Chapter 51 (2/2)

There was only one reason I could think of.

To me, I could only accept a business relationship with him. I had hoped he would want the same thing, but I was beginning to think perhaps he really did want more.

Did he really feel something for me?

My heart started to beat fast. I felt strange. What was this feeling?

I had to ignore it before it became too big. I decided to take up on his offer. I said to him.

“Lu… c…”

A happy smile bloomed on his face. It was so bright I almost fell for him right then and there. I turned away quickly.

He said to me, “I like it.”

He giggled like a child. I became red as I yelled, “Why are you smiling!”

He continued to grin and replied, “Because I’m happy.”

I became speechless.

He was acting like a prince from a fairy tale. It was so strange to see him being kind and loving. I didn’t know why, but I felt anxious while my heart fluttered.

He was acting like a completely different person. This was not the Lucretius le Cransia I knew. He was being so sweet.

He was a man who killed his own father and wife. He also handed me a cup with poisoned water. However, right now, it was hard to believe he was the same person.

I wondered if he asked me to call him Luc because he wanted me to see him as a man in love rather than Lucretius le Cransia, the emperor.

***

My head felt heavy. Was it because I was thinking too hard? It felt like a balloon filled with water. Like pricking the water balloon with a needle, I wanted to get all my thoughts out of my head.

I watched as the maids and servants worked busily around me.

Suddenly, someone walked towards me.

It was Lisbeth.

“…”

We were one of the few people who weren’t actively working. She sat in front of me with a sour face.

Everyone else was working to get ready for the banquet. The emperor announced his plan yesterday.

There wasn’t much time to prepare because it was such a short notice. The castle and the entire kingdom were bustling with excitement.

This would be the first ball ever the new emperor held. It would be the biggest event of the year. As Cransia was the biggest kingdom of this land, the royalties from other nations would be attending too.

This would be a celebration for the entire world.

Every available body was recruited to get prepared.

Samantha came to me in a hurry. She was holding several pieces of paper.

“Your highness, I have brought you the list of names you asked for.”

I took it with a smile.

“Thank you.”

My work began now, which meant Lisbeth was the only person in the entire castle who wasn’t working. Even if I wanted her to work, I couldn’t let her. She couldn’t accomplish even the easiest tasks.

After Lisbeth showed how incompetent she was, no one ever gave her any responsibilities. She was quickly becoming an outsider.

Despite it, she didn’t show any effort to change this situation. She didn’t even try, but I knew why. The only reason for her to accept this position was because she wanted to be noticed by Lucretius.

Her ultimate goal was probably to replace me.

I had to stop myself from laughing out loud. Just thinking about Lisbeth standing beside the emperor was so ridiculous.

I didn’t like the idea at all.

I was at a crossroad. I thought very hard, and I was sure I came up with the right decision. I had thought of it well last night.

I just couldn’t accept Lucretius’s feeling even though I now knew he was sincere.

The main reason was that I was not of this world.

My only priority was to survive and return home.

This meant Lucretius’s feeling was a hindrance to me. I thought very carefully last night. Thankfully, Lucretius had too much work and didn’t come to my room, so I had plenty of time alone to think.

Would it be better if I made an attempt to push Lisbeth towards the emperor? I did consider it briefly. If he became interested in another woman, he would lose his interest in me. Not to mention, this world was filled with women who wanted to be in his bed.

I really wanted to go back home. This meant I couldn’t accept his feeling.

I knew he felt this way because I was the only woman in his life right now. Even if this wasn’t the case, it didn’t matter. I didn’t care.

I just needed to make things work.