Chapter 8: Please Take Your Hand Off

“How will you prove it?”

If she kept trembling like this, it would be the end of her. Bellita spoke cautiously.

“Um… I will turn over a new leaf.”

Watching Bellita use a polite tone again, the Emperor’s eyebrows slightly raised.

She thought it was because the Emperor didn’t like what she said, so she hurriedly added.

“I will also get rid of all the men.”

“You?”

With just that one word, he added a heap of ridicule and disbelief, but Bellita continued to speak politely.

“Please trust me just once. I will definitely keep my word. I will never be alone with another man.”

If she weren’t the infamous Adulterous Empress, Bellita’s earnest demeanor might have seemed beautiful and holy. She looked so great that other men would be fooled. Remembering Emur’s arrogant words, the Emperor’s brow furrowed deeply.

Seeing the Emperor’s expression, Bellita felt like crying. Nothing was being accepted.

“Don’t cry! I hate it.”

Bellita immediately forced her tears to dry up. The scolding was so harsh that it seemed like she would be killed if she cried.

“I’ll give you a week.”

Ah!

Did I hear that right?

Bellita widened her eyes and just stared at the Emperor. Finally, she saw hope. It seemed like a path to survival was opening.

In contrast to Bellita’s face, which was becoming more flushed, the Emperor’s face grew darker.

“Boring.”

What?

Lost in her thoughts, Bellita didn’t quite understand what the Emperor meant.

“Entertain me a bit.”

Just as she was starting to calm down, the Emperor’s sudden demand threw Bellita back into anxiety. 

What… how… 

She could only look at the Emperor with a helpless gaze.

Seeing Bellita still doing nothing, the Emperor, as if losing interest, got up roughly from his seat. He regretted coming here instead of riding his horse. He thought he had wasted his time and was eager to leave this stifling room.

[If you truly loved her… no, if you were a man, just looking at her should make your heart race and your body heat up. Emperor, you wouldn’t understand even if you died and came back to life.]

Suddenly, a voice intruded into his mind. The voice of that worm-like man.

Wait.

The Emperor slowly sat back down.

Is that what you mean? That a man should feel that way just by looking?

The Emperor looked at the stiffly seated and tense Bellita with a slow gaze. Testing this might be fun.

Because of the Emperor, who was staring at her without moving, Bellita was extremely nervous and felt like dying. She couldn’t breathe properly, her heart was pounding, and she didn’t know where to look, so her eyes wandered, her face turning red. It was only natural, given she was with the man who had tried to kill her just yesterday.

Thud!

At the Emperor’s sudden action, Bellita almost fell backward, unable to breathe.

Without any warning, he placed his hand!

On her chest, on that rising chest.

As if to cover it all, he placed his hand there.

“Why is your heart beating so fast?”

Shouldn’t it be mine that’s beating fast, not yours?

“This… this hand… please… take it… off… me.”

She always stammered, but it was worse now.

Why is her face so red?

Because of the Emperor’s hand still resting on her chest, Bellita’s eyes trembled uncontrollably.

Not knowing where to look, her topaz-colored eyes wandered aimlessly, which the Emperor found endlessly amusing. He observed her as if studying her.

Seeing this often would be even more fun.

The Emperor’s lips curved into a handsome arc.

“From tomorrow, you will come to see me once a day. So I can see if you are behaving fit for an Empress.”

As soon as the Emperor’s hand left her chest and she sighed in relief, a thunderous command fell.

Hiccup.

She was so startled that she began to hiccup, something she never did. It wouldn’t stop.

Hiccup. Once a day? Hiccup.

That means she would have to see him every day.

So often?

He’s trying to kill me.

“Aren’t you going to answer?”

For a brief moment, Bellita, who was hiccupping, looked pitiful. It was amusing to see her nodding in response instead of speaking.

Losing interest again, the Emperor stood up, disliking the continuous sound of her hiccups. Thinking he had stayed longer than he intended, he left the room immediately.

***

“Nanny. What should I do… He wants to see me every day.”

Feeling so hopeless, Bellita sighed naturally. 

Why did he want to see me so often?

“His Majesty?”

Who else?

Even though it hadn’t been long, Bellita held the nanny’s hand tightly, like a child holding their mother’s hand.

“What will you do when you meet?”

My thoughts exactly.

“After inviting you to dinner for the first time in four years, he cut the budget in half, barged in at night to keep you from sleeping, and made you hiccup so much that I was worried sick.”

“I’m… sorry.”

The nanny was really angry. Being scolded by the Emperor had also affected her.

“Why are you sorry, Princess? It’s all His Majesty’s fault. And now he wants to see you every day? Just ignore him. Why should you meet him? Since when did you two start seeing each other’s faces?”

She really wanted to do that. Just like the fiery nanny said. If only she could. But hearing her say something, anything, made Bellita feel a bit better.

“Princess, let’s go to the greenhouse to refresh your mood.”

“The greenhouse?”

Oh, right. You said you don’t remember. Just trust me and follow. It’s the place you spent the most time in. The flowers aren’t as beautiful as you… 

The nanny’s words continued like a medley, and Bellita felt at ease listening to her.She was wide awake now, and perhaps because the Emperor had been in her room, she wanted to get out of there for a while. After the nanny adjusted her clothes, she guided Bellita outside.

It was her first time leaving the Empress’s palace. It felt awkward to have maids and servants following her, but there was no choice.

At the end of the group of maids was Liza. She was sulking because the Empress hadn’t spoken to her since returning from the mountains.

Unaware of anything, Bellita walked past the magnificent palace and through the well-manicured Imperial gardens. Ahead, a gigantic greenhouse came into view.

My goodness. 

It was so large that her mouth dropped open. She was already in awe before even entering.

Seeing Bellita’s reaction, everyone watching was enchanted by her beauty. It was a common occurrence, but especially for the nanny, Bellita was always the princess. No matter how much she had become the Empress, to the nanny, she was always the beautiful angelic princess.

The day the princess became the Empress was one of the happiest days for her.

“Congratulations, Empress. From now on, you will be respected by everyone…”

“Cut it out, nanny.”

“What?”

On this joyous day, Bellita seemed very upset.

“This isn’t the Kingdom of Pellon, and the position has changed. So from now on, you should behave properly…”

“I said cut it out!!”

Bellita, who had been frowning, finally exploded. Her pretty face twisted severely.

Bellita, who had both an angelic and demonic face.

“That’s the problem. This isn’t the Kingdom of Pellon! Everything I want is there. Here, I have to build it all over again.”

She was 21 years old, but like a child, Bellita wanted everything she desired. It pained her to think how long it would take to surround herself with men she liked here.

“Empress, you shouldn’t do this. This is the Cartan Empire…”

Ahhh!

Terrified by Bellita’s hysterical outburst, the nanny immediately begged.

“I’m sorry. Please calm down, Princess.”

Finally, Bellita, who had been panting, began to catch her breath.

“Nanny, never call me Empress. It sounds like you’re telling me to live for the Emperor. Don’t nag me. If you tell me what to do again, I’ll send you back to the Kingdom of Pellon.”

The most frightening punishment for the nanny was being separated from the princess.

She complied immediately. No matter what others said, she did everything the princess wanted, staying by her side. Ensuring the princess’s stability was the top priority.

Seeing the princess so happy with such a bright face, the nanny was also very happy.

Bellita, who enchanted everyone around her, liked the open courtyard. Her eyes, feeling refreshed, spotted knights walking in a line next to the greenhouse. Unlike the other knights who walked straight ahead, one knight kept looking at her with a strange expression. The good mood she had felt turned unpleasant, and her face flushed.

“Na… nny? That knight over there… could he be…?”

“Oh, that knight? I don’t know his name. He’s the knight you called to your room a few nights ago.”

Perhaps because she had promised to help, the nanny kindly explained. But Bellita still felt embarrassed, humiliated, and ashamed. Though it was this body’s doing, she was now the one inhabiting it.

“Why? Are you interested? Should I bring him to your bedroom again at night?”

“No!!!”

Even too much loyalty is a problem.

It’s not like delivering food. What do you mean send him to my room!

Seeing Bellita’s flushed face, the nanny seemed to misunderstand completely. Bellita firmly refused and hurried into the greenhouse without looking back at the knight.

***

The Emperor’s expression, soaking in the warm spring water, was not good. The hot spring bath, boasting excellent facilities in the Imperial Palace, was located in a spacious underground area with walls adorned with elaborate murals that relaxed the mind and body just by looking at them. It was one of the Emperor’s favorite places. However, his eyes were not appreciating any of it.

Bellita.

This was the second time. The second time he thought of her while enjoying his peaceful time alone.

Damn Bellita.

Why is she suddenly bothering me?