I Married the Terminally Ill Emperor - Chapter 53

—————
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 53

* * *

Dahlia, who had returned to the Crystal Palace in the carriage that Oreon had belatedly brought, waved happily at Annie and Cole standing in front of the door, but her eyes widened at Cole’s appearance.

Cole had a bruise on one side of his face and bandages wrapped around his wrist.

“Cole! Why are you so injured?”

He examined her body with sorrowful eyes.

“Lady Ria, are you alright?”

“I’m fine thanks to His Majesty. But you…”

Thud. Cole dropped to his knees and deeply bowed his brown hair.

“I failed to protect Lady Ria. I’m sorry. I intend to step down from my duty of guarding Lady Ria.”

“What? What do you mean by that?”

As Dahlia looked down at Cole with a shocked face, Annie, who had been standing beside him, examined her thoroughly and answered instead.

“He’s been saying only that since earlier.”

“I should have protected you.”

At his voice filled with guilt, Dahlia looked down with upset eyes.

“The horse was acting strange.”

Then, Rayen, who had been standing a step away from them, approached with a serious expression.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. I’m fine.”

Emperor Gray, who had been watching their situation from behind, stepped forward.

“Everyone’s trying so hard, but I already know. That she’s a princess.”

Rayen and Annie were startled, and Cole’s head, which had been deeply bowed, snapped up.

“You found out?”

Annie moved close to Dahlia and whispered.

“He already knew?”

“Count Hudran. Let’s have a conversation.”

“Yes.”

Rayen quickly hid his bewildered expression.

“All together.”

At Emperor Gray’s words, everyone quietly followed the Emperor.

In the reception room they soon arrived at, only Emperor Gray and Dahlia sat down while the others stood nearby.

“I’ll apologize for this incident. Since it happened in the Imperial Palace, I’ll handle it.”

“That’s not possible. We must find out who harmed the Princess. We’ll take care of it.”

Rayen spoke with a stern expression.

A princess from a foreign country had almost been seriously injured. And it was disguised as an accident. They had to uncover the real culprit with their own hands.

“Let’s make it a joint investigation team.”

Emperor Gray made the decision as if there would be no further compromise.

When Rayen looked at Dahlia, she nodded as if telling him to do so.

“And about deceiving me…”

At the Emperor’s words, everyone in the reception room looked at him with tense faces.

“Since the Princess encountered danger in the Imperial Palace, I’ll let it pass.”

Dahlia let out a sigh of relief. Rayen’s stiff shoulders also dropped.

Deceiving the Emperor was actually a very serious matter. His willingness to overlook something that could escalate into an international dispute was a great concession.

Knock knock.

Then, with a knocking sound, the door opened and Oreon entered.

“Your Majesty.”

“Yes. What about the Stable Master?”

“He committed suicide in his room.”

Emperor Gray and Oreon’s gazes met in the air and they conversed with their eyes.

Another suicide?

That’s right.

“Did you investigate the horses?”

“The white horse fell off the cliff and we’re still searching for it, so we’re investigating with the black horse. Deadly medicinal herbs for horses were found in the Stable Master’s room. It’s an herb that shows no symptoms when first consumed, but causes hallucinations over time.”

Surprised Dahlia made eye contact with Cole standing behind her. That root!

They had seen the Stable Master feeding the horses white roots just before they mounted them.

The people in the reception room became quiet, each lost in their own thoughts.

The first person to break the silence was surprisingly Annie.

“Princess, let’s leave immediately. The fact that the Stable Master committed suicide means the person controlling from behind is dangerous.”

Rayen, who nodded at her words, added his own.

“I also agree with Annie. Staying until the Foundation Day festival is dangerous.”

Cole also agreed silently.

Dahlia looked at them with troubled eyes.

She didn’t understand why she was suddenly receiving such attacks.

The situation was already giving her a headache just worrying about the world’s destruction. However, if she returned now as they wished, she couldn’t prevent the world’s destruction.

Dahlia stared at the Emperor sitting across from her with a contemplative expression. She needed to get this man married as soon as possible.

“Your Majesty, this is rude at such a moment, but…”

Dahlia carefully began to speak.

“What is it?”

“Do you happen to have any thoughts of getting married soon?”

Pfft. At the Princess’s question that broke the serious atmosphere, Oreon couldn’t hold back his laughter and quickly covered his mouth.

Emperor Gray stared at the Princess with bewildered eyes.

He was curious about how that woman’s mental world worked.

“That is indeed rude.”

“Princess!!”

Annie raised her voice as if frustrated. Even at this moment, the Princess was asking about the Emperor’s marriage first.

But despite Annie’s desperate eyes, Dahlia was lost in deep thought.

“As long as the Princess is in the Imperial Palace, you are my responsibility. I won’t let you get hurt again.”

When Emperor Gray slowly spoke, everyone’s attention turned to him.

“How?”

Annie’s voice rose sharply.

“Annie!”

Rayen called her name reproachfully.

Just then, Dahlia, who had finished thinking, spoke before the Emperor.

“I’ll reveal it. That I was actually a princess. That I was frustrated staying only in the Star Palace and temporarily disguised my identity to see the world.”

“If the Princess’s identity is revealed, whoever threatened the Princess would also face risk.”

Rayen spoke first as if in agreement.

“Right. Directly attacking the Princess of Foevern would be burdensome for anyone. It’s awkward for me to say this myself, but our kingdom is rich, isn’t it?”

If Ruusephon had swordsmanship, Krzea had magic, and the Hallen Sacred Empire had divine power, the Kingdom of Foevern surrounded by them was the world’s only crystal-possessing nation backed by tremendous wealth.

This was also the reason why the Three Empires coveted the Kingdom of Foevern while keeping each other in check so no empire could have it.

“I’ll say I knew from the beginning.”

Emperor Gray, who had been listening quietly, joined the conversation.

If the Emperor announced that he had deliberately hidden the Princess’s identity for her sake, international problems would also disappear.

“However, the Hallen Sacred Empire and Krzea Empire will take notice.”

Rayen held his head with a troubled expression.

“Right. They might misunderstand that I want to marry the Emperor.”

Dahlia nodded in agreement.

Only Oreon noticed Emperor Gray’s eyebrow slightly raise at the word “misunderstand.”

“Should we create a fake fiancé?”

When Dahlia offered a new suggestion, Rayen and Annie fell into deep thought.

Meanwhile, as the Emperor’s expression grew increasingly cold, Oreon stepped forward with a good-natured smile.

“Finding a fiancé immediately would be difficult. Since Princess Viviana and the Princess have such a close friendship, how about saying that the two of you, who have been exchanging letters, decided to meet during this opportunity?”

“Hmm, that alone seems insufficient. Should I just spread rumors that I have no intention of marrying and am going to a monastery?”

The more the Princess spoke, the more the Emperor leaned back against his chair and smiled brightly as if encouraging her to continue.

Only Oreon noticed that his gaze had turned coldly distant.

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