The Tyrant Covets The Slave -R19 - Chapter 15

The two looked at each other so hotly, the people didn’t think they would fall. They seemed so passionately in love that they were unwilling to part.

 

The fanfare that had been echoing for a while had quieted down, and despite the cold weather, it was hot.

 

‘Was His Highness the Grand Duke originally so passionate?”

 

“I’ve never seen anything like that before, either…..”

 

People were whispering. Beher wondered how long she had to keep eye contact with this man. When Beher’s eyes turned to look around. Lucai also wrapped her cheeks and turned her face to look at him.

 

“Your Highness.”

 

“Shh. There is no one else you should be reacting to but me. Keep your eyes fixed only on me. If you do that, the important person will react.”

 

She knew that the important person was the emperor. The embarrassing situation made Beher shudder.

 

She didn’t know that this man could ignore such glances. It was amazing, really. He was so different from the man he had lived his life to be and not to be.

 

He stood out.

 

“Should we kiss one more time?”

 

Beher didn’t want to, but she had to move to do what he wanted. Beher gently closed her eyes.

 

Let’s do that…

 

“Mmm.”

 

An uncomfortable coughing sound.

 

She didn’t even have to check the voice to know who it was.

The current emperor of the Horn Empire, and the greatest of the Four Kingdoms. Millennium Ricke.

 

 

 

“Grand Duke Lucai. I didn’t know you were so sly. I waited a long time, and there are many people watching. I say we stop here, do you have any complaints?”

 

Lucai’s faint smile widened in Beher’s eyes. His smile was full of confidence, as if things were going according to plan.

 

Finally, releasing her waist, Lucai held out his arm to Beher. She took his arm and looked out onto the red carpet.

 

‘Your Majesty, when were you there? I didn’t notice you because my beautiful wife was by my side.”

 

“…….”

 

Could he really say it like that? Whoever heard those words, they were deceitful to the emperor. No matter how loyal a vassal he was, it was a delusional statement.

 

Beher stared at the emperor glowing in the distance on the stairs. It was hard to see clearly with the backlighting, but she could see the exact expression on the emperor’s face.

 

He was smiling.

 

The emperor was smiling as if he was in a good mood, and was proud of Lucai.

 

“I was expecting you to change a little, but you’re still fighting me. Are you going to stand there forever? Let’s have a chat quickly. I have a lot to say to you.”

 

Lucai did not reply to the emperor’s words. Rather, he locked eyes with Beher.

 

“Are you ready, Grand Duchess?”

 

“I’m not yet an official lady. Your Highness.”

 

“We’re going to marry anyway, so it’s good to say in advance.”

 

“I can’t help it.”

 

Looking at him with a mischievous smile, Beher walked slowly along the red carpet. The stark white spires and fluttering insignia. It was the center of a great empire.

 

It felt different from her home country, surrounded by dark, dull gray spires. It was as if she was taking a step into heaven. It was as if she had become a noble being.

 

***

 

As she stepped into the Imperial Palace, the surrounding gazes became even more insistent. At first she thought they were looking at Lucai, but the knights were openly talking about Beher.

 

“I didn’t know that such a young lady existed in our empire….”

 

“Hey, wake up from your dream. It’s because he’s the Grand Duke, that’s why.”

 

Beher was glad that they complimented her, but she felt burdened by the gazes and gently hid her face with the fan she was holding. Then there were cheers from all around.

 

Beher’s expression became distorted for a moment. Lucai, who had been watching from the side, turned his gaze to the knights.

 

Strangely enough, the atmosphere became quiet instantly. Beher glanced up at him. She couldn’t see his face clearly, but it was more stiff than usual.

 

Was he nervous too?

 

For someone like him, he was talking a lot earlier. It was strange.

As they followed the guide, they came upon a flower garden with colorful flowers. Despite the chilly wind blowing in the air, the flowers were fresh as if it bathed in the spring sunshine.

 

“Welcome.”

 

The emperor who had just arrived was sitting in his seat. His face, seen up close, was covered with a pure white beard, giving him an air of divine solemnity.

 

“How are you? Your Majesty.”

 

“I’m always well.”

 

After receiving his greeting, the emperor turned his gaze to Beher.

Now, it was her turn.

 

“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Majesty. I am Beher Fonta. Thank you for inviting me here.”

 

Her original last name was Aridna, but if she used that last name, everyone here would know that she was not a citizen here. Beher took the surname of an unknown nobleman on the frontier of the Horn Empire, as Lucy had taught her.

 

Originally, she should have used the surname of a great nobleman, but she could not give the surname of a nobleman the emperor would remember. It was a play that had to deceive him.

 

“Hmm… Fonta. Is it the noble from the frontier?”

 

“That’s right, Your Majesty. We are located on the frontier of the Horn Empire and have been working as carpenters for generations.”

 

He observed Beher as he stroked his beard. It wasn’t a sly look. It was a look to gain insight into the kind of person she was.

 

When he observed Beher like that for a while, Grand Duke Lucai opened his mouth.

 

“Your Majesty. Please, sit down and talk.”

 

“My my, are you rushing me because I made your lover stand up for a while? I never thought you’d change like this. Yes. That’s enough. What does it matter where she’s from?”

 

After the emperor’s permission was granted, they finally sat down.

Hot tea and cookies were served. In the meantime, Beher handed over the dessert she brought.

 

“I heard you like it. It’s not much, but it’s a gift.”

 

“How pleasant that you think of this old man.”

 

He smiled gently and accepted the gift. The emperor was very kind.

On the one hand,  Beher felt guilty for deceiving him.

 

“Oh! You got it from my favorite sweet store!”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

“I don’t need to see it, Lucai must have given you a hint.”

 

When the emperor spoke as if it was natural, Grand Duke Lucai

countered.

 

“I only gave her a hint that Your Majesty likes sweets, and it was Behe who chose the sweets herself. She has very good eyes. What do you think?”

 

The emperor took one of the small chocolates and put it in his mouth, munching.

 

Beher waited anxiously to see he would react. It was something she had tasted and bought, but it might not have been to his taste. She gulped.

 

“…It’s delicious. It’s very good with tea.”

 

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

 

The emperor stared at Beher once more, and then said something unexpected.

 

“You look a lot like someone I know.”

 

‘Who?’

 

He was intrigued by the resemblance, perhaps she looked different.

 

“She married far away and went to the other side without any news.”

 

“…….”

 

“Curly red hair and eyes similar to yours. Does your mother have the same appearance as you?”

 

“…… I look like my father. My mother died early, so I don’t remember much about her.”

 

Actually, Beher looked just like her mother. She had beautiful red hair and blue eyes. An appearance that would dazzle people.

 

The person the emperor mentioned could be her mother. Her mother was in the Vitan empire.

 

She thought the warmth here in the Horn Empire resembled her mother.

 

Her red lips twitched. She wanted to ask, “Do you know my mother?” The mother whom her father never talked about. Beher suddenly missed her mother whom she had kept in her memory,

 

But she should not dwell on memories. She needed to concentrate more on the play. Beher reminded herself.

 

“I see. By the way… when are you two going to get married?”

 

The emperor said nothing and moved on to the next subject. His eyes were a little teary. Perhaps he didn’t want to appear weak in front of the Grand Duke.

 

“We’ll do it whenever Your Majesty wishes.”

 

Grand Duke Lucai said quickly. His goal was to proceed with the marriage as soon as possible and show them a happy newlywed life.

 

Until the end of the emperor’s life, he and Beher. must act together as husband and wife.

 

“This old man wants you to get married tomorrow.”

 

“Then tomorrow it is…”

 

“Oh, so that’s how it is. You haven’t fixed your impatience at all, have you? You should give yourself some leeway. Marriage is fine, but before that, shouldn’t you two spend some time together, matching dresses and all, just the two of you?”

 

“Um…”

 

Beher seemed to be trying to say that it was okay.

 

“After you’re married, you won’t have the extra time to spend as newlyweds to deal with the nobles. You might be even busier. You can’t imagine how different your life will be before and after marriage. So get married in a week.”

 

Was it her illusion that tomorrow and a week from now feel exactly the same? They seemed to be similar in their impatience.

Beher sipped her tea. She was starting to get nervous, but there wasn’t anywhere in particular to be nervous about. She just had to listen to what they both said and answer. It was a surprisingly easy time.

 

“Then, as Your Majesty has said, we will be married in a week. Then… the place is…”

 

“I want you to do it at the Imperial Palace. It’s the place where we will carry on the family name of the imperial family, so it must be a glamorous wedding, mustn’t it?”

 

The Imperial Palace was gorgeous enough, so how much more gorgeous could it be? Beher couldn’t even imagine.

 

It’ll be a glamorous wedding….

 

That one word made my heart pound with excitement. She seemed to have become an ordinary noblewoman.

 

But it was also a play.

 

Beher calmed her mind and lifted her teacup. The life she was enjoying was not her own. She must be able to accept it for the sake of the play, and when the time comes, she must be able to throw it away.

 

While she was pondering, Lucai, who was sitting next to her, was watching her.

 

A finite smile appeared on the Emperor’s lips as he stared at the two of them.