I Married the Terminally Ill Emperor - Chapter 20
—————
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 20
“Ha, for a count’s daughter from a small kingdom to—”
“Oh my, Annie. It seems this Empire lacks the courtesy of returning greetings when greeted.”
When Dahlia cut off her words as if genuinely amazed, Lady Sorina gripped her fan tightly.
“I’m Coerin of the Viscount Sorina Family.”
“Nice to meet you, Lady Sorina. I was nearby and couldn’t help but overhear your conversation. It’s my first time seeing someone with such a keen sense of smell. It was meant to be a murmur, but I guess my voice was too loud.”
Dahlia smiled brightly.
Lady Sorina’s eyes flashed sharply.
“Who murmurs loud enough for everyone to hear?”
“Your voice was so loud that I thought it was okay for me to speak loudly too.”
When Dahlia answered innocently as if she didn’t know, Lady Sorina’s face turned bright red.
“I simply cannot remain in the same space as such ignorant people from small kingdoms who know nothing of manners.”
“Indeed.”
Agreeing with Lady Sorina’s words, the ladies glared at them and prepared to leave.
Before finally departing, Lady Sorina approached Dahlia and extended her hand as if requesting a handshake.
“Lady, I’ll remember your face.”
“Thank you for remembering me.”
Dahlia smiled brightly and clasped her hand.
“This is your first time here, isn’t it? One must always be careful in new places, Lady.”
Lady Sorina’s eyes gleamed darkly for a moment.
“Pardon?”
Lady Sorina roughly pushed the hand she was holding.
Dahlia, who was at the edge of the viewing platform, momentarily lost her balance and fell toward the training grounds.
“Lady Dahlia…!”
Annie, startled out of her wits, hurriedly tried to catch Dahlia, but it was already too late.
The blue sky filled her vision. For a brief moment, Dahlia thought, ‘This doesn’t seem like something breakfall technique can handle.’
She soon squeezed her eyes shut and curled her body into a ball.
“…Huh?”
Dahlia, who had been bracing for the impending impact, slowly lifted her eyelids when she felt no pain at all.
Meeting the Emperor’s black eyes, Dahlia’s eyes widened as she stared up at him blankly.
“Aren’t you going to come down?”
She was nestled snugly in the Emperor’s arms.
Coming to her senses at the Emperor’s low voice, Dahlia squirmed in his embrace.
“I’m getting down.”
The Emperor, who had set her down on the ground, turned his gaze toward the viewing platform.
Lady Sorina, pale as a sheet, hurriedly bowed at the waist.
“I greet Emperor Gray.”
“Ethan.”
“Yes.”
Ethan, who had been standing behind the Emperor, quickly responded.
“Why was this viewing platform built?”
“It was built for families who don’t get to see the knights often.”
“Are all of them family members?”
The Emperor’s cold gaze turned toward the ladies.
“I’ll investigate.”
When the Emperor coldly turned his gaze away, Lady Sorina and the other ladies looked defeated as they bowed and fled the scene.
“Ria!”
Meanwhile, Annie and Lady Under, who had practically run down the stairs connected to the viewing platform, quickly approached.
“Ria, are you okay? I let go of you. How could I… I should have fallen with you…”
When Annie, pale as a sheet, blamed herself, Dahlia hurriedly comforted her.
“I’m fine, so don’t worry. And please don’t say such things. It would break my heart if you got hurt.”
“Let me see.”
It was then that Annie was turning Dahlia this way and that, checking for injuries.
“I greet Emperor Gray.”
When Lady Under bowed to the Emperor, Annie, who belatedly came to her senses, also paid her respects to the Emperor.
Lady Under, who straightened at the Emperor’s gesture, looked at Dahlia.
“I’m sorry, Lady. You went through such a terrible ordeal while trying to help me.”
“It’s not your fault, Lady.”
The Emperor, who had been listening to their conversation, turned his gaze to Ethan.
“Ethan.”
“I’ll have the viewing platform completely demolished.”
Meanwhile, Lady Under, who had apologized to Dahlia once more, bowed her head with a darkened expression.
“Then I shall take my leave.”
“Lady.”
Dahlia called out to Lady Under as she turned away.
“Yes?”
“That handkerchief, weren’t you planning to give it to the Captain?”
At Dahlia’s words, Lady Under was startled and shook her head.
“No!”
“I can see the initials though?”
Dahlia pointed to the initials visible at the corner of the handkerchief.
Lady Under blushed and hid the handkerchief.
“Is it for me, Lady Under?”
Ethan’s gaze turned toward Lady Under.
“You… know me?”
Lady Under’s hazel eyes widened in surprise.
“Of course.”
Despite his stiff voice, Lady Under looked moved as she carefully offered the handkerchief.
“It’s nothing expensive. I thought I might not be able to come here anymore…”
“Thank you.”
Ethan accepted her handkerchief.
At this sight, Lady Under bowed her head with a reddened face.
“Thank you for accepting it. Then I’ll be going now.”
Lady Under bowed deeply to the Emperor once more and whispered to Dahlia.
“Thank you, Lady.”
Dahlia kindly curved her eyes in response instead of words.
After Lady Under left, the voices of the knights training in the training grounds resumed.
Dahlia glanced at the Emperor, who was looking down at his own hand with a contemplative expression, then slowly moved toward Ethan.
“Captain Ethan.”
“Yes.”
Ethan answered curtly.
“If you have time, would you like to have tea with me?”
At her question, the training grounds suddenly became as quiet as if cold water had been poured over it.
Dahlia looked around at the strange atmosphere.
Even the knights who had been crossing swords just moments before were frozen solid like ice.
Why? What?
Dahlia looked at Annie with wavering eyes. No matter how oblivious she was, she could read this atmosphere.
‘Did I do something wrong?’
Annie let out a deep sigh.
However, Ethan opened his mouth, indifferent to the surrounding reactions.
“Time is-“
“Not available.”
The Emperor finished Ethan’s words with a cold expression.
The knights who had been frozen like ice began swinging their swords again while watching the Emperor’s mood.
Dahlia and Annie made eye contact and conversed.
Should we have talked when the Emperor wasn’t here?
That’s right.
Should we wait for the next opportunity?
Yes.
Just as the two finished their silent conversation and were about to step back, the Emperor took a step closer.
“Lady Hudran.”
“Yes?”
When Annie answered, the Emperor cast his gaze toward Dahlia.
“Ah, not that one, this one.”
Dahlia looked at the Emperor.
“Me?”
“That’s right. Why did you come here, Lady?”
“To, to watch.”
“Watch what?”
“Backs?”
Dahlia was startled by her own words and covered her lips with her fan.
The backs had been so impressive that she blurted it out.
She couldn’t very well say she came to meet the Emperor’s closest aide.
Still, she had her dignity as a princess – what was this about backs?
Dahlia covered her face with her fan and berated herself.
“Lady, did you just say backs?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“I clearly heard it. Are my ears mistaken, Ethan?”
“I heard it too.”
“I didn’t hear anything.”
Annie took Dahlia’s side with a composed face.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
Anneflower
My girl talked about dignity when she always did the opposite 😂