CH 9.1

When Lionel closed his mouth with a flushed face, I suddenly felt ashamed too.

I felt like I was really having a love affair with him.

“Ahem!”

One of them cleared their throat. The ministers were also all looking away with shy faces.

They were like uncles spying on their nephew’s love story.

As I became conscious of the ministers, my body naturally shrank. But Lionel still seemed unwilling to let me go.

“I’ll visit you more often from now on, so you don’t have to force yourself to come out too much.”

Lionel’s voice softened. But he was still going to keep me locked up in the palace. It was never going to happen.

“I want to go outside.”

As I spoke hastily, he frowned.

“You can’t.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s dangerous for you out there.”

It was absurd.

He was not saying it was because he thought I was sick or that he was afraid of me running away, but Lionel was judging that it was dangerous to go outside.

I’ve been walking around all my life, but I don’t understand what’s dangerous.

“You are not the same as you were before.”

This time I also felt the need to frown.

“It’s no different. I am still me.”

“You know what I mean.”

I wanted to refute it, but I kept my mouth shut because I remembered the resolution that I made last night.

I didn’t want to make excuses and cause further misunderstandings.

I still couldn’t understand how my words were creating misunderstandings.

“So just come back with me obediently.”

Lionel’s hand caressed my cheek. It was a careful touch as if touching a precious jewel but his other hand was still holding me firmly.

He was determined to not give me room to run.

“It’s frustrating to be in here all the time. I think it’ll hurt me more if I’m stuck in there.”

“Then when I visit, let’s go for a walk in the garden together.”

My words weren’t working.

My heart became more and more impatient. I really felt like I wouldn’t be able to take a step out of the room without Lionel.

I had to try something else.

“When I’m in there alone, I think too much.”

I bowed my head gloomily. I had to hide my face because I couldn’t make the facial expressions.

I trembled and made my voice sound as gloomy as possible.

“When no one is around, I feel abandoned by the world.”

I did my best to pretend to be pitiful. I could feel the people around me feeling agitated.

Fortunately, my poor acting was working.

“It’s my fault.”

Then Lionel spoke in a subdued voice.

“I didn’t know you were thinking like that.”

‘It worked!’

I seemed to have been successful at last. Lionel’s mind was weakened.

I thought if I kept this up he would release me from custody.

“I shouldn’t have left you here alone. Don’t worry, it won’t happen in the future.”

“Sir Lionel!”

(nim -님 is used here which can be roughly translated to Mister or Madam but didn’t sound right so I used Sir)

I looked up again in anticipation.

“I’ll move your residence to my palace. You will soon be my empress anyways, so even if it’s against the law it won’t be a big problem.”

“Hey! That’s not it!”

“Rest assured. Lindel, I won’t leave you alone anymore.”

Lionel whispered affectionately. For me, It was like a lightning in a bright blue sky. If I go to the emperor’s palace, the situation will be even more worse than now.

TL/N: lightning in a bright blue sky- 청천벽력- This is used when something happens suddenly and normally it is used in a bad situation.

At this rate, I will walk into the most heavily guarded area in the Empire.

It was like I was strangling myself.

“If I am the empress, ministers will oppose it. As everyone knows, I’m an outrageously lacking person for that position.”

I retorted hastily, but he shook his head resolutely.

“You know, I already told you. Who dares to oppose you?”

“I’m an illegitimate child, a knight! I do not fit the dignity of the national mother! It is the law that The Empress is the noblest woman of the empire.”

Generally, an Empress was the daughter of a duke or marquis.

In the current empire, there were three candidates for the position of empress. So, how could I, an illegitimate child of a count who didn’t even take etiquette classes overtake them?

I hoped the ministers would come out and refute it too.

But their thoughts were different from mine.

“What on earth are you saying!”

“General?”

“Madam Lindel definitely has what it takes to be empress. Who in the Empire doesn’t know of your loyalty and love that has served His Majesty. Be confident, don’t lower yourself .”

They were usually close friends with me, but they are very shallow.

I never imagined that he, a typical nobleman, would say that.

He spoke with enthusiasm enough for his wild beard to tremble.

‘What’s wrong with him all of a sudden!’

Other aristocrats who stayed still at the time also stepped forward.

“That’s right! Madam Lindel will be perfect as the nation’s mother.”

“All of us here are on Lindel-nim’s side.”

There were people coming on my side, which I didn’t even know existed.

Although the words were disappointing, their faces looked sincere.

TL/N: I think she’s saying the words were disappointing for her

When I saw myself chasing after Lionel, I was always biting my tongue because of the unrequited love that was developing.

Just listening to their words, I felt like I was a woman who will go down in history.

“I am not good enough for you, Your Majesty.”

“I already know you don’t want to be someone to his Majesty. But no woman will ever be like Madam Lindel.”

The general softened the grim look and smiled as mildly as the next-door mister/mister next door.

“So, Madam Lindel. Don’t worry about anything.”

“No, General. That, I…!”

“Madam Lindel, don’t think too hard. And what’s the big deal about the empress’ seat? If you care and love each other, that’s enough.”

“……” 

Cherishing, loving and caring for each other is all bullsh*t! Marriage was a reality.

I was tapping my chest in frustration, and I looked up to see that the proud misters in front of my eyes had already mistaken my behaviour.

“You don’t have to be so impressed. Madam Lindel’s heart, we already know it all.”

If that snout mouth opened again, I thought I would reply with a fist.

TL/N: Lindel is basically saying that if the person who’s talking nonsense says one more thing, she’ll punch him.

When I gritted my teeth and mumbled thanks, their faces brightened not knowing anything.

“Haha, Hahaha!”

I couldn’t help but feel that it was ridiculous. When I laughed, these people began to laugh after me.