Meanwhile, Dalia squeezed her eyes shut as the horrifying thought struck her: that emperor might actually count this passing encounter as their third meeting.
“Why did you close your eyes, Lia?”
“Some dust blew into my eye—”
“Don’t count this one either, Miss.”
“I thought dust had gotten in, but it seems I was mistaken.”
Dalia swiftly changed her tune, a dazzling smile spreading across her face.
At once, the three people around her turned to look at her in unison.
Dalia lifted her chin, putting on a slightly brazen face.
‘What?’
Annie let out a deep sigh, while Ethan clenched his jaw so tightly that the muscles bulged, clearly suppressing something.
Only the Emperor looked at her with blatant displeasure.
“You seem to possess a remarkable talent for making people laugh, Miss.”
“Well, I’ve always been naturally funny—”
“I meant that sarcastically.”
“More like mockery, actually.”
The Emperor and Annie spoke simultaneously.
“Ah, is that so? Regardless, the truth remains that I’m delightful company.”
Dalia replied with utter composure.
When Annie gave an agreeing nod, Ethan too tilted his head in a faint nod.
Gray glared at the two of them in exasperation.
‘Is this woman always surrounded by people who coddle her like this? Is that why she grew up to be such a free spirit? But… why Ethan, too?’
His gaze drifted back to the young lady wearing an innocent smile.
Just moments ago, their bodies had touched.
The last time he saw her falling, he hadn’t moved a single finger.
It was only natural; for him, laying a hand on a woman was entirely out of the question.
Yet the second he saw her tumble from the platform, his body had acted ahead of his mind, rushing forward to catch her and gather her into his arms.
How could that be?
Even while holding her, he hadn’t felt that revulsion he usually experienced whenever he touched another woman.
Why?
Just who on earth was she?
And before he could find an answer, he had heard her asking Ethan out on a date.
She was a woman one could not take an eye off for even a single second.
“Why do you want to have tea with Ethan?”
“Mmm, well… building friendly relations?”
After a long pause, she murmured the excuse hesitantly.
Gray’s eyebrows twitched.
Was this woman planning to build friendly relations with every man in the world? As if he weren’t enough, she had to loop in Commander Luand, Ethan, and now even the knights training over there?
“Are you going to do with others what you did with me?”
Gray’s voice dropped low, sounding dangerously quiet.
Dalia parted her lips in astonishment, at a loss for words.
‘Why is he talking like that? Put that way, it makes it sound as if something happened between us!’
Indeed, Annie—who had utterly misunderstood beside them—stared with wide, rounded eyes.
“Are you going to do twice with others what you did with me? Even when you haven’t done it with me a third time yet?”
The more he spoke, the redder Annie’s face became, her gaze darting frantically around to check if anyone was listening.
Even the knights seemed to be casting furtive glances their way amid their drills.
Dalia looked at Annie with wronged, desperate eyes, screaming inwardly.
‘Annie, it’s not what you think! We didn’t do anything!’
“Your Majesty, speaking in such a manner invites misunderstandings…”
“Misunderstandings? What misunderstandings?”
the Emperor asked, raising a single eyebrow.
“Saying ‘the second time’ and ‘the third time’ like that makes everyone think the wrong thing.”
“Did I say anything incorrect?”
“No, your words aren’t wrong per se, but…”
Annie shot Dalia a sharp glance with her eyes, silently urging her to explain the truth at once.
Dalia shook her head frantically at Annie, mouthing a desperate ‘no,’ then corrected herself as she turned back to the Emperor.
“We were merely fostering amicable relations, nothing more.”
“Indeed. The two of us were fostering amicable relations.”
The Emperor put deliberate weight on the words “the two of us,” and Annie’s eyes wavered like a tempest.
“Lia…”
“Annie, no, it’s not like that. Truly, it isn’t!”
“Just what on earth have you been doing?”
“I’m innocent, I swear!”
“It seems the two young ladies have much to discuss, so I shall take my leave.”
Gray turned slowly on his heel, leaving the two women behind.
Seeing the flustered look on the face of the Lady of the Pink Flower Field seemed to clear the vexation in his chest in one clean sweep.
Ethan silently followed behind him.
As they walked toward the training grounds, his eyes fell upon several knights whose upper bodies were completely bare.
Gray swept a frosty glare across them.
“Ethan. See to it that they always wear their training uniforms.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“And why is she trying to get close to you?”
“I do not know, either.”
At Ethan’s dry response, Gray stopped in his tracks and turned to him.
Why did women like him so much?
Was it his face? His physique? Or because he was skilled with a sword?
“Why don’t we spar a little? It’s been quite some time.”
“Understood…”
The Emperor was the one opponent he could never defeat.
Ethan’s shoulders gave a faint shudder, and he began preparing for the duel with eyes full of quiet resignation.
The reception hall.
Concealing his tension, Ryan looked ahead with a placid smile. Across from him sat the Emperor of the Lucifon Empire, looking entirely at ease.
“Ryan Herdlan of the Wyvern Kingdom. I am honored to meet Your Majesty, the Emperor of Lucifon.”
“Welcome, Count Herdlan. Your tribute was received in good order. The wine and crystals of the Wyvern Kingdom are indeed more precious than jewels.”
The Wyvern Kingdom was the sole nation in the world that produced crystals, not to mention being the most renowned maker of the finest wines.
For that reason, top-grade crystals, exquisite vintages, and the Goddess’s Drops had been prepared as gifts for the imperial founding celebration.
“I am delighted that the gifts met with your approval.”
Ryan bowed deeply, and as he lifted his head, he met the Emperor’s piercing gaze beneath his brilliant smile—a look so sharp it seemed to see right through him.
“Yet did you arrive unaccompanied?”
“Yes. Knowing Your Majesty’s time is more precious than gold, I came alone in the hopes of a brief audience.”
“How remarkably unexpected.”
Ryan looked at him with puzzled eyes, missing the intent behind the words.
“I fear I am not clever enough to grasp Your Majesty’s meaning.”
“Is such an occasion not a natural opportunity to introduce one’s younger sisters?”
At the Emperor’s seemingly offhand question, Ryan lowered his gaze slightly and swallowed dryly.
“I still do not understand what you mean.”
Fixing his eyes on the floor, he opted to feign ignorance.
“Ordinarily, foreign delegations arrive in the company of princesses or highborn ladies when seeking an audience with me. Yet you have come entirely alone.”
In other words, was there not a reason he had brought his sisters along with the delegation?
Only then did Ryan raise his head, plastering on a warm, affable smile to imply he had never considered such a thought.
With the Emperor laying it out so politely, he could no longer play dumb.
“In truth, everyone was most disheartened not to have the chance to meet Your Majesty. However, one of my sisters has taken ill—”
“Taken ill? Which young lady is unwell?”
The Emperor’s relaxed demeanor vanished in an instant.
Showing his seasoned diplomacy, Ryan masked his surprise.
“Does Your Majesty happen to know my sisters?”
“We have crossed paths before.”
“Ah, is that so? Ha ha ha.”
Cold sweat trickled down his back, but he maintained a calm expression, using the laughter to buy himself time.
When and how had the Emperor met her? And which of them had he encountered?
‘Please don’t let it be the Princess.’
“So, which one was it?”
“My younger sister, Lia.”
Ryan placed deliberate emphasis on the words “my younger sister.”
He had to prevent her true identity from being exposed at all costs.
“She was perfectly fine until yesterday. Could it be from her fall?”
A hint of urgency laced the Emperor’s voice as he sat up slightly from the back of his chair.
“Lia fell?”
Ryan asked in surprise, and when he caught the flicker of suspicion in the Emperor’s eyes, he offered an awkward smile.
“It seemed she wasn’t injured at the time.”
Regaining his composure, the Emperor leaned back against his chair once more.
“Lia was raised quite freely, so I worry she might have acted improperly before Your Majesty.”
He wanted nothing more than to rush back to the residence to check on the Princess’s well-being, but standing before the Emperor demanded he attend to his diplomatic duty first.
“You appear quite close, considering she is from a branch family.”
The Emperor’s low voice carried a subtle tinge of curiosity.
“Indeed. She is a truly lovable girl.”
Ryan smiled with genuine warmth, picturing the Princess in his mind.
And the Emperor quietly observed the exchange with keen attention.
