…… Thus, there was no significant change in the Emperor’s movements. His health is gradually recovering, but from what has been observed so far, it seems that he will continue to remain a bystander.”
Sinclair’s imperial palace.
Rex, who was reporting in the audience room, was dressed completely differently from when he was usually guarding the Emperor.
Instead of the luxurious and flashy clothes that signified the Emperor’s knighthood, he was wearing an outfit that was entirely black and not easily noticeable.
The reason was simple. Anyway, there were many watchful eyes in the imperial palace, and among them, there were still a few of the Emperor’s people. In such a situation, if a rumor spread that Rex, the Emperor’s guard knight, had met with Sinclair, it was obvious that it would raise suspicion.
“Hister.”
Sinclair, who was sitting with his legs crossed, asked in a dry voice while carefully reading the report Rex had given.
“He seems to have other intentions.”
Rex carefully opened his lips.
“The Emperor himself is not a problem, but recently, there have been a few unfamiliar faces in the imperial palace. And those who are already known are making excuses to secretly meet with Hister, so it seems that he has started to plant people. My guess is that perhaps……”
Rex hesitated for a moment, then continued with a slightly apologetic expression.
“…… I think he intends to kill the Emperor.”
“……”
“Anyway, from Hister’s perspective, now would be the most appropriate time for the current Emperor, who is barely holding onto the position of crown prince, to die. With the justification of his position, he will easily become the next Emperor without any effort.”
“Yes, I see.”
“…… Your Highness?”
Despite receiving a report that his younger brother had decided to kill his father, Sinclair’s face was as usual as ever. He only gave a short reply as if he had heard a routine greeting, showing no reaction at all.
Rex pondered for a moment, then cautiously asked.
“What should we do.”
“……”
“If Hister really intends to kill the Emperor as I expect, there is a high possibility that he will make a move soon……”
“Leave it be.”
“Pardon?”
“I said to leave it as it is.”
Sinclair finally looked at Rex and spoke after putting down the report.
“It’s something I expected anyway. Besides, the Emperor’s usefulness has already ended. Even if he lives longer, there will be nothing that will benefit me.”
“…… But if the Emperor is assassinated, won’t Hister immediately ascend to the throne?”
“I know that much too.”
“Then……”
“At the very moment Hister sits at the highest point. Right when he feels he has everything in his hands, he will fall to hell.”
Sinclair said in a dry voice.
“I’m just waiting for that moment.”
“……”
“So, leave it be.”
Rex was right. It won’t take long anyway. Hister had made up his mind and finished his preparations. Now that he had the Grand Duchy of Lundberg and the Duchy of Rockford in his hands, it was time for him to make a move.
Although he was his biological father, Sinclair had no interest in the Emperor’s death.
“The Emperor will thoroughly enjoy the blessing of having a good son.”
“Pardon……?”
“I think it’s a good fortune even if he dies like this now. Anyway, he won’t live long, so rather than spending a painful time groaning in his sickbed, it might be happier to be killed by his beloved son.”
“……”
“If Hister is willing to dirty his hands, I have nothing to be disappointed about.”
…… He knew. He was not unaware. The fact that Sinclair Butler was a man who would not hesitate to use any means and methods if he had a purpose he wanted to achieve.
Rex also knew that everything Sinclair said was true, but for some reason, the Sinclair in front of him felt like a slightly different person from the one he had seen until now.
Was it because of those eyes that were colder than ever before? Was it because of the atmosphere? Was it because of the cold and calculated words he uttered?
Rex couldn’t tell.
He just pretended not to notice the distinct chills and fear he clearly felt.
“That’s all for the report, Rex.”
“…… Yes. If there are any other movements from Hister or the Emperor, I will send someone immediately. Don’t worry.”
“Then that’s enough.”
Sinclair, who put down the report with a thud on the table, got up from his seat without even giving Rex a chance to say more. Then he began to leave the audience room without even looking back.
He’s probably going back to the bedroom. To meet Her Highness the Imperial Princess as soon as possible.
Even while having such thoughts, Rex’s eyes, which were looking at the closed door, were still filled with clear worry.
“Ah, Sir Rex.”
And not long after, a pleasant face appeared.
“Sir Glen.”
“It’s been a while. You’re doing dangerous work, so I wonder if you’ve been well.”
Glen approached with a smile and kindly asked about Rex’s well-being, and Rex nodded as if he was fine.
“I’m on my way back after finishing my prayers. As you know, until now, the position of the High Priest has been vacant, so even a priest like me who was politically ignored can now offer prayers.”
“At least that’s fortunate.”
“Is that so?”
Glen smiled slightly.
Rex stared at Glen silently for a moment, then took a quick look around.
After confirming that there was no one around, Rex slowly approached Glen. And in a very small voice, he asked Glen.
“Did something special happen to His Highness?”
“…… Pardon?”
“It’s just…… I don’t know why, but I have a slightly uneasy feeling. It feels different from what I have seen while serving him until now……”
Sigh.
Instead of answering, Glen let out a heavy sigh. So Rex instinctively realized. The fact that Glen was also having the same thought as him.
“I’m sorry to say this about His Highness Sinclair, but I also feel that His Highness seems to be somehow chased these days.”
“……”
“I thought he had become much more stable after welcoming Lady Elaina as the Imperial Princess, but rather, these days, it seems that he is more anxious because of that reason……”
Imperial Princess.
Was that crippled Imperial Princess the problem?
But it was incomprehensible. Rex already knew. The fact that the relationship between Sinclair and Elaina was really special.
Then why, why was Sinclair so anxious?
“…… I don’t know.”
Eventually, Rex spoke again with a low, hoarse voice.
“There’s no reason for His Highness to be so anxious, right? Of course, I can’t fully understand his mind…… but for now, everything is going according to His Highness’s will. He had already predicted Hister’s movements as well.”
“……”
“Then what is it that makes our Prince so anxious?”
“Well.”
Glen answered with a slightly weak smile.
“If a person who had nothing to lose until now has someone precious to protect…… it could be like that.”
“……”
“In addition, if he is gripped by the fear that the person can leave him at any time, even more so.”
“…… Leave him, you say?”
“Moreover, if that person is someone he has dreamed of for a lifetime, it goes without saying.”
At Glen’s words, which were not easy to understand, Rex narrowed his eyes slightly.
But Glen didn’t say anything more. He just smiled bitterly.
“Sir Rex, unfortunately, neither you, nor I, nor even Sir Schuler can help with that anxiety.”
“What does that mean?”
“It’s exactly as I said earlier. That anxiety has followed Sinclair like a ghost throughout his life, never tiring, every single time. Not only in the imperial palace but even on the battlefield.”
“……”
“The only one who holds the key to resolving His Highness Sinclair’s anxiety is none other than our Imperial Princess…… Lady Elaina.”
Also, the person who can completely break a man named Sinclair Butler is the same.
Glen made an expression full of regret.
“Perhaps that anxiety may worsen and even drive His Highness completely insane.”
“Then do you mean we should just watch it happen?”
“Yes.”
At Glen’s words, which were nothing but firm, Rex greatly flinched.
“We can’t help with anything. Until His Highness Sinclair and Lady Elaina can truly see each other’s true selves.”
“……”
“And the outcome of everything that happens after that will only be determined by Lady Elaina’s hands, as I mentioned earlier.”
Even as he uttered those words, Glen thought it was not easy to predict.
If Elaina, who learns all the facts, will still choose Sinclair despite that.
Despite that, will she still love him?
Only Elaina would know the answer to that.
“Let’s go back now. It’s late at night. The Emperor may look for you again soon.”
“…… I understand. Sir Glen, please always be careful too. Now, it wouldn’t be strange for anything to happen in this imperial palace at any time.”
“Yes. You too, Sir Rex.”
With a short conversation, the two bid farewell to each other. While trying hard to suppress the suffocating feeling that kept welling up in their hearts.
* * *
Elaina quietly looked at Sinclair, who was holding her tightly without a single piece of clothing on her.
“Why.”
“……”
“Did I perhaps…… push you too hard?”
Sinclair was right. These days, he embraced Elaina frequently, almost every day. Very urgently and desperately, as if he were being chased by something.
If she said she didn’t like being held by him, that would be a blatant lie.
However, the anxiety of unknown origin kept turning its head, and no matter how many times she turned, it would devour Elaina greedily.
Just like right now.
“Elaina……?”
Elaina didn’t answer. Instead, she faced Sinclair, who was holding her as if trapping her in his arms.
And then, after a considerable amount of time had passed, she slowly opened her lips.
Male lead is a Destined Young Husband (Female-dominant)
One-sentence summary: Wife-master, listen to my explanation!
Li Ruantang, a young lady from a prestigious family, stumbled and fell. When she woke up, she saw a noble and beautiful young man sitting by her bedside, wiping away tears.
The young master had slightly reddened eyes, and his every move exuded charm.
The sight made Li Ruantang’s eyes hot and her heart flutter. After all, she had made a bet with the young master Meng from the neighboring family. If she couldn’t marry a husband before the end of the year, she would have to admit defeat and give up the jade she had worked so hard to obtain.
Outside the window, the flowers were in full bloom.
Rather than losing the bet, the jade, and her face, Li Ruantang calculated that it would be better to seek marriage with the young master in front of her, killing three birds with one stone.
…
Meng Jun never thought that an accident during a spring outing would lead to them rolling down a cliff and into a river, yet still survive.
Now they were trapped in an unknown village, and Meng Jun had overheard that the family who had rescued them had their own intentions.
After all, it was Li Ruantang who had lost her mind and sought marriage first. He was only trying to protect himself!
Glancing at Li Ruantang, who was listing her own merits, the young husband’s voice softened, and he blushed as he lied, “W-wife-master, Wife-master, don’t you remember me?”
The young husband’s voice was clear and handsome, coaxing Li Ruantang’s heart to be soft and sweet, and she spared no effort to protect him.
It wasn’t until they returned to the capital that Li Ruantang suddenly remembered.
When they had fallen off the cliff, in order not to implicate Wei Yunruo, whom he secretly admired, the young husband had instead pulled her, who was slightly farther away, down the cliff with him…
Short summary by Yuushi L: Initially, the male lead (ML) liked another girl, while the female lead (FL) liked the ML. Both fell off a cliff. The FL temporarily lost her memory, and the ML, fearing others might take advantage of him, claimed FL was his wife while they were staying in a village. Later, when they returned home, the FL regained her memories and remembered that the ML liked someone else, so she kept her distance from him. However, during their time living together in the countryside, the ML’s view of the FL had completely changed. From this point, his pursuit of the FL begins.
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