WBET 16

Chapter 16

I Will Be the Empress the Tyrant Emperor Obsesses Over

“Quiet?”

I tried to pull Gio’s hand away from my eyes. It was frustrating and uncomfortable not being able to see. As I struggled, Gio whispered softly.

“You shouldn’t look.”

At his cold voice, I stopped what I was doing and said,

“Alright. There must be a reason you’re saying that.”

When I stayed still, Gio seemed surprised and asked me,

“You… trust me?”

“Yeah. I trust you.”

“What could there be not to trust? If you wanted to kill me, you would’ve done it already.”

As I said that, Gio’s hand covering my eyes trembled slightly.

“Then, since you trust me, let’s stay like this for a while.”

Gio wrapped one arm around my waist from behind and pulled me close. I felt his firm chest against my back, along with the rhythmic beat of his heart and the warmth of his body.

“A dead person floated down the river. I covered your eyes because I didn’t want you to see. I don’t know who killed them, but I think they’re nearby. Let’s stay like this until the presence fades.”

Was he suggesting we pretend to be lovers while holding each other? Not knowing the situation, I simply leaned against him and waited calmly as he instructed.

‘As expected, there must be someone around the river. My plan will succeed.’

I didn’t realize that Gio’s arm, which was holding my waist as he debated whether to go upstream or downstream from the river, had stiffened.

Gio’s muttered words dissolved silently into the air.

“This is driving me crazy.”

“Is it the author?”

Leandro, sitting gracefully upright on a horse whiter than moonlight, asked coldly. Ruben knelt awkwardly before the man, striking his thigh.

“Yes, Your Majesty. This man falsely reported seeing Lady Irina to collect the reward and tried to escape. There wasn’t even anyone resembling her at the location he mentioned. It was all lies.”

“Ha…”

Leandro let out a deep sigh and closed his eyes. Ruben held his breath, watching the emperor’s next move.

“A month has already passed, and not only have we not found Irina, we’ve barely even seen a shadow.”

Leandro bit his lower lip with a complicated expression. When he opened his eyes again, they were filled only with coldness.

“Wasted effort.”

With a calm expression, Leandro glanced at the terrified man and swung the longsword he held. The man’s body slumped gracefully from the strike.

“Dispose of him.”

“Yes.”

Ruben grabbed the man by the armpits and threw him into the river. The current swept him away, and the blood from his body quickly turned the clear water red.

“Not him either.”

Leandro spoke in a low, weary voice. He had been on high alert for a month, responding to every piece of information. His nerves were frayed, and he was easily exhausted. Seeing him rub his temple with his thumb, Ruben said,

“I can check the incoming information without burdening Your Majesty.”

“No. I have to go. If Irina is really there, I need to bring her back immediately.”

Despite Ruben’s attempts to stop him, Leandro’s resolve was firm.

They left for Maximilia, taking the main road. Pushing through waist-high bushes, they saw a small cabin downstream and a couple holding each other tenderly by the river.

“She resembles her from behind.”

The woman’s face was hidden by the tall man holding her, but it was obvious he cherished her.

For some reason, Leandro couldn’t take his eyes off the couple.

“Irina… where are you?”

He wanted to hold Irina like that, close and tight. The only thing he could do for now was ride fast.

“Return as quickly as possible.”

“Yes!”

As he urged his horse, twenty elite knights followed closely behind.

“They’re gone now. Those people left.”

Only after the sound of hooves faded did Gio release me from his embrace. He had been holding me from behind, worried that the others were watching, turning me to face him as he held me.

“What’s wrong? You can move now.”

When I didn’t move, Gio asked worriedly,

“Gio.”

A strong scent of cool musk lingered in the air. My heart thumped, and I felt a strange longing. I asked Gio,

“Isn’t that a musk scent?”

Gio looked around, then pointed to a rattan basket with his index finger.

“Isn’t that it? I think you just mistook it for the fresh scent of herbs.”

Following his finger, I saw the peppermint that had been washed and crushed earlier.

‘Right, it can’t be him. He wouldn’t be this close.’

Convincing myself that it was just a scent that reminded me of him, I followed Gio into the house.

Inside, we kept busy intentionally. I stood by the fire, making a pot of insect-repelling cream, and fell asleep almost immediately from exhaustion.

Creak. How much time had passed? I heard the warped wooden door open and close. Even half-asleep, the strong smell of blood hit my nose.

“Another wild boar?”

Gio chuckled quietly at my question.

“It’s still midnight. Go back to sleep.”

“Yeah. You should sleep too.”

Listening to the creaking of the stairs as Gio went upstairs, I lay down. Gio rustled above for a while, then grabbed the railing and lightly jumped down to the first floor.

“Ah!”

Gio was sitting casually under my bed, resting his head on my knees covered by a blanket. His action was so natural and pitiful that I reached out and patted his brown hair. The soft brown hair, cool from the night air, felt refreshing.

Running my fingers through his hair woke me up. Staring blankly at the ceiling, I thought through the plan for tomorrow. Gio’s hand continued stroking my head, and he asked,

“Why can’t you sleep? Is it because I smell like blood?”

I shook my head.

“No, I just can’t sleep. There are nights like that.”

“Then should I show you something nice?”

Gio, seemingly also unable to sleep, suddenly stood and helped me up.

Standing there with my hands on my hips, I asked,

“Are you serious?”

“It’s fine. Give me your hand.”

“Going up a tree in the middle of the night?”

I shook my head vigorously, refusing. Gio, already perched on a branch, laughed and jumped back down.

“You won’t regret it.”

“If I regret going or not going, then I just won’t go.”

“If you’re scared, close your eyes. You said you trust me, right?”

Saying this, Gio wrapped one arm around my waist and lifted me lightly. He carried me to a thick branch that could hold two people and gently placed me down.

Being so high up, I swayed even with small movements.

“Don’t push me. I can’t fall!”

I grabbed his arm to keep from moving and sat down.

“I won’t. Now, look ahead.”

Gio turned my head gently to look forward.

“It’s beautiful.”

From up here, surrounded by forest, I could see the village far below. Soft lights glowed, and the area looked warm, as if bathed in golden light.

“You’ve been keeping this beauty all to yourself?”

Gio chuckled softly at my remark.

“Just a little longer. Your lips are already turning blue. It’s cold, so we’ll go back soon.”

“We just came up. I want to see more… Could you bring the black jacket you left on my bed? If I wear it, I won’t be cold.”

Gio nodded after checking my expression, then let go of the branch and landed on the ground.

However, what he brought wasn’t the black jacket from Leandro—it was the blanket he slept with.

“The jacket?”

“Couldn’t find it. Just use this.”

“It’s hanging right above my bed. You couldn’t find it?”

“Yeah. Couldn’t find it.”

I accepted the blanket and draped it over my knees. Gio, satisfied, sat back down beside me.

“It’s sparkling. The village is fairly large. I didn’t realize it was so close.”

Seeing the village nearby gave me hope again. Gio smiled at my expression and stood up.

“Ah!”

As Gio moved, the branch swayed, causing leaves to flutter and fall.

“What are you doing?”

“Going sideways.”

“No! Don’t come. Can’t you see it’s shaking?”

I waved my hands, telling him not to come. Gio sighed.

“Ha…”

“Where are you sighing from? Just sit there. Don’t move. Don’t move!”

He muttered something under his breath, but I ignored him, focusing on mapping the path to the village.

‘As expected, the exit wasn’t through the forest but along the river.’

After confirming the route several times, I opened my arms to Gio. Confused, he asked,

“What?”

“Put me down.”

Before my memory faded, I needed to return to the room and draw the path. Gio, seeing my confident stance, wrapped his arms around me and jumped down lightly.

Back in the room, I marked locations on paper and lay down, repeating the path in my mind.