Chapter 247 - Done Something To Me?

Opening my eyes, I gazed at Max, thinking he must be asleep by now. I looked up at his face—he had always looked intimidating, but now that his eyes were closed, his features were much softer.

…In any case, he was flawless.

I admired his handsome appearance for a moment before returning to reality.

'How should I send the invitations for the banquet…?' As I squirmed to break free, I pondered this. However, his sturdy arms were wrapped around my waist—they did not budge despite my struggling. Instead of letting me go, he pulled me closer. Afraid that I had woken him, I glanced up once again. He was still sound asleep, not knowing that I was trapped. At this rate, I wouldn't be going anywhere.

That was when he mumbled, "Jubell…" His eyes were still closed.

'Maybe he's sleeptalking.'

"I'm… sorry… Please don't… hate me…" he sounded agonized. As if in pain, he was also furrowing his brow.

'What's happening? Did he do something wrong to me in his dream?' He looked quite different from usual—even a little vulnerable—like a child asking for forgiveness for a minor mistake.

…It was somewhat cute.

Holding back a laugh, I gently brushed his hair away from his face and whispered, "I won't hate you, Max." Perhaps he could hear me as his expression gradually relaxed. 'Maybe I'll be able to get out now…' I tried to lift his arm to check, but he still didn't give way. In the end, I had no choice but to give up.

His warmth slowly wrapped around my body, comforting me. Listening to his calm, even breaths, I snuggled into his embrace. I had spent most of my life in solitude until now, yet here I was, falling asleep in someone else's arms.

Drowsiness overcame me, and after blinking sleepily a few times, I drifted off.

* * *

'He's definitely not ordinary.' Knitting his brows, the emperor recalled what Mikhail had said.

"Your Majesty, I would like to request a private meeting with Her Royal Ladyship, as she may feel repulsed if she is forced into a marriage."

There was no problem with setting up a meeting, but Mikhail's manipulative nature made the emperor feel uneasy.

'And there was that thing with Regis…' At first, the emperor thought Mikhail feared the duke, as he was the head of the royal knights—except for the guards. However, certain events made the emperor doubt his suspicions.

'Regis is not someone to threaten another person for no reason…'

That was not all—the man's expressions and reactions throughout the conversation were rather unfamiliar to the emperor. The strangeness became more prominent when Mikhail was reassured about his worries regarding the duke.

"Oh, how nice."

The emperor expected Mikhail to be relieved once he found out that he would be able to conquer a being he feared. However, what burned in his amethyst eyes was intense hatred. The sovereign raised the corners of his lips, realizing his soon-to-be son-in-law shared his hatred for Regis. Mikhail's loathing was justified in the emperor's eyes as it was none other than Regis' daughter who had persistently chased the renowned knight around. The rumors had reached even the royal family's ears. It seemed the poor young man had not been able to reject his superior's daughter, and so he was holding a grudge.

The emperor knit his brow once more. 'That Maximillian. He's no good at finding a decent woman. Does he not know that appearance is not the only thing that matters?'

In the bigger scheme of things, however, it was fortunate for the emperor that Max was head over heels for the lady. She had only waltzed with him once, which meant she had no interest in him. If Max had truly fallen in love with her, he would be willing to do anything for her.

Filled with fantasies about the world of his dreams, the emperor smiled. He would hold Regis' daughter captive, then he'd cajole Max into obeying his schemes by using the girl as bait. The emperor was confident that his plan would reduce Maximillian to a meek figurehead. It would also help with getting rid of Regis in the future—the only problem was coming up with a reason to invite the girl to the palace.

For a moment, the emperor impatiently tapped on his desk. A sinister smile soon characterized his face. 'What am I worried about? I will come up with a reason—something neither Regis nor the nobles can dare to refute.'

* * *

Feeling well-rested, Max slowly opened his eyes. He looked out the window to realize it was dusk.

'Have I slept that long?' Naturally, he tried to get up. He then noticed something squirming in his arms and flinched. 'Jubelian?' His face reddened like a tomato once he realized the lady was sleeping defenselessly in his arms. Her soft exhales tickled his chest.

He felt like he was going crazy.

****

Hope you enjoyed it,

Love,

Biji ^^,

Jan.23.2024