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nChapter 45

n‘I’ve grown attached to him.’

nFive years wasn’t a short amount of time.

nAnd now, she had to start preparing.

nRosaline looked back at Hui. “I want to see His Majesty first before all of this. Would it be possible?”

nHui checked the time. “Yes…”

nRosaline smiled. When the door opened, maids were lined up outside with red velvet boxes in their hands.

n“What’s all this?”

n“His Majesty sent these.”

nAn older woman, the head maid, instructed them to open the boxes. She bowed. “Please pick which jewel you like best, Secretary Rosaline.”

nOne, two, three, four, five, six…

nRosaline’s jaw dropped.

n***

nShe was pacing in front of Cahir’s bedroom. Normally this was the time when he gathered administrators into the office to reprimand them.

n‘Is he okay? Is he still concerned about the selection?’

nThe carriages going into the palace were visible from here.

nMaybe another young lady would welcome this position, but…

n“Come on in.”

nThe knights standing next to the bedroom door opened it wide.

nCahir was looking out the window. Perhaps what he saw was no different from what she saw too. She stepped in carefully, standing behind him.

n“I greet the sun of our empire—”

n“Shhh.” Cahir looked back at her, his gaze fixed on her ears and neck.

n***

nLast night, while Rosaline was sleeping, dead to the world. Cahir had sneaked out of the imperial palace with Derek.

nHe had knocked on the door of the largest jewelry store in the capital. And the man who opened the door had a club in his hands.

n“Hurry up and open the door, Edward.”

nThe designer of Rosaline’s pink diamond necklace threw the club into one corner.

n“Your Majesty, if you come, you, you…” He could feel Derek’s glare from behind Cahir and promptly shut up.

n“The jewelry set from there to here. Wrap all of them up.”

nThat meant as many as fifty sets. Edward didn’t even bother thinking about all the costs. Ten mansions? Anyway, this was the emperor in question. What he needed to worry about was…

nThat he would have nothing to sell the next day.

n“To whom will you gift it to..?” Cahir looked like he was in a good mood, so Edward mustered the courage to ask, forgetting that he had almost died earlier.

n“Who else? My empress, of course.”

n“But the empress hasn’t been…”

nThe good mood quickly turned icy.

nDerek stepped forward between the two other men. “Haha, she has been picked, according to the rumors. It’s Secretary Rosaline. Secretary Rosaline,” he whispered.

nEdward caught on quickly. “Ah, yes! Secretary Rosaline’s skin is especially luminous, so if you pick this…”

nEach jewelry set was packed into its own box with the sound of praises as the background music. Cahir’s stiff expression gradually loosened.

n‘I saved a person today.’

nDerek felt rather proud of himself.

n***

nIt was the story of all those boxes delivered to her room.

n“It’s the pearl set.”

nHe couldn’t stop staring at Rosaline’s ears and neck. As expected, she was stunning.

nThe pink pearls were the size of his smallest nail, fine and unblemished.

n“It looks good on you.”

n“Thank you.”

nPerhaps because of what was about to occur, Rosaline was dressed up a bit more than usual, a bit more beautiful than usual. Flowers seemed to bloom around her, sunlight seemed to shine despite the cloudy weather.

nIt was really nice.

nEspecially because she hadn’t removed the pink diamond necklace. Instead, pearls complemented it.

nCahir was touched that she valued his first gift so much.

nHowever, Rosaline didn’t actually spend that much time thinking about her accessories. She just wore a new one without taking off the other, and the maids had even applauded the unique effect.

n“I didn’t know what you’d like, so I prepared a variety. I see that you have a penchant for colorful pearls.”

n“Your Majesty, no. I chose them because they were the simplest.”

n“Rosaline likes simple things. Derek, write that down.”

nDerek really opened his notebook and wrote something down.

n“You must be busy, but you came quite early. You’re active for someone who doesn’t want to date.”

nShe wanted to pinch his mouth shut but settled for looking sideways at Derek.

nCahir noticed her discomfort. “Derek, go out.”

n“Yes, sir!”

nHe desperately wanted to rest now. Fantasizing that this meant he could leave the imperial palace at well, he walked out of the room.

nRosaline straightened. “Your Majesty, you promised that you would do anything for me if I became the empress, right?”

n“I didn’t forget.” Cahir pulled out the chair from under the table, a gesture for her to sit.

nShe accepted gratefully, and he sat across her.

nAfter the war, he was often on the negotiation table. He set his hands down on the table as if this was one of those times.

nThey were silent for a moment, her blue eyes against his scarlet. Her mouth was pursed, and he was nervous for no reason.

n“What do you want? Jewelry boxes? Land in the countryside? Tea ceremonies and balls held every day? Roy in a minister’s seat?”

nLogically, Cahir knew that she didn’t want any of that. He was just babbling, to be honest. When Rosaline remained silent, he had no choice but to shut up. He was the most anxious he had ever been.

nShe sighed. “Your Majesty, I’ll be your empress. You want this, right?”

n“Yes.”

n“And it absolutely must be me.”

n“That’s right. No one else but you, Rosaline.”

nHer heart almost jumped. How nice it would have been if he said that not for political reasons, but because he really wanted her…

nShe came to her senses.

n‘What? What was I thinking just now? My affection for him is only maternal! Get a grip!’

nThe only thing he wanted was a partner he could trust with the position. This whole thing would be over if she leaned a little to the empress dowager’s side, rebelled against him, or disgraced him somehow.

nHer life would end too.

nAffection? More like respect.

n‘Love…’

nRosaline reined in her heart.

n“Tell me, Rosaline. What do you want?”

nShe gulped. Hadn’t he prohibited her from quitting as a secretary? It wasn’t a direct threat, but it was almost the same thing. Would it be the same today? It piqued her curiosity.

n“I’ll be the empress.”

nCahir was pleasantly surprised that she seemed to be warming up to the idea. He put his chin in his hand, eyes twinkling. Rosaline’s words were enchanting. Like melting cream—well, he didn’t like sweet things, so maybe not cream exactly, but… if it was from her, he’d soak in it all day.

nHe held back his exclamation of joy.

n‘Is there anything more satisfying than this?’

nAlthough he initially chose her out of pragmatism, he genuinely wanted her to be the empress.

nAnd now she had accepted. He felt like a general who captured an impregnable fortress.

n“However, there are conditions, Your Majesty.”

n“Anything. I intend to be a generous husband.”

n“We must divorce amicably after the political situation stabilizes.”

nCahir wanted to take his words back.

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