Unbeknownst to Me, I am Secretly Dating the Emperor - Chapter 30

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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 30
A shadow fell across what had been a relatively uneventful career.
‘If only I’d remembered my past life sooner—say, ten years earlier—I wouldn’t have taken a job in the Imperial City.’
It would have been better if those memories had surfaced a decade before they did.
‘But it’s still not too late.’
I spent a week alternating between catching every whisper about the Royal Marriage and drowning myself in work, watching the days slip away.
‘Meeting Everett soon is good, but…’
Still, my feet felt heavy as I walked toward our meeting place, weighed down by something I couldn’t quite shake.
‘The Royal Marriage with Bellot is becoming inevitable…’
But if the Emperor marries Princess Bellot, what happens to the Saint?
And what about the Emperor’s character?
And my already mundane, irritating job?
I stopped walking and looked up at the sky, exhaling slowly.
‘For now, I should keep my head down and watch how things unfold.’
The Emperor of this period was like a force of nature—unpredictable and dangerous.
Even Kailrus, the Emperor’s closest confidant, privately thought him unstable.
Like a calm sea that suddenly becomes a tidal wave without warning.
‘It was meant to show how the cruel Emperor transforms after meeting the heroine.’
But when ninety percent of that transformation’s victims come from the Imperial Palace, the narrative changes quite a bit.
‘People let their guard down thinking he was gentler than his reputation, and they paid dearly for it.’
Several nobles who dared to try manipulating the Emperor lost their heads.
Remembering the Emperor’s ruthless methods from the original story, I made an awkward sign of the cross.
‘I have no such ambitions, I swear. Please let the blessing of last month’s donation still be in effect.’
I finished my secular, hasty prayer and took a deep breath before heading straight to the Exhibition Hall where Everett was waiting.
The moment I spotted him in the distance, my pace quickened without my realizing it.
“Everett.”
He was lost in thought and didn’t seem to notice me approaching.
It wasn’t until I reached him, called his name, and gently took his hand that his distant gaze sharpened and turned toward me.
“Diaz.”
He started, as if suddenly aware of my presence.
He flinched, as if to pull his hand away, but stopped when he saw my disappointment.
‘What’s with that reaction? That attitude?’
I pouted deliberately.
“Should we not hold hands?”
Though I had no intention of letting go, I raised my eyebrows teasingly and watched as Everett grew flustered, studying my face nervously.
“It’s not that…”
He avoided my gaze as he spoke.
His cheeks were unusually flushed, and his golden eyes were slightly hazy, though he didn’t seem to dislike it.
‘Is he suddenly getting shy?’
Why?
We’ve held hands several times already.
Last time we even linked arms briefly, so there’s no reason to suddenly be embarrassed now.
I tilted my head in confusion.
Still not letting go of his hand.
After a moment, as Everett’s color returned to normal, he offered a small explanation.
“It’s not that I minded. I was just surprised when you suddenly grabbed my hand.”
When I turned to face him at the sound of his voice, our eyes met, and his words trailed off.
His cheeks flushed deeply again.
Realizing his face had warmed, Everett shut and opened his eyes repeatedly.
“Really, I was just surprised.”
He emphasized it again, as if making a vow.
“Yes, I won’t suddenly grab your hand next time.”
I nodded obediently and smiled at him.
At the same moment, his gaze quickly shifted away from me.
His hand was warm, heat rising all the way to his fingertips.
But I squeezed his hand a little firmer.
‘As long as it’s not sudden, it should be fine.’
I’d laid a small, slightly mischievous trap.
I glanced at Everett’s flushed ears and smiled to myself quietly.
‘Everett must be the type who startles easily.’
It was unexpected, given how bold he usually seemed.
‘There’s something charming about that vulnerability.’
I realized I was interpreting everything about Everett in the most favorable light, and my own cheeks warmed.
Fortunately, Everett was still looking off into space.
My gaze turned in the opposite direction from his.
We stood like that for a moment, backs to each other, our hands still intertwined.
The cool air from the overcast day brushed against my face several times, and my blush quickly faded.
“Well then, shall we go in?”
I swung his hand lightly.
“Yeah.”
He nodded in agreement, his cheeks still slightly flushed.
* * *
The fourth exhibition, being the last, had plenty to see.
“Today there are even relics related to the Ego Sword.”
Since Everett was a knight and would surely find the subject interesting, I entered the Exhibition Hall with genuine confidence.
But surprisingly, the section displaying artifacts related to the Ego Sword wasn’t very large.
“The catalog made it seem more important, but there are only a few pieces.”
When I expressed disappointment, Everett smiled faintly.
“Still, I enjoyed it.”
His eyes reminded me of how I’d look at Doremi playing tricks.
The expression I’d have when giving her chicken jerky.
Meeting those eyes that resembled the spring sun, I felt such a tickle that I wanted to scratch everywhere.
I averted his gaze slightly and pulled the hand I was still holding.
“Then, shall we head over that way?”
My ears burned hot.
So much so that I wondered if I’d put my hair up awkwardly.
I led Everett along as he obediently followed, getting dragged here and there.
Initially, it was to distract from the awkwardness, but this exhibition had something that captivated the heart of an ancient artifact enthusiast.
I quickly lost myself in the exhibition.
“It’s said that when crafting magical artifacts in ancient times, different colored gems were used depending on the type of magic inscribed. This influenced the Chromatic Mana Theory of later mages…”
The text on the placard for this particularly interesting exhibit was tiny.
I leaned in close, reading aloud in a whisper, when I felt Everett chuckling behind me.
“Why are you laughing?”
I turned to ask him.
Caught laughing, Everett looked embarrassed as he answered.
“You’re adorable.”
The words came out unfiltered, and Everett looked genuinely alarmed.
“I mean, that…”
His lips moved silently several times before he gave up trying to find the right words, burying his face in his hands.
As if his mind had gone completely blank.
But I was in a similar state.
‘Adorable, he said.’
The Exhibition Hall, being made of stone, felt as warm as standing under the summer sun.
I fanned myself with my hand, trying to cool down.
‘I don’t know what to say.’
A thrilling tension hung between us.
‘He said something so strange.’
I found myself resenting Everett for it.
Not a word passed between us.
Yet in the crowded Exhibition Hall, it felt as though only he and I existed.
In the awkwardness, my fingers fidgeted of their own accord.
“Well, um, I think we’ve seen this!”
“R-right? The next section is supposedly the highlight of this exhibition. Should we go see it?”
After standing there for a while, without either of us taking the lead, we moved toward the next exhibit.
We walked with creaking, uncertain steps, no longer even holding the hand we’d been holding so naturally.
Artifacts that would normally have captivated my attention passed before my eyes unseen.
* * *
We toured the Exhibition Hall two more times without really seeing anything.
‘I need to speak up if I want to leave, but I’m too embarrassed to die.’
Everett seemed to be in the same situation, so we both pretended to examine the artifacts with unusual diligence, wrapped in a shy and awkward silence.
It was Everett who finally broke the silence.
“Um, about that Tea Room we couldn’t visit before.”
Was he referring to the Tea Room we’d stopped at on a previous meeting because the restaurant reservation had time to spare, but had left because it was too crowded?
“Yes, that Tea Room.”
I answered quickly before silence could settle between us again.
“I remembered you mentioning you go there often.”
Everett spoke as if the thought had just occurred to him.
But his slightly averted gaze and awkward tone gave me the same sense of déjà vu as when he’d memorized the catalog.
“I used to go sometimes. But lately it’s gotten too crowded, so I haven’t been able to.”
“Shall we go again?”
Seeing my interest, Everett gathered his courage and made the suggestion.
“I’d like that.”
I smiled, setting aside the date course I’d spent all week planning, one I was sure Everett would enjoy.

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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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