I Became The Tyrant’s Secretary - Chapter 15

Cahir was well aware of Rosaline’s relationships. Five years ago, he finished investigating the people and families around her and spent most of his time together with her after that.

 

 

Cahir remembered a part of an old memory. When Rosaline was just 20 years old, Derek told her that she needed a friend. At that time, Cahir prohibited it, saying she would be negligent in her work if she went out to socialize.

 

She didn’t get the chance to make friends. What are friends?

 

However, Cahir couldn’t get rid of Ella right away. That was the problem. There were plenty of reasons to throw her out. Azela introduced her to him first, so he could say that they were members of opposing factions. Plus, she lied about being friends with Rosaline.

 

‘But why…?’

 

He wondered what would happen if the word “kill” came out of his mouth. Cahir narrowed his eyes. Soon, the tea pots were emptied and had to be refilled. He looked at Rosaline.

 

“Rosaline…”

 

Why didn’t she just look at Ella and say that they weren’t friends. Maybe there was something that he missed. Was Ella truly Rosaline’s friend? Or was Rosaline just observing her out of interest?

 

She must be planning something.

 

Cahir decided to stifle his unpleasant feelings and just endure their ruined tea time.

 

How annoying.

 

It felt like someone was squeezing his heart.

 

Why did it hurt to see Rosaline? There was a flood of unknown variables. Cahir was proud that he knew everything about himself, but recently he wasn’t so certain about that.

 

———–

 

“Your Majesty, do you feel uncomfortable?” Ella asked Cahir with round, doe-like eyes.

 

“No, Rosaline’s friend… I’m enjoying being able to spend this time here together.”

 

A lie.

 

That smile on his face didn’t reach his eyes, and there was a small twitch near the corners of his mouth. This was a sign that meant, ‘How unpleasant, I want to kill this nuisance in front of me.’

 

Slowly, Rosaline’s patience was also running out.

 

Would her small actions offend Cahir? Her past, in which she acted carefully because of her fear of him, flashed before her eyes at the speed of light.

 

Was she willing to put up with everything, even when she was irritated, because of the heroine buff Ella had?

 

Rosaline clenched her teacup, tightly enough that her tea rippled. One of Cahir’s eyebrows went up.

 

“Rosaline, are you sick?”

 

A large hand pressed against her forehead, and Rosaline almost jumped.

 

She was used to physical contact with Cahir. He often grabbed her wrists or her waist, which was even more frequent yesterday as they danced together. None of those formal touches were like this, warm and gentle and unfamiliar.

 

“You look pale. You can’t do this. It’s nice to meet friends, but I think you need to rest today.”

 

Technically, it was a misunderstanding, but the suggestion was good. It would be nice to have a break after this stressful morning.

 

“Your Majesty… Are you staying?”

 

However, Rosaline didn’t want to leave Cahir alone with Ella.

 

‘Why?’

 

Rosaline was surprised at her own pettiness.

 

Her goal was to meet with His Majesty, cleanly quit her job, and enjoy a lazy life.

 

“Why are you asking me? I’ve been with you for a long time, too. You seem to have forgotten your duty as secretary, Rosaline. Can you tell me the first and most important rule of being a secretary?”

 

“The secretary is always next to the king?”

 

“Did you forget that? Let’s go, Rosaline.”

 

“Would you excuse us, Ella?”

 

You shouldn’t ask that, Your Majesty.

 

It’s rude to ask even if you ask with that hurt face.

 

Cahir only said that he would leave first, but Ella looked like a lost puppy. However, she quickly put on a smile,trying so hard to look good in front of Cahir to the point where Rosaline felt sorry for her.

 

Ella’s facial muscles trembled and her tendons popped out with how hard she was clenching her hands under the table. “I was here to see Rosaline, but it looks like it can’t be helped. Rosaline, take good care of yourself.”

 

Rosaline got goosebumps from that cold goodbye. Was Ella supposed to be this pretentious? Since she was also a transmigrator, shouldn’t she try to match the personality of the original story?

 

If God had common sense, would they have allowed a person with that kind of personality to transmigrate into the heroine’s body? There must be some kind of mistake, maybe Rosaline had misread something, because…? Rosaline became increasingly confused. She was also a transmigrator who had, albeit unwittingly, changed the flow of the original story.

 

Seeing Ella, whose appearance was as fragile as a daffodil, Rosaline’s head began to hurt.

 

The warm and caring expression she had when pretending to care about Rosaline could have easily fooled people into believing she truly was the original heroine….

 

This was so confusing.

 

***

 

“Rosaline, tell me what you know about Ella.”

 

Rosaline, who had been escorted back to her bedroom, was prepared to send Cahir back so she could rest well. Instead of going back to his room, though, Cahir strode into hers.

 

“Your Majesty, you said you would let me rest.”

 

“Rosaline, are you sick? Why do you keep forgetting secretary rule number one? Do you want me to re-evaluate you?”

 

The first rule.

 

The secretary is always next to the king.

 

“No, doesn’t that only apply during work?”

 

“No, I don’t think you know exactly what the rule means. It’s that you’ll always be with me, whenever I want. I’m not referring to business hours.”

 

Wow, what a vicious boss you are! A self-centered psycho who doesn’t give others a choice!

 

“Phew. Rosaline, what’s with that look?” Cahir laughed. Her dissatisfaction seemed entertaining to him. She puffed up her cheeks and pouted, and Cahir’s big hand came to rest on top of her head.

 

“Okay, I’ll stop talking. Get some rest. I’m going to work here.”

 

His crescent-shaped eye smile instantly melted Rosaline’s displeasure. A tremor swept past her body.

 

Just as he said, Cahir refused to leave. At least not until Hui saved her and helped her change from her day dress into a comfortable sleeping gown so she could lay down properly.

 

Rosaline had thought he was joking when the king said he would stay in her room, but Cahir stubbornly had Derek bring in the documents he had to review. She heard a tinkling noise, the sound of a bell falling over. She pulled the quilt over her chin and quickly glanced around. Cahir had ordered Rosaline not to do any work and to stay in the room, saying she needed to rest.

 

Honestly, it made her feel a little lonely.

 

“Rosaline, I know you’re not closing your eyes.”

 

Cahir got up, folding up the papers. He approached Rosaline’s bed.

 

Rosaline closed her eyes when she heard him move.

 

“Your eyelashes are shaking and I can see your eyes moving under those eyelids. Rosaline, are you awake”

 

Could anyone sleep in this situation?

 

Rosaline sighed and pulled down the quilt.

 

“Yes.”

 

“Well, can we talk?”

 

“We already are.”

 

“No, not like this. Rosaline, who is Ella?”

 

Rosaline didn’t want to hear Ella’s name coming out of Cahir’s mouth. As Rosaline’s brows furrowed, Cahir’s eyebrows shot up.

 

“Answer yes or no. Even if you are tired, that’s something you can still do.”

 

Pulling her lips into a straight line, Rosaline couldn’t deny that she could.

 

“Don’t try to lie. I know everything.”

 

Rosaline tossed and turned trying to get up. Cahir sat on the soft mattress and gently pushed on her shoulder with one hand. Rosaline struggled before quickly giving up. A cozy blanket wrapped around her body perfectly.

 

“Rosaline, you can answer me before you sleep. That Ella girl isn’t one of your friends, is she?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Rosaline didn’t want to be friends with a girl like that. Even if Ella married the emperor, she still wouldn’t want to be friends.

 

“Can I kill her?”

 

Cahir’s dismissive words made Rosaline feel numb and her mouth moved on its own.

 

“No.”

 

He couldn’t kill her. There was still something that needed to be confirmed.

 

“Is she on our side?”

 

“No comment.”

 

“Just say yes or no.”

 

Rosaline agonized. Was Ella on their side? She certainly wasn’t on Rosaline’s side. However, Ella’s eyes were full of affection for Cahir.

 

“Is it the Empress Dowager?”

 

Maybe she was on the side of the Empress Dowager. Rosaline heard from Derek that it was Azela who introduced Ella to Cahir. But if that person had transmigrated, then they would know that Azela and Cahir were bitter enemies. Why did she team up with her, then? Honestly, Rosaline didn’t want to know what Ella was up to.

 

“I don’t know.”

 

“Answer yes or no.”

 

“I really don’t understand, what are you going to do?”

 

Rosaline’s lack of confidence came as a surprise. Cahir had a clear view of Rosaline. His own vermillion eyes stared straight into Rosaline’s sky-blue ones

 

“Rosaline, is there something I don’t know about?”

 

Rosaline covered herself with the quilt. If she lied, she would be found out, and so she answered “yes” in a small voice while her face was stuffed behind the blanket. Her answer was too quiet for Cahir to hear.

 

***

 

Cahir confirmed that Rosaline was asleep and returned to the office. Even after the conversation, Rosaline tossed and turned, seemingly in search of what was worrying her, and eventually fell asleep with a small frown. Cahir stayed next to Rosaline until her breaths became deep and even.

 

“Derek, investigate around Rosaline.”

 

While Derek was working hard, Cahir put the crown on the corner of the desk.

 

“Around the secretary?”

 

“Yeah, it’s weird. Sometimes I become numb, I can’t remember things well, and turn pale.”

 

“I’m not the kind of person who would make a mistake.”

 

“When did I say I was working? You think I’m doing this because I can’t work? I’m a generous person when it comes to making mistakes. You know that, right? That’s not why Rosaline changed. You have to know why.”

 

He didn’t know. Derek bit the inside of his mouth so that he wouldn’t accidentally blurt out the truth.

 

Cahir is misunderstanding himself. Generous? That is the furthest word to describe him. Merciful, tolerant, forgiving: none of these terms suited Cahir at all.

 

“It’s because Rosaline is tired. Your Majesty, why don’t you take a vacation?”

 

“Vacation?”

 

Cahir didn’t want to, but maybe Derek was on to something. Rosaline had refused to accept Cahir’s offer of a special leave in addition to paid days off for the past five years. Cahir had just thought Rosaline liked her job, but did she have too much work to do?

 

“And I think it’s necessary to see a doctor. I heard your face often turns pale. Shall we deal with the matter of the vacation right away?”

 

“No, I’ll think more about mine. Gather all the royal court doctors tomorrow. Don’t forget to check Rosaline’s surroundings. Oh, I almost forgot. Look into the relationship between Azela and Ella.”

 

Great, Derek was going to have to start working overtime again starting from today. He was supposed to go on a night outing with Hui. Derek sighed, internally, of course, so that Cahir wouldn’t hear.