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Chapter 5
The surroundings went quiet. The only thing audible was Reina Pio’s faint breathing.
Looking down at her frightened face, I let out a small scoff. That should be enough.
“Lady, you don’t seem to be feeling well. It might be best for you to return home.”
With a bright smile, I called over a soldier who happened to be passing by.
“Please get home safely, Lady Reina. I hope peace remains with your house.”
“…Let’s go.”
Reassured by the soldiers who had come over, Reina Pio turned away again with a haughty expression, and I could only let out a quiet laugh.
“So arrogant. I suppose that means my standing has fallen that far.”
But Reina Pio had overlooked one thing.
No matter how much Isanna’s reputation had declined, the name Delorvant still remained strong.
People seemed to keep forgetting that lately…
They’ll learn soon enough.
Once the soldiers and Reina Pio were gone and I was finally alone, I wiped the smile completely from my face.
I had to be careful in the palace, but I was in no mood to smile.
With a stiff expression, I turned and headed quickly toward the Emperor. I had already wasted too much time.
As I hurried to the Emperor’s quarters, I ran into Sir Gale. Beside him stood the Emperor’s aide, with dark shadows under his eyes.
“His Majesty?”
“Yes… he’s inside…”
“Ever since the Pio lady left, he’s been working. He still hasn’t eaten—ugh. Ihivro…”
Startled by Gale’s thoughtless words, Ihivro shoved him in the side and spoke with an awkward laugh.
“Haha… Y-you may go right in! Lady Delorvant!”
“Thank you.”
I gave the nervous Ihivro a gracious smile and passed them, entering the Emperor’s office.
“Your Majesty.”
“You’re a little late today.”
“Yes. I thought you already had plans today, so I came a bit later on purpose.”
At my pointed remark, the Emperor finally lifted his head and met my eyes.
I approached him slowly with a deliberate smile.
“…What do you mean?”
“Oh, I just thought you would know better than I would.”
“Isanna.”
“Why? Is something wrong?”
At his sharp question, I feigned innocence and looked back at him with a puzzled expression.
The Emperor’s brow furrowed. Seeing him look irritated made the knot inside me loosen a little.
Ah… so this is how it feels for the Emperor too?
But compared to all the huge insults he had thrown my way, this was nothing.
Not even close to the same level.
I sat down with a cold smile. The Emperor, who had kept his mouth shut, slowly opened it.
“You seem sharper than usual today.”
For a moment, I almost said, “So you do still have some sense.”
But I wasn’t here to fight the Emperor.
Quite the opposite.
I needed to make him think of marrying me quickly, by any means necessary.
I forced myself to calm down and smiled like a priestess of Lihibra.
“If I seem that way, I apologize. I haven’t been sleeping well lately…”
“How did you know I had prior plans?”
“…I do have ears.”
I couldn’t exactly tell him I had run into Reina Pio on the way here and exchanged tensions with her.
“I moved our appointment later because I had plans with you. That’s a pity.”
“…Yes. Very unfortunate.”
The Emperor and I stared at each other with cold eyes, both of us silent.
I was trying to match his mood, but he was the one shamelessly saying he was disappointed.
I could barely keep my lips from twitching.
Is this cold-blooded man really in love with me?
I was starting to doubt my own past-life memories. Was I actually insane…?
“Ha… I don’t want to argue with you first thing in the morning, Your Majesty.”
In the end, I was the first to back down.
“…Then I’ll have breakfast prepared.”
The Emperor seemed to realize there was no point in continuing the fight and ordered the servants to prepare the meal.
“Excuse me.”
A servant came in carrying a large tray full of dishes, and I clicked my tongue inwardly.
I clearly remember the Emperor’s breakfast being simple.
It seemed the Emperor’s behavior and habits had changed a great deal before and after the novel’s start.
Just looking at how differently he treated his fiancée was enough to prove that.
Of course, in the original story he only became engaged after a long slow burn with the heroine…
Comparing those situations made it painfully obvious just how terrible the Emperor’s behavior toward me really was.
“Eat.”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
We ate in silence, as quiet as mice.
What’s the point of eating together like this…?
When I was chasing the Grand Duke, even if I had nothing to say, the words came naturally. But with the Emperor, I couldn’t get a single thing out.
“Why aren’t you eating?”
“I’m sorry. I’ll eat more diligently.”
“No, that’s not what I—”
The Emperor seemed to give up on speaking and turned his eyes to the plate in front of him.
There are things one must not do in this world. One is stopping mid-sentence. Another is—
“You’re not touching the Kaproshon.”
At last, the Emperor spoke again. I looked at the dish he had indicated in confusion.
It was a stir-fried meat dish in a red sauce. So that was called Kaproshon.
“Oh… my stomach’s not feeling very well today. Thank you for thinking of me, but I’m sorry.”
“Hm. No matter. Eat.”
Still dazed, I resumed picking at the food. It didn’t go down easily.
Silence settled over the office.
As I struggled to think of something to say, I suddenly remembered the imperial family’s annual tradition.
“Your Majesty. Have you decided on this summer’s retreat location?”
“The retreat?”
After ascending the throne, Calisers had considered leisure a waste of time. Aside from occasionally visiting vassal states, he was basically a homebody who stayed in the palace.
But the summer retreat was a traditional annual event for the imperial family.
The Empress Dowager, who had little real influence over the Emperor, could not manage an event like this.
If I were to take charge this time and carry on the imperial tradition?
It might help the nobles recognize me as the proper Empress candidate.
And then I can have a formal wedding…
I could feel the tension in my face loosening slightly. If this went well, maybe I could secure the Empress’s seat even faster.
“A retreat… yes. I suppose we should go at least once.”
“That would be wise.”
“Do you intend to go as well?”
At his obvious question, I tilted my head and replied,
“Of course. I’m your… fiancée, after all. I may not yet be formally entered into the imperial family, but…”
I let the end of my sentence fade into a bitter expression. Feel guilty, you emperor bastard.
“…Do as you please.”
“Thank you.”
I couldn’t hide how much I wanted to smile at his permission. Ah, no, I shouldn’t look too happy.
To avoid showing too much excitement, I stuffed food into my mouth.
We finished the meal like that. This time, the Emperor did not storm out halfway through. Should I call that a relief?
It is a relief.
Feeling much better, I gave a soft smile—and the Emperor suddenly turned his head away.
Yes. Keep dodging me like that. Just do not go running off to some strange place again.
“Isanna.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“As for the marriage—perhaps I should have the palace prepare in advance—”
Knock knock.
The sudden knocking made the Emperor stop speaking.
He seemed about to say something about the marriage.
I frowned at the interruption and looked toward the door.
“Your Majesty, the Grand Duke has arrived.”
“He’s here.”
At the unexpected identity of the intruder, I froze.
Ever since last time, the Grand Duke’s timing had been awful.
I sighed and slowly stood.
“Since the Grand Duke is here, I’ll take my leave—”
“Just stay.”
The Emperor’s response was unexpected. I concealed my surprise and asked again.
“…Pardon?”
“It won’t take long, so you can just remain.”
“…”
At his words, which clearly refused to let me leave, I had no choice but to stay in the office.
If I left now after he said that, it would look exactly like I was fleeing.
And then the Emperor would think even more strongly that I still hadn’t gotten over the Grand Duke.
Damn it.
“Enter.”
I did my best not to look at the Grand Duke and lifted my teacup instead.
“Your Majesty, I came to speak about the Oklark Mountains…”
The Grand Duke had just entered the office and begun addressing the Emperor when he noticed my presence and stopped speaking.
My head started hurting.
“Good morning, Grand Duke.”
It would have been too unnatural to ignore him completely, so I gave a brief greeting and turned my head again.
“Lady Delorvant was here first. In that case, I’ll come back later—”
“No. It’s fine. She will one day become part of the imperial family too.”
At the Emperor’s words, my heart gave a little jolt.
That meant he did still intend to marry me.
I nodded as though I agreed with him.
“…Understood. Please increase the support troops for the suppression of the Oklark Mountains.”
Monsters in the Oklark Mountains.
I immediately recognized this as the incident that formed the background of the original story’s entry point.
The heroine, Claira, would definitely be devastated by this event.
Claira would wander from place to place, searching for a way to become the head of her family in place of her dead father.
And then she would catch the eye of Viscount Pio, who had struck it rich through the mine, and enter the capital.
How did Claira’s father die again?
A count of Popolas’ rank wouldn’t die easily. Since it wasn’t an assassination, then it had to be death caused by this monster wave.
“Should we concentrate the troops in Popolas territory?”
“Isanna?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I was thinking about something.”
Without realizing it, I had spoken aloud. Both the Emperor’s and the Grand Duke’s gazes turned toward me. I quickly apologized and straightened my posture.
But the Emperor’s gaze did not seem to want to move away.
Just as I began to feel burdened by it, he spoke.
“What do you think?”
“My opinion?”
“Yes. You said something was on your mind. Let’s hear it.”
I was surprised by the sudden question, but I quickly changed my thinking.
If he was willing to hear my opinion, then maybe I could save Claira’s father.
But then another question came to mind.
What would I gain from saving Claira’s father?
