Chapter 113

In fact, Cardel was full of thoughts to embrace everything just because she was Perdi, even if she was exactly the same. She put on a red face with excitement and said she was absolutely fine, happy in fact.

“Can I ask you to sign for me?”

Vivian stared at her like that, then sighed her autograph.

“To the world’s most precious Cardel!”

“What, uh, yeah.”

“Draw a heart.”

“Yeah.”

Vivian’s expression turned a little sour because it was the first time Cardel was so motivated. Because the snow that was always falling down glistened.

Vivian finished signing the autograph as required and then held them out.

“Read it carefully and get back to me. I’ll wait for you.”

Cardel said yes and kept the book dear since then. Of all things, she brought the book in her arms today because she had to stay in the palace until the end of the ball.

“Never show it to His Majesty or Duke, okay?

“You don’t have to get permission from them?”

“I don’t care.”

“……”

“I think Cardel is the most precious thing in the world.”

Vivian smiled playfully at the signing, quoting the phrase Cardel had asked for.

She was just excited and happy then, but now that she thinks about it, it’s quite dangerous. Cardel thought in a cold sweat. She was a fan of Perdi, so whatever Vivian does was good, but it’s a different story for an Emperor.

If he gets interested and reads this, then he finds out that he is the ‘Grand Duke’ model in this novel.

It’s all my fault.

Originally, it was a novel that the Emperor had no interest in reading.

But the fact that she overlooked was that the longer she hesitated, the more uncomfortable the Emperor would feel. At the end of his tether, he had no choice but to pull out the last threat.

“Will you give it to me if I slit your father’s throat, but not yours?”

He just mentioned the family name.

Cardel had no choice but to hand out the book with a dying heart.

“Two nights?”

After reciting Julian’s title on the cover, he opened the book without hesitation. The careless touch seemed to burn Cardel’s insides.

Some people read it carefully because they didn’t want to see it, but others touched the book with slippery hands. However, she only rolled her eyes nervously because she was never in a position to argue with him for him holding her family as a weakness.

He read down the book at an incredible speed. He seemed to be flipping through the pages, but he seemed to be reading them properly because his face wrinkled as he turned over the pages.

Cardel sensed a very disturbing situation and began to sweat profusely.

The emperor must have noticed. That ‘The Grand Duke’ in that novel is modeled after himself. That Cardel is the heroine, ‘Iris’, and that Duke Bron is ‘the Earl’.

“No matter how many times you look at it, it’s…

“…did you write it? Oh, that can’t be true.”

When did she have time, busy with Duke Bron. He spoke sarcasm and warped smiled.

“Aha, I get it. You said it. Isn’t that right?”

Julian checked the author’s pen name, ‘Perdi’, on the cover of the book and opened the front page. Underneath the autograph written in colorful handwriting, it was seen that “♡ to the world’s most precious Cardel.”

He crumpled his brows like a sheet of paper, tore the first page of the book without hesitation and asked.

“Don’t tell me it’s a man.”

Cardel looked at the torn paper and opened her mouth at the torn paper.

“You ripped it…”

The only signed copy handed directly to Perdi was instantly damaged. She couldn’t believe it. She has been through everything between the two men, but this was the first time she really wanted to beat her opponent.

It’s okay. She can ask Vivian to sign it again later.

Cardel comforted himself on the inside, but couldn’t take a grudgeful look at Julian. She’s truly disappointed. Still, she expected him to be more human than Duke Bron, who pushed her into the hole, but it was funny that he did not have the ability to learn.

“What about a woman and a man?”

“Say it.”

Julian swept her honey-like blonde hair with a gentle touch, unlike the harsh tone. But it was only for a moment, and he had a different look. He bent over, adjusted his eye level with her, and spat it out, word by word. As if he couldn’t help but spurt out the boiling life.

Cardel felt the first intense anger she felt for the first time. But anger slowly spread to resignation.

“I didn’t even expect it.”

Cardel retorted with a look of completely fading hope. Her tearful face and sad shoulders were the same as before, but his cool gaze did not contain anything to the point that her heart sank. Rather, it was Julian who was embarrassed.

“Suddenly, you’re changing the subject. I’m sure your burden is…”

“It’s a woman.”

“I wonder if that was a satisfactory answer.”

His face crumpled like a sheet of paper.

“You…”

“I’m tired. I’ll go back and rest.”

The voice was a little shaky, but the expression was horribly casual.

Cardel bowed her head and turned her back. Julian reached out reflexively to support her helplessly stumbling self, but she quickly escaped the scene, naturally avoiding his touch. Without looking back.

He couldn’t catch her. He couldn’t even force her to turn around.

The Emperor, who was left alone, stood there, nailed to the spot.

***