chapter 04
Platinum blonde hair shimmering like sunlight and soft green eyes.
Beautiful features that seemed to have jumped out of an ancient masterpiece.
The man once praised as the young noble of Shunaibel was flaunting an even more sensual beauty after 5 years.
‘Why, why is he here?’
Shocked and frozen, I rolled my eyes.
‘Wasn’t he the emperor? Didn’t he become emperor after I died? Why is someone of such high status in a place like this?’
He, who had been quietly staring at me, elegantly nodded his head.
“Ah, I’m late with my introduction.”
Don’t introduce yourself. I know who you are.
“I’m just an ordinary guest who came to make a request to the head of this place.”
……That’s not true!
I was dumbfounded by his brazen self-introduction that even a passing dog wouldn’t believe.
His casual attire of a dark vest over a black shirt and a black jacket might seem ordinary at first glance, but……
The way he leaned his back against the sofa, his long legs crossed, the angle of his cool eyes slightly curved as if about to smile, even the careless tapping of his fingertips on the sofa armrest – everything about him was elegant and dignified.
Above all, that face!
‘Where in that perfectly handsome face can you find anything ordinary!’
As I stared at him in astonishment, he narrowed his eyes languidly and pulled his lips into a smile.
“I came here on a personal errand and ended up witnessing an interesting scene.”
I unconsciously held my breath.
Niel Alpenhayer, my fiancé from my past life, rarely smiled in front of me.
‘Far from smiling, he always looked at me with an expression like he was angry.’
His languid smile made him seem like a completely different person, unfamiliar to me.
‘He only smiled like that in front of Yuria… No, that’s not what’s important right now!’
After being momentarily captivated by that beautiful smile, I quickly came to my senses.
“…Ah, yes. Congratulations. Well then, have a good time.”
I replied with a sullen voice and tried to back out of the room.
If only Niel hadn’t suddenly stood up and grabbed my arm in the blink of an eye, I would have succeeded.
“You should accept the request before you go.”
Oh my!
I was startled by Niel, who had suddenly appeared in front of me.
His chest was so close I could almost feel his breath.
The wafting scent made my head spin.
I barely managed to stop my gaze from drifting to the impressive chest muscles asserting themselves even under the casually worn shirt, and looked up.
His height was so overwhelming that I had to tilt my head back quite far to look at his face.
I remembered how he once said he would k*ll me, his cool green eyes hardening.
Recalling that murderous aura made me feel chills.
‘He hasn’t recognized me and isn’t trying to k*ll me, right?’
Thump thump.
My heart raced in fear, but I forced a smile, pretending not to know him.
“Me? But I just quit here.”
“But the contract was already finalized before you quit……”
He trailed off, looking troubled as he showed me a contract stamped with the underworld’s seal, but what do I care?
“Well, I hope you two resolve that beautifully and peacefully. It’s not like you made a contract with me, right?”
“……”
When I replied indifferently, he pressed his lips tightly and stared at me intently.
Feeling somewhat burdened by that gaze, I hurriedly slipped out, as if escaping.
***
Niel stared at the spot where she had left for a long time.
Hair as black as ebony, eyes as red as fresh blood……
Soon, he let out a small chuckle.
“Tenes.”
Niel called for Tenes. It was a gentle voice, but with an undeniable pressure that was hard to resist.
Tenes, who had been rolling on the floor suppressing his groans until then, stopped with a start.
“Y-Yes, Lord Niel!”
Tenes quickly answered and stood at attention in front of Niel.
“Tell me everything you know about her.”
“Her……”
Tenes mumbled, feeling the area where Jella had hit him throb even more.
“The woman who just left.”
Niel jerked his chin slightly towards where Jella had exited.
“Jella Irene. She’s an apothecary who’s been working with us for 3 years!”
Tenes answered in a disciplined voice and spilled everything he knew about Jella.
“Her ability to make medicine is terribly poor, so everyone who took her medicines has been on the brink of life and death! So we suggested she try making poisons instead and recruited her to the underworld. Of course, she stubbornly insists that she’s an apothecary, not a poison maker, but……”
“Hmm……”
Niel’s eyes sparkled with as much interest as when he first saw Jella.
“Thank you, Tenes. That was helpful.”
Niel said with a slight smile.
“Make sure she doesn’t run away. If necessary, it would be better to put aside all your pride.”
“What?”
Niel leaned in towards Tenes, who was looking back with a confused face.
Then he whispered in a gentle voice near his ear.
“I’m saying to keep her here by any means necessary, Tenes. If you value your life.”
“H-Hick……!”
Having finished his gentle threat, Niel stood up and brushed off his clothes.
Outside, a small carriage with no markings was waiting for him.
It was the carriage he used when the emperor went on secret outings outside the palace.
“Your Majesty, did your business go well?”
The knight standing in front of the carriage bowed politely.
“Well, it wasn’t bad.”
Niel, who had climbed onto the carriage, elegantly rested his chin on his hand and looked back at the knight.
“No. Let me correct that. It was very good.”
The knight was also delighted as if it were his own business, seeing Niel who somehow looked pleased.
Five years after the death of the tyrant Jella, Niel Alpenhayer had cleaned up the Shunaibel Imperial Family and established a new empire.
He was the first emperor of the new Alpenhayer Empire, loved by all for his gentle and warm nature.
Unlike the tyrannical Jella, who was said to be cruel, His Majesty the new emperor was perfect in character, never raising his voice or treating his subordinates carelessly.
The knight was a bit worried about his lord frequenting such gloomy places, but he thought there must be a reason.
Eventually, the carriage set off towards the imperial palace.
Niel gazed at the scenery outside through the small window, lost in reminiscence.
He recalled that time long ago when he first met the young princess who had just returned to the empire after spending her early years in the Holy Kingdom……
A small frame with doll-like, exquisite features.
And an indifferent gaze and nonchalant voice that didn’t match her appearance.
“So you’re the firstborn of the Alpenhayer Duke?”
Despite being a head shorter than him, the subtle pressure emanating from her small frame was as intense as what he felt from his own father.
The young Niel swallowed hard and held out the prepared bouquet.
It was a combination of purple roses and pink ranunculus.
“I am Niel Alpenhayer, Your Highness.”
However, the princess merely glanced at him with an indifferent expression.
As his face began to flush with embarrassment, his hand still extended with the bouquet, the princess’s dainty lips parted.
“Purple roses. The flower language is, eternal love?”
Snicker.
With a crooked smile, the princess waved her hand dismissively towards her lady-in-waiting.
The bouquet Niel had brought was taken away by the lady-in-waiting without ever touching the princess’s hands.
He didn’t even get to say that he had created it by combining the colors of her hair and eyes.
He felt a bit bitter, thinking ‘The princess dislikes me.’
Well, it’s a political marriage. Is this to be expected?
This happened when Jella, still a princess, was eight years old, and Niel was ten.
“We have arrived, Your Majesty.”
As the carriage arrived at the imperial palace, Niel’s reminiscence came to an end.
In the drawing room, a visitor was waiting to see him.
“The old man of Alpenhayer greets the brightest and greatest sun of the empire.”
It was his father, the former Duke of Alpenhayer.
“What brings you here without notice, Father?”
“This old man came out of concern. I heard that in this morning’s political meeting, you firmly stated not to bring up the matter of imperial marriage again.”
“……”
Niel’s face hardened as he realized the reason for the former duke’s visit.
“Your Majesty is already twenty-seven years old. You should soon take an empress and produce an heir.”
“I’ve told you that an heir is not necessary.”
Niel answered coldly, cutting like a knife.
“But Your Majesty, please consider the fate of the new empire……”
“Leave.”
He dismissed his visitor with a cool smile as if there was nothing more to hear.
“……I shall visit again soon.”
“……”
Niel did not respond to the former duke’s parting words about visiting again soon.
He just looked down at the crown of the former duke’s head, now shorter than himself, with an ambiguous smile that was neither quite there nor absent.
After the former duke left, the office became quiet.
Niel walked softly to stand by the window.
The aide, stealing glances at his expressionless profile, carefully broached the subject.
“Your Majesty, still, the former duke’s concerns for you and the empire……”
“Enough.”
Niel’s elegant voice neatly cut off the aide’s words.
“If it’s about an heir, it’s really alright now.”
However, contrary to his composed tone, Niel’s pale green eyes were flickering with a strange light.
“I’ve found someone to gift my empire to.”
“Pardon……?”
Turning to look at the blinking aide, Niel gently curved his eyes.
As the aide stared blankly at that beautiful eye smile, momentarily forgetting they were of the same gender,
Niel’s lips parted softly.
“More precisely, someone to return it to.”
The smile lingering on his lips deepened.
