Unbeknownst to Me, I am Secretly Dating the Emperor - Chapter 157

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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 157
Having skipped proper meals while preparing for the Ball since early morning, the Attendants guided me to a table laden with finger foods.
Since I was genuinely hungry, I was eating a few canapés when a green-haired man approached with what appeared to be a group of friends.
He’d clearly been waiting for us to step even slightly out of public view, but made such a fuss of “discovering” us by chance that it was awkward to avoid him.
The green-haired man greeted me warmly.
“What a pleasant surprise to encounter such familiar faces here. Legia, Rosina—it’s been quite some time since we last met at the reading circle.”
“Yes, indeed.”
“It’s good to see you. How have you been? Tilman.”
Rosina’s response was clearly a matter of courtesy, and I could sense a subtle coldness in Legia’s manner toward Tilman as well.
They seemed to be mere acquaintances rather than close friends.
Tilman, utterly unbothered by their reserve, continued speaking to them with easy familiarity.
“Yes, I’ve been away attending to my fief and had no opportunity to visit the capital. Word reached me of a newly discovered mineral vein, so I went to verify it myself.”
Tilman was fluent in noble speech—all the while recounting his recent circumstances, he was subtly boasting of his House’s wealth.
“Ah, I see.”
Legia responded with a gentle but hollow smile, as if accustomed to such situations.
It was a silent, unspoken dismissal—yet Tilman showed no sign of withdrawing.
“Unfortunately, I’ll have to continue that conversation later. Seeing such welcome faces has made it difficult for me to take my leave.”
He even excused himself to his companions.
Whether brought along as pawns for his purposes, Tilman’s acquaintances made a fuss of farewells before disappearing.
“As I was saying, House of Demas is blessed with considerable wealth, so closing even a silver mine would pose no serious difficulty. However, our household’s silver production has been declining of late—a small concern, fortunately now resolved.”
After further boasting of his family’s affluence, Tilman seemed to belatedly recall something and asked Legia, who was at least engaging with him, to introduce me.
“In my eagerness, I’m afraid I committed the discourtesy of not greeting this lady properly. Legia, would you be so kind as to introduce me to the young woman before us?”
He turned toward me with confident eyes and an easy smile, and an uncanny sense of déjà vu washed over me.
‘Those eyes… they’re unsettling.’
It was a feeling I often saw at the Academy.
From those sorts of people who wagered on my future becoming the Countess of Renfels, constantly ingratiating themselves.
Tilman was of the more disagreeable variety—his intentions were transparent, yet he believed himself to be playing his part convincingly.
However, Tilman had not yet committed any serious breach of propriety.
I simply curved my lips into a formal smile, and Legia stepped in.
“This is Tilman, the second son of House of Demas. He’s also the betrothed of Viviana, whom you happened to meet before.”
To my recollection, I had never encountered Viviana.
Legia clearly intended to inform Tilman that he had a betrothed, having brought it up deliberately.
“Ah, is that so!”
I responded as if delighted to discover this connection, mirroring Legia’s rhythm.
Tilman’s expression visibly faltered, and he stammered slightly.
“Well, I wouldn’t quite characterize it as a betrothal. It’s merely that our families maintain close ties…”
Yet Legia pressed on as though she hadn’t heard his protestations.
“And this is Lina Diaz.”
My introduction was considerably briefer than those Legia had given to the other noble ladies she knew.
It was as though she were deliberately denying Tilman any opening to address me further.
But Tilman was not so easily discouraged.
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Diaz.”
He smiled unctuously and reached to kiss my hand.
Though the gesture fell within the bounds of propriety, it felt decidedly uncomfortable.
‘Especially with my lover watching.’
I ignored the faint prickling sensation on my right cheek and subtly withdrew my hand.
That intense gaze could only be Ed’s.
I could have sworn I heard something crack.
‘If I turn around now, it’s over.’
If Ed kept staring at me like this and our eyes met, this already precarious Secret Romance would be finished.
Tilman, blissfully unaware that I was fighting for both my own life and his, let his eyebrows droop in a plaintive expression.
Against someone trained in seeing through the wounded looks of beautiful men, the effect was purely counterproductive.
I instinctively smoothed my furrowing brow and drew an invisible line between us.
“I’m simply shy with strangers.”
Conscious of how close we’d drifted, I took a step back.
Yet the prickling sensation on my cheek did not cease.
‘Stop staring.’
Given the distance between us, Ed couldn’t pinpoint exactly who he was looking at, but I couldn’t be too careful.
‘I know you’re jealous, but I can’t exactly tell him to leave without drawing attention.’
I carefully increased my distance from Tilman.
Meanwhile, Tilman remained oblivious.
“Haha, I see. Then we must arrange to meet more often.”
He even spoke loudly enough to draw attention.
A wave of vertigo passed through me, and I risked a glance toward where Ed was standing.
As expected, Ed was watching me with a predatory gaze.
Though the distance was considerable, like a beast about to pounce, he was half-rising from his chair, restless and coiled.
Had I not repeatedly impressed upon him the need to maintain our Secret Romance, he would have leapt up and rushed toward me without hesitation.
I desperately hoped his patience would hold until I could rid myself of this tactless fool.
‘What do I do?’
Perhaps simply shouting “Leave!” would actually cause less of a scene.
Just as I was wrestling with the dilemma, a helping hand appeared.
“We should return to the Saint now.”
“We’ve neglected our duties and lingered far too long.”
The two Attendants didn’t know that I was involved with Ed.
But they had noticed my discomfort with Tilman and chose to intervene.
“Might I have the opportunity to pay my respects to the Saint as well?”
Tilman’s eyes lit up at the prospect of meeting the Saint.
“Where is the Saint? Can you see Rosina?”
“She’s over there with Count Simor.”
“Ah, I see her! Well, Tilman, until next time.”
The two Attendants exchanged urgent pleasantries before taking their leave of Tilman.
Then they quickly ushered me away toward where Ibeta was standing.
As the distance between Tilman and me increased, I noticed from the corner of my eye that Ed’s expression gradually relaxed—though it remained considerably colder than usual.
‘Please, just stay seated.’
I murmured a silent prayer as we walked.
The moment I reached Ibeta’s side, I exhaled a deep sigh of relief.
Ibeta, who had been occupied greeting the endless stream of nobles, seemed to be taking a brief respite—thankfully, only her aunt and Kyle were nearby.
I formed the words silently with my lips to Kyle and Ibeta, our coconspirators.
“Should we begin now?”
Kyle pondered for a moment, glanced once at Ibeta, then gave a barely perceptible nod.
‘We’re ready.’
Once the plan was set in motion, the Ball Hall would descend into chaos—I intended to use that moment to slip away and see Ed.
‘He’ll be sulking terribly by then. I’ll have to soothe him.’
After some time had passed, Kyle summoned a passing servant and ordered Fruit Juice for Ibeta.
Of course, the servant was a scout from the Blue Hawk already stationed there, and the Fruit Juice was the predetermined signal.
Before long, a young Maid arrived carrying a tray with the juice.
She approached Ibeta with visibly trembling hands and suddenly dropped to her knees.
“Your Holiness!”
The juice glass on the tray shattered against the floor.
At the Maid’s loud cry of “Your Holiness!” and the crash of breaking glass, all eyes turned toward us.
As if that broken glass were the opening bell of a performance, the Maid’s voice cracked with anguish.
“My brother was abducted by the Temple and sold into slavery. Please, I beg you—save him, Your Holiness!”

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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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