I Married the Terminally Ill Emperor - Chapter 115

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

I Married a Terminally Ill Emperor

 

Chapter 115

 

Gray looked at Dahlia with warm eyes. Did she know how adorable her quirky words and actions were?

 

He wanted to spend all of his remaining time with her. Even these brief moments of conversation with her were so precious.

 

He always carried an hourglass and never wasted a single minute or second, but when he was with her, he was so happy that he lost track of how time passed.

 

However, after announcing the existence of demon beasts, the Empire’s citizens’ reactions were far from normal.

 

At first, their faith in the Emperor allowed them to quickly regain stability without much chaos, but not long after, another rumor swept through the capital.

 

The Emperor cannot defeat demon beasts. Demon beasts can only be dealt with using divine power. Therefore, only the Hallen Sacred Empire is safe.

 

As false rumors mixed with truth, more people began to believe these words. Their fear toward the unknown existence reached its peak.

 

On top of that, news of Arban’s incident became the final blow.

 

Even though dozens of Royal Guard Knights were present, Arban, a member of the Imperial Family, lost one arm. If he, an imperial, suffered such fate, who could protect ordinary citizens of the Empire?

 

As if someone somewhere was fanning the flames, anxiety grew larger and larger, devouring the Empire’s citizens.

 

There were even citizens fleeing to the Hallen Sacred Empire in the dead of night.

 

Was the Hallen Sacred Empire making another move? Every single action of the Saint was being monitored. She hadn’t budged from the Hallen Holy Empire Lodging, yet some unknown force was creating rumors.

 

When his expression suddenly darkened, Dahlia asked with a cautious face.

 

“You’re worried about the demon beasts, aren’t you?”

 

Gray, caught reading his inner thoughts, stared at Dahlia with surprised eyes.

 

She carefully raised her hand and gently patted his hand. Her gesture was filled with tenderness.

 

“I believe in Your Majesty. We’ll be able to overcome this well.”

 

“How…”

 

Are you saying exactly what I most want to hear?

 

Gray stared at her in disbelief. The surging feelings toward her seemed ready to burst out at any moment, so he covered his mouth with one hand.

 

At that moment, excruciating pain struck again from the mark on his back.

 

“Ugh.”

 

Even though he was covering his mouth, the sound of swallowing a scream escaped involuntarily.

 

“Your Majesty, are you alright?!”

 

Even though she was right beside him, her voice sounded distant, as if coming from far away.

 

Gray bit the inside of his mouth and shook his head, trying somehow to regain his senses.

 

Through his blurred vision, he saw two Dahlias.

 

One Dahlia was looking at him with worry, while the other Dahlia was gazing at him with sad eyes.

 

Why are you looking at me like that?

 

The sad-faced Dahlia moved her lips. He squinted and concentrated, trying somehow to read her lip movements.

 

‘It’s okay…’

 

What? With such a sad face, what’s okay? Why is it okay?

 

Gray unconsciously reached out his hand to grab her.

 

The worried-looking Dahlia firmly grasped his hand.

 

“Your Majesty?”

 

The moment her voice rang in his ears, the sad-faced Dahlia disappeared like smoke.

 

Dahlia’s violet eyes could be seen examining his complexion.

 

Gray swallowed the blood in his mouth and forced himself to speak.

 

“I have work to do… I’ll… be going now.”

 

He carefully shook off the hand she was holding and quickly moved away from her.

 

* * *

 

“Rumors of distrust toward the Emperor are growing stronger. Soon the angry public sentiment will blaze up and head toward the Imperial Palace.”

 

In front of the swaying black curtain, a middle-aged man gave his report.

 

Mary’s red lips curved into an arc.

 

“Make the rumors more provocative. An incompetent Emperor who is so infatuated with a foreign princess that he rushes into marriage even when monsters called demon beasts have appeared! Something like that.”

 

“Yes, understood.”

 

“You may withdraw now.”

 

“Yes.”

 

As the middle-aged man quietly left without making a sound, Mary entered the study connected to the secret room with a satisfied smile.

 

In the study, her son Arban was staring blankly into space with an unfocused, vacant expression.

 

Mary returned to her original seat and quietly whispered while carefully observing her son’s expression.

 

“Arban, are you alright?”

 

“Yes, Mother.”

 

At her son’s obedient answer, Mary tested him.

 

“Arban, since you can no longer use your right arm, don’t do swordsmanship training anymore.”

 

“Yes, Mother.”

 

The hypnosis seemed to be working well. If it had been his usual self, he would have rebelled first at being told not to practice swordsmanship.

 

Her displeased gaze turned to his right sleeve, which was now empty.

 

No matter how she thought about it, Arban losing his arm was a huge mistake.

 

After the Emperor died from the curse, she would have to fight another arduous battle to put her son, who had no right arm, on the throne.

 

If only that arm had been properly attached, things would have been easy.

 

The sound of Mary setting down her teacup became a signal, and Arban’s black eyes became clear.

 

“Are you very tired?”

 

Mary asked Arban while mimicking a caring mother.

 

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

 

Her son bowed his head slightly and apologized.

 

“It’s alright. You’re practicing swordsmanship with one arm? You were originally right-handed, weren’t you. Don’t push yourself too hard.”

 

“Yes. I’ll be going now.”

 

When she nodded and gave permission, Arban slowly rose from his seat.

 

He closed the door with a calm expression, but only after entering his own room did he contort his face.

 

What was Mother doing to him?

 

Arban pressed his eyes firmly with his only remaining hand.

 

Since returning from the Imperial Palace to the Marquis Estate, he had been having tea time with Mother in the study every day.

 

He thought it was simply ordinary tea time…

 

As he recalled what had just happened, the hand covering his eyes trembled with fear.

 

He remembered drinking the fragrant tea that Mother offered him as usual.

 

And after that, he couldn’t remember anything.

 

Then he caught sight of Mother suddenly getting up and heading toward a small door. That was a place where entry had always been strictly forbidden, somewhere Arban had never entered even once.

 

From the moment Mother, who had been sitting across from him, disappeared from his view, his dazed mind gradually became clearer.

 

What had he been doing sitting here?

 

What conversation had he shared with Mother during their tea time?

 

He couldn’t remember anything.

 

The moment he realized this fact, he tried to get up from his seat in surprise, but his body wouldn’t budge at all. Fear came rushing over him.

 

He had lost his right arm, and now his body wouldn’t move either.

 

To somehow try to move his body, he concentrated on his left hand alone. One finger. Let’s try to move just that one thing.

 

As he was fighting with himself like this, Mother returned.

 

“Arban, are you alright?”

 

‘No. I’m not alright. Mother, why is my body like this?’

 

“Yes. Mother.”

 

“Arban. Since you can’t use your right arm anymore, don’t do swordsmanship training any longer.”

 

‘I won’t give up the sword!’

 

“Yes. Mother.”

 

He definitely wanted to say something different, but his mouth moved on its own. He was shocked again by this fact.

 

Then, as if the moment Mother set down her teacup became a signal, his left finger moved with a twitch.

 

“Are you very tired?”

 

Unable to bear looking at Mother who was gazing at him with a pitying expression, he lowered his eyelids.

 

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

 

“It’s alright. You’re practicing swordsmanship with one arm? You were originally right-handed, weren’t you. Don’t push yourself too hard.”

 

Mother worried about him with a gentle voice.

 

“Yes. I’ll be going now.”

 

He clenched his fist tightly with his only remaining hand and tried his best to act naturally.

 

Now he could finally understand why his memories had been disappearing lately.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————