Chapter 14 – Why Are You Here?
Even though he was smiling kindly like a nice man, Erun’s green eyes were icy. Gloria pressed her lips together tightly in front of the unkind serpent of a man.
Before returning, she had lived without knowing Erun’s thoughts or the meaning behind his gaze, but now all she could see was her fiancé’s inner darkness.
‘He must be excited to hold an Emperor who grew up beautifully locked inside the Palace and knew nothing.’
Gloria grinned at Erun, who knew nothing about her past death.
‘Pathetic guy. You’ll be betrayed by the fiancée who knows all your evil plans!’
Ignorant of the Emperor’s thoughts, Erun spoke in a reassuring tone.
“Don’t worry about the wedding preparations. I and the Countess Adlen are preparing.”
“Countess Adlen…?”
At the unpleasant name that came out of Erun’s mouth, Gloria put down her teacup.
Countess Infrana Adlen. Entering the Imperial Palace at Erun’s recommendation, the Countess was also famous in social circles. She was a femme fatale, with fascinating wine-colored hair and sharp red eyes, she not only drew attention with her flamboyant attire but also with her sensual body that drew covetous glances whenever she went. If there was a man who didn’t know her or want her, then that man was probably a eunuch.
After Diana was ousted and Countess Adlen became a maid, many nobles and bureaucrats began to flock around her.
Gloria was completely isolated after the Duchess of Proud and Baroness Berne left the palace as if kicked out by Erun and Infrana’s petty schemes.
‘I should bury her too…’
Gloria just nodded and hid her face, while, ignorant of her feelings, Erun continued to talk.
“I know, Countess Adlen doesn’t have a good image in social circles. However, she has traveled to many countries, so she will be a good companion for Her Majesty.”
“Good companion…”
As soon as Erun spoke those words, Gloria couldn’t help but smirk. Her eyes were as cold as a dreary winter, but the telltale lasted just for a second.
Erun’s hawk-like eyes caught every small detail, so she smiled and said,
“For me, who grew up only in the palace, the Countess would be a good companion. I feel reassured, Erun.”
It was utter nonsense, but Gloria wanted to know how far he could go, and in a soft tone he declared.
“Countess Adlen and I will do our best to assist Her Majesty.”
‘To think the day would arrive so soon when I’d hear you say something so creepy and awful such as ‘I will do my best to assist you’.’ Gloria clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into the soft flesh of her palms. ‘You say you’ll protect me but you murdered me and my father.’
‘Cunning shameless man.’
Using words like ‘protection’, ‘assistance’, or ‘rest’, Erun had isolated Gloria and nullified her power.
She knew power destroyed people, but it was painful to see a man she had known since childhood become a monster without any humanity.
‘Do I really have to give up on people to survive in a place full of monsters biting each other’s necks for the sake of status?’
Gloria looked down at the lukewarm orange tea and closed her eyes.
So much had happened, she already forgot how it felt to be in her father’s warm hug.
‘Father, I chose to become a monster for revenge.’
Gloria looked at the blonde fiend before her and lifted the corners of her mouth as hard as she could. Human Gloria had died, leaving only one red-haired beast.
Killing what little humanity was left in her, she smiled at the expectant Erun.
“Erun, I’m really looking forward to it.”
“If you allow it, I’ll bring her right away!”
Anticipating such an answer, Erun replied hastily, trying hard to hide his satisfied smile. Rising from his seat, he took out a pocket watch and immediately assumed his disappointed-fiancé mask.
“It’s already time. I’ll take my leave, Your Majesty.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I caught such a busy person for such a long time.”
“Don’t say that, it was all because of my greed.”
At such words, Gloria stiffened her smile. As always, Erun briefly kissed the back of his fiancée’s pale hand and quickly let go. Her deadly fragrance had begun to shake his heart, meaning he couldn’t be near Gloria anymore, so Erun smiled kindly and said,
“Then, rest comfortably.”
She smiled instead of answering his farewell. After Erun left and upon confirming he had exited the Palace by watching through the window, Gloria turned around and kicked the chair he had used. She was clearly enraged.
Smack!
“Oh my God!”
Surprised by the sudden noise, the court ladies rushed into the drawing-room. But Gloria didn’t mind them. She felt impatient and anxious and bit her nails nervously.
‘Countess Adlen is your lover, that’s why you brought her in! You filthy f*cking bastard!!’
She could still recall that charming woman’s duplicitous smile. She had acted as the Emperor’s aid, but she often disappeared with Erun, and the innocent little Gloria was none the wiser. There was a time when Kaien, who couldn’t hide his displeasure, asked her.
“Your Majesty, don’t you regret it?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Marrying the Archduke.”1
“You knew.”
Gloria muttered and rubbed her wrinkling forehead. At that time Diana had been pushed out of the Palace by Countess Adlen and had returned to the Duchy. It was rare for Gloria to meet Kaien except for official affairs.
She sighed heavily, truly ashamed of realizing only now the meaning behind Kaien’s question.
“I must have looked like a really pathetic, stupid child.”
Leaning her forehead against the window glass, Gloria closed her eyes in pain. She had known nothing. Kaien’s face had looked like he tasted something bitter as he opened and closed his mouth in astonishment while she tilted her head at his question. Even remembering it now, his face was full of sorrow. Recalling his sullen expression, Gloria muttered low.
“Why did you make such an expression, Kaien?”
“What expression are you talking about?”
“Kyaaa!”
Surprised by the sudden deep voice, Gloria jumped up and turned her head, screaming.
Hearing the voice of the man who shouldn’t be in front of her right now—though he was unexpectedly there—Gloria recoiled. She held her breath feeling her heart stop.
On the other hand, the unexpected visitor flinched at the Emperor’s shout and stepped back himself.
“Duke Ludenberg?”
“Yes.”
Hurriedly calling his name to confirm the guest before her, Gloria looked at him in a daze. Kaien replied calmly to her question and stood still.
‘I’m so surprised that I feel as if my heart is thumping in my whole body.’
Trying to calm her pounding heart but giving up halfway, Gloria looked at Kaien and spoke.
“How did you get here? I thought the Duke knew well that this is my personal Palace.”2
“Forgive the rudeness, Your Majesty.”
Although Kaien had been guided by Diana and Baroness Berne to enter, he didn’t want to say too much after seeing Gloria startled, so he merely bowed and apologized.
Facing such a polite apology, Gloria noticed the door behind him was ajar. She frowned at the fact that the door, clearly closed when she was with Erun, was now open. Through the gap, various colors of eyes were twinkling, and noting a particularly shiny purple pair among them, Gloria felt as if her head was about to burst.
‘Diana Ludenberg!!!’
She swallowed her urge to scream, scratching her forehead at Diana’s twinkling eyes like a lioness seeking food.
‘It’s a big sin to open the Emperor’s drawing-room like that. I can’t believe you’re being so fearless and reckless.’
“Haaaa.”
Feeling the intense audience peering through the slightly open door, Gloria eventually sighed and leaned on the table. Kaien felt the gazes too, so he pulled his body up and blocked Gloria’s face with his back.
Having developed a sensitive ear through training, Kaien heard his younger sister whispering “Ooohh! How can you block Her Majesty’s face with your body, you idiot brother!” He did his best to swallow his own sigh, considering later punishment for his reckless little sister who knew no fear. For the moment, however, Gloria was his priority.
“Are you feeling well?”
“As you can see, I’m fine.”
Gloria replied quickly, lowering her hand. She wanted to immediately cut off the hand Erun had kissed, but she didn’t want to reveal her burning hatred, so she avoided Kaien’s look.
He narrowed his eyes as she turned her head and noticed the back of her hand was particularly red.
‘Did Erun kiss you?’ Kaien stared at her hand, thinking that her fiancé Erun must have pushed his lips into the back of it. Gloria must have been very displeased by the sight of that man sticking out his tongue like the colored snake he was.
“Your Majesty.”
“Yes.”
“Excuse me for a moment.”
“Ah-”
Kaien softly wrapped Gloria’s hand with his own and lifted it. Unlike his rude behavior, the act of holding her hand was careful as if holding a baby bird. Feeling his warmth against her skin, Gloria bit her lip. Her ears had already turned red, but Kaien didn’t notice because of her hair.
“Duke?”
Gloria looked at her hand and called Kaien, who wore a threatening look on his face. After a moment, as if he had never looked disturbed, he returned to his usual calm face and took a handkerchief out of his coat.
“Goodness~!”
Kaien’s actions caused a small commotion outside the door. The women peering inside screamed breathlessly. Although his wide back was blocking Gloria’s face and they couldn’t see her expression, they could guess what was happening between the two based upon the fact that Kaien took a handkerchief out of his coat.
Feeling the knot of the handkerchief, Gloria looked up at Kaien with a confused face. Although she was neither a glass doll nor a weakened flower stalk, he stroked the back of her hand with his thumb, wondering why she was so soft, and said,
“It’s because you were hurt.”
“…!”
Hearing Kaien’s unexpected words, Gloria started nervously.
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1. [After marrying Gloria, Erun received the title of Archduke]↩
2. [The Palace where Gloria resides is not the Main Palace but a Palace called “Sleeping Palace” A place where an Emperor spent time with concubines or just went to rest. This is because, although Gloria is the Emperor, she wasn’t acting as the ruler of the Empire due to Erun’s manipulations]↩