Unbeknownst to Me, I am Secretly Dating the Emperor - Chapter 26

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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 26
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“……and so we humbly beseech The Empire to show generosity toward Bellot.”
The Crown Princess of Bellot’s endless petition had finally come to an end.
‘Quite the feat, stretching out a request to reduce war reparations into such a lengthy speech.’
“I’ll give it consideration.”
Edwin suppressed the urge to mock her outright, speaking as gently as he could manage.
He had no desire to reignite conflict when peace had only just been restored.
‘Now, please go.’
The moment the Crown Princess paused for breath, Edwin caught his attendant’s eye and had the Audience Chamber doors opened.
“Then I do hope for a favorable decision…….”
He cut off the threading of another lengthy explanation with a perfunctory smile and a nod.
The Crown Princess’s weary face—dulled by military defeat and drought—brightened with cautious hope.
‘She’s free to hope, of course.’
At last, the leech-like princess showed signs of departing.
“Travel fatigue has surely not yet worn off. You should return and rest.”
A week had passed since the Crown Princess arrived in The Empire, and her travel fatigue remained unshaken.
Edwin issued his dismissal with finality.
He’d only just managed to usher the Crown Princess out—and she had clung well past the appointed time.
“No sense of propriety whatsoever.”
The moment the Audience Chamber doors closed, Edwin let out an exasperated complaint.
The Allied Kingdoms had waged war against The Empire for eight years.
Bellot had been their principal force.
Leveraging geographical advantage, Bellot had clung with stubborn persistence to the bitter end—and the current Crown Princess had been instrumental in its eventual collapse.
She had persuaded the kingdom’s ministers to surrender in exchange for guarantees of the royal family’s safety and the nation’s preservation.
‘And yet consuming the territory outright was impractical—the land teems with high-tier magical beasts, and a towering mountain range cuts it off from The Empire itself.’
Nor could he simply leave the Bellot court as it was, with the current king and the staunchly anti-Empire faction still holding sway.
He had no taste for leaving a knife-wielder at his back.
The compromise had been to elevate a distant princess—sympathetic to The Empire—to Crown Princess, positioning her as a future ally on the throne.
‘If only The Empire didn’t have to prop her up until she consolidated power.’
Edwin clicked his tongue softly.
Then his eye caught the wall clock. There was no time for this.
“Change of clothes. Now.”
Edwin gave the order after a moment’s glance at the time, rallying himself.
The attendant returned swiftly with a rack laden with inconspicuous travel wear.
Edwin selected a nondescript outfit, changed into it, and headed out of the palace.
His destination was, unsurprisingly, Lina.
Upon arriving near the Exhibition Hall—the agreed meeting place—he found her already there, waiting.
“Miss Diaz.”
Edwin approached her with quick strides.
“You came.”
Lina greeted him with a smile, asking no questions about his tardiness.
Yet Edwin found himself fidgeting, offering excuses.
“Work ran late.”
Barely had the words left his mouth when Lina sighed.
‘Is she angry at me for keeping her waiting?’
Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—her sigh was not directed at him.
“The Imperial Palace works people like they’re disposable.”
‘Or is it aimed at me after all?’
As Edwin spiraled in confusion, Lina’s eyes—reflecting the weariness of a working woman—met his.
“You’ve worked hard. But we still have plenty of time before the exhibition closes. If we hurry, we can see everything.”
Lina patted his forearm lightly, urging him on.
And so Edwin, touched by her consideration, entered the exhibition hall.
Kyle’s investigation had been accurate—Lina moved through the exhibition space like a fish in water.
“Lord Rohas, look—that’s the parchment they used when making scrolls in ancient times. Isn’t it fascinating?”
“Fascinating.”
Edwin replied instinctively, watching the violet sparkle dance in Lina’s eyes.
Even at his perfunctory response, Lina’s excitement only grew.
“I never knew you were interested in ancient history, Lord Rohas. I suppose we do have similar tastes after all.”
“Suppose so.”
In truth, Edwin harbored no real interest in antiquities.
During his brief time at the Imperial Academy in childhood, he’d found history classes tedious.
His fascination lay solely in the way Lina’s eyes lit up at the sight of crumbling parchment scraps and broken quills—like a puppy discovering something wondrous.
‘Trivial. Endearing. Again.’
While Lina examined the ancient artifacts, Edwin found himself examining her.
After two circuits of the exhibition hall, Lina’s cheeks glowed with warmth.
As they stepped outside, Edwin gently fanned her face with his hand.
The breeze brushed her cheek, and Lina’s eyes fluttered softly closed.
Like a butterfly with silver wings alighting upon a violet.
Edwin felt the warmth from her cheek transferring to him, and he stopped fanning, stepping back abruptly.
“Thank you, Lord Rohas.”
As the breeze faded, Lina opened her eyes and smiled brightly.
This time, as if it were her turn, Lina fanned him in return.
“It was rather warm inside the exhibition hall, wasn’t it?”
Her small, pale hand fluttered before his eyes.
“Yes, it was hot.”
Edwin felt the air around them was far hotter than inside the hall.
Even where the breeze touched somewhere between his jaw and neck, the heat building in his body would not cool.
Unable to bear it any longer, Edwin carefully caught her hand.
Then he startled at what his hand—acting independent of his mind—had just done.
Lina’s eyes widened at the sudden contact, but she did not pull away.
Edwin, watching her carefully, did the same.
His only concern was whether his palm had grown clammy from the nervousness.
Just as awkward silence threatened to engulf them, Lina spoke.
“Would you like to get something cold to drink? How about fresh fruit juice?”
“I’d like that.”
Edwin answered before her words had fully settled.
In truth, had Lina suggested going for coffee from Kyle, Edwin would have nodded just as eagerly.
“This way.”
Edwin allowed himself to be led by Lina’s half-sized hand toward a shop selling fresh fruit juice.
He ordered the same as she did, and they sat; the drinks arrived shortly after.
Lina took a long sip of her pomegranate juice.
Then, closing her eyes like a purring cat, she smiled with satisfaction.
Edwin smiled in turn.
Taking another drink, he felt the thick liquid brush his lips, and he licked them clean.
Edwin’s gaze locked entirely onto Lina’s lips.
“Aren’t you going to drink? It’s delicious.”
Lina, feeling his stare, tilted her head quizzically.
“I should.”
Edwin lifted the icy juice as carefully as one might handle a steaming hot beverage.
Then he drank deeply.
But the cold liquid did little to soothe the fire burning within him.
His gaze kept returning to the same place, and his vision grew hazy.
Lina, noticing his sudden silence, asked softly.
* * *
“Lord Rohas, are you very tired? Would you like to head home early?”
Now that I looked closely, Edwin’s eyes appeared slightly bloodshot.
I found myself reflecting—had I been the only one caught up in excitement?
“No, I’m not tired at all.”
Edwin’s eyes, which had begun to soften, sharpened again.
‘There’s no need for him to push himself.’
No matter how many times I insisted he was fine, Edwin’s answer remained unchanged.
I couldn’t press further as he dragged his rough hand across his face, repeating that he was all right.
Instead, I asked with concern.
“Do you have a lot of work?”
As the Emperor’s adjutant, he must naturally be busy.
And my listening wouldn’t lighten his load.
Still, I thought it might ease his mind to talk, so I asked.
Edwin let out a soft laugh.
“Dying.”
Then he added, exaggerating slightly.
“I hate paperwork, but it was stacked to the ceiling when I arrived at the palace.”
I suspected at least some small portion of that mountain had my name on it.
I patted the back of his hand in consolation.
‘No wonder his eyes kept losing focus.’
Edwin merely smiled, looking at the back of his hand.
Perhaps he wasn’t one to discuss work often, for his complaints ended quickly.
Instead, Edwin spoke in the manner of a mischievous boy.
“I went through considerable trouble to make time for Miss Diaz, so I’d appreciate it if you recognized that effort—and didn’t keep trying to send me away.”
Despite his brazen tone, his gaze gradually shifted away from me.
Edwin’s cheeks flushed as if sparks had landed on white paper.
Like a teasing boy who had grown into a bashful youth.
I couldn’t see my own face, but I suspected it was in a similar state.
Edwin’s eyes, which had lingered near my ear, dropped to the ground, unable to bear it any longer.
‘Ah, I think this is actually a green light.’
I began fidgeting with my fingers needlessly.

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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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