Chapter 54: Lunch

When Bliss returned from the palace, she seemed lost in thought. Caelan stopped in front of her as she walked weakly and placed his hand under her chin.

“You don’t look well. Are you still worried about it?”

He knew Bliss would be concerned about Jackie’s matter. She had entered the imperial palace with a heavy heart, and her expression hadn’t improved at all when she returned.

“I was hoping you’d feel at least a little better, but it’s unfortunate.”

Bliss remained lost in thought, her eyes still downcast.

“I know you’re feeling down, but there’s something I need to tell you.”

He had learned who had tried to poison Bliss’s belongings through Jackie. There was a reason why Caelan couldn’t catch the suspicious person who appeared that day. It was natural that no one found it strange when he sneaked into the mansion. After all, Viscount Jimilta had come as a guest.

Instead of pursuing him after he left, Caelan waited for Bliss. He wanted to reveal everything to her and hear her thoughts. It was because this person was someone Bliss knew even before their marriage.

“There’s something you need to know…”

“We have a big problem.”

Bliss, who had been looking elsewhere the whole time, met his eyes. The atmosphere suggested it was something different from Jackie’s story.

“What is it?”

Caelan’s expression hardened as he studied her face.

Could she have met with Viscount Jimilta?

“His Majesty has invited us to lunch.”

Caelan’s face, which had turned serious along with Bliss’s grave expression, changed strangely. Before he could compose his oddly changing expression, Bliss blurted out what she had been holding back.

“I was nervous enough meeting Her Highness, but His Majesty…”

Now he understood why Bliss had returned looking so distracted. Caelan muttered, feeling completely drained.

“There’s no need to be nervous. It was bound to happen since you’re close to Princess Jasmin.”

“What do you mean? Are you saying you knew I would meet His Majesty?”

“The princess is His Majesty’s favorite. Of course he would want to hear about you.”

“But I’m just a lady-in-waiting…”

“You’re the princess’s only lady-in-waiting. And you’re also my wife.”

Caelan removed his hand from Bliss’s chin and stood beside her. Then he gestured toward her when she didn’t move.

“Aren’t you going?”

“Yes.”

Bliss started to head to her room but changed direction midway toward the rose garden. They needed to talk in the garden rather than in the room. As Bliss started walking, Caelan matched her pace.

“But why does being your wife matter? Because you’re the Commander?”

“That’s not wrong. His Majesty has asked about you occasionally.”

“About me?”

“Yes.”

Bliss frowned.

“His Majesty is quite different from how he appears on the surface. He asks unexpected questions and is very curious. Princess Jasmin inherited that personality completely.”

This was new information to Bliss.

“Perhaps that’s why she’s his favorite. Because she’s the child who resembles him most.”

She had thought Princess Jasmin was unique, but to think it was because she took after her father…

“That’s interesting.”

“I often receive difficult questions from His Majesty too. That’s why I avoid approaching him in private.”

“Can you do that even though you’re the Commander?”

“It’s better than being flustered by impossible questions.”

Bliss made a troubled expression. Then, thinking about how she would be meeting that emperor, her mind became complicated again.

“My head is starting to hurt.”

Bliss massaged her head while furrowing her brow.

Caelan patted her shoulder gently.

“Don’t worry, just focus on meeting His Majesty. Since we don’t know what questions he’ll ask, there’s nothing to prepare for. Just go and pay your respects properly.”

“I’m relieved.”

Bliss placed a hand on her chest and let out a long breath.

“That you’re going with me.”

Caelan’s eyebrows shot up like mountains. Seeing this, Bliss showed a very faint smile.

“We were invited together.”

Because we’re married.

Bliss made a bright expression and left Caelan behind. Realizing this had been her intention from the start, Caelan shook his head as if he couldn’t help it.

“Aren’t you curious about anything else?”

Like who planted Jackie, for instance.

***

As the large doors opened, Bliss followed Caelan inside, momentarily captivated by the vast and splendid hall.

‘That person is the emperor…’

She had thought that she might meet the emperor someday since becoming Princess Jasmin’s lady-in-waiting. That moment came sooner than expected, but having Caelan and Princess Jasmin present put her mind at ease.

Bliss’s eyes briefly lifted to look at the emperor. She had heard that Princess Jasmin took after her mother’s striking appearance.

‘It wasn’t just her mother’s looks that she inherited.’

His face looked as if it had been carved by God with utmost care. He was someone who had traded youthfulness for maturity as he aged.

Her mouth filled with saliva from tension at his intimidating presence, even greater than Caelan’s. Afraid of showing any unseemly behavior, Bliss kept her mouth tightly shut and lowered her gaze from the emperor.

“We greet Your Majesty, the Sun of the Empire.”

“I am Caelan Adrian.”

Caelan naturally took his place beside Bliss as he greeted the emperor. Looking at the two standing side by side, the emperor brought up past events.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you like this. Not since the wedding, was it?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

When Caelan acknowledged this, the emperor let out a heavy sigh. The emperor looked at Caelan with eyes full of things to say, but he didn’t readily open his mouth. Because of this, Bliss turned her head to hide her awkward gaze and met Princess Jasmin’s eyes. As if taking this as a signal, Princess Jasmin approached.

“Father.”

As if understanding Princess Jasmin’s signal, the emperor extended his arm.

“Let’s begin lunch.”

It didn’t take long for Bliss to realize something was strange as she watched the imperial servants bringing in the prepared dishes.

***

With the emperor at the head of the table, Caelan and Bliss sat side by side, with Princess Jasmin sitting opposite them. It was a small gathering with no other royal family members present.

‘Why isn’t anyone else here?’

She hadn’t expected it to be just the emperor and Princess Jasmin. Moreover, having only four people at a table that could easily seat dozens… The distance was close enough to study each other’s faces, and nothing was going according to her expectations. Because of this, Bliss found it difficult to concentrate on the meal.

【This emperor is quite peculiar.】

‘Just as Caelan said.’

Bliss smiled for the first time but quickly composed her expression when she noticed gazes directed at her. In the awkward atmosphere, Princess Jasmin broke the ice.

“Have I told you how I made the Marchioness my lady-in-waiting?”

She excitedly talked about Bliss. The most memorable seemed to be their first impression, as she explained that moment in detail. How she had contacted her wanting to meet, set up an appointment, and what Bliss had said when she arrived on time.

“It was nothing special when she said she would listen to my concerns, but somehow it moved my heart.”

It was already an overwhelming situation, and now talking about her made her face flush with embarrassment. She sent looks hoping the princess would stop, but Princess Jasmin showed no signs of doing so.

“Time flies when I’m with the Marchioness.”

“Yes, I’ve heard. The palace has become quite quiet because of it.”

Princess Jasmin, immediately understanding the meaning, showed a sulky look, while Bliss looked at Caelan. She thought he might explain what they meant by ‘quiet.’ However, despite Bliss’s continued gaze, Caelan didn’t explain and just focused on eating his food.

Earlier when they exchanged greetings, she had felt reassured not being alone, but now she felt oddly lonely. Giving up her expectations of Caelan, Bliss decided to ask him later and fiddled with her utensils.

“Try the stew, steak, and that wine.”

At Caelan’s sudden suggestion, Bliss just blinked her eyes.

“You mean I should eat them?”

Since there were dozens of dishes anyway, it was fine to taste a little of each, so she asked for what Caelan had pointed out. While watching the servant bring small portions, Bliss spoke up.

“Were those good?”

“The chef is confident about them, so they should be decent.”

They must be more than just decent. Thinking she should at least try the taste, Bliss sampled each dish. When she first tasted the stew, she glanced at Caelan once; when she cut the steak into small pieces and put it in her mouth, she paused. And before that taste could completely fade, when she drank the wine, she couldn’t hide her surprise.

“They’re all delicious.”

“That’s good then.”

Caelan smiled slightly but turned his head when he felt gazes on them. The emperor and Princess Jasmin were looking at them with expressions full of curiosity.

“I thought he would always be cold even after marriage…”

“This is unexpected.”

The emperor and Princess Jasmin said in turn.

“That’s enough.”

So this was Caelan’s way of defense – completely blocking their teasing.

With Caelan stopping them, only Bliss, caught in the middle, couldn’t shake off the awkwardness. In this continuous moment of being unable to collect herself, Bliss just kept tilting her wine glass.

As her glass was repeatedly refilled each time it emptied, she gradually began to feel warmer. As Bliss was fanning her face with her small hand, the emperor addressed her.

“There’s something I’ve been wanting to ask.”

Bliss put down her wine glass and looked at the emperor. The light atmosphere of the lunch suddenly shifted with the emperor’s single statement about asking a question.

“No need to be nervous. I’m just curious about what you like about Marquis Adrian.”