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Chapter – 27
“Huh? What’s with you all of a sudden?”
“I’ve been barely holding it in just to get information from you, but I can’t stand it anymore.”
“What are you talking about? Holding it in? We were having fun.”
“Fun, my ass. I didn’t enjoy myself with you even a little. You were so greasy it made me want to throw up.”
Only then did Chespher seem to realize something was wrong, finally getting to his feet.
“What on earth are you talking about?”
“I only approached you to get information. There’s no way I’d ever fall for someone like you, is there?”
“Information? Baby, if you want, I can tell you more. So don’t play hard to get. A woman who plays hard to get isn’t attractive, you know? You were already into me, so why are you acting like this now? Is it because I touched you too eagerly?”
“Hah. That damn ‘baby.’ I have zero desire to be your baby, and I was never into you in the first place.”
“What…? You’re saying you’ve never fallen for someone as handsome as me?”
He looked shocked for a moment, then broke into a smile.
“Don’t joke around. There’s never been anyone who didn’t fall for me after seeing my face.”
“I’m really sorry, but… you’re not handsome.”
“That’s ridiculous…!”
“I don’t mean to judge people by their looks at all, but honestly speaking… your face is oddly disharmonious. So don’t think for a second that I fell for you because of it.”
“Hah. What nonsense are you spouting? And do you think you’re pretty? I only played along because you seemed to have some money, and now what?”
“That’s right. I’m not pretty. I know my place, and I don’t have money either. This outfit is borrowed. Anyway, thanks for the information. It looks like it’ll be useful in more ways than one.”
I gave him a polite bow and tried to walk away. But—
“You little bastard, you think you can play with me?!”
“I didn’t play with you. I didn’t threaten you to get information—you talked willingly because you enjoyed it.”
“Don’t make me laugh. Either way, I took a liking to you, so you’re going to spend tonight with me.”
I hadn’t expected him to let it go easily. Still, I hadn’t thought he’d be this pathetic.
“Spend the night with you? No thanks.”
But he had already grabbed my wrist.
“Let go.”
“Why would I let go? I won’t until you play with me. If you toyed with me, you should take responsibility.”
“How disgusting. Do you know who I am?”
“And who the hell are you?!”
A lawyer. The word was just about to leave my lips when—
“What do you think you’re doing to another man’s woman?”
Another hand grabbed Chespher’s wrist. He squeezed so hard that Chespher cried out in pain and hastily released me.
“Y-you bastard, who are you?!”
“Who am I? Her husband.”
No—how can you just cut out all the context and say that?!
Husband. Husband?! You might become one someday, but there’s a far higher chance you won’t—and you’re His Majesty the Emperor! I stared at him in disbelief, but perhaps he thought I was simply startled, because the Emperor naturally wrapped an arm around my waist.
“You must’ve been frightened, baby.”
“…Don’t call me ‘baby.’”
“Alright.”
Despite the distance, he must have heard our conversation well, because he dared to use that word—baby—just like Chespher had. I felt goosebumps break out all over. Where did he even learn something like that?
“Still, when a handsome man like me says ‘baby,’ it’s fine, isn’t it?”
“No!”
“Then… lady?”
“……”
I glared at the Emperor in silence. I know I shouldn’t look at him like that, but whether I want to or not, he keeps grinding my patience down to nothing—almost as if he wants me to get angry. In fact, he was smiling more brightly than ever, clearly enjoying himself.
Watching us, Chespher hurriedly cut in.
“What do you think you’re doing, with me standing right here?!”
“Being affectionate lovers. It’s obvious at a glance. Do I really need to explain every little thing?”
“No! She clearly came because she liked me! And who are you to butt in?!”
“I told you. I’m her husband.”
“Ha…!”
“And I’ve been watching the whole time. My wife never once said she liked you. She was just getting information. If anything, you’re the one who kept hitting on her like some sex-crazed lunatic.”
“When did I ever hit on her?!”
“Oh? You didn’t? Should I cut off that filthy hand of yours so you’ll come to your senses and tell the truth?”
The Emperor spoke calmly, his words chilling. If an ordinary person had said that, I would’ve dismissed it as nonsense—but coming from him, it was different. There was an eerie pressure, as if he truly might act. Chespher must have felt it too, because his once-confident expression slowly stiffened.
Still, perhaps unwilling to lose in front of a woman, he glanced at me and opened his mouth again.
“So what? Having a loose woman like that as your wife—how pitiful you must be.”
“The loose one here is you. Do you want to keep fighting? If you do, let’s step outside.”
“……”
Chespher, who had been about to rise to the challenge out of pride, seemed intimidated when he took in the Emperor’s overwhelmingly large build.
For a man, Chespher was on the smaller side. His face lacked masculine sharpness, leaning toward androgynous, whereas the Emperor had broad shoulders and towering height—an unmistakably powerful, masculine presence. Feeling the pressure, Chespher deliberately avoided his gaze.
“Come on, let’s go. You look like you want to fight.”
“What? Why would I?”
“Scared? After slobbering over another man’s woman like a dog in heat.”
“…I never did that. Hah, you’ve ruined my appetite.”
Chespher turned his head away, avoiding eye contact, then pivoted around.
“Running away?”
“I’m not! Something suddenly came up—”
That was the end of it. Faced with sheer physical presence, Chespher—overwhelmed by nothing more than the Emperor’s size—fled out in a hurry before anyone could stop him. Watching him go, the Emperor clicked his tongue.
“Pathetic.”
“Thank you.”
“There’s no need for that between us. Let’s go. This place leaves a bad taste in my mouth.”
Indeed, by now everyone’s attention was fixed on us. I’d wondered why Chespher’s voice had carried so clearly—apparently it was because the room had fallen so silent.
The Emperor scanned the surroundings with a displeased expression. Wherever his gaze landed, people fell quiet, just like Chespher had. It felt like being in a library as we left the inn.
“I could’ve gone alone.”
The mercenary office wasn’t far from the inn.
“What if that bastard was still lurking around?”
“My knights are here.”
“You’re trusting men who look like they’d collapse if someone poked them?”
The knights of House Stork, waiting outside the tavern, looked offended—but it wasn’t entirely untrue. Compared to the Emperor’s massive frame, their bodies looked almost slender.
“Even so, please don’t be too harsh on others. To me, they’re more dependable than anyone.”
“Oh? Are you taking another man’s side in front of me?”
“I would’ve defended them even if they were women.”
“Have you lost your fear of authority?”
There he goes again, trying to crush me with power. What is he, a fork or something?
“I’m just making a request. Haha—we’re here.”
Thankfully, the mercenary office had just come into view.
Fidgeting with my hands out of nervous habit, I belatedly noticed the unfamiliar texture of the ring on my finger. If it weren’t for this ring, Chespher probably wouldn’t have taken such an interest in me today.
“I’ll return the ring. You knew that man would fall for me when he saw it, didn’t you?”
“Probably.”
“So you knew everything.”
How much does he know? Why does he know everything yet never tell me all of it? And did he not tell the baron either?
“Anyway, thank you.”
But instead of taking it back, he slipped the ring onto my finger again.
“It’s fine. It’s the ring I proposed with. It belongs with you.”
“No—what are you talking about? A proposal?”
“I already chose you. And you stepped into my life.”
“…I didn’t step into anything—”
That’s so unfair. He’s the one who barged into my life…
“So don’t try to avoid it. I don’t lie. I don’t say things that aren’t true.”
“……”
“And I said it today. That you’re my wife. So accept it. That is your future.”
I couldn’t say a single word. Wait—am I… standing at the threshold of becoming a mistress right now?
When this assignment is over, should I really just run away? Why does the Emperor have to take a liking to me and gift me such trials…?
At that moment, a cold wind brushed past my cheek. Goosebumps spread over my body. Then he took off his coat and draped it over my shoulders.
“Rabiel.”
