Chapter 42

Even if it was just a misunderstanding, this was a bit too much.

Rosaline rubbed her aching forehead.

‘He’ll try to fall in love with me? Even passersby would laugh. Is he getting too immersed into the role of a romantic?’

Actually… that didn’t seem to be too implausible. Cahir was used to controlling his emotions. Now that he needed a passionate love story to convince the people, it was easy for him to turn up the charm and affection. Just look at the deluge of gifts!

She straightened, scolding her heart for wavering. “Your Majesty, I lack the qualities of an empress. Please reconsider your orders.”

Contrary to expectations, though, he didn’t react angrily, didn’t even blink.

“Your… Majesty?” Rosaline bit her lower lip.

“You mentioned love first.”

“That’s a misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding? Are you saying you don’t love me?”

“I don’t! That doesn’t even make sense!”

Cahir frowned at her confident answer, the atmosphere quickly turning uncomfortable. “Why do you… hate me?”

“I don’t hate you, Your Majesty,” she said honestly.

“Really? That’s good, we can proceed accordingly.”

“But I don’t want to do that.” Rosaline was determined to speak her mind.

Cahir’s eyebrows twitched. His gaze felt warm, engulfing and overwhelming her even if it was not meant to subdue.

Daylight streamed through the office windows, but why did it feel so suffocating?

She found that she couldn’t say a word when faced with such pressure.

“Rosaline.”

The woman in question was avoiding eye contact by staring at a painting on the wall.

“If you don’t hate me, be my empress. I’ll make sure you won’t come to hate me and your position.”

She grimaced.

“The rumors have already spread uncontrollably. They call me a hopeless romantic, a possessive, overprotective lover.”

Rosaline knew this already. She knew that even if she refused now, the person next to him on the day of the big wedding would still be her. The rumors circulating within the imperial palace would soon travel to the capital. She’d bet all her meager assets that there would only be a slight delay before they spread all the way to the borders.

No matter how much she would deny it or claim it was only a strategy, nobody would believe her.

If she didn’t get married to Cahir, the rumors would have to follow her for the rest of her life. She’d have to endure pitying looks, and she would probably never get married either. While it was difficult to remain an unmarried lady in Aetheus, she would endure it if she had to. However, she hated being pitied.

And her parents would have to deal with the scandal too.

“So I have to be the empress no matter what, is that what you mean?”

“Yes.” He was smiling, but his eyes seemed full of bitterness.

Rosaline was caught in a trap, one so obvious that she should have seen it…No. She had seen it, but she foolishly fell into it anyway.

‘Is it really inevitable?’

“I mean it. I’ll make sure you don’t hate being the empress.”

“What are you going to do?”

“What do you want?”

“Are you going to give me everything I want?”

Cahir fell silent. He was a rational man, despite the occasional bouts of spontaneity, if he did say so himself. He didn’t know what conditions Rosaline would suggest, but he couldn’t blindly agree to them.

“At least listen to me.”

Rosaline looked at him closely as if to check his sincerity. He endured her evaluating gaze, crossing his arms and leaning back into the couch. Unlike his relaxed posture, his fingers tapped a beat into his forearms anxiously.

She wondered what she would ask of him.

“I need time.”

Cahir stood. “The empress selection officially begins tomorrow. Is that enough time to think?”

“There are multiple rumors that I have already been favored by Your Majesty, which would seem no different from winning the selection. Who will try to oppose me?”

Obviously, the people planted by the empress dowager.

And he had yet to tell Rosaline that Ella would be participating.

He liked Rosaline’s confidence.

Despite her reluctance, she didn’t complain or run away. She was thinking of ways to create a favorable situation, just like what he was planning.

Cahir grinned.

‘She’s so pretty that it’s amazing. I don’t think anyone else could suit me better.’

When he saw her roll her eyes, his impulses spiked.

He jumped to his feet, striding to her in five steps. This all felt quite new and confusing to him, but he strangely… knew exactly what he wanted to do.

‘Have I ever wanted someone like this in my entire life? Anything? I don’t think so…’

He wanted Rosaline not because she was a woman, or because she was insanely competent, but just because she was herself. His desire felt like a spark in a bone-dry field. Cahir wasn’t even thinking at this point, standing in front of her while rummaging through his pockets, unable to tear himself away from her sky-blue eyes.

Perhaps if he knew what Cahir was doing right now, Derek would faint.

Cahir smirked.

‘It seems that there are still so many things that I don’t understand.’

He was enjoying the sight of her eyes rolling. The way his shadow covered her, shrinking as he went closer.

“Your Majesty!”

His left knee sank to the ground, something he had never done before due to his pride and status.

“Let’s do it, Rosaline. Marry me and I’ll be your husband.”

Cahir pulled out a small box, and the entire time, Rosaline was wondering if her ears were defective.

Her gaze alternated between the ring and Cahir, whose scarlet eyes stared straight at her.

She froze, his gentle demeanor easing some of her negative thoughts.

‘This is more like a request than an order… But are marriage and me being empress two different things to him? Because why is he doing this now?’

“Are you really asking to marry me, Your Majesty?” she asked cautiously.

He laughed, and she didn’t know if he’d ever seen him more handsome than in this moment.

“Yes, I am. Also, Rosaline…”

“Yes, Your Majesty?” She felt unusually calm despite the initial shock. Her body felt light, as if it would float away from all her heavy thoughts.

“Can I get up now?”

“Of course.”

Cahir stood. “So, will you marry me?”

Rosaline fell silent again.

‘Why does he want to marry me in particular? Surely there are other candidates who will be loyal to him and play their part in society.’

“Your Majesty, my family is so very humble compared to you. Still… you are fine with me?”

“Is that a problem?”

“Pardon me for saying this, but Your Majesty does not entirely have the support of the nobility. If the empress’s family is one that is respected among their peers, it will be a great help.”

“Hmm, that’s possible. But Rosaline, I don’t need the power of the nobility.”

“Yes… Yes?”

Cahir stroked his chin. “I don’t need the family of my empress to be strong. I’m supposed to be the most powerful man in the empire, so what would it matter if I had or did not have the support of one ducal family? Anyway, I like that your family isn’t hungry for power.”

Rosaline almost nodded, convinced by his reasoning.

‘No! You can’t just be swept away like this!’

“Your Majesty, it makes me ashamed to bring this up, but in the past, you certainly said that you didn’t like me.”

“When did I say that?”

“On the first day of me being a secretary, Derek said that you hated me for being… prettier than Your Majesty.”

“Ah, that’s right, I remember now. I couldn’t believe that there was actually someone who looked so gorgeous. I felt betrayed by the goddess Etheusis.”

Rosaline smiled awkwardly.

‘I admit that she gave you everything, but that personality…!’