Episode 39
Kaien narrowed his eyes and looked at Emma.
Then he gave a small nod.
“Speak.”
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but this is a very private matter. I can’t speak here.”
Emma, who always followed palace rules, was now being stubborn.
Kaien, taken aback, quietly followed her to his bedroom.
Emma came in after him, closed the door, and stood in front of him as he sat down on the sofa.
“Alright. We’re alone. So what is it? Why are you making such a big deal out of this?”
Kaien’s head was already a mess from seeing Alicia cry.
He’d never been this disturbed—not even on bloody battlefields.
He couldn’t understand why a woman’s tears were bothering him so much.
“Your Majesty, I’m sorry, but I need to ask a few questions. This is a very serious matter between you and the Empress.”
“You think Alicia crying and talking nonsense for no reason is a serious matter?”
“Yes. Right now, it’s the most important thing.”
Emma bowed respectfully with her hands folded.
Kaien, halfway giving up, poured himself another glass of wine.
Without being at least a little drunk, he didn’t think he’d understand anything that happened tonight.
“Did you really suggest to Her Majesty that you’d read your mother’s journal together… while eating dessert?”
“Yes. I heard the dessert had already been served in the parlor next to the bedroom.”
Kaien answered proudly, but Emma could only sigh quietly to herself.
She was starting to doubt if he even understood the meaning of marriage.
“The parlor next to the bedroom is a very private space. You know that, don’t you?”
Kaien raised his eyebrows.
He hadn’t thought much about it before.
“It’s the most comfortable room in the Empress’s quarters.”
“Yes. And it should be. You’re the only one allowed in there besides her attendants.”
Emma’s voice turned firm as she looked him straight in the eye.
“…You really don’t know anything, do you?”
She sighed in disbelief as she watched his blank expression.
“Are you… scolding me right now?”
“If I must, then yes.”
Kaien looked stunned.
“Me? You’re scolding me?”
He asked again, but Emma didn’t move.
Technically, Alicia’s behavior was more surprising—but Alicia was young, only twenty, and she was the Empress.
Emma, however, had always treated Kaien with utmost respect.
“Why? What’s with everyone today? Why are you all treating me like this?”
Even his authority as Emperor didn’t shake Emma.
Kaien started to wonder if this was really the same quiet old lady he knew.
“If this is about palace rules, stop right there. You know I don’t care for all that formal stuff.”
Kaien reached for his wine again, but Emma quickly stopped him with her hand.
His shock turned into anger.
“What are you doing?”
“I swore to serve your mother for life. If I must risk my neck to stop Your Majesty from making a terrible mistake, then so be it.”
Even when he glared at her, Emma didn’t back down. Kaien leaned back into the sofa, frowning.
“This is getting ridiculous. I didn’t even do anything serious today. Are you really willing to risk your life over this?”
“Yes. The fact that Your Majesty doesn’t even realize how serious this is… that means I failed in my duty. I deserve to die for that.”
Emma had been more than just Kaien’s head maid—she had once served his mother, Lady Diane.
If Diane hadn’t died so early, Kaien wouldn’t be this clueless about women and marriage.
That’s why Emma saw this as her responsibility now.
“Since you’re so serious, I’ll listen.”
Even if Kaien was cold toward palace affairs, Emma wasn’t just anyone.
She had been by his side since he was a child.
If it weren’t for that, she would never dare speak to him like this.
