Chapter 20: Suspicion

When I pushed back at him, a strange smile crept onto his face.

It was the kind of look you’d give a hissing kitten—amused and condescending.

“I watched everything unfold.”

For a moment, I didn’t understand what he meant, and I repeated his words in disbelief.

“You watched everything? Even when those people were threatening my life?”

“Yes.”

“…Why? Why would you…”

The emperor let out a dry laugh.

Then he suddenly closed the two-step distance between us.

He was so close our faces were nearly touching.

“How was I supposed to know whether you were acting in cahoots with them?”

“No, that’s ridiculous…! I was really about to die out there!”

His gaze toward me turned cold and expressionless in an instant.

His voice came out flat and emotionless.

“Even setting all that aside—why should I spare you?”

“…What?”

“You’re an assassin who came to kill me, after all.”

At that moment, I couldn’t say anything.

An assassin who tried to kill the emperor—that lingering, dreadful misunderstanding still hadn’t been cleared.

Just moments ago, I’d been imprisoned because of that.

As I opened my mouth to protest, his blue eyes flicked downward.

They stopped at my right leg—where I’d been injured by Jay.

Though I was wearing athletic clothes that covered me down to the ankle, blood had soaked through the fabric.

“You hurt your leg.”

“…Didn’t you see that too?”

My voice naturally dropped.

I was already pushed to my limit.

The day had been too long, and I’d had to stare death in the face, battling the kind of fear that opened its jaws like a monster.

So my anger, like his suspicion, was justified.

But in response to my question, the emperor merely shrugged.

“If I had seen that, I wouldn’t still be standing here.”

His cold eyes contrasted with the mocking smirk curling up one side of his mouth.

It was an expression that seemed to ridicule someone while clearly being displeased with the situation.

Sir Samuel, who had been silently watching, let out a long sigh.

“If you’re not planning to keep Miss Mayhen standing here all night, how about we get out of the labyrinth first? Doesn’t it bother you, being covered head to toe in someone else’s blood?”

“Not particularly.”

“Then at least consider the feelings of the people who have to look at you.”

“And why should I?”

Sir Samuel shook his head, looking exhausted. In a low voice, he muttered something under his breath—probably a curse, something like, If only he weren’t the Emperor of Hamilton…

The emperor clearly heard it but didn’t seem to care.

Then he glanced at me and waved a hand dismissively, as if I were a nuisance.

“Follow me.”

I considered asking where we were going, but kept my mouth shut.

As if he’d actually give me a straight answer.

Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling I’d been having for a while now.

It wasn’t windy.

It wasn’t someone crying either.

But I kept hearing something strange.

Wherever we’re going, it has to be better than this creepy labyrinth.

Would you like the next part translated as well?

As I limped along behind the emperor, he glanced back at me.

His eyes, meeting mine, seemed tinged with irritation.

“Are you walking like that on purpose so I’ll help you?”

How could every word that came out of his mouth be so infuriating?

Swallowing the pain, I replied stubbornly.

“Of course not. Don’t worry about me.”

“Good. I wasn’t planning to anyway. But you’re too slow.”

Frowning, the emperor walked over and grabbed me like a piece of luggage, tucking me under his arm.

I was used to being ignored or scorned, but being manhandled like this was a first.

“W-What the hell is this…! Let me go!”

“At the rate you’re hobbling, we’ll never get out of this labyrinth. Planning to leave in a week?”

“I told you I can walk on my own!”

“Sure you can.”

The emperor paid no mind to my squirming under his arm.

“Samuel, as soon as we’re out of the labyrinth, bring Hapone.

Sir Samuel, who had been walking steadily, suddenly froze in place.

He slowly turned to the emperor with a look of horror, as if he’d just heard something dreadful.

“At this hour?”

“Is that a problem?”

“Well… it’s just that Hapone might not—”

Samuel quickly changed his tone after making eye contact with the emperor.

“…Of course. If it’s the emperor’s order.”

His voice clearly showed hesitation.

“But, um… how exactly should I bring them?”

There was a faint glimmer of hope in his pleading gaze, like he was silently begging the emperor to show mercy.

“You know. The usual way.”

A silent scream seemed to burst from Samuel’s face.

I could see his last thread of hope shattering before my eyes.

Letting out a heavy sigh, he began to trudge away.

“…Understood. If it’s an order, I have no choice. What can a powerless man like me do?”

I didn’t know who this Hapone person was, but one thing was clear—Sir Samuel was truly pitiable for having to work under someone as insufferable as this emperor.

Poor guy…

***

After walking for quite a while, we arrived at the emperor’s office.

As soon as we entered, he flung me onto a chair like a sack of goods.

“Kyaa…!”

I landed butt-first in the chair, sending a jolt of pain through me like I’d just been punched.

He’s got the grace of a wild beast—absolutely no delicacy!

I glared at him in frustration, then looked around.

Since I’d been here once before, the place didn’t feel unfamiliar.

The emperor looked down at the blood on his clothes and frowned, his face weary.

“I need to wash up. At this rate, I’ll end up getting blood all over the paperwork.”

“Huh? Then what about me…?”

“Stay here. I’ll send you some company so you won’t be lonely.”

There was something unsettling about the smirk on his face.

Before I could protest, a group of burly men stormed into the office.

They looked like they could kill me twice over with just a glare.

“Well then, enjoy the cozy time together.”

The emperor left the office with that infuriating smirk still on his face.

The atmosphere instantly turned cold.

Everywhere I looked, dozens of pairs of eyes were fixed on me.

It felt like even breathing would earn their suspicion.

Just sitting still in one position with my whole body tense had caused a cramp in my leg.

What do I do?

My leg is completely numb…

I tried to endure it, but it was too much.

Carefully, I began to lift one leg to ease the pain.

The moment I moved, the wolves who had been watching me simultaneously drew the swords at their waists.

Srrrk, shing!

The sound of steel unsheathing all at once was chillingly sharp.

“E-Eeep…!”

It felt like if I even yawned by accident, they’d actually cut me down.

I couldn’t even explain myself—just sat there trembling.

Who knows how long I stayed that way.

An immeasurable stretch of time passed before the door to the office suddenly burst open.

The emperor walked in, his silver hair damp—he must’ve just finished washing up.

“What’s going on here?”

The wolves who had been guarding me immediately sheathed their swords.

Then they raised one hand below their heads and saluted smartly, placing their fingers above their eyebrows.

“Welcome, my lord!”

Who would’ve thought I’d ever be happy to see that sharp-tongued emperor?

Worried I’d be misunderstood again, I rushed to speak before any of them could.

“M-My leg was just cramping up…! I swear I didn’t do anything! They—they misunderstood…!”

“Ahh.”

The emperor gave a knowing smile.

He probably expected something like this to happen.

With a casual wave of his hand, he ordered the stiff-looking wolves:

“Alright, everyone leave.”

The guards bowed their heads respectfully and silently filed out.

Only after they were gone and the room finally cleared did I feel like I could breathe again.

The emperor sat down at his desk like it was nothing.

But before I could even gather my thoughts, there was a knock at the door.

“Lord Argon. Hapone is here.”

It was Sir Samuel’s voice.

He sounded a bit different now, perhaps wearier than before.

“Let them in.”

Someone marched in with heavy, angry footsteps.

“What time do you think it is?! Has your already insane mind finally gone so far as to drag you out of the house in this condition?!”

The speaker was an elderly man with completely white hair.

He pointed a finger at the emperor, unleashing his fury without restraint.

Before I could even react to his bold attitude, his thundering voice rang out again:

“More than anything—how dare you just haul someone out of bed and toss them on a horse without any explanation! Does being the emperor of this country mean you can do whatever you want?!”