I Married the Terminally Ill Emperor - Chapter 5

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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 5

“The War Minister seems to be reading a lot of books these days.”

“Pardon? Me, Your Majesty?”

The War Minister blinked his eyes slowly like an ox.

“Your ability to make up stories is excellent. Impressive.”

The War Minister’s broad shoulders hunched as the Emperor saw through his lie.

“Finance Minister.”

Gray designated his next target.

The tip of the Finance Minister’s elegant mustache trembled.

“Y-yes, Your Majesty.”

“The Founding Festival is held every year, so why is this year’s budget five times higher? Is there some grand event I don’t know about? Prime Minister, would you like to explain this?”

Everyone’s faces turned pale.

The Emperor had aimed at two people at once.

Gray’s displeased gaze was directed beyond the Conference Hall window. The ministers’ eyes naturally followed the Emperor’s.

Carriages from various nations were lined up entering for the Founding Festival events.

So that’s why the Emperor’s mood has soured.

The Prime Minister swallowed a sigh and opened his mouth.

“This year, many kingdoms are visiting, which is why.”

“Exactly. Why are there so many visits this year in particular?”

Though the Emperor hadn’t called on him, the Foreign Minister tactfully lowered his shoulders.

The Prime Minister looked around at the other ministers. Everyone avoided his gaze.

The Emperor wanted an answer, and everyone else’s mouths were firmly shut, so he was the only one who could step forward.

Tsk. With only cowards like this around. The Prime Minister clicked his tongue inwardly.

“Your Imperial Majesty, this year is for Your Majesty’s royal marriage…”

“Do you think the stallion isn’t working hard enough?”

Unlike his cold gaze, the Emperor’s smile was as radiant as a flower.

“N-no, Your Majesty. Absolutely not in that way…”

“I’m tired. Let’s end here for today.”

As the Emperor rose from his seat and left the Conference Hall, only then did the ministers let out deep sighs. Every time that beautiful Emperor smiled, their hearts raced so much from stress that they worried about heart attacks.

“It seems each kingdom has made up their minds this year. The budget increased five times, you said? The number of Congratulatory Mission members is more than ten times compared to last year.”

“Haah, what a headache.”

The ministers looked at the Emperor’s empty seat and each let out deep sighs.

* * *

Inside the swaying carriage, as Dahlia read a letter with a pleased expression, Annie burst into laughter.

“You keep reading what you’ve already seen, over and over again. Aren’t you tired of it?”

Dahlia widened her eyes with an expression asking what she meant, and spread out the letter for her to see.

[Dahlia come. Come quick. Love you. Princess Rose.]

Rather than proper writing, there were crooked, picture-like letters with pink flowers drawn alongside them.

“Our Rose is definitely a genius! This pink flower represents my hair color too. Have you ever seen a child with such keen observation skills? And look how well she writes.”

It was praise Annie had heard over a hundred times already. As Dahlia fully displayed her doting aunt behavior, Annie pointed outside the window.

“We’ve entered the Imperial Capital. Aren’t you going to look around?”

“I should!”

Dahlia carefully folded the letter, put it in her pocket, and turned her gaze outside the carriage.

Dahlia’s bright eyes busily moved here and there as she toured the capital.

“Miss Ria, is it that fascinating?”

Annie asked while brushing dust off Dahlia’s skirt.

After calling her ‘Princess Dahlia’ her whole life, just using her name felt awkward, but she was getting used to it during the long journey to the Empire.

“Yes. I’ve never even been outside the Royal Castle. It’s amazing to see so many people on Main Street.”

At Dahlia’s innocent answer, Annie hesitated for a moment, then pretended to focus on removing dust again.

She understood intellectually that Princess Dahlia had to live in the Star Palace for her safety due to her unprecedented illness, but whenever she said things like that, Annie couldn’t help the bitter taste in her mouth.

Other kingdoms’ princesses wouldn’t be so amazed just by touring the Imperial Capital.

Just then, the princess’s guard knight Cole rode his horse close to the carriage window.

Guard knight Cole, with his curly brown hair, warm amber eyes, and sturdy 190cm frame, had come along disguised as mission security.

“Prin- Miss Ria.”

At Annie’s fierce glare, Cole hurriedly corrected his address.

“What is it?”

“They say we’ll arrive at the Imperial Palace soon. You should be able to see it from here.”

“Thanks for letting me know.”

After Cole returned to his original position, Dahlia rested her chin against the carriage window and waited for the Imperial Palace to appear.

Soon, an Imperial Palace too vast to take in at a glance came into view.

The white walls reflected sunlight, emitting a golden yellow glow, and above the blue roofs, white flags with the red Bird—the Imperial Emblem—fluttered in the wind.

“It looks twenty times bigger than our Royal Castle.”

“It certainly is enormous.”

Annie glanced over and nodded in agreement.

Dahlia took in the Imperial Palace with sparkling eyes.

They had finally arrived at the Imperial Palace. Now just one more step until meeting the Emperor.

* * *

Dahlia entered the assigned room with Annie.

The room was neat, with two beds placed inside. The lush leaves visible through the window and the sunlight filtering through them were refreshing.

Since guests had flooded in several times more than expected for this Founding Festival, the small kingdom of Foevern’s accommodations were placed in the location farthest from the Main Palace.

Knock knock.

At the knocking sound, Annie opened the door to find Cole standing there with a good-natured smile.

“Prin-“

“Cole!”

As Annie urgently cut off his words, Cole smiled awkwardly and continued.

“The air, the air is really nice here. Hahaha.”

“Cole, this is the Empire. There will be eyes and ears everywhere. So be careful, and careful again!”

At Annie’s cold warning, Cole hunched his broad shoulders and continued his excuse.

“…Yes, I understand. But no matter what I do, I can’t fix my way of addressing her, so from now on I’ll try putting ‘the air is nice’ in front every time I call Miss Ria. Please understand that.”

“What kind of-“

As Annie raised her eyebrows to continue scolding, Dahlia stepped between them before Cole could get in more trouble.

“Cole. That’s such a good idea, isn’t it? The Empire does have nice air too.”

“Thank you.”

Cole smiled innocently, lowering the corners of his eyes.

“But what brings you here?”

“I discovered a nice walking path nearby. The air- the air is good, and Miss Ria likes walks.”

“Thanks, Cole.”

“Miss Ria, I’m going to inspect the kitchen a bit. Check if there’s any mold. Please rest.”

Annie poked Cole’s side repeatedly and pushed him outside.

After the two left and the room became quiet, Dahlia collapsed weakly onto the bed.

She had thought she was confident about her health, but the long carriage journey had been exhausting.

That’s when it happened.

Tap. Tap.

At the sound of tapping on the window, Dahlia only lifted her head slightly.

A bird smaller than her palm, with a yellow body and red wings, was tapping the glass window with its beak.

“How cute.”

When Dahlia raised her stiff body and opened the window, the bird fluttered inside.

The round, fluffy bird perched on the bed, then looked up at her with red eyes while tears rolled down drop by drop.

…The bird is crying. Do birds normally shed tears?

Dahlia widened her eyes and carefully placed the bird on her palm with a flustered expression.

“Bird, why are you crying?”

The tearful bird glared at Dahlia with triangular eyes as if asking how she could not know.

Chirp chirp chirp.

The bird spread both wings wide and chirped fiercely as if resenting her. It looked just like Annie when she was scolding her.

Dahlia smiled awkwardly and asked the bird the same question she always asked Annie.

“Did I do something wrong?”

Chirp chirp.

The bird nodded as if it understood her words.

“We just met today, and you’re saying I wronged you?”

Chirp chirp.

The bird nodded again as if confirming it was right.

“We did just meet today, right?”

Chirp chirp chirp.

The bird shook its head vigorously.

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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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