Unbeknownst to Me, I am Secretly Dating the Emperor - Chapter 100

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 100
‘So Everett Rohas was thirty.’
Edwin had even worked backward from Lina’s age to calculate exactly how old Everett Rohas was.
He’d known Everett was older than him, but had never bothered to figure out the exact number.
If he’d only been twenty-five or twenty-six, Edwin might have attempted some damage control, but there was no way out of this.
‘Why is Everett Rohas so much older?’
Edwin found himself resenting Everett Rohas without good reason.
The real Everett, who by now was likely sitting at home eating dinner just as Edwin had told him to, would have felt quite hurt by this unreasonable grudge if he’d known about it.
But even as Edwin avoided the impossible situation unfolding before him, Lina’s expression was steadily growing worse.
“Ah, so you don’t like people with big age gaps.”
Lina’s lips pressed into a tight line, parroting Edwin’s words.
“But I do?”
Lina crossed her arms and turned her head sharply away, as if she wanted to show she was offended.
But for Edwin, it was actually good news.
The tension that had frozen Edwin’s face as he read her mood melted slightly.
Though he quickly returned to his serious expression, Lina had already caught him smiling out of the corner of her eye.
Her cheeks puffed out even more.
“From now on, I’m going to like younger men.”
“That’s not happening.”
Edwin protested urgently.
He couldn’t possibly be younger than Lina.
“That’s my choice, isn’t it?”
But Lina, thoroughly offended, insisted on her freedom of taste.
Edwin’s words failed him.
‘Could we fix my age on paper?’
Edwin caught himself contemplating something that would make future historians faint, and snapped back to reality to call out to Lina.
“Lina.”
“What?”
But having called her, Edwin found himself unable to continue.
He knew this was the moment to smooth things over with Lina.
He just had no idea how to do it.
It was the price of a lifetime spent in nobility.
After a long pause, Edwin spoke carefully.
“That came out wrong.”
Lina, who had been refusing to even meet his eyes, turned her body slightly as if willing to listen.
But it was harder to follow up than he’d expected.
Saying again that a big age gap was actually good didn’t sit right with Edwin.
He had to account for the eventual revelation of his identity too.
And so the generous opportunity Lina had offered slipped away.
“We’ve wasted too much time on the road.”
Lina spoke with just the corner of her mouth lifted in a smile.
Edwin’s instincts sounded an alarm.
“You don’t have to walk me home today.”
Speaking in a gentle tone, Lina turned on her heel and strode away, leaving Edwin behind.
Edwin watched her receding figure helplessly.
‘She told me not to follow her.’
But his instincts insisted he couldn’t let her go like this.
Torn between Lina’s words and his instincts, Edwin made his choice.
“It’s fine to go alone anyway.”
Lina murmured to herself.
Fortunately, it was the right answer.
Edwin caught up to her in half the stride it took her to take one full step, and walked beside her, matching her pace.
His eyes weren’t on the path ahead but fixed on her alone.
The unexpected pursuit seemed to wear on her, and Lina’s steps gradually slowed.
Unable to come up with anything clever, Edwin simply laid his heart bare.
“I like you no matter how old you are.”
It was the most honest thing he could say in the moment.
Lina graciously accepted his sincerity.
“I like you too, Ed.”
Lina turned to look at him and smiled.
The instinctive warning quieted, and this time the smile seemed genuine.
Edwin didn’t miss his chance.
“Then can I hold your hand?”
Lina offered him her hand without looking at him, just slipping it forward.
It was permission.
* * *
The next day, Ibeta also learned about her first public appearance.
There had been worry she might fear standing before strangers, but fortunately Ibeta showed resolve.
“I think I’ll be able to perform simple Healing.”
Ibeta expressed her willingness to demonstrate her Holy Power at the Poor Relief House.
Like a Saint who received the abundant favor of the Minos God, Ibeta possessed more Holy Power than any Priest.
She was assessed to have far greater potential than the Saints and Sages of ages past.
But she was still learning how to wield that power.
Objectively speaking, without rose-tinted glasses, her progress in Ancient Language lessons was actually faster.
The force was so overwhelming that controlling it had proven difficult.
Ibeta was devoting herself to practice at the Poor Relief House, so she could use her Holy Power without hesitation.
And my sister Bes and I were mostly her training partners.
For me, it was an excellent arrangement.
Thanks to fewer Ancient Language lessons this time out, I’d actually visited Byeol Palace more often.
“May the grace of the Minos God light your path.”
Ibeta recited a brief prayer and cast the most fundamental Blessing.
A soft golden Holy Power enveloped my entire body.
But only a few seconds after the prayer ended did the Blessed Holy Power of the Minos God actually reach me.
It was a much shorter delay than at the beginning.
Unlike magic, using Holy Power required no incantation.
So speaking the prayer before using Holy Power was purely theatrical.
It was an idea to make Ibeta look more saintly.
But Ibeta was the type who struggled to do multiple things at once.
She needed practice even to recite the prayer while simultaneously channeling Holy Power.
“I think it’d be better to focus on just practicing Holy Power control.”
I offered my opinion and tried to change the approach, but Ibeta was already determined to master reciting the prayer while using Holy Power.
It looked cooler that way, apparently.
Since my sister Bes had similar tastes and sided with Ibeta, the practice continued.
“That was way faster than before! Just a little more and you’ve got it!”
Bes, healthy and positive after receiving both Blessing and Healing in succession, cheered Ibeta on.
“Right?”
Ibeta, clumsy only at wielding her overflowing Holy Power, asked without a hint of fatigue.
“Lina, can I try once more?”
“Of course.”
Ibeta’s practice continued.
“That was definitely faster than before.”
I too, having received Blessing and Healing in succession and become healthy and positive, found myself cheering Ibeta on.
* * *
Today I was heading to Byeol Palace again.
Half my purpose was to see Ibeta; the other half was for my own sake.
As an attendant named in Ibeta’s public schedule, I’d been quite busy lately, and the Saint’s grace was sorely needed.
But the moment I arrived at Byeol Palace, I regretted ever deciding to come today.
“It’s been so long.”
I had come face to face with Count Renkels for the first time in over a decade.
The attendants assigned to Byeol Palace were all veterans.
They had sensed that Count Renkels and I had no contact and had carefully arranged it so our schedules never overlapped.
Today I had even sent word ahead through the attendants.
Yet if I was now standing before Count Renkels, there could be only one explanation.
“It has been a long time.”
Count Renkels had been waiting for me.
Count Renkels looked at me with a tender expression, seeing me for the first time in ten years.
As if longing had condensed itself during all that time apart.
“You’ve grown so much.”
Her violet eyes seemed distant, wandering through memories of when I was still a child.
“I’m an adult now.”
For years I had worked to deny any connection to the Renkels family.
Yet the clear memories of my aunt, whom I’d seen occasionally as a child, held my feet in place.
I’d grown old enough to understand why the previous Count Renkels had spoken so harshly.
‘She must have been upset at seeing how mother dressed and spoke more severely because of it.’
But understanding didn’t mean I forgave her.
Count Renkels seemed to know that too.
“Let’s greet each other like this from time to time.”
“If the opportunity arises. I should withdraw now—the Saint is waiting for me.”
Count Renkels, who had seemed ready to say more, fell silent in the face of my firm resolve.
I turned away from Count Renkels with a brief greeting.
My steps were heavy.

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