Chapter 24

I’m Scared of My Late First Love (2)

Cecil lay annoyed on the sofa for a while, hoping it would pay off.

His intention in offering Rowena an engagement was to make her fall for him. But somehow, his heart had fallen for her first.

Rowena already knows.

He had made his intentions obvious, so he thought she would have noticed.

He considered himself a handsome man, so he thought Rowena would fall for him too.

The timing was the problem.

I want to make you like me sooner.

It wasn’t enough that Rowena didn’t hate him. Rowena didn’t seem to him like a woman who would’ve kissed him if she hated him.

So he guessed she had a crush on him to a certain extent. He then had a little confidence.

When he looked outside, he noticed that it was completely dark. It was a ridiculous time to visit the count to see Rowena. Besides, he had work to do today.

“I will go to see His Majesty.”

The servants rushed up to Cecil’s call. As Cecil got out of bed, the servants quickly dressed him appropriately for the presence of the emperor.

He left the bedroom and walked quickly to the emperor’s palace. He usually went to the emperor’s bedroom every couple of days.

After he had heard from a member of the council that the emperor was getting better, he went there, but this time, there was a separate reason for his visit.

The servants and maids of the emperor’s palace bowed their heads when Cecil appeared. Cecil looked at them indifferently and headed for the emperor’s bedroom.

The emperor had not been able to get out of bed for two years. Every few months he came to his senses, but it was only for a moment. After talking for a few minutes, he fell back into a coma.

“…How is he still?”

“He’s not getting better.”

The emperor’s servant replied apologetically. Cecil entered the emperor’s bedroom with a strange expression on his face.

There was not a grain of dust on the neatly arranged bed.

Cecil placed many servants and maids by the emperor’s side while having a watchman to ensure that they properly cared for the emperor. The watchman was also frequently replaced with others in case the watchman was bought off.

He also visited the emperor often like this.

The fact that the crown prince, being the most powerful man, never forgot to visit the emperor, that alone would make those who cared for the emperor beware of their actions.

Cecil took his eyes off the emperor only after he had checked the blankets and clothes he was covered in.

Although they were on unfriendly terms, he was a father who did his best. Although he only ever received the Emperor’s affection a few times, Cecil did not completely hate the emperor. Even though he was the one who killed his mother.

I want to show him Rowena’s face for once, but… Is it too much?

He didn’t know what the emperor was thinking when he persuaded him to get married. But he felt grateful that it came back with a pretty good result.

In addition to that, since he was a father, it seemed reasonable to greet him at least once. Rowena, who was in the position to become his bride, might also want to see him.

“Let’s go.”

Cecil said so and turned around with his entourage. Before leaving the room, he glanced back, but the emperor was still asleep.

At least you should be relieved that you didn’t feel any pain because of the painkillers.

* * *

It was announced that Rowena would be engaged to the crown prince. Count Adelia himself didn’t keep it hidden, so many invitations were flying in. Paul didn’t order Rowena to attend all the invitations.

There were many invitations from high-ranking nobles, but now he was the boss and they were just waiting for his permission.

Paul, who opened the invitation to Rowena without permission, was wide-eyed when he saw the invitation from a noblewoman. She was a high-ranking aristocrat, and also a rich woman with a huge business.

From the point of view of Count Adelia, she was a good partner to keep close to. Paul intended to make a big business out of the imperial family, and her connections must be of use.

An opera ticket was enclosed in the invitation. Paul was appalled that Rowena was rumored to like opera these days.

Who’s spreading the rumor?

Rowena had never seen an opera. She may want to see it, but she can’t like something she has never seen before. It was a false rumor.

However, the female singer of this opera was the partner he was supporting, who was also the owner of the opera. He thought that since the person who had sent the invitation was a woman, then the prince would not take issue with it.

“Great.”

Paul felt better and took the opera ticket out of the envelope. There were two tickets. Rowena would want to go with Lyria, but what was the point of her going? It was he who had to build a connection with the top shareholder.

“Hey.”

“Did you call, count?”

The servant bowed to the count who did not even know his name.

“Where’s Rowena? We have to go out tonight, so tell her to get ready!”