I’m the Only One Who Can Put the Tyrant To Sleep Chapter 129

The emperor of the empire was kneeling before me. I should have quickly told him to stand, but my body wouldn’t move. I just froze, covering my mouth tightly with both hands.

Caesar, his face flushed red, kept staring at me. And I couldn’t take my eyes off him either.

The soft pink petals that had somehow fallen on his shoulders, the trembling of his eyelashes, the black case he was holding, and even the ring inside it— I captured every detail in my eyes, not wanting to forget this scene for the rest of my life.

Only then did I slowly step closer to Caesar.

“Your Majesty, please… please stand up first.”

I tried to take his shoulders and lift him up, but Caesar shook his head firmly, resisting with strength.

“No.”

“…What?”

“You haven’t… given me an answer.”

Caesar’s face flushed even deeper.

“Ah… well…”

I had imagined the scene of receiving a proposal many times, but I had never once thought about how I should answer. Maybe that’s why. A simple ‘yes’ would have been enough, yet the words refused to leave my lips.

Caesar’s throat moved as he swallowed nervously. Watching him, I suddenly dropped to my knees in front of him.

Then, I grabbed Caesar’s cheeks with both hands.

“Eve?”

Staring into his wide, beautiful blue eyes,
I squeezed my eyes shut and kissed him.

That first kiss, forced out of impulse, was rough and clumsy. It was no different from stamping a seal, pressing down hard while holding my breath. Our teeth even clashed with a sharp clack.

Even so, my heart pounded wildly. I worried Caesar might hear it.

Time that felt like eternity passed, and I slowly leaned back, opening my eyes. I could feel Caesar had frozen stiff, just like me.

“This… is my answer.”

“Eve…”

Caesar’s gaze was locked onto my lips. I felt every tiny tremor of his. I couldn’t bring myself to wipe my lips, or tuck them inward.

Before I knew it, Caesar’s large hand around the back of my neck tightened. He stared at me as if enduring something, his eyes filled with a heat he couldn’t hide— a gaze unlike the Caesar I knew.

Just as we were awkwardly staring at each other, a petal fluttered down and landed on the bridge of his nose.

“Ah…”

Caesar blinked in surprise, looking foolish for a moment. The tension finally broke, and I burst into laughter. Caesar began to laugh along with me.

“There are so many flowers.”

“Yeah.”

“That’s why I like it.”

I wrapped my arms around Caesar’s neck. He slowly leaned closer, and our lips met softly.

Soaking the hem of my dress with pink hues, we stayed seated in the flower field for a long, long time.

 

 

****

 

 

 

After safely finishing the medal ceremony and enjoying the festival a little, we headed together to Baron Chester’s estate—in other words, my home.

Only in the carriage on the way back did I finally hear from Caesar the story behind the proposal.

It turned out that kneeling down and presenting the ring had been Katana’s idea.

“She said it absolutely had to be in a romantic place.”

Seeing Caesar’s overly serious face made me laugh without meaning to. I couldn’t help thinking—did he really have no one else to ask, that he went to Katana, who had never even dated before, let alone married?

“The ring is emerald, the same color as your eyes.”

With his proud-looking face in front of me, I carefully studied the ring on my hand. The large emerald was cradled by a band shaped like leaves above and below.

“And how did you know about a place like that?”

“Alvin worked hard to find it.”

“Then, from the start, suggesting we go to Summerhill was…”

“The medal ceremony really was planned. But asking you to come along—that part was on purpose. I thought it would be a place that had meaning for you.”

Caesar spoke as though he had been waiting to say this. Now that the proposal was behind him, his voice was quicker and lighter than usual.

“And I wanted to do it somewhere filled with flowers… The capital isn’t in full spring yet, unlike here.”

At that, I glanced toward the window. The setting sun and the lights now glowing along the streets made the flowers bloom even more beautifully. It was truly spring in full.

Before long, the carriage stopped. We stepped down and entered the manor.

Dinner with my parents had been arranged for the evening. They had left right after the medal ceremony ended, so everything was already prepared by the time we arrived.

“Then let’s each finish getting ready and meet again.”

I let go of the hand I had been holding since the carriage and spoke. Caesar nodded. Just as the attendants approached to guide him to the guest room, I quickly stopped him.

“Um, wait a moment, Your Majesty.”

“Yes?”

I held onto him before he could go further and whispered softly.

“Tonight’s dinner… is it just the two of us, or…”

“Yes, we need to inform Baron and Baroness Chester of our marriage.”

So that was the true purpose of the dinner. I tensed immediately, my face stiffening. I couldn’t imagine how shocked my parents would be. Getting married so suddenly, becoming an empress…

Seeing my face, Caesar tried to soothe me.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything.”

“…Alright.”

Even as I returned to prepare myself for dinner, worry still filled my head.

What if they oppose it?

Of course, it was the emperor’s command—my parents couldn’t refuse outright. But still, I wanted their blessing. I didn’t want to defy them and push ahead stubbornly.

However, by the time I finished preparing and went down to the dining room, those worries were quickly replaced by something else.

“What?! One month from now?”

After announcing our engagement, Caesar had declared that the wedding would be held just a month later.

And the one most shocked by this declaration… was me. My parents, even with Caesar’s sudden announcement, remained calm.

“If you’re going to marry anyway, better to do it soon. You’ve already had your debutante ball, so there’s no reason to delay,” my mother said as though it was nothing.

I stared at her blankly before blurting out, unable to hold it in:

“Did you already know I was going to get married? How can you be so calm?”

“I didn’t know for sure, but I did expect it somewhat. A mother has eyes too, you know.”

As she spoke, her gaze dropped to the hairpin on my head.

Ah…

No doubt the lavish birthday gifts delivered to our home every year had played a big part. That, and the fact that Caesar had partnered me at the debutante ball.

“Still, I thought you’d be more surprised…”

“Ahem.”

As if on cue, Father cleared his throat.

“It does feel a bit rushed. To hear the news today and have the wedding just a month later… There’s much that must be prepared.”

At his careful words, Caesar immediately countered.

“You know that Eve bravely stopped the traitor and saved the palace servants not long ago.”

He reminded them of Ian’s attack, then continued:

“I’d like to hold the wedding before that fades from people’s minds. It’s best to do this in the most favorable situation possible.”

It was, ultimately, all for my sake. With nothing wrong in what he said, Father could only fall silent. Mother nudged him in the side, scolding lightly.

“Do you really think His Majesty would speak without considering everything?”

I once again felt just how much Mother favored Caesar. Ever since she heard how he had rescued me when I was kidnapped by Ian, her fondness for him had been clear—but I hadn’t expected it to be this strong.

Far from opposing him, she was shielding him.

“B-but is that really possible? There are countless things to decide. The venue, the attire—”

I cut in anxiously, but Caesar once again answered without pause.

“The wedding of the imperial family is always held in the Grand Ballroom of the Imperial Palace. The venue is no problem.”

“Then the attire? My debutante dress took months to prepare—surely a wedding gown would take longer? Not to mention the tailor’s schedule—”

“I’ve already instructed Tiaran to clear her schedule completely. She’s made your dresses several times, so fittings won’t take long.”

“Then what about the guest list—”

“The chief lady-in-waiting will handle that. She’s experienced.”

“Hmm…”

Caesar answered each question smoothly, as though anticipating them.

“The rest will be the same. If you want, I’ve arranged for you to choose the decorations and layout of the venue yourself. So, Eve—”

“So what?”

“…Will you let me?”

I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. After preparing all this so thoroughly, what was there left to ask?

“All the other reasons are just excuses,” Caesar whispered, secretly taking my hand under the table.

“It’s only because I want to do it quickly. I want our bond to be recognized as soon as possible, even one day earlier.”

His face was flushed as he looked at me. Only then did I notice the faint tremor in his voice.

On the surface he seems calm, but he must have been nervous all day.

Caesar had said he had liked me for a very long time. Wanting to become husband and wife as soon as possible—those words were nothing but the truth.

With him speaking so honestly, and everything already prepared, there was no reason left to delay.

In the end, I nodded.

“…Alright.”