Your Meaning - Chapter 22

Episode 22: Jealousy is My Middle Name (2)

TL: thursdays

PR:  altacco

The commander of the imperial guards made up his mind to report the priest because the priest had made a problematic suggestion.

Using her interest in holy power and the priests, he suggested that Dayeon should visit the temple for the first time in a long while. The bigger problem was that Dayeon seemed to seriously contemplate the suggestion.

For her, visiting the temple was not a matter that could be decided so simply. It would be troublesome if the temple tried to reclaim Dayeon now, and if Dayeon changed her mind and wanted to stay at the temple, the imperial family would take a political blow.

In the end, the commander couldn’t hold back and asked Dayeon a question.

– Do you really intend to visit the temple?

Dayeon said she wasn’t sure and that she just had something she wanted to check.

The commander immediately reported everything to the emperor and used this time to also report all the things that had been bothering him.

That the priest seemed to have wicked intentions toward Dayeon, that he keeps touching her improperly, and that the priest bastard seemed crazy, for instance.

Naturally, the emperor blew up. It was expected, but his anger was so great that his attendants lowered their heads in case sparks flew toward them. The commander, who was directly involved, wanted to cry at the violent language that had been absent for a while.

“So you’re saying that you and your men just watched as that man spilled his drivel? Tell me, Commander. What exactly is it that you do? Do you think I sent you there just to observe dumbly?!”

To be honest, the commander thought this was somewhat unfair.

Dayeon was an adult woman. Not just that, but she was a full adult, 27 years old. Furthermore, her age was the same as the priest’s. In other words, both of them were at an age where they should know what to do. Of course, they had the power to make decisions about themselves, including about their bodies. So what could the commander have done but to monitor them and report what happened?

Then, the emperor shouted as if he had read the commander’s mind.

“You fool! You should have separated them! By any means necessary!”

Irritated, the emperor threw his pen at the wall and said,

“What do you intend to do if Dayeon is won over by his sweet talk?”

Erm. That’s something you should tell Dayeon-nim, Your Majesty! What good is it to tell me? the commander thought during the excessive nagging.

While the emperor did not hold back to the knights, in front of the real person involved, he was more reserved.

Just who did the priest think he was aiming for? The emperor, who had only gotten to hold Dayeon’s hand a little while ago, was so worried, and his heart carried fury. But despite the anger inside, the emperor couldn’t easily bring it up in front of Dayeon.

He was very angry, but he was also very troubled because it wasn’t a matter he could press. Somehow, he looked like someone who didn’t know what to do in front of the woman he loved.

Finally, the emperor opened his mouth with difficulty.

“Dayeon. About your language studies.”

The two of them were eating together, as they often did.

“Did that priest invite you to the temple?”

Ah, that.

The emperor knew all of Dayeon’s movements because of the reports he received, and Dayeon knew that everyone who served her was simultaneously acting as the emperor’s eyes.

When Dayeon confirmed, the emperor shook his head with a heavy air.

“I’ll tell you in advance—you cannot go to the temple.”

Dayeon was not particularly disappointed. She wasn’t looking forward to going, and she had expected that she wouldn’t be able to go.

“If you want, I can instead call some clergymen to the imperial palace to meet you.”

“I’ll think about it. I don’t have to meet them. I just had a few questions.”

As she answered calmly, Mikhail, who had been looking at her with a complicated expression, finally blurted out the words he wanted to say.

“Did he flirt with you?”

What was this about?

Dayeon stared at the emperor with a strange look on her face.

Oh no.

The attendants, who had witnessed the catastrophe that occurred earlier today, bowed their heads, knowing the time had come.

The commander of the imperial guards, whose soul had been crushed by the emperor, excused himself and left early because of a stomachache from the stress.

Meanwhile, the emperor was struggling to pick the right words even after bringing it up. He may nag a lot, but the emperor was still gentlemanly to women. Especially so for the woman he liked.

He was aware that what he said could displease Dayeon. He also knew that he had no right to do so. Strictly speaking, it was Dayeon’s choice what to do with her heart.

But Mikhail couldn’t just watch as another man tried to slide in, could he? From the moment he was born, Mikhail was a man who kept moving forward until he accomplished whatever he set his mind on.

“You might misunderstand what I’m saying,” said the emperor.

“Excuse me?”

What was he talking about?

Holding a fork, Dayeon crinkled her face in thought.

The emperor gave up on beating around the bush.

“But don’t let other men touch you.”

Clatter!

Hit by a fastball, Dayeon froze and dropped her fork.

The attendants glanced at her face as it expectedly began to heat up.

Dayeon blushed frequently because of the emperor, who did not know the shame. But today, she looked more like a flushing tomato than ever.

Gosh, I don’t want to watch this.

One of the old attendants couldn’t watch their passionate, shameless conversation anymore and lowered his head.

Dayeon’s reaction was so intense that the tip of Mikhail’s ear also began blushing, and Mikhail hesitated for a moment.

But he was very serious and confident about what he was doing now.

The fundamentals of politics was to eliminate one’s political rivals. Then, the fundamentals of a relationship would also be to eliminate romantic rivals, right?

“When the priest approaches you, even if it’s a very small and trifling touch.”

“……”

“It’s definitely strange.”

The emperor had struggled about what to say, but he decided to just request this of her honestly.

“When that happens, draw a line. Don’t let anyone else touch you.”

Everyone in the room—the maids who had been looking at them with shining eyes, the attendants who on the contrary had sour expressions, and the knights who were just being faithful to their duties— all wanted to disappear right now.

Why is this drama getting more and more heated as it went on? They’re in public! Why are we the ones who are more embarrassed? Why should we be so bashful when those involved are so confident?

The grand chamberlain, who was turning fifty-two soon, felt deep regret in his life. He thought he had withstood all the storms the world had to offer, but he now couldn’t lift his head because his face was too hot.

Meanwhile, Dayeon’s red-hot face was even more of a mess.

Dayeon, who felt like she was going to die from embarrassment if she left him to go on, finally stood up and began to retaliate.

“Ah, really! What are you saying in front of everyone? It’s embarrassing!”

Dayeon, who couldn’t listen to him anymore, clenched her fist and beat it against the emperor’s chest.

Oh my. That gentle person had been pushed so far…!

Everyone expressed their sympathy for the situation that had occurred in the blink of an eye.

Dayeon’s neck and ears were scarlet as she hit him.

At the same time, the emperor received all of the blows, undamaged, and smirked like it was all good.

Then…

“How are your punches so weak? Is Sir Bern not teaching you properly?”

“Argh! Why are you bringing that up now?”

When the emperor tried to open his mouth again, Dayeon stretched out her hand and blocked his mouth.

The emperor laughed, even with his mouth blocked.

It was unprecedented to touch the imperial family’s face so willfully. Of course, punching the imperial family like this was also an unprecedented act.

However, neither the attendants nor the knights could stop her.

It happened so quickly, and it may sound bad, but the emperor frankly deserved it and more. Most importantly, the emperor was laughing as if he were enjoying it, and none of his aides were so blind as to intervene.

All in all, it was a very rare sight, indeed.