Chapter 4 – Part 2
Amelia looked at Clara’s face, which was seething with venom. Clara glared at her with a dissatisfied expression, and her hostile eyes made Amelia feel out of breath.
“I thought you knew your place well enough to say no. But here you still are.”
“……”
“Even when you’re the one who drove my brother to death.”
“……”
“How great you are at pretending to be so kind. Was it all a lie that you don’t care about anything?”
At those words, Amelia sighed and looked at the indifferent gaze. The longing gaze from others that she saw earlier was strange. She was rather relieved to hear it. But on one hand, for the sake of the Emperor, she felt that it would not be good to continue suffering under such humiliation.
“Someone told me that the reason he died was because of himself.”
“Wh-what?!”
“Everyone said I was the one who drove him to death. But what then?”
“……”
“Should I have followed him to death? Just what did I do wrong?”
“Sister!”
Clara screamed.
“How could you! You know how much Brother loved you!”
“Love?”
Amelia smiled coldly. It was time for Clara, who was even more angry, to shout. Yet, Clara widened her eyes. What? Amelia looked behind her and she saw a tall man.
“……”
The man in colorful clothes was staring at Amelia without saying a word. He was a man with a sharp aura, a handsome man with styled black hair and reddish-brown eyes.
Even if she said, ‘Who is it?’ she could tell just by looking at his face. He had a face that resembled the Emperor. The atmosphere and the cooler appearance were different, but then that person…
“Greetings, Grand Duke.”
Grand Duke Piast, the older brother of the Emperor who had renounced his claim to the throne. Clara also hurriedly followed Amelia’s greeting. At this, the Grand Duke nodded his head and said to Amelia without looking at Clara even once.
“How dare you come and go in the Imperial Palace on this occasion. Is this the time for this?”
His low voice was used to criticize her, and it was so unlike the Emperor’s beautiful voice. The Grand Duke’s voice was low and deep.
“I apologize, Your Grace.”
At Amelia’s apology, he shook his head and looked at Clara.
“I wasn’t seeking your apology, Lady Laszlo. I was speaking to that girl. Since she had done it, I won’t hesitate to have her head lopped off right away.”
“…I-I apologize, I am deeply sorry.”
Clara bowed her head. The Grand Duke was a man with little change in his facial expression. But only a subtle furrow of eyebrows could tell that he was very offended.
“Lady Laszlo.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“You decide. Would you like to dispose of her?”
“Pardon?”
When she opened her eyes wide, the Grand Duke said with a cold smile.
“It doesn’t matter if I kill this immature girl right now.”
“Your, Your Grace!”
Amelia looked at the Grand Duke, astonished. He meant it. It wasn’t just a light threat. That person was dangerous. Goosebumps ran up on her spine. Amelia looked at Clara and spoke.
“Lady Butler, please go back. Rose, go and take her out of the palace.”
Clara bowed once and quickly disappeared as though she was running away. Rose also followed Clara with a displeased expression. Since Rose followed her out, Clara wouldn’t be able to do anything else.
Amelia let out a small sigh. The Grand Duke looked at Amelia with the most interest. She lowered her eyes, and said quietly as if explaining why.
“It was my mistake that caused the Imperial Palace to be disturbed on this occasion. There is no reason to punish Lady Butler, Your Grace.”
“Even though she has publicly insulted you, who will become the Empress? That woman will insult Lady Laszlo again.”
“Clara, no, Lady Butler is a smart girl. She probably would not.”
At Amelia’s blunt remark, the Grand Duke approached and looked at her face. The mere approach of the large man was like a threat, so she was startled, her body freezing up. The man’s rough hand grabbed her chin.
“They said we look alike, but beyond that, we are the same.”
He raised the corners of his lips in a smirk.
“Your Grace, what are you…!”
Amelia tried to push the Grand Duke away, but the Grand Duke’s hand was quite strong.
“Would it feel the same if I kiss you?”
The Grand Duke lowered his head and tried to kiss Amelia. Startled, she pushed him as hard as she could, but he wouldn’t budge. And then at that moment—
“What is this, Brother?!”
A voice was heard louder than Clara’s. The Emperor was watching them. The Grand Duke then released his grip on her face. Amelia looked at the Emperor in surprise. The Emperor was livid.
“Come here.”
The Emperor frowned and called to Amelia. He looked really angry. Amelia flinched and she approached the Emperor cautiously. Then she felt a hand wrapped around her shoulder. The Grand Duke was observing every single detail.
“It’s been a while, Your Majesty.”
“I don’t want to hear it. Explain what you were about to do just now.”
“I only wanted to kiss her.”
“Do you mean my woman?”
The Grand Duke nodded at the Emperor’s cold voice. It was so shameless that Amelia was left speechless.
“Didn’t they say that brothers have the same taste? I was just curious.”
“……”
“And I got a little jealous.”
Jealous? What did he mean? She didn’t think it was because he liked her that he felt that kind of jealousy. The Grand Duke looked alternately between Amelia and the Emperor. Whether those words were false, Amelia felt a strange envy beneath the Grand Duke’s gaze.
“Brother.”
“I have overstepped, Your Majesty and Lady Laszlo.”
The Grand Duke bowed his head and politely apologized. The sudden apology made her eyes widen. The Emperor saw it and opened his lips.
“I have prepared a room for you, so keep a low profile there.”
At that, the Grand Duke nodded, and all the knights standing behind the Emperor followed the Grand Duke at just one glance from the Emperor. The Grand Duke obediently heeded his words, but before leaving completely, he turned to Amelia and smiled. It was strange when he smiled with a hard expression on his face.
“Amelia, this way.”
Amelia flinched at the Emperor’s voice. Now that she was alone with him, she realized how angry he was. Fortunately, he was looking towards the Grand Duke.
“I didn’t mean for it to be this way.”
His voice rang out coldly. He looked at Amelia, who was looking towards the disappearing Grand Duke, and she avoided the Emperor’s eyes. She was afraid that the Emperor’s wrath would immediately transfer to her.
“Amelia?”
Obviously, such an emotion was stirred by the coercion of the Grand Duke. But what if the Emperor misunderstood their entangled position earlier? Even if it wasn’t a misunderstanding, how would she fare?
It was a big problem that the Emperor’s woman tried to kiss the Emperor’s brother. Hasn’t this been the case before? She became an unclean woman so easily. A promiscuous and lewd woman.
“Amelia, why are you avoiding my eyes?”
The Emperor’s voice was strangely sweet.
“Were you very scared? You’re trembling now.”
“Sorry. I’m really sorry. Your Majesty, I misbehaved…”
“……”
Amelia closed her eyes and waited for the Emperor’s rebuke. But for a long time a terrifying silence fell between them.
“Amelia.”
“……”
“Come on, raise your head, Amelia.”
At his urging, Amelia lifted her head. The Emperor, seeing Amelia’s eyes, spoke.
“Why are you blaming yourself for my brother’s insolence?”
“……”
“It’s okay, I’m not mad at you, Amelia.”
He stroked her hair and embraced her. Amelia bowed her head. Then, somehow, she felt relieved.
“Were you scared? I’m sorry. That will never happen again.”
“……”
“So don’t be anxious. I wasn’t really mad. I don’t consider Amelia to be unclean, nor do I think that your actions are wrong.”
“……”
“You’re dressed so prettily right now. Won’t you show me your face? I want to see you.”
When Amelia lifted her head, the Emperor smiled warmly. The golden eyes glistened in the sunlight.
Even though his face resembled the Grand Duke, his expression was soft and delicate. The Emperor bowed his head and his face drew closer. Amelia quietly closed her eyes. As the soft lips touched, her lips opened automatically.
“Mmm…”
His kiss was a passionate one, although it was still obviously gentle. His tongue came into her and went into her mouth wildly. The wetness rubbed against each other, and their breaths went back and forth. It wasn’t until she began to gasp for air that he parted his lips from hers.
“This kiss, how is it? You’re not afraid to do it with me, aren’t you?”
As the Emperor smiled, Amelia nodded. Seeing this, the Emperor smiled.
“Then this is enough.”
“…Your Majesty.”
A warm expression filled with love. Amelia’s heart was truly touched. Come to think of it, what he said was true. There was nothing wrong with kissing the Emperor. Even when she first met him, when she helped him with his situation, she didn’t feel disgusted at all. Perhaps she had fallen in love with this man?
But… she knew all too well that love was fleeting.