🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 10
“I was actually going to say that I couldn’t show you my notebook.”
“I’m still too embarrassed to let anyone read what I’ve written…”
“Then you greatly overestimate my curiosity.”
Was saying I wouldn’t show him my notebook an overreaction?
Harriet tightened her grip on it.
The Emperor had promised not to get angry.
But if he suddenly changed his mind, that promise would mean nothing.
Kallis continued in an indifferent tone.
“Still, you were right.”
“If you hadn’t said anything, I would have asked to see it.”
“And you wouldn’t have been able to refuse.”
The Emperor’s words were requests only in name.
His requests were commands.
Even a casual remark from him could become an unbearable burden to someone like Harriet.
It was Kallis’s elegant way of saying,
You made the correct choice.
He then moved on to another question.
“But why leave your room in the middle of the night just to write a novel?”
“My roommate is sensitive to light, so I had no choice.”
“I was wandering around looking for somewhere bright enough to write.”
“An aspiring novelist searching for light.”
The corners of Kallis’s lips lifted…
Only ever so slightly.
Then the expression vanished again.
It happened so quickly that anyone who noticed would have questioned whether they had imagined it.
“It sounds almost like fate.”
“I’ve read about something like that before.”
“You mean Astria Gillet?”
“Her circumstances are certainly similar to mine.”
“From Cruel Moon.”
“Elliot Dark’s novel.”
“So you’ve read it.”
The air froze.
Harriet wanted to smack herself.
The comparison of chasing lights like a falling star came directly from Cruel Moon.
The character had been based on her own circumstances.
Simply hearing it mentioned had made her instinctively respond with the heroine’s name.
…
Wait.
Why is the Emperor quoting my novel in the first place?
Wasn’t he supposed to have flown into a rage after reading it?
Wasn’t it supposedly so terrible that it cured his insomnia?
If he hated the author, why memorize lines from the book?
“You’re rather bold.”
“To mention Elliot Dark in front of me.”
Remembering all the newspaper articles that had spread throughout the Kingdom, Kallis spoke with renewed amusement.
The playful spark returned to his eyes.
“He’s my favorite author.”
Harriet answered almost defiantly.
The instant the words left her mouth…
She regretted them.
At this rate, why don’t I just announce that I’m Elliot Dark?
Or offer my neck for execution while I’m at it?
Surely she knew about the reports claiming the Emperor had become furious after reading Elliot Dark’s novels.
Yet she still openly admitted she admired the author.
Kallis watched her back for a long moment.
The silence stretched.
Harriet’s regret only grew heavier.
Nothing made subordinates more anxious than the silence of someone above them.
Only the sound of three pairs of footsteps echoed through the darkness.
At last, Kallis spoke.
“I appreciate honest people.”
“We’ve arrived at Cinnia Palace, Your Majesty.”
“Thank you for guiding me.”
“Though I hate to impose further…”
“I’d like you to help me for a while.”
Help him?
Harriet committed the discourtesy of turning around to stare directly at the Emperor in confusion.
What could he possibly want from her?
Kallis stopped behind her.
He gazed thoughtfully toward Cinnia Palace.
The pale blue of his eyes reflected the warm light spilling from the building, making them shimmer softly.
For a moment…
They almost looked bright with anticipation.
“Are you good at keeping things tidy?”
“…Pardon?”
“I asked whether you are.”
“Yes.”
“I believe I’m fairly good at it.”
“I have a habit of making quite a mess.”
“Elvin ends up suffering because of it.”
“I’d like you to take care of organizing my bedroom for a while.”
Harriet’s eyes widened.
His bedroom?
In other words…
He was giving her permission to enter the Emperor’s private chambers.
If any other maid overheard this…
Or anyone else, for that matter…
They would almost certainly misunderstand.
For the briefest instant, even Harriet wondered if there was another meaning behind his words.
But the Emperor’s complete lack of romantic scandals…
Combined with the fact that he barely seemed to notice her as a woman…
Destroyed that theory immediately.
Has he really lost his mind?
Instead, she questioned his sanity.
Being allowed into the Emperor’s bedroom was an incredible honor.
But opportunities like this usually concealed equally great dangers.
Completely unconcerned by her suspicious expression, Kallis slipped a hand into his pocket.
“So…”
“If you ever need light again…”
“You may come to Cinnia Palace whenever you wish.”
“Even at night.”
Anyone overhearing those words would almost certainly misunderstand them.
Harriet, however, understood exactly what he meant.
If she needed somewhere to write after dark…
She could use organizing the Emperor’s room as an excuse to enter.
He was quietly giving her permission.
Never in her life had she expected such consideration from the Emperor.
She wasn’t grateful.
She was simply stunned.
She stared blankly at him.
Only then did Kallis finally look away from the palace and meet her eyes.
Seeing Harriet’s astonished expression, he finally understood why people said someone looked as though they were trying not to laugh.
Still…
He himself didn’t smile.
“Good work.”
That was all he said.
Then he turned away.
Cinnia Palace glowed brightly, awaiting its master.
Its lights alone were enough to guide his path.
* * *
Every servant who had stayed awake waiting for the Emperor welcomed his return in perfect silence.
Like owls watching through the night.
Kallis disliked unnecessary commotion.
Only after they entered the bedroom did Elvin finally speak.
“That was overly generous of you, Your Majesty.”
“She interrupted her own business to guide a lost traveler back.”
“Shouldn’t kindness be repaid with kindness?”
Was that really all?
For perhaps the first time in his life, Elvin looked at the Emperor with open suspicion.
If His Majesty were truly so generous that he rewarded every maid who gave directions…
Every palace maid in the Imperial Capital would either be wealthy or covered in honors.
“That is simply part of her duties.”
“Can someone out of uniform truly be called a maid?”
Avoiding Elvin’s skeptical gaze, Kallis added almost defensively,
“Besides…”
“She said she likes Elliot Dark.”
“…Your Majesty.”
People’s true motives usually emerged last.
To Elvin…
It sounded exactly like this:
He rewarded her because she loved the same author he did.
“Of course, don’t misunderstand.”
“I wasn’t kind to her simply because we enjoy the same writer.”
His tired fingers slowly undid the buttons of his shirt.
The firm muscles beneath were gradually revealed.
The truth was simple.
Kallis was exhausted.
He had already said so more than five times.
The fatigue from the journey to the Kingdom still hadn’t left him.
Before sleeping…
He intended to finish reading the part of Cruel Moon where he had stopped earlier.
The story was approaching its climax.
“Forgive me for speaking again, Your Majesty…”
“I already know what you’re going to say.”
“So keep quiet.”
“Your Majesty…”
The pleading voice made Kallis sigh softly.
This time…
He didn’t bother holding it back.
“Your scolding has become excessive.”
Fatigue sharpened his normally calm voice.
It was a clear warning to say no more.
Reluctantly, Elvin fell silent.
If Harriet had been openly trying to seduce the Emperor…
Elvin would have found that easier to deal with.
Instead…
She showed absolutely no interest in Kallis.
And that was precisely what attracted the Emperor’s attention.
…
It was the first time Kallis had ever shown this much interest in any woman.
