Chapter 4 (Part 8)

After ordering the dress, Therese bought medicine and climbed into her carriage. As she raised the medicine bottle to her lips to ease her throbbing headache, the carriage suddenly jolted, and the horses neighed loudly.  

“What’s going on?”  

Therese opened the window to see a coachman from the opposite carriage gesturing angrily.  

“Hey! Watch where you’re driving!”  

“You’ve got some nerve!”  

The two coachmen looked ready to grab each other by the collar when the owner of the other carriage stepped out to calm his driver.  

“What a commotion.”  

The man, who had just stepped out, approached Therese’s side of the carriage.  

“My apologies. My servant must have made a mistake since this is an unfamiliar road for us.”  

“Oh, it’s fine.”  

Hearing the polite apology from outside the window, Therese quickly replied.  

“Are you hurt, Milady?”

Although addressing her as “Milady” was technically incorrect since she was married, there was no need to correct a passing stranger.

“I’m fine, but….”  

As they exchanged words through the window, the man spoke with concern.  

“It seems your carriage wheel is damaged. It doesn’t look like you’ll be able to leave right away. I know a good repairman nearby. Shall I call for him?”  

“That won’t be necessary….”  

If the wheel was damaged, she could simply call for another carriage. However, the impatient man had already summoned someone and then made an unusual suggestion.  

“If you don’t mind, I can wait with you.”

Feeling uncomfortable with the stranger’s excessive kindness, Therese frowned slightly.  

There was no need for repairs, nor for him to wait with her.  

‘I should at least see his face before continuing this conversation.’  

The carriage door opened, and the person Therese finally faced was completely different from what she had expected.  

“……”  

Since the carriage bore no emblem, she assumed the person was a government official or a low-ranking noble.  

However, the excessively extravagant attire caught Therese’s attention.  

The stranger wore loose-fitting white silk trousers paired with a red shirt adorned with buttons embedded with large pearls. His white vest was embroidered with intricate gold thread, so dazzling that just standing still made him shine.  

And that wasn’t all.  

His wrists were adorned with delicate gold bracelets, and all ten fingers were covered in rings of various vibrant colors.  

When Therese slowly lifted her gaze to confirm the man’s face, she instinctively covered her mouth with her hand.  

The slender man had pale silver hair and gray eyes, and his face was one Therese knew very well.  

‘Why is His Majesty the Emperor here…?’

The man may not have known Therese, but she certainly recognized him.  

She had seen him from a distance several times, conversing with her father, Baron Demori.  

As Therese continued to stare at his face, the man tilted his head curiously.  

“Is there something on my face, Milady?”

“Oh, no, not at all.”  

The Emperor’s delicate and handsome features, along with his mysterious gray eyes, shimmered translucently in the sunlight.  

But that wasn’t the issue right now.  

‘The man is the Emperor.’

The moment she realized this, Therese found it difficult to maintain her composure. She knew that even a minor mistake with the Emperor could endanger not only her but also the Demori Baronial family and the Richard Ducal family.  

‘I don’t know why he’s here, but I must be extremely cautious.’  

It made no sense for the Emperor to wander through a commoners’ bazaar by chance.  

‘And without a single escort, too.’  

Ignoring Therese’s suspicious gaze, the man spoke.  

“This is my first time here. Would you mind showing me around, if it’s not too much trouble?”  

Since Therese was dressed as a merchant rather than a noblewoman, the Emperor likely mistook her for a local. Considering she ran a guild, it wasn’t entirely wrong, but it was still an awkward situation.  

“Of course, you’re free to refuse.”  

Although his tone was gentle, the Emperor’s gray eyes gleamed like a predator eyeing its prey.  

Naturally, Therese wanted to refuse.  

She wasn’t sociable enough to guide a stranger through the market, let alone someone as intimidating as the Emperor.  

‘But I’ve heard the Emperor doesn’t tolerate defiance.’  

Knowing this, provoking the Emperor’s temper would be foolish.  

‘If I just go along with it, maybe this strange play will end quickly.’  

“If it pleases you, I would be happy to assist.”

“I am grateful for your kindness.”  

The Emperor smiled in satisfaction at Therese’s agreement.  

As Therese began walking with the unfamiliar man, the movements of the guards secretly protecting her became more frantic. She raised her hand to signal that everything was fine before taking a step forward.  

The two strolled side by side through the bustling streets of the bazaar. As the Emperor observed the various sections of the market, he seemed particularly interested in the area where livestock was traded.  

As they entered, the pungent smell of animal waste filled the air, and flies buzzed around their faces. The Emperor lightly covered his nose with a handkerchief and asked,  

“This is the largest market in the capital, correct?”  

“Yes, that’s correct.”  

The main livestock being traded were cattle and horses, but in the corners, cramped cages held chickens and rabbits, while goats were tied up nearby. As they walked further, the excited voices of spectators reached their ears.  

“That’s it! Go for it!”

“Bite harder!”

In the center of a crowd of onlookers, a rooster with its feathers bristling was attacking its opponent’s neck. The spectators, clutching wads of cash, shouted encouragement with veins bulging in their necks.  

“My, how barbaric. And yet, everyone seems so excited.”

The Emperor shuddered as if frightened. Worried about potential consequences, Therese hastily added an explanation.  

“It’s likely because they’re preparing for battles against monsters.”  

Historically, cockfights were used to predict the outcomes of wars. However, she doubted such an excuse would satisfy the Emperor.  

“Well, judging by the way they’re shouting, it doesn’t seem like that’s the case.”  

“Shall we head over there instead? I can show you another part of the market.”  

Therese grew anxious, fearing that the Emperor might summon soldiers to shut down the cockfighting pit immediately. After all, the Emperor was known to enjoy violence and bloodshed.

‘What should I do?’  

Most of the spectators betting on the fights were the breadwinners of their families, and the money they gambled wasn’t particularly large.  

‘That doesn’t mean it’s not wrong, though.’  

Therese’s thoughts turned to the families of those men. Losing the head of a household could easily destroy a family.  

What followed was always the same. Children pushed outside the city walls would lose their parents, and once-healthy individuals would go mad or starve to death.  

‘Such things must not happen again.’  

Noticing Therese’s attempt to divert his attention, the Emperor’s expression took on an odd emotion.  

“You are quite kind.”  

“…Pardon?”  

When Therese responded in confusion, Felipe glanced briefly at the hundred guards hidden throughout the bazaar. At the entrance, another hundred knights, royal guards, and riflemen were on standby.  

In short, with just a wave of his hand, the bazaar would be filled not with the cries of roosters but with blood-curdling screams.  

‘But it doesn’t have to be today.’  

Lowering his hand, Felipe whispered softly,  

“I like kind people.”  

The Emperor’s sudden compliment sent a shiver down Therese’s spine. She had no desire to curry favor with him.  

‘Should I reveal my identity now?’  

It was becoming increasingly difficult to pretend she didn’t know who he was. After all, they might meet again at the upcoming ball.  

As Therese hesitated, she spotted a girl carrying a basket of flowers almost as large as herself.  

The girl’s bare feet and ragged clothes, along with the white patches of malnutrition on her lips, painted a pitiful picture.  

Seeing the flowers reminded Therese of the blue hydrangeas the Duke had once gifted her. He had said he bought them because he felt sorry for the child selling them.  

“Little one, I’ll buy all your flowers.”  

The girl’s face lit up with disbelief at her sudden stroke of luck. She quickly gathered the flowers and handed them to Therese.  

“May the blessings of Diana be with you.”  

As Therese stood holding the unexpectedly heavy bouquet, the girl quickly ran off after offering her blessing. Watching this, the Emperor commented,  

“Did you know most of those children are swindlers?”  

“…Well.”

The Emperor’s statement was half true and half false. Some children were genuinely in dire situations, while others were forced into begging.  

“So, do you know or not?”  

“It could very well be a scam.”  

When Therese answered nonchalantly, the Emperor’s tone sharpened slightly.  

“Is there a reason to knowingly let yourself be deceived?”

While every action has a reason, there are times when there isn’t one.  

Today was one of those times. The child wouldn’t be able to rest until she sold her flowers, and Therese happened to have the money to buy them.  

“Well, I got these flowers in return.”

Of course, she had paid a little too much for them.  

Therese, with an armful of flowers, walked forward.