Unbeknownst to Me, I am Secretly Dating the Emperor - Chapter 12

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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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Episode 12
‘Maybe it’s something like post-traumatic stress from someone who’s lived through war.’
Everett lightly bit his lower lip, as if he’d made a slip of the tongue without meaning to.
“You must have done quite a lot of things that would keep you awake at night?”
I asked it deliberately, as if making a playful joke.
‘There’s no point trying to change the subject—it’ll only make things more awkward.’
And usually, people with eyes like that weren’t villains.
Fortunately, Everett’s expression softened a little.
“I can’t deny it.”
The atmosphere, which had grown increasingly heavy, became somewhat easier.
“Or maybe you’re an escaped convict who committed some terribly cruel crime, got caught, then broke out—and by sheer luck, His Majesty recognized your abilities and scouted you?”
I deliberately exaggerated my tone, launching into a series of wildly implausible theories just to lighten the mood.
“Or perhaps it’s your hobby to steal candy from children and throw it away?”
The more I talked, the more childish my guesses became.
“You have quite the imagination.”
As I poured out an endless stream of absurd speculation, Everett at some point began listening to me like a king enchanted by Scheherazade.
“I’m glad I’m not quite that bad of a person.”
By the time we reached the alley in front of my house, I could see him smiling with a noticeably more relaxed expression.
‘Well done, me.’
I felt a small sense of accomplishment as I said goodbye to Everett.
“We’re almost there.”
“Here?”
Everett asked with obvious puzzlement, since there didn’t appear to be any residential buildings in the vicinity.
“Not quite here, of course, but I can hardly reveal a lady’s dwelling to a strange man.”
‘Though it seems my personal information has already been exposed once.’
“There’s no one about, but I do hope your home isn’t too far from here.”
Everett voiced a brief concern.
I simply smiled and turned around slowly.
I felt Everett’s gaze follow me, but only for a moment.
Soon I heard his footsteps as he turned and walked away.
“Wait.”
I couldn’t resist a sudden impulse and turned back around.
Everett stopped.
“I can’t help but be curious whether the drug effect has worn off yet.”
Everett turned to face me.
We stood facing each other, separated by roughly ten paces.
“You’re a knight, aren’t you?”
Though it took the form of a question, it was nearly a certainty.
‘If someone with those muscles were a court official, that would be a terrible loss for the Empire.’
“You must have fought alongside His Majesty.”
Everett, who had been standing perfectly still beneath the dim moonlight like a statue, flinched slightly.
I quickly added the basis for my guess.
‘I want to stop this misunderstanding right now.’
“Surely you wouldn’t claim to be a court official after twisting my wrist so deftly.”
The more I spoke, the more wronged I felt.
“Ah, that’s right. I didn’t even visit that temple either.”
It was just a meaningless boast, so I glossed over it quickly.
“In any case, if the things that kept you awake at night happened on the battlefield…….”
I drew one breath and continued.
“Then I was able to sleep peacefully thanks to you. I’m grateful.”
I offered my thanks with the utmost courtesy and respect.
It was sincere.
The Current Emperor had ruthlessly purged his rivals the moment he took the throne, yet he remained popular with the Empire’s people.
‘I don’t remember much from when I was young.’
I simply hadn’t understood the complexities of adults as a child.
The previous emperor’s reign must have been that harsh.
The late emperor had ascended the throne thanks to his elder brother, the crown prince, who had suddenly fallen gravely ill and relinquished the throne.
‘Because the Previous Crown Prince—the Current Emperor’s father—was such a capable man, he had lived as a leisured nobleman far removed from the throne.’
It would have been better had he made a genuine effort to become a proper emperor after inheriting the crown.
‘But he turned out to be tremendously incompetent.’
The Empire had been the mightiest power on the Continent, yet one incompetent emperor could destroy its foundations in the blink of an eye.
As the nation’s power rapidly declined, neighboring kingdoms seeking supremacy on the Continent launched endless invasions.
Yet the late emperor succumbed to the sweet whispers of corrupt officials and continued to neglect governance.
The Empire’s territories shrank steadily, and the people’s lives grew increasingly miserable.
Even our household—living in the relative safety of the Capital and bearing a noble title—felt the impact.
A genuine crisis befell the Empire, which had barely survived on the memory of its former glory.
The neighboring kingdoms united and declared war.
Even then, the late emperor remained oblivious, arrogantly confident that the Empire would naturally defeat the alliance, indulging in luxury.
This was why the Current Emperor executed the late emperor and his corrupt advisors, then fought a prolonged war immediately after his coronation.
Without such decisive action, the Empire would have been destroyed long ago, torn to shreds.
If Everett Rohas was one of the Emperor’s trusted retainers, he would have inevitably spent a long time on the battlefield.
‘And to the extent that he spent sleepless nights, the lives of the Empire’s people have become easier.’
“You turned out to be quite the flatterer.”
Everett said this almost as if complaining.
He looked both somewhat bashful and rather pleased.
“That wasn’t flattery.”
I murmured toward the back of Everett’s head, which had by then grown quite distant.
‘Is he embarrassed?’
I gave a light shrug and headed toward home.
* * *
The next day, one of the knights summoned me as soon as I arrived at work.
“Miss Carolina Diaz. This way, please.”
“Yes.”
As I approached the knight, he drew close to my side and whispered, ensuring no one else could hear.
“Orders have come down to confirm the safety of Constance, who is currently being held in the Imperial Palace Detention Center.”
My expression brightened at the good news, and the knight cautioned me.
“These are orders from above to proceed discreetly. They said since you, Miss Carolina Diaz, are already aware of the situation, there’s no need for detailed explanation.”
The knight looked at me as if to confirm that the “situation briefing” had been properly conveyed.
“I understand.”
I lowered my voice to match his.
‘They said she couldn’t be released until the investigation into the Camelot Duchy territories was complete.’
I’d thought it was an unfair bargain, but it was still a relief.
After hearing my response, the knight continued in rapid tones.
“Since a witness is needed for cross-verification of statements, we’ve already arranged for your cooperation, so just proceed naturally.”
“Yes, yes!”
I arranged my expression to show appropriate nervousness.
“Then let’s go, Miss Carolina Diaz.”
After confirming that I was mentally prepared, the knight deliberately raised his voice slightly as he invited me to follow.
I gazed at the ground with a somewhat melancholy expression for a few seconds before following the knight.
Whispers erupted from behind me.
It was the “three magpies”—sycophants hovering around Andrew, hoping to scavenge some crumbs.
When Andrew was dragged away, they’d acted as though their own family member had been taken, but the moment rumors spread that Andrew had been released, they suddenly recovered their spirits.
“Is it Carolina Diaz’s turn now?”
“Must be. Donovan and Andrew both got out, but Constance is still locked up. What other reason could there be for summoning Carolina Diaz at a time like this?”
“So Constance ended up implicating her accomplices after all.”
“Yeah, the scale of it all seemed too big for Constance to have done it alone.”
Their muttering seemed far too clear for something they meant to keep to themselves—as though they wanted me to hear.
They seemed to think there was something for me to feel guilty about.
‘Or maybe they just find it sickeningly satisfying that misfortune has befallen someone they already disliked.’
The three magpies had been five-year seniors of mine and Coni’s at the academy.
But after repeating years and barely graduating, they’d failed the Imperial Palace administrative selection exam, and seemed to have grown to dislike me quite intensely once they entered around the same time as me, who had graduated a year early.
‘It’s not my fault! It’s your own stupid brains!’
If the situation hadn’t required secrecy until the investigation of the Camelot Duchy family was complete, I would have given them a thorough dressing-down.
‘After this is over, we’ll see about you. Kaylus and Everett.’
I walked onward, as though I hadn’t heard any of it.
‘I’ll also need to get compensation for Coni’s and my damaged reputation later.’
Workplace gossip was something that spiraled out of control once it started circulating.
‘The rumors that correct false gossip just hover around the victim and disperse.’
If I left things as they were, rumors would definitely harden into the narrative that Coni and I were the true culprits in the western incident who had somehow barely gotten off.
‘For now, I need to focus on what’s more important. Getting Coni out safely comes first.’
I made a mental note, writing down grievances and resentment for both of them in red in the ledger of my mind.
But the three magpies lacked all sense of discretion.
Emboldened by my silence, they crossed the line of their own volition.
“What if someone higher up than Carolina Diaz is actually behind this?”
“Could be. The Renckels Duchy and the Camelot Duchy aren’t on good terms, after all.”
The three magpies’ gossiping mouths finally extended to my mother’s family.
At the mention of the Renckels Duchy—itself one of the Empire’s real powers—the employees who had been observing the standoff between the three magpies and me scattered like cockroaches fleeing light, vanishing rapidly.

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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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