Unbeknownst to Me, I am Secretly Dating the Emperor - Chapter 118

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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 118
The Blue Hawk operatives kept Bes largely in the dark about sensitive matters, a precaution against careless slip-ups.
Bes herself harbored no resentment—she knew well enough that her tongue had a tendency to run away with her.
Better to endure a little loneliness and curiosity than to blurt out something critical; the trade-off felt like a mercy.
Still, there were occasions when information considered too trivial for careful handling naturally found its way to her ears.
For instance, the names of the Crown Princess’s Imperial Marriage Proposal candidates.
When she’d learned who those candidates were, Bes had given it barely a second thought.
The high nobility already knew through their own channels, and it lay well outside her sphere of interest—the sort of thing that would evaporate from memory within days.
But the moment she heard that Lina’s lover was Everett Rohas, the list of the Crown Princess’s candidates came rushing back.
Bes decided, for now, to say nothing.
All she knew for certain was that Everett Rohas’s name appeared on that list.
‘He might have declined the Emperor’s offer.’
That Everett Rohas—a man risen from serfdom in the Eastern Region—had even been considered was surely a mark of imperial favor.
And the Emperor, for all his power, was no petty tyrant who took offense at a respectful refusal.
Rarely, Bes resolved to look into the matter more carefully before acting.
The next morning, she made her way to Sophia’s home early.
“Bes?”
Sophia, just stepping out to head to work, was startled to see her.
“Is something wrong?”
Seeing Bes appear unbidden at the door at such an hour, Sophia asked with concern.
“Well… never mind.”
Bes had nearly blurted out a question about whether the Crown Princess’s marriage candidates had been decided, but caught herself.
Sophia was not one to gossip easily.
The matter of the Crown Princess’s Imperial Marriage Proposal candidates wasn’t strictly confidential, but if the approach seemed suspicious, Sophia would likely clam up entirely.
Showing up unannounced at her doorstep certainly qualified as suspicious.
Bes could be impulsive, but she was no fool.
Her mind began working quickly.
“I had something I wanted to ask you.”
Bes smiled sweetly and linked her arm through Sophia’s.
“You could ask me at the office.”
When Bes—who’d grown more sullen of late, claiming she was too old for such things—suddenly turned coquettish, the corner of Sophia’s mouth lifted slightly.
Bes let out a quiet sigh of relief when Sophia wasn’t looking.
“I wanted to ask right now.”
“You never change.”
Knowing Bes’s impulsive nature all too well, Sophia simply gave in.
“What was the name of that fish restaurant we went to together four years ago?”
Bes rattled off questions as they came to mind.
A relentless barrage.
As the endless stream of inquiries poured forth—from restaurants to work matters—Sophia’s answers grew increasingly perfunctory.
It was precisely the moment Bes had been waiting for.
With the expression of a cat about to tip over a fishbowl, Bes casually asked,
“Oh, what’s happening with the Crown Princess’s marriage anyway?”
“Use a formal title.”
Sophia’s eyes turned stern as she corrected her.
“Yes, the Crown Princess’s marriage.”
The severity lasted only a moment.
When Bes meekly accepted the correction, Sophia’s expression shifted back to exasperation, and she answered casually.
“Well, it seems Her Highness the Crown Princess finds none of the candidates to her liking.”
Only as much as Bes was cleared to know.
But it was enough for Bes.
“I see. By the way, Sophia—what are you doing this weekend?”
Bes transitioned smoothly to the next question as though she’d only just remembered to ask.
While her mouth chattered away, her mind was already spinning forward again.
‘Then it doesn’t seem like Lord Rohas will become the chosen one. Should I tell Lina?’
Bes, who had grown more cautious since meeting Ibeta, decided to hold back for now.
‘I’ll wait and see a bit longer.’
As luck would have it, Bes had an acquaintance at the Separate Palace where the Crown Princess resided.
The Blue Hawk had eyes on the Crown Princess.
* * *
With the Debutante season approaching, Ibeta’s lessons multiplied.
The decision came suddenly, over tea and Chocolate Cake laden with rich chocolate mousse.
“Now that we’ve chosen the dress, the next step is to select accessories and shoes.”
Harper, thorough by nature and fully in charge of Ibeta’s preparations, spoke while consulting a small notebook crammed with tiny script.
“Oh, I know a craftsman who makes shoes so comfortable your feet barely ache while dancing.”
Rosina recommended one particular shoemaker.
“Good. I’ll speak to the handmaidens at the Separate Palace and arrange an appointment.”
But then they all suddenly realized there was something far more pressing before comfortable shoes.
“First things first—we need to learn Ballroom Dance.”
Regia said this in a small, flustered voice.
The other two looked equally panicked, but they quickly composed themselves and spoke brightly.
“You’ll only need to learn one or two basic pieces, really.”
Rosina offered encouragement to Ibeta.
Since Ibeta, a saint, was hardly the sort to attend every ball in the capital like some of the other young noblewomen who took society seriously, learning just the essentials would suffice.
“We’ll teach you!”
Harper volunteered to be the dance instructor.
“I’ll do my best.”
Ibeta, feeling she could manage that much, kindled her resolve.
But the sparks of her determination scattered—and some fell on me.
“Bes and Lina should learn too!”
Regia made the suggestion.
“Me as well?”
“Your birthday’s coming up soon anyway.”
“It’ll be more fun learning alongside the saint, don’t you think?”
“Fine, I’ll do it.”
Swayed by the logic that she’d have to learn separately later if not now, Bes joined the lessons.
‘Bes doing it is one thing.’
“Why do I have to?”
“You’re going to participate in Ibeta’s Debutante, aren’t you?”
“The gentlemen will line up to dance with you once they know you’ll be dancing with Lina.”
Rosina and Harper, as though they’d coordinated beforehand, rattled off their reasoning.
The thoughtful young noblewomen seemed worried that I’d be a wallflower at Ibeta’s Debutante ball, awkward in a social setting.
It was only proper that every attendee dance at least once.
I turned them down with a smile.
“I’ve already learned the basic pieces.”
From my mother directly, when she was once the darling of society.
I’d learned a little as a child and hadn’t danced since growing up, but I could manage the customary one or two pieces well enough.
But the young noblewomen didn’t give up on me easily.
“Learn with us anyway.”
“You’ll improve so much faster dancing with someone more advanced.”
“It’ll be fun!”
Their eyes sparkled so brightly it became clear their true goal was using the lessons as an excuse to all play together.
“All right.”
This time, I yielded without resistance.
“Then let’s start today!”
No one had any other commitments that day.
They were all so eager they immediately sprang into action.
The Tea Room was cleared and a Magic Artifact began playing music.
“The knights outside won’t be able to help, apparently.”
While tidying the Tea Room, Rosina had gone to ask the knights guarding the Separate Palace to serve as dance partners, but returned downcast with news of failure.
“They said they can’t leave their posts during their shift.”
Regia made excuses on the knights’ behalf.
“Really. I asked who was inside, and one of them looked incredibly uncomfortable and said it wouldn’t work. But it’s fine. We all know how to lead. Right?”
Rosina, who’d deflated only for a moment, quickly bounced back.
She and the others then demonstrated how they could take the gentlemen’s part, performing a formal nobleman’s bow.
“Beautiful lady, would you grant me the honor of dancing with you?”
Lowering her voice deliberately and speaking in an affected tone, she drew a playful shriek of laughter.
“That gave me chills. I must have pictured five different faces just now.”
Regia shuddered dramatically.
“You weren’t imitating one of our brothers, were you? That would be mortifying.”
Regia laughed along with Rosina’s jest.
“I think you actually were.”
Fresh laughter erupted.
It was an unusually cheerful lesson.
Aside from a few unexpected turns.

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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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