Captured into the Bedroom of the Enemy Emperor - Chapter 68

The next morning, Julia covered the opening of the cosmetics bag containing gold bars with a lace shawl.

She had a knight leave the bag in the VIP room of the Etranger Cafe.

She instructed the maid and knight who accompanied her to go elsewhere for lunch and return here in three hours, then sent them away.

Left alone, Julia was taking a sip of water when the VIP room door suddenly flung open.

A large, menacing-looking man strode in. Julia stood up, pressing her startled chest with both hands.

“Bark… is it?”

“No. The boss told me to escort the lady.”

“Where to?”

The man only said his piece and swiftly turned around.

“Hey, you. Carry this.”

The place she followed the man carrying the bag of gold bars to was the Arteum across from Etranger.

The Arteum on Epi Street. A top-class destination where lovers meet for pleasure. A hotel-style villa with a cafeteria, art gallery, casino, and bedroom suites.

‘Sigh, what does he take me for. Crazy bastard.’

As the man entered the Arteum hall, the manager bowed his head in recognition. Fortunately, they went straight up the stairs without passing through the office.

Leaving Julia in the hallway, the man knocked and went inside.

The man didn’t fully close the door when he entered. Low voices could be heard. It was mostly a deep voice asking brief questions, followed by longer answers from the man who had just entered.

The man didn’t come out even after a minute had passed. Julia imagined various scenarios of what might happen next.

The leader of the White Faction hunters, Bark.

She only knew his name, not even his appearance or age. She had pretended to be his lover when visiting his grandfather.

Recalling the build of the man who brought her here made her body tremble. She should have brought her knight and maid.

Thinking she should at least inform the Arteum staff of her identity, Julia looked around the long corridor. The realization of standing in an empty hallway filled her with fear to the bone. But there was no turning back.

If she lost Harchen, there would be no reason to live.

‘Yes, Patricia, if only the Empress were gone. If she could be killed. If someone could kill her for me.’

She was prepared to give everything she wanted. Whether money or her body. Even her life.

Julia clenched her fists.

Just as she reached for the doorknob with worn-out patience, the door opened wider from the inside. Two men came out.

The man who had brought Julia here walked down the corridor, while the other man stepped aside and gestured for her to enter.

“Oh my.”

Julia, who had imagined a dimly lit room, exclaimed in surprise at the bright and open space.

As she crossed what appeared to be a reception area, she could see a terrace through the open glass doors.

Dozens of white birds were flying around the terrace, and the moment her gaze met that of the man sitting at the round table, Julia’s breath caught.

The man among the fluttering white birds like snow was wearing white pants and a flowing white blouse.

The sunlight falling on his silver hair with a blue tint was dazzling. His slender build and handsome features were hard to believe for a hunter. His eyes in particular were as cold as frozen blue water.

“He-hello, I am Julia Leak.”

Julia couldn’t understand why she was so intimidated and speaking formally to a mere hunter without any title.

“Why did you pretend to be my woman to the old man?”

“I’m sorry. But I had to meet you. It’s a matter of life and death for me.”

Bark turned his gaze away from Julia and tickled the neck of a white bird perched on his shoulder with his index finger.

“Old man Chen didn’t seem like he would tell me, and he’s too honest to want money.”

“Whee!”

At the man’s whistle, the white bird spread its wings wide, fluttered, and flew to the adjacent table. At that table, a man in a black suit was writing something on paper with a quill pen.

“Was the amount of money trash level?”

“No. The old man didn’t want money at all. He was a pure person.”

Julia answered as politely as possible. She was furious at having to put on such a despicable act, but she managed to create a delicate voice befitting her beauty.

“What’s your purpose in meeting me?”

“I, I want to make a deal.”

Julia said the words she had practiced dozens of times since last night.

By chance, she had learned that he was a White Faction hunter who used poison arrows. There was someone she wanted eliminated, and she wanted him to do it with a poison arrow. They had been lovers for nearly twenty years since she was five, and their families had promised them in marriage.

“Who do you want eliminated?”

“The other day was the royal wedding of Karsik and Tane. The princess of Tane, now Empress, Patricia Calian Evas.”

“…!”

For a brief moment, the fingertips stroking the white bird’s feathers paused. His eyes narrowed sharply. Julia didn’t notice, but it caught the attention of the man standing right next to Bark, Bee.

“They left for their honeymoon to the Kingdom of Torun. They will stay a day at either Count Kastro’s territory or Baron Veil’s manor on the way before moving on to Torun. In Torun, they will stay for a day or two at Pana Castle near Lake Pana.”

Julia paused briefly to catch her breath. Bark sent away the white bird on his shoulder with a cold expression and perched another on the back of his hand.

She couldn’t read the man’s thoughts at all. It was uncertain if he was even properly listening to her story.

“Um, Bark?”

“Who! Gave you permission to call my name?”

As Bark applied pressure to his middle finger, the white bird perched on the back of his hand flew vigorously towards Julia’s face.

“Kyaak.”

Julia screamed and covered her face with her arms. The bird’s feet grazed her forehead as it flew by. Her forehead felt damp. With an ominous feeling, Julia touched her forehead with her gloved hand. There was a dirty smell.

‘Wh-what’s so filthy.’

Suppressing her disgusting emotions, she elegantly took out a handkerchief and wiped off the white bird’s droppings that had fallen on her forehead. She removed her gloves and placed them on the table along with the handkerchief.

Julia felt fear and humiliation simultaneously for the first time in her life.

“I’m sorry. Anyway, please finish the job before they reach the capital. If you succeed, I’ll provide whatever you ask for, but even if you fail, you must not reveal my name.”

“Suc…cess?”

A low voice was followed by an even lower laugh. It was a chilling laugh that made the listener freeze.

“Bee… dismissed.”

The man standing next to Bark, called Bee, bowed his upper body and then looked at Julia and said.

“The moment we shoot a white bird arrow, our identity is revealed.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Also, we have never missed a target. However, poison arrows are originally for hunting, to paralyze animal limbs before slaughter, so they’re not suitable for humans. Above all, the boss has refused.”

“Ah, I.”

Julia’s mask of acting fell off. She wanted to lose her temper, but intimidated by the oppressive atmosphere, she struggled to hold it in.

“Shall I escort you back to the Duke’s residence?”

“No, it’s fine.”

Julia shook her head and stood up, holding the heavy bag containing gold bars. She wanted to get out of there as soon as possible.

“Not yet.”

At Bark’s low voice, Bee grabbed Julia’s arm.

“Yes?”

“Go apologize to the old man for lying before you leave.”

It was truly a spine-chilling bass voice.

“Bee. Take her to the old man.”

“I’ll follow the boss’s orders.”

Bee picked up Julia’s bag and held her arm as they walked.

With a flutter, white birds flew around Julia, one of them brushing the ends of her black hair. She shuddered at the touch and hurried out of there with quick steps.

Julia gritted her teeth. She felt humiliated and angry.

At Old Man Chen’s herbal shop, the man called Bee watched with folded arms as Julia confessed to lying in order to meet Bark, whom she had never met before.

“Old man, what’s even more absurd is that the lady was looking for the boss to ask him to kill someone with a white bird arrow. Keep that in mind. Don’t just hand out any poisonous herbs carelessly.”

“You lot should be careful. Don’t get involved unnecessarily.”

Old Man Chen didn’t hide his troubled expression. As Julia was about to leave the shop with a pale face, Old Man Chen held her back.

“Lady, live according to the natural order, don’t sell your conscience.”

“How dare you lecture me. I’m the Duke’s daughter of the Leak family. Tell your boss or whatever alley chief that I won’t forget this insult today.”

Julia entered the VIP room of the Etranger Cafe, carrying the heavy bag of gold bars. While waiting for her maid and knight, she ordered tea and flower-shaped cookies sprinkled with sugar.

She crushed the flower pattern with her teeth. Looking out the open VIP room door, she was searching for someone to vent her anger on.

Clack.

At that moment, a man in a black robe entered the VIP room. He closed the door like a breeze and sat down in front of Julia.

“Lady, I heard you were looking for White Faction hunters.”

In the sunlit window seat, Julia raised her head. The taste of sugar on her tongue was chillingly sweet.

While Harchen was wiping Patricia’s face and hands with a wet cloth, a carriage that had departed from the capital Riswan arrived.

Clodin from the imperial palace and the White Faction old woman had exchanged knowledge and information and collaborated while treating Patrick’s poisoning.

After examining Patricia and Bern, they agreed that they had been exposed to the deadly poison of Datura Purple. The White Faction old woman immediately brewed an antidote called Titan Angel.

Clodin and the old woman concluded that Bern’s paralysis in one leg was likely permanent. They found it mysterious that Patricia remained unconscious despite having no residual toxins or external injuries.

Harchen fed Patricia the antidote brewed by the old woman with a teaspoon. When given the antidote, her temperature would rise momentarily and she would sweat profusely.

Harchen dismissed the maids and personally managed her fever with wet cloths and changed her sweat-soaked nightgown. Then he would sit in a chair and close his eyes briefly.

“Your Majesty. Sleeping like that in the chair will strain your body. Please take care of yourself.”

At Calip’s earnest urging, Harchen finally climbed into the bed where Patricia lay in the early dawn.

It was confusing whether it was morning, dawn, or night. It was also meaningless.

Harchen held her unresponsive body. He showered kisses on her cheeks, neck, and lips, but seeing her lack of response made his insides burn.

Please, save me. I can’t breathe. I feel like I could breathe if you open your eyes.

Incoherent thoughts jumbled together. Whenever he closed his eyes, he invariably ran through the red forest of Lake Pana. He speculated who might have employed the White Faction hunters. While contemplating the decision to return to the palace, he fell asleep before reaching a conclusion.

It felt like a thin ray of light or soft down. Harchen opened his eyes to the sensation of something small and soft lightly touching his eyebrows and cheeks.

And.

Patricia was looking down at him with her big blue eyes wide open. He sat up.

“Pat… Patricia?”

“Wh-who are you?”

Patricia wore an expression as if looking at a stranger.