Chapter 28_A Plan to Melt His Heart

Whatever the Emperor is thinking, the first night is absolutely impossible. For four years, he didn’t even meet Bellita, and now he’s rushing things. 

Does he suddenly desire this body? 

She suddenly felt very bad. Anyway, she needed to buy time. Time to escape.

“Give me some time to think.”

As expected. While seducing, she slyly takes a step back like this.

She must be planning to melt my heart with this tactic.

The Emperor had to admit that Bellita had great skills in this area. She was making him anxious.

“Didn’t you say you would do as I ordered?”

I shot myself in the foot. I said that because I thought I was going to die. 

(I shot myself in the foot = Foolishly harm one’s own cause)

The Emperor, who was now waving that statement triumphantly, was becoming more and more annoying.

But this is too much. Even though I said I’d do whatever he ordered. Absolutely not.

“Still, let’s build some more affection first… the first… night….”

Just hearing those words scared her, and she couldn’t say them properly. She needed to buy time…. Judging by his eyes, he looked ready to pounce right now.

“What affection? Isn’t this enough? Do I have to tell you again that we’ve been married for four years?”

Bellita, who felt like someone staking their life on the first night, was embarrassed in front of the Emperor with her flushed face.

“I’m still not well….”

It seemed like she was making lame excuses, but she had no choice. The urgent task was to get out of here with any excuse.

“Then we’ll do it when you’re completely well.”

This is driving me crazy.

The Emperor, who spoke as if he was being considerate, didn’t sit well with her. This isn’t some kind of bargaining for goods. Why set a date like this? Moreover, unlike the original Bellita, who was sophisticated, she was struggling even with a kiss, and now she was being pressured about the terrifying first night.

Even though I said I’d do whatever he ordered, how far is he planning to push it?

“No matter how long it’s been, we haven’t had any interaction during those four years.”

Yes. Now she was speaking properly.

Gaining courage, Bellita was determined to find a way to get out of this situation.

“Since we’ve only started meeting recently, I think it’s right to get closer before we consummate the marriage.”

Get closer? That means she plans to seduce me more.

Even though the Emperor thought he could consummate the marriage now, seeing Bellita react like that made him think it wouldn’t be bad to enjoy watching her a bit more. Either way, the end would be the first night. If he pushed too hard, it might seem like he was desperate. He didn’t want to give Bellita that impression.

“Alright. Let’s see how we get closer.”

Bellita’s eyes widened. This meant he was agreeing to her words. She was both surprised and relieved that he wasn’t pushing like a bulldozer. She let out a sigh of relief.

“Rest until tomorrow. We’ll meet the day after.”

He’s letting me rest because I was sick. If he’s going to do that, why not give me a few more days?

Still, Bellita thought it was better than nothing and nodded to the Emperor.

After the Emperor left, she lay comfortably in bed, planning to rest thoroughly until tomorrow. She intended to think about what would be a good way to get closer, something that would take a very long time.

However, since she had just recovered, she started feeling sleepy. If she had caught the fever from the Emperor due to that kiss, she could have blamed him, but he was fine, so she couldn’t even complain… Thinking up to this point, Bellita fell asleep.

***

Damn it.

Son of a b*tch.

f*cking bastard.

Kuro cursed every word he knew and jumped around in anger inside the returning carriage.

This is bad.

He taunted the Emperor, saying something big had happened, but the real disaster was on him. The sky had fallen.

If he had heard it as a rumor, he would never have believed it. He would have scoffed, thinking it was a lie to make the Emperor look weak. He would have seen it as an opportunity to press down further.

But he confirmed it himself. He was so shocked at that moment that he almost collapsed. He barely managed to support his staggering body.

It seemed the Emperor didn’t notice anything as he blinked, but if he had acted strangely, he would have been found out immediately. He put on a mask, pretending nothing had happened.

As if nothing had happened. His expression was controlled, but he couldn’t stop his body from stiffening.

The horse Divine Beast, crushed by fear, quickly disappeared behind him as if fleeing. He barely managed to bow and fled the scene himself.

His body was so stiff he could barely walk. Everything he had built up was about to collapse, and he was not in his right mind. He didn’t even know how he managed to walk out.

My life is over. The gods can’t do this to me. They can’t give and then take away.

“Why did that bastard Kalik’s Divine Beast manifest!!!”

Kuro screamed inside the carriage. His eyes turned in rage and resentment.

When the Emperor shouted, his Divine Beast appeared behind him for a moment and then disappeared.

The tiger, rumored to be the Emperor’s Divine Beast.

It wasn’t a rumor but a fact. That terrifying tiger.

It opened its mouth so wide and fiercely that it could swallow him whole. It was so huge that his horse Divine Beast was insignificant even against its breath. If the Emperor’s Divine Beast manifested, his own would be worthless. It would be a laughingstock. Especially since it wasn’t even fully grown, just a foal.

That beast was fully grown. It was overwhelmingly huge. The most frustrating part was that while it took immense effort to manifest his Divine Beast initially, but the Emperor’s appeared effortlessly. The Divine Beast manifested on its own.

This wasn’t the initial stage. For some reason, the Emperor hadn’t manifested it yet, but he was fully prepared. Once he manifested it properly, it was over. The Emperor’s position would be secure.

Aargh!!!

He had been soaring high, thinking he was invincible, but the Emperor had easily brought him crashing down. It felt like blood was pouring from his entire body. His head felt like it was about to explode.

No, no!!!

If the three Dukes find out, those opportunists will immediately turn to the Emperor. They will crawl at his feet to get to him.

What should I do?

Kuro slapped his cheeks hard with both hands to regain his senses.

I need to find a way quickly. The good thing is that no one else knows yet. Not even the Emperor. No one must know. That’s the only way I’ll survive.

Kuro felt like his head was splitting. He held his head with both hands, his eyes moving busily to find a solution.

If, by any chance, the Emperor’s Divine Beast manifests. If it’s still incomplete and he can’t control it, he must die.

To be precise, he must be killed. Once it’s fully grown, it will be hard to kill him. There are ways. If he dies, the Emperor’s position will be mine.

There’s still a way. So how do I kill him? I want to kill him myself. But if I do, the nobles will rebel, and I won’t become Emperor. Someone else must kill him. Without implicating me. Assassination or poisoning in the palace is difficult. He’ll be heavily guarded.

A natural death.

There’s only one way.

War!

Kuro’s eyes began to sparkle.

There’s someone who can help me.

Yes. That’s it.

Kuro’s face, which had been in a frenzy, gradually turned solemn.

***

“What sudden wind blew for you to suggest riding horses?”

The Emperor found it amusing as he looked at Bellita, dressed in wide riding pants. She looked good in anything. She had said before that she didn’t ride because the Imperial riding clothes weren’t pretty. She was always unpredictable. Who would have thought she’d suggest riding together?

Is this another plan? Trying to impress me because I like riding?

Anyway, today Bellita was acting interestingly. It was much more fun than lying sick in bed.

Anton and the chamberlain were bringing the horses from a distance. A black horse and a brown horse. The brown horse was the Empress’s horse. A bit impatient and difficult, the stableman struggled with it, saying it resembled its owner. The Emperor didn’t know that the stableman had to tie it up and make it run in the stable yard every day because the Empress didn’t ride it well. The chamberlain heard that they didn’t have to do that today, so he was relieved.

Bellita, who had suggested it herself, started to get scared as the huge horse approached.

The nanny had suggested it, and she thought it was a good idea, so she boldly took the step, but now she thought it was a short-sighted decision.

A little while ago.

‘What do you two do when you meet every day?’

The nanny asked in a sly voice, but Bellita answered honestly without much thought.

‘We just eat and walk every day.’

As expected, they don’t know anything.

‘That must be boring.’

‘Then what should we do?’

‘I’ve been thinking. How about riding a horse together? His Majesty loves riding.’

She immediately became interested. She had always wanted to ride a horse. When she went to Jeju Island once, she couldn’t ride a horse like everyone else. That day, she was menstruating, so it was inconvenient to ride. So she thought she would fulfill that desire and made the request. But now, facing the huge horse, she had to ride it alone, and she was scared.

The chamberlain would hold the reins, and they would walk slowly, right? It will be fine.

She imagined riding the horse and walking lightly together.

With the chamberlain’s help, she managed to get on the huge horse, but it wouldn’t stay still. It neighed loudly and shook its head from side to side. It kept kicking the ground with its hind legs. Everyone around was looking at her with strange eyes.