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~Chapter 11~
She was a strangely bothersome woman.
It was probably because he still hadn’t found the answer.
He just needed to figure out why that woman was allowed into the emperor’s garden.
At that moment, the maid turned her head, and her face came into view.
‘Why is that maid here?’
Grey’s cold gaze rested on the maid for a moment, then moved away.
“What are you looking at?”
“Nothing. Let’s go.”
Grey blocked Oreon’s glancing eyes from behind and walked ahead again.
The sun was setting, and the imperial palace was slowly turning golden.
“Phew.”
Dahlia looked up at the sky and let out a deep sigh before starting to walk again.
She had gotten distracted chatting with Mone and lost sight of Lemon. Because of that, it was obvious Annie would scold her if she didn’t get back soon.
How could there be no one passing by in such a huge palace?
No matter where she looked, all the paths seemed the same, and she kept circling the same places.
She knew she was bad with directions, but wasn’t this a bit much?
Feeling frustrated, Dahlia straightened her shoulders on purpose.
I will find my way no matter what!
As she gathered herself and took a strong step forward, she saw a familiar face in the distance.
“Your Majesty the Emperor!”
Even though she had only met him once, she was so happy to see someone she knew when lost that she almost wanted to cry.
With excitement showing on her face, Dahlia ran toward him. But she didn’t see the stone on the ground and tripped over it.
“Ahh.”
What do you need at a time like this?
Breakfall.
Dahlia quickly did the breakfall move she’d learned from Cole.
Her shoulder brushed the ground, and her back and waist rolled perfectly on the ground. Then, she smoothly bent her knee and stood up right away.
Phew, I didn’t get hurt.
Clap, clap, clap.
When she heard clapping from somewhere, she looked up with a confused expression and saw a large hand in front of her.
Looking higher, she saw the emperor’s guard captain awkwardly reaching out his hand, maybe to help her.
When their eyes met, the guard captain’s deep navy eyes shook awkwardly.
Dahlia smiled brightly and bowed her head a little.
“Thank you.”
The man nodded stiffly and quietly stepped back.
Meanwhile, a red-haired man behind the emperor clapped again in admiration.
“That was amazing.”
“It’s nothing.”
Dahlia answered humbly, but she felt proud that her breakfall had been recognized.
I should brag to Cole later.
Still smiling, Dahlia made eye contact with the emperor.
He was looking at her with a clenched fist and an unhappy look.
Did I do something wrong?
“I greet Your Majesty the Emperor.”
Dahlia quickly greeted him, wanting to be careful.
The red-haired man spoke for the emperor.
“That was really impressive. How did a young lady in a dress do such a skill—”
The guard captain hit the red-haired man hard on the side.
“Ugh. What?”
Ignoring the fuss behind him, the emperor looked Dahlia up and down.
“You’re in the flower garden again, Young Lady.”
“Huh?”
Dahlia asked with a puzzled face, but he just glanced at her hair and changed the subject.
“By the way, Young Lady, didn’t you say you’re an official diplomat?”
Dahlia took a deep breath and smiled awkwardly.
“Yes. I am an official diplomat.”
“But every time I see you, you seem so relaxed.”
“I do get told I seem a bit relaxed—”
She tried to answer seriously, but the emperor cut her off.
“I meant it as a figure of speech.”
With the emperor’s cold tone, Dahlia slowly lowered her eyes.
So he was being sarcastic? I guess emperors talk in a roundabout way.
Dahlia lifted her head and played along calmly.
“Ah, I see. But honestly, it’s true that I am pretty relaxed and have a lot of free time.”
“Pfft.”
Huh? The red-haired man behind the emperor was quickly covering his mouth. The guard captain next to him also looked like he was gritting his teeth, his jaw tense.
Wait—maybe diplomats shouldn’t be too relaxed or free?
“Right. So what is a relaxed, free diplomat doing here, not working? Is it because you’re from a branch family of the diplomatic house?”
The emperor’s cold questioning continued.
Dahlia watched the emperor’s face and thought quickly.
I should act more like a diplomat.
“I was working.”
“What kind of work?”
“I was learning about the empire’s mood and ways to help my kingdom—”
“So—you’re saying you’re spying on the empire and admitting it directly to the emperor? Is that a declaration of war?”
The emperor smiled brightly, dimples showing, and cut her off.
“Huh? A declaration of war? No! All I’ve seen so far is the palace gardens.”
Dahlia quickly explained, looking shocked.
Spy? Once I get the emperor married, I don’t even plan to step foot in this empire again!
The emperor looked at her unhappy face.
“Young Lady, you’re so green.”
“What? I smell?”
Dahlia sniffed her sleeve but couldn’t smell anything.
“I meant it as a metaphor, that you’re inexperienced—”
“Ah, you meant it that way. It’s true, this is my first time working.”
Dahlia quickly picked up his words.
One of Grey’s eyebrows shot up.
No matter what he said, she always had a comeback. What kind of woman is this?
Grey turned around because he could feel the tension behind him.
Oreon was covering his mouth with both hands and shaking his shoulders, while Edan, though expressionless, was gripping his sword so hard the veins stood out.
If he kept talking to this woman, he’d end up caught in her pace.
“So, why did you call me just now?”
Dahlia’s eyes sparkled like stars.
“Ah! Because of the promise from last time.”
“Promise?”
“You said if I did you a favor, you’d do one for me. You had to rush off to a meeting that time.”
“Oh, right.”
“Can I ask my favor now?”
“Go ahead.”
“Please meet me three times!”
Dahlia gave the emperor her best friendly smile.
If she could meet him just three times, maybe they could get a little closer.
If she suddenly told the emperor to hurry up and get married, she’d definitely look crazy.
So, she planned to get close to him first, learn what kind of woman he liked, and then set up a natural meeting.
Meanwhile, Grey’s gaze cooled.
He thought she might be different because she was unique, but she was just the same.
Women only ever wanted one thing from him.
That.
He knew he was good-looking. And he had the emperor’s power and endless wealth.
From childhood, so many women had chased after him. Even the former emperor had secretly sent hundreds of women to his room.
Naturally, his dislike of women kept growing.
How was he any different from a stud horse? By now, just being near women made him uncomfortable and sick. Sometimes, he even broke out in hives.
Grey suddenly stopped thinking.
He looked again at the pink-haired young lady in front of him.
‘But then, why can I talk to this woman normally?’
