Unbeknownst to Me, I am Secretly Dating the Emperor - Chapter 188

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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 188
The Temple, another axis of evil, had the High Priest and his inner circle slated for execution as soon as the Harvest Festival ended, given their direct involvement with the Black Magic users.
Since becoming Emperor, all three thorns in his side—the endless war, the noble faction, and the Temple—would soon be resolved.
Yet strangely, he felt nothing in particular.
Perhaps it was due to his peculiar nature, always needing a proper sense of closure, but like when the eight-year war had ended, he felt only a dull acceptance.
‘Still, once this chaos settles, I’ll have more time to spend with Lina.’
Edwin’s hopes for the future amounted to little more than extra dates with her.
Of course, it was a thought he could never voice to his conscientious lover, who preferred to finish work before playing.
Once Edwin agreed to postpone the executions of the High Priest and Black Magic users, the conversation shifted entirely to Harvest Festival preparations.
“Ah, about the Harvest Festival—the budget allocated for the Hunting Festival Competition this year is unusually large. I think we should redirect some of it to street festivities instead.”
Since the budget allocation was intentional, Edwin offered an explanation.
“There were predictions that this winter’s Monster Wave would be larger than usual.”
The Harvest Festival was a continent-wide celebration, and more than half the nations held hunting competitions during it.
Still, each nation had its own variations based on their characteristics.
For instance, most nations hunted animals, but in the Empire, they hunted monsters during the Hunting Festival Competition.
Some pragmatic-minded Emperor of an earlier generation had changed it, saying “Since we’re holding a competition anyway, let’s prepare for Monster Waves too,” and the practice had continued ever since.
When Lina accepted the reasonable explanation, Edwin, feeling relieved, added unnecessary commentary.
“The nobles will likely be very excited about the competition actually being held properly again after so long.”
Lina, who had been listening seriously, let out a soft laugh.
She knew all too well that Edwin disliked most nobles, viewing them as incompetent or greedy.
Claiming it was for the nobles’ sake rang hollow even to Edwin’s own ears.
His ears flushed red with embarrassment.
Lina reached over and playfully tugged at his hot ear. “You like it too?”
“You like it too?”
Sensing that Lina had half-caught his true intentions, Edwin simply smiled prettily at her.
Her sharp eyes softened at the sight.
As if she didn’t know what to do with how endearing he was, Lina peppered his cheeks and lips with kisses.
Edwin found Lina’s standards for “cute” rather unique.
Yet he too enjoyed being called cute by Lina, so he accepted the kisses without resistance.
‘So her taste runs to cute men—what of it.’
But sometimes Edwin wanted to show her his impressive side.
For example, winning the Hunting Festival Competition and presenting her with the Golden Rose, the winner’s prize.
Expanding the scale of the hunting competition had been Edwin’s true purpose.
Once Lina’s kisses ended, Edwin whispered, “You know the tradition—the lady who receives the Golden Rose from the competition winner must kiss him.”
“You know the tradition—the lady who receives the Golden Rose from the competition winner must kiss him.”
Since victory would be his, the Golden Rose would be hers too.
At his presumptuous confidence, Lina laughed and shot him a sidelong glance. “You sound very sure of yourself.”
“Of course.”
His skill was the foundation of that certainty.
“I’ll look forward to it, then.”
Lina smiled, attempting to close the subject.
Yet Edwin, aware that he was being rather childish, couldn’t help but grumble. “Don’t you trust me?”
Lina’s laugh deepened.
When Edwin’s pout only deepened in response, she quickly shifted her expression.
Suppressing her smile, she spoke in a serious, clear voice. “I do trust you.”
But her belated attempt at reassurance showed, and Edwin’s frown remained.
Lina asked soothingly, “I really do trust you, you know? Should I embroider something on a handkerchief for you?”
It was an old tradition: a woman would give her lover a handkerchief with embroidered wishes for victory before he entered the hunting competition.
Edwin couldn’t hide his eagerness and asked carefully, “You’re good at embroidery?”
“Not really.”
Lina’s spirited resolve faltered as she gave her honest answer.
Lina pouted her lips. “What if I can’t make it well? Will you refuse the handkerchief?”
Edwin nodded seriously. “Yes.”
“You might hurt your hands.”
Lina did want to receive a handkerchief embroidered with her own hands.
But Edwin would rather forgo the handkerchief entirely than let needle marks mar her soft hands.
‘Or I could just buy one.’
The fact that the handkerchief came from Lina was encouragement enough for him.
Moved by his reasoning, Lina’s lips returned to their normal shape. “I was only going to embroider initials in the corner anyway.”
Lina laughed sheepishly, admitting that anything more was beyond her. “That much, I can do.”
“Even so.”
As Edwin gently cradled her soft fingers, Lina assured him that if she wore thimbles on all ten fingers, there’d be no risk of needle pricks.
“Fine, then.”
Edwin finally gave in to his desires and nodded.
Then he suddenly thought that Lina would also be busy preparing for the competition.
Since the ladies had their own events during the hunting competition.
“But will you have time? You’ll be busy too.”
* * *
“Why would I be busy?”
I was generally a busy person, it was true.
But now that Ed had returned, there was no way I’d be too occupied to embroider a small initial in the corner of a handkerchief.
At my tilted head of confusion, Ed hesitated before explaining. “Do you know what the ladies do while they wait during the hunting competition?”
“I don’t know—have tea parties or something, right?”
I answered dismissively.
But Ed’s expression darkened instead. “Well, the fashion has changed somewhat over the last three or four years.”
“What kind of fashion?”
Ed spoke as if he found it troublesome. “They divide into groups and hold horseback racing competitions or bet on archery matches.”
“That sounds fun.”
A tea party was pleasant enough, but the hunting competition ran from sunrise to sunset.
There was a limit to how long one could sit and chat over tea.
At my expression of interest, Ed’s face became deeply uncomfortable.
“That’s the thing…”
‘So that’s why he made such a face.’
There was a reason.
In summary, it went like this:
The ladies attending the hunting competition, much like me, had grown bored with tea parties and idle chat.
So while wondering what to do to pass the time, someone had casually suggested trying horseback racing and archery for fun.
‘And then someone else added betting on top of it, and it evolved into what it is now…’
What had started as an opportunity to build camaraderie had gradually escalated into something fiercer—now it was less a social gathering and more a cutthroat competition of pride among the ladies, overshadowing even the hunting competition itself.
Nowadays, word had it that practice arrows and thoroughbred horses sold better than embroidery thread before the hunting competition.
“I can do horseback riding, but I’ve never shot a bow.”
“That’s fine. You can learn.”
When I stated my current situation honestly, Ed reassured me in a relaxed tone.
“Is it really okay to just do a decent job?”
His casual manner made me suspicious, so I asked. Ed pondered for a moment before answering.
“Yes.”
It was exactly the same expression he wore when he’d say I didn’t have to do social activities if I found them tedious.
‘So you don’t have to win, but you do need to save face to some extent.’
I felt rather troubled.
My horseback riding was barely past the beginner stage, and I’d never even held a bow.
With barely ten days until the hunting competition, acquiring respectable skills in that time seemed like it would make me extremely busy, just as Ed had implied.
‘At least I’ll have time to make the handkerchief.’
Though the initials would likely be quite small.
“Can you help me practice?”
I clung to Ed’s arm and asked pleadingly.
‘I’m already short on time and have so far to go—I need a good teacher at least.’
It was a lover’s advantage.
“Of course.”
Ed agreed without hesitation even for a second.
His expression was oddly excited, as if he was planning to use practice as an excuse to play with me.
‘That’s a bit problematic.’
* * *
After I actually began practicing with Edwin, I was grateful that he’d decided to take it relatively lightly while teaching me.
Edwin shot excellently and was an accomplished rider.
Yet he showed little talent for teaching.
“Why can’t you pull this?”
Edwin stretched the bowstring I’d barely managed to draw three centimeters while perspiring freely, frowning in bewilderment.
“When I first learned archery at five, I could draw it this far.”
There was no hint of mockery in his tone, which made it all the more irritating.
The old saying was right—never learn anything from a romantic partner.

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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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