IITYVA 48

Chapter 48

Her face turned deathly pale.

‘No! Harnen has such a brutal personality—if he finds out this man trespassed onto the terrace, I can’t guarantee his life!’

My favorite doesn’t care about circumstances or reasons!

There was no way I could let the life Quiel saved be taken by Harnen.

I quickly summoned the Sylabies and asked them to escort the man out.

The man, still basking in his own words and completely unaware of Harnen’s arrival, suddenly floated into the air. Stunned by the sudden levitation, he gaped at me blankly before turning his head to look.

Our eyes met, his face full of confusion.

I smiled sweetly and silently mouthed, “Goodbye.”

His face instantly flushed a deep red.

And just like that, he vanished completely from the terrace.

“Whew…”

I just saved someone.

As I let out a breath of relief and leaned against the terrace railing, the terrace door opened, and Harnen approached.

“I called out, but you didn’t answer. So, this is where you were?”

“Y-Yeah! The stars were so beautiful I came out to look!”

I waved my hand cheerfully as I replied.

Harnen narrowed his eyes at me for a moment, then gave a soft smile and spoke.

“I see.”

He handed me a cup of mulled wine and added offhandedly,

“You can see the stars just fine from inside too.”

“…”

Sweat trickled down my back like a waterfall, but I forced myself to keep smiling brightly.

“B-But the sky looks so much clearer and prettier from out here!”

“Yeah, true. It’s definitely clearer out here.”

Leaning casually against the railing, Harnen brought the wine to his lips.

The sight of the blood-red liquid slipping between his lips was utterly mesmerizing.

I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

As expected of my favorite… every little thing he does is a blessing. A blessing!

“Einra?”

“Hmm?”

“Do I have something on my face?”

Harnen tilted his head as he caught me staring.

The moment was too much, and I couldn’t help but fangirl internally.

Yes. A lot, actually. You’ve got handsomeness, charm, cuteness, elegance, nobility, loveliness—all over your face…

But of course, I couldn’t say all that to my favorite’s face!

I simply shook my head with a normal smile.

“No, there’s nothing there.”

“I see. You were staring so much, I thought something was.”

With a soft laugh, Harnen took another sip of his wine and turned his gaze skyward again.

I sipped my mulled wine as well, stealing glances at my favorite who was right beside me—alive and breathing.

A night sky stretched above us like black velvet, speckled with twinkling stars like scattered diamonds.

A soft spring breeze brushed past, carrying the sweet scent of blooming flowers.

And under that sky, my favorite stood, sipping wine in an elegant tailcoat.

Even though it had been 25 years since I reincarnated into the world of The Tyrant Emperor, there were still moments when it all felt surreal.

Just like now.

“…Harnen.”

“Yes, Einra?”

“Your Majesty, Emperor of Bellarisia.”

“Yes, I’m right here.”

Harnen turned to look at me and smiled gently again.

Seeing my favorite respond to my call made me smile too.

“Yeah, you’re right here.”

Maybe it was the sweet drink flooding my mouth, but…

I felt a little emotional.

To think my favorite was here, alive and breathing in front of me—it felt like a miracle.

…Ugh. If the Emperor finds out I’m getting sentimental, he’ll tease me for sure.

But come on, with weather this nice, a beautiful view, a sweet drink, and my favorite by my side—

How can I not get emotional?

I leaned on the railing next to Harnen and took another sip of the mulled wine.

Ah, peaceful and happy.

“Einra.”

“Yeah?”

“It’s about time you head home, isn’t it?”

“…Yeah.”

…So much for peaceful and happy.

✦✦✦

The banquet was finally over.

Harnen had long disappeared among the nobles, and I’d lost track of his whereabouts entirely.

Harnen, I’m sorry. Even though you’re my most precious favorite… I really need to go home first…

I decided to leave a message with Quiel for him later and quietly planned to escape by riding Hisha back home.

But as I made my way toward the terrace, the Emperor caught me red-handed.

“Einra, I’m hurt. Trying to leave without saying goodbye?”

“…It kind of turned out that way.”

I answered vaguely, glancing at the hand the Emperor had grabbed.

He was holding mine tightly under the guise of escorting me.

No way could my small, delicate strength shake off his grip…

Noticing my gaze, the Emperor smiled lazily.

“Still trying to run, my cute little Einra?”

Suddenly, I was lifted off the ground with surprising strength.

Startled, I clung to the nearest thing I could—and realized it was his neck when a low chuckle sounded above me.

“You like me that much?”

“Wha—?!”

Startled, I quickly let go of his neck.

“I wouldn’t mind if you held on a little longer.”

He held me like a princess and whispered in my ear as he began to walk.

I struggled, asking to be put down, but of course, he didn’t listen.

Eventually, I gave up and went limp in his arms.

The only silver lining was that we were in the Emperor’s private quarters—meaning fewer people could witness this shameful scene… or so I thought.

Wait. If this is his private space… then…

My face went pale.

As I turned my head, my fears were confirmed.

There, just coming out to greet the Emperor, was none other than Consort Evelyn.

Our eyes met.

“…”

“…”

A flash of murderous intent flickered in her beautifully made-up eyes.

I swallowed my tears inwardly.

No… I’m a victim here too… And I even have someone I actually like…

To make things worse, the Emperor didn’t even spare Evelyn a glance—he merely nodded slightly and walked past her.

Seriously? That’s how you treat such a beautiful consort?

“…”

And now her glare had intensified.

I told you, I’m a victim!

Holding back tears, I covered my face with my arm.

Who knows how much time passed like that?

Then, I heard the Emperor’s voice above me.

“Einra.”

“Yes?”

“We’re here.”

Here?

Confused, I lowered my arm and looked up.

We were in the Semelrit Garden.

There stood a royal carriage adorned with the imperial crest, and two plain black carriages with curtains drawn.

I blinked in confusion as the Emperor explained.

“The royal carriage on the left is a decoy, to make it seem like you’re returning to your hotel. The black one in the middle is to take the Emperor’s ‘friend’ back. And finally, the one on the far right…”

He walked straight toward the last carriage and flung the door open.

Through the opening, I met the gaze of someone with red eyes—As.

“…As?”

I blankly spoke a name that shouldn’t have been there. He smiled softly and reached out a hand to me.

“I’ve come to pick you up, Einra.”

“The adorable little Grand Duke insisted on coming to get you himself,” the Emperor said as he helped me into the carriage. “So I sent a carriage to the Grand Duke’s estate just for him…”

I barely heard him as I took As’s hand.

It was warm.

…It was really As.

The heavy weight in my chest, like soaked cotton, suddenly lifted.

As I smiled without realizing it, As chuckled and gently brushed my cheek.

“Did you enjoy the banquet?”

“…Aside from meeting nobles, everything else was nice. Haha.”

Since 85% of the banquet was all about socializing with nobles, I couldn’t really say I had fun.

But with the one who organized the banquet glaring at me from behind, I couldn’t very well say I hated it either.

As’s gaze shifted from me to the Emperor.

Feeling the intensity of that look, the Emperor slouched like he was wrongfully accused.

“Well, Einra was so popular, the nobles all wanted a piece of her. Even I had a hard time getting close.”

“I don’t believe His Majesty’s authority is that weak,” As said with a sweet smile.

The Emperor quickly shrugged off the pointed comment.

“But you know, after disappearing for five years, Einra’s return was a hot topic. If we hadn’t satisfied their curiosity with this banquet, things would’ve gotten tricky.”

“…Ah.”

“You weren’t planning to eliminate them all just because you didn’t want to deal with them, were you, Grand Duke Serenia?”

The Emperor smiled sweetly as he looked at As.

As’s red eyes curled into a crescent shape.

“Oh. You caught me.”