Chapter 25

Maribelle admired the fact that just one person’s appearance could change the mood so drastically. Azil, who appeared to be so relaxed, was also nervous. Not to mention Kir who was prepared to lie flat on the ground.

“I almost doubted my ears. To hear that the servants were protesting against the Emperor’s wife.”

Ethelred didn’t seem to notice that Maribelle had said no first. And, it didn’t seem like he was going to listen even if he had.

“Didn’t I tell you this morning? There is no going back. There’s no way you guys who’ve been with me for so long don’t know what the hell this is. Do I have to disappoint you?”

He also seems to have misunderstood the current situation, in which Azil and Kir are pressuring Maribelle to reject the Empress’s proposition.

Even though Azil was in charge of education and Kir has now become someone who has nothing to do with Maribelle all three were there talking. Furthermore, it was a tea party rather than teaching Maribelle as an ‘educator’ in the study or library so anyone would think they came to have a private conversation.

Ethelred only heard that they were discussing the Empress position, so she could see how the puzzle pieces were put together in Ethelred’s head without having to ask. Furthermore, Theovalt, who stood behind Ethelred, had such a hard expression on his face that it seemed like it wasn’t just Ethelred who came to that conclusion.

‘No way, they’re not going to get stabbed again because of me, are they?’

The sword was dragged out of Theovalt’s scabbard with a chilling sound, much like in Maribelle’s nightmares. Despite the sword being on Theovalt’s waist, Ethelred was the one who took it out.

‘Is he going to threaten people again?’

Maribelle offered a brief explanation to herself, now used to the fact that common sense does not work in the Imperial Palace. At this rate, it wouldn’t be unusual for both of them to be injured in one strike.

Will Sir Kir and Sir Azil be okay? Kir and Maribelle met each other’s eyes as soon as Ethelred briefly turned his gaze away.

‘Lady, what are you going to do about this! We’re all going to die!’

‘No, I had no idea it was going to be like this. Who told you to make a fuss?’

‘Because you’re saying strange things! Hurry up and do something!’

What exactly do you want me to do? Maribelle looked Azil in the eyes instead and stopped communicating with Kir. He, too, had a complicated expression on his face. There seems to be no way out of this situation.

If she moved her mouth just to make excuses in front of Ethelred while he was holding a sword, he could easily draw a straight line from her chin to her navel.

“It amazes me that you’re behaving this way toward someone who will be under my authority. If you’re going to be like this, it’s going to break my heart.”

‘Your Majesty! If you misunderstand, I’ll soon be in the grave!’

Kir’s silent scream rang in his head. He couldn’t seem to find any sympathy from Azil, his trusted acquaintance, and Maribelle, the only trick he had left, remained silent.

Kir tried to communicate with Theovalt behind Ethelred as a last attempt.

‘Hey! Theo! Stop, His Majesty!’

‘…..’

What a jerk. That guy, like His Majesty, must have misunderstood.

‘I haven’t even organized the achievements I want inscribed on my tombstone.’

There was a sound of something breaking next to Kir as he was swallowing his tears and saying goodbye to the world.

Clank!

Maribelle pulled on the tablecloth and flipped the tea table over. The teacups shattered on the floor, and the tea soaked the white cloth. Maribelle swept the pots and dishes from the table and threw them to the floor as she rose from her chair.

Maribelle raised her body gracefully, as if nothing had happened, and inquired of the four pairs of eyes that were looking at her.

“Why do you think so?”

Maribelle asked in a curious tone, then looked down at her feet slowly and spoke as if she had only recently realized the situation.

“Is it because of this, then? Everyone looks surprised. There’s nothing to be surprised about.”

Maribelle’s shoes crunched as she stepped on a broken teacup piece. She approached Ethelred, walking over the shattered teacup. She seemed to be speaking to everyone, but she had only one person in mind from the start.

“We’re having a tea party with a soon to be dead person, so what’s the big deal about a broken teacup? Isn’t that right, Your Majesty?

“…..”

Ethelred’s red eyes shifted to Maribelle, who was casually smiling, and then vanished for a brief moment behind his lowered eyelids, like a sigh. When Ethelred realized what was going on, the sword had already returned to Theovalt and was slowly forced back into its scabbard.

Tak.

In contrast to the heavy atmosphere, the sword’s handle hit with a light sound. Ethelred wasn’t completely lost in his irritation, but he was still trying to regain his composure.

Maribelle, of course, is the reason.

Maribelle’s mention of dead bodies and the broken teacups broke through his haze of anger,  Ethelred still remembered that Maribelle hated dead bodies.

Breaking the teacups was like a warning. A blatant warning that anyone here would notice.

Ethelred wiped away his anger with a shallow breath before turning his softened gaze to Maribelle.

“Explain it to me. What the hell are they doing here, and what were they talking about a while ago?”

“Sir Kir and I were together because he enjoyed the atmosphere of the Palace of Calende. The story is— I heard there’s going to be a party soon, right?”

Maribelle remembered Kir’s question, which was hazy in her mind. The most vivid memory is of him asking Maribelle for party decoration preferences.

“Yeah. You should announce that you will be my Empress.”

“I was asking if I could turn down the party.”

Maribelle casually lied. Only Kir knew that every word Maribelle said was untruthful which caused Kir’s heart to drop to the navel and then return.

‘What on earth are you lying about?’

She couldn’t help but be frustrated, but that was the best result that could be obtained from the words “the Empress” and “Rejection” in the current situation. Kir and Azil were all staring at Maribelle’s mouth.

“Turn down? Is there a reason?”

“It’s a bit of a burden. It would be the first time I’d ever host a party in the Palace.”

The first response after Maribelle’s words fell was a remarkable one, proving that the anger that had been inside Ethelred, who now appeared calm, had melted away like snow.

‘I think I’ve cleared up the misunderstanding.’

It’s a huge relief. Maribelle simply thought.

The change in the air current was so obvious that not only Maribelle, but also Azil, Kir, and even Theovalt, who had grown dull to Ethelred’s mood swings, noticed that Ethelred was no longer angry. He spoke softly, as if being overheard would bother him.

“Delaying the preparations that have already been made will be difficult. If that’s what you mean, I’ll think about it.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

Maribelle had never considered the party, but there was no way to deny the lies that had already been told.

‘I can’t even bring up anything about not becoming the Empress.’

The back of Ethelred’s hand caressed Maribelle’s face that had a nonchalant smile despite her burning insides.

The hair was brushed with a gentle gesture, but a clear warmth was delivered.

“What if you catch a cold like this?”

The hand touching her face was warm, and his eyes were concerned. She felt as if she had a glimpse of Ethelred’s innermost thoughts, the depths of which she didn’t know. Maribelle was able to think positively because of that.

‘Not right now; I’ll talk to you later.’

If she explains clearly, His Majesty will understand. Maribelle, who had removed a few worries, was able to respond to Ethelred’s kindness with a much more relaxed mind.

“Your Majesty, your hands seem particularly warm.”

Maribelle continued to speak while gently resting her head in his hand. But it wasn’t such a long time.

Maribelle removed her head only after the chill in her cheeks had subsided. The transparent white skin and even the red-hot cheeks were very attractive, but Maribelle, the person who looked so delicate, had no idea.

“In the winter, it would be good for me to borrow Your Majesty’s hand often.”

“There’s no reason why I can’t lend it to you every day.”

“Then who’s going to work?”

Maribelle took a step away from Ethelred. She had a pleasant expression, despite what she said calmly. She seemed anxious to encourage his small willingness, as if she had discovered a small flower blooming on the street while everyone else was passing by.

“Come to think of it, it’s the first time I’ve seen all four of you together.”

It’s nice to see it. Maribelle looked around the four men standing against the beautiful landscape of Calende Palace, and she smiled gently.

Maribelle would never have smiled so much if she had known how alluring it was to see the beautiful day, which had been frozen solid just a moment before, melt away and burst into a halo around her like a spring flower when she did so.

In the midst of the sun-shattered sea of light, there were a few smiling eyes. Her expression was overpowering with her lovely smile.

It wasn’t a big smile or a loud laugh. It was a gentle smile, like a cat in the spring sun. Despite this, no one could take their gaze away from her.

Some made excuses because it was surprising that a frosty face and a cold gaze could become so warm. One couldn’t close his eyes because the broken sunlight’s smile was so lovely that he regretted the smile that would vanish if he turned his gaze away.

Only one of them could actually admit that he fell in love with her at that moment.

******

Azil made excuses. He didn’t intend to lose his heart in this way. At the same time, he confirmed. Saying it was force majeure.

He came out of Calende Palace like he was running away. He couldn’t even hear the good-bye’s from his friends. Even if he did, all of his five senses were directed at her.

Azil slammed the door shut like he’d never slammed a door before. Leah was tilting a long bottle in the familiar dark room. When she saw her master, the girl smiled brightly.

“Sir Azil! It’s a good thing you’re here. I just managed to combine these two toxins without ruining them—”

Leah, who was excitedly speaking, blinked at Azil and opened her mouth, half embarrassed, half suspicious.

“—Did you run away from something?”

“No.”

Azil made a face and corrected his words because his response was too quick.

“No, I wasn’t. I ran a little bit. Never mind.”

“Huh? Have you got a fever? You didn’t eat medicine because you were experimenting on yourself, did you?”

“No to both. You’d better get out of here, Leah.”

The babbling girl was always cute and energetic, but she was annoying today. Despite her displeasure with Azil’s strangely irritating attitude, Leah did not protest. She finished her recording and left the bottles, walking out the door, grumbling.

Azil did not hear her leave. Because the only thing he could hear was his own heartbeat.

Azil sat in the dimly lit room, staring blankly. His doubt-filled eyes followed the traces of the sunset left in the dark room.

Azil could assure that she was intriguing at first. What awaits a woman clinging to desperation at the cliff’s edge? That piqued his interest. Azil was intrigued by her unnecessarily broad knowledge of things, but it was only an excuse.

Azil was obviously interested in Maribelle. He thought he’d like to get to know her more. But it would simply have been like a passerby’s desire to be acquainted with a stray cat. Furthermore, he had no bad taste in touching his master’s woman.

‘I didn’t mean to be so greedy.’

It was only a while ago that he told Maribelle not to be too desperate. He can’t believe he’s so desperate and attracted to her.

It’s disgraceful, some would say.

This is truly what they call bad luck in romance.