Chapter 24_Last Night’s Kiss

What could this mean? Doesn’t it mean that she now only has eyes for His Majesty? Perhaps it means she has ended all her wandering and is settling down. So, I will support her wholeheartedly. I supported those who weren’t suitable, but this time it’s none other than His Majesty. I will devote my entire being to helping her.

“His Majesty… yawn… slept well… yawn… all night.”

Gasp! The nanny’s face turned red quickly. She was surprised and wondered if she should be hearing such words. The Madame, speaking so casually about the noble Emperor’s well-being…

Due to Bellita’s yawning, the nanny heard it as, “His Majesty was up all night.” That’s why she was shocked and embarrassed

Bellita, unaware of the nanny’s state, was deep in thought.

Is it okay not to go now?

Since he said he wouldn’t kill me, is it over now?

Then it seems like I don’t need to go, but since the Emperor didn’t cancel his order to come every day, it feels like I should go. What if I go and he asks why I came, saying it’s over? Still, I made a promise, so I should go. 

She couldn’t make up her mind. But she couldn’t help but lean towards not going.

Last night’s kiss had an effect. Just thinking about it made her blush. How could she face him right away? Her face heated up again, and she let out a sigh. It was unbelievable that such a thing had happened.

“Are you thinking about His Majesty right now?”

Bellita nodded absentmindedly. It was true, after all.

The nanny pursed her lips, feeling more embarrassed yet secretly pleased. The Madam’s appearance, blushing and sighing, looked like a newlywed Empress shyly wanting to see her husband after their first night together. 

If that’s the case, I must push her forward with all my might.

For the Madame, who is experiencing such a normal and desirable romance for the first time. 

The nanny’s eyes began to sparkle.

“Nanny, I don’t have an appetite right now. Can I skip eating?”

On the table in the center of the room were a simple breakfast of French toast, coffee, and dessert, but Bellita, feeling too sleepy, had no interest.

“You should eat…”

She misses him so much she has no appetite.

Isn’t this a symptom of lovesickness? Already to that extent?

“Madame, is your face hot, do you feel feverish, and is your chest tight? Do you lack motivation and can only think of one thing?”

Bellita pondered the nanny’s words.

Thinking about the passionate kiss made her face hot and feverish.

She couldn’t decide whether to go or not, making her chest tight.

And she was too sleepy to do anything, only thinking about sleeping.

The nanny seemed to know not only the original Bellita but also herself very well.

“How can you be so accurate?”

The nanny nodded with a satisfied smile. 

As expected, my eyes are sharp.

Then the nanny’s hands got busy. The maids joined in, bustling around to dress her up.

“Hurry up, Madam.”

“Where to?”

Why stay apart and miss each other?

You’re a couple. You can go see him anytime.

Don’t suffer from lovesickness; just go when you want to see him.

“Where else? To His Majesty.”

What?

I haven’t decided yet…

Bellita, pushed by the nanny, had no choice but to go outside with the maids. The nanny, busy with something, had already run ahead and disappeared. She told the maids to take good care of her.

Sigh…

Bellita, heading to the Emperor, was nervously twisting her fingers, walking as slowly as possible. Reluctantly.

***

“Sir Eaton. Sir Eaton.”

The nanny hurriedly entered the aide’s study next to the Emperor’s study, calling for the Sir.

“Welcome, Madame Canel.”

Having exchanged messages a few times, they had become somewhat familiar, so he was happier to see her today. Maybe because she had a favor to ask.

“Her Majesty the Empress wants to see His Majesty the Emperor right now.”

“What? Duke Logan is waiting with an important report…”

“What’s more important right now? You know the palace situation well. Our Madam is showing symptoms of lovesickness because she misses His Majesty. So we must act.”

The aide blinked and thought for a moment at the nanny’s firm explanation. 

That’s true. The rumors this morning also support it. And lovesickness? How did this happen? 

He immediately stood up.

“Let’s go right away. I’ll escort you.”

Heading to the Emperor’s study, the aide, curious, asked Madame Canel.

“She changed so suddenly. I never expected this to happen so quickly. Weren’t you surprised?”

The nanny smiled with the wisdom of experience.

“Does love give a warning?”

The aide, nodding as if enlightened, looked cute in the nanny’s eyes.

***

Since the nanny had prepared everything, Bellita could stand right in front of the study door. During an important private audience, even the Empress couldn’t meet the Emperor. Not knowing the order was changed, Bellita regretted entering through the open door.

Seeing the Emperor’s fierce gaze.

I knew I shouldn’t have come.

***

Bellita has come.

She really came.

The Emperor was so surprised he unconsciously held his breath and stared at her. He had suspected she might have returned to her old self, proud, promiscuous, and arrogant, now that her life was guaranteed. If that were the case, he would have regretted it and frowned slightly. But…

She’s right in front of me. The same as before.

And so early.

Then!

It’s me. This time, she likes me. So she’s coming to see me, sending all other men away.

If Bellita is trying to seduce him as she did with other men, there’s no harm in playing along once. He knew what kind of woman Bellita was, so he wouldn’t fall for her like fools such as Emur.

Because of last night’s kiss, Bellita’s blushing and fidgeting appearance was intriguing. His whole body tensed again.

Bellita, pushed to stand before the Emperor, was restless. Seeing the Emperor’s face, he didn’t seem welcoming. It was subtly disappointing. She hadn’t come with great expectations, but she didn’t expect him to be so unchanged. Still, they had shared such a deep kiss… and slept together… though they only slept holding hands, no, they didn’t even hold hands. They just slept together, literally.

Bellita, receiving the Emperor’s sharp gaze, felt utterly miserable.

What should I say?

If only I were a woman who could coolly say that yesterday’s kiss was quite good.

The original Bellita could have said such things without hesitation, but she wasn’t that type.

“Won’t you sit down?”

Surely she wouldn’t leave right away after coming all this way, so why was she sticking to the door without moving? If she likes me, she should seduce me properly. Why is she always so hesitant?

Acting like a woman standing before a man for the first time was subtly annoying.

Bellita, glancing around the Emperor’s private study for the first time, calmly sat on a comfortably furnished sofa. No, she was pretending to be calm. Afraid her pounding heart would be heard, she sat far away. But seeing the Emperor get up and approach made her nervous. The Emperor’s silence made things even more uncomfortable.

“You must have something more important to say than Duke Logan. You’ve changed the order to come in.”

Oh, nanny…

Why did you do that?

Only now realizing what had happened, Bellita lowered her head. She felt unprepared and didn’t know what to do.

What important thing could I have to say?

What should I do… I should have thought of something to say.

This is why being pushed into things is bad. Bellita’s mind was racing. She needed to find something important to say, but she couldn’t sing again… 

Should I dance instead…

Ah! Right.

Something important.

I’ve got it.

“Um… Kalik.”

The Emperor had been frustrated by her silence. Now that she was about to say something, he felt a bit better.

Yes. Say something.

So I can understand.

Try to seduce me like you did with other men.

The Emperor waited eagerly for her next words.

“Your Divine Beast…”

The Emperor’s face instantly contorted.

Of all the things to say, why bring that up!

I should just send her away. 

The Emperor’s mood plummeted.

“Is it a tiger?”

“What?”

The Emperor was so shocked he loudly asked again, causing Bellita to flinch.

“How did you know? Who told you?”

That’s what he wanted to know. Only a few high-ranking nobles and his closest aides knew. He had a guess but wanted to hear it from Bellita herself.

As his initial shock subsided, his mood worsened. There was no one among his closest aides who would talk, so if Bellita knew, it could be evidence she was colluding with the Horse Brigade. There had been no such information, but…

“It’s not that… I saw it.”

“What?”

What on earth is she talking about?

“I saw it. Your Divine Beast, the tiger.”

The Emperor didn’t know whether to believe her or not and remained silent, focusing intensely on her. The Divine Beast was his most important issue, and Bellita was now the center of his attention.

“So… when we…”

It was extremely embarrassing to bring it up because the kiss had been so intense and long… The word “kiss” lingered in her mouth, unable to come out.

“Speak quickly!”

Feeling frustrated by Bellita’s hesitation, he urged her.

Just try lying.