Chapter 411
Chapter 410. Marquis Karl’s Shock (2)
Translator: Aura / Editor: HB168
When one is alone in a dark place, scary thoughts often come to mind for no apparent reason.
This was the case for the knight, although he wasn’t exactly alone. Emperor Sovieshu was asleep on the bed in front of him.
Due to Emperor Sovieshu’s actions during the daytime, the knight wasn’t feeling calm at all.
On this moonless night, the knight averted his gaze to the window. A cold wind blew through the bedroom, and he thought that the window might not be closed properly. While he rubbed his arms, the knight walked over to make sure that the window was fully closed.
At that moment, Sovieshu, who was deeply asleep, as if he had fainted, woke up abruptly.
The knight’s heart almost jumped out of his chest, but he managed to stay calm and approached the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, are you all right?”
Sovieshu didn’t answer the question, but looked around and suddenly ran to the window.
‘What’s the matter with him?! He has not yet drunk alcohol.’
Startled, the knight followed Sovieshu with his arms outstretched as a precaution.
But this time Sovieshu didn’t jump out, he just held on to the window frame and looked down. Then he turned his head toward the knight and asked, urgently.
“Where is Navier? Is she alright?”
“Huh?”
The knight blinked in puzzlement as he remembered that in the morning, Sovieshu had also asked if Navier was alright as soon as he woke up.
‘It can’t be, did he forget again?’
The knight didn’t answer right away because he was nervous. so Sovieshu asked sharply,
“I asked if Navier is alright.”
The knight, after thinking about the day’s events, asked Sovieshu as Marquis Karl would have done.
“Your Majesty, isn’t Navier in the Western Empire?”
At these words, Sovieshu’s eyelids twitched. His gaze s.h.i.+fted to the wall where the two paintings hung.
The wall was empty. After Sovieshu fell out of the window, Marquis Karl deliberately ordered the removal of Navier’s painting and Glorym’s painting, willing to endure Sovieshu’s wrath.
The knight held his breath because he found everything about the situation so strange.
In the daytime, the Emperor had not noticed that the paintings were missing from the wall. But now, the Emperor was staring at the empty spot where the two paintings had been.
“Your Majesty? What is it?”
At the knight’s cautious question, Sovieshu looked at him again.
“What happened to the paintings?”
The knight was horrified and swallowed hard.
“Pardon?”
“Where are the paintings?”
‘Has his memory… has it returned?’
The knight answered naturally even though he was confused.
“Marquis Karl ordered the paintings to be hung elsewhere because they hurt Your Majesty.”
“What nonsense.”
A cold voice came out of Sovieshu’s mouth. The knight swallowed hard again.
As Sovieshu pushed back his hair with one hand, he noticed the bandage on it and muttered, “Yes, it’s impossible for Navier to be here.”
Then, he put both hands on his head and closed his eyes. Tears fell from his closed eyes, so the knight hastily looked away.
***
The next day, Marquis Karl was unsettled when he received the news that Sovieshu had regained his memory.
It was really fortunate that Sovieshu regained his memory so quickly because there was a lot of work to be done, but at the same time, it was a pity because he would suffer again.
After Marquis Karl fixed his beard in front of the mirror, he went to Sovieshu’s bedroom and loudly announced himself, “Your Majesty, it is Karl.”
“Come in.”
A sleepy voice answered.
Marquis Karl opened the door, bowed and examined Sovieshu’s countenance.
Although he was very worried about Sovieshu’s state after he regained his memory, he didn’t look as bad as expected.
‘It’s a relief.’
While Marquis Karl was pleased that he was better, Sovieshu got up from the bed and instructed him.
“Marquis Karl. I didn’t ask yesterday. You’re my secretary, correct? Where is my office located? Is it the same office my father used? Let’s go there. I’ll need your help.”
“Huh?”
‘What’s going on…?’
Marquis Karl stared blankly.
Sovieshu took off his nightclothes, laid it on the bed and rang the bell. When the servants rushed in, they carefully washed and dressed him.
Once Sovieshu was ready, he looked at his Emperor’s attire with curiosity and instructed Marquis Karl again.
“Come on. There is much to examine and consider about my future self.”
Marquis Karl opened his mouth in astonishment.
‘His Majesty’s personality… has it split in two?’
***
Now that my body had recovered enough to take a walk at a moderate pace, it was time to solve the problem I had postponed, which is none other than the involuntary revelation of my magic.
It was somewhat strange to describe it as a problem. The matter of the ‘intruder who used ice magic’ had been a discussion topic because of the danger it posed, until the mage’s ident.i.ty was revealed… rumors spread quickly, so everyone must already know it was me, but it was still better to clear the matter up.
For that reason, I attended my first meeting in a long time, in part to show that I was recovered, and also to talk about my magic.
I deliberately joined the meeting a little late, and the officials all turned to look at me at the same time.
“I am very pleased about your speedy recovery, Your Majesty.”
“The Zemensia Family has finally sunk, so you won’t have to worry anymore.”
“From now on, security at the Imperial Palace will be tightened so that nothing like this will ever happen again.”
I accepted the kind words of the officials with a smile. Then, I acknowledged that I had used ice magic.
“So Your Majesty is a mage?”
To tell the truth, I still couldn’t control my magic well, so I was a little embarra.s.sed to answer that. However, an Empress must act with dignity no matter the situation, so I calmly answered.
“That’s correct.”
Since I pretended that I had intentionally concealed my magic until that moment, I slightly raised my chin and maintained a composed expression.
The deluded n.o.bles praised me excessively, saying that it was a suitable ability for me, an extraordinary and powerful ability.
“So the cold atmosphere around Your Majesty is due to your magical ability!”
… Sometimes they made completely absurd remarks, but overall, the atmosphere was nice. It could not compare with the first time I came to the West with Heinley.
Then I sat on a chair to listen to the remaining agenda items, but slowly I began to feel tired, so I left the meeting room first and went to my room.
‘I guess I’m not strong enough yet to sit in an uncomfortable position for long.’
I’ll tell the palace doctor about it later and ask him to recommend exercises that don’t require too much effort.
In any case, now that I’ve been exposed in public, I’d like to learn more about my magic… Oh my, what is that?!
“Your Majesty?”
When I stopped abruptly, Viscount Langdel called out to me in concern, then turned his head in the direction I was looking and immediately stiffened.
Not far away, a couple were embracing and kissing each other pa.s.sionately.
Perhaps they didn’t intend to kiss in public because they were hidden in the bushes, but unfortunately, I could see it all. They didn’t seem to notice our presence.
“Let’s go another way.”
I cleared my throat and turned around as Viscount Langdel followed me with a serious expression. My ladies-in-waiting whispered among themselves and burst out laughing.
At first I also laughed a little with amazement. However, as I heard the sound of our footsteps on the gra.s.s, I began to worry as I thought about Heinley’s behavior last night.
Why did Heinley suddenly pull back when he was about to kiss me? Could it be because I’m still recovering?
I don’t think so. He didn’t try to kiss me pa.s.sionately, as it was just a kiss on the cheek.
Besides, I had no external injuries thanks to the healing magic. Of course, I still had to be careful, because if I didn’t rest properly, the effects of the healing magic would wear off.
But is receiving a kiss on the cheek included among the things I should be careful about? No, absolutely not.
So why didn’t he kiss me?
As I pondered, the person responsible for my concern appeared not far away.
It seemed that the meeting was over. Heinley was walking down a short flight of stairs with an official to his right and McKenna to his left.
“Heinley.”
When I called out to him, Heinley came up to me with a beautiful smile.
He didn’t look like the person who stopped when he was about to kiss me yesterday.
“Do you have a moment?”
I had to clear my doubts.
“There’s something I want to check with you. Can we be alone for a moment?”
I’ll test Heinley to find out if he’s avoiding kissing me or that time was just a coincidence. This was the quickest way to clear my doubts.