Chapter 4 – Part 1
“Gertel Festival.”
Carlos raised the corners of his lips and smiled. It was planned, so this part didn’t really mean anything. Because, after waiting 10 years, he decided to bring Amelia here and make her Empress just before the festival. Basically, the less work he needed to do, the better it would be. Otherwise, he would have just killed them all. But he didn’t like killing anyone either—it was tedious getting rid of bodies.
Somehow, at the mention of the Gertel Festival, Amelia’s eyes shone for the first time, and it was because he did a favor. It was her request to invite her brother to the Imperial Palace.
Of course, Carlos was willing to listen to it. As soon as Carlos nodded his head, Amelia smiled brightly, just like back in the day.
“Haha.”
Amelia hesitated at his request to kiss him if she was grateful, but she leaned in to kiss him as a thank you. Her shy, red cheeks made her even prettier. She was so adorable, he felt like dying.
Amelia, who had always been afraid of him, was finally starting to drop her guard around him. Just as a newborn puppy would hide in one corner and slowly sniff around, she was becoming less cautious little by little and now even slept next to him.
He couldn’t stand it because she was so adorable. This was the reason why he wandered around looking for her whenever he had spare time, even despite his heavy workload.
He quickly wanted to make her his.
He promised to make her the Empress, but the objection was more severe than expected. So, the wedding was postponed to a year later. He was guessing they’re trying to find flaws and bring her down within that year, but he had nothing to worry about. From the beginning, he had no intention of dragging it on for that long.
“I await your commands, Your Majesty.”
He looked at the knight standing in front of him, Julius Reinkel. Reinkel was on his knees, waiting for the Emperor to speak. Carlos leaned down slowly and grabbed Reinkel by the collar.
“Do you want me to kill you?”
“……”
Reinkel had a dazed expression on his face, even with the harsh words that came out.
“I placed you outside to be out of sight, but then you ran into each other?”
“…I apologize, Your Majesty. I didn’t know Lady Laszlo would be at the fountain like that.”
“Even if you’ve seen her in person, shouldn’t you have just avoided talking?”
It was different from the way he smiled just now. Even with that change, Reinkel remained calm.
“Lady Laszlo and I didn’t talk about anything special, Your Majesty.”
“Really? Even if your presence reminds her of that day?”
Carlos grabbed his collar and shook it.
“I apologize. I will never see Lady Laszlo again.”
At the knight’s polite words, Carlos let go of the hand holding the collar and gritted his teeth. His eyes dimmed terribly.
“Sir Reinkel, you know what? The reason my marriage with her is being opposed right now is because she is ‘unclean’.”
He suddenly let out a sharp laugh.
“There must be a lot of disgusting bastards waving their things in brothels. Isn’t it funny?”
“…Is that why Your Majesty didn’t sleep with Miss Laszlo?”
Carlos clenched his teeth at Reinkel’s provocative words. Reinkel was the only one who knew the Emperor’s heart. So he understood Carlos’ anger and why he was behaving like a madman. And this Emperor would never kill neither Reinkel nor her.
“How do you know that?”
“You’ll know when you see it.”
At Reinkel’s words, the Emperor clenched his teeth.
“Right.”
“……”
“When I looked back, I was blinded by lust. But I didn’t want to be like that again. Because I didn’t want to be that ‘crazy’ again.”
Amelia was pretty. She was so pretty. He wanted to kiss her, thrust into her with his swelling desire again, and move his waist to his heart’s content. He couldn’t bear to hold Amelia like a male in heat. But now, he had been patient.
“Your Majesty, can you stop hating yourself now? Your Majesty is already doing what you are supposed to do.”
“……”
“It was a relief that you saw Miss Laszlo and not get drunk at the sight.”
“That’s natural.”
Carlos asserted.
“I don’t like it, but it’s only natural that I don’t touch it.”
“……”
The Emperor ascended to the throne and easily killed others. The women sent by her mother, or the servants who did not listen, or the nobles. But Amelia Laszlo was different. Just as Reinkel was about to admire the Emperor’s uprightness, a smirk appeared on the Emperor’s lips.
“Did I say something too upright? I am not trying to make a point here.”
“What do you mean…”
“If I force her to embrace me, I will become like them. I don’t want to be like that.”
“Your Majesty.”
“She trusted me with her life, and I will take her heart as mine. I don’t want to do anything stupid.”
“……”
What should he do with this foolish Emperor? Reinkel sympathized with him. The Emperor was desperately trying to catch something that was difficult to catch. He hasn’t grown since then. Reinkel’s eyes could see that he was afraid and didn’t know what to do with what he had put in his hands.
“Sir Reinkel, I love Amelia.”
“……”
“If this is not love, then what is?”
“……”
“I have been in love with that woman since the first time I saw her. She was outrageously fascinating.”
“Your Majesty.”
“That’s why I hate it so much, but I’m so grateful.”
“……”
“I’ve met someone I can love without being crazy like my older brother.”
Carlos smiled brightly. It was the face that came out when he thought of Amelia. Then he hardened his face and got up from his seat and squatted down under the throne. His gaze met Reinkel, who was on his knees, and bowed his head.
“Don’t make the same mistake. Don’t ever run into Amelia again.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
Reinkel sighed inwardly. Because it felt like a child’s possessive impulse. Although he was outside, Reinkel was the only knight who swore allegiance to him in exchange for his life. This meant that he was Carlos’ only reliable lieutenant.
“It’s the festival soon, so my brother will be visiting.”
“……”
“Those insignificant insects will come and fly around the Imperial Palace without knowing their place. Look around carefully.”
“Understood.”
At Carlos’ command, Reinkel bowed his head.
The gates of the Imperial Palace opened. Amelia was the most glamorous today. She stared blankly at her adorned self. She once thought that she didn’t like dressing up like this, but now she has accepted it.
“Wow, you are so pretty.”
At Rose’s admirable words, the maids all nodded in unison. Even in Amelia’s eyes, she herself admitted that she was very beautiful. The Emperor gave her only the most beautiful things. Large pearl earrings, delicately woven lace with beautiful patterns. Looking at her outfit, she was already like an Empress.
“What is the schedule for today?”
“If the members of the lady’s family come to visit, you can spend time with them, and after that, you can do whatever you want.”
“Alright.”
Amelia’s face darkened slightly.
“What is the matter? Didn’t you want to see Young Master Lazslo?”
At Rose’s concern, she shook her head.
No schedule. Whenever the Imperial Palace became open to the public, the busiest person was probably the Emperor. It was the same with the Empress.
Although she was not married, she would have to do something. Is it because of her ambiguous position? Aside from seeing Colin again, she was worried that she wouldn’t have to do anything like this.
“When did Colin say he was coming?”
“Young Master Laszlo said he would come after noon.”
“Please prepare some delicious refreshments. He doesn’t like hard things, so asks for soft cookies or bread.”
“I already told them.”
Amelia smiled at Rose’s words. The fact that she could see Colin made her heart race.
“Since you have finished dressing up, you have to show off your beautiful appearance. How about taking a walk around the Imperial Palace until the young master arrives?”
“Alright.”
Amelia nodded and went out on a walk around the decorated Imperial Palace. In the open Imperial Palace, flowers were decorated in vases on each corridor and boasted a very fragrant scent.
Commoners were only allowed to enter the gardens or see the fountains and temples within the Imperial Palace, while nobles could access almost everywhere. Local nobles from the provinces had been visiting the Imperial Palace from an early time.
They whispered as they looked at Amelia. Amelia was momentarily withdrawn, but the bewildered expression turned on her face as people gazed at her with a longing gaze, their eyes gleaming unexpectedly.
It was strange that she did not receive the gaze of jealousy and contempt that was the obvious reaction because she was in a place that did not suit her. She headed towards the central hallway with a slightly dignified expression. It was when she passed the statues of the gods.
“You seem to be blatantly holding up your face.”
At the cold voice, Amelia looked behind her, and Rose, who was standing behind her, spoke up
“The Miss has been rude. Lady Laszlo will become the Empress…”
“Lady Laszlo hasn’t become Empress yet. That’s presumptuous. Can’t you shut up?”