I Married the Terminally Ill Emperor - Chapter 75

—————
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 75

“Wh-what did you say? No!”

Startled, Dahlia’s face instantly turned red.

A kiss? They had pretended to get along, pretended to love each other. But they hadn’t kissed.

Were such rumors circulating about her and the Emperor now?

While Dahlia looked flustered, she noticed Annie subtly averting her gaze.

Annie, you already heard about this.

Really? When she looked at Cole by the door with surprised eyes, he scratched his nose and avoided her gaze.

These traitors! Everyone except me knew about these ridiculous rumors!

Then, the Princess crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair as she continued.

“If not that? Then the rumor about you spending the night with His Majesty in the Main Palace is true?”

“That never happen… ed.”

Dahlia shook her head with an expression that said it was absurd, then hesitated.

Had the few days she spent in the Main Palace when she fell into the lake trying to save Princess Viviana been distorted?

“Then what about the rumor that His Majesty held and rolled around with the Princess?”

“N-no!”

Dahlia strongly denied it and fanned her burning face with her hand.

They had fallen from a horse and rolled together, but how did this become a rumor?

“Then the rumor about having a secret meeting on a path only His Majesty uses?”

“I don’t think so…?”

According to what Hart told her later, that path where she encountered Monet and the Emperor was supposedly off-limits to everyone except ministers and palace people.

No wonder there were no people around when she got lost.

“Then the rumor about changing the name of Crystal Palace to Dahlia Palace?”

“That’s definitely not true!”

The Princess’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“So the other things are true?”

Dahlia realized her mistake and quietly lowered her eyes.

“The other things aren’t true either… That palace name thing is just too absurd…”

“But the other things make sense?”

“They don’t…”

Dahlia kept getting hot and continuously fanned herself with her hand.

Seeing this, Annie quietly brought a fan and cooled her face.

“What rumors are actually true then?”

“Isn’t there a rumor that His Majesty and I fell in love?”

“You two fell in love?”

The Princess’s eyes widened as if she was more surprised by this than the previous false rumors.

“Yes, well…”

Trying to lie outright, her flushed face wouldn’t cool down. Annie’s fanning became a bit faster.

“Princess! You’re not just aiming for some simple scandal, but the Empress position?”

“…Yes.”

Dahlia slowly nodded with an apologetic expression.

When the Princess slammed the table, the teacup on it rattled.

She had said from the beginning that she wanted to become Empress, so it was understandable that she’d be angry.

As Dahlia was about to sincerely apologize, the Princess spoke faster.

“Are you telling me to compete with my best friend for the Empress position?”

Dahlia looked at the Princess’s displeased expression with confused eyes.

Huh…? Isn’t the reason for her anger a bit different?

Not ‘angry because you changed your mind after saying you wouldn’t marry the Emperor,’ but angry because she has to compete with her best friend? But when did we become best friends?

“Princess, when did we become best friends?”

“What? So you’re not best friends with me?!”

The Princess’s voice rose.

“My best friend is Annie.”

When Dahlia answered matter-of-factly, Annie stopped fanning and smiled contentedly.

“Right, I need to get rid of that maid first.”

The Princess glared at Annie with sharp eyes.

Annie responded with a gentle smile, like the composure of someone who has everything.

As the staring contest between the two intensified, Dahlia hurriedly intervened.

“Princess, please don’t say such scary things since you seem like you’d actually do it. More than that, I want to apologize to you for changing my mind.”

“Why apologize for that?”

“Pardon?”

“Your heart belongs to you, Princess. You don’t need to apologize to me for that. People’s hearts can change even while sleeping.”

When the Princess showed unexpected generosity, Dahlia smiled brightly.

“Thank you for understanding.”

“However, our Empire won’t just stand by. Can you handle it?”

Subtle worry was embedded in the Princess’s cool tone.

Dahlia nodded as if it was fine.

“I trust my Elder Brother. He’ll overcome it well.”

“Hmph, elder brothers aren’t meant to be trusted.”

Just as Dahlia was thinking of the Crown Prince of the Krzea Empire and awkwardly smiling, it happened.

“I brought the cocoa.”

Hart, who had entered at some point, placed cocoa in front of the Princess and stepped back.

The Princess elegantly held the cocoa cup, closed her eyes slightly, and took a sip.

“The sweetness is just right.”

“Annie gave advice.”

When Hart pointed to Annie, the Princess snorted. However, she didn’t put down the cocoa cup she was drinking from.

The Princess closed her eyes again and drank the cocoa as if savoring it.

Silence filled the room except for the sound of her drinking cocoa.

Soon, having finished the cocoa, the Princess opened her eyes and put down the cup.

“Anyway, His Majesty dislikes me, so even if I compete with the Princess, I’ll lose. I don’t fight battles I’ll lose.”

“…”

Dahlia was so surprised by her unexpected words that she was at a loss for words.

“Fine. I’ll choose my best friend over a man! So call me by my name from now on. I’ll call you Dahlia too!”

Looking at the Princess, Dahlia was inwardly amazed.

They say hearts can change even while sleeping, but they can change after drinking a cup of cocoa too.

“I’m sorry, but I’m the best friend.”

Then, Annie, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, interjected in a low voice.

“Hmph. So I dislike you more than the Emperor. How dare you compete with me.”

The Princess glared at Annie with blazing eyes.

“Didn’t you say you don’t fight battles you’ll lose?”

Annie responded with a relaxed smile.

“This is a battle I can’t lose.”

Round two between the Princess and Annie began.

“Maid. One more cup of cocoa.”

Even while having a staring contest with Annie, the Princess didn’t miss ordering cocoa.

* * *

Dahlia looked at the pile of invitations stacked in front of her with displeasure.

“I’m getting attention again.”

“With such rumors going around, everyone must want to meet you in person, Princess.”

Dahlia glared at Annie for speaking as if it were no big deal.

“I was the only one who didn’t know about those rumors!”

“I simply didn’t tell you because they were false rumors. They might even help with your imperial marriage.”

“Still, as the person involved, I should have known!”

“If I told you the details about the rumors, could you handle it? About how you two were embracing and rolling around—”

“Wait! No, I think it’s better not to hear it.”

Dahlia hastily raised her hand to cut off Annie’s words and fanned her flushed face.

As if she had expected this, Annie changed the subject.

“But lately, Lady Yofron has been sending invitations every day?”

Annie picked up a red card.

Lady Yofron kept sending invitations again as soon as she received rejection replies.

“Now I’ve run out of excuses to refuse…”

Dahlia recalled Lady Yofron’s arrogant gaze. It was certainly unexpected that such a lady would keep sending invitations despite being rejected.

“Since she’s a lady who wanted to become Empress, she probably wants to see you up close again, Princess.”

Dahlia let out a long sigh and picked up her teacup.

Thinking about the women who wanted to marry the Emperor made her feel sorry, as if she was unfairly taking that position from them.

“Please don’t do that.”

Annie looked at her with calm eyes.

“Hm?”

“The position of Empress has no owner. If it had been decided from the beginning, Emperor Gray would have already married. So don’t feel sorry to anyone and be confident.”

Dahlia smiled faintly at Annie’s comfort, which seemed to have read her mind.

“Thank you.”

“I should be grateful to you, Princess. You have to marry someone you don’t even love to prevent the world’s destruction. No one can blame you for that. I’ll protect you!”

Annie spoke reliably in a small voice so Cole wouldn’t hear.

“That’s reassuring?”

“I’m your best friend, aren’t I, Princess?”

Dahlia burst out laughing at Annie’s words, which showed she was still conscious of Princess Tiara even though she wasn’t there.

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