I Married the Terminally Ill Emperor - Chapter 21

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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I Married a Terminally Ill Emperor

Chapter 21

Meanwhile, Dahlia suddenly thought that the Emperor might count this chance encounter as their third meeting and squeezed her eyes shut.

“Ria, why are you closing your eyes?”

“Dust got in my eye—”

“Lady. Let’s make sure this one doesn’t count either.”

“I thought dust got in, but it didn’t.”

Dahlia quickly changed her stance and smiled brightly.

At that sight, the three people around her all looked at her simultaneously.

Dahlia lifted her chin with a shameless expression. What?

Annie let out a deep sigh, and Ethan gritted his teeth so hard his jaw muscles bulged as if he was holding something back.

Only the Emperor was looking at her with displeasure.

“The Lady has an excellent talent for making people laugh.”

“I’m naturally a funny person—”

“That was a metaphorical jab.”

“He was being sarcastic.”

The Emperor and Annie spoke simultaneously.

“Oh, I see. But it’s still true that I’m a funny person.”

Dahlia replied with a nonchalant expression.

Annie nodded as if agreeing with that, and Ethan also moved his head slightly.

Gray looked at the two of them with an annoyed expression.

Are there only people who coddle her like this around this woman? Is that why she became such a free spirit? But why Ethan too?

His gaze turned back to the bright Lady.

Just moments ago, their bodies had touched. When he saw her fall before, his hands hadn’t moved at all.

That was natural. For him, touching a woman was impossible.

However, the moment he saw her falling from the viewing platform, his body moved before his reason, running to save her and holding her in his arms.

How could that be possible?

Even while holding her, it wasn’t unpleasant like when he touched other women.

Why on earth?

What was it about this woman?

And before he could find an answer, he heard her asking Ethan on a date.

She truly was a woman he couldn’t take his eyes off for even a moment.

“Why do you want to have tea with Ethan?”

“Um, um… Building friendship?”

After pondering for a while, she mumbled hesitantly.

Gray’s eyebrows twitched.

Was this woman going to build friendship with every man in the world? Not satisfied with just him, but Captain Roand, Ethan, and even those knights who were watching?

“You’re going to do with others what you did with me?”

Gray’s voice dropped dangerously low.

Dahlia gaped with a bewildered expression.

No, why is he talking like that? If he speaks that way, it sounds like we have some kind of relationship.

Indeed, Annie, who misunderstood, was staring with wide eyes.

“You’re going to do with someone else what you’ve done with me twice? When you haven’t even done it a third time with me yet?”

The more he spoke, the more Annie blushed and looked around to see who was nearby.

She could see the knights glancing at them during their training.

Dahlia looked at Annie with wronged eyes and shouted inwardly.

Annie, it’s not what you think. We didn’t do anything.

“Your Majesty, if you speak like that, people will misunderstand…”

“Misunderstand? What misunderstanding?”

The Emperor raised one eyebrow and asked back.

“You keep saying second time, third time. Everyone’s misunderstanding.”

“Did I say something wrong?”

“No, you didn’t say anything wrong, but…”

Annie urged with her eyes for her to quickly tell the truth.

Dahlia quickly shook her head at Annie to say no, then looked at the Emperor and corrected herself.

“We were building friendship.”

“Right. We built friendship to.geth.er.”

When the Emperor emphasized the word “together,” Annie’s eyes shook like a storm.

“Ria…”

“Annie, it’s not what you think. Really not!”

“What on earth have you been doing?”

“I’m really wronged!”

“Since the two Ladies seem to have much to discuss, I should take my leave.”

Gray slowly turned away, leaving the two Ladies behind.

Seeing the Pink Flower Field Lady’s troubled expression, his previously uncomfortable feelings cleared completely.

Ethan quietly followed behind him.

Walking toward the training grounds, he could see knights with their bare torsos exposed.

Gray swept them with a cold gaze.

“Ethan. Make sure they wear training uniforms from now on.”

“Yes.”

“And why is she trying to approach you?”

“I’m not sure either.”

At Ethan’s blunt answer, Gray stopped abruptly and turned to look at him.

Why do women like him so much?

His face? His body? His swordsmanship?

“Let’s have a sparring match after a long time.”

“Yes…”

The Emperor was the only opponent he could never defeat. Ethan’s shoulders trembled slightly, then he began preparing for the sparring match with resigned eyes.

* * *

Audience Chamber.

Rayen hid his nervousness and gazed straight ahead with a relaxed smile. In front of him sat the Emperor of Ruusephon Empire with a languid expression.

“Rayen Hudran of the Kingdom of Foevern greets His Majesty the Emperor of Ruusephon.”

“Welcome, Count Hudran. I received your gifts well. The wine and crystals from the Kingdom of Foevern are more valuable than jewels.”

The Kingdom of Foevern was the world’s only crystal-possessing nation and the finest wine-producing region.

So for this founding festival gift, they had prepared the highest grade crystals, wine, and the Goddess’s Teardrop.

“I’m glad the gifts were to your liking.”

When Rayen bowed deeply and raised his head, the Emperor’s sharp eyes were piercing through him despite his brilliant smile.

“But you came alone?”

“Yes. Since Your Majesty’s time is like gold, I visited alone for a swift audience.”

“How unexpected.”

Unable to guess the Emperor’s intentions, Rayen looked at him with puzzled eyes.

“I was foolish and could not understand Your Majesty’s words.”

“Isn’t this occasion an opportunity to naturally introduce your sisters to me?”

At the Emperor’s innocent question, Rayen slightly lowered his gaze and swallowed dryly.

“I still don’t quite understand what you mean.”

He kept his eyes fixed on the floor and went with a strategy of feigning ignorance.

“Other countries always brought princesses or noble young ladies when they came to see me. But you, Count, came alone like this.”

It meant that you too must have had a reason for bringing your sisters to the diplomatic mission.

Only then did Rayen lift his gaze and smile kindly as if he had no such intention whatsoever. Since the Emperor was kindly explaining in detail, he could no longer feign ignorance.

“Actually, everyone was very sad they couldn’t meet Emperor Gray. But my sister is feeling unwell—”

“Unwell? Which young lady is unwell?”

The Emperor’s relaxed demeanor changed completely.

Rayen drew on his professional instincts to hide his flustered expression.

“Your Majesty, do you know my sisters?”

“I’ve met them.”

“I see. Hahaha.”

Cold sweat ran down his back, but Rayen maintained a calm expression and bought time with laughter.

How on earth did they meet the Emperor? Which one met him? Please let it not be the Princess.

“So, which one is it?”

“My sis.ter Ria.”

Rayen deliberately emphasized the word sister. He had to prevent her identity from being discovered at all costs.

“She was fine until yesterday? Is it the aftermath of her fall?”

Urgency was evident in the Emperor’s posture as he leaned forward from his chair.

“Ria fell?”

Rayen asked back in surprise, then looked sheepish when a suspicious light flashed in the Emperor’s eyes.

“I guess that’s not what injured her then.”

The Emperor, having regained his composure, leaned back in his chair again.

“Ria grew up quite freely, so I’m worried she might have been rude to Your Majesty.”

He wanted to hurry back to the lodging to check on the Princess’s health, but since he was before the Emperor, he had to fulfill his duty as a diplomat.

“You seem close even though she’s from the branch family.”

Curiosity was evident in the Emperor’s low voice.

“Yes. She’s a lovable child.”

Rayen smiled with genuine affection, not pretense, as he thought of the Princess.

The Emperor watched this closely.

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