When I stared at her sharply, she stepped aside, biting her lip. It looked as if she was very much offended because she was higher in rank before my return yet now she was lower than me as I was his fiancee officially.

Smiling at her sarcastically, I passed through the old-fashioned waiting room and opened the emperor’s bedroom.

The emperor’s bedroom, which I saw for the first time in my life, had a very different atmosphere from what I thought. Although there were no windows inside to avoid assassination attempts, there were the portraits of the previous emperors and magenta tapestry hung on the wall in his brightly lit room, and the magenta carpet on the floor was elaborately embroidered with the crest of a roaring golden lion.

As I approached the large bed in the middle of the room, the crown prince sitting by the bed looked around at me. I showed due manners by forcibly moving my body that was trying to harden.

“I, Aristia la Monique, am honored to greet you, the Little Sun of the empire.”

“…It’s been a long time. ”

After welcoming me with a dry voice, he rose from his seat.

“Given the situation, I can’t allow you to meet him alone. I hope you understand. ”

“That’s fine, Your Highness. I’m so grateful to you for granting my request.”

Nodding at me, he moved back a couple of steps. Bowing to him once again, I approached his bedside.

The emperor was so different from what he looked like him nearly three months ago. His gray hair became almost white, and his blue eyes that overwhelmed the people were hidden under his tightly closed eyelids. He was too weak and emaciated, compared with his former self, who was always strong and energetic.

“Your Majesty…”

My heart ached. He was a strong supporter for me along with my father. He kept holding on to me who didn’t want to be tied to the imperial family, but unlike the past, who treated me so kindly, he kept some distance from me perhaps because of my middle name. Nonetheless, he tried to protect me as best he could.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I’m really sorry …

I found my eyes welled with tears, and soon tears began to drop.

If he hadn’t protected me so strongly, would I have survived until now? The emperor took the measure to protect me by having a security retainer escort me behind the scenes since I was young to protect me from the noble faction’s hostile intentions. During the great famine period, he dispatched royal guards to give me escort service. After hearing that Jiun appeared, he had me stay with him for reasons of sickness for fear I might be ambushed at the summer place where security was not tight. He also gave me a set of silverware that was used only in the royal family. After all, he ended up being in this situation because of my carelessness.

“Just like I recovered thanks to your help, I hope you can fully recover as quickly as possible.”

For fear I might shed more tears uncontrollably, I stood up, wiping my tears. I bowed to the crown prince and tried to move with faltering steps, when I suddenly felt I hit something.

In an instant, I lost my balance.

When I fell all of a sudden, a royal knight on standby quickly apologized.

“Oops, Lady Monique, I’m so sorry. ”

Embarrassed, I hurriedly pushed off the floor with my arms, I couldn’t flex my arms as I wished.

Suddenly, I let out a sigh. I wish he had helped me first raise my body before apologizing. If he were a servant, he could not dare to touch a daughter of a great noble family like me, so I can understand. But wasn’t this man a knight who could?

When I tried to flex my arms again, someone gently grabbed me from behind. I stiffened due to the cool scent of his body.

“Why are you coming in so urgently, Sir Cor?”

“Oh, well…”

Instead of trying to answer something, the royal knight quickly glanced at me.

I tried to step back, thinking I should not overhear their conversation, but couldn’t because he tightened his grip on my arms. I flinched because of the warmth I felt from his body.

“What is it?”

“Duke Jena and his daughter want to see you.”

“I clearly told you I wouldn’t allow anybody to see the emperor because he was in a critical condition. Why did you come here to report to me?”

“Well, the duke strongly protested, saying you granted Lady Monique’s request to see the emperor…”

I opened my eyes wide at his unexpected words. What the heck is he talking about? The crown prince denied all the requests to see the emperor?

At that moment, the crown prince asked coldly, “Sir Cor, are you a knight of the imperial family, or a knight of Duke Jena?”

“…Of course, I belong to the imperial family, Your Highness.”

“But why did you disobey my order and dare to enter the emperor’s bedroom without my permission? Do you know the consequences of your rude actions?”

“Please forgive me for my rudeness, Your Highness!”

The knight, whose face turned white, kneeled before him right away.

As if he let out a sigh, I felt his hot breathing touching my head. I cured up, feeling as if my hair bristled.

“Enough. Be more careful!”

“Yes, I’ll keep it in mind, Your Highness.”

“I won’t accept their request to see the emperor. If they make a disturbance again, tell them I won’t overlook their actions.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“And as soon as you go out, tell the chief chamberlain to bring Marquis Monique here.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Awkward silence fell in the room after Sir Cor left. When I twisted my body again, he sighed deeply and let go of me.

“You’re still trying to avoid me.”

“… ”

“Because you looked tired, I stepped back on purpose. How can I take my eyes off you when you are so weak like this? Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

“I’m okay, Your Highness.”

“Now I can’t believe when you say you are okay. Let me take a look.”

Only then did I feel relieved. I thought he might be blaming me because of his cold look, but fortunately he didn’t.

“I’m sorry I didn’t go to see you, although I knew you regained your consciousness.”

“Please don’t say that. How could you have come to my place when His Majesty is in a critical condition like this? I’m so sorry, Your Highness.”

“Um. Sorry about what?”

“Because of me…”

“Why is his sickness your fault? It’s because of those who tried to harm you.”

Even before I continued, he cut me off and said, looking at me, “Anyway, I wanted to say something when I see you.”

“Pardon?”

“Do not humble yourself so easily or pretend to be a sinner. Strictly speaking, you are a victim.

Why are you asking to be punished when you didn’t do anything wrong?”

“…Your Highness.”

I looked at him blankly, who seemed to be upset.

His cold look and voice at the moment were so familiar to me because I was terrified and saddened by that in the past, no, until recently.

But he was different now. I wasn’t scared or fearful about his face anymore. Even when I heard his cold voice, I wasn’t bitter or sad. I felt rather light-hearted.

“Don’t worry too much about the emperor. As he is a healthy and strong man, he will be up and running soon.”

“Yes, Your Highness. I also think so.”

“So, try to focus on recovering. You look more skinny now.”

“… ”

“I’m glad you are in good shape. It could have been worse. I was worried I might lose you forever.”

Suddenly, I remembered his visit when I was in bed. He confided in me with a low voice and his passing touch. Although I was asleep, I felt so sorry back then because I could have a glimpse of what he was thinking about me.

“…I’m so sorry for having kept you worried about me.”

Having heard my apologies, he remained silent and looked at me quietly.

I stiffened when I saw his blue eyes looking at me. I felt as if I was having a silent conversation with him.

Somehow I felt like I was going to be sucked into his eyes, so I hurriedly said, “Your Highness?”

“Go ahead.”

” Ah, what are you going to do with Earl Lanier?”

“Nothing to think about with him. He is a felon who dared to harm you. I’m going to punish him heavily to set an example.”

I kept silent at his cold voice. I myself could not forgive him at all, but I felt it would cause trouble to punish him at this point.