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Chapter 21
Greta, who had been holding Eliana’s shoulder, Mia who had spent a long time with her, and even Kaillen all widened their eyes at her words.
Eliana, as if unaware of everyone’s gaze, stormed out of the room.
As she stepped through the doorway, someone vaguely thought they heard her say “crazy bastard,” though it wasn’t certain.
A brief silence followed after she disappeared.
Mia was sweating nervously, overwhelmed by the sudden situation and the profanity her mistress had just uttered.
“Keep today’s events strictly confidential. Make sure the other servants don’t talk either, just in case.”
The butler standing behind her bowed deeply.
After leaving those words, Kaillen left the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess’s bedroom.
There was only one person who would do something like this. He had thought that after becoming an adult, that person might send assassins if necessary, but would at least stop with such childish pranks…
The black eagle was a symbol of the Empire and was strictly protected by the royal family.
It was a species so highly valued that owning one without imperial permission was illegal. And moreover, it had been a wedding gift from the Empress—but the Crown Prince had done something so cruel to it…
Irritation surged through him.
Kaillen ran a hand roughly through his hair and headed toward the bathroom.
The water in the bathtub had already cooled. He turned the hot water faucet aggressively, and steaming water poured out.
Watching the steam rise, he slowly undid his buttons one by one.
After checking the temperature, Kaillen stepped into the bath.
He let out a sigh and leaned his head back.
It would have been easier if they had just sent assassins. This kind of thing only made life more troublesome.
Kaillen had already ordered Caspian to strengthen security after Ferdinan’s “gift,” assuming at most an assassination attempt would come. He had not expected such a childish act instead.
Incidents like this were actually more troublesome.
Servants had to be silenced, and an apology along with an expensive gift would need to be sent to the Empress.
And tomorrow, they had to leave for the territory, meaning even more work had piled up.
Kaillen’s green eyes, burning with anger, distorted beneath the rippling water surface.
He took a deep breath and submerged his head fully into the bath. The world underwater felt like a different world.
When he was young, the water had seemed safe. He couldn’t hear the Empress’s and Ferdinan’s cutting words, nor see their cold, contemptuous gazes.
So he had often held his breath and stayed underwater for long periods.
“Puhah.”
After a long time, Kaillen emerged, exhaling sharply and shaking water from his hair.
Now he understood. He could no longer simply run away like that.
He decided to treat this unwanted marriage as an opportunity.
An opportunity to make the Empress, who wished for his death, and his half-brother let their guard down—and then strike when they least expected it.
He had been so busy planning in secret from a territory far from the capital.
When he thought of the woman who had unexpectedly given him that opportunity, Kaillen let out a dry laugh.
He had thought Eliana would be crying and regretting the marriage, trembling in fear.
Instead…
“Thank you for the fucking wedding gift.”
He had never expected to hear something like that.
From the moment he met her until now, Eliana had been unlike any woman he had known. She acted in completely unpredictable ways.
A woman who wore wedding shoes for him, then knelt and made a vow kiss asking him to trust her. A woman who even gave him a disastrous wink.
Everyone in the Empire knew Kaillen’s position within the imperial family, so she must have known as well. But hearing about it and experiencing it firsthand were entirely different things.
Compared to what Kaillen had endured, Ferdinan’s disgusting “gift” almost felt trivial.
But perhaps… she might actually be fine.
A woman who clenched her fists in anger at the Empress’s disrespect, and cursed at a blood-soaked wedding chamber…
Knock knock.
The knock pulled Kaillen out of his thoughts instantly.
“Your Grace.”
“Come in.”
At Kaillen’s permission, the butler entered carefully.
“As you ordered, the servants have been silenced and the remains of the black eagle have been cleaned up.”
Kaillen nodded and stepped out of the bath. The long-serving butler helped him put on a robe hanging nearby.
As Kaillen tied the robe, he asked:
“And the Grand Duchess?”
“She is cleaning the bridal room, but it seems impossible to use it tonight. She has been guided to the largest and most suitable guest room. You will be guided there as well.”
Kaillen nodded and dried his hair with a towel.
After changing into nightwear and following the butler, exhaustion finally began to settle in.
Dealing with the Emperor, Empress, and Ferdinan all at once had been exhausting. He wanted nothing more than to rest, but there was still one thing left.
The first night.
He sighed without realizing it.
The butler stopped walking.
“Then, have a good night.”
Standing before the guest room, the butler bowed respectfully and smiled warmly, as if looking at a child he had watched grow up.
It was clear he would not leave until Kaillen entered the room.
Kaillen sighed again and opened the door.
The room was filled with a soft orange glow. Torpaz lanterns were turned off, leaving only candlelight. A faint floral scent lingered in the air.
The hastily prepared guest room was smaller and far less impressive than the Grand Duke’s bedroom. Even the bed was smaller.
On that bed, Kaillen saw a small figure lying under the blanket.
He cleared his throat.
He had made noise. He had even deliberately announced his presence.
Yet Eliana did not move.
No way…
Kaillen cautiously approached the bed, glancing around. A half-empty wine glass sat on the table. He could hear faint breathing.
“Ha.”
Letting out a dry laugh, he walked closer.
Eliana’s face peeked out from under the blanket. She was fast asleep, completely unaware of the world. Candlelight flickered across her sleeping face.
Kaillen had not intended to share the first night either—but clearly, she hadn’t either.
If she had, she wouldn’t be sleeping so deeply, so defenseless that anyone could carry her away.
Feeling foolish for hesitating earlier, Kaillen poured himself a drink from the table.
He took a sip and glanced at her again.
“Seriously…”
Even men struggled with this strong liquor.
He shook his head slightly, drank the rest, and removed his robe. Walking around the bed, he lay down on the opposite side of her.
A faint laugh escaped him again.
Her sleeping face looked slightly silly. At the same time, stripped of her usual expressive nature, she looked completely different.
Younger. Fragile.
Only her soft breathing filled the quiet room. Kaillen’s laughter sounded unusually loud in the silence.
Startled by his own voice, he touched his lips and turned his head.
Eliana’s chest rose and fell steadily.
Listening to her breathing, Kaillen slowly closed his eyes.
For the first time in a long while, he fell into a deep sleep.
Four days after the wedding
From early morning, the Grand Ducal House of Lampert was bustling.
Today was the day they would depart for the territory granted by the Emperor.
A ten-hour train ride, followed by several more hours by carriage.
Originally, they were supposed to leave the day after the wedding, but Ferdinan’s outrageous gift had delayed preparations.
Dylan seemed to have suffered the most dealing with the aftermath of the Crown Prince’s “gift.”
According to Mia, Dylan had been seen late at night in a dark kitchen eating because he was starving, and the head chef had complained while patting his protruding belly.
Of course, the chef was a man, so nothing had actually happened.
There was a lot to prepare and a long journey ahead. Since it was Kaillen’s first time going to his territory as Grand Duke, they would be staying there for quite a while, and only a small number of servants were accompanying them.
“All luggage has been loaded, Grand Duchess.”
“Alright.”
I stood up, tucking the book I had been reading under my arm.
From this moment on, the real beginning of “Making the Male Lead Emperor” was about to start.
With a determined resolve, I left the mansion.
