Unbeknownst to Me, I am Secretly Dating the Emperor - Chapter 121

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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 121
* * *
This morning, there was a lesson on Sacred Power held early in the day.
I’d decided once again to observe the class under the guise of being Ibeta’s attendant.
But Yudapeu proved himself a dutiful and thoughtful instructor once more.
Ibeta, who had been wary of him all along, gradually seemed to relax her guard at some point.
Not because she’d come to trust him.
Simply because maintaining constant tension all day was no easy feat for someone as soft-natured as Ibeta.
‘Our Ibeta should focus only on her studies.’
I kept my eyes on her every moment, vigilant on her behalf as well.
But even this time, when the lesson ended, Yudapeu had done nothing but instruct Ibeta faithfully.
‘He’s laying the groundwork quite patiently.’
Yudapeu was a persistent and cunning villain.
He was the difficult type to deal with, and I wanted to find some fault with him and dispose of him as soon as possible.
But it seemed I’d need to wait for the next opportunity.
‘The High Priest wouldn’t have taken him as an adopted son for no reason.’
I soothed my own hasty temperament from within.
Then, as Yudapeu bowed politely to Ibeta and turned to leave, our eyes met in the air.
Yudapeu closed his eyes and smiled benevolently.
It was such a natural smile that I would have been fooled completely had I not known the original work.
I was about to avert my gaze, hiding behind the characteristic businesslike expressionlessness of a maidservant, when a different strategy suddenly occurred to me.
I deliberately widened my eyes as if startled.
The moment our eyes met stretched on unnaturally long.
I didn’t have acting talent like Yudapeu, but that didn’t matter.
The clumsier I seemed, the easier I’d be to manipulate.
My intention hit the mark—Yudapeu’s smile deepened.
Then he gave me a light bow and left.
What? Why’s he just leaving?
With so few opportunities to encounter him, merely catching his eye once wasn’t nearly enough.
‘I’m a busy person who can’t attend every lesson.’
Since the fish had bitten, I should at least reel in the line.
I silently mouthed to Ibeta that I’d be stepping out for a moment, then followed him outside, pretending to clear away the teacup.
Yudapeu’s pace slowed—perhaps he’d heard me following.
He waited for me to catch up a bit, then turned as if just now noticing my presence.
“Ah, Miss Attendant.”
Yudapeu acknowledged me.
“Let me carry that for you.”
It was merely a tray with a teapot and a few cups.
Yet Yudapeu took it from me as if I’d been carrying a boulder.
Like a man with consideration carved into his very nature.
‘The characterization’s meticulous.’
“Thank you.”
I smiled awkwardly, not hiding my aversion to Yudapeu and making it clear I found his presence uncomfortable.
Then he wore a slightly troubled expression and spoke in hushed tones.
“I understand that my presence must be inconvenient for those who serve the Saint. But…….”
Yudapeu paused as if he’d nearly made a slip of the tongue.
Then, more hesitantly than before, he continued.
“I hold the Saint in sincere reverence.”
Yudapeu dragged out his words as if he harbored some complicated history, his expression suffused with longing.
It seemed his concept was that of a priest caught between orders from above and sincere devotion, tormented by guilt for being forced to do something against his conscience toward the revered Saint.
‘An actor among priests, then. But I won’t be deceived.’
Yudapeu must have realized long ago that I was no ordinary attendant.
‘He likely assumes I’m an eye the Emperor has planted here.’
It was a reasonable inference.
And fairly close to the truth as well.
Thinking that I was testing him as his observer, he was clearly throwing bait my way.
At this point, Yudapeu was merely a low-ranking priest with no direct connection to the High Priest.
A once-promising youth who’d fallen to the bottom as he grew older.
What he likely hoped for was that I’d develop suspicions about his conduct and investigate him more thoroughly.
An investigation would reveal how desperately he’d struggled to survive within the Temple.
Whether the imperial court decided to recruit him or dropped its guard, either direction would work to Yudapeu’s advantage.
‘Since in the original work, he was abandoned as a disposable pawn the moment the influential backer who looked after him—someone who many priests had looked down on him for being connected to—died.’
I intended to let things proceed as he envisioned them.
Only if he believed events were unfolding according to his own design could I hook this suspicious future villain.
Until now, acting hadn’t been necessary, but this time I needed some genuinely advanced performance skill.
I had to appear like someone filled with suspicion yet caught in a moment of confusion.
I lifted the corners of my mouth in a smile.
“The Saint is one whom the Goddess Minos sent Herself, after all.”
In the Temple’s official hierarchy, the Saint ranked above the High Priest.
The implication was that following the Saint rather than the High Priest was only natural.
My lack of acting skill made my expression awkwardly stiff, which apparently read quite well as genuine confusion.
Yudapeu, more talented as an actor than as a priest, wore an expression as if he’d received some profound revelation.
“……I had forgotten that.”
Yudapeu played along as if I’d granted him some insight.
But Yudapeu was obviously not someone who would change his allegiance from a single word.
Not out of deep loyalty to the High Priest.
He simply lived chasing stronger Sacred Power since childhood, making temporal authority within the Temple his life’s goal.
‘He’s definitely the better actor between us.’
Yudapeu continued his performance of confusion, drawing closer to me.
‘That startled me.’
I nearly stumbled backward in surprise before catching myself.
Fortunately, Yudapeu, immersed in his own performance, seemed to interpret this as part of my wariness.
Yudapeu whispered in a small, quick voice.
“I know the imperial court is searching for the people from the Orphanage who grew up with the Saint in her childhood.”
The search for the orphanage children that the responsible priest had sold off—as promised to Ibeta—had been ongoing for quite some time.
Since we’d had to trace their whereabouts starting from the Pherom Temple, the Temple had apparently caught wind of it.
‘We’ve already found most of them, so there shouldn’t be much of a problem.’
Still, I was curious why he was suddenly divulging such useful information.
Fortunately, Yudapeu’s words continued.
“Not all of them will be trustworthy people.”
Having said this much, Yudapeu stepped back from me and smiled warmly.
‘How much of this is the truth?’
To deceive someone effectively, blending a small amount of lies into mostly truth was the best method.
Yudapeu was already concealing the fact that he himself was a scheming villain.
‘So if his assertion is true, then among the orphanage people the Blue Hawk brought back, there’s a high probability that an informant was mixed in.’
I couldn’t trust Yudapeu entirely, but it was worth investigating.
Ibeta had a soft heart and carried significant guilt about being the only one left at the Orphanage while all her friends around her were being sold off.
Rather than get blindsided later, it was better to be cautious, even if it meant being manipulated somewhat by Yudapeu.
“Then a priest I’ve only met twice isn’t worthy of trust either.”
I hardened my expression and took the tray back.
I turned and walked away quickly, feeling his gaze cling to my back for a long moment afterward.
* * *
I went directly to Kyle.
When I relayed what Yudapeu had said, Kyle merely lifted the corners of his mouth in a smile.
“That old raccoon’s picked someone quite similar to me.”
His expression was similar to Yudapeu’s but with a more menacing tone—though somehow it came across as cleaner nonetheless.
“The fact that he’s divulging information so brazenly suggests he either has no direct connection to the High Priest, or he’s completely hiding any connection he does have.”
It was a good opportunity to share the original work’s information about Yudapeu.
When I mentioned a few things under the guise of speculation, Kyle listened carefully.
“I’ll investigate more thoroughly.”
If Kyle—already naturally tenacious—said that, it was trustworthy.
‘But Kyle doesn’t know the future.’
I wanted to verify things myself if possible.
“The orphanage people you’ve found are being protected at Count Simour’s Residence, I hear. Would it be possible for the Saint and me to visit them?”
“Personally?”
Kyle spoke with some reluctance.
“Yes. I’d like to go and return as soon as possible.”
“Well, it shouldn’t take more than a day or so.”
After a brief silence, permission was granted, heavy with weight.

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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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