Not the Female Lead, But An Extra - Chapter 18. Taste
Chapter 18. Taste
A little while ago.
Johann glanced at the sky turning deep blue with indifferent eyes, then turned his gaze back to the documents.
The endless influx of work was something he had to do as an emperor, but it was tedious.
‘I wonder if she’s not back yet.’
He snorted at the thought that had unconsciously crossed his mind, as if mocking himself.
“Ha. She left so excitedly, would she be back already?”
What was that about rushing out as soon as she got her leave?
He felt oddly disappointed.
But he didn’t even realize that this emotion was disappointment, and just tried to ignore it and continue with his work.
Scratch, scratch.
The sound of the quill pen scratching against paper echoed quietly. It was a sound Johann both liked and disliked.
Hearing this sound helped him concentrate. So it was helpful in dealing with this endless work.
But having only the sound of the quill pen prominently audible in the quiet air also made his senses acutely alert. Then, the moments of fierce fighting on the battlefield would vividly come to mind as though it was being reenacted right beside him.
The terrible cries of the undead. The dying knights. Desperate struggles…
‘How annoying.’
He had to lead the empire well, if only to avoid going back to that time.
Ironically, the nightmarish memories surfacing made him concentrate better, and also gave him a reason why he had to concentrate.
Just then, he sensed a presence outside the door.
Johann stopped his quill and raised his head.
For someone of his ability, sensing such a presence was as natural as breathing. The guard knights in front might as well have been placed there for show.
It wasn’t Jesuf, at least.
That guy had a habit of moving around while somewhat concealing his presence, so he wouldn’t come so noticeably.
‘Could it be…’
Expectation gleamed in Johann’s blue eyes.
Looking out the window, it had already gotten dark. It was about time for Seraphina to have returned. In fact, the back-and-forth pacing seemed like her presence.
Ha.
She left without even saying goodbye, and now she finally remembers me?
Johann snorted as if annoyed, but the corners of his mouth were twitching.
But why isn’t she coming in?
Is she determined to make people anxious?
He tried to wait patiently. No, that’s what he intended to do.
But Johann couldn’t hold out for long and stood up. Guys like Jesuf, whom he never waited for, came in without even knocking, but this woman came all the way here and was just dawdling.
Bang!
He opened the door with an urgent touch.
‘Was she about to leave?’
Her posture of having just turned around suggested so.
Johann thought about what might have happened if he hadn’t come out at just the right moment.
What would have happened…
He could have just seen her tomorrow, but somehow, seeing her now felt important to Johann.
And in many ways, it was good that he saw her now.
His gaze slowly went down and then back up. Why did she dress up like this to come? To impress me?
The impatience he felt about her dawdling melted away like snow.
Johann forcibly lowered the corners of his mouth that were trying to rise involuntarily and asked in his usual tone.
“What are you doing, not coming in?”
“…How did you know I was here?”
“Marseus is not so insensitive as to not notice when you’re making such an obvious presence.”
“Ah, I see.”
He gestured inside with his chin, indicating for her to come in.
Seraphina obediently followed him into the office.
Soon, the two sat on a sofa set up on one side. Seraphina rolled her eyes around, fascinated by the office scenery she was seeing for the first time.
This place, described in novels as ‘luxurious and spacious’, was far too inadequate to be captured by just those two adjectives when seen in person.
Do places come to resemble their owners?
A heavy and deep air flows.
She thought he was just an emperor who liked to tease people during training, but the pile of documents on the desk and the small signs of working all day made her feel uneasy.
He’s certainly not just a hero.
An extraordinary person.
She had brought something too trivial for such a person.
Seraphina pushed the gift she had been hiding behind her back even deeper.
Johann’s gaze caught that.
“What’s that?”
“It’s nothing.”
“No, it’s not. It looks like you brought something to give me.”
“I said it’s nothing.”
“Let me see it.”
Johann reached out his arm. Seraphina leaned back as if it really was nothing, but she couldn’t beat Johann’s quickness.
Having snatched the box swiftly, he made a strange expression.
“Well, it’s really nothing special. I probably barely passed the purifier test, but you’re taking special care to train me, so as a token of gratitude…”
Johann silently unwrapped it. Then he opened the box.
Seraphina felt oddly nervous. Her eyes naturally went to the ornament on Johann’s chest. Expensive jewels that were obvious at a glance and intricate craftsmanship to match. Surely someone of an emperor’s stature should wear such things.
‘I shouldn’t have given it.’
Although it was almost taken from her, it was still her who had come here on her own feet carrying the brooch.
Seraphina carefully observed Johann’s face.
Does he dislike it that much? Why is there no reaction?
Seeing him just staring at the brooch blankly, Seraphina became anxious. Excuses poured out without her realizing.
“It was my first time at a jewelry store, so I didn’t know what to choose. I’ve never bought anything expensive before, so I don’t know how to spend money…”
At that moment, Johann took the brooch out of the box. Then he removed the splendid one attached to his chest and pinned the one she had gifted him.
“You have quite an eye.”
“Are you joking? Even a child would say that what Your Majesty was wearing just now is a million times better.”
“Well. I prefer this one more to my taste.”
As he said this, he smiled charmingly.
Seraphina was momentarily dazed.
What is this?
Suddenly, her heart seemed to beat a little faster.
“It was good to give you leave.”
“Sir Jesuf gave me that, you know?”
“Anyway.”
Johann brushed it off as if it was all the same, then looked at Seraphina again. His gaze unconsciously slid down and then back up.
He couldn’t control his gaze well.
Why did she come wearing something she doesn’t usually wear?
“Did you always enjoy wearing dresses?”
As if I would?
What dress for a commoner?
Seraphina was about to retort but stopped herself.
Because Faye had put a petticoat underneath, the dress gave off a voluminous feel like a full gown. Moreover, Faye had excitedly adorned her with accessories from somewhere, so now she was dressed in a way that wouldn’t look out of place at a noble’s tea party.
Seraphina awkwardly scratched the back of her head.
“I just bought it on a whim. I wanted to wear it at least once in my life…”
“Hmm.”
“Ah, it’s too awkward. I wasn’t planning to wear it out originally, but because of Faye… Anyway, I’ll only wear it in my room from now on.”
“Why would you wear such a nice thing only in your room?”
Johann retorted as if he couldn’t understand.
“Because it’s awkward.”
“Not at all.”
“I feel awkward. Me.”
As she said this, Seraphina tapped her chest firmly. As if she had made up her mind.
Johann felt somewhat anxious for some reason.
No.
Does it make sense to dress up so prettily and then only look at it alone? Awkward, she says?
“For such a trivial reason?”
“Trivial?”
“Then should I personally come to your room?”
“What?!”
Seraphina thought she must have misheard.
Why would you come to my room?
“Hahaha. No need to be so surprised. Marseus is naturally interested in talented individuals.”
“……”
It seemed somewhat off-point to call it interest shown to talented individuals, but she was too flustered to think that far.
“Your Majesty! You should be done with work by now, right?”
Just then, someone burst through the door. It was Jesuf.
Johann turned his head with a slightly annoyed expression. He was just starting to enjoy his conversation with Seraphina, and this guy had to come with his bad timing.
“Oh? Miss Seraphina, you were still here.”
“I was just about to leave. Please, talk between yourselves.”
Seraphina stood up from her seat.
Johann’s eyes followed her as she rose. Just about to leave? Weren’t we in the middle of a conversation!
Holding back what he wanted to say, he glared at Jesuf. The insensitive guy was bidding Seraphina farewell.
After she left.
Johann looked at Jesuf, who approached him, with displeasure. Jesuf sat down where Seraphina had just been sitting and, like someone who came with business, got straight to the point.
“Your Majesty, about Miss Seraphina’s deployment…”
This was the reason he had quickly sent her off.
But Jesuf couldn’t continue immediately and blinked his eyes. He had noticed something.
“That brooch…”
“Ah, this.”
Johann’s lips, which had been in a displeased expression until now, curled up.
“How is it? It suits me very well, doesn’t it? I wonder where she found something that matches my taste so perfectly.”
Seeing him speak in a tone full of pride, Jesuf opened his mouth indifferently.
“I received the same one, you know?”
As he said this, he took out a brooch from his jacket’s inner pocket. It was a different design, but it smelled like it was bought from the same place.
Johann’s expression froze.