“Greetings to your highness, the emperor.”
“Greetings to your highness, the emperor.”
All of my maids and I bowed deeply as Lucretius entered my room.
Lucretius and his servants all looked oddly at one person.
It was Lisbeth.
I wasn’t a look of surprise or annoyance. It was an expected reaction. I planed this situation myself.
Lisbeth looked like a blooming rose. She was the most beautiful woman in this room.
Unlike her, I was not wearing any makeup and was only wearing a simple gown.
Other than Lisbeth, all the other maids and servants were also dressed simply. Lisbeth stood out with her gorgeous outfit. She looked like she was ready to attend a grand ball.
She was blushing with excitement. It was clear she could feel Lucretius’ eyes on her.
Lucretius stared at her for a few seconds before turning to me.
He said coolly, “What an odd situation.”
I smiled and took Lisbeth’s hand. I escorted her to him.
“Doesn’t this girl look beautiful tonight?”
I pushed her towards him. Lisbeth looked pleased and shy at the same time.
I smiled and studied Lucretius’s face.
He continued to look blank as he answered, “Yes.”
I could feel Lisbeth’s hand trembling excitedly. I became curious. What will he do? What will he say?
I wanted to say to Lucretius.
‘Show me what you got. Show me you meant what you said. Show me your true feelings.’
I knew I created an absurd situation, but I didn’t care. I needed to see what happens. I needed to see what he would do.
Lucretius turned back to Lisbeth again.
Sky blue eyes, golden blond hair, and luscious pink lips. Even I found her attractive.
“…”
“…”
After a long silence, Lucretius finally opened his mouth.
“I agree that she is beautiful.”
“…!”
Lisbeth’s hand trembled with pleasure. Her eyes glanced at me triumphantly.
“…”
I had no time to feel anything at his comment because Lucretius approached me quickly and grabbed my waist. He hugged me and smelled my hair deeply.
“Did you use violet in your bath today?”
He had an amazing sense of smell.
I nodded and answered, “Yes. Samantha placed violet petals in my bath water.”
“Good. It smells wonderful.”
He continued to hug me and walked towards my bedroom.
He said to me, “You are too generous.”
“What do you mean?”
He was looking only at me. His green eyes narrowed as if he could see right through me.
Gosh, he already knew exactly what was happening here. He knew what I was doing.
How annoying.
“I realize all women like to look beautiful but aren’t that too much? There are times and places for dressing up, and to try to outshine your own lady you serve…”
He emphasized the next words, which were clearly directed at Lisbeth.
“Is outrageously unattractive.”
I answered innocently, “As you say.”
I turned around and my eyes locked with Lisbeth.
She was shaking with humiliation.
With that, the door to my bedroom closed.
***
I felt like I was walking on the clouds.
“…”
I didn’t know why, but I felt excited and happy.
Why?
As soon as he spoke, my happiness disappeared.
“How was that? Are you satisfied?”
I replied coldly, “About what?”
He laughed quietly. To me, it sounded like an animal growling.
“What I did to that girl. I am asking if my reaction to her was enough to make you forgive me for what I did yesterday.”
So he really did know what was going on. When I glared at him, he was looking down at me as if he was waiting for me to praise him.
“Hmm…”
“You are so hard to please.”
He complained and continued to hug me as he got closer to the bed.
Huh? Not so fast!
I got away from his embrace and glared at him.
He looked a little different today. He came to my room often, but today, he looked like he dressed up a little.
I criticized him coldly.
“You are wearing too much perfume, even more than me. Why would you put so much on? It’s too strong.”
“… Alright. I will make sure not to do it again in the future.”
He was being unusually agreeable. He must have realized that I was very angry.
This made me feel happy. I was in a very good mood, which was lucky for him.
He persisted.
“So, did I pass your test today? Are you satisfied?”
“…”
I couldn’t continue to be difficult. I answered slowly, “You didn’t do too bad.”
Lucretius smiled broadly. His smile was infuriating.
“So it was good. I did well.”
“There is a big difference between not bad and good.”
He shook his head.
“No. It’s either good or bad. There are only two options.”
I laughed at him.
“Nope. The world isn’t always black and white. There is a huge array of greys in-between.”
“…”
He walked towards me until his face was close to mine.
“Then am I standing near the white or black in your book?”
“…”
He was asking me to tell him how I feel about him. I didn’t expect him to ask me outright like this so soon. He was putting me on the spot.
When I looked uncomfortable, he smiled as if to make me relax, but I didn’t feel relieved at all.
I had to say something, so instead of answering his question, I asked my own, “… Did you really mean what you said?”
“Ever since we first met, I meant everything I said to you.”
I knew for sure this was not true.
“Liar.”
He frowned and exclaimed, “I really did!”
He sounded desperate like a child. I was a bit surprised, but I continued, “There is no way you felt that way about me when we first met. You meant to use me for your plan!”
He nodded.
“That’s right. I did, and I meant what I said at that time, but I started to feel different after a while, and I told you how I felt.”
“You are so good with words.”
He smiled smoothly.
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“…”
He was still so confident that it was annoying.
When he saw my unimpressed expression, he continued to explain, “Samantha and Agnes aren’t spying on you for me. They don’t come to me to tell me about you. This was the only time when Agnes overreacted and asked me to stop you. I didn’t ask her any questions either.”
“Hmm…”
Was this really true?
To be honest, I couldn’t trust him.
He kissed the back of my hand and continued to whisper sweet words, “Remember what I said? I want you to choose me on your own. I admit that in the beginning, I chose you because you would be useful to me. I still feel the same way; I believe in your intelligence and willpower. But now…”
He grabbed my chin and pulled me towards him.
“I want you more than anything in the world.”
“…”
… too much! How could anyone say such corny words! Why couldn’t he speak like a normal person?!
I felt uncomfortable. When I looked at Lucretius, he smiled at me like a child waiting to be praised.
He continued, “I am not asking for an answer right now. I don’t expect you to choose me immediately. I know enough about you that you aren’t the type who would give herself up that easily. All I ask of you at this point is for you to enjoy my beauty and be impressed by my thoughtfulness. I will allow it.”
“…”
I wanted to hit him.
Lucretius changed the subject.
“By the way, it was hilarious to see her expression.”
I couldn’t hide my grin.
“I agree. It was funny.”
He smiled as well.
“She must have really made you mad.”
“She did.”
Lisbeth did go too far. I haven’t felt that kind of anger in a long time.
Suddenly, I realized I was laying on the bed.
How did this happen?
Lucretius and I were on the bed together. He was hugging me from behind, and I haven’t realized it until now.
This was too dangerous. I was getting too used to the feel of him.
I felt nervous. I licked my lips and opened my mouth.
“Um… Your highness.”
“Nope, wrong.”
“Pardon?”
He whispered to my ear, “You’re supposed to call me Luc.”
“Greetings to your highness, the emperor.”
“Greetings to your highness, the emperor.”
All of my maids and I bowed deeply as Lucretius entered my room.
Lucretius and his servants all looked oddly at one person.
It was Lisbeth.
I wasn’t a look of surprise or annoyance. It was an expected reaction. I planed this situation myself.
Lisbeth looked like a blooming rose. She was the most beautiful woman in this room.
Unlike her, I was not wearing any makeup and was only wearing a simple gown.
Other than Lisbeth, all the other maids and servants were also dressed simply. Lisbeth stood out with her gorgeous outfit. She looked like she was ready to attend a grand ball.
She was blushing with excitement. It was clear she could feel Lucretius’ eyes on her.
Lucretius stared at her for a few seconds before turning to me.
He said coolly, “What an odd situation.”
I smiled and took Lisbeth’s hand. I escorted her to him.
“Doesn’t this girl look beautiful tonight?”
I pushed her towards him. Lisbeth looked pleased and shy at the same time.
I smiled and studied Lucretius’s face.
He continued to look blank as he answered, “Yes.”
I could feel Lisbeth’s hand trembling excitedly. I became curious. What will he do? What will he say?
I wanted to say to Lucretius.
‘Show me what you got. Show me you meant what you said. Show me your true feelings.’
I knew I created an absurd situation, but I didn’t care. I needed to see what happens. I needed to see what he would do.
Lucretius turned back to Lisbeth again.
Sky blue eyes, golden blond hair, and luscious pink lips. Even I found her attractive.
“…”
“…”
After a long silence, Lucretius finally opened his mouth.
“I agree that she is beautiful.”
“…!”
Lisbeth’s hand trembled with pleasure. Her eyes glanced at me triumphantly.
“…”
I had no time to feel anything at his comment because Lucretius approached me quickly and grabbed my waist. He hugged me and smelled my hair deeply.
“Did you use violet in your bath today?”
He had an amazing sense of smell.
I nodded and answered, “Yes. Samantha placed violet petals in my bath water.”
“Good. It smells wonderful.”
He continued to hug me and walked towards my bedroom.
He said to me, “You are too generous.”
“What do you mean?”
He was looking only at me. His green eyes narrowed as if he could see right through me.
Gosh, he already knew exactly what was happening here. He knew what I was doing.
How annoying.
“I realize all women like to look beautiful but aren’t that too much? There are times and places for dressing up, and to try to outshine your own lady you serve…”
He emphasized the next words, which were clearly directed at Lisbeth.
“Is outrageously unattractive.”
I answered innocently, “As you say.”
I turned around and my eyes locked with Lisbeth.
She was shaking with humiliation.
With that, the door to my bedroom closed.
***
I felt like I was walking on the clouds.
“…”
I didn’t know why, but I felt excited and happy.
Why?
As soon as he spoke, my happiness disappeared.
“How was that? Are you satisfied?”
I replied coldly, “About what?”
He laughed quietly. To me, it sounded like an animal growling.
“What I did to that girl. I am asking if my reaction to her was enough to make you forgive me for what I did yesterday.”
So he really did know what was going on. When I glared at him, he was looking down at me as if he was waiting for me to praise him.
“Hmm…”
“You are so hard to please.”
He complained and continued to hug me as he got closer to the bed.
Huh? Not so fast!
I got away from his embrace and glared at him.
He looked a little different today. He came to my room often, but today, he looked like he dressed up a little.
I criticized him coldly.
“You are wearing too much perfume, even more than me. Why would you put so much on? It’s too strong.”
“… Alright. I will make sure not to do it again in the future.”
He was being unusually agreeable. He must have realized that I was very angry.
This made me feel happy. I was in a very good mood, which was lucky for him.
He persisted.
“So, did I pass your test today? Are you satisfied?”
“…”
I couldn’t continue to be difficult. I answered slowly, “You didn’t do too bad.”
Lucretius smiled broadly. His smile was infuriating.
“So it was good. I did well.”
“There is a big difference between not bad and good.”
He shook his head.
“No. It’s either good or bad. There are only two options.”
I laughed at him.
“Nope. The world isn’t always black and white. There is a huge array of greys in-between.”
“…”
He walked towards me until his face was close to mine.
“Then am I standing near the white or black in your book?”
“…”
He was asking me to tell him how I feel about him. I didn’t expect him to ask me outright like this so soon. He was putting me on the spot.
When I looked uncomfortable, he smiled as if to make me relax, but I didn’t feel relieved at all.
I had to say something, so instead of answering his question, I asked my own, “… Did you really mean what you said?”
“Ever since we first met, I meant everything I said to you.”
I knew for sure this was not true.
“Liar.”
He frowned and exclaimed, “I really did!”
He sounded desperate like a child. I was a bit surprised, but I continued, “There is no way you felt that way about me when we first met. You meant to use me for your plan!”
He nodded.
“That’s right. I did, and I meant what I said at that time, but I started to feel different after a while, and I told you how I felt.”
“You are so good with words.”
He smiled smoothly.
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“…”
He was still so confident that it was annoying.
When he saw my unimpressed expression, he continued to explain, “Samantha and Agnes aren’t spying on you for me. They don’t come to me to tell me about you. This was the only time when Agnes overreacted and asked me to stop you. I didn’t ask her any questions either.”
“Hmm…”
Was this really true?
To be honest, I couldn’t trust him.
He kissed the back of my hand and continued to whisper sweet words, “Remember what I said? I want you to choose me on your own. I admit that in the beginning, I chose you because you would be useful to me. I still feel the same way; I believe in your intelligence and willpower. But now…”
He grabbed my chin and pulled me towards him.
“I want you more than anything in the world.”
“…”
… too much! How could anyone say such corny words! Why couldn’t he speak like a normal person?!
I felt uncomfortable. When I looked at Lucretius, he smiled at me like a child waiting to be praised.
He continued, “I am not asking for an answer right now. I don’t expect you to choose me immediately. I know enough about you that you aren’t the type who would give herself up that easily. All I ask of you at this point is for you to enjoy my beauty and be impressed by my thoughtfulness. I will allow it.”
“…”
I wanted to hit him.
Lucretius changed the subject.
“By the way, it was hilarious to see her expression.”
I couldn’t hide my grin.
“I agree. It was funny.”
He smiled as well.
“She must have really made you mad.”
“She did.”
Lisbeth did go too far. I haven’t felt that kind of anger in a long time.
Suddenly, I realized I was laying on the bed.
How did this happen?
Lucretius and I were on the bed together. He was hugging me from behind, and I haven’t realized it until now.
This was too dangerous. I was getting too used to the feel of him.
I felt nervous. I licked my lips and opened my mouth.
“Um… Your highness.”
“Nope, wrong.”
“Pardon?”
He whispered to my ear, “You’re supposed to call me Luc.”
