Episode 22
The teasing from Gwanrem’s fans came to a sudden stop.
“…It’s not like that.”
For a moment, she turned pale.
Her lips and jaw trembled uncontrollably, and goosebumps spread across her neck and arms.
Even though the person in front of her wasn’t dying or disappearing, an overwhelming sense of anxiety gripped her, making it hard to breathe—like she might suffocate.
“Hey—Even if you say it’s not, I’ve never seen you so obsessed with anyone before, no matter the reason.”
“I told you, it’s not like that.”
“If you say so. Still, I really think of you as someone special, Lord.”
His hand, which had paused briefly, began to move again.
“…Oh? What an honor.”
Still, he felt a pang of guilt toward Huson, who had likely been running around busy with his unreasonable requests up to this hour. To make up for it, he decided to offer some sweet words.
“I think of you the same, yeah?”
“See! I told you, our young master must have lost his mind lately! He’s even saying such cringe-worthy things!”
Then, he suddenly squished his own face with both hands as if trying to check if he had changed, saying, “People do say you change before death.”
Just when he regretted saying anything at all—
“But our young master has been limiting his range too much until now.”
“There’s nothing extraordinary about being special. If there’s someone you really don’t want to lose, go to them first.”
“…Why should I?”
He felt annoyed for no reason.
It was ridiculous to expect anything from someone who didn’t even recognize him anymore.
Still, now it was out of sheer stubbornness—he wanted to make her remember him no matter what.
“Ugh, whatever.”
“Huh? You’ll regret it later. Take it from someone older and wiser, don’t ignore this advice.”
“Only five years older and already talking about life experience…”
A grumbling sigh came from Gwanrem.
“Huh? Huh? Our young master is finally starting to act human, but still has a long way to go. What shall we do with him?”
Randel, with a theatrical flourish, kicked his ever-loyal adjutant out once again.
“Go away! Seriously.”
Meanwhile, at the Imperial Palace in the capital…
“Theodore Rodrigo.”
“Eh—Don’t be so stiff. We’re not strangers.”
The speaker, with noble amethyst eyes and long ash-blonde hair—features most befitting royal blood—spoke casually.
Opposite him sat a woman with the same hair color, tied up neatly, enjoying tea without a trace of disorder.
“Yes, Theo.”
Empress Charlotte glanced slightly at the attendants behind him, gesturing discreetly.
Seeing a familiar face in the palace after a long time, her expression softened—she had been worn out from imperial duties all day.
“It’s been a while.”
With elegant hands, she handed him a teacup. Yet, her beautiful eyes never lost their edge.
“Have you been well, sister?”
Unlike her calm demeanor, Theodore wandered around the room, glancing here and there.
Charlotte watched him with a gaze that said, he hasn’t changed one bit.
“My dear cousin, you’ve become bolder since I last saw you. Is Uncle aware you’ve returned?”
“Of course.”
The young man crossed his legs on the sofa and flashed a mischievous smile at his cousin.
“He’s probably drinking in shock.”
“Of course.”
“Last time he said if I sneaked back in again, he wouldn’t let me go—but now that I’m here, who knows if he’ll send guards to drag me back.”
The golden-haired handsome man shrugged lightly.
Despite his high status in the Blue Team Empire, he brushed off minor complaints as if they were nothing.
“…Anyway, a lot has happened.”
After listening with interest to his travel stories, Charlotte tapped her chair lightly.
“So, what brings you here today?”
“I just wondered if anything interesting was going on lately. No matter where I go, nothing seems exciting.”
While picking his ears, he blew softly on his hand and answered,
“I was hoping you might have something amusing to share.”
There was a hint of boredom in his voice.
He smiled with a typical royal arrogance.
“You ran out of money, didn’t you?”
“Haha, well… you’re not wrong.”
Though her expression turned serious for a second, his usual lighthearted antics returned immediately, wiping out the momentary weight.
“If you’ve got nothing better to do, go watch a play. There are quite a few good ones these days.”
“…A play, you say?”
Theodore’s gaze, as he slowly turned to her, held a flicker of strange curiosity.
Rustle.
Then came a servant’s voice from outside.
“Your Majesty, shall I bring out more tea?”
“No, stay back for now.”
This time, Theodore picked up his cane and tapped the handle.
“Hm… a play, huh? Is it really that entertaining?”
He looked at his cousin, who was drinking her tea without a single wrinkle in her posture.
Then, he boldly gulped down the tea she had poured.
“Ugh… Last time I saw one, it was dull. Why should I go somewhere full of men? Don’t you agree, sister?”
“You’re clueless.”
Charlotte calmly looked at her free-spirited cousin.
Theodore Rodrigo Blue Team.
When they were younger, they used to be rumored together as potential successors to the throne.
But once he grew older, he began skipping palace events and stirred up a few scandals before traveling abroad, living freely ever since.
Perhaps that’s how he survived, she thought.
A royal parasite.
Theodore, who had long fallen from favor in the palace, became notorious for his flashy appearance and numerous affairs.
Until he left, people viewed him as nothing more than the royal family’s scandal-maker.
Strict royal tradition vs rebellious prodigal son—how fascinating it must have been for the public.
But Theodore seemed to enjoy his life, using his good looks and status.
Charlotte, calm and composed, poured more tea into his empty cup.
“I’ve been investing heavily in this side lately. Randel Austin, that man, has been wanting to include female actors in plays, and I finally approved it a few years ago.”
“And recently, I’ve gone to the theater a few times to see some of the actresses I’ve been supporting. It was quite entertaining.”
Theodore’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he looked at her with half-lidded eyes.
She gave him a subtle reminder:
“And in public, call me Your Majesty. There are more ears here than you think.”
“Austin, you said…”
“I mean the last heir of Haejeuprant.”
“Oh—”
Theodore snapped his fingers and stood up.
“Now I remember. Back then, she’d just cry and couldn’t even speak properly. How adorable she was at night.”
He walked around the room, admiring the new artwork Charlotte had arranged.
Tilting his head, he opened his mouth again—
“You also…”
(…to be continued.)
