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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: The Emperor's Arrival
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Ding ding ding!
Imperial Consort Isabel struck her champagne glass with her knife once more.
It was the signal to summon the guest.
The other person, whom I could guess the identity of, quickly scanned the surroundings.
Even though the figure I expected wasn't in sight, my heart pounded with tension.
And I wasn't the only one looking around.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for the 'gift' that Imperial Consort Isabel had prepared.
As people's eyes darted around with curiosity and interest.
"......"
Even as time passed, no one stepped forward.
'What is it?'
I wasn't the only one puzzled; everyone was busy looking around.
"What's going on?"
"I don't know. It seems like the invited guest isn't coming out?"
As murmurs spread, Imperial Consort Isabel quickly cleared her throat.
"Ahem, ahem. Come out now."
Ding ding ding ding ding!
She struck the champagne glass again to signal.
The rhythm had become more urgent, reflecting Imperial Consort Isabel's mood.
But......
"......"
No one stepped forward.
The atmosphere grew increasingly strange.
Those who had thought someone would appear soon began showing signs of bewilderment as time dragged on in silence.
"Did they really not come?"
"Has Imperial Consort Isabel's plan gone awry?"
"What in the world is happening?"
Whispers spread.
Imperial Consort Isabel's smile faded as things didn't go according to plan.
She swept her calm yet fierce gaze over the surroundings.
Everyone stopped whispering.
But their eyes continued rolling, searching for that 'guest.'
"Count Wade."
A noble who had been waiting rigidly stepped forward at Imperial Consort Isabel's chilling voice.
"Did you call for me?"
Count James Wade.
He was the man who attended to Imperial Consort Isabel at her side.
To call it attending was just a euphemism; he flattered her from her side and cleaned up after the messes she made, acting as her fixer.
"What happened?"
"Well, I don't really......"
Imperial Consort Isabel whispered something in a low voice, and Count Wade stammered excuses.
"Are you going to handle things like this?"
"I'm sorry. I'll look for them right away."
From the looks of it, things weren't proceeding as planned.
In other words, the person Imperial Consort Isabel had invited had vanished.
No one failed to notice the situation, and the watching nobles began to stir.
"Find them right now, immediately!"
Imperial Consort Isabel's hushed shout could be heard.
"Understood."
Imperial Consort Isabel coldly watched Count Wade's retreating back as he left the banquet hall, then forced a fake smile.
"Oh dear, how embarrassing. It seems our paths crossed. The gift I prepared will have to be postponed for a bit."
She spoke calmly, but unlike before, Imperial Consort Isabel's smile was stiff.
She had prepared her trump card, yet couldn't even use it properly, and it clearly didn't sit well with her.
And Luciano, of all people, wouldn't miss her inner turmoil.
"How unfortunate. I was quite looking forward to it. You wouldn't have mentioned a gift if it wasn't there, right?"
He added unnecessarily, and Imperial Consort Isabel's face twisted, knowing his intent.
"Wait. I'll show you soon."
"I hope we see it before the night is over."
The neck of the champagne glass in Imperial Consort Isabel's hand trembled as if it might snap.
"One might step away briefly while enjoying the party."
"Exactly. If it's a guest, they'll arrive soon."
A few nobles who sensed the awkward atmosphere stepped in.
Their exaggerated laughter and flattery looked utterly ridiculous.
Their actions wouldn't improve Imperial Consort Isabel's mood.
Rather, just as her rising anger became hard to contain and her grimacing intensified.
A trumpet sounded from the banquet hall entrance.
Everyone looked puzzled at the trumpet that shouldn't have rung.
That trumpet only sounded for imperial family members.
Even Imperial Consort Isabel wore an expression of what could this be? the moment it happened.
"His Majesty the Emperor arrives!"
"!"
The attendant announced the Emperor's arrival.
"Is His Majesty really coming here?"
"The attendant announced it, so it must be true."
"What could bring him......"
Shocked murmurs spread among the nobles.
It wasn't unusual for a father to attend his son's birthday party.
Yet everyone in the room was stunned by the Emperor's appearance.
'It was because the Emperor has been ignoring Luciano for years.'
Luciano wasn't even summoned to occasional family dinners.
I'd even suspected if Luciano might not be the Emperor's biological son.
The neglect was so severe it felt like there was some unresolved secret from the original story.
For the Emperor, who had been so indifferent, to come here—not summoning Luciano, but visiting himself.
It was an utterly unexpected situation.
I glanced at Luciano, who was frozen as if he'd forgotten to breathe.
Imperial Consort Isabel couldn't hide her shocked face either.
"It's really His Majesty......"
As someone muttered, the Emperor entered the banquet hall.
"We pay respects to the Empire's Sun."
Everyone belatedly came to their senses and bowed.
"We pay respects to the Empire's Sun."
The Emperor leisurely accepted the greetings from everyone in the banquet hall as he approached Luciano.
I couldn't see him directly with my head bowed, but I felt his presence.
He approached with slow steps and stopped in front of Luciano.
From a glimpse, Luciano's face was rigid, as if seeing him for the first time in his life.
Being near Luciano put me close to the Emperor too, and my heart raced wildly.
The Emperor did conduct public activities, but our paths as a child never crossed.
I'd only heard rumors about the Emperor and never seen him in person, so it was hard to judge what kind of person he was.
"Raise your heads."
A heavy voice resounded.
Confirming Luciano lifting his head, I slowly raised mine too.
It was the first time facing the Emperor.
Radiant golden hair.
Crimson eyes.
A face strikingly similar to Luciano's looked down languidly.
He exchanged gazes with Luciano in the air.
My heart sank.
I knew the Emperor had no interest in Luciano, but it was even more than expected.
'Those eyes hold no emotion, as if looking at a stranger.'
No matter how I saw it, they weren't the eyes of a father looking at his son.
"Your Majesty, to what do we owe this visit?"
Imperial Consort Isabel belatedly regained her composure and approached the Emperor's side with a coquettish voice.
The Emperor glanced at her and asked.
"Have I come somewhere I shouldn't?"
His languid tone made the words sound even more meaningful.
Imperial Consort Isabel's lips stiffened.
"Of course not. You're always welcome. But earlier, you said you wouldn't come."
The Emperor turned his head as if it wasn't worth responding, staring fixedly at Luciano.
Luciano met that gaze without flinching, returning it with a challenging look.
When one should grovel to make a good impression.
It was too insolent a gaze for the Emperor.
"To what do we owe this visit?"
'Hey, hey!'
My heart skipped a beat.
Luciano's face showed defiance as he echoed Imperial Consort Isabel's words.
Even after seeing her get rebuked moments ago, he showed no hesitation.
I understood the resentment in Luciano's heart was too great to be overwhelmed by the Emperor's visit.
I sympathized with Luciano's grievance, but it was bewildering.
The Emperor silently stared at Luciano before scoffing.
"Why, are you displeased that I've come?"
I feared Luciano might speak the truth.
He acted mature, but he was just a slightly more grown-up child than his peers, and sometimes he couldn't control his emotions.
Sure enough.
At the Emperor's provocative question, I could feel Luciano bristling.
He seemed ready to shout why he had come.
'This kid Luciano!'
So I stepped forward one step.
"Your Majesty, if it wouldn't be presumptuous, may I say a word?"
As I stepped out, I felt Luciano flinch as if doused with cold water.
Soon, murmurs from the surroundings followed.
'Mom and Dad are going to faint again.'
Luciano's reproachful gaze stabbed at my cheek, as if asking why I'd stepped forward.
'You should've controlled your temper if you were that worried.'
I silently scolded him inwardly and steadied my breathing.
'I can do this. I'm the sunshine heroine, so I can!'
As I psyched myself up, the Emperor's gaze slowly shifted to me.
"Who are you?"
I'd thought I was used to crimson eyes because of Luciano.
But the Emperor's gaze gave a different, eerie feeling.
Arrogant and overwhelming, as befitting the Emperor.
"It's an honor to greet you for the first time. I'm Espin Samuel. Count Samuel is my father."
I greeted him with the most polite posture possible.
Still, the Emperor's mood didn't improve.
"I see. What is it?"
I felt the pressure bearing down on the insolent one who dared interrupt an imperial conversation.
"Wise Your Majesty must have your reasons, of course. But isn't today a very joyful day for Crown Prince Luciano?"
Smart Emperor, you know it's your son's birthday today, right?
The Emperor looked down at me with utterly indifferent eyes, unscathed.
"Indeed."
His gaze screamed 'So what?' and I thought, like father, like son.
"That means you know what day it is, yes?"
I didn't back down and confirmed again.
"Of course. With everyone gathered like this, how could I not know."
"Then, shouldn't you say what you need to first and foremost?"
I launched an attack right in the Emperor's face: 'You came to a birthday party and don't even know what to say?'
I Thought I Was the Protagonist
