Chapter 16 – A Late-Night Encounter with the Emperor
Leaving Sigmund, who still seemed to be reeling from emotion, inside the room, I quietly shut the door from the outside.
…This is a problem. The possibility that I am a Witch is becoming more and more likely.
Ever since arriving in the Zaldein Empire, I have been constantly confronted with the fact that I might be a Witch.
Naturally, this was a situation I never could have imagined back in my homeland.
If I hadn’t come to this country, I would surely have lived my life without ever even considering I was a Witch. The thought sent a shiver down my spine.
For some reason, that thought seemed incredibly terrifying.
Perhaps because I was so lost in thought, I didn’t notice Emperor Eckardt standing in the hallway until I was right in front of him.
Seeing the Emperor still fully dressed despite the late hour, I felt a pang of guilt, wondering if he had been working until now.
After all, he had stayed in the Wolf territory because of my injury, and I suspected his work had piled up as a result.
“Your Majesty Eckardt, are you working late?”
I asked, hoping to start a conversation, but the Emperor didn’t answer. Instead, he narrowed his eyes and spoke in a reproachful tone.
“Coming out of a man’s bedroom at this time of night is hardly praiseworthy behavior.”
I was startled by the completely unfair accusation.
“P-Please stop saying things that invite misunderstanding! You must know this already, but this is the room of Sigmund, your most trusted subordinate. Nothing improper could possibly happen.”
Emperor Eckardt tilted his head slightly, indicating his disagreement.
“Until yesterday, I could have believed those words. Now, I am not so sure. That wolf has completely fallen for you.”
At that moment, goosebumps rose all over my body.
Ah… Emperor Eckardt is trying to seduce me.
I suddenly thought this for some reason, and when I backed away, the wall blocked my path.
Emperor Eckardt reached out and placed both hands on the wall on either side of my face, trapping me within his arms.
“Eh?”
Surprised, I looked up to find Emperor Eckardt’s handsome features looking down at me.
An indescribably pleasant scent wafted over me, and my body temperature spiked with a throb.
Feeling cornered like a frog stared down by a snake, I watched as the Emperor leaned in, coming so close we were almost touching.
As he gazed into my eyes from point-blank range, my heart pounded so hard I thought it might burst.
Just when I thought I couldn’t take any more, Emperor Eckardt’s enchanting voice rang out.
“Did I see wrong? Your eyes looked red… or was it just the flame reflecting in them?”
Indeed, there was a lamp installed above my head, its flame burning brightly red.
I see. The reflection of the flame made my eyes look red, as if I possessed the color of a Witch. It makes sense that he would want to check.
And since he seems to have finished checking, I would appreciate it if he would step back.
Emperor Eckardt is far too handsome to be pressed up against in a hallway alone at midnight; my heart can’t take it.
“Y-Your Majesty Eckardt, please move away…”
“Sigmund’s loyalty is outstanding, even among the Eight Holy Ducal Houses. For him to allow my future consort into his private chambers in the middle of the night… something extraordinary must have happened. If you were a Witch, that mystery would be solved, but such a fairy tale is impossible.”
“……”
It was coincidental, but Emperor Eckardt’s words had struck upon the truth.
If I replied, “At least Sigmund thinks I’m a Witch,” the immediate problem might be solved, but it was clear as day that it would invite much bigger problems.
So, unable to affirm or deny, I simply looked up at him.
“I am the one who will be your husband. So, if you feel the urge to seduce someone, you should tempt me first.”
“T-T-Tempt you…?”
I stared at his features, so perfect it was aggravating, close enough to touch.
It’s amazing. Even up close, I can’t find a single flaw.
His skin is smooth, his eyes shine like gems, his eyelashes are thick and long, his teeth are pure white… The scent wafting from him is getting stronger, making my head spin.
There is no doubt that if I tried to tempt Emperor Eckardt, I would be the one getting ensnared instead.
As I was thinking this, his enchanting voice rang out, adding fuel to the fire.
“You’re used to this sort of thing, aren’t you?”
“U-Used to?”
What is the Emperor talking about? This is no good. Extreme handsomeness seems to have a confusing effect on people; I can’t understand a word Emperor Eckardt is saying.
“I’ve heard that back in your homeland, you had many men attending to you in the Knight Order.”
Does he mean my command of the Knight Order?
“Y-Yes, that’s right. Everyone welcomed me there, so it was very comfortable. I spent all my time with the Knight Order.”
I recalled the knights telling me to rest more because I was working too hard.
I was a complete workaholic back home, I thought, letting my mind wander to escape reality, when Emperor Eckardt let out an exasperated sigh.
“Perhaps such behavior isn’t condemned for a human princess, but you are to become my consort. Beastmen are extremely possessive, so you had best be careful. If you do something like this in the future, you will face dire consequences.”
D-Dire consequences? What does that mean? Surely he doesn’t mean I need to worry about being attacked, right? I’m the strongest mage, so I can handle any attack! But… that’s probably not what he means.
Feeling that any verbal response would be dangerous, I simply nodded obediently.
Seeing me like that, Emperor Eckardt twisted his lips into a cynical smile.
“You nod at that? You really do… have a high instinct for self-preservation.”
With that, Emperor Eckardt stared at me intently, as if gauging my reaction.
The danger seemed far from over, so I stared up at the Emperor without blinking, careful not to provoke him. Then, Emperor Eckardt slowly straightened up, pulling away from me. He narrowed his eyes and looked at me like a predator eyeing its prey.
“…Goodnight, my charming human fiancée.”
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