I Will Save The Princess - Chapter 31

Submission (1)

“…Thank you, Your Majesty.”

As Hannah lowered her gaze, she replied with a faint smile. Emperor’s face seemed bewildered, as if he found her response unexpected. He withdrew his hand and brushed his hair back, muttering softly.

“You’re annoying. Keeping you locked up is useless.”

“…”

“Didn’t you say it yourself? You would scream and cry for me, and even the sound of my footsteps would bring you joy. Do you really think you are being obedient?”

“I am trying, Your Majesty.”

A chill started to settle in his eyes. Hannah lowered her head even deeper, sensing his displeasure.

“I truly am.”

“If you can’t even say it… When will you ever become obedient?”

As clouds covered the moon, pitch-black darkness engulfed the balcony. Amidst the eerie darkness, only the Emperor’s red eyes glowed, casting an intense gaze upon me.

Usually, they were beautiful ruby-coloured, but his eyes turned into a deep crimson when he was in a bad mood. Hannah felt trapped under his piercing gaze.

His slowly rising hand passed by her arm and grabbed a handful of her black hair, swaying it. The intense gaze shifted to her hair. He raised his hand and brought her hair close to his red lips. The lowered red eyelashes reflected a faint light, shimmering.

The captivating movement accompanied his already beautiful face, making her heart flutter unintentionally.

“If keeping you locked up is useless…”

His voice echoed through her contemplation.

“Well… If you’re going to keep trying to escape anyway, it would be better to restrain you in a different way.”

Wondering what he meant, Hannah looked up at him. The Emperor raised an eyebrow and stared down at her. His red eyes projected an ominous light.

“If you’re bound to Ophelia, wouldn’t it be enough to control Ophelia?”

“What?”

“I will move Ophelia’s residence to the Rose Palace.”

Hannah widened her eyes as much as possible and stared at the Emperor.

What… the White Rose Palace?

If it was the White Rose Palace she knew, there was only one.

The Empress’ private residence, located right next to the Imperial Palace. It was a beautiful palace with white roses and strawberry bushes planted throughout, matching its name. As it was exclusively for the Empress, it was a grand building that couldn’t be compared to the other palaces in the Imperial compound.

“How… the, the White Rose Palace is, Your Majesty, the residence of the Empress…”

To grant the Empress’s palace to a Princess. It was an unthinkable thing. However, the Emperor casually spoke nonchalantly as if throwing a piece of candy.

“It’s empty now and will be empty in the future. It’s better for someone to make use of it.”

“But, that, it’s unprecedented…”

Hannah was about to say it was unprecedented, but she swallowed her words.

The Third Prince, Locard, the third Imperial Consort. He was the one who defied all precedents and rose to the throne. He gave Hannah a cold glance, as if he could anticipate her unspoken words.

“Don’t mention any precedents in front of me.”

“I apologize.”

He licked his lips and crossed his arms, leaning on the railing. His gaze seemed to be questioning something.

However, the mere mention of the Rose Palace caused panic in Hannah’s mind. Blinking her eyes in confusion, she looked at the Emperor, who let out a small sigh.

“Whether you’re stupid or clueless, I can’t tell. That means I’ll let you go in exchange for that. Instead, whenever I summon you, you must come. That’s the condition.”

Hannah’s mouth remained agape.

‘Locard… are you crazy?’

‘Locking me up in residence and tormenting me day and night, and now this sudden change?’

“…”

“If you’re going to keep running away even when I lock you up, wouldn’t it be better for you to stay by my side?”

“But still… how could I… receive such an honour…”

“So you do consider it an honour.”

As she lowered her gaze, the Emperor quietly chuckled. The sound of his laughter, as if it wanted to be heard, was soon swallowed by the sound of the wind.

He raised his chin slightly and turned his gaze towards her with a face that didn’t show amusement.

“No, with things as they are, I would be at a great disadvantage… I’m always the one who’ll be in debt, right?”

A mischievous tone mixed in. If it were her usual self, Hannah would have worried about what nonsense he was about to say, but her ears had already started to perceive his words as the melody of an angel.

To set her free and grant her the Empress’s residence… It made her feel as if she could even sell her soul.

With her hand on her pounding heart, Hannah politely bowed her head.

“I don’t know how to repay Your Majesty’s grace. If there is anything I can do, I will accept it.”

“Anything… ‘anything’ again, huh.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As Hannah spoke, the Emperor shook his head and let out an amused chuckle. Above his upturned face, a dazzling smile appeared.

He released his crossed arms and leaned his elbows on the railing, tilting his head to the side. Under his raised eyelids, his sparkling eyes with an intriguing light were looking at her.

“‘Anything I can do’… You shouldn’t overuse those words. Is it a habit of yours?”

“I truly mean it, whatever it may be. Although there might not be much I can do…”

“No, that’s fine.”

Nodding casually, he narrowed his eyes, looked at me again, and let out a sly laugh. Then suddenly, he stood up and grabbed her hand, pulling her towards him.

“Ah…!”

Her defenceless body was pulled into his embrace without resistance.

Along with the sound of fabric brushing against each other, his hand slowly slipped up her thigh, gently caressing it.

“Your, Your Majesty! What… what are you doing right now?!”

“Didn’t you say you would accept anything?”

‘This man…! This shouldn’t be included in that ‘anything’!’

Hannah looked up at him bewilderedly, but his touch on her thigh didn’t stop. The Emperor smiled slyly and whispered softly into her ear.

“Place your hand on the railing here.”

His hand, which had emerged beneath her thigh, gently guided her arm to the railing. As Hannah held onto the railing with both hands, he pressed his body against her from behind, simultaneously pushing his upper body against her. Suddenly, as her upper body leaned forward, her hair billowed, enveloping her face like a curtain.

This… This right now…

The moment Hannah realized the intention behind his actions, the Emperor’s hand lifted the edge of her clothing.

Her clothing slipped past the railing and fell outside. The cold dawn breeze wrapped around her exposed body.

“Your Majesty! There are people here…! The, the guards are outside…!”

“At this hour, there should be no one to see, but… anyway. Isn’t it exciting?”

What is this madman saying right now?!

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