Chapter 4 – Part 4

“…….”

The Emperor finally looked at Natalia. As if it were a signal for her to speak, she opened her lips with her eyes gleaming.

“Sister Amelia shall become Empress, but we are too far apart from each other. That’s why I was saying that if she could, she would tell Your Majesty that we would like to be with her.”

“Natalia!”

“Amelia, stop it. Keep talking.”

Natalia had a tendency to think she was overly clever.

“We’ll be lonely if she’s too far away. And Colin always says he misses his sister. Both my mother and father love and cherish Sister. They’re always worried. Of course, we won’t be able to go in and out of this Imperial Palace freely, but we’re still willing to know that she’s close by.”

The Emperor lowered her eyes and looked at Natalia. Amelia’s murderous intent soared at Natalia’s smile on her face. How dare she lie like that? What would the Emperor think if he knew that she had such an unscrupulous family? He wouldn’t be stupid either.

Then, the Emperor looked at Amelia and said,

“Sure. That sounds plausible.”

“Pardon?”

“If that’s the case, you could have said it without having to think about it seriously. Why must you fight your sister, Amelia.”

Amelia was perplexed by his soft tone. The Emperor laughed playfully.

“It is not difficult to get a mansion. Did you think I couldn’t even do that when I’m the one on top of this country?”

“Your Majesty, I don’t think it makes sense to impose and ask for anything more than this…”

“I don’t think it makes sense for Amelia’s family not to be here. You shouldn’t be separated from your beloved family.”

“…….”

Except for Colin, she didn’t love them at all. It would be nice to have Colin somewhere close, but if she had to listen to this one request, they would just ask for more. That’s what she was worried about.

“Your Majesty…”

“Because you’re so not greedy, I can listen to this much.”

Seeing the smile on his face, she couldn’t say anything. The Emperor had already decided to listen to Natalia, and it seemed that he wouldn’t listen to Amelia separately.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

At Amelia’s words, the Emperor said.

“What are you saying? I should have paid attention to this before you even mentioned it.”

There was a strange energy mixed with the friendly words, but Amelia did not notice. The Emperor looked at Natalia and said.

“I think the Empress will pass out because of the burden if you say more here. Let’s talk about the mansion together. Follow me.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Natalia said with a bright smile. When the Emperor left the room, Natalia said to Amelia.

“I must have sweet-talked the Emperor?”

“You… towards His Majesty…”

When Natalia turned around to ignore what Amelia was trying to say, Natalia followed the Emperor who was walking at a brisk pace.

Left alone, she sighed and covered her face. Her mind became more and more complicated. At the request of her careless family, she felt even more ashamed.

Nevertheless, Amelia sighed again as she recalled his willingness to grant that favor for her.

* * * 

Natalia looked at the Emperor’s back carefully. The Emperor didn’t say anything as they reached the audience room. It was really amazing to see him walking with his back straight and poised.

The Emperor was extremely beautiful. She remembered him as the second prince that didn’t show up at any place, so he was talked about a lot. But if he had such a beautiful and dignified appearance since before, there would have been an uproar. Natalia clicked her tongue.

She was happy, but at the same time annoyed. Because it really seemed that the Emperor loved Amelia too much. The Emperor’s eyes were warm enough to feel out of place because he was looking only at Amelia. He even said he would give away a mansion in the capital just for her sake.

Twisted emotions slowly rose within Natalia.

Just what does he like about that girl? Could it be that he doesn’t really love her? Is he doing this to take advantage of that poor girl? It was impressive, if not unbelievable, that the best man in the Empire with an appearance and power like that had chosen Amelia.

Entering the audience room, Natalia furtively glanced at the Emperor who was sitting on the throne. The Emperor, who sat on a golden chair, looked down at her with a languid expression. He was too beautiful.

Despite his relatively slim physique, the reason why he’s so attractive was probably because of his tall height, that’s why he was never considered to be small.

Natalia had an ecstatic expression on her face. Maybe that man will look at her? She’s prettier than Amelia.

“Alright then. A mansion in the capital. Which one do you want?”

“Your Majesty, can we choose?”

“There are a lot of empty mansions. Quite a few of them are soaked in blood these days. It’s a bit ominous, but that’s all there is to it. It’s enough as long as you clean it up. I hope you won’t complain?”

The Emperor smiled. His lips were smiling, but his eyes were somehow unreadable. Natalia shivered at his expression, which exuded the opposite of the warmth he had as he looked at Amelia.

A mansion full of blood? Isn’t that the traitor’s house?!

“Th-that!”

“Why? Do you want me to demolish a mansion and build you a new one?”

It was a question of whether she really wanted something like that. Natalia forced a smile, and said.

“I am thankful for Your Majesty’s grace. But if Amelia hears that her brother will stay in such a place, she’ll be mindful of this.”

“Mindful…”

Natalia’s self-esteem took a huge hit, but she just mentioned Amelia as an excuse. Whether she was chosen as the ostensible Empress or if he really loved her, her family was going to be the capital’s laughing stock if they ever started living in a traitor’s house.

The Emperor stood up from the throne, descended the steps, and stood before Natalia with a grin on his lips.

“Did you say you’re Natalia Laszlo?”

“That’s right.”

“Isn’t that odd? I mean, I can’t believe greedy pigs also have names.”

“Pardon? Your Ma— Kyaaak!”

She screamed her head off. The Emperor was holding her by the hair. Natalia was so startled that she tried to shriek even more, but she couldn’t do that now because the Emperor had stricken her.

“How dare this b*tch threaten my Amelia with her brother and break her heart?”

The Emperor gritted his teeth in anger. Natalia’s face turned white.

“No, no way… you heard it all…”

The Emperor looked down at her with contemptuous eyes, without answering. His bright yellow eyes were extremely cold.

Natalia still did not understand the difference that the Emperor showed to people. At least when he looked at Amelia, he seemed like a kind man! But just now, the Emperor grabbed her by the hair and hit her across the face. She trembled as she looked at the Emperor.

The Emperor looked at her, then turned to one of the knights standing in the audience.

“Tell Count Laszlo that I shall bestow upon him a mansion in the capital just as he wished.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“And…”

The Emperor looked at Natalia, who was trembling in fear.

“Throw this b*tch into the dungeon.”

“Your, Your Majesty!”

“An eye for an eye, a hostage for a hostage. How dare you play such a trick on my wife.”

Natalia finally realized the Emperor’s wrath. His appearance earlier in front of Amelia was just an act—he had already heard the conversation and was already in this state of rage.

“If you had asked me directly, I would have been able to give you what you wish. But for you to play tricks on her. You must have been willing to pay that price.”

“…….”

Looking at the trembling Natalia, the Emperor raised one corner of his mouth and said,

“Tell the Count to bring Colin Laszlo here right now. Otherwise, he will never see his daughter again.”

The knights bowed and grabbed Natalia. She struggled with all her might.

“Let, let me go! Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I, I was wrong!”

As she was dragged away, Natalia shouted desperately, hoping that the Emperor would change his mind.

“Miss Laszlo, we haven’t even started yet. You have yet to receive half of what you did to her in those six years.”

The Emperor’s tone was kind. Seeing his expression, Natalia felt her hopes fade away. The Emperor did not even see her as a person. He was looking at a worm. Natalia thought as she was dragged along—it wasn’t an illusion. Amelia wasn’t a pawn for him to use.

The Emperor had already fallen deeply in love with Amelia a long time ago.