Chapter 51: Secret Encounters and Royal Intrigues

Beyond the eightfold, delicate lashes softly draped down. With a sharp nose, long lips, and a chiseled jawline, Lady Elina I instinctively closed her eyes. As she examined the sleeping handsome face up close, she finally met his deep blue eyes.

……!

……!

The two, as if bound by an unspoken promise, pulled away from each other. Karlahee covered his entirely exposed body with a blanket, while Lady Elina I blushed shyly and pressed her face against a pillow.

“Th-th-that was just a mistake, right? Please, tell me so.”

“We only slept, that’s all. Surely… you didn’t do anything while I was asleep, did you?”

With a quiet shake of her head—signifying no interest in the throne of the empress—Lady Elina I looked so endearing that many men might easily fall under her spell.

“I just worry Diches might get hurt if he finds out… I mean, our night together has to remain a secret…”

“Your Majesty!!”

In that instant, as if living only for this moment, an extra guard knight burst in. At that eerie timing, the two tensed and trembled, glancing back at the door.

“Oh no, we’ve committed a breach of etiquette!”

The knight’s loud outburst was quickly met by murmurs from outside. Royal Guards swarmed in like curious onlookers, each knight darting through the doorway with astonished expressions.

“We’ve committed a breach of etiquette!”

“Ugh, such disgrace…”

“Please, forgive this breach of etiquette!”

“Let me have a look. Oh—I apologize!”

“Oh, excuse me.”

A soft whistle echoed down the corridor, prompting Karlahee to rise and retrieve his blanket. Except for some rumpled fabric, his appearance was as sharp as ever.

“What on earth is going on here?”

Quickly regaining his imperial authority, the Emperor glared sharply before the knights.

“Everyone, bow before me!”

His husky voice filled the room. Only then did the knights realize their misstep and immediately lower themselves in respect.

“Close your eyes, and those of you who just whistled, raise your hands quietly—now.”

An overwhelming, chilling presence pressed down on the knights. The aura was so fierce that it seemed impossible for any ordinary human to exude. Rumor had it that the imperial heir bore a mix of dragon—or even Digimon—blood, and it was no idle gossip.

“Will the other knight retain their post for more than two hours after closing? Looks like we’ll have to shove everyone behind desks for a deep clean.”

“Oh, come on, who is this?”

“Hey, just confess already.”

“Raise your hand, please…”

Amid the growing clamor, Lady Elina I sat terrified on her bed. It wasn’t enough that things were delayed; now they were ordering over two hours of cleanup. It made her wonder if his reputed tenderness was nothing but a lie.

At that moment…

“Is that you, Sir Ismail?”

“Weren’t you meant to keep the secret!”

The knight’s frustrated shout was quickly drowned out by a flurry of kicks. Even as his anguished scream filled the air, Karlahee watched impassively.

“Lock him up in the underground prison. I will personally ensure he’s severely punished.”

“May I say something?”

“What is it?”

“Man up and take responsibility.”

At the knight’s courteous plea, Karlahee merely furrowed his brows and brushed past him. Lady Elina I, following his retreating figure with wavering eyes, heaved a sigh heavy with conflicted emotions.

* * *

Amid the uproar over the runaway of Princesses Elina I, II, III, IV, and V, Lara Schmord left the Duke Liniat estate and headed for the Papal Court.

While worrying about the escape of the Female Lead might seem trivial, she, trusting in God’s words, prioritized her own concerns.

If it were Lady Elina I, there was a high chance she’d approach Diches. Elina II would be safe with the Spirit King, Elina III would be with the Knight Order, Elina IV at the Imperial Library, and Elina V—supposed to reside at Daeshin Shrine—would indeed be there…

“What are you thinking, staring so intently at someone?”

A gruff, low voice right in front of her snapped Lara out of her reverie, drawing her focus to Mikhail.

“More importantly, how did you end up with cancer?”

“It just happened.”

“I’m not letting you off without treatment.”

“There was plenty of reason to get cancer. You know as well as I do that stress is the number one trigger, Mikhail.”

“Then what exactly is stressing you out?”

Lara mumbled vaguely, unwilling to divulge details. He stopped pressing and focused on the treatment as a stream of radiant white light emanated from his navel, seeping into Lara’s body.

“I channeled divine power to remove the malignant tumor from within.”

“Phew, I’m truly grateful.”

The sheer level of divine power in this world left even God in awe.

‘I’m happy just because it’s fantasy.’

The cancer treatment finished without a hitch. After thanking Mikhail once more, Lara got up to visit the bathroom for a moment.

“But what’s all this fuss about now?”

“What do you mean?”

“The engagement between Your Majesty and Princess Elina I has stirred up quite a mess. Our temple is in chaos. At this rate, we might end up holding both a coronation and an engagement ceremony at the same time.”

“……”

With a heavy thud, Lara’s heart sank. Even Mikhail, seeing her frozen expression, sensed something was deeply amiss and rose to his feet.

“What’s wrong? Is there another pain you’re hiding?”

“Was what you just said true?”

“What do you mean? Are you talking about the engagement between Your Majesty and the princess?”

“Ah, you said Your Majesty. I swear I thought you said Pea, and that shocked me.”

Lara exhaled a short sigh. Mikhail eyed her in mild confusion before collapsing back onto the sofa.

“So, who exactly is this Pea guy? Weren’t you supposed to be on a date with the duke last time, busy as you are?”

“I told you—it wasn’t a date… Besides, Pea is special.”

“Special? Does that mean he’s like a boyfriend or something?”

The tone had an unmistakable hint of sarcasm. Sensing the teasing, Lara chose not to reply.

“Or maybe someone he truly likes.”

“W-What are you saying!”

“Exactly—someone he likes.”

A sly half-smile appeared on one side of Mikhail’s lips.

“Aren’t you laying it on too thick? Try to keep it under wraps. More importantly, do you even know who that guy is?”

“If I did, it’d just be unrequited love…”

Desperation tinged Lara’s voice as she murmured back.

“Could I rely on you today as well?”

“Do as you please. But if that guy finds out and misunderstands, I’m not taking responsibility.”

“It’s fine… He wouldn’t care where I sleep or who I’m with, anyway…”

“Then what makes him so special anyway?”

Irritated by Mikhail’s remark, Lara clenched her fists in frustration.

“Who I like is entirely my own choice.”

“You never know who it might be.”

“Just please, don’t say that my affection for him is strange.”

At Lara’s plea, Mikhail shrugged nonchalantly and retreated to his own chamber.

* * *

Late in the morning, Diches, unable to calm his anger, felt compelled to drop everything and meet Lady Elina I.

Perhaps sensing a kindred spirit, Lady Elina I sought him out during lunch.

“You heard the news, didn’t you…?”

“Of course I did. Tell me, isn’t it you who stirred me up?”

Diches grabbed Lady Elina I’s shoulder and roughly pushed her onto the sofa. As she toppled backwards, the sofa’s back brushed her spine, and she finally opened her tightly closed eyes.

“You came here knowing I was angry, didn’t you? Or did you purposely show up late to see the Emperor, just to get under my skin?”

“N-no. Please don’t put it that way.”

With a trembling voice, Lady Elina I tried to restrain him, but Diches had long lost his reason.

“If you aren’t mine, I’ll just break everything.”

“No, that’s not right.”

Ignoring her pleas, Diches resolutely reached under the sofa.

“Ah…! That is…”

Lady Elina I gasped, clutching her chest with wide, startled eyes. It was a Schnibaren fashioned in the likeness of both her face and the Emperor’s.

Diches placed two Schnibaren faces on the table before swinging a wooden hammer. Under its blow, one of the faces began to crack and disintegrate.

“No…! Ah, don’t… please stop!”

“Put it down.”

“If destroying it heals your wounded heart, I’d gladly stop. But what’s the point? Breaking it will only deepen your pain!”

Lady Elina I threw herself forward, trying to stop Diches from snatching a few pieces of snacks. Too late—the wooden hammer tumbled uselessly to the floor.

“Are you… proposing engagement?”

Tears welled in Lady Elina I’s eyes as she shut them tightly, delicate clear tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Damn…!”

“I’m sorry.”

“Why must engagement be just between two? Why is there never room for a third? Two, two, two—is there really no space for me?”

“It won’t work. Sob.”

“Even holding the title of duke, what’s the use if you can’t have what you truly desire?”

For Diches, the thought of someone else being claimed tightened his chest with pain.

To him, couples were the worst nightmare—when those meant to be yours pair up and become each other’s priority, it was unbearable.

“If only I could clip their wings and lock them away somewhere, so they’d be all mine…”

“Diches?”