Chapter 19 (1/2)

Chapter 19

As far as she knew, all of these five students of 3-A were aristocrats. But their kind nature made her feel like crying. This was the picture of the academy she had dreamt of. Classmates helping each other to learn! Right under the roof of the great Tower of Learning!

The boy with snowy white skin, who had helped her with her luggage, smiled as he reached out his hand to her. Without delaying a minute, she shook his hand, returning a warm smile towards him.

“Please, welcome. You were the one who won the first place, weren’t you?”

“Ah, please take good care of me.”

“I got the first place as well, but why do you look so nervous?”

His hands were cold, and unlike that of the Emperor, she could not feel any mana from him.

She laughed heartily, thinking she had unintentionally compared him with the Emperor.

‘Not anyone else, but the Emperor.’

It felt good to hear the boy’s voice, devoid of any hostile tone.

“Then, you’re…..”

“Yes, we’re tied for the first place. I’ll be joining you at the Imperial banquet. My name is Vincent.”

“I’m Celestia.”

“Well then, I look forward to your kind cooperation.”

Was a class president supposed to be this kind? As he continued talking to her, he let her know about every student’s name and profile in the classroom. Even though it was only her first day, she became quite close to Vincent.

She agonized as she stared down at her fingers fiddling with the paper. The date written on her invitation was just a week away.

‘What should I do when I meet him at the banquet hall? The students from the academy would also be present there. He’s not going to act like he knows me, is he?’

She spent most of the time on the way back to the castle lost in thought before she hesitated to ask the chauffeur if she could meet the Emperor. He reassured her she could tell him anything she needed. Even if it felt a little strange to draw up this topic to someone like him, it wouldn’t bother him, she thought.

The chauffeur held her hand as she got off the carriage at her destination before nodding to her and disappearing into the palace.

Before she could even get refreshed after returning to her room and putting down her luggage, a servant came and informed her that the Emperor was looking for her.

When she reached his quarters after walking through a hall with splendid walls that contained the history of the palace, the guards calmly opened the door just by having a glimpse at her. There was no one inside, but silence. Nevertheless, she was used to it. The Emperor hated having people visit his quarters.

As she approached his bedroom, she noticed his dark silhouette sitting on the bed.

“Celestia is here, Your Majesty.”

“Come here.”

‘Oh, his voice sounds hoarse again. I told you to stay away from magic, I believe…..’

As she walked off to his side, he laid down the documents back on the sheets and glanced sideways at her. He looked a little emaciated.

Catching his arm by surprise, she tried to lift his shirt and look at his back as he gave her a sly smile. He barely turned, so she pushed in her hand and carefully touched his back.

Her palms could have felt the burning sensation if his condition was severe, but there wasn’t any.

Even if she couldn’t have a closer look because he was sitting upright, his condition wasn’t anything serious.

When she was convinced enough that he was fine, she took her hand off him and stepped back a little as she felt as though she would stutter if she spoke a word anytime soon.

“Did something happen?”

“It’s been a while since we’ve met.”

“You don’t look well—”

“I’m glad you look fine. I heard you performed well on the test.”

He cut her off, proceeding to say what he wanted to say. He looked excessively delighted when he said the last part. Her heart pounded at his gentle smile. It reminded her of the time when she blindly used to respond to every word of Serek.

What she wanted from him was not too much. However, all the things she gave him were everything she had.

She was fortunate to be able to distinguish herself from the Celestia of those days.

“Thanks to all your encouragement.”

“I see.”

“So, why do you….look so weak…..?”

He silently stared at her face. His face, under his disheveled black hair, looked dimmer than usual.

A moment of silence passed, but he kept looking at her face.

‘Oh, come on. Answer when you’re being questioned!’

Inflating her cheeks, she dared to pass a friendly glare towards him. She did not falter even when he frowned at her expression.

‘I’m going to live a long life, you know!’

He stared at her and when she did not lower her eyes, he decided to break the silence.

“It’s nothing much, but it seems the Empress is seeking to expand her power by taking advantage of the coalition.”

“So?”

“It’s been a while since she’d used poison.”

“What…..?”

Poison?! Taken aback, her eyes widened.

‘So, in the midst of all of these, he was threatened to death by his enemies?’

“Are you going to cry again?”

She remembered the day when she cried while tending to his deep burns, thinking the responsibilities over him caused so many wounds to scar him. When she recalled it, she felt a bit shy.

‘Er….I overreacted.’

“…..What are you talking about, Your Majesty? …..Last time, I just happened to—”

“That’s a relief.”

“Rather, the poison……”

“Killing me is the best option for the Empress to rise in power. She is much more crafty than she looks. But, there’s nothing for you to worry about. I was trained from a very young age, so I can’t be poisoned that easily.”