🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 42
Following the guard, Fleur gradually became more puzzled, tilting her head in confusion.
“Um… are we going the right way?”
She asked the guard ahead of her, but he simply nodded silently.
Even so, her unease grew.
We’re going to meet the Emperor’s shadow, so why does it feel like we’re heading toward the largest palace?
When playing the game in real life, moving would just result in a screen transition. Manually walking around would only waste playtime.
So even without knowing the exact layout or geography of the imperial palace, it was obvious that the biggest building would naturally be the Emperor’s palace.
“Could there be an underground room since it’s a shadow…?”
If so, wouldn’t that mean facing the Emperor…?
No, they say that speaking a thought into existence makes it real. Don’t think that.
Trying to push away these ominous thoughts, she took out the whistle necklace in her hand, just in case.
“This is where I leave you.”
The guard stopped in front of what appeared to be the Imperial Palace.
“From here, Jane will guide you.”
A woman wearing black formal attire, not a dress, with glasses, stood at the entrance.
She bowed politely toward Fleur.
“Are you Fleur Valen?”
“Yes, I’m Valen.”
“Then please follow me.”
How powerful must the shadow be for even the guide to change?
Feeling dazed, Fleur followed, clenching her fist around the whistle so it wouldn’t be seen.
“Wait, we’re going up instead of down?”
She had expected the central staircase, spreading to both sides, to lead underground.
But climbing upward instead, she couldn’t hide her surprise.
“Yes, they’re waiting on the second floor.”
Jane explained nonchalantly, then ascended without hesitation, as if to say she wouldn’t repeat herself.
Fleur’s anxiety made her hesitate in following. Should she run away now, while she still could?
As they walked down the second-floor corridor, only the sound of their footsteps echoed until they stopped in front of a location.
“You may enter here.”
Jane pointed with her palm at a large double door, easily two meters tall.
Even the door had patterns and gemstones, as if painted by an artist.
If the shadow’s quarters are like this, how extravagant must the Emperor’s own room be?
Admiring inwardly, Fleur approached the door, and a servant managing the room opened it.
As the door gradually opened, Fleur peeked in cautiously.
“…Mr. White Snake?”
Bookshelves reaching the ceiling lined both walls, packed with books, and to the right were brown leather sofas and a table.
Straight ahead, a large desk and black leather chair were placed, but from her view, only the back of the chair was visible, making it hard to tell if someone was sitting there.
“Come in.”
It wasn’t until she heard the shadow Kyle’s voice that she walked in with relief.
“I thought you were all talk, but you seem more capable than I expected.”
Fleur said this with a hint of teasing, and Jane’s eyes widened.
“Haha, really?”
He laughed broadly but still didn’t show his face.
“This is the Imperial Palace, right?”
“Yes.”
“So the trusted shadow even uses the same building as His Majesty?”
In Valenga, the mansion was small, so she shared a floor with the secretary, Dylan.
But in the Imperial Palace, with so many rooms, sharing a building meant complete trust from the Emperor.
“Wait, what are you saying…?”
Jane, who had remained silent, seemed about to intervene.
“Jane.”
At his low voice, warning her to stay back, Jane took two steps away from Fleur and stood at attention.
Even Fleur felt tense at the strictness.
Right, this is completely his territory. One misstep could lead to punishment for insult.
As she reflected, she pressed her lips together.
“Did you prepare as I told you?”
“Eh? Prepare for what?”
“I told you at the party. Dress warmly.”
Now she remembered the words she hadn’t thought of before.
“Then we’ll meet next time, dressed warmly. Madam.”
The weather in the empire was warm like early summer, so she hadn’t remembered his words.
“Oh, no. I dressed the same as usual.”
“What?”
“I was flustered that day and forgot…”
Embarrassed, she scratched the back of her neck.
“But the weather is fine now, so there’s no reason to dress warmly, right?”
“And in Shamal?”
“Yes? Then I’ll prepare properly. But we haven’t decided exactly when or how yet.”
“Hmm…”
With a vague reply, the chair slowly moved.
She had only seen him in disguise before, so she couldn’t imagine how he looked today.
Would she see his real self, or another disguise?
Squinting, trying to observe carefully…
“…Gah.”
Even though the chair was only halfway turned, Fleur’s face went pale, and her legs gave way, trembling.
Before her stood none other than…
“His… His Majesty?!”
The Emperor she had most wanted to avoid as a “target character.”
Platinum curly hair fully revealed his forehead, emphasizing the T-zone between brow bone and nose bridge.
His deep, confident eyes and shining violet irises—he was the Emperor.
New target character discovered.
Leonardo Eustace Lorella Casel.
Current affection: 17%
The system screen briefly showed question marks, then quickly revealed his real name.
She rubbed her eyes several times to be sure—it was Leonardo.
“Y-Your Majesty?”
“You could instantly recognize my disguise, but not my real face.”
He smiled, revealing deep dimples, unchanged even under disguise.
Impossible…
In the real-life game, the Emperor had often disguised himself to hide his identity.
But in 2D, the silhouette remained the same, only the hair and clothes changed—so recognition was easy.
How could she have missed such a strong impression?
Yet innocent Fleur never noticed and always fell for his tricks.
‘Am I an idiot? How could I miss such a simple disguise?’
She had always blamed her lack of observation skills, yet now she herself couldn’t recognize Leonardo.
His real-life disguise was perfect, convincing enough to believe he was the Emperor’s shadow.
“Oh… since when has Your Majesty been…?”
“When? I’ve been royal since birth.”
“Uh, no… I mean—”
She was too flustered to speak.
“Why do you keep hovering around me? Did you order me to be kidnapped?”
“Why would I?”
“Well, because I’m beautiful.”
His words finally reminded her of what she had said to Leonardo.
“Your Majesty, you’re rather narrow-minded.”
“Are you insulting the Emperor?”
“Yes. I should. It’s humiliating to me too.”
Did she just say that directly to the Emperor’s face?
“You’ve ruined everything, so I must get my revenge.”
She even grabbed his collar!
Recalling her past actions, Fleur quickly covered her mouth with both hands.
She had openly insulted and even threatened the Emperor—it was a miracle she wasn’t already in jail.
“Y-Your Majesty! I’m truly sorry! I thought you were just a shadow…!”
She collapsed to her knees, bowing her head.
She had to reach the marriage ending to return to reality with the game’s rewards. Dying here would make all her efforts meaningless.
If Leonardo forgave her, she could kneel a hundred times.
“I expected you to slap me immediately.”
“N-no! At that time, I was overwhelmed by the responsibility as the party host. It was entirely my fault. Please forgive me just this once…”
“Stand up.”
His low voice carried a weight that pressed heavily on her shoulders, back, and head.
Trembling, she managed to rise.
He stood up from his chair and strode toward her.
Her heart raced with every step.
He came close, brushing under her chin as if to lift her gaze.
Seeing him up close, she couldn’t help recalling the first time they met.
Ridiculously handsome… disgustingly handsome.
“Fleur Valen, speak honestly. If you don’t, our deal is void.”
“Eh, eh?”
“Do you really want to beg for my forgiveness?”
Leonardo’s violet eyes narrowed, showing just half, like a white snake—his gaze piercing straight through her.
