I Married the Terminally Ill Emperor - Chapter 56

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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 56

“I often don’t remember things from when I was young.”

“What? You forgot that important moment when we met?”

“Maybe I forgot because it wasn’t that important?”

At Annie’s gentle tone, Tiara glared at her coldly.

“I don’t like this woman. Even when we were young, when I tried to take the princess with me, this woman stopped me.”

“I told you then, didn’t I? That Princess isn’t a pretty doll. You can’t just take her away like that.”

When Annie spoke calmly, Tiara snorted dismissively.

From their conversation, it seemed that when they were young, the Imperial Princess had treated her like a pretty doll and tried to take her to the Empire, but Annie had stopped it.

“Anyway, I commanded it then. Let’s be friends.”

“I’m sure I also told you then that friendship isn’t something you can command.”

At Annie’s blunt truth, Tiara bristled.

“You!”

“Why are you calling me? Your Imperial Highness.”

When Annie replied nonchalantly, the Imperial Princess turned to Dahlia with an indignant expression.

“Princess! Is it okay for your maid to treat me, an Imperial Princess, like this?”

“She’s my friend, so she can’t help but take my side. And Your Imperial Highness said you wanted to be friends with me too, right? Then my friend is also Your Imperial Highness’s friend.”

“I don’t want that!”

“I don’t want it either!”

Dahlia leisurely drank her tea and smiled.

Those two might actually get along well?

* * *

Dahlia lingered in front of the Hallen Sacred Empire’s lodging.

The Krzea Empire seemed to have gone well thanks to Imperial Princess Tiara, but she was worried about how the Hallen Sacred Empire would react.

That’s why she had come to meet Captain Roand, who held the highest position there.

Soon, Captain Roand emerged from the lodging and spotted her in the shade, his eyes showing interest.

“Princess Dahlia, greetings.”

“Hello, Captain.”

Annie and Cole tactfully stepped away from them.

“Again, you’re calling me Captain.”

He smiled bitterly.

“I deceived you about being a princess. I was worried you might be displeased. I’m also concerned that the Hallen Sacred Empire might misunderstand.”

Dahlia honestly opened her heart.

Roand looked at her and smiled slightly.

“I knew Princess’s identity from the beginning, so you never deceived me.”

“Ah, that’s true. But how did you know I was a princess? I’ve never left the Star Palace, so even people in our kingdom don’t know me.”

Roand stared intently at her curious face.

Didn’t the princess know that she had grown up with the same face from childhood? Or maybe it was because she didn’t remember him.

Suddenly, an empty wind blew through his heart.

He had certainly wanted to forget his past. But it seemed he didn’t want to be forgotten by the princess alone.

Roand hid his bitter feelings and smiled faintly.

“Try to guess how I know.”

“Pardon?”

“Just as I recognized Princess at first sight, let me give you a chance to recognize me too.”

“Ah, I understand.”

Dahlia nodded in bewilderment.

“Our Empire won’t protest about Princess coming to the Ruusephon Empire. Please don’t worry about that.”

“Thank you, Captain.”

“Could you just call me Roand again?”

“Yes. Roand.”

Seeing the princess smile brightly at him, it felt like warm sunlight was shining into his empty heart.

Perhaps this way, he could forget the past and make a new beginning?

* * *

Emperor Gray, who was about to enter his garden with a report, spotted the princess’s guard knight and maid.

“We greet Your Majesty the Emperor.”

After receiving their greeting and going inside, he saw the princess sleeping with her head down on the table.

When had his garden become her exclusive napping space?

He sat across from her and looked at the report, then glanced at her still sleeping.

Come to think of it, was there anyone who slept this often? Could it be that she didn’t have insomnia but some physical problem?

Then, the princess’s long eyelashes fluttered and slowly opened. Mysterious violet eyes looked up at him intently.

“Your Majesty? Could you give me your hand?”

Before Emperor Gray could answer, she arbitrarily pulled his hand and placed it over her own.

“You already took it.”

“My apologies.”

“You apologize after being rude first?”

“Yes, yawn—”

Dahlia yawned long and still looked up at him while lying on the table. She had a leisurely and free atmosphere, like a cat enjoying warm sunlight.

Having lived only in the Star Palace, she was distinctly different from other kingdoms’ princesses. Her lack of concern for dignity and propriety as a princess was even refreshing.

Or had he become comfortable?

“Why don’t you want to marry, Your Majesty?”

“I hate touching women.”

“But you’re touching me right now.”

The princess slightly lifted their overlapped hands as if to show off. Her small hand under his wasn’t even visible. Only the warm and soft sensation could be felt beneath his palm.

“Right. Princess can enter my garden freely and take my hand to touch it as she pleases.”

The princess’s eyes widened as she bolted upright.

“I wasn’t touching it. I just lifted Your Majesty’s hand and placed it on the back of my hand.”

Emperor Gray’s gaze dropped to their overlapped hands.

“Isn’t this touching?”

“This is just like an immunity experiment.”

The princess answered in a crisp voice.

“Then does Princess conduct such experiments with just anyone?”

Emperor Gray felt his lips wanting to curve up, so he deliberately applied force and turned his gaze back to her.

She shook her head with a ‘what are you talking about’ expression.

“Your Majesty isn’t just anyone.”

Somehow satisfied with that answer, Emperor Gray gently but firmly grasped her hand.

“Then is it okay for me to experiment anytime too?”

“Huh? That’s… that’s not what I meant.”

Her violet pupils trembled finely.

“How far can I go?”

He gazed at her with burning eyes and slowly stroked her wrist with his thumb. He could see the princess’s violet eyes widen in surprise.

“Fi-five minutes! It’s been five minutes!”

Her face flushed red as she bolted up from her seat and hurried away.

Left alone in the garden, a refreshing smile formed on his lips. He lowered his gaze to the report, then clenched his hand once more, still feeling the lingering warmth.

* * *

In her sleep, Dahlia broke out in cold sweat, groaning and tossing her head from side to side.

Chirp chirp.

Startled, Lemon grabbed her hair in its beak and tugged.

Dahlia slowly lifted her eyelids and turned her head with a drowsy, unfocused gaze. Through the curtain, she could sense the dim atmosphere of night.

She squeezed her eyes shut again.

The image of pitch-black monsters pouring down like the dark night sky remained as an afterimage in her vision. Even though she had the same dream repeatedly, it was always agonizing.

Chirp chirp. Chirp chirp.

As Lemon chirped noisily, Dahlia finally opened her eyes again. The small bird flew around in front of her with a worried expression.

Dahlia sat up against the head of the bed and extended one hand. Lemon quietly settled onto her palm.

As she gently stroked Lemon’s soft down feathers, her anxiously trembling hand gradually calmed.

“Lemon. Do you know what? The world might end. Then everyone will die.”

For the first time, she spoke aloud about the world’s destruction. She wanted to confide in someone about the suffocating feeling that seemed to block her chest.

Chirp chirp chirp.

Lemon shook its head as if to say no.

“I wish it weren’t true either. But for that to happen, the Emperor needs to get married. However, the more I dream, the less time there seems to be. That’s what I’m afraid of.”

Even though she had awakened from the dream, she still seemed to hear people’s screams in her ears.

Was it okay to waste time like this, becoming close to the Emperor and trying to cure his condition of avoiding women? Should she just be honest with the Emperor and ask for his help? Tell him that he just needs to get married.

“Lemon, should I tell Your Majesty? That he needs to marry to prevent the world’s destruction.”

Chirp chirp.

Lemon nodded as if telling her to do so.

“Won’t he think I’m a crazy woman?”

Chirp chirp chirp.

Lemon shook its head vigorously.

“Thank you, Lemon.”

Dahlia rubbed her cheek against Lemon’s fluffy feathers. Lemon chirped brightly as if tickled.

With Lemon’s clear sound ringing in her ears, Dahlia was able to bury the screams from her nightmare deep in her heart.

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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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