The atmosphere tensed suddenly. Everyone froze.
I knew what my words meant. If what I said was true, it meant Lucretius was interested in Yulia. This would make her a strong candidate to become the emperor’s next wife.
Some looked delighted while others looked angry. Countess Ilan was the happiest. The Genoan siblings’ faces darkened in fury. They glared at me.
What surprised me was the way Yulia looked.
I expected her to look thankful, just as any noble lady would. It was a chance to become royalty.
However, Yulia looked pale. It definitely was not the face of a happy young girl.
Meanwhile, Lucretius… I purposely turned away from him. I didn’t want to see his face.
It wouldn’t have mattered if he looked interested or angry. Either way, I was afraid to see it.
I wanted Lucretius and Yulia to start dancing right away, so I could leave. I was surprised at Yulia’s reaction, but this had to happen.
Before I could say another word, a large hand grabbed my shoulder. His deep voice announced firmly.
“… I believe my wife is feeling unwell.”
What was he talking about?
I raised my voice in protest.
“I…!”
Just then my eyes met his and I couldn’t speak.
I forgot what I was going to say.
It was brief, but the way he looked at me was… shockingly cold.
He was furious and…
He looked disappointed.
Lucretius quickly took my hand and pulled me towards him.
“Oh!”
Lucretius looked around and stopped at the chancellor.
Lucretius said to him, “My wife seems to be feeling unwell. I will take her out for a quick break.”
The chancellor looked confused but agreed with the emperor.
“Of course. Please take as much time as you need.”
I felt frustrated. My plan would be ruined.
I had to get a good woman for Lucretius and find my way back home. This would be a perfect plan.
I started to feel angry at Lucretius. We were in public and he was embarrassing me. Why couldn’t he just go along with it!?
I had to make this work.
“W, wait…!”
I almost yelled at him but remembered where I was. When Lucretius pulled me, I tried again.
“Y, your highness, I…!”
Lucretius looked at me again, and I lost my train of thoughts. His green eyes looked enraged.
He must have realized that I wouldn’t go with him easily. He let go of my hand and instead, he lifted me up.
“Gya!”
Lucretius announced simply.
“My wife is feeling dizzy. She was also talking nonsense just now. I think she really needs to rest. Have fun.”
***
“What do you think you’re doing!”
He held me tight and continued to walk.
“…”
We passed a few doors to get to one of the lady’s breakrooms. As we walked, all the rooms and the hallways were empty.
Yulia didn’t follow me. It didn’t matter anyway. My plan had failed.
I was angry. All he had to do was to dance with Yulia once. Was it so hard to do?!
Why was he being so difficult?
I screamed at him, “Stop!”
He didn’t answer me.
“Lucretius!”
“…”
Again, no answer. He just continued to walk.
The third door slammed open. He must have kicked it. The loud noise made me flinch.
“Luc!”
Finally, he answered me.
“Why.”
“…”
His voice was chillingly quiet. Suddenly, I realized that this man was truly angry, and his anger was directed at me.
***
There were a few breakrooms made ready for the ladies during the celebration. They were prepared so the noble women could take breaks and gossip among themselves.
Depending on how powerful one’s family was, the size of the breakroom varied. The more influential they were, the bigger their breakroom was.
My own breakroom was, of course, huge. It was the size of a large guestroom.
This was where Lucretius brought me.
The room also had an elegant bedroom. He gently and slowly laid me on the soft bed.
It has been a long time since I felt afraid of the emperor.
“…”
“…”
This situation reminded of the night Lucretius murdered his father. He was the snake, and I was only a mouse then.
He asked me angrily, “What were you thinking?” It sounded like he was growling. His voice was cold and twisted. While I thought of an answer, he continued, “I don’t understand what you are thinking.”
“…”
He was accusatory.
“Are you listening to me?”
“W, what are you talking about?”
“Ha!” Lucretius looked up at the ceiling in frustration. After a brief silence, he looked at me again and said to me, “You are so cruel. I don’t know why you keep making me feel pathetic.”
“Pardon?!”
I didn’t know what to tell him.
What was he trying to say?
Cruel? Pathetic?
I couldn’t believe he was saying these to me!
I looked up at him, but his face was turned away.
I asked, “What are you saying?!”
“…”
Slowly, he turned towards me. He looked at me as if he couldn’t understand me.
“You are smart, yet your memory is horrible, or is it that you don’t want to remember?”
What was he talking about?
Before I could ask him, he continued, “I told and showed you how I felt so clearly, yet you are asking me what I’m talking about?”
Huh?
My heart fell.
He continued, “I know you are trying to ignore it.”
“S, stop…”
“No! Today, you will listen to me!”
When I tried to back away, he grabbed my hand and pulled it. His eyes looked into mine passionately and said to me.
“Do you know how horrifying it is when the woman I love offer me another woman?”
T, this wasn’t fair!
My heart couldn’t take this. I felt my face burning.
I protested with all I had, “W, why?! You need an empress and you also need to have many concubines!”
No. This was dangerous territory. I shouldn’t be even talking about this.
I had to go back home. I had no time to even consider love in this world.
He shouted at me, “I don’t need it!”
“Why not?!”
He was talking nonsense. As an emperor, he needed an empress and at least four wives. I was trying to help him, so what was his problem?!
I shook my head.
“You need an empress and more wives, at least for political reasons! So let me go back home and take other women!”
“…!”
“And Yulia is a perfect girl for you…!”
Suddenly, I noticed his eyes.
“Huh?”
I couldn’t believe it.
He looked hurt. The emperor of Cransia looked hurt.
It was all because of me.
He asked me quietly, “Is that your answer to my question earlier?”
I couldn’t say anything. I couldn’t think at all. My head was blank.
“…”
“…”
When I remained silent, Lucretius smiled bitterly. He turned around to leave.
“Alright. So this is your answer.”
“Oh!”
He was leaving. My heart… It felt like my heart was rolling down the stairs.
My body moved without thinking. My hand reached out and my feet moved on their own.
“Huh?”
When I realized what I was doing, it was too late. My hands were grabbing onto his red cloak.
Lucretius was taking a step when I pulled him. He lost balance and fell backward, and I fell along with him.
“Gya!”
Oh my gosh! What just happened!?
My head was spinning. The carpet was soft and thick, so thankfully, we weren’t hurt.
Wait!
When I put my hand on where I was, I realized it wasn’t soft at all. It was hard.
I knew the castle carpets were made from the softest wool, so why was it so hard?
No. It wasn’t completely hard. It was… soft and hard at the same time.
My hair was covering my face. When I could finally see, I realized why it felt odd.
“…”
It was because I was on top of Lucretius.
