Chapter 295 (1/2)

“Well, I think I have to have a wedding ceremony quickly. I think I won’t feel nervous anymore when I stop them from tempting you even in your dream.”

“I see… Pardon?” My heart started pounding and my face blushed at his unexpected remarks.

‘What did he say? What ceremony does he want to have quickly?’

Of course, I knew as the emperor, he could not delay the wedding anymore, but I felt somewhat shy when I heard it from him directly.

When I turned my head slightly, he pulled me after laughing heartily.

“Thank you, Aristia, for telling me honestly.”

He spoke in a very serious voice this time. He raised his hand wrapped around my shoulder and swept my hair as if to comfort me.

“And… I’m sorry to have made you dream such a painful dream. If I had been kind to you early on, you would not have had such a dream.”

“…Your Majesty.”

“From now on, I’ll be a good man to you, so you can’t have such a nightmare again.”

I was deeply touched by his voice reflecting his sincerity. My heart began to pound again, though I barely calmed down a moment ago.

When I looked up at his navy blue eyes that were no longer cold and smiled, he kissed on my forehead softly, my hair that he held lightly and my lips.

How much time passed? When I was looking up at the sky that turned gray, leaning on his strong arms, I heard somebody’s footsteps approaching from a distance, breaking the silence of the dawn. The magical time that only the two of us shared disappeared in an instant. When I sighed with regret, he said to the messenger, gently patting my shoulder gently lightly, “What’s the matter?”

“Your Majesty, it’s time you returned to the palace. As it’s time for you to wake up, there will be a big fuss if they find your room vacant.”

“Got it. Let me get ready to go, so stay away from me for a moment.”

Ugh? Did he come here secretly? I see. That’s why he had only a few bodyguards with him.

As if he was pressed for time, the messenger who seemed to be a servant looked very nervous even after he was waiting for the emperor at a distance. I felt even more nervous, so I said, folding the handkerchief he laid on my seat, “I will wash it and return it to you.”

“Sure. Well, it’s better if you return something else to me instead.”

“Pardon? Something different? ”

While I was tilting my head, I opened my eyes wide when something suddenly came to my mind. Is he asking me for a handkerchief? A handkerchief meaning I want to be his lady?

When I uttered a little sigh, he adjusted his outfit with a smile, then reached out to put on the shawl around my shoulder and said, “You’ve been in the cold too long. Go inside quickly. I’m afraid you might be sick again.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“… Don’t call me by that official title.”

“Pardon?”

“Rube… Won’t you call me Rube from now on? ”

My eyes were wide open. Did I hear wrong? What did he just say?

Apparently he asked me to call him Rube, but that’s his nickname. So, did he ask me to call him by his nickname?

Really? Is he serious?

My lips trembled. I have been longing to call him by that nickname so much, but I was never allowed. Only his family members or relatives, or his lover were allowed to call his nickname, so I always murmured it deep down, but never called it loudly. His full name was Rublise Kamalrudin Shana Castina. His nickname was Rube. He now asked me to call him Rube.

“Oh, maybe it’s too early for me to ask you to call me that. It’s cold, so you had better…”

“…Rube.”

He turned back in surprise when he was about to walk away. It wasn’t easy because I was choked up with emotions, but I ventured to pronounce his nickname by straining the tip of my tongue, looking up at his navy blue eyes.

“Good night… Rube.”

“…”

“Hurry up! The servant is waiting for you…Your Majesty.”

He walked up to me with strides and hugged me tight. When I looked up at him in surprise, he smiled and kissed on my forehead gently.

“Let me leave now. You don’t have to see me off, so just go home and warm yourself.”

“Yes, I will.”

“So see you later. Oh, and …”

“Pardon?”