Chapter 10

‘How could I have overlooked that?’  

In the original novel, the Emperor’s death was dismissed in just a few lines.  

Of course, it made sense. His death was merely a plot device to pave the way for Chase’s ascension to the throne.  

But this wasn’t just a novel—it was a living, breathing world.  

A complete world where the lives of protagonists, supporting characters, and countless unnamed extras intertwined.  

Between the lines of the story, countless events and emotions that had never been described existed. For the first time, Sabrina felt the weight of that void.  

‘Is there a way to save the Emperor?’  

Sabrina quickly shook her head.  

Though she briefly entertained the thought, the novel had described his death as sudden and unexpected. Perhaps a heart attack, she vaguely guessed.  

Accepting that the Emperor’s death was an inevitable part of the story’s flow, she felt as though a heavy weight had been placed on her chest.  

For the first time, knowing the future felt burdensome.  

‘Maybe it was a mistake to hear that from Aaron…’

Until now, the Emperor had been nothing more than the absolute ruler of the Empire to Sabrina—a man with a booming voice and a fierce, tiger-like demeanor.  

But after hearing Aaron’s story, Sabrina could no longer feel indifferent toward him.  

This was a man who had fallen in love with a beautiful woman, married her, and worked with his young son sitting on his lap.  

Still, her greatest concern was Chase.  

‘When His Majesty passes away, will Chase be alright?’  

Sabrina thought of the Viscount of Wintlet. Though she hated and resented him, if someone told her he was going to die soon, she would still feel uneasy.  

So Chase would undoubtedly feel even more.  

Though the years had created distance between them, they had once been very close. Even now, despite finding him tiresome, Chase still made the effort to show up.  

‘I hope Chase doesn’t end up with unnecessary regrets.’  

At that moment, the door swung open, and Chase emerged, his exhaustion evident. Spotting Sabrina, he gave her a languid smile.  

“Have you been waiting long?”  

“No.”  

“Liar.”  

“Really. I was chatting with Count Clemens for a bit.”  

“Hmm, that must’ve been far more enjoyable than waiting for me.”  

Sabrina cautiously asked, testing the waters,  

“What did you talk about with His Majesty?”  

Chase let out a deep sigh before replying.  

“The same old thing. I think I could recite it word for word now. He must think I’m still a clueless seven-year-old boy… He always says not to grow bored of repetitive routines, and he certainly lives by that lesson.”  

Rubbing the back of his stiff neck, Chase quickened his steps, clearly eager to leave the Sun Palace where the Emperor resided.  

Walking alongside him, Sabrina matched his stride and spoke up.  

“Still… it seems nice.”  

Chase turned his head to look down at her.  

“What does?” 

“Being able to sit across from your father and spend time together like that.”  

For a moment, Chase took a deep breath, looking slightly flustered.  

He didn’t respond with something like, “That’s ridiculous,” or “You’re only saying that because you weren’t the one stuck there for two hours being lectured…”  

At this point, Sabrina expected an exaggerated reaction, but Chase simply remained silent, his lips slightly parted.  

Looking closer, his expression seemed a bit stiff.  

‘Did I bring up something too personal out of the blue?’  

Seeing the lack of humor on Chase’s face, Sabrina instinctively hunched her shoulders. Her voice grew quieter as her courage waned.  

“I just… thought it seemed nice.”  

“…”  

“It was just a passing thought. Please don’t mind it.”

***

Tea time at the Imperial Palace.  

Chase swirled the golden tea in his cup, creating small ripples.  

As he watched the surface ripple, he was reminded of Sabrina’s ponytail, which always swayed in a steady rhythm.  

Not long ago, on their way back from his meeting with his father, Sabrina had hesitantly shared her thoughts with him while he had been grumbling about the usual tedious scolding.  

“Still… it seems nice. Being able to sit across from your father and spend time together like that.”  

“I just… thought it seemed nice. It was just a passing thought. Please don’t mind it.”  

Normally, he would have brushed it off as a joke.  

But after hearing from Clayton about Sabrina’s past with her father, those words suddenly carried a deeper meaning.  

‘To Sabrina, such ordinary moments might hold a different significance.’  

How thoughtless he had been until now!  

Chase regretted all the trivial complaints he had shared with Sabrina. From now on, he decided he would be more considerate.  

Whenever Sabrina delivered messages from the Imperial Palace, Chase cooperated diligently.  

“Your Highness, His Majesty has invited you to lunch today…”  

“Really? Then I’ll go.”  

“His Majesty mentioned that some fine tea leaves have arrived today.”  

“Alright, I’ll be there.”  

Each time Chase nodded willingly, Sabrina’s face lit up with a radiant smile.  

“You’ve made a great decision! His Majesty will be delighted.”  

Truthfully, Chase wasn’t particularly interested in his father’s happiness.  

But when Sabrina beamed with her bright smile, revealing her even white teeth, Chase felt like he was becoming a better person.  

‘If I think of it as trading a few hours of tedious lecturing for that smile, it’s a fair deal. Definitely worth it.’  

Thinking of Sabrina’s cheerful smile, Chase’s lips curled into a satisfied grin.  

“But you know,”  

The Emperor, half-heartedly sipping tea while delivering his usual scolding, suddenly paused.  

Chase raised an eyebrow, silently asking what was on his mind.  

“Why have you been showing up every time I call for you lately? You’re the same person who used to show up maybe once out of ten times.”  

“You’re exaggerating.”  

“Exaggerating? What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?”  

After taking a sip of tea, Chase replied,  

“There’s a scarier aide than you, Father.”  

“Aide?”  

The Emperor wracked his memory before recalling a familiar name.  

“You mean that child from the Travis family?”  

“No.”  

“Then who?”  

“Sabrina Wintlet, the one who recently graduated at the top of her class.”  

At Chase’s response, the Emperor’s expression turned peculiar.  

“Hmm.” 

He hummed lowly before commenting,  

“I’ve been hearing quite a bit about her.”  

Clink.  

Chase set his teacup down on the table, causing the tea to ripple as if it might spill.  

‘Who’s been spreading rumors all the way to Father’s ears?’  

Chase had heard a few rumors about Sabrina himself. Most were baseless gossip meant for entertainment.  

‘I need to track down the source of these rumors and hold them accountable.’  

Letting his displeasure show, Chase sharply retorted,  

“You can’t judge her properly just by listening to rumors.”  

The Emperor’s eyes gleamed with interest.  

“Is that so?”  

“Yes. You were the one who taught me not to believe idle gossip.”  

“True. I almost made a mistake.”  

The Emperor nodded in agreement before adding,  

“I suppose I’ll have to meet her in person.”  

Pfft.  

Chase nearly spat out his tea.  

‘What did he just say?’  

After clearing his throat and wiping his mouth with a handkerchief, Chase responded curtly,  

“Why would you want to meet my aide?”  

“Why are you so startled? I just want to have tea with her. Do you have a reason to hide her from me?”  

The Emperor’s eyes curved into a sly smile.  

Through his narrowed lids, his golden eyes shone brightly, resembling those of a predator on the hunt.  

That mischievous smile sent a shiver down Chase’s spine.  

This was the man who could manipulate even the most seasoned politicians with ease. He also had a knack for delighting in others’ discomfort.  

Even Chase, who had dealt with him his entire life, had fallen into his traps more than once.  

If someone as young and innocent as Sabrina faced him, she would undoubtedly be flustered by his cunning words.  

‘Absolutely not.’  

Chase blurted out the first excuse that came to mind.  

“She can’t drink tea.”  

The Emperor raised an eyebrow.  

“She can’t drink tea?”  

Chase nodded shamelessly.  

“Yes. She breaks out in hives whenever she drinks tea.”  

“Well, that’s unfortunate. Poor girl…”

The Emperor stroked his chin with his fingers, looking genuinely regretful.  

“Then it seems having tea together would be difficult.”  

“Yes, that’s correct.”  

Phew. Chase, who had barely escaped the Emperor’s grasp, let out a sigh of relief internally.  

The Emperor clasped his hands together and rested his chin on them, smiling faintly. Watching his visibly flustered son with amusement, he finally spoke.  

“Then let’s have dinner together. I’ll instruct the chef to prepare a variety of dishes with extra care. Surely, there will be something your youngest aide can eat.”