NOVEL NEXT Chapter 219
* * *
I slowly lifted my eyelids. Tears, whose origin I couldn’t recall, trickled down my skin, wetting the pillow I lay on. Perhaps they were tears that welled up at the moment of Gufel’s disappearance.
…Come to think of it, this doesn’t seem like a treasury.
Waking up in unfamiliar places had become too familiar to me, so without much surprise, I calmly sat up when someone spoke.
“Have you awakened?”
I hadn’t expected anyone to be near, so I jerked my shoulder and turned toward the source of the voice. Euges sat arrogantly, giving me a skewed look. Our eyes met, and my lips moved on their own.
“Are you alright, Your Majesty?”
“
Ha
. Who is worrying about whom here?”
His scoff made me feel foolish for my concern. I awkwardly smiled, trying to gloss over my previous remark.
“That’s true…”
Why did I even say that?
It was just the first thing that came to mind when I saw Euges, and I blurted it out without thinking.
It’s not like I said anything offensive.
If anything, it made me look like a loyal subject concerned for the emperor, nothing that could be interpreted negatively.
…But wait, isn’t this the emperor’s bedroom?
That meant the place I was lying on was the emperor’s bed.
Is he in the right mind, putting an unmarried lady in his own bed?
By the standards of this world, it was nonsensical for the emperor to lay any woman who wasn’t his lover in his bed.
“I apologize.”
Feeling awkward, I hurriedly tried to get out of bed, but Euges pressed my shoulder down, making me lie back.
“Are you planning to collapse again and cause me trouble? Stay down until the imperial doctor arrives.”
“Even so… this doesn’t seem appropriate…”
“Well, I think there’s no better place than here.”
“Pardon?”
“When it becomes known that a lady collapsed in the palace, they’ll think it’s because I harassed her rather than any other reason.”
I was speechless at his outrageous logic.
“Consider it an honor to be the first woman to occupy my bed.”
Honor, my foot.
“Yes, how very honorable.”
“Responding without sincerity when you don’t even feel honored.”
Caught in the act, I had nothing to say.
“Besides, I’m curious about something.” Euges sat by my bedside, looking down at me from an uncomfortably close distance. “Why do you keep asking if I’m alright?”
“Me?”
“Didn’t you ask that just now and before you fainted in the treasury?”
Did I…?
Seeing my reaction, Euges sighed and looked away. “Forget it. Never mind.”
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Haha Boss’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[Theresa doesn’t know! She knows nothing! But we know everything!]
I was slightly irritated by the tone, suggesting I was too dense to understand.
Thud.
Euges carelessly placed a book next to me.
“Here’s the Squire’s arcane magic book you wanted.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
I happily picked up the book, but Euges prevented me from opening it by holding the top. “Shouldn’t you explain something first?”
What now?
Euges flicked the dangling lock that was unlocked. “Explain why you touched the book without my permission.”
Technically, I was at fault for touching the book without permission, even though my intention was only to examine the Squire’s arcane magic book.
“That’s… I just touched it, and suddenly the lock opened, and the book unfolded. Then, I suddenly fainted…”
Euges waved dismissively, clearly not interested. “And how do you explain administering the potion without my permission?”
“I have something to say about that. The potion you took has been certified by the association and is known to have fewer side effects than any other potion. It’s worth a mansion’s price on the market.”
“So, you think you did nothing wrong?”
Obviously not.
“It was an accident, and I did it for your sake, but I admit it was my fault.”
My somewhat defiant repentance made Euges laugh incredulously.
“So, you want me to forgive the lady generously, or else I’m not a gentleman?”
As if he was ever a gentleman. Ridiculous.
“Of course not.”
Euges chuckled.
“You’re lying again.”
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Zero Complaints’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[What is he, a shaman
ㅡㅡ
]
I changed the topic. “By the way, I’ve selected some magic flowers. Would you like to see them?”
Euges scanned me from head to toe.
“I’ve seen them.”
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Empty Vessels Make the Most Noise’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[Aren’t they pretty? Do you like them?]
As I stood awkwardly, Euges asked while fiddling with a strap on my dress. “Why don’t you ask if I find them pretty or if they’re to my taste?”
“
Uh
…”
“Isn’t this the moment to ask if I like them or if they suit my taste?”
“…By any chance, is Your Majesty suggesting me to flirt?”
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Romance Pass’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[Do you even know what flirting is?
Huh
? Do you know what flirting means!!!!!!!!]
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘The Ugly Side of 22 Years Old Theresa’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[Why get mad at Theresa for being Theresa;; It’s not like this is the first time she’s caused a stir
ㅠ
.]
What stir have I caused?
So, should I stand here and say, ‘Really? Do I look pretty?’
“Princess is really… always beyond my expectations.”
Euges, with an exasperated expression, moved to a chair, crossed his legs, and sat down. “I can’t see any text when I look at that book. It seems only those of bloodline can read it due to a spell.”
I hadn’t had the chance to read the book’s content because I was transported to another dimension when I touched it.
“May I read it?”
Euges nodded his approval. I began to read the contents of the magic book, which turned out to be unexpected.
“I’m not entirely sure yet, but it seems like a bible written by followers who worship Demon God.”
“Does it mention how to summon the Squire butterfly?”
“Not yet. …
Ah
, it seems the Squire butterfly involves necromancy.”
The content of the arcane magic book was fascinating.
“It’s about summoning the dead as butterflies to serve as minions. To gain this power, one must become a servant of the Demon God.”
As I smoothly recounted the book’s content, I suddenly remembered that the constellations disliked it when I studied. Euges might find it boring too, so I looked up and asked. “Shall I continue?”
But Euges wore a peculiar expression.
“Did you find it boring…?”
When I asked with a concerned look, Euges laughed.
“No. Keep reading.”
Fortunately, he wasn’t bored.
Well, Euges does like stories.
Following his request, I summarized and explained the content of the arcane magic book.
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Coward’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[Is it really okay to reveal the content of your family’s arcane magic book like this…?]
Given the content, the most crucial element seemed to be the lineage. Since one couldn’t summon the Squire butterfly without Squire blood, the content was useless to Euges. I read the book until the imperial doctor arrived and stopped to tend to me.
“The imperial doctor assured me there was no problem, and you can move freely now.”
Finally, I could leave the dreaded bed. Meanwhile, Bein and Jeffrey visited the bedroom to check on the situation.
“You’ve awakened, Princess. We were worried.”
“Are you hungry? We’ll prepare some refreshments in the reception room, decorated with the flowers you brought.”
During this time, Euges remained silent, then suddenly made a bold declaration. “Jeffrey.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“We’ve discovered the Squire family’s arcane magic book in the palace.”
“…Pardon?”
“With a generous heart, I wish to return it to its rightful owner, so send a messenger with the magic book.”
Jeffrey couldn’t oppose the emperor’s will and stiffened his expression. So, I intervened.
“That’s not right, Your Majesty. Doing so will bring shame upon you.”
Unexpectedly, everyone’s attention turned to me.
“Don’t you know, Your Majesty, that the Squire family’s arcane magic book couldn’t have been found by chance? Returning it so openly would bring attention to the event a hundred years ago, and the imperial family couldn’t escape responsibility.”
“That’s a strange thing to say. You won’t accept the magic book back because of my honor?”
“Yes.”
The world would go on without it. The Squire family, being the protagonist Libby’s family, was destined to thrive and reach glorious heights. But not Euges. He was an emperor but a tragic figure, and it seemed unlikely he would be chosen by Libby.
“You don’t have to return it, Your Majesty.”
My firm stance led Euges to dismiss everyone in the bedroom.
“Let me ask again. Why do you worry about me?”
“Because I am your subject.”
“I won’t punish you for the next 5 minutes, no matter what you say. Even if you curse, answer honestly.”
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘I Know This One’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[Truth or Dare time]