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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: A Desperate Act
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“Don't put it on.”
“Riana?”
Enoch’s face clouded with confusion at my sudden action, but I couldn’t back down.
*'If he puts this on, he'll go berserk.'*
Staring at the glove lying innocently in the box, I chewed on my lip.
A glove decorated with mana stones.
Yes, that glove had appeared in the novel, looking exactly the same. It was the very item that would land Enoch in trouble.
I had only skimmed through that part of the story since Enoch wasn't the protagonist, but the faint memory that surfaced was precise.
The moment he puts on that glove, his power will rampage.
Because of it, Enoch would not only expose the weakness he so desperately wanted to hide to the entire world, but he would also attack the Prince of Gamel…
My thoughts reaching that point, I squeezed my eyes shut.
How could I be so stupid, only remembering this now?
I felt like bashing my head in for my poor memory.
*'But why is this episode happening so soon...'*
In the novel, this was supposed to happen only after Enoch returned from the war…
“Don't do that. You'll hurt your lip.”
Seemingly bothered by me biting my lip in silence, Enoch placed his thumb on my lower lip.
The gentle pressure parted my lips naturally, and his firm finger softly grazed them.
“Why are you making that face?”
He had no idea how much danger he had just been in.
Watching Enoch, who was only looking at my lip with concern, I felt my face crumple.
“It's just…”
“Your Majesty? Is there a problem?”
My lips, which had been about to say something, pressed shut under the focused gazes.
“No. It's nothing.”
“In that case, why not finish putting on the glove? The ministers are anxious due to the recent friction with the King of Gamel. This would be a good opportunity to show that the relationship between our two nations is amicable. Also—”
At the minister's urging, who listed one reason after another for him to accept the gift, Enoch removed his hand from me and moved to put on the glove.
*'What do I do? He can't put it on…'*
Recalling the scene from the novel where Enoch's rampage was strong enough to freeze the entire venue, my eyes darted around anxiously.
Knowing full well the state of relations between the Empire and the Kingdom of Gamel, I couldn't just tell him to refuse a gift meant as a gesture of friendship without any reason.
Nor could I cause another scene by suddenly shouting that the glove was strange and he shouldn't wear it.
If I couldn't stop him from accepting the gift itself…
*'Maybe if I maintain contact with him while he's wearing the glove, it'll be okay? Ah, why is he so bundled up today!'*
I thought I'd found a backup plan, but the only exposed skin was his handsome face and the nape of his neck peeking out below it, neither of which were ideal options.
While I was briefly lost in thought, Enoch was already starting to slide one hand into the new glove.
There was no more time to hesitate.
“Ouch!”
He froze.
As I let out a sharp cry and sank to the floor, Enoch froze in place, his hand halfway into the glove.
“What is it? Are you hurt?”
Then, his face paling, he tossed the glove aside and rushed to my side.
I glanced at the people who had formed a circle around us and took a short breath.
*'Ah, screw it! If we're talking about ruined reputations, Riana's is just as bad.'*
Too many people had already seen me snatch the glove away to try and resolve this gracefully.
At this point, the easiest way to distract everyone seemed to be to throw a childish tantrum, just as the original Riana often did.
It wasn't the first or second time Riana had gotten drunk and caused a scene.
I downed a glass of champagne from a nearby table and threw my arms around Enoch's neck.
*'If this causes problems, I'll just tell him to blame it all on me.'*
I could feel the pulse thumping in the vein of his neck, transmitted clearly through our bare skin.
“Your Majestyyy.”
“…Yes…?”
His gray eyes wavered violently at the sight of me hanging from his neck, whining in a singsong voice.
“Can't you put that on later? My legs hurt so much, I can't stand anymore.”
I could see people covering their mouths with shocked expressions, but I shamelessly stretched out my hand.
“Please? I want to go ooover there, but my feet hurt too much to walk. Won't you take me? Hmm?”
Enoch's gaze followed my pointing hand toward the terrace, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
“Oh, dear. Did you want to go out?”
“Yes. Quickly—whoa!”
I should have known when the corners of his lips curved into a sly grin.
Before I could do anything else, my feet, which had been on the floor, were suddenly lifted into the air.
“Wh-What are you doing? Put me down!”
Excuse me, Your Majesty? I just needed you to walk out with me! This is too much!
Flustered at being swept into Enoch's arms, I whispered in his ear, and his sharp eyes curved playfully.
“You said your feet hurt and you couldn't walk.”
“Th-That wasn't a request to be carried…!”
As I kicked my feet, Enoch chuckled lowly, adjusted his hold on me, and looked at Karhel.
“As you can see, my precious lover has grown bored, so I won't be able to try on the gift right away.”
“…Yes. I understand completely.”
His chestnut eyes, which retreated more easily than I expected, were filled not with confusion but with keen interest.
I glared at him, then snatched the glove case Enoch had handed to a servant, hugging it to my chest and smiling sweetly.
“Thank you for the wonderful gift, Prince of Gamel.”
“You're most welcome.”
***
*Swoosh.*
While Enoch drew the curtain behind him, I scrambled out of his arms.
“Enoch! Your hand! Let me see your hand, quickly!”
“…? Here it is.”
He looked down at his now-empty arms with a displeased expression, a result of me suddenly slipping away, and held out both hands.
“Are you okay? Are you feeling cold or anything? I think you should be fine since you were touching me, but still—”
“Riana.”
Enoch patted my back lightly as if to soothe me as I rambled on.
“Speak slowly. I'm not going anywhere.”
“It's just, haah.”
“First, let's sit.”
Enoch sat me down on the long bench beneath the terrace railing and met my eyes.
Looking into his calm, patient eyes, I caught my breath and opened the case in my hands.
“So, this glove from the Prince of Gamel, did you feel anything strange when you were putting it on?”
“I don't think so.”
He tilted his head, clenching and unclenching his fist, and it seemed, thankfully, that nothing was wrong.
“Is there some problem with the glove?”
“Yes.”
When I nodded gravely, Enoch raised an eyebrow.
“Then your sudden display… was that also to stop me from putting on this glove?”
“Yes… I'm sorry. I was desperate, but I couldn't just tell you not to wear it without any justification…”
Realizing the mess I had left for Enoch to clean up, my shoulders slumped and I lowered my head.
“I've put you in a difficult position, haven't I? Causing such a scene… *Sniffle.*”
“Riana? You're not crying, are you?”
At his startled voice, I sheepishly wiped my nose.
“No, the wind is just chilly… A-Achoo!”
After a loud sneeze, I wrapped my arms around myself and shivered.
“Anyway, I'm worried this will tarnish Your Majesty's reputation. I acted so childishly in front of everyone.”
“Haa. You surprised me.”
A soft sigh was followed by the sound of buttons being undone.
“If any problems arise because of today, just blame it all on me. I'll take responsibility and fix it!”
“What power do you have to do that?”
*Chuckles.*
With a soft laugh, Enoch draped his own coat over my exposed shoulders.
It seemed that every time I came to the palace, I ended up taking Enoch's coat…
Feeling both awkward and pleased by the warmth of the fabric, which carried Enoch's scent, I clutched the coat wrapped around me.
“And as I believe I've said before, I have no reputation to tarnish.”
With a gentle voice, Enoch lightly brushed my stray hair back.
“Ah. But that's not to say I'm so powerless that I need to hide behind you,”
He gestured toward the noisy hall behind the closed door and shrugged as if it were nothing.
“I am the emperor, after all. Do you really think I can't handle a situation like this?”
“Ah…”
Enoch gently closed my gaping mouth, then took the gift box from my hands.
“By the way, why shouldn't I wear this glove?”
“I think there's some kind of magic on it. The moment you put it on, your power will go on a rampage.”
“A rampage…?”
“Yes. But I couldn't say that in front of everyone… So, in my haste—”
“How did you know this glove was strange?”
My mouth, which had been chattering away, snapped shut at Enoch's question.
“…”
How… how indeed. I couldn't very well answer, *'Well, you see, I was transmigrated into this world, so I read about it in a book!'*
Unsure how to answer, I habitually bit my lip, and a sigh came from above me.
“I told you not to bite it.”
Enoch frowned and slid his finger between my lips.
“I understand for now. The glove will have to be investigated.”
“Huh…?”
I still hadn't answered his question.
Seeing Enoch's complete lack of intent to press the matter, my own expression turned peculiar.
“Aren't you going to ask how I knew?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because you don't seem to want to tell me.”
He answered calmly and waved his hand, opening a black portal.
“But still. Don't you find it strange? That I'm the only one who knows something no one else does?”
“Not particularly, no.”
With a face so unguarded it was almost defenseless, Enoch stuck his hand into the portal and continued.
“Besides, there's no way you would do anything to harm me, Riana. So… ugh.”
For some reason, his trustfulness annoyed me, and I bit down hard on the long finger still resting between my lips, drawing a small groan from him.
“Why do you trust people so easily?”
“…Pardon?”
