Chapter 3: Emperor Raymond del Astaroth
‘If His Majesty sees you, how will he endure without falling in love? You are so lovely.’
Kaylos was basically an amiable and sweet person Not only for me, but for all women. And sometimes, that sweetness would act as a deadly poison.
Of course, I was no exception. I, who fell for his kindness, also blindly fell in love with him.
Perhaps this is also part of Kaylos’ plan.
Anyway, I was a flower that Kaylos had carefully cultivated to plant next to the Emperor, and if I were to love him, I would never betray him even if I occupy the emperor’s side.
“I like you uncle.
Nearly five years have passed since I have followed Kaylos into the castle of Ludwig. At the age of seventeen, I was so young and inexperienced, that! could not hide my growing heart.
I’ve been in love with you for a very long time’
‘Love.’
My body shuddered at the glance of Kaylos who looked over my body with his chin resting slowly over his hand. But I gathered courage and took a step closer to him. The tension was doubled at the sound of laughter coming out of his lips.
“You’re already at that age.’
With his arms stretched out slowly, he snatched my wrist. In an instant, I was on his lap, and I was filled with vague expectations as I looked at his ecstatic and beautiful face.
“I’ve been waiting a long time, Chloe. I want you to be a woman.
His fingertips swept down my face. His hand, which went down slowly along my jawline, grabbed my shoulder painfully. Kylos just kissed the seventeen year old me.
Unlike my courageous confession, I was embarrassed and frozen, and despite my unexpected confession, he was too relaxed and skillful.
Still clumsy.’
His tongue, which coveted every corner of my mouth, pulled out, and I couldn’t believe I kissed him, so my eyes were teary.
He looked at me like that and smiled broadly. A small kiss continued over my lips and face.
‘Uncle, ……..’
“I like you, too, Chloe. I love you.’
He gently stroked my head and whispered.
“You are the only family I have left in this Ludwig castle.’
The word “only” made my young heart flutter even more. It was such an exciting and sweet language. The fact that we both are special to each other.
“Besides, how can I not be in love with the beautiful you, who will bring my brother’s neck to me in the future.
However, his words that followed destroyed my excitement.
His brother, Raymond del Astaroth.
I am a woman who was raised to seduce and eliminate his brother. I was a woman with only that value. The man I love was so sweet to the point of being even more cruel. At seventeen, it was then that I finally realized.
The feeling of loving him was never allowed for me,
So I tried to hide my heart. Without knowing that my already leaking heart overflowed and soaked me all over. Like a fool.
“Don’t run away, Chloe.
Kylos gently stroked down my eyes, pulling me back on his lap.
‘Yes, look at me with those eyes.’
‘That’s right. Beautiful’
His fingertips that came down, touching the corner of my eyes softly, wandered over the plump lower lip. lowered my eyes slowly and he kissed me once again. It was a soft and friendly kiss as if he loved me.
“Your looks will drive him crazy.’
When the kiss was over, I was crying, and he smiled, wiping my tears with his thumb.
“But you can’t be this clumsy. Chloe, you need to work harder to satisfy my brother.’
“Uncle…
“Don’t worry too much. You can learn step by step.
I don’t know how he interpreted my tears, but when he kissed me for the third time, I stretched out my arms and hung them around his neck.
After three kisses, I expected a little. Maybe our relationship will change in a different direction.
Since then, Kaylos has often visited me and kissed me, and I, who was initially confused, soon began to accept him naturally. I thought our appearance resembled the appearance of a lover I read in an old book.
But that belief was broken when he showed me something more than kissing another woman as if to observe, in front of me.
One summer day, he and his guest were found under the open window tangled together as if laughing at me. The moment our eyes met, he smiled at me and kissed that woman, and he was so cruel as if he was reminding me of my situation.
He didn’t do anything special to me. I was only excited by myself. Realizing the devastation, I closed the window.
Our relationship has not changed. Kaylos was a man who wanted to use me under the guise of my family, and I was still a beautiful bait for him to throw at the emperor.
That night, after sending off his guest, he came to my room. Then, as always, he kissed me and whispered with a sweet push.
“You’re beautiful, Chloe. There will never be a woman more beautiful than you in the world. Even my picky brother will definitely not be able to stand it when he sees you.
I swam in the midst of his pouring words, clinging, desperately to him. Although his kiss didn’t have the affection I wanted, I didn’t hate it nonetheless. I was such a foolish woman hungry for his affection
Marquis Rosaline Young lady’s visits have become more frequent. She was a woman that Kaylos worked with recently. Kaylos had ordered me not to offend her. So I was as careful as possible not to stand out to the woman.
And today, of all things, she came when Kaylos was gone.
I can’t make the guest who came to visit him wait alone. I was forced to greet the guest on behalf of Kaylos.
“It’s warm apple tea. If you drink this and wait, my uncle will be back soon.”
“You’re the bait his excellency had mentioned.”
The woman looked over at me openly and spoke rudely.
“I was relieved because it was not worth paying attention to, but aren’t you quite trusted by His Highness to welcome guests on the behalf of His Highness?”
“Is it even possible? I am just an illegitimate child of a pitiful collateral that my uncle took.”
“It’s ridiculous to see an illegitimate child living together while calling His Highness, ‘uncle’. The blood ties between the Grand Duke of Ludwig and Garnet have faded a long time ago.”
Even with the words that belittled me, the fierce gaze, of the woman could not be resolved.
“I’m a lowly body that the marquis’ lady doesn’t have to care about. So please don’t be wary.”
“Then kneel down in front of me like a lowly person.”
I kneeled down in front of the woman without hesitation. He taught me many things to make me the woman of the emperor, but none of them was pride.
Pour.
Warm apple tea poured over my head. I thought it was fortunate that the tea cooled down a little rather than the humiliation. If hot tea had been poured over my head, I would have had a scar on my face that Kaylos cherished.
Kaylos said the only value I have is this face. If my face was damaged, not only will Kaylos no longer look for me, but I will be kicked out of the castle right away.
“Really, it’s awful.”
The woman clicked her tongue at me, who did not respond. The woman’s hand lifted the tip of my chin. My ugly figure was reflected in the eyes that looked at my face. I couldn’t make eye contact with the woman, so I averted my gaze.
It was then.
“What an interesting sight.”
As usual, a gentle voice flowed into the drawing room.
When I turned around, Kaylos, who had returned from inspecting the outside of the Castle early in the morning, shifted his gaze and observed the scene inside the drawing room.
“Your Highness….!”
At that moment, the embarrassed woman dropped, the teacup she was holding on the floor.
Clink
A stinging sensation passed through her fingertips along with a sharp breaking sound. Blood drops formed between the small scratches. At that moment, Kaylos, who had always been friendly, looked frightening. I covered the wound in a hurry as watched him strode inside.
“Are you okay?”
My favorite low-pitched voice passed by me,
“Aren’t you surprised?”
When I raised my head, I saw him comforting the woman in his arms. The poison I saw was removed from nowhere, and the woman buried her head in his chest and sobbed.
“I’m sorry, your highness. I… I made a mistake…….”
“Don’t cry, Betty.”
He whispered to the woman with a voice full of affection and soothed the woman. My gaze remained at his fingertips stroking the woman’s hair. It was a gesture that made it easy for a woman other than me.
The moment I realized it, the open wound was stinging and painful.
“Chloe.”
The chilling tone scolded me.
“What have you done to my guest?”
“…..I’m sorry, uncle.”
It was the first time for Kylos to treat me with such a cold voice, so I felt kind of miserable.
“Keep yourself in the room for a while before I call you first. I’m very worried that the weak marquis Young-ae will encounter you again.”
At the same time as he finished speaking, he took Marquis Young-ae out of the drawing room. His gaze, which had not reached me until the moment he turned his back, was cruel. It was a sharp punishment.
“I’ll take you to your room.”
It was Sir Enoch France, the knight, who reached out to me.
“It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay.”
At his unexpected words, I stared at him in embarrassment. He stayed still and waited for me to hold his hand.
Eventually, I put my hand on his palm, and even though I refused to Lord France, he still escorted me to the room.
My mood was as wet as my wet hair.
“It’s really okay now.”
As soon as I reached the door, I pulled out my hand caught by Sir France. He stared at the tip of my hand for a moment and took something out of his arms. It was an ointment applied to wounds.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
His palm grabbed my hand and applied white ointment over the wound. The crude hand that held the sword everyday, treated the wound carefully,
I stared blankly at him until he ripped a blue handkerchief and wrapped it around the tips of my fingers. After the treatment, he turned around without regret. And it wasn’t long before I realized that I didn’t thank him.