Be Indulged - Chapter 4 – Part 3

“Would you like to spend some time together until your younger brother comes?”

“Aren’t you busy today?”

“I’m fine for a few hours. I’ll be busy with the festival, so we won’t be able to see each other for a while, but of course we should spend this much time together.”

“You’re busy… is there anything I can do to help you?”

“It’s alright. Amelia can just do nothing.”

“…….”

“That’s right. You can do that.”

The Emperor grinned. Amelia looked at it quietly and nodded. Squeezing her complicated heart, she walked as she was led by the Emperor’s hand.

* * * 

Her conversation with the Emperor did not last as long as expected because he had to go somewhere else after the chief attendant called his attention. There was still time until her brother arrived, and she tried to think about how she would spend her time.

“Milady, your family is here.”

Rose ran from beyond the hallway with a happy face.

“Really? Oh my goodness.”

Amelia ran into the room with a happy expression. There was a smile on her face. But it wasn’t the lovely Colin who was waiting in the room.

“Why are you here?”

Natalia, who was drinking tea, smiled. She scanned Amelia from head to toe.

“Wow, you’ve got really good luck, Amelia.”

It was an ugly smile.

“Where’s Colin?”

“Don’t worry, my loving mother is taking good care of him.”

“Where is he?!”

As she shouted, Natalia frowned.

“Why are you shouting so loudly even?”

“You…”

“Is it okay for the benevolent Empress to shout? If His Majesty the Emperor sees it, will he like it?”

“……”

“Colin is fine. He must have gotten ill because he was having a hard time coming to the capital.”

“……”

“Do you want to see him?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

At Amelia’s words, the corners of Natalia’s lips were raised.

“You should listen carefully.”

“What?”

“Father is glad that you finally did something useful. Oh my, you seduced the Emperor, isn’t that great?”

“……”

“So my father asked you to invite us to the capital. We are the Empress’ family, so what if we have no base in the capital?”

“Crazy.”

“Now that we’ve been stigmatized because of you, it’s time for the family to flourish.”

“Nonsense…”

“First, buy us a house in the capital. Then you can always see Colin, right?”

“…Are you threatening me with Colin?”

“Who knows?”

Amelia’s face flushed red with anger as Natalia shrugged her shoulders. ‘Who knows?’ She was so angry and couldn’t stand it. However, she couldn’t express her anger here because she was threatening her with Colin.

“Why? Can’t you?”

“How am I going to buy you a house!”

“You can ask His Majesty.”

“How can I ask His Majesty? If His Majesty grants my request, I will ask him to punish you for what you are doing!”

Amelia shouted and Natalia laughed.

“Yes, you’re not stupid, you know the subject, Amelia.”

“What?”

“We are not asking for much. Just let us settle in the capital. Hand over the jewels you’re wearing.”

“……”

“If it is the way it is, this is obviously something that His Majesty the Emperor should already have taken care of. But since he hasn’t, do you think the Emperor really loves you?”

“……”

At that, Amelia bit her lips tightly. It was painful for her to hear her own thoughts being uttered by another person.

“Well, that’s true. It doesn’t make sense that the Emperor suddenly fell in love with you. Obviously, he’s just using you as a front and plotting something else behind.”

“……”

“Amelia, didn’t you know?”

“I get it. I get it, so shut up!”

Amelia shouted. She looked at Natalia fiercely. How can she not know? It was a fact that even an idiot would know.

“That’s why I’m saying no! If it were you, would someone who knew such a thing ask His Majesty? You want me to give you these jewels? Then will His Majesty leave us alone? Are you stupid? There is no such thing as moderation for His Majesty! You have no idea how ferocious he is!”

The Emperor was kind. However, Amelia was not relieved because the Emperor was a very scary person to others. He mercilessly killed the women sneaking into his bedroom and executed nobles who betrayed him, even if they were women or children.

The Emperor Amelia knew and the Emperor of the Imperial Palace were completely different people. The Emperor’s actions or warm demeanor sometimes made her forget his cruel nature, but when she thought about what would happen if the Emperor’s cruelty was directed at her, Amelia’s back would always get cold.

It wasn’t fear, but sadness. It was terrifying to think that someone who treated her more preciously than anyone else could possibly treat her like she didn’t matter to him. Amelia could see such a future clearly, and it terrified her.

When Amelia spoke sharply for the first time, Natalia gave a look of surprise.

“Just as you said, who would take such a lustful prostitute who threw herself at the enemy as Empress! Even a fool knows that. So, don’t be too presumptuous. I’m not trying to do anything here! If there is such a useful value in me, it is best to remain still, so that’s what I’m doing. You guys forced me to act this way.”

“……”

“I will just be here. If His Majesty asks me to remain as the Empress, I will do it. And no matter what you do to me, I will remain still. Yes, even if there is actually another woman besides me and if he’s just using me to protect her. I will stay like this.”

“……”

“It looks like I will fall over for Colin, but I won’t. Just think with your stupid mind that if His Majesty could easily welcome someone like me as Empress, he could easily abandon me.”

Natalia had always underestimate Amelia as being stupid. But Amelia was already twenty-four, and she knew everything she had to know, even when she had been locked up in the house she lived in. She was offended by her cousin and her uncle for not giving up on their greed. At best she thought she could see Colin…

She gripped the skirt of her dress tightly. She was so angry that she was about to shed tears.

“Go back and tell uncle. I… I can’t get a house for him.”

“What do you mean you’re getting Count Laszlo a house?”

Amelia shook her head at the sound of the voice. What just… A voice that should not have been heard was heard. Amelia looked behind her with a startled expression, and the Emperor was standing there.

Didn’t he say he has to go back to work? Natalia looked blankly at the Emperor as though she was enraptured by his appearance. Standing under the pouring sunlight, he had an unusually beautiful smile.

The Emperor approached Amelia.

“Your Majesty had just started working.”

“No, I changed my mind and came back to say hello to Amelia’s family. It’s Amelia’s family after all.”

Such kind words. Amelia, who was almost in his arms, had a confused expression on her face.

“Greetings, Your Majesty…”

“Skip the greeting.”

The Emperor looked at Amelia without giving Natalia a single glance, and said with a soft expression.

“But why isn’t the brother that Amelia wanted to see here?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. The child is ill from excessive travel because he hastily rushed up to the capital…”

“I never asked you.”

The Emperor said to Natalia with a cold expression. Then she was startled. It was rude to say something when the Emperor did not allow it.

“Well, it looks like he’s very ill. I’d better send a doctor. I will send the Imperial doctor.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Still, she was relieved as soon as this person told her that they would send a doctor. She knew that this family would have done only the very least for Colin.

“But what house are you talking about? Are you looking for a house for your uncle? I’m sorry, I didn’t want to disturb the ladies’ conversation, so I walked in cautiously and overheard.”

Amelia bit her lip.

“I will tell you, Your Majesty.”

“……”