Picked Up a Beast, Turns Out He's an Emperor (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 13

Just moments ago, flames had blocked their path, but now the heavy downpour made it hard even to open one’s eyes.

As if locked in a struggle, the torrential rain and dancing flames surged toward each other and became entangled. Before long, the dark red smoke that had risen high into the sky vanished, leaving only the sound of pounding rain in the charred forest.

The Emperor, who had climbed onto the cliff opposite, stood motionless, exhaling ragged breaths. His arms still encircled Arabella’s head and waist without the slightest slack.

Amid the drumming rain and animal cries from all around… thump-thump-thump—her ears vibrated with the vivid sound of a pounding heartbeat.

It was impossible to tell whether it was the Emperor’s or her own—the two hearts pressed together first beat out of sync, but now throbbed as one.

For the briefest moment, a warm weight settled gently atop Arabella’s head, which had been nestled against the Emperor’s chest, then withdrew. Soon, large hands grasped her slender shoulders, carefully but firmly pulling her away from his embrace.

Lifting her gaze to meet the Emperor’s crimson eyes, Arabella’s narrow shoulders trembled faintly. His eyes, deeply shadowed and reflecting nothing, held a chilling, serene sneer upon his handsome face.

It was a side of the Emperor she had never seen before—like the eerie calm just before a volcano erupts.

Though afraid, Arabella felt an inexplicable certainty that she must not look away from his gaze. Suppressing the urge to lower her head, she looked up at him through trembling lashes.

His red lips parted, releasing a voice as cold as the rain.

“Did I not clearly order you to wait inside the tent?”

“…….”

Arabella opened her mouth to reply, but only a pale puff of breath escaped—no sound came out.

“Do you even understand how dangerous the situation was?”

“…….”

His calm, emotionless tone was colder than the rain pelting her face. For some reason, her chest ached, and though she tried to speak, her lips refused to move.

The hands gripping her stiff shoulders tightened, causing Arabella’s eyes to widen as she stared into the Emperor’s. His previously icy red eyes now surged with indescribable waves of emotion, engulfing her brown irises.

A thunderous cry erupted, instantly silencing the clamor of the forest.

“You nearly died! Do you understand? It was dangerous!”

“…….Huh… huh… huh….”

Tears Arabella had held back all night spilled from her eyes, and thin sobs escaped her lips.

“Huh-huh… I’m so sorry… Huh, huh… Only now do I realize my negligence put Your Majesty in danger… Please forgive my foolishness… Huh, huh… I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”

Her eyes filled with the sight of the Emperor’s torn clothes and burns and scratches from tree branches. Thick tears streamed down Arabella’s cheeks, mingling with the rain.

When rescuing me from the broken bridge, His Majesty had risked his life. It was a situation where he could have lost everything…

Overwhelmed with guilt for endangering the dignified Emperor of the empire, Arabella’s whole body trembled.

[Why are you never of any help? You only bring trouble to us. We’re sick of it.] [Your bad luck rubs off on all of us! Tch, what rotten luck that you alone were born without our family’s healing ability. Don’t even come near us!] [Don’t you think your mother must have hated you so much she abandoned even her family and ran away? If even your own mother couldn’t love you, who else possibly could? Don’t be ridiculous.]

Her father, sisters, and aunt’s family had been right. Struggling desperately to stifle her sobs, Arabella berated herself.

His Majesty has shown me nothing but kindness… Yet I’ve brought him nothing but harm. I followed to help him, but instead nearly cost him his life.

Arabella had grown up scolded whenever she cried loudly. Biting her lower lip until it bled, she stifled her weeping to keep it from escaping.

“Haa….”

At Arabella’s repeated apologies, Maxwell let out a long, exasperated sigh. The pressure of his hands on her slender shoulders loosened.

“Do you truly think I’m angry because I nearly died? That I’m this agitated because you put me in danger?”

Arabella lowered her gaze and gave a small nod at his low, measured tone.

“Lift your head and look me in the eyes. Did I not tell you? When you’re with me, never avert your gaze.”

At the Emperor’s calm command, Arabella raised her tear-blurred eyes to meet his.

His crimson eyes had once again returned to their dignified stillness.

“Look me in the eyes and tell me—do you really believe that’s why I’m angry?”

Confused by his meaning, Arabella stared blankly into the Emperor’s eyes.

Then… her round eyes widened as if she’d suddenly understood something, and fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.

“C-could it be… you’re angry… because I… almost died…?”

Her tearful voice trembled pitifully.

“Do you finally understand? Why I was angry?”

It was the Emperor’s familiar voice—gruff yet laced with playful affection.

It was unbelievable. Someone risking danger to save me… Worrying over my life and getting angry on my behalf—this was all a first for her.

Arabella covered her mouth with both hands to suppress her bursting sobs, but the Emperor drew her into his arms.

“If you’re moved, don’t stifle your tears—cry as loudly as you please. Only then will I know just how deeply I’ve touched your heart, won’t I?”

Though his words teased, his hands gently stroked her head and patted her back with tender care.

“Huh… huh… Aaah… Waaahh… Boo hoo hoo…”

With her face buried in the Emperor’s broad chest, Arabella finally cried freely and unrestrainedly for the first time.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Your Majesty!”

The Emperor’s knights, who had been waiting outside Lord Laurell’s estate, spotted an approaching white horse and rushed forward.

At the cold break of dawn, the royal guards who had scattered to search for the Emperor and Arabella were regrouping in threes and fives to return to the estate—just as the Emperor arrived.

“We’re so relieved you’re unharmed.”

Sir Jacob greeted him heartily, placing a hand on his chest—an uncharacteristically delicate gesture for his large frame. Instantly, the Emperor’s index finger pressed urgently to his lips.

“Shh.”

At the Emperor’s signal for silence, Sir Jacob and the guards fell quiet, their eyes drawn to the small bundle cradled in the Emperor’s arms.

Arabella was nestled deep within the Emperor’s cloak, her head to her toes completely wrapped, with only half her face peeking out as she slept.

“I’ll carry her for you.”

“No need.”

When Counselor Kael stretched out his arms toward Arabella in the Emperor’s hold, the Emperor replied curtly.

At the chilling flash in the Emperor’s eyes, Kael shuddered involuntarily, though he had no idea why.

With one arm holding Arabella and the other gripping the reins, the Emperor dismounted gracefully, his long legs moving with practiced ease.

“Take Cassius to rest. You’ve done well.”

At the Emperor’s order, two soldiers swiftly led the white horse toward the lord’s stables.

“Is the bedroom ready?”

“Yes, the head maid and maids from the estate have finished preparing the guest room on the third floor and are awaiting your arrival.”

Kael opened his mouth to repeat, “I’ll carry her for you,” but quickly thought better of it and stayed silent before the weary Emperor.

The Emperor, cradling Arabella, seemed to shield her like a precious treasure he wouldn’t even let others glimpse.

Honestly, the word that had flashed through his mind wasn’t “treasure” but “prey”—though he quickly banished the thought.

Kael wasn’t the only one who felt it safer to avert his gaze. Sir Jacob, Sir Peter—just returned from the mountain—and the assembled guards hastily scattered in different directions.

As Maxwell climbed the spiral staircase, his large hand spread out to shield Arabella’s closed eyes from the bright chandelier light.

Comfortable and blissfully unaware, her small head nuzzled deeper into his chest, causing the Emperor’s long Adam’s apple to bob once heavily.

When Maxwell carried Arabella into the bedroom, fragrant lavender steam rose pleasantly from a pristine white porcelain tub set beside the fireplace.

“We’ve prepared a warm bath, as sleeping in these clothes might give you a chill.”

The head maid and two maids greeted the Emperor as he entered, their voices trembling too timidly to meet the face of the man who had turned this place into a bloodbath just hours earlier.

The Emperor beheading the cruel and depraved Count Laurell and his sons had been welcome news to all the estate’s residents.

Yet the sight of the Emperor swinging his sword—merciless and without hesitation, witnessed by the guards holding their breath—had chilled them to the bone, leaving them praying he would never appear even in their dreams.

Maxwell gave a slight nod and carefully laid Arabella onto the bed.

As the Emperor loomed over them in shadow, the women’s faces flushed with confusion. They expected him to leave so they could undress the young lady, yet he showed no sign of moving.

‘Ah, so they’re… involved. That’s why His Majesty personally carried her here. We even prepared separate sleeping quarters—how foolish of us.’

The head maid finally understood and exchanged knowing glances with the maids.

As the women approached Arabella to unbutton her soot-stained dress, a voice as cold as frost murmured lowly.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“We were unbuttoning her dress… to help her bathe…”

The startled head maid bowed her head as she answered.

‘What do you think you’re doing?’ As if they’d secretly touched something that belonged to him without permission.

Having bathed the countess and her three daughters for over twenty years, the head maid’s eyes darted helplessly.

‘Could His Majesty possibly want to bathe with the young lady?’

‘Then shouldn’t we leave?’

‘If we stay without reading the room, we might get burned by stray sparks.’

As the three flustered women communicated silently with their eyes, the Emperor spoke again—reluctant but resigned.

“Then… assist her bath carefully.”

“Y-yes! We’ll serve her with utmost care.”

After hearing the head maid’s reply, the Emperor turned toward the bedroom door—but suddenly froze, his crimson eyes widening.

His legs locked in place as if turned to stone. His gaze dropped to a tiny hand clutching his index and middle fingers. Its owner slept peacefully, displaying a serene, happy smile on her innocent face.

Unconsciously, the Emperor reached his other hand toward Arabella’s sleeping face.

When his palm cupped her soft cheek, her small head instinctively turned into his touch, rubbing gently against his hand. He felt her delicate lashes, her plump, moist lips, all within his palm.

‘Hah.’

Feeling heat spread through every corner of his body, the Emperor clenched his molars tightly.

Arabella must surely be a spy sent by a rival nation—specifically to test the sanity he’d never once lost.

First, she’d leapt into the inferno to save wild beasts, provoking his fury. Now, she stirred every cell in his body, driving him into a furnace of arousal.

What infuriated him most was that the very culprit who’d left him throbbing below slept peacefully, utterly unaware, breathing softly in slumber.

As the Emperor stood motionless, refusing to withdraw his hand, the maids grew anxious.

Should they pretend not to notice and leave the two alone? Or undress the young lady under the Emperor’s watchful gaze? Unable to discern his intentions, the maids stood helplessly for a long while, communicating only through exchanged glances.