Chapter 3: I took away Yeoju's first love
His red lips curled into a smile. It was just a smile, yet the atmosphere changed.
His long, beautiful fingers brushed his lips. Though he seemed anxious, his action clearly had the intention of seduction.
I, who had been lost in admiration of his chiseled face, regained my composure.
"This is too much for someone like me."
"Don't be so serious, lady. I was just saying."
The Duke of Pioneira maintained neutrality between the Emperor's faction and the nobles.
I knew that with the recent rise of the Duke of Gloucester's faction, the Emperor was putting pressure on my father.
"You will surely find a better match."
His playful tone left me speechless for a moment.
I couldn't fathom the Emperor's intentions, even when he smiled.
"Go on. Duke Malphion has been waiting and must be getting impatient."
"Forgive me, Your Majesty."
"And, by the way, there's an important announcement at the end of the banquet, so don't think of leaving early."
I answered, swallowing my anger at his command.
As I stepped outside, I nearly fell backward, bumping into someone waiting there.
The man reached out and grabbed my wrist.
The tender voice was one I hadn't heard in a long time but was very familiar.
My first fiancé, Daniel Malphion.
As soon as I recognized him, I pulled my hand away from his.
I felt more shame than gratitude for Daniel's quick action to prevent me from falling.
The stiffness in my tone made Daniel tense as well. I straightened my dress, nodded to him, and hurried away.
Today was really a day of bad luck.
When I returned to the banquet hall, more trials awaited me.
Tatiana, as I had feared, was distracted by the Duke of Gloucester's return.
Instead, my ex-fiancé Wilhelm began to circle around me.
I was taken aback by his startled reaction.
It was hard to understand what I had seen in him to agree to an engagement in the past.
"Do you have anything left to say to me?"
"Um... I wanted to know what you talked about with Tatiana."
"Do I need to tell you that?"
His face twisted at my cold response. He seemed worried that I might have harmed his love.
"And, Sir, since our relationship is irreparable, I hope you won't think of me so casually anymore."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Lady. You were always quite strict about such things, unlike Her Highness, the Duchess of Gloucester."
Wilhelm sneered at me, as if he had been swayed by Tatiana because of me.
He wasn't the first to act this way.
Daniel and Raymond had done the same.
As the memories of past men's criticisms resurfaced, I lost my composure and lashed out at him.
"The person who confessed to me, wanting to be the Duchess of Gloucester's mistress, was none other than Sir Wilhelm."
I deliberately raised my voice.
Though we were in a secluded spot, I could feel people glancing at us.
Wilhelm, who seemed to have some sense of shame, blushed and gestured for me to lower my voice.
Of course, I ignored him.
"Are you ashamed? You seemed so confident when you told me you wanted to be the Duchess's mistress."
He approached me threateningly.
He exuded a killing intent, as if he were about to draw his sword, though I knew nothing about swordsmanship.
"Did I say something wrong?"
My red eyes, filled with anger, stared straight at him. I closed my eyes tightly as I saw his hand rise.
I was planning to take the hit and ruin the Hunt family...
I opened my eyes at the familiar voice.
There, the Duke of Gloucester was holding Wilhelm's hand.
"Are you trying to lay a hand on the lady, Sir Wilhelm?"
Wilhelm, embarrassed, fell silent for a moment before fleeing the scene without an apology.
In fact, there was nothing good for me.
After all, both the Duke and Wilhelm were my ex-lovers.
"Thank you for saving me, Your Highness. I'll be going now."
I quickly left to avoid further conversation with the Duke.
This was already the third ex-boyfriend I had encountered.
Their consecutive appearances quickly drained my already thin patience.
I sat in a secluded spot and started drinking seriously.
'How could I have been engaged to such a person?'
I was furious with myself for making such a shameful decision.
From a distance, I could hear Tatiana's laughter, surrounded by my ex-boyfriends.
Yes, it was honestly miserable.
No matter how much I pretended to be calm, my insides were a mess.
But there was nothing I could do about the heroine.
This world was like that.
After possessing the body, I realized how irrational the world was by observing Tatiana.
Luck and love were only granted to Tatiana.
If she wanted, she could easily take away my next fiancé, and the one after that.
I didn't know why she harbored ill will toward me, but I was certain of one thing.
She would continue to interfere with my love life.
'Maybe I shouldn't do it.'
As I drank alone for a while, a shadow fell over me.
"Ah, Lady. I told you to wait, not to get drunk."
I looked up to see the Emperor standing there, looking quite flustered.
People's gazes, noticing his casual attire, were palpable.
However, I stayed in my seat when I saw he had come alone without any attendants.
I pretended not to notice and asked the Emperor.
"Ah, have you already made the announcement?"
"That was a lie. Can I sit next to you?"
Without waiting for my answer, the Emperor sat down opposite me.
He took a champagne glass from a passing attendant and handed it to me, clinking it against mine.
A clear sound rang out, and the air seemed to lighten as if by magic.
"That was a lie, wasn't it?"
"If I hadn't said that, you would have left right away."
He looked so relaxed and carefree, unlike his sharp demeanor during our meeting.
As I stood, I felt dizzy.
As I was about to fall, the Emperor caught my arm. His hand, touching the thin fabric, felt hot.
He straightened me with his usual smile.
Was it because of the several glasses of wine, or because of the Emperor's different attitude, that I felt more at ease?
Or perhaps, as someone had said, I had been rejected so many times that I had forgotten what shame felt like.
"Your Majesty, you really know how to charm people with your smile."
My true feelings slipped out in my loosened state of mind.
It wasn't something I should say in front of the Emperor, who had ruthlessly executed his own bloodline.
However, the Emperor, perhaps realizing I was drunk, smiled quite leniently.
"That's very kind of you."
Seeing his handsome face, I couldn't help but smile.
This was why so many poets sang of someone's beauty.
I smiled and exchanged glasses with him.
The terrible mood I had been in was surprisingly quickly restored.
"Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty."
His purple eyes, different from Andrew's, curved.
My heart skipped a beat for no reason.
Indeed, beauty and charm do bring happiness.
Suddenly, I felt someone's gaze over his shoulder.
I narrowed my eyes and identified the source of the gaze.
I remembered that the Emperor was the only man Tatiana couldn't have.
It was quite amusing to watch Tatiana, who couldn't take her eyes off our table.
This must be why she always took away my lovers.
I leaned closer to the Emperor, smiling provocatively.
"Can you stay like this for a moment?"
The Emperor looked surprised.
Would he think I was crazy?
But watching Tatiana, who was almost glaring at me, was exhilarating.
"There's the Duchess behind you."
"You're quite observant."
Surprisingly, the Emperor joined in my mischief.
He leaned closer to me, as if sharing a secret, and whispered in my ear.
Unable to bear it, Tatiana left the table, despite the protests of the surrounding male leads.
It felt like the fog in my head was clearing.
I laughed out loud, facing the Emperor.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"I'm glad I could help you."
His smile as he said this made my heart flutter.
Was it because of the alcohol?
Or because he was too handsome?
I remembered what he had said earlier.
His offer to be my fiancé.
"Your Majesty, would you like to date me?"
This wasn't a proposal with political or emotional motives.
It was a farce born of curiosity and a desire for revenge against Tatiana.
"An interesting proposal."
To my surprise, the Emperor, who I thought would reject it outright, smiled and added:
"Would this dating eventually lead to becoming your fiancé?"
My answer made the Emperor clap and laugh heartily.
It seemed like he was teasing me, but I was serious.
"So, what's your answer?"
"Sure, I'll do it. Let's date."
"Great. Let's shake on it."
We shook hands as a sign of our alliance...
As I opened my eyes, holding my aching head from a hangover, I cursed.
"I must be crazy, Karin."
What kind of ridiculous promise did I make?