I’m In Trouble Because My Husband Is So Cute - Chapter 69

“No, she probably doesn’t know.”

Then, did that mean he pretended to be the Princess and sent invitations on her behalf? The Princess deserved to know the treatment she received in the Imperial Palace.

“I deliberately sent the child out today, out of fear of disturbing her.”

The Emperor continued as he rested his chin on her table. Beneath the shade of Asha flower, the gray gaze darkened.

“But, what would change if the child knew?”

He added casually. From that voice, Iellie could tell that the Emperor was ignoring the Princess’ will terribly. He was clearly saying, ‘it doesn’t change anything,’ judging by his confident attitude like this.

“Anyway, if you were offended by my actions… I want to apologize for that.”

With an expression of no regret at all, he opened his mouth. Nevertheless, Iellie stared intently at him.

“It was not intentional. But I think my attitude offended the Lady. It’s just…”

A strange desire glistened over the dark gray eyes. He struggled to control his expression.

“I really wanted to see Lady in person.”

“….”

“That’s why I borrowed my sister’s name. I’d appreciate your understanding.”

‘I’d appreciate your understanding’ felt more like a threat.

Iellie smiled and eventually opened her mouth, “I can understand, but that doesn’t mean I have to accept the apology unconditionally.”

“Do you think so, Lady?”

“Of course. I am already married to Young Duke Hessenweitz.”

The Asha petals tumbled like rain. Although the scenery around them was quite romantic, unfortunately, she wasn’t able to feel that kind of romance now. Despite the fact that she curved her eyes pleasantly, there was no warmth contained in that smile.

“Your Majesty is using kindness as a shield to do something rude to me.”

“Lady.”

“To be honest, I don’t even know how long I have to accept that rudeness.”

The Emperor, who listened to her put on a face like a grumpy child, spoke bluntly.

“The Lady is always so cold-hearted, so I’m acting like this.”

…Was it her fault now? His ability to blame others was amazing.

The startled Iellie stared at him. Meanwhile, the Emperor only smiled brightly and made eye contact with her. She pondered as she bit her lip.

‘Anyway, my position now is Zachary’s wife.’

If she behaved wrong here, the relationship between the Imperial Family and the Duchy may be strained. Even if it wasn’t, Iellie already had her heart set on returning to the North.

She made up her mind.

‘Let’s try our best to go through today as much as possible, though I don’t know if it will go well…’

While Iellie smiled as she struggled to press down on a sigh, the Emperor eventually added his words.

“You must have been very upset. You look dark.”

“…No.”

Shaking her head, she barely suppressed her displeasure. Seeing that, the Emperor then skillfully changed the subject.

“Then, as an apology, allow me to serve the Lady tea.”

Without waiting for her answer, he clapped his hands. The next moment, the maids came in and laid out a teapot and teacups with refreshments on the table silently. Sweet cakes were the main star of the refreshments.

“I heard the rumor that Lady enjoys sweet refreshments, so I prepared it on purpose.”

“…No, I’m not particularly picky.”

Iellie answered with a trembling face. The Emperor gazed at her, resting his chin.

‘How the hell did he know about my taste?’

Even though the dessert spread out in front of her was a perfect match according to Iellie’s appetite, she had no appetite at all.

“Isn’t the tea to your taste?”

“…Not really.”

“Well, let’s eat it right away. All these refreshments were prepared for the Lady herself.”

Having said that, the Emperor raised the teacup and wet his lips with the tea. It was as if he was claiming, ‘I worked so hard for you.’

After a while, he glanced at her quietly.

“Oh, there is one thing I must ask the Lady for permission.”

“Something you must ask…?”

Iellie lifted her head as she was cutting a piece of cake with the fork. The Emperor smiled widely and replied.

“To reconcile, to improve my relationship with Lady…”

Ugh, goosebumps… The muddy emotion permeated from the gray eyes. It would be stupid not to notice.

“Would you mind giving me Lady’s nickname?”

At the question, Iellie made a disgusted face without realizing it. It was irresistible. She answered, crumpling her face.

“I don’t want to.”

“Oh my, that’s unfortunate. It seems that I’m being rejected again.”

While he uttered that, the Emperor was still staring at her with a delightful gaze. It was something she really hated. The next moment, his red lips drew a smooth curve, and a languid voice was heard.

“In any case, it doesn’t matter. As long as I have the Lady in my heart, that’s enough.”

With those words, her patience was shattered. She couldn’t take it anymore. Iellie put down the fork with a bang.

“Your Majesty, it seems that your apology and sincerity are always in different directions?”

When she opened her mouth with a cold face, the Emperor looked at her with an incomprehensible look.

“You’re saying you got ‘rejected’ in front of a woman who’s already been married, and you’re saying, ‘I’ve got you in my heart.’”

“Calm down, Lady.”

“Your Majesty, do you mean to insult me?”

‘Could I calm down in this situation?’

When she looked at the Emperor with that kind of connotation, the Emperor shrugged his shoulders.

“This is what I always feel… Lady is an amazing woman.”

Raising his finger and tapping the table, the sound of it made her nervous as he continued, “If other people treated me like this, they would have paid the price…”

Who was rude in the first place…?

Astonished, Iellie stared at the Emperor.

“…It’s also the fact that the Lady doesn’t feel like that as well.”

She felt the suffocation like talking to a wall.

However, even this Emperor had a plan. After all, if the Duchy’s title was removed, she was just the daughter of a small Viscounty. She was a girl who didn’t even have a background enough to annoy him.

‘…Because the more aggressive the cat, the better it is to tame.’

The Emperor gazed at Iellie with a laid-back face. No matter how much she pushed and rejected, what was his desire to approach her? His thirst was unlikely to be quenched unless he made her his own somehow.

‘Recently, the Young Duke hasn’t had any rampages. They say he’s pretty stable now.’

After somehow divorcing Iellie and Zachary, he would attach the Princess to Zachary. Afterwards, he would then take her as his mistress. Since she was married once and got divorced, in addition to her poor family background, she couldn’t be named Empress.

‘But, I am the sun of the empire, the father of all people. The Emperor who is the most powerful.’

It meant that there was no such thing as impossible for him. If things went according to his thoughts, it would be helpful for his reign.

The Emperor, who was counting moves after another in his head, raised the corner of his mouth.

“Lady, do you know?”

It was a question with a strange feeling. Setting down the teacup with a click, he looked at her with his head tilted slightly.

“I hate Hessenweitz.”

“….”

Iellie raised her eyebrows. The emotions sank like dregs inside his eyes — a little bit of fear and jealousy — feelings of inferiority towards people who were superior to him. It was pathetic to see his insides so clearly.

“Then, shouldn’t you hate me as well?”

Shrugging her shoulders, Iellie spoke back. The light green eyes stared at the Emperor without wavering.

“Because I am the Young Duke’s wife.”

“No, it is not.”

The Emperor immediately denied her words. Beneath the shade, the gray eyes glare at her.

“You are an exception, because you are special in many ways.”

The atmosphere changed in an instant. With that expression of excitement somewhere, he whispered to her.

“I want to sort out your marriage with the Young Duke.”

“….”

Iellie lost her words. What was he talking about to someone who was living a happy marriage…? Nonetheless, the Emperor’s eyes looking at her showed his will. In an instant, she could feel her anger rising.

‘I was forced to marry him when necessary, but now, the Emperor will come and disturb me again… Is this what he is saying?’

She didn’t know how far the Emperor was trying to wield their lives. She despised his selfishness.

“Your Majesty is already too deeply meddling in our lives.”

As her voice sunk low, she persisted in her words and raised the tip of her lips sternly, “Isn’t it because of the pressure of the Imperial Family that me and Zachary first met?”

“It was inevitable. To be honest, Lady needs to understand that as well.”

Concurrently, the Emperor answered shamelessly without changing his expression. She was now stunned by his arrogance.

“Did you know that if it’s sweet when you swallow it, and if you get used to it, it becomes bitter so you spit it out?”

“No, this is the first time I’ve heard of it.”

“How is it? I think it’s just a word to express Your Majesty.”

It would have been easier not to let the Princess go when they wanted to marry Zachary. However, now when he showed a stable appearance, it would have been like a thorn in his eyes that Iellie married Zachary so he wanted them to divorce.

“You couldn’t afford to send the Princess to the Duchy, so you chose me, who was her age.”

When Iellie said that, the Emperor’s face contorted uncontrollably. She lifted the teacup and wet her lips and went on, “Whatever the beginning was, I am fully satisfied with my marriage now.”

Her words were sincere. She now accepted and loved Zachary and the Duke as part of her family.

“Also, I already cherish my one and only husband, Zachary.”

A short smile passed over Iellie’s face after declaring that. When she thought of him, her heart melted softly. She lifted her head upright and finished her words while staring at the Emperor.

“So, no matter who I am with, the matter is not for Your Majesty to argue.”

Now, she didn’t even try to hide her displeasure and the least courtesy towards the Emperor.

“—fft.”

What came the next moment was the sound of the wind flowing from the Emperor’s lips. She narrowed her eyes and glanced at him.

“Hufftt—hua, haha, AHAHAHA!”

The Emperor burst into laughter. He grabbed his stomach for a while and bent his waist, unable to stop his laughter. Subsequently, like a doll with a broken string, the laughter stopped and he raised his cool gaze.

“You know what?”

“….”

“I’ve never failed to get what I wanted.”

The Emperor’s cold gaze tore Iellie up and down. Still, she had a calm face.

“Then, I think I might be the first.”

“Even if I will take the Lady as my wife after you get divorced?”

“Your Majesty seems to think of yourself as a great person.”

Without even blinking her eyes, she responded to his words, “I don’t even want to be anything like Your Majesty’s woman.”

“What…!”

The Emperor was instantly furious. This was the first time. Until now, he had never been denied like this in front of others. For him, who had only lived among those who praised him, this feeling itself was unfamiliar.

“Now, I understand how lightly Your Majesty cares for people’s hearts. However…”

Iellie’s face was now expressionless. She showed no emotion, strangely enough. Only a slight irritation, displeasure, and pity passed through the pale green eyes.

It was a sneer.

“Since Your Majesty takes the hearts of others lightly…”

Click.

The sound of the teacup hitting the table was particularly loud, and she smiled brightly.

“Isn’t it fair to accept that others think lightly of Your Majesty, too?”

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