Unbeknownst to Me, I am Secretly Dating the Emperor - Chapter 98

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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 98
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“I report my return.”
Everett Rohas, who had come back from Bellot—the real Everett Rohas—saluted with crisp formality.
The sudden month-long business trip had taken its toll; he’d lost a bit of weight, but his face was bright.
He looked genuinely delighted to be back in the Empire.
The exact opposite of Edwin.
Edwin, who’d already been lectured by Kyle after the Blue Hawk operatives caught wind of his romance with Lina, now looked even more troubled.
The return of the real Everett Rohas only deepened Edwin’s expression of unease.
Yet it wasn’t Everett’s fault.
‘I should have sent him as a goodwill envoy to the southern continent instead.’
It was Edwin’s own failure to imagine a longer posting.
“You’ve worked hard.”
Edwin concealed his complicated feelings and commended Everett.
But that didn’t mean he intended to let two Everett Rohases exist under the sun.
Even if one was fake and the other real.
“Rest until I call you again.”
Since Edwin had no intention of summoning him until the matter with Lina was settled, Everett received a very long paid leave.
Edwin added the next part as though he’d nearly forgotten.
“Avoid going out as much as possible.”
Truthfully, he would have preferred not to see Everett at all, but that seemed too harsh.
‘A stroll around the house in the dawn hours while Lina sleeps should be fine.’
Fortunately, Everett grasped Edwin’s intention well.
“Is the matter you hinted at before still unresolved?”
“It is.”
Edwin acknowledged readily.
“Yes, I understand. I’ll avoid going about as much as I can.”
Everett lacked particular talent, but he was the sincere type.
Even with the qualifier “as much as possible,” he would likely keep himself shut away at home as instructed.
Edwin nodded, satisfied.
This very sincerity was the largest part of why Kyle had recommended Everett, a serf by birth, as one of the Crown Princess of Bellot’s potential consort husbands.
That earnestness to do his utmost in whatever was asked of him.
‘Now that I think of it, Everett Rohas was indeed one of the Crown Princess of Bellot’s consort husband candidates.’
Even after the current king of Bellot had yielded to the Crown Princess’s persuasion, he continued to show occasional resentment toward the Empire.
Edwin planned to replace Bellot’s king within the year with the Crown Princess, who stood for the Pro-Empire Faction.
If Everett married the Crown Princess, he would soon enough become the Queen’s husband.
A serf would become a Grand Duke.
‘It would be a good thing for Everett Rohas as well, if it all worked out.’
To give the Crown Princess the freedom to choose, Edwin had arranged for her to meet four other candidates multiple times, but the meetings had remained merely perfunctory.
From what he heard, she hadn’t found any of them particularly appealing.
‘Who knows. Perhaps she’ll take a liking to Everett.’
If the two got along, Edwin was willing to push Everett Rohas to become Bellot’s consort husband.
Though not solely to remove the real Everett from Lina’s sight forever.
Edwin was simply not the sort of commander who treated subordinates harshly after they’d suffered long in his service.
“Ah, but you’ll need to come out once to meet the Crown Princess of Bellot.”
“The Crown Princess?”
“The Crown Princess is meeting with all the consort husband candidates. You’re the only one left, Rohas.”
“I’m merely a token candidate, so it should be fine to skip it.”
Everett smiled awkwardly, a good-natured expression on his face.
Since Bellot valued bloodline far more highly than the Empire, he clearly harbored no expectations from the start.
Edwin encouraged the already-wavering Everett.
“If you wish it, I’ll back you. Just meet her once.”
Though the other four consort husband candidates were second sons of counts or collateral branches of high nobility, Everett’s position wasn’t unfavorable by comparison.
There were times when a different connection mattered more than blood ties.
Moreover, his bearing was quite respectable.
Edwin had accepted, several years ago, that he and Everett resembled each other.
Because of that, Edwin’s assessment of Everett’s appearance was perhaps somewhat generous.
“Yes, I’ll do my best.”
Everett looked flustered, but true to his sincere nature, he seemed prepared to do as instructed this time as well.
Edwin nodded, looking satisfied.
“Good. I’ll arrange the meeting with the Crown Princess.”
He intended to rent out an entire upscale restaurant in a quiet spot near the capital for them.
Somewhere far from Lina’s usual paths.
‘I’ll need to tell Kyle once he arrives.’
Kyle, whose eleventh romance has been put on indefinite hold since Edwin’s return left him far too busy, would be furious if he learned of this, but Edwin was the Emperor.
“You may go then.”
With the main business concluded, Edwin dismissed him.
It was nearly time for Lina to leave work.
“Yes, I’ll withdraw.”
Everett, having given up trying to follow the rapidly shifting topics, answered obediently with a weary expression, then brightened to salute as he was excused.
“There’s a carriage prepared outside. Be sure to take it.”
“How could I presume to—”
Only the Imperial family or those the Emperor specifically permitted could ride in a carriage within the Inner Palace.
Everett protested, saying it was unthinkable, but Edwin didn’t rescind the order.
Lina’s work day was ending soon.
The Inspection Unit Building and the Imperial Palace were very close.
Having endured Kyle’s nagging, Edwin’s caution had grown considerably.
“Take the carriage.”
When Edwin spoke again with force, Everett reluctantly drawled his assent and trudged off toward the carriage.
Edwin watched until Everett got into the carriage with its window coverings drawn, then picked up his hooded robe.
* * *
On days when Edwin brought Lina back, they always met in a remote garden on the outskirts.
“Ed, you came?”
Lina, who’d arrived first, turned and smiled at him.
“Yeah.”
Edwin approached Lina and took her hand first.
Heeding Kyle’s advice that if they didn’t want to be discovered they should either meet in secret or not at all, Edwin had taken to wearing the hooded robe.
On the first day he wore the hood, naturally Lina had asked why.
A hood in summer was bound to look odd.
But when Edwin failed to give a proper answer, she reasonably assumed there was some reason and let it pass.
Her status with the Secret Information Corps came in handy at times like this.
Still, gentle-hearted Lina always worried about him.
Today too, she looked between their joined hands and his clothing with concern.
“You must be hot.”
Lina fanned herself with her free hand in a gentle, wavering motion.
“I don’t get hot easily.”
Edwin hurried to speak, afraid she’d let go of his hand.
“Last time the weather was cooler and you said it was hot.”
Lina laughed and gave him a pointed look.
She didn’t let go of his hand, though.
He had said something like that at the lakeside.
Rowing was excellent exercise that engaged all the muscles of the body, and Edwin hadn’t wanted to miss the opportunity.
So of the two things he’d said—at the lakeside then and just now—the latter was the truth.
Edwin neither sweated much in heat nor shivered in cold.
But unable to feel entirely justified, Edwin was being coy.
“That time I was hot because of the exercise.”
Lina offered generously.
“That seems right.”
Edwin immediately agreed with her words.
At this answer that seemed rehearsed, Lina laughed aloud.
‘Like the sound of water droplets.’
Edwin gazed at Lina’s laughter, entranced, and thought to himself.
Edwin, who lately had been reading through poetry collections choosing verses to send to Lina, had grown notably softer in temperament.
After laughing her fill, Lina suddenly pulled him into an embrace.
Then, looking up at him, she spoke softly.
“How long do I have to see you in this?”
Lina let him go quickly, worried the robe would make him too warm.
Edwin brought his hands near Lina’s waist but didn’t pull her close again.
For fear she’d be hot.
“Perhaps the week after next?”
The Anti-Detection Magical Device he’d entrusted to the Magic Tower was scheduled to arrive around then.
“They say next week is going to be terribly hot.”
At Edwin’s worry, Lina’s brows drooped.
It seemed like any moment now she’d suggest he not bring her back until the week after next.
“Or, if we’re lucky, it could be next week.”
Edwin hastily corrected himself.
Of course, it was a delivery date he hadn’t confirmed with the Magic Tower, but Edwin was the Emperor.

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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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