Chapter 1 – Part 7

“Made something up?”

“You said His Majesty often comes here.”

Mail’s tone, confident that it was a lie, was bold. ‘I know! You’re not just anyone—you’re the brazen liar who dared to invoke the Emperor himself!’ The man paused momentarily, seemingly taken aback, as if he read the sincerity in Mail’s expression.

“Why are you so sure? Couldn’t it be true?”

“If there’s a one-in-ten chance that it’s true and a nine-in-ten chance that it’s not, most people believe the nine-in-ten.”

“Isn’t that purely arbitrary?”

“Oh, don’t you realize I was being generous with that one-in-ten?”

Mail shrugged or wiggled his fingers. He used every nonverbal cue to firmly assert that the man’s claim was a lie.

The man, now unexpectedly branded as a liar beyond any doubt, opened his mouth in disbelief. A breathy sound escaped him.

“What if it’s not a lie? What if the Emperor really does visit often?”

“And what if? Then that’s just how it is.”

“And what about me, who’s been treated as a liar this whole time?”

“Are you planning to sue for emotional distress? Fine. If it turns out to be true that His Majesty actually visits here often, then as an apology, I’ll do three forward rolls, spin in place ten times, and kneel on one knee while shouting loudly, ‘Only speak the truth, O God of Truth!’ three times. If you want, I can raise both hands to the sky while I do it.”

“……”

“Not enough?”

“……No.”

The man’s lips, the only part of his face visible beneath his mask, twitched. Anyone could tell he was holding back laughter. Mail, on the other hand, remained composed.

“That… ahem, that’s the most unusual apology I’ve ever heard.”

“It’s not like I’ll actually have to do it anyway.”

“You’re that confident?”

“Why not? For the record, I won’t consider it proven unless His Majesty himself says, ‘Yes, I visit this place often.’ So keep that in mind.”

After driving her point home, Mail looked away nonchalantly. Though they hadn’t spoken for long, it was clear from their brief exchange that the man had no intention of driving her away.

He might be inclined to tease, but there was none of the rejection, criticism, or suspicion she had encountered the day before. Though the change in attitude in just one day was surprising, it was a welcome one for Mail.

With fearless resolve, she boldly declared their conversation over first.

“I’m a busy person, you know? I need to focus on enjoying the sights, so let’s spend the rest of our time apart without disturbing each other.”

“Are you telling me to stop talking to you and disappear?”

“I won’t make it that final.”

“How heartless.”

“Isn’t that better than clinging on like an ex after only two meetings? If you want, I can send you a letter at 2 a.m. saying, ‘Are you awake?'”

Mail spoke much more comfortably than the day before. There was no need to worry about sounding subservient.

She was sure that, to some degree, even if she acted a bit cocky, the man wouldn’t be offended. She might even get away with using informal speech once or twice.

As expected, instead of being upset or nitpicking her tone, the man laughed out loud.

“True. It would be painful if someone we barely know were to cling like that. But still, isn’t it a bit too much to show so little interest in me, My Lady? It’s the first time I’ve been treated like I don’t exist.”

‘My Lady.’ Mail focused on the title. It confirmed that he still thought of her as nobility, yet he was speaking so bluntly. What kind of status did he have to act like this? Mail had no interest in the man himself, but she was a bit curious about that.

“I’ve always been a bit indifferent to people. If you want my love and attention, you’ll have to come back in the next life as a plant.”

“A plant, huh? Would that mean you’ll come over first and greet me warmly? Like you did with the marigold earlier?”

“…Yes, well.”

Mail’s voice, which had been feigning calm, wavered slightly. ‘Ugh, as happy as I was to see that marigold, I shouldn’t have spoken to it. Now I’ll be kicking myself over it every night before bed.’

“Well, fine. I guess I’ll just wait for the next life. Since I’m a person in this one, I’ll be on my way so you can have more time to talk with the marigold.”

“……”

“Now that I think about it, they say plants can hear songs. You should sing a song to the marigold too.”

“……”

“The marigold would love that.”

“Could you, uh, just leave already? I’m dying to have a private chat, sing, play a duet, and even dance with the marigold.”

Mail, who had been trying to remain indifferent, finally twitched an eyebrow and responded. The man shook with laughter.

‘Honestly, I’d like to punch him, but I doubt he’d let me get away with that, so I’ll hold back.’

As Mail struggled internally with the desire to lash out, the man, who had laughed to his heart’s content, cleared his throat and straightened up.

It seemed like he was finally about to leave. He stepped back, widening the distance between them. Mail secretly hoped. ‘Just get lost already.’

“Oh, and one more thing.”

“……”

“Come back here at noon. I’ll prove that I’m not a liar.”

‘How on earth?’

At that moment, as if reading Mail’s thoughts, the man added another remark. His voice was cheerful.

“I’ll let you meet the Emperor.”

* * *

“I’ll let you meet the Emperor.”

Mimicking the man’s tone and manner of speaking, Mail muttered the words to herself. Then her brow furrowed deeply.

How could ‘he’ possibly do that?

‘Is he just a pathological liar?’

Mail rested her chin in her hand, lost in thought. Promising to arrange a meeting with the Emperor wasn’t something one could say lightly, even as a joke.

There was a limit to how much you could bluff by using the Emperor. If this masked man had said it as nothing more than an empty boast, it wouldn’t be surprising if he disappeared from the palace by the next day.

‘Or… maybe he really believes he can pull it off.’

Hmm. Mail lowered her hand and tapped the table lightly. She recalled the fleeting thought she had when she first met the man. ‘Is he really a member of the royal family?’

“But no matter how distant a relative, could someone’s appearance differ that much?”

Mail tilted her head, puzzled. The idea of him being of royal blood didn’t sit right. Even with a mask covering his features, she could still see his eye color and hair color. Last night, it was hard to be certain, but in the daylight this morning, the man clearly had bright red hair and red eyes.

That was a far cry from the current Emperor’s platinum blonde hair and golden eyes, which were as bright as snow. Even if he were some distant offshoot of the family, the contrast in their features was too stark. It wasn’t just a slight variation—it was a complete mismatch.

“Could he be like a cousin’s uncle’s in-law? But by then, he wouldn’t even count as family anymore.”

As Mail mumbled to herself, Riela stirred awake. She tossed and turned for a while before finally kicking off the covers and sitting up. Riela yawned, her face still groggy with sleep.

“Did you cough?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll tell them to prepare some water for washing.”

“Okay.”

Even with half-open eyes, she responded clearly. Mail tugged on the bell cord to summon the maids, who soon entered and began attending to Riela.

Riela was someone who needed much more sleep than the average person. Mail had learned this during their shared carriage ride.

Whenever Riela was tired, she could fall asleep anywhere, and once she was out, nothing could wake her easily. She rarely dreamed, it seemed, because she always woke up with perfectly smooth skin after a deep, restful sleep.

‘It’s still unfair, though,’ Mail thought.

Having lost sleep the previous night due to nightmares, Mail was in a sour mood. ‘Who takes care of a hero’s sleep, anyway?’

“Ugh, this is sour.”

Riela, having finished washing up and now at breakfast, scrunched up her face after popping a fruit into her mouth. Mail, watching her sulk, found herself both annoyed and amused. ‘She’s still so pretty, even when she acts like this.’

“Princess.”

“Do you want this?”

“If you don’t like it, I don’t want it either. If it’s bad, just throw it away… No, that’s not why I called you. Princess, do you remember what I asked you before?”

“Mm? What was it?”

“When I asked what you’d do if the Emperor didn’t turn out to be as handsome as the rumors say.”

Mail had dismissed the maids from the room. There was no fear of Riela’s bold statements spreading too far. Riela, already done with the food she didn’t like, responded quickly.

“I said I wouldn’t marry him.”

“Then you’ll prepare to return home immediately? You won’t stay here any longer?”

“Yeah. It’s boring here. So boring.”

Her assessment of the palace after just one day was brutally blunt. Mail prayed silently. ‘I’m sending the same request again. Please, let the Emperor’s face be just average.’
“Even Rose says she’s bored. She has no rival.”

Riela added this, referring to the maid she had brought from her homeland. Mail remembered the maid’s terrifying, almost godlike presence, and smiled awkwardly. ‘If she had a rival, wouldn’t that be an even bigger problem?’

“That’s true, Princess. Honestly, I miss home too.”

Mail spoke candidly, matching her tone. She glanced at the clock. It was almost noon—Riela had woken up quite late as usual. The appointed time was approaching.

“Come back here at noon. I’ll prove that I’m not a liar.”

Mail didn’t exactly believe the man’s words. It was hard to take him at face value, especially since she didn’t even know his name or status. In fact, it would be hard for anyone to be more suspicious.

Had they met anywhere but the palace, she might have thought he was a wanted criminal.

‘But that’s that. No harm in checking it out.’

Mail made her decision. If she went outside and no one—let alone the Emperor—was there, she could simply enjoy the garden and head back. After all, a garden visit was always rewarding, no matter the time or place.

But if the Emperor ‘did’ show up? Well, then it would be a stroke of luck, and she’d deal with it. Since her future depended on seeing the Emperor’s face sooner or later, the sooner she could confirm it, the better. Either way, Mail had nothing to lose.

‘I’ll head to the garden!’

With her mind made up, Mail’s expression became resolute. She didn’t forget her final prayer before heading out. ‘Please, don’t let him be handsome. Please, don’t let him be handsome!’

“…Is someone talking about me?”

At the same time, a man who had just removed his mask scratched his itchy ear and muttered. Mail, of course, knew nothing of this.

TL NOTE: More advance chapter of this stories is already up to site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advance chapters and stories