Chapter 16_Who Has Come?

I will kill you first. The day I become Emperor. Immediately.

At that moment, as if he had read Kuro’s mind, Dein began to whistle.

Whistle~ Whistle~ Whistle~.

The whistling sound seemed to form words and pierce Kuro’s ears. 

Let’s see how well you do~.

Argh!

If it weren’t for the attendants around, Kuro would have screamed.

The Emperor and that bastard are exactly the same. They both make him feel this way.

That’s why they’re sticking together.

Grinding his teeth, Kuro glanced around at the attendants walking nearby.

Then, as if nothing had happened, he put his mask back on and continued on his way.

Dein, who had turned the corner and walked a few steps, smiled and peeked back around the corner to look at the hallway where Kuro was.

Hehehe.

He couldn’t help but laugh. It’s still so much fun to mess with that bastard.

Seeing Kuro, who was walking normally but then checking his surroundings and sneaking out in the opposite direction behind a large pillar, amused Dein. Kuro, scared of the Emperor, was leaving the palace again, proving once more that he was a small-minded person. As Dein continued walking, the whistling sound he had stopped earlier began to flow out softly.

***

“Has something happened to His Majesty?”

Bellita looked at Grand Duke Dein Benoit, who had come to see her, with disbelief.

The nanny had been in a frenzy since the Grand Duke, who had never visited the Empress’s Palace, had arrived early in the morning. She didn’t know if it was a good or bad thing that both the Emperor and the Grand Duke were acting this way, and she dressed Bellita appropriately.

Bellita was also curious why the Grand Duke had come to visit officially, but he conveyed that today’s lunch with the Emperor had been postponed to tomorrow. Such a message could have been delivered by an attendant, so she wondered why the Grand Duke came personally.

“His Majesty is feeling unwell.”

Is that really true?

He looks like he could chew iron, but is he really sick?

If she didn’t have to meet him today, Bellita would be very relieved. Since it was the Emperor who postponed it, she could relax. But it bothered her a bit that the Emperor, who seemed as strong as steel, was unwell.

Since I was supposed to act befitting my position as Empress, shouldn’t I at least show my face if the Emperor was sick?

“Um… Should I visit him…?”

Dein intended to refuse. Given the Emperor’s current poor condition, postponing the lunch, a visit from the Empress was out of the question. The Emperor’s injured hand was one thing, but his melancholic state was more concerning. Imagining what might happen if the Empress visited was terrifying. So, it was best to refuse. But something about the Empress complicated Dein’s thoughts.

All rumors and events in the palace reached Dein’s ears. The most recent rumor was that the Empress had changed. Dein had only met the Empress a few times but always saw her as someone to be wary of. To Dein, who had a keen eye for people, the Empress seemed as vile as Kuro. Seeing someone with such a character and beauty made him think that even gods made mistakes.

So he had come personally today to see if the rumors were true.

The conclusion was…

The Empress had indeed changed.

First, her eyes were different. The malevolent aura was gone. Then her expression. It had become softer, more gentle. She looked much clearer than before. Although they hadn’t exchanged many words, each of her words seemed sincere. It was strange. If there was one word that didn’t suit the Empress, it was ‘sincerity.’

Anton hoped the Empress would be deposed, and a better one would take her place. But Dein didn’t think so. He was in it partially. He wanted a different Empress, whether it was a new person or the same person who had reformed.

It was surprising that there were no men in the Empress’s Palace. He knew it was filled with handsome attendants and knights hired under various pretexts. But today, he didn’t see a single man. He was the only man there.

Whether this change in the Empress was a temporary whim or something more permanent, he didn’t know. Perhaps the Empress herself didn’t know.

How long she would keep up this act of a virtuous woman was uncertain. But for now, her words and actions seemed genuine. Whatever had caused this sudden change was a good sign. Of course, it required cautious observation.

“That’s a good idea.”

He had thrown the dice. Now he just had to see what would come of it. His answer made the Empress’s expression serious.

Bellita had the intention to visit the Emperor but also hoped the Grand Duke would refuse.

Sigh…

Since it had come to this, she might as well go quickly.

Since he was unwell, he wouldn’t be able to scold her much, she reassured herself as she prepared to leave.

***

“Who has come?”

Dein, not the chief attendant, entered the Emperor’s room and reported.

“Meeting her might not be a bad idea, Your Majesty.”

If not for Dein’s recommendation, the Emperor would have sent her away immediately. His whole body ached, and he didn’t have the strength to lift his arms. He felt sore and sensitive as if he had been beaten up. He felt bad for making Anton suffer last night.

He realized he had had another seizure when he woke up and saw Anton standing by his side. He blamed himself for making his loyal servant endure such things. So, he wasn’t in a good mood.

He would have refused to meet anyone. But since his loyal Dein strongly recommended it, he couldn’t refuse.

There was no choice.

The Emperor put on a velvet gown and sat on the sofa, hiding his bandaged hand in the gown’s pocket. He couldn’t let Bellita see him like this. Her visit was just annoying. His current mood showed on his face. Bellita was the last person he wanted to see in this state.

“What is this?”

Dein went out and brought Bellita in. He could tolerate her polite greeting with patience. But when she placed the tray she had brought on the table, the Emperor couldn’t help but speak in a rough voice. He had intended to send her away after the greeting, but now he glared fiercely at the things laid out before him.

“It’s cold black tea. I made it myself.”

Tea time? In this state? 

To drink it, he would have to show his hand.

She was irritating in many ways.

“Are you telling me to drink this and die?”

The Emperor glared at Bellita as if she were an enemy, suspicious that the tea might be poisoned.

Would someone like me, the Emperor, drink anything given to me by just anyone? Especially from you?  How can I trust you!

Since when did she start caring about such things? She should just stay quietly in the Empress’s Palace instead of wandering around.

Everything about her irritated him.

Gulp.

The Emperor couldn’t believe his eyes. Bellita poured the tea from the glass bottle into a teacup and drank it in front of him without hesitation.

Clink.

Bellita set the teacup down loudly.

“There. Satisfied now?”

She was unbelievably bold. Her confident look, with her clear blue eyes shining purely, was unexpected. He had never seen her blue eyes sparkle without any evil intent.

“Poison doesn’t kill immediately. It needs time to spread.”

Bellita’s eyes narrowed slightly. Even though his body was in pain, his mouth was still sharp. She couldn’t help but feel hurt by the Emperor’s distrustful eyes, but given her past sins, she couldn’t complain.

Click, clack, click, clack.

The Emperor’s eyes widened slightly. 

What is she doing now? 

Recently, Bellita’s unexpected actions had sometimes been interesting but also surprising.

Bellita walked gracefully around the Emperor’s large room and stood in front of him again, keeping a proper distance so he couldn’t reach her even if he stretched out his arm.

“See? I’m fine. Now, please drink.”

The Emperor disliked her smile. 

What great thing had she done to smile like that? The smile, shining brightly in the sunlight, was seriously annoying.

“I only drink hot tea.”

When had he ever said that? 

Even though he was trying his best, the Emperor’s voice was incredibly cold.

“I like cool tea…”

Bellita whispered quietly in a disappointed voice and sighed softly. She didn’t know if the Emperor was telling the truth or just trying to insult her.

But it was clear that he didn’t welcome her and was pushing her away. She hadn’t expected a warm welcome, but it hurt to be constantly disregarded and criticized by him.

She knew it would take time to gain his trust. Only then could she feel safe living here. But there was one improvement. She was less nervous and could look at him properly.

“Boring.”

That seemed to be the Emperor’s habit. It wasn’t the first time she had heard it.

It sounded like he was telling her to leave, so Bellita turned to go but stopped. She didn’t like the feeling of running away. It hurt her pride. She wasn’t someone who usually avoided and ran away. She had only done so because her life was in danger here. Besides, in this world, the Emperor was the scariest and most pitiful person. And she was someone who had to prove herself to such an Emperor.

“What should I do to make it less boring for you?”