Unbeknownst to Me, I am Secretly Dating the Emperor - Chapter 95

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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 95
My parents were like the protagonists of a classic romance novel about marriage between different social classes.
Father was an orphan from the Poorhouse, but kind-hearted priests who noticed his talent from childhood introduced him to patrons so he could continue his studies.
‘Like Coni.’
If there was a difference between Coni and Father, it was that Coni received sponsorship from a scholarship foundation run by noble ladies devoted to charitable work, while Father had a private patron.
Those with private patronage typically followed a career path of being employed by their patron after graduating from the Academy.
‘And that private patron was my maternal grandfather, the Previous Earl Renkels.’
As Father’s graduation drew near, the Previous Earl Renkels—who had not yet passed his title to Aunt—invited Father to the Earl’s Mansion.
It seemed to be half to let Father become acquainted with the family’s counsel-at-law who would become his superior, and half to see the results of his sponsorship.
During that brief visit, Father fell in love with Mother, the second daughter of House Renkels, as if by the whim of fate itself.
‘But Mother already had a betrothed, arranged by the family.’
He was a suitable match for a political marriage—the heir to the Renkels house with a promising future, and the families already knew each other well.
The Previous Earl Renkels, noticing that my parents’ relationship was becoming improper, opposed it vehemently.
When the opposition continued, my parents chose an elopement for love.
For a countess’s daughter who had never known hardship, the world beyond the family’s shadow proved to be a series of trials.
Yet my parents’ love never wavered.
It was the most novelistic part of their love story.
After marrying, Mother cut all ties with House Renkels, though she occasionally corresponded with Aunt.
Letters were exchanged perhaps a few times a year, and once a year or so, Aunt would visit us in Langheldia with my parents.
As for the Previous Earl Renkels—my maternal grandfather—I met him once, and it was the first and last time, roughly ten years ago.
* * *
It was winter, the year I turned twelve.
Having started at the Academy that year, I found being home during winter break quite tedious.
After being surrounded by peers at the Academy, staying at home with only much younger siblings felt rather dull.
To make matters worse, the siblings closest to my age were lying about in their pajamas, recovering from a cold they’d caught having a snowball fight.
It wasn’t a severe cold, but they’d been isolated in their own room so as not to infect little Anika.
So I was terribly bored.
Wandering aimlessly through the house, I found Mother putting on an old, out-of-fashion Grey One-Piece Dress that she only wore when meeting Aunt.
I hurried over and hugged Mother, asking:
“Mother, are we going to see Aunt?”
Aunt, whom I’d met only a handful of times, was a taciturn but affectionate person.
Perhaps for that reason, my twin siblings and I loved visiting her.
Especially on occasions like this, when I was so bored, an outing was all the more welcome.
“I was hoping to slip out without you noticing, Lina, but I’ve been caught.”
Mother said teasingly, holding me close.
It seemed she’d planned to go out quietly alone since the twins were sick.
But I was in good health.
I wasn’t a baby like Anika.
There was no reason to leave me behind.
I pulled away from Mother’s embrace and placed my hands on my hips the way she did when scolding the twins, showing my displeasure.
When I puffed out my cheeks in that stance, Mother poked them playfully.
“Your cheeks are even puffier than Anika’s, aren’t they?”
At twelve, the age when one despises being treated like a child.
I deflated my cheeks at Mother’s baby-talk, refusing to be coddled that way.
Then, with dignity, I clutched at the hem of Mother’s dress and wheedled:
“Since you’re caught, take me too.”
Mother hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
“But we keep it a secret from Emit and Jayden.”
“Yes.”
The moment I agreed eagerly, Mother cradled my cheeks in both her hands and released them.
“Go change your clothes. It’s cold out.”
“I’m not going alone!”
After extracting three separate promises from Mother, I bounded up to my room.
“What should I wear?”
Mother always wore the same Grey One-Piece Dress on the days she met Aunt.
In winter like now, she’d layer clothes underneath and throw a coat over it.
Even the finest dress in Mother’s wardrobe—clothes she’d worn as a countess’s daughter—was modest compared to what Aunt wore.
It seemed her thinking was that she might as well wear her worst clothes instead.
Aunt, watching Mother in that same dress for ten years now, would furrow her brow and tsk tsk disapprovingly every time.
Though she’d scold Mother as hopeless, Aunt’s gaze would occasionally drift to us children accompanying her.
As if she wanted to confirm that the Grey One-Piece Dress was not Mother’s best effort.
After a moment’s thought before the wardrobe, I pulled out a new dress I’d had made not long ago.
Then, like an excited child, I ran down the stairs.
“I’m all ready.”
As I twirled in front of Mother, who’d been waiting near the entrance, she clapped her hands.
“Our daughter’s so delighted about seeing Aunt that she’s already forgotten about the plan to sneak out?”
“Oh.”
I glanced up the staircase, checking Mother’s expression carefully.
Fortunately, all was quiet.
“The twins must still be asleep.”
When I whispered this belatedly, Mother let out a quiet laugh.
“Seems so. Let’s hurry back before they wake up.”
* * *
The Tea House on the outskirts where we’d arranged to meet Aunt was always empty of customers.
“Reb, Lina’s come too.”
That was why Aunt always spotted us instantly.
“Hello.”
“Hello. Lina, you’ve grown taller.”
When I greeted her politely, Aunt laughed and returned the greeting.
“Reb, doesn’t that dress ever wear out?”
But her gaze toward Mother was sharp.
Much like when I’d painted my entire body green wanting orc skin, and the twins had gotten scolded.
“If it wears out, I’ll mend it and keep wearing it.”
Mother shot back with a similarly pointed look.
There should have been a back-and-forth of banter next—about how she’d better wear that dress to my wedding, or how she must have twelve of that one dress—half earnest, half jest—but today Aunt surrendered rather easily.
“Suit yourself.”
Though she smiled belatedly, Aunt seemed somehow tense.
Mother too watched Aunt’s expression carefully, worried.
“Being the Earl must be different from being the heir, no?”
Aunt had inherited the title and become the Earl of House Renkels last year.
Mother seemed to think Aunt was simply exhausted from work.
“I suppose it is.”
Aunt smiled tiredly as she took her seat.
“You didn’t have to come all the way to Langheldia, then.”
“If I don’t, will you only visit for my funeral?”
Aunt’s joke carried more sincerity than jest as she offered us tea and cake.
Though I was given cocoa instead.
“I prepared extra for the twins, but since they didn’t come, Lina, you’ll have to do your best.”
Aunt handed me a particularly large slice of cake, smiling.
“Thank you.”
I cut off a big piece with my fork and ate it hungrily.
Once Mother and Aunt confirmed I was eating well, they soon fell into their own conversation.
While Mother and Aunt talked, I focused intently on finishing my cake.
They were sisters who met perhaps once a year, if that.
Serious matters were rarely discussed.
What passed between them were childhood memories or news of people Mother had known when she was a countess’s daughter.
It was always like this on the days Mother and Aunt met.
But today was different somehow.
As time went on, Aunt seemed increasingly uneasy.
Though she wore a composed expression like a mask, her tension was evident enough to show through it.
Just as Mother, who’d assumed it was work-related fatigue, was about to voice her concern—
“I’m sorry, Reb.”
Aunt’s apology came first.
“Sorry for what?”
Mother, sensing something ominous, asked sharply.
But before Aunt could answer, we learned the reason for her apology.
Ding.
The door to the Tea House, always empty on the days Aunt came, opened.
And a stern-looking elderly gentleman strode in.
“Father?”
Mother called out to the old gentleman as if doubting her own eyes.
He was my maternal grandfather, whom I was seeing for the very first time.

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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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