Chapter 69

Chapter 69

As Declan stepped back, the knight standing behind Jennifer grabbed her.

“Are you okay?”

For a moment, her annoyed gaze turned to the knight before it disappeared.

“Oh, I’m fine. Thank you.”

The knight’s face reddened at her soft words as he quickly hid his feelings.

‘…She’s doing all sorts of things.’

The intention of that fake-staggering was so obvious that I frowned. Meanwhile, Declan glanced at Jennifer and lowered his upper body.

“Remember how you are risking your life now.”

Whispering in her ear, he raised his upper body and widened the distance. Green eyes, which had been insensitive until a moment ago, were so cold that even those who saw them froze. In addition, Jennifer trembled as she looked at him because of the murderous energy.

Either way, Declan immediately turned around and headed towards the main palace.

When I turned back, I could see the poison in Jennifer’s trembling eyes. At last, she seemed to have reached the limit of her patience.

‘Keep on trying so hard. She won’t be able to see Declan’s nose for a while.’

I turned my body towards Jennifer, who said nothing.

* * *

..How far did we walk?

“What a pain. It’s not enough to dare to flirt with our Majesty—Oh, that kind of acting doesn’t work. I’m pissed… Pissed!”

I stopped walking when I heard a murmur from behind and looked at the owner of the voice.

It was Noah, who was walking with his head bowed and grumbling. He was walking without knowing that Declan had stopped, so he stopped just before the two of them collided.

“Huh… Your Majesty?”

“Where did you leave your head?”

As Declan clicked his tongue, Noah bowed his head quickly.

“Forgive me.”

“Your condition is getting worse.”

“I’m sorry. Does it look like I’m getting angry right now?”

“Why are you?”

“Has His Majesty not seen it…? How much that Princess behaves like a fox.”

“Noah.”

He pouted his mouth as Declan called harshly.

“Isn’t that right? I didn’t like her from the first time I saw her. She keeps flashing strange eyes.”

Seeing Noah spitting out his dissatisfaction one after another, perhaps, there was a lot that had accumulated in his feelings during that time. I could barely hold back my laughter seeing him like that.

‘I want to curse like that, too.’

Inwardly, I smiled as I cheered him on.

“Even if she deceives everyone else, she cannot deceive me. Am I not the only survivor of that terrifying battlefield?”

“I don’t think so.”

When he shook his head, Noah glanced at him.

“Well, of course, it’s thanks to His Majesty. Anyway, I come back alive, right?”

“What the hell does that have to do with this?”

Sighing, Declan asked.

“It’s all in the eyes… that sinister inside.”

“I know. So, there is no need to get fussy.”

Saying so, Declan pressed his temples gently.

“Did you see that face before, staring at Sir Hern like that? It’s so scary and unfair that he probably won’t be able to sleep.”

Noah laughed, saying that he would die of nagging.

“Where did the chief attendant throw away his face?”

“My face is alive and well, so don’t worry. Everyone acknowledges that just by being able to make eye contact with Your Majesty and have a conversation.”

Eventually, I couldn’t stand it anymore and turned around before laughing. Seeing me like that, Declan moved his steps with a resigned face.

“When will he get better?”

As Declan spoke to himself, I approached him slowly and asked, “Why? He’s only saying the right things.”

“No matter how right the words may be, the chief attendant must not show his emotions.”

“How angry would he be? I was completely pissed as well.”

“You, too?”

Declan gazed at me with a mixture of wonder and anticipation. I hurriedly replied, “Yes. She is the criminal, though she comes to visit the sick and pretends to fall down and tries to embrace Your Majesty.”

‘…Totally shameless and had no conscience.’

As I talked, I got really agitated. At the same time, he looked at me with a strange expression.

“Is that so bad?”

“Absolutely. How dare she touch Your Majesty’s body!”

“You seem to really hate that princess.”

“Of course, I do. She was trying to harm Your Majesty with a smile like this.”

Declan burst into laughter as I grunted, mimicking Jennifer’s cheeky smile.

“Why are you laughing? I’m going to die of anger right now.”

“Because it’s cute.”

“Are, are you saying that the Princess is cute now?”

My mouth was shut at the words that were out of the blue. When he saw me like that, he turned his head slightly. However, it seemed that Declan’s shoulders were shaking a little. After a while, he coughed a few times before bringing his eyes to me, who was still frozen.

“Erica, you were the one I meant was cute.”

When I realized how pathetic I had been, I felt like I wanted to go to a mouse hole.

“What’re you thinking in that little head?”

With my head bowed, I could hear a chuckle of laughter above my head.

“Still, I feel good… Seeing you get angry over another woman.”

Just hearing those words makes me feel like I was being jealous for nothing. Grumbling like that, I had no choice but to bow my head again.

‘Before, that knight also blushed when she was only saying thank you… A woman like that keeps flirting.’

I was embarrassed that Declan had caught my heart like that.

“Is Miss Erica angry, too? You agree with me! Miss Erica, join me in protecting His Majesty from the women who do not know her place.”

Thanks to Noah, who rejoiced as if he had obtained a thousand horses, my embarrassment quickly disappeared.

* * *

After Declan had left and Jennifer had returned to the Palace, Seian stood still. He glanced at Declan’s back as he moved further and further away before turning and returning to his palace as well.

As he entered the room, he smiled happily as he saw the buds sprouting from the flowerpot placed by the window.

“You are finally showing yourself. Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you?”

He gently stroked the buds and smiled.

It was a beautiful and elegant smile as if painted on a picture. He filled a small watering can with water and carefully sprinkled it over the sprouts, and the sunlight shining through the window scatters in iridescent light.

“The woman was also greedy for the Emperor… She was originally a greedy woman.”

Seian, who put down the watering can while muttering, moved his gaze through the window. If it was Princess Medicis, her name was also known in Gemina.

…A girl like poison.

The last time he saw her, she didn’t hide her greed for the Emperor. Nevertheless, now she had been open about it.

“How vulgar.”

Contrary to his smiling face that seemed to melt away the surroundings, a venom came out of his mouth.

“I thought she was worth taking advantage of, though.”

If Princess Medicis succeeded in seducing the Emperor, he was also planning a piggyback ride there.

But then, it was like that.

“…Does he like the other one?”

When Princess Este was sick, he did not know that the Emperor would come to visit her. He was told that she had broken into the Emperor’s bedroom as a pawn.

“Should I choose Este Princess? What do you think?”

Seian asked, looking at the sprouts sprouting from the flowerpot.

Even though a timid and cowardly person like Princess Este may seem easy to handle, it was actually more difficult. Rather, if it was as ambitious and greedy as Princess Medicis, it would be easy to trade with.

“Isn’t it too early to decide?”

It was hard to imagine that a murderer on the battlefield, a mad tyrant, had a woman in his heart.

“He’s also crazy about dolls.”

Didn’t he laugh while looking at the doll and talking about whatever was so good a while ago…?

“First, let’s start with Princess Medicis. Looking at her arrogance, it seems like she has a backing.”

Seian’s eyes twinkled as if intrigued.

…Please, let’s hope it was not him.

If so, he had to reconsider Princess Medicis.

At the same time, the forces that used Gemina in the last princess abduction case were beginning to take shape. However, there was no evidence to be certain. Did Count Nolan take personal revenge for what he had suffered, or did he act after receiving orders as usual…?

“You tried to use us as something to throw away… Your nerve is too big.”

He smiled brightly.

Count Nolan had already committed suicide, so he was planning to get revenge on the guy behind him.

“But, I don’t know what the emperor’s intentions are.”

Seian walked to the desk and opened the drawer. Taking out a box with a lock and opening it, it revealed a note he had received a few days earlier.

⌊ Location of hostages. Emperor— ⌉

Seeing the writing on the note, he frowned.

He later found out that the Gemina family, who had been imprisoned, were being held hostage. So, he hurriedly went to rescue them, but he was already one step late. As far as he knew, the guild had already left with no trace, and the hostages had disappeared.

“I thought they were all dead, but they were alive.”

They were found with difficulty and, contrary to expectations, they were being protected by the Emperor.

“What’s his plan?”

Seian put down the note and tapped the desk with his finger.

‘Is he trying to threaten me by taking them hostage…?’

If so, Declan should have come looking for him, although there was no contact at all. Instead, he was rather indifferent.

“Yes. That’s weird, too.”

Declan acted like he was going to kill Seian right away and yet he didn’t care, as if he had lost interest in him.

The same was true with Seian.

When he came to the Empire, he was subjected to all kinds of insults, and he knew that he would lead a very difficult life. However, the emperor left him alone… No, it would be more correct to treat Seian like nobody at all.

Seian thought he knew the Emperor well, but the closer he looked, the more he felt like he was falling into a labyrinth.

“…I really don’t know. It’s difficult.”

The smile disappeared from Seian’s face, leaving only a dry expression.

—