Unbeknownst to Me, I am Secretly Dating the Emperor - Chapter 128

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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 128
* * *
Edwin had only just heard that Lina was going out, after he’d spent all that time staring into the mirror.
‘Why today of all days.’
The resolve he’d barely mustered was beginning to slip.
‘No. This won’t do.’
If he faltered even once, the second attempt would demand far greater courage.
Besides, he didn’t have much time left.
Edwin decided he would simply wait for Lina at the Separate Palace.
When he arrived at the Garden where he could see Lina’s room, he noticed a Letter placed on the corner of the Terrace.
It said that if he were reading this Letter, it meant her outing was taking longer than expected—see you tomorrow.
Her round, careful handwriting was endearing.
Edwin folded Lina’s Letter gently and set it aside.
He didn’t mind waiting hours. He wanted to see her today.
Edwin stood alone in the Garden, waiting for Lina with nothing but time and longing.
But even as the sun set and night fell, Lina did not return.
It was only after the Saint returned that he heard news of Lina.
‘She went to a friend’s house.’
It felt as though the heavens had conspired to heap misfortune upon his day alone.
But the worst was only beginning.
* * *
The next day, the sun was setting, and still Lina had not returned to the Separate Palace.
He began to worry that something might have happened to her.
He was the one who’d sent away her escort knights so she wouldn’t suspect anything, and now he was beginning to regret it.
Edwin, whose eyes had been anxiously fixed on the outside, finally rose and ran.
Perhaps she was simply enjoying a long-overdue reunion with a friend, spending the holiday in leisure.
But he wouldn’t feel at ease until he’d confirmed her safety with his own eyes.
Even though he’d received a report from Kyle that Lina had gone to her friend’s house, even though he knew Lina was staying at the Separate Palace these days, Edwin—like a bird with a strong homing instinct—made his way to her house.
Perhaps it was pure, instinctive knowing.
The moment he arrived, he looked up at Lina’s window.
Fortunately, the light was on.
Edwin was exhaling a sigh of relief when, at that very moment, the window opened.
Their eyes met.
It was only for an instant, but he saw clearly that Lina’s eyes were swollen.
‘Who is it?’
Who dared to make her cry?
Edwin felt genuine anger—real anger—for the first time in a long while.
As Edwin’s mind raced through potential suspects, he heard Lina’s footsteps coming down the stairs.
The intervals between her steps were much shorter than usual—she was hurrying.
Edwin positioned himself right near the entrance in case Lina might stumble.
Bang!
Lina threw the door open with an intensity uncharacteristic of her.
Though a wide-brimmed Hat obscured her face, her violet eyes—swollen and puffy to half their normal size—fixed on Edwin with a piercing glare.
But before Edwin registered her furious expression, his attention was caught by the raw, inflamed skin around her eyes, as though scraped by rough cloth.
Edwin reached out to touch the area around Lina’s eyes with a very careful hand.
Or rather, he tried to.
A sharp, cold slap from Lina’s hand stopped him immediately.
Edwin felt hurt by Lina pushing him away, but he reasoned it must be her foul mood.
“Were you crying?”
Edwin withdrew his hand and asked as casually as he could manage.
“Yes.”
Lina’s reply was glacial.
Her tone, so different from her usual manner, set off alarms in Edwin’s instincts.
He moved only his eyes, studying her expression carefully.
But that seemed to anger her further.
“Aren’t you going to ask why?”
Before Edwin could respond, Lina continued.
“It’s because of you. Everett Rohas. The Crown Princess of Bellot is pregnant, they said.”
Each word was sharp as a blade.
“How did you—?”
Edwin began to mumble reflexively before freezing in shock.
He’d stayed up all night waiting for Lina, and his tongue had slipped.
But Edwin wasn’t given a chance to explain.
* * *
“How what?”
At those words—the classic response of an unfaithful man—Lina’s vision blurred with rage.
Just moments ago, this man had been acting as though my tears were breaking his heart.
But now it seemed he hadn’t even imagined that I knew he was juggling me alongside the Crown Princess. His expression was simply bewildered.
His infuriatingly smooth face only stoked her anger further.
I kicked Everett’s shin with all my strength.
The toe of my sturdy Leather Shoes connected squarely with his shin.
And yet Everett stood there unfazed while I was the one who felt pain, as though I’d stubbed my toes on the edge instead.
“This is infuriating!”
I stomped my foot against the ground in frustration, venting my rage on the innocent floor.
Everett’s indifference hurt me, and my own pain hurt me more.
I’d promised myself a hundred times as I came down the stairs that I wouldn’t cry in front of Everett, yet tears welled up anyway.
“Don’t cry. Okay?”
Everett still tried to console me like a tender lover, despite being caught red-handed at his two-timing.
“It’s because of you!”
I shouted because I hated that tenderness.
My right foot was still throbbing.
Instead, I started punching Everett.
I wanted to inflict physical pain on him in proportion to my own.
“Don’t hurt your hand. Lina. This is all my fault.”
Everett stood there meekly accepting my blows, at a complete loss for what to do.
When he started to grab my hand, he seemed to realize I’d only grow angrier, so he froze with his hand raised, appealing to me only with words.
‘So much for my hand.’
I was bitterly regretting my recent neglect of strength training.
Everett seemed perfectly fine while I was the one in pain.
I hated him for offering no excuses whatsoever.
“If you knew it was wrong, you shouldn’t have done it in the first place!”
I swung my fist with all the resentment and fury I could muster.
So hard that I nearly lost my balance and staggered.
Everett lowered his posture as if to catch me.
I didn’t want to end up in his arms, so I fought to regain my balance on my own.
And then—
Smack.
I barely avoided falling, but my wild punch caught Everett’s jaw.
Even Everett, who’d remained composed throughout, flinched at the impact this time.
His jaw swelled almost instantly.
‘That must hurt.’
For a moment I nearly apologized, but I stopped myself.
‘Edwin—no, you deserved this. You shouldn’t have done what you did.’
But instead of pointing out his swelling jaw, I averted my eyes and lowered my fist.
And then I began to speak, pouring out my words instead.
“You’re the worst person I’ve ever met.”
“I’m sorry. I was wrong.”
Everett simply repeated his apologies no matter how harshly I berated him.
In that voice, I could feel sincerity, and foolishly I wanted to believe it wasn’t all a lie.
“You’re the worst liar. Go to hell.”
But I couldn’t allow myself that.
Forgiving him wouldn’t end this.
I pushed him away after speaking only those words.
“Go tell the Crown Princess yourself and apologize. And don’t let me see you again.”
The second part wasn’t spoken for his sake but for mine.
My heart was on the verge of shattering even now.
I was grateful I’d already booked passage on a ship leaving for Another Continent today.
It would take crossing an ocean to rid myself of this stubborn affection.
Tears began to gather in my eyes again.
Before Everett could see me cry, I turned away.
I’d go home like this, get some sleep.
Then I’d wake, finish packing, and leave.
A perfect plan.
Just as I was about to take a step, Everett moved to block my path.
And then, as if this were his last chance, he cried out desperately.
“The Crown Princess’s child isn’t mine!”
I stopped dead, wondering what new garbage he was spouting.
Seeing that I’d stopped, Everett spoke rapidly.
“The person who’s going to marry the Crown Princess is Everett Rohas.”
‘Is he admitting to this?’
I stood there doubting whether I’d heard Everett Rohas correctly.
As my expression grew progressively darker—so much so that the tears I’d been holding back dried up—Everett hastily added.
“That’s why I’m not Everett Rohas. The person who’s actually going to marry the Crown Princess is the real Everett Rohas!”
At that moment, a memory surfaced—when I’d gone to the Imperial Guard, I’d thought Everett Rohas seemed like two different people.
Very slowly, I began to understand what Edwin—or rather, Edwin—was saying.
‘The Everett Rohas in front of me isn’t Everett Rohas?’

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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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