I Married the Terminally Ill Emperor - Chapter 31

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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 31

Since I had expected to receive this kind of question, I poured out the words I had prepared in advance like rapid fire.

“After Your Majesty left, I was looking at the lakeside when someone cried for help. So I went to rescue them.”

Good. That was natural.

“No. Before that, you said we had to go to the lakeside as if you expected the Princess to fall into the lake.”

Dahlia’s pupils trembled. The Emperor came at her more strongly than expected. In times like this, simplicity was best.

“Me? No, I didn’t.”

Dahlia deployed a feigning ignorance strategy with a shameless face.

“You really didn’t anticipate it beforehand?”

Since he had already used Truth Detection, he couldn’t determine the truth or falsehood. However, her innocent face clearly read ‘I’m lying.’

What should he do with this brazen woman?

He didn’t know how she knew that fact, but ultimately her actions had saved the Princess.

But just because the result was good, could the process be ignored?

Nothing had been normal since he met her. Still, he couldn’t interrogate her when she had nearly died trying to save the Princess.

He could see her violet eyes cautiously reading his mood.

Even while being so cautious, her actions were unexpectedly bold, making her unpredictable.

“By any chance… are you done with the questions?”

“Yes. Though it’s late, I’ll give you a reward for saving the Princess.”

“What? Isn’t letting me stay at the Crystal Palace the reward?”

Emperor Gray shook his head firmly.

According to what he heard from Oreon, she hadn’t been happy about it at all, so how could that be a reward?

“I’ll grant you anything you want. Except marriage.”

As soon as his words ended, her eyes sparkled.

The moment he saw the Princess’s expression, he realized what she wanted.

“Your expression is quite telling.”

“People always say I’m kind—”

“I was figuratively pointing out that your thoughts are written all over your face.”

“Ah, yes.”

She smiled cheerfully with a completely unaffected face.

“You want to meet three more times again?”

When he stated the expected answer first, she widened her eyes as if asking what he was talking about and shook her head vigorously.

“No, that’s not it.”

At her unexpected reaction, he narrowed his eyes.

“Then?”

“Please meet with me whenever I want. Except when Your Majesty is busy, of course.”

‘Three times’ had changed to ‘whenever I want.’ Was it right to allocate time to her like this?

He had barely uncovered just one of this woman’s secrets: ‘She’s actually a princess, not a lady.’

To extract more from her, their meetings would need to continue.

While he was organizing his thoughts, perhaps sensing the crisis of being rejected, she quickly continued speaking.

“I won’t take up much of your time. You can use that hourglass. And anyway, I’ll be leaving after the Foundation Festival period. Just until then.”

She was leaving?

He hadn’t known the Princess for very long, yet it felt so natural with her as if they’d known each other for ages, so he hadn’t realized she would be leaving soon.

At the strange emptiness that swept through his chest, Emperor Gray hardened his expression.

Why was he feeling this way? He was someone who would die soon, and no one would be by his side.

Reminding himself that his life was terminal, Emperor Gray hid his bitter feelings and smiled brightly.

“Very well.”

* * *

Knock knock. At the knocking sound, Hart opened the door.

Monet, holding a flower basket in her arms, bowed her head upon seeing Hart.

“Hello.”

“Oh my! Who are you, cute little one?”

Monet smiled shyly.

“Thank you for the compliment. I’m Monet, a maid who came on Princess’s errand. May I see Miss Ria?”

“Monet?”

Dahlia, who had been playing chess with Annie, looked up with delight.

“Miss!”

“Monet, come in quickly.”

When Monet entered carrying a flower basket as big as herself, Cole, who had been standing near the door, quickly took the flower basket.

“Thank you. This is from Princess to you, Miss.”

Cole set the flower basket down in front of Dahlia.

Dahlia admired the lush flowers.

“So beautiful. Thank you.”

“And this too.”

Monet held out a golden letter envelope with both hands.

Dahlia opened the envelope with the Princess’s seal and took out the card.

The fragrant flower-scented card contained the Princess’s elegant handwriting.

[Hello, Lady Ria Hudran. I sincerely thank you for your help. When you receive this letter, would you please follow Monet? I’d like to meet you in person to express my gratitude, but I cannot visit your lodging. Viviana Charlotte Ruusephon]

When Dahlia put down the card, Annie looked at her with a curious face.

“Princess wants to meet?”

“I’m coming with you.”

“I’ll come along too.”

When Annie spoke rapidly in one breath without pause, Cole also chimed in.

At this, Monet opened her mouth cautiously with a restless expression.

“I’m sorry, but Princess ordered me to bring only Lady Hudran.”

“Child, I’m also a Hudran. So I should come along too.”

Annie spoke firmly as if she absolutely wouldn’t back down.

“Alright. Since we’re meeting Princess, we won’t need a guard, so Cole stays here, and only Annie comes with me. Monet, I’ll explain properly to Princess.”

Cole sent Annie intense looks asking to be taken along too, but Annie subtly pretended not to notice his gaze.

“Yes, Miss.”

Meanwhile, though Monet showed a troubled expression, she agreed, and Dahlia grabbed a handful of candy from the candy basket on the table.

“Monet. This is today’s lucky candy.”

“Miss…”

Unlike the others who looked puzzled not knowing what she meant, Monet received the candy carefully with a touched expression.

“Then will you guide us?”

* * *

The place they arrived at following Monet was the lakeside where the Princess had fallen into the water.

Seeing the blue water surface, her body tensed up again. Deliberately avoiding looking at the lake, Dahlia clasped her trembling hands tightly.

She had thought she was fine after going into the water, but it seemed trauma wasn’t something that healed completely all at once.

At that moment, gentle hands overlapped hers.

When she turned her head, her eyes met Annie’s. The warmth that squeezed tightly as if cheering her on gradually warmed her coldly cooled heart.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“Your Highness Princess. I have brought the young ladies.”

A young girl emerged from behind the tree with lush leaves.

Long hair like black silk that reached her waist, skin so pale it was almost transparent, and thick glasses that half-covered her face.

The Princess, who was said to be twelve years old, still looked like a child.

“I greet Your Highness Princess. I am Ria Hudran.”

“I greet Your Highness Princess. I am Annie Hudran.”

At their polite greetings, the Princess slightly lifted the hem of her dress and curtsied.

“I am Princess Viviana Charlotte Ruusephon. But Lady Annie Hudran, what brings you here…”

As Annie was about to explain with a flustered face, Dahlia stepped forward first.

“I apologize, Your Highness. There have been various matters recently, so I asked Annie to come with me.”

“I see. That’s fine. First, I’m sorry for calling you here.”

Dahlia carefully observed the Princess’s complexion. Even though she had fallen into the lake, she didn’t seem as frightened as herself.

As expected, was her guess correct?

“I wanted to meet you in person and greet you. Thank you for saving me.”

“Anyone would have done the same in that situation.”

“No. That’s not something anyone could do. I wouldn’t have been able to show such great courage.”

The Princess, gripping the hem of her dress tightly, shook her head slightly.

“Your Highness, may I ask you one thing?”

“Yes?”

“That day, it wasn’t an accident, was it? Why did you go into the lake?”

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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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