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Chapter 49

***

“Going down that way is terrifying.” Cahir even shook his head as if he were really scared.

Rosaline, though, was not fooled. His exaggerated movements and scrunched eyebrows definitely meant he was faking it.

What was wrong with him?

“Then, how are you going to leave?” Rosaline huffed, practically giving up already.

Cahir approached and sat in one of the chairs. “I think I can go as soon as I calm my heart. Come, sit down with me.”

Rosaline sat in front of him. She didn’t have the authority to force him out, so he’d inevitably stay for as long as he wanted to.

“What must I do to be a person who only receives Your Majesty’s visits when they want to?”

His eyes trembled for a moment, then he smiled leisurely, leaning against the back of the chair and interlocking his fingers. “Rosaline, do you want to disobey?” His gaze lingered on her neck.

She subconsciously raised her hand to her collar, thinking about what happened to all those who rejected Cahir to his face. Before she became his secretary, most disappeared quietly. With her guidance, the number of those occurrences had decreased sharply because such orders had also decreased sharply. At this moment, unfortunately, there was no one Rosaline-like to side with her.

“I don’t have a sword with me now.”

“What?”

“Rosaline, I am fully aware that you just scanned me to see if there was a sword next to me.”

“Your Majesty! Why would I do that? I didn’t!”

“You just brushed a hand against your neck.”

“It’s a little chilly…”

“I won’t hurt you with my hands, Rosaline.”

“Ah… Yes, it’s an honor?”

Cahir’s words were so unexpected that she slipped. Cahir squinted, trying to observe her.

He honestly had no idea how to make her laugh. Right now, she looked like a regal statue, capable of neither smiling nor crying.

Was she really tired? But this schedule was nothing for Rosaline, who had had worse timetables when she was working as a secretary. Then, did something happen at the testing site? The person who reported to him said everything went fine. Was that a lie? Unlikely. There was no reason to lie.

Did she perhaps not like the dinner menu? But he told the chefs to pay special attention to the food so that it suited her tastes. Did the other young ladies bully her? It couldn’t be that, because there was no way that Rosaline could be beaten by anyone…

“Aren’t you happy to see me?” Cahir blurted out.

Rosaline’s eyes widened.

In short, both of them were surprised.

‘Oh… How could I be so insecure? I’m not lacking in looks, riches, and power… I guess it’s not Rosaline who’s tired today.’

He rubbed his face. This was all because Rosaline wasn’t working by his side.

She was the most competent person he knew, and he didn’t like to admit it, but he got used to living with the comforts courtesy of her capabilities. It turned out that as soon as she left, he became tired.

That was why he was being ridiculous right now.

Rosaline smiled as she watched the expressions flit through Cahir’s face. She was just as flustered as him.

What was he even asking for? It was so nice to finally see him again that her first reaction to his appearance was a bit too emotional. At first, she thought that it was just anger at his sudden arrival, but she realized the moment she heard his question that it wasn’t so simple.

‘I was happy to see Your Majesty.’

But she couldn’t just say that out loud so certainly.

Rosaline was used to thinking and calculating which was the best option in a situation. To her, there was a clear distinction between what should and shouldn’t be done.

She had no choice but to survive next to a tyrant. She had to refrain from being swayed by her emotions. 

All her feelings were new, too. Rosaline didn’t take long vacations often, but she used to go out of the palace regularly for work, and it was natural not to see Cahir at all times. However, after her most recent vacation, if one could really call it that, she had been so happy to return to the palace and see him…?

“Ah, Rosaline, that was a slip of the tongue earlier. Make sure you forget it.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

It wasn’t anything she wanted to think about for a long time either.

“What was said before that…” The embarrassment on his face faded, replaced by that relaxed smile of his, almost as if the confidence had never left.

“What are you talking about?”

“About disobedience.”

“No! I think… I don’t want to do that…” she trailed off.

Cahir raised an eyebrow at her wavering voice.

“So, Your Majesty, please forget about it.”

She thought Cahir would get angry, and thus lamented that she couldn’t take back her words. Her cheeks puffed, making him smile.

“Fine, I’ll just talk to myself, so it’s your choice if you want to listen.”

Still embarrassed, Rosaline nodded absently like a marionette.

Cahir stood, walking around the small round table and stopping next to her. He set his hand on her shoulder, bending until his golden hair tickled her cheeks. “Be my empress, a strong one who doesn’t rely on the emperor. A real empress. What do you say?”

Her mind felt far away. The hand on her shoulders felt unnaturally hot.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty?”

“Huh?”

“Are you not feeling well?”

“I didn’t realize it until I came here, but I think I might be tired.”

“No, I mean, do you have a fever?”

“Not at all.”

Then why was his hand so hot?

Rosaline didn’t press him, and he carefully removed the hand from its position.

“So, Rosaline, what do you say?”

“I’m going to pretend that I didn’t hear that.”

“Why?”

“Your Majesty, I only told you this morning that I would become the empress. But that’s not a guarantee. I’m participating in the selection, which means nothing is set in stone yet.”

“Why would you say that? I heard that the atmosphere was very good today, that the other ladies saw your answer and felt immense respect…”

“Your Majesty! Are you observing me?”

Cahir quickly shut up. He did not deny it, but as the emperor, he had the right to inspect if his empress candidates were being treated fairly. Frankly, he was worried that the other women would condemn Rosaline. Her family didn’t have the highest status, and Viscount Verite himself was uninterested in politics, which meant that he didn’t have much power.

There was no choice left but to observe if Azela picked on Rosaline by manipulating the other young nobles.

Seeing her eyes turn heavy-lidded, he quickly fixed his distracted expression and stood. “Rosaline, my heart has calmed down now, so I should get going. Sleep tight, alright? Unlike my naturally flawless skin, which glows even if I don’t sleep, you become pale if you don’t sleep properly for a day.”

She pouted, bringing a smile to his face, one that held no mischief. It was dazzling, and Rosaline stiffened at the sight of such a likable expression. Her heart reacted instantly as well.

“It’s dangerous!” 

Only when he had gone out the way he came did she come back to her senses.

‘I was a nervous wreck all day, but somehow that extremely distracting conversation helped me unwind.’

If that was Cahir’s goal, then he had succeeded. It was near-impossible for that to be the case, though, with his tunnel vision.

Rosaline stood, and something floated to the floor.

It was a gift.

She picked it up. But it seemed like more work, so she just grumbled and threw herself onto the bed. She didn’t think she could sleep, what with the bed being too wide and fluffy.

‘What will happen tomorrow? How…’

Rosaline fell asleep within a minute.

***

It would have been nice if she was woken by birdsong on a cheerful morning, but there was only Hui’s touch. Rosaline opened her eyes with great difficulty. Even though she had fallen asleep almost instantly, she couldn’t wake up early because of the bed.

‘Cozy… warm… like floating…!’

Hui forced her out of heaven.

Rosaline kept looking back at the bed, thinking about how her own bed was decent, but the empress’ bed was on a different level.

‘I suppose being empress isn’t the worst thing.’

No matter how rich and powerful the nobility was, in the end, they had to bow to the emperor and empress. Some goods were made exclusively for the imperial family. Just like this bed.

‘His Majesty should have persuaded me with his bed.’

She joked a little to herself as she faced the second day of the empress selection.