliana couldn’t believe it. A love-struck couple engaged and married without even a confession. It was too disappointing.

She wondered if Helio knew Sergei’s feelings and tried to help. She was impressed by Helio’s thoughtfulness.

Liliana decided to give this pitiable couple a little push.

“If you don’t want to be engaged forever, you must propose. You can’t do it through letters; you must meet her!”

Liliana spoke with determination, but Sergei hesitated.

“But she accepted the proposal out of obligation.“

“Did she say that?“

“No, but…“

“Why do you think so if she didn’t say it herself?“

“That’s… I can’t say. I’m sorry.”

The secret was probably related to his background. Sergei and his fiancée might have met on the battlefield, where she could have learned his origins.

But hearing his story, Liliana was sure his fiancée had also fallen for him at first sight.

TL NOTE: A more advanced chapter of this story is already up on the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories.