“Huh…?”
I looked up at the voice that seemed tinged with irritation.
But his face was as indifferent as ever.
At that moment, the Emperor pulled me in close.
His large hand naturally wrapped around my waist, and I was pulled into his arms.
A faint scent of roses seemed to brush past my nose.
***
The startled man let out a scream-like cry and hurriedly disappeared.
“You’re here?”
“Shall we move to the terrace for a moment?”
The Emperor pointed toward the empty terrace with his finger.
I nodded, and he escorted me there.
“We’ll wait here, Argon.”
“If any strange people show up, I’ll drive them off immediately, Captain!”
Sir Veratri and Perry stood guard outside like doormen and did not enter the terrace.
After stepping out of the bustling crowd, it felt like I could finally breathe.
The tension that had wrapped around me like thorns seemed to ease a little.
While enjoying that brief relaxation, the Emperor turned to me.
“The people who approached?”
“Prince Sharnice and Sir Kerif from the Tesser delegation…
Others came as well, but I didn’t feel anything particularly strange.”
“Well, I expected that. They wouldn’t reveal their true intentions so easily from the start.”
I almost asked him about Sir Kerif, but I stopped myself.
It seemed like a delicate subject for me to ask about.
‘If I stay here long enough, I’ll find out eventually.’
I was enjoying the moment of peace when the silence stretched on longer than expected.
There wasn’t really anything to say.
When the outside scenery started to feel boring, I asked the Emperor.
“So, did you bring me here to talk about that?”
“That’s part of it. I also needed a private spot to have a secret meeting with my partner.”
“A secret meeting?”
“Yes, having some time alone here will help them be more certain about our relationship.”
“Ah…”
Come to think of it, there was no better place than this for a man and woman to spend some quiet time alone.
A small space where only the two of us could be, with the sounds of people talking just beyond the door.
If I screamed here, it would surely be drowned out by the noise of their voices.
‘Was the terrace always such a peculiar place?’
Once I became conscious of it, just being here with the Emperor felt strange.
At that moment, I met his gaze, and he smiled mischievously before slowly approaching me.
“Why, why…?”
I took a step back, but he was faster in closing the distance.
The terrace was already so small, there was no more space for me to retreat.
“Why? Isn’t it obvious? A man and a woman are here together. Do we need another reason?”
Today, the Emperor was different.
He was more refined and yet kind.
The sense of distance that had seemed impossible to cross disappeared.
I felt a strange sense of suffocation.
Just then, music from the ballroom began to play, signaling the next dance.
The breeze blowing was fresh and soft.
At that moment, it felt like the world was revolving around this man.
‘Have I always been this weak to appearances?’
At that moment, his lips slowly drew closer.
I froze, forgetting even how to breathe.
In the blink of an eye, his fingertips brushed against my cheek.
But that was all.
“There was dust on your cheek.”
The Emperor said that as he stepped back, as if nothing had happened.
I stood there, heart racing, feeling oddly frustrated.
“It’s nothing, why did I react so strangely?’
As the cool breeze passed, it seemed to soothe my heated cheek, and the Emperor spoke to me again.
“Shall we go out now?”
After spending time on the terrace with the Emperor, the way people looked at me had changed in a strange way.
Some eyes mixed with obvious curiosity and anger, while others gleamed with interest.
It made me feel a bit embarrassed.
Unlike me, the Emperor walked through the ballroom with an indifferent face.
Some time passed, and the Emperor and I left the ballroom.
“You did well today.”
He escorted me back to my usual room before heading off to his office.
Until then, Sir Veratri and Perry stayed close by, performing their duties.
“Sir Veratri, thank you for today.”
“It was nothing. I came here to rest, knowing this would happen.”
Then his gaze turned to Perry.
She seemed satisfied, having finished her strawberry cake, and was happily patting her belly.
“If that little troublemaker causes any trouble, let me know. I’ll come right over to discipline her.”
At those words, Perry shot a sharp glance at Sir Veratri.
“I’m not a little kid anymore. When are you going to stop seeing me as one?”
“I’ll call you a little brat. What else should I call you?”
“I told you. I’m going to be the captain’s right-hand!”
“No way. Even after ten years, I’ll be the one holding that position. If you’re so upset, try beating me next time.”
“Ugh…! You muscle-bound pig! You think I can’t do it?”
With a mischievous grin, Sir Veratri teased, and Perry shook her fist in frustration.
After a moment of watching, Sir Veratri waved his hand and turned to leave.
“Well, I’ll be going now. See you next time.”
Perry glared at the door Sir Veratri had gone through, muttering angrily to herself.
“Just wait. That Sir Veratri is going to get it one day.”
Looking at their interaction, it seemed like Perry was close to both the Emperor and Sir Beratri.
I wondered what the story behind their relationship was.
“How did you and the Emperor meet, Sir Veratri?”
“Well, it’s a bit of a clichéd story. We met on the battlefield.”
“Battlefield?”
“I’m a war orphan. I lost my family when I was very young, and I wandered through battlefields.”
His unexpected answer left me at a loss for words. I wondered if I had touched on a sensitive subject with my question.
Seeing my expression, she smiled as if she understood.
“Don’t feel sorry. I’m not weak enough to need sympathy.”
“Wasn’t it tough?”
“It was. I had to fight hunger every day, and the only thing that kept me going was that my limbs were still attached.”
For that, I had to be thankful as well.”
After a brief pause, Perry responded in a heavier tone.
“But despite all that, people still held prejudices and pushed me away.”
“What…?”
“You heard what the people were saying at the ball, right?”
“Isn’t it about the black cat clan that brings misfortune?”
I had definitely heard people gossiping like that about Perry.
I silently nodded, and she gave a bitter smile.
“They say the black cat beastkin brings misfortune. It’s all baseless superstition, but many blamed me for the death of their families, using me as a scapegoat.”
A shadow I hadn’t seen before fell across her face.
I hadn’t expected to find such sorrow beneath her prickly personality.
At the same time, I felt an intense anger rising.
“Who in the world brings misfortune? That’s nonsense! If anyone says that again, I’ll make them regret it, I swear!”
As I clenched my fist and spoke, Perry burst into laughter.
“What are you saying? You’re weaker than me.”
“This isn’t about being weak or strong. To a beastkin, our horns are as valuable and honorable as life itself. It’s a pledge to keep the promise I just made.”
“You’re such a fool. You really do remind me of Julie.”
“Julie?”
“Yeah, someone like that fool. Anyway, I’m going to get stronger than anyone. Then, no one will dare say such things in front of me.”
How many difficult things must she have gone through as a child, struggling to survive in a place where survival itself was a challenge?
But instead of comforting her, I decided to support her determination, knowing that was what she truly needed.
“Yeah, Perry. You’ll get stronger than anyone. I believe that.”
Her eyes widened in surprise.
Her pupils fluttered, and she swung her fists in the air, panicking.
“Of course! Just wait, I’m going to smash that muscle-bound pig, Veratri!”
Her reaction was so typical of Perry that I couldn’t help but smile.
***
After the ball, a lot had changed.
The most noticeable difference was the attitude of the servants.
They used to avoid me like I had the plague, but now they were doing everything they could to get on my good side.
“What hairstyle would you like today, Miss?”
“How about trying this necklace the Emperor sent? If you don’t like the emerald, I also have rubies and diamonds.”
The cold, detached voices had somehow become sweet, almost like honey.
It wasn’t just the voices that had changed.
Their gazes sparkled like they had stolen stars from the night sky.
Another change was the meals that were now delivered regularly to my room.
Before, it was just a simple, filling meal, but now, I was brought desserts on a three-tiered platter.
And there were so many that I couldn’t possibly eat them all by myself.
“Ferry, you should have some too. It has strawberries, your favorite.”
“I knew the chef knew what they were doing!”
Every snack was so delicious, it practically melted the moment it touched my tongue.
The dishes made by the Slimela family’s exclusive chef, Pigrets, were now completely forgotten.
All I could think of was the word “happiness.”
‘Maybe I’m just a greedy person who loves power…?’
The best part, however, was that I no longer had to stay cooped up in my cramped room.
Though I couldn’t leave the palace, within these walls, I was free.
I relished in this joy, exploring the palace with Ferry.
“Perry, today I want to see the most beautiful place in the palace.”
“Well, there is one place that comes to mind…”
“Where is it?”
“The Imperial Rose Garden.”
At that moment, Perry looked at me with a meaningful smile.
“Shall I take you there?”