Even so, she had no desire to become close to the Emperor, who was practically the embodiment of discomfort. Once she received her title, mansion, and estate, what reason would she have to meet the Emperor afterward?
‘Unless the Emperor takes my side in the matter with my parents.’
No matter how much of a lifesaver she was to him, Rachel could not imagine the Emperor taking her side against the Marquis and Marchioness Ingrave.
On top of that, the Emperor had the unusual point of having married Aisha Labelyn.
Now that she knew that 「Record」 could change slightly and unfold differently, she did not want to become involved with the Emperor any more than necessary when nothing could be guaranteed.
“……You really aren’t easy.”
“……”
Rachel did not answer and placed the filled teacup in front of the Emperor. The Emperor silently took a sip of tea and murmured,
“Duke Nathan is returning today. Did you know?”
“I didn’t. Is the situation in the north settled?”
“Yes. The punishments for each family have been decided, and a list has been submitted showing which estates and capital mansions will have new owners.”
“……”
Rachel had a feeling she knew what the Emperor was about to say. The purple eyes that had quietly risen looked at her.
“Promise me you’ll accept my invitation. Then I’ll let you choose your capital mansion and estate first.”
“……”
Rachel could not understand why the Emperor was acting like this.
However, being able to choose a capital mansion and an estate before anyone else was an advantage that was difficult to refuse.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I will.”
“Good.”
The Emperor called the chief chamberlain and had several documents handed to Rachel. There was a map showing the locations of the mansions and estates, along with brief descriptions of their characteristics.
“You can choose which place you want when you come next time.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Please have a safe trip.”
Rachel stood up and paid her respects. The Emperor left without looking back. Only then did Rachel show a slightly troubled expression.
It was one thing that he came to visit almost every day.
But after she had made it this obvious that she did not want to become close to the Emperor, she could not understand why he was still acting this way.
Could it be because she was his lifesaver?
***
It had been a week since the Emperor began visiting the Violet Palace.
Terrius was gradually realizing that Rachel Ingrave had absolutely no interest in him.
No, rather, she was uncomfortable around him. Sometimes, she even seemed annoyed by him.
“……How can she be like that?”
“Pardon?”
Leaning back with his neck stretched out as he rested against the back of the open carriage,
Terrius looked up at the sky with an incredulous expression. Sometimes, he became angry. He was the Emperor, yet even after going this far, she would not even give him a glance.
On top of that, he had to offer her something she might want just to barely get an answer from her.
Even Nathan Valencia had never treated him this badly.
“……”
But even when he became so angry that he could hardly bear it,
whenever she smiled, even if only occasionally, truly only occasionally, he could not take his eyes off her.
“……Ah. This isn’t good.”
“……”
The chief chamberlain wisely did not answer this time either. Terrius returned to the Sun Palace in the carriage and came face-to-face with Nathan Valencia, whose expression was somewhat sharp.
“I greet His Majesty.”
“……Rise, Duke.”
No, now that he looked at him, perhaps they were similar. The only difference was their temperament. This was a man who, if not for his bloodline, would have quit and walked away long ago, regardless of imperial commands.
He was even someone whose plans for marriage were unknown.
Terrius brought Nathan into his office and impulsively spoke.
“By the way, when are you planning to get married?”
“……Is that really what you want to ask me right now, Your Majesty?”
Nathan looked at him with contempt and gestured to the attendant. A pile of reports was placed on the desk.
“Then I’ll be going—”
“Wait. Let’s talk for a moment.”
After sending the attendants away, Terrius sat in the main seat and looked at Nathan, who sat on the sofa beside him.
“You were in the middle of marriage discussions with Rachel Ingrave, weren’t you?”
“……”
The man who had been staring only at the door finally reacted. Nathan habitually touched his teacup as he answered.
“It was just a cover. The Marquis and Marchioness Ingrave strongly insisted, so I only said I would consider it.”
“So you really have no intention of marrying the young lady?”
“Yes.”
“That’s good.”
“What do you mean?”
The hand touching the teacup stopped.
“I think I’ve become interested in the young lady. But I didn’t want to interfere with the future Duchess of Valencia, so I asked you beforehand.”
“……”
Terrius stared at Nathan.
The past week had been enough time for him to realize his own feelings. Of course, Rachel Ingrave had not shown the slightest interest in him.
But he was different. Even while feeling bewildered and angry at being treated coldly, he kept going to see her, and seeing himself repeatedly going there made him realize.
‘It seems I’m attracted to her.’
It was a different feeling from what he felt toward Aisha Labelyn. If Aisha was someone he liked while feeling comfortable around her, Rachel Ingrave was someone who truly drew his gaze toward her.
He especially wanted to keep seeing her smile. Not only when he gave her something she wanted, but he wanted her to smile when she looked at him, too.
“……Do as you wish. Good luck.”
Nathan’s voice brought him back to reality. Terrius stopped him as he tried to leave.
“Wait. Don’t you have any advice? You’re close to Lady Rachel. She keeps putting up a wall. How can I get closer to her?”
“……I am not close to the young lady.”
“Don’t lie. You were together during every major incident, weren’t you?”
Even while scoffing, Terrius never loosened his grip on Nathan. Nathan frowned before speaking with a sigh.
“The young lady dislikes nobles in general, including Your Majesty. You should resolve that issue first. Then perhaps you’ll see an answer.”
Whether that was even possible, he did not know.
Nathan did not bother to reveal the hidden meaning behind his words. Terrius frowned.
“Is it because of that fake heir incident? Did that fake heir hurt the young lady badly?”
“……I don’t know. I don’t know the cause either.”
Nathan’s red eyes looked down at the hand that was still holding him, as if asking whether he could let go now. Terrius released him.
“Fine. Try it first, and if it doesn’t work, we’ll talk again.”
“……”
Watching the Duke leave the office without answering, Terrius rubbed his forehead. In any case, following the Duke’s advice, it seemed important to break down that wall first.
That way, perhaps they could at least have a conversation.
Footstep—
Instead of heading straight to his mansion after leaving the Emperor’s office, Nathan changed direction toward the Violet Palace.
Just in case, he intended to check the security situation and call the Commander of the Imperial Knights to strengthen the guards. The northern situation had been settled, but things with the Borza Kingdom were not yet completely secure.
By the way.
—I think I’ve become interested in the young lady. But I didn’t want to interfere with the future Duchess of Valencia, so I asked you beforehand.
“……”
His aide, Vale, and his escort captain, Blake, realized that their master was in a bad mood and held even their breath.
Nathan rubbed his stiff expression.
‘It shouldn’t be any different for him.’
Rachel Ingrave was uncomfortable not only with Nathan Valencia but with the Emperor as well.
Strangely, she disliked most nobles, including the Emperor, and among them, she was especially uncomfortable around him.
—Seeing the Duke reminded me of someone, so I did that.
“……”
Nathan silently walked around the Violet Palace once. Still, perhaps because the Emperor had been paying close attention to his lifesaver, he could not find any major deficiencies.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
He turned around and left.
Now, he intended to fulfill even the remaining request she had made.
‘While keeping my distance.’
Helping her safely become independent from the Ingrave family.
That was enough.
***
The north had been dealt with. One week later, while the Borza King’s visit to the Olsher Empire was announced,
the rewards for those who had contributed to this incident were also announced.
Among them, the news spread that Rachel Ingrave would be granted the title of Baron, a mansion in the capital, an estate, and other rewards.
Comments (0)