Unbeknownst to Me, I am Secretly Dating the Emperor - Chapter 206

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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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Side Story, Episode 8
“W-what on earth are you doing?”
Knowing from the attendants’ eyes how well the Perception Obstruction Artifact was working, I blurted out in surprise.
As I wrapped my cheeks and pulled away, Ed laughed brightly.
‘Is he really the type who gets a kiss every time someone brings him water or a towel?’
It was absurd to even imagine, but the very thought soured my mood, and I shot Ed a withering look.
Ed’s laughter deepened.
Meanwhile, the knights and I grew increasingly bewildered.
After laughing for quite some time, Ed pulled me close and whispered against my ear.
“So you wanted to stay in bed longer.”
It was a tone that made it obvious he meant me.
Flustered at my prank’s utter failure, I stammered a question.
“How did you know it was me?”
“Your footsteps and scent don’t deceive.”
Ed whispered, brushing his lips against my nape.
“Eek!”
The knights deliberately let out a loud shriek, looking at Ed with the disrespectful gaze one might reserve for garbage beyond recycling.
I quickly deactivated the Perception Obstruction Artifact.
Only then did the knights recognize my face, their expressions turning sour.
It was a relief that Ed wasn’t cheating before the wedding, but they seemed overwhelmed by the shock of witnessing a couple’s intimate display.
Resolving to apologize to them later, I led Ed out of the Training Ground.
Ed found my embarrassment amusing and followed along laughing, as if entertaining himself the whole way.
My expression grew increasingly pouty.
As we left the Training Ground and headed toward the Emperor’s Palace, I hastily released Ed’s arm and reactivated the Perception Obstruction Artifact.
“Why?”
Ed asked as if confused, but I was too busy putting distance between us.
After checking around to see if anyone was nearby, I lowered my voice considerably before answering.
“I’m wearing a Maid Dress.”
The Emperor’s Fiancée walking around in a Maid Dress?
It was perfect grounds for our tastes to be called into question.
The attendants and I had grown fairly close, and they were already accustomed to our displays of affection, so that was fine.
I’d revealed my identity in front of the knights a moment ago to prevent rumors of Ed cheating, but I still cared about my dignity.
“You should go ahead first.”
I planned to send Ed on ahead and follow at a distance.
‘I need to go change my clothes.’
A maid from the Knight Order walking through the center of the Emperor’s Palace was a bit odd, but it beat being rumored to have a “Maid Dress fetish.”
As I waved at him to hurry along, Ed let out another laugh, louder this time.
The prank had been a complete failure.
I clutched the Perception Obstruction Artifact tight, making a mental note to try again later.
* * *
The wedding I thought still had plenty of time before had suddenly crept right up to tomorrow.
I’d decided to spend my last night as Carolina Diaz of the Renkels family with my relatives.
Upon arriving at the Renkels Estate, my parents, the twins, and Anika from Langheldin were waiting for me, along with my aunt and grandfather.
My father, who was sensitive by nature, already had tears glistening in his eyes, while my mother, aunt, and grandfather wore deliberate smiles, trying to mask their sadness.
The twins found the fact of my marriage strange in itself, while Anika, attending her first wedding, was eager with questions about this and that.
I greeted my family members in turn.
It had been quite a while since I’d seen them, what with wedding preparations keeping me busy.
We spent a very long evening having dinner and conversation.
“The Chancellor mentioned that he wanted to meet you since you donated valuable research specimens, and he thinks you deserve a Certificate of Appreciation.”
“A certificate? There’s no need.”
“Of course you should accept it!”
“Right! And my professor said they should erect a statue of you at the Academy!”
“Wouldn’t a certificate be better than a statue?”
That sort of thing.
“Sister, we’ve decided to come to the Capital every school holiday!”
“Really?”
“Yeah, because three of our family are here now.”
“But there are five of us in Langheldin?”
“So will you, Aunt, and Grandfather come?”
“No, ask Anika to come.”
“Yeah, I’m planning to! And after Sister’s wedding, we’re going to the Renkels Territory!”
“Really? I wish I could go too.”
“You have your Honeymoon to look forward to. There’ll be a good opportunity later.”
“Mmhm.”
…and similar everyday conversations that made up most of the evening.
It was their way of easing my heart before tomorrow’s wedding.
Yet as dinner drew to a close, my mother’s carefully suppressed worry finally peeked through.
“It’s still cold — I hope you don’t catch a chill.”
My mother seemed bothered by the still-cool weather for early spring.
“It’s not cold during the day. And the wedding will be held inside the Greenhouse anyway.”
“Still, it would have been nicer if it had warmed up a bit more.”
As my mother’s worries continued, my father gently took her hand and spoke.
“Since tomorrow is the wedding, perhaps all we can do is pray for good weather, dear?”
“I suppose that’s true.”
Only then did my mother’s weather concerns subside.
After the long dinner came tea time.
Tonight, even Anika was permitted to stay up late.
“But if you sleep in tomorrow, I’m leaving you behind.”
“I’ll wake you up once and that’s it.”
The twins teased Anika about playing the older brother role.
“Do I look like a child to you? I can wake up on my own just fine.”
Anika insisted she wasn’t a child while sipping warm milk.
At the grandchildren’s innocent antics, grandfather’s lips twitched slightly.
He cleared his throat and raised his teacup to cover his mouth.
My aunt, having marked Anika as her successor, was on her side, whispering that she’d definitely wake her.
“Really?”
Anika, seeming inwardly worried, extended her finger and asked again.
The moment my aunt smiled and hooked her finger with hers.
Knock, knock.
A polite knock sounded at the door.
“Come in.”
A middle-aged butler, who had recently taken over as the butler of the Renkels family, entered with a troubled expression.
“I was instructed not to disturb your family time, and I apologize. But we have a visitor.”
“A visitor at this hour?”
Grandfather’s brow furrowed.
At his displeased expression, the butler glanced back before lowering his voice considerably.
“That is… it’s His Majesty. He refused to be shown to the Reception Room, saying he was an uninvited guest.”
‘Ed?’
He’d bid me farewell at the palace, telling me to enjoy time with my family.
So what urgent matter could have brought him at this late hour?
Had something gone wrong with the wedding venue?
“I’ll go see him.”
I stood up with a serious expression and headed out to meet Ed.
But the moment I saw Ed’s face—clearly as if he’d just woken and rushed over—my tension deflated in an instant.
I asked to confirm.
“Did something go wrong?”
Ed nodded solemnly.
My anxiety began to rise again.
“What is it?”
Hoping it was something that could be fixed overnight, I asked, and Ed pulled me into his embrace, speaking like a pouting child.
“I had a dream where you ran away because you didn’t want to marry me.”
I had no talent for dream interpretation, but it was obviously nonsense.
Still, on the eve of the wedding, I spent a moment soothing the anxious Ed.
“I’m not running away.”
I’d pulled something close to running away and he’d sealed the borders, so if I actually fled, I wasn’t sure what would happen—the thought briefly flickered across my mind, but I dismissed it.
Ed had good instincts about these things.
Instead, I gently patted his broad back.
After holding him like that for a few minutes, Ed finally calmed down and lifted his head.
“Since you’re here, why don’t you greet the family before leaving?”
I made the suggestion while wondering how to explain Ed’s sudden arrival, and he nodded.
I walked ahead to guide Ed to the family’s reception room, but he pulled me into a back hug from behind.
“What are you doing?”
Since the whole family was gathered, I decided not to indulge any more displays of affection and ignored him, walking forward, but Ed followed slowly, still holding me in a back hug.
“Really now.”
I turned around and grabbed both his cheeks with my hands, pulling them apart—he showed no sign of releasing my waist.
Ed accepted my petulance with exaggerated drama.
The problem was that we’d lingered in the corridor too long, and now my aunt and grandfather were coming out.
“Your Majesty, we are honored by your presence.”
My aunt and grandfather recognized Ed, whose facial area had involuntarily widened, and bowed respectfully.

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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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