Chapter 41

Helen bit her lips in shame. Mar opened his cold stare when he noticed Helen averting her look, as if she was trying to avoid spitting out an answer.

 

“Then you don’t have to say you’re sorry.”

 

“Why are you so angry?”

 

Did he expect her to reject his confession?

 

However, there was nothing she could do.

 

They would have had an affair if she had received his confession here.

 

In other words, this room was the Emperor’s, and in other words, her husband’s room!

 

How audacious.

 

If the Emperor had known what had happened between them, he might have promptly ordered their execution.

 

Helen caressed her cool neck, imagining it would be cut off in a snap.

 

“Do you think I would be happy when my last hope disappeared?”

 

Helen exhaled briefly at Mar’s voice as it remained cold.

 

What the h*ll am I supposed to do with this?

 

“The reason why you feel like I mean so much to you is because you lost your memories. You said I was the first person you’d ever met. Then you have to meet other people to figure it out.”

 

Mar wanted to answer with something about how he met her, but he also knew Helen couldn’t be persuaded with words alone.

 

Words are trivial. He could only hold her by taking action.

 

In particular, his current situation was not favorable.

 

‘I’m always waiting for you even before and after you come ….’

 

Even the moment before he fainted, he was worried whether Edith had come back safely, and he waited for Edith to return after he opened his eyes again.

 

He thought about Edith every time he closed his eyes, and what was this if it wasn’t love?

 

He hated her for controlling her mind the way she wanted, but he just couldn’t help it.

 

“You like me. Don’t you?”

 

His voice had a hopeful tone to it. Helen tried to avoid giving any answer, but when she was faced with his desperate gaze, her body froze as if she had been shackled and couldn’t get away.

 

“Where are you going to escape after spending every night with me all this time?”

 

Mar didn’t seem to want an answer from her.

 

He kept talking to himself, but he smiled in satisfaction while looking at Helen, who stood still in her spot like a stone.

 

It was enough for him to not get flat rejection as an adequate answer in this very situation.

 

Mar smiled with the corners of her mouth curved upward as he was a little relieved after teasing Helen.

 

Both Helen’s cheeks flushed, and she screamed.

 

“You’re saying such misleading words again…!”

 

She was afraid someone would hear it. It felt like her heart had dropped to the floor.

 

The man gave a languid smile in delight, how she envied him for being able to say such a thing out loud.

 

She vaguely felt that her unfortunate life oddly seemed more unfortunate after meeting him.

 

She felt guilty for not being able to say a single word of love.

 

She was a weak person who couldn’t even protect her loved ones.

 

Moreover, she was sure that he would leave her once he regained his memories.

 

Everything about him made me miserable.

 

“S-Stop.”

 

Helen’s face stiffened slightly, and she avoided his gaze.

 

Mar stiffened his shoulders nervously, fearing that she might somehow run away after seeing him like this.

 

“I was joking.”

 

Helen’s face brightened noticeably when she made an awkward excuse in a hurry.

 

“Is that so?”

 

“Yes, It’s just a joke.”

 

‘A joke? It’s not even funny.’

 

She wanted to force herself to smile, but she couldn’t after seeing his delighted expression at the word of deceit that inquired if she liked him.

 

The book beside them was wide enough to block Helen’s view.

 

Helen, who was abruptly blinded, held the book, but he didn’t let go of it.

 

Despite his claims that it was a joke, his expression didn’t quite match. Helen was so preoccupied with the book that she couldn’t even take a look at it.

 

***

 

By the time Helen returned, she spent a bit of her remaining time immersed in her thoughts before going to bed.

 

Her body is unusually exhausted today.

 

He laid his back against the spacious sofa in anticipation and closed his eyes.

 

He was too stupid to carry the role of pathetic Edith like this.

 

He didn’t even have any position, and she found it weird when she became a noble at first.

 

Edith was definitely a noble, and besides, she was also married.

 

In order to take such a woman, he must be at least in the same class as her in terms of nobility, particularly high in ranks among the nobles.

 

Mar kept getting agitated in his head because it was the kind of information that he had knowledge about.

 

‘I’m in a position where I can’t hold her right now. That’s for sure.’

 

Divorce? It sounds silly.

 

He just spat it out in anger, but he quickly realized how silly he was acting when he saw Edith’s bewildered expression at that moment.

 

His nails were digging into his hands as he clenched them tightly, which resulted in them bleeding.

 

He couldn’t keep his sanity at bay anymore.

 

He thought his life would become worthwhile once he managed to escape from that d*mn library, but not at all.

 

This place was just a new prison for him.

 

He felt happy when he spent time with her, but he quickly realized it as soon as she disappeared.

 

‘I can’t stay here any longer.’

 

Mar once again understood the severity of the situation.

 

His eyes subdued coldly as he got up and faced the situation.

 

Among the many rooms there, he opened the door to the Emperor’s office and walked closer to the desk.

 

High-quality piled up papers, pens made of peacock feathers, and high-quality ink were laid there.

 

Mar picked up the pen.

 

***

 

Carmun got up from bed after a long time. He had slept everywhere other than in bed, and it’s not like he was protesting when he found out that today he was lying down on the bed for whatever reason.

 

Carmun, who ran his fingers through his hair with a puzzled look, stood up and picked up the shirt he had taken off beside him.

 

He started his morning routine by heading to the office after fumbling with the button on his shirt, as if it was a natural thing to do.

 

Rather than starting his daily routine at the library, he began it in his own room, which seemed more pleasant and comfortable.

 

He was used to waking up in the library every morning and secretly returning to the Lion Palace on his own.

 

When he entered the office to check it, there were two things that had changed from last night.

 

Two books on the multi-person desk in the living room and a note on the desk inside the office.

 

/Let’s make a deal./

 

‘How bold.’

 

Carmun burst into laughter as soon as he saw the notes.

 

It seemed like the man didn’t think about how he accommodated him.

 

“That spunk of his is commendable….”

 

Carmun crumpled up the letter with the same handwriting style as him and threw it to the floor.

 

He has no reason to listen.

 

He summoned the woman to calm the man down, and set the perfect shield once again at the Lion Palace. But should he be concerned about something so unimportant?

 

For Carmun, his night self just meant as much as a ‘disease’.

 

They were far from being fond of each other, as the two hated each other terribly.

 

Knock, knock.

 

“Come on in.”

 

Upon the Emperor bestowing him with such an order, Viester opened the door and entered.

 

“Good morning.”

 

Viester offered him a morning greeting. In his arms were documents containing the agenda for today’s regular assembly.

 

Upon looking at the stack of documents, Carmun automatically let out a sigh.

 

“Please get yourself ready as soon as possible.”

 

“Sure.”

 

Carmun washed himself with the washing water brought by the maid before changing his clothes.

 

He just put aside all the troublesome clothes and wore his regular attire, skipping the necessary clothing layers.

 

“No need for a meal, just add sugar to my coffee.”

 

“Yes.”

 

The maid bowed her head and left the room. Someone’s eyes were piercing through him from behind Carmun, who was wearing his clothes.

 

“What’s the matter?”

 

Sensing his gaze, Carmun looked back obliquely, and found Viester staring at him while sitting at the table checking the documents.

 

With a disgruntled expression on his face.

 

“If you drink coffee on an empty stomach, it will hurt.”

 

“Are you worried about me?”

 

“…Please forget it.”

 

Seeing Carmun’s grinning expression, Viester decided to just close his mouth.

 

It would have been fortunate if the maid didn’t say anything silly by the time she returned, as he was just doing that to tease her.

 

He was the type of person who didn’t care about the rumors and seemed to want the unusual rumors to spread further and more quickly.

 

It wasn’t until he put on the cuffs that he finally finished changing. After calling the maid to deliver the coffee to the assembly hall, he left the room with Viester.

 

On their way to the main palace where the regular assembly was held, he briefly discussed the agenda listed for today’s meeting with Viester.

 

The departure of the delegation to Cordelia, the library project being propelled as the city construction project, and how to use the collected money from the hunting festival for charitable purposes.

 

Today was particularly filled with many important agendas.

 

Carmun suddenly stroked his chin as they conversed.

 

“Let’s add one more thing.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“How much is the budget for the concubines?”

 

“…Perhaps it’s a hundred marks.”

 

“…The amount is too little.”

 

“Because concubines also get financial support from their homeland.”

 

“You’re the one who originally thought of supporting such a ridiculous budget in the first place.”

 

Viester shook his shoulders in embarrassment.

 

“I changed my mind. I can’t believe it’s only 100 marks. Other countries might found our financial situation funny.”

 

“….”

 

He almost dropped all of the documents in his grip to the floor.

 

How could someone change like that in just one night?

 

As he stared at the back of Carmun’s head with an extremely baffled expression, Carmun stopped walking and turned around to face him.

 

“Then how come the ministers remain quiet about it?”

 

“…Why are you suddenly riled up about this….”

 

He seemed serious when saying that he would like the budget to be increased. After hesitating for a moment, Viester couldn’t bottle up his curiosity and opened his mouth.

 

“What’s suddenly gotten into you? A few days ago, Your Majesty clearly said that the concubines were just war prisoners. And then, why are you suddenly criticizing the ministers for assigning such a small amount of budget?”

 

“….”

 

Even he thought it was ridiculous.

 

But it was actually not enough.

 

Concubine Edith’s room was especially shocking to him. He didn’t expect her to settle into a smaller room than the one owned by Louis, his pet dog.

 

Why did she even choose that small living quarter out of the numerous quarters here?

 

No, did she make the right choice?

 

Viester called Carmun, who was preoccupied while nibbling on his lower lips.

 

“Your Majesty…!”

 

“Why are you shouting all of a sudden?”

 

“What were you thinking until you didn’t hear me calling you?”

 

Carmun had a lot on his mind.

 

He didn’t know why she was so bothered about it in the first place.

 

He couldn’t concentrate on anything because it had been bothering him for a while now.

 

‘In that small room, she knelt down to me and apologized for her fault. All the while begging him not to kill her.’

 

He was obviously frustrated at her thought that he might kill her.

 

Among the thriving rumors, he knew there was a rumor that he was ruthless, but he didn’t expect her to really believe it.

 

“Your Majesty, why do your face look like that…?”

 

“Haah….”

 

Carmun sighed and ran his hair down to her forehead.

 

“Do you have any concerns?”

 

When he looked at the calm face of Viester, Carmun suddenly spat out his innermost feelings.

 

“You know, it’s about someone I know.”

 

“Someone you know? Who is it? Sir Theo? Or the knight, Van? Or the Knight Commander?”

 

“…You don’t know this person.”

 

“All right. I understand.”

 

Viester immediately realized that this was about him.

 

[t/n: ‘him’ refers to the Emperor.]

 

Did Carmun know someone he didn’t know?

 

It was a lie in the beginning.

 

“And there’s someone who’s been bothering him lately….”

 

“Bothering him?”

 

“That’s right. He continued to be bothered by this person. It’s irritating the hell out of him.”

 

Carmun scratched his cheeks with his fingers, seemingly perplexed.