Unbeknownst to Me, I am Secretly Dating the Emperor - Chapter 192

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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 192
Around forty people participated in the betting game—ladies from both the moderate and imperial factions, mostly in their early twenties.
Those barely of age seemed excited, while the older ones among them were noticeably tense.
‘I’m nervous too, to be honest.’
Yet in contrast to the solemnity hanging over the ballroom, the rules for dividing into teams were refreshingly simple.
The two participants of highest status became team captains, and then teams were divided by drawing lots.
‘I suppose they do it this way so the lower-ranking side won’t feel awkward if the high-status people end up on the same team.’
Each team sent one person out to compete, and whichever team won more matches won overall.
It required both luck and strategy.
‘Apart from it being an Item Match, the rules are quite fair.’
Naturally, Ibeta and I became the team captains.
Next came the drawing of lots.
One of the ladies brought over a box containing slips of paper with our names on them.
Harper was the first to draw.
With her competitive fire burning bright and this being her first time at the betting game, Harper unfolded her slip with barely contained anticipation.
“Oh, it seems I’m on a team with Renkels.”
Ibeta had built up considerable stamina and athletic coordination from years of odd jobs and heavy labor.
Anyone could see that between the two of us, Ibeta had the advantage—and Harper knew it well.
Though she tried to manage her expression, her disappointment showed plainly.
It seemed my own abilities had been rather exposed in that moment.
The ladies who drew my name took one look at me and forced a smile.
Still, as the years passed and people kept playing, they’d come to know each other’s rough abilities, so as more names were drawn, expressions grew brighter.
A softly muttered voice drifted over: “Well, this should be manageable, shouldn’t it?”
I could guess what words hung unsaid between “this should be” and “manageable.”
‘They’re treating me like a filler.’
Everyone here certainly knows how to read people.
Once all the lots were drawn, Ibeta’s team had one more person than ours.
Since the number of participants had grown to an odd total this year, unlike last year when it was even, there was no helping it.
“What if someone from our Saint’s team went twice?” I suggested, thinking it was a reasonable solution.
But both sides objected.
“That would leave regret for both winner and loser,” one said.
“We must face each fair and square so we can truly accept defeat!” the other added.
Of course, it was the latter group—my team—who’d already resigned themselves to losing.
Apart from being an Item Match, it was a competition overflowing with sporting spirit.
If no one wanted to go twice, then one person would have to sit out to balance the numbers.
But no one wanted to withdraw.
It seemed they were all eagerly anticipating this betting game, held only once a year.
“Then let’s just bring in one more person.”
I made the suggestion, unable to ignore the gleaming eyes full of expectation.
Bes, now on my team, shot her hand up eagerly.
“I’ll bring her!”
I was a bit worried about Bes’s shallow aristocratic connections, but she seemed so confident I agreed.
And who appeared was Lucy.
Lucy gave me a wink with her characteristic grin.
“The Counts Daughter, Heinz?”
“Knight Lucy?”
Most of the ladies seemed to know Lucy by sight.
‘Wait—doesn’t Lucy have a Knighthood?’
A professional had just walked into an amateur competition.
Everyone seemed to be thinking the same thing, and murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Especially from Ibeta’s team.
Lucy, quick to read the room, spoke with casual ease.
“Knight Lucy, is it? It’s been so long since I’ve heard that title—I retired from service with an injury ages ago.”
As Lucy emphasized certain words, she rolled up her sleeves as though the weather were warm, despite the decidedly cool evening.
A large scar became clearly visible just above her elbow.
“Even now, the wound aches when it rains.”
The scar was so massive that even fully healed, it was difficult to move the arm with full strength.
Lucy’s well-connected nature—she was on intimate terms with all these ladies—also helped matters.
The ladies on Ibeta’s team huddled and whispered among themselves.
“If we just think of it as winning one and losing one, it’ll be fine, won’t it?”
“Right, it’s more fun when the competition’s close.”
Our team heard it all, but since we were equally eager for Lucy’s presence, we pretended not to notice Ibeta’s team’s discussion.
After a brief but heated debate, Lucy’s participation was accepted.
“Excellent!”
Following the dramatic resolution, each team had a strategy meeting.
“Why don’t we have Renkels go first?” someone suggested.
“With less pressure on the outcome, that’s a good idea,” came the agreement.
The match order was decided in an atmosphere almost as solemn as when matters of state were discussed.
Then, saying tomorrow’s condition was crucial, everyone scattered to their rooms early.
Including me.
‘Five hours in a carriage and hours spent thinking—I’m exhausted.’
So the door between Ed’s room and mine remained closed that night.
* * *
The next dawn, having gone to bed early, I woke early and made my way to Ed’s room to greet him.
When I unlocked the door from my side, it swung open just as he’d promised it would.
Ed was already awake, sitting on the bed and looking toward the door with not a trace of sleepiness in his face.
I smiled warmly at my pouty lover, as though coaxing a child.
“Did you sleep well?”
I added the excuse that we hadn’t actually planned to spend last night together, had we.
Seeing through my attempt, Ed’s expression became even more sullen.
“No. I didn’t sleep.”
“But you can still win the Hunting Tournament, can’t you?”
I pulled out the handkerchief I’d prepared and asked.
It was embroidered with his initials in the corners—barely larger than a sesame seed—but the moment Ed saw it, his face brightened.
“Of course I can.”
His large frame gently held the small handkerchief as he nodded.
Seeing his mood had improved somewhat, I leaned in and kissed him lightly on the cheek.
“You don’t have to win. Just come back without getting hurt.”
Ed laughed as though he’d heard something funny, then kissed me back.
“Lina, you too—don’t have to win. Just don’t get hurt.”
When I told him not to get hurt, he’d suppressed his laughter, but the concern in his eyes now was utterly sincere.
“Surely there’s no real danger for me, is there?”
I spoke with confidence to my overprotective lover.
‘Ed’s horse is incredibly smart and wouldn’t let me fall, and for archery, the arrows are practice ones with blunt tips.’
I was brimming with certainty after my rough calculations.
At that moment, I truly believed it.
* * *
The High Priest used a Black Magic Artifact disguised as a sacred artifact to destroy part of the prison.
The guards stationed around the High Priest’s cell were knocked unconscious or too gravely wounded to stand from the blast.
One guard in better condition managed to blow a whistle with all his strength, raising the alarm before collapsing.
The sound of guards and knights rushing from a distance reached them, but the High Priest reached the cells where the Black Magic Sorcerers were confined first.
Having succeeded in using the Black Magic Artifact to remove the Magic Restraints, the High Priest barked at the sorcerers.
“Why are you standing there like fools? Do you want to be executed right here?”
At the High Priest’s roar, the Black Magic Sorcerers hastily began casting Teleportation Magic.
It was the first successful escape from the Imperial Palace Underground Prison.
Without a magic circle to aid the teleportation or scrolls to reference, the High Priest and the sorcerers couldn’t travel far.
They tried to move as far as possible within range, but the best they managed was a low hill on the outskirts of the Capital.
Though the hour was late and few people passed through, once daylight came, a fair number would be about.
Reaching the Black Magic Sorcerers’ old hideout beyond the Capital was their best option, but the chances of success were slim.
“We move to the High Priest’s Temple before dawn.”
After deliberation, the High Priest decided on the High Priest’s Temple as their destination.
There were still many priests loyal to him at the temple.
Once they lay low, they could watch for a chance to strike back.
‘Even if the worst comes to pass, the temple would be better for dealing a blow that even a boy emperor couldn’t recover from.’

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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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