I’m In Trouble Because My Husband Is So Cute - Chapter 63
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Chapter 63
“And, even if I had a flower branch, I was not worthy of that precious flower branch.”
“I want to give you that, so how can you say that?”
“That’s because I can’t even give you a handkerchief.”
Watching the conversation between Iellie and the Emperor standing, only the innocent Lady Rondo felt her mouth dry. Even though she was smiling on the outside, she could see Iellie sharpening her teeth toward the Emperor.
“To receive Your Majesty’s flower branches, there’ll be many who will be more delighted than I am.”
“If you keep that distance, I’m disappointed.”
“Disappointed? I’m just stating the facts.”
As she answered calmly, the Emperor felt the need to change the subject at this point.
“By the way, Lady, you look very beautiful today.”
“Thanks for the compliment, Your Majesty.”
“Especially the dress that suits you very well.”
…However, it was a defeat.
At his words, Iellie stared at the Emperor with a sweet expression. She opened her mouth, “Yes. I ordered this dress to match the color of my husband’s eyes.”
Her voice bloomed brightly while the Emperor’s thick eyebrows moved, wriggling. Perhaps, because of the discomfort.
“There are old customs in the social world, right?”
“….”
“It’s the custom of a couple or lovers to match their outfits.”
Following her words, she glanced at the Emperor with a squint.
The Emperor inquired about it.
“It’s embarrassing, but my appearance today was quite well received by the other distinguished guests.”
She seemed to move the hem of her dress gently. The dress, which starts with a dark sea color, gradually turns into a deep navy blue as it descended into a rich skirt. It was the same color as Zachary’s robes.
“I would be very happy if Your Majesty could look at me with satisfaction.”
Her dress swayed once again at Iellie’s movement. Above the hem of the dress, crystal beads inlaid like the foam of the sea shone brilliantly.
The Emperor stared blankly at her.
“…Yes.”
It was a situation where he could not be angry, so the Emperor swallowed his breath. Above all, she was very beautiful today. Iellie, who has also drawn on the old customs, was clearly rejecting him.
‘…Do you think I will give up like this?’
The Emperor smiled bitterly.
Just then, a sharp voice was heard… It was Zachary.
“Your Majesty.”
“Ah, the Young Duke also came.”
As if waiting, the Emperor welcomed him. Zachary leaned close to Iellie and wrapped his arms around her. Feeling the warmth passing through the gloves, she was relieved a little.
“Come to think of it, I was looking for the Young Duke the whole time.”
“Me? Why?”
Zachary stared at him with a vigilant look. Seeing that, the Emperor smiled and made eye contact with him.
“Because Annerose wants to give Young Duke a handkerchief.”
For a moment, Iellie and Zachary were confused at the same time. The Princess wanted to give Zachary a handkerchief…? Why?
‘…The Princess? What the hell is the reason?’
Of course, the basic meaning of handkerchiefs exchanged in jousting competitions was that of ‘entrusting the honor of the lady to the knight.’ So, there was no problem in itself for the lady to give the knight a handkerchief.
‘However, Zachary is already married, and there was no reason for the Imperial Family to give a duke a handkerchief…’
Moreover, even if they can receive multiple handkerchiefs, the knight chooses only one handkerchief and wraps it around their wrist.
Also, Zachary would choose Iellie’s handkerchief. Still, to give a handkerchief…
‘…If that is the case, then, is it possible that the Emperor is deliberately trying to use the Princess to keep me in check?’
Thinking that, she stared at the Emperor with her hard face. Iellie had no idea what the Princess is trying to do.
Was he behaving that way even though he now knew that this might be an insult to her?
“Come here, Annerose.”
Then, the Emperor called out to the Princess in a relaxed voice. Iellie noticed it as soon as she saw her face.
‘This is not the Princess’ will.’
On this occasion, it was clear in her eyes that the Princess had almost no will. Her face in the pure white dress was whiter than the dress. She tried to smile, but the Princess’ attitude seemed a bit awkward.
“…Brother.”
“What’s wrong, Annerose?”
The Emperor answered the Princess, pretending to be a pretty friendly brother. The Princess spoke as she bit her lip.
“But, this handkerchief…”
“Oh, what are you doing without giving it to the Young Duke?”
Meanwhile, Annerose clenched the handkerchief in her fist. The bones stood out white over the back of her hand. The Emperor’s smile seemed kind at first glance, though he couldn’t hide his ferocious gaze.
She felt a tight pressure on her neck.
“Hurry.”
“….”
The Emperor urged the Princess with a satisfied voice.
There were many eyes to see. No matter how reckless the Duke may be, this was the heart of the imperial castle. It would be difficult to openly refuse the handkerchief.
‘Really I…I don’t want to do this.’
The Princess closed her eyes tightly. After hesitating for a while, the Princess finally took out the handkerchief and handed it to Zachary.
“Will you take my handkerchief from me, Young Duke?”
Zachary glanced down at the handkerchief with a cold expression. The handkerchief handed to him by the noblest woman in the empire, gave him no expression.
The Princess opened her mouth once more.
“I…I embroidered myself, thinking of the Young Duke.”
The Princess’ following her stuttering was so precarious that it would collapse if touched even a bit, “Praying for your victory, hoping that you will become the owner of the Asha flower branch…”
As the Emperor listened to the conversation, his eyes lit up like a snake. The Princess bowed her head down and finished her words.
“…When you win, I would be very happy if I could receive that flower branch.”
The moment the Princess finished her words, the corners of the Emperor’s lips rose upwards. At the same time, the surrounding atmosphere calmed down. Now, the Princess was saying, ‘I want to receive Asha flower branches’ instead of the wife.
Handing over the handkerchief was barely out of politeness, but this…
‘It’s almost like showing interest in a man with a wife.’
They could understand the Emperor’s intentions. He must have created a strange atmosphere between her and the Young Duke, and thought it wasn’t bad if looked from the outside. The fact that a lady gave the knight a handkerchief was itself explaining that she had feelings for the other person. It didn’t really matter what the insides of the parties were.
‘…It would be enough for the Emperor to just use this current form for political purposes.’
At least, it was clear that the Emperor wanted to take advantage of the Princess.
Iellie felt her head turn white. She understood that the Princess was being used. Still, she was angry.
“Sorry.”
At that moment, a calm voice rang out, and Iellie came to her senses. The owner of the voice was Zachary.
“As you know, I already have someone that gave the handkerchief.”
“If you just take it, I’m fine.”
At his knife-like rejection, Annerose’s face became relieved. She spoke in a more relaxed manner, “You don’t have to wrap the handkerchief around your wrist.”
“No, I still don’t want to.”
He answered firmly once again. Despite her rejection, Annerose smiled happily.
“The Young Duke really cares and loves Lady Hessenweitz.”
“It is natural. No one but Len means anything to me.”
Iellie’s face heated up in his voice. Meanwhile, the Princess nodded her head.
“If the Duke says that, there is nothing I can do about it.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
Zachary continued speaking in a polite voice. His warm blue eyes gazed at Iellie, “I have a wife whom I fervently love, and I want to be faithful to her.”
“Yes. I knew enough about the Young Duke’s heart. I wish you two happiness.”
The Princess took the handkerchief back. The Emperor with a dissatisfied face intervened in the conversation.
“Though it is the handkerchief from the Princess, the most precious woman in the Empire, Young Duke.”
‘So what?’
With those eyes, Zachary looked at the Emperor. Nonetheless, the Emperor asked shamelessly, “It’s just a favor, do you really need to say no?”
“Of course, I need to.”
Zachary answered in a cold voice. Dark blue eyes filled with a smirk and graceful curves.
“Because I don’t want to be close to any woman other than my wife.”
“Isn’t it a matter of just accepting it as a courtesy?”
“No. Iellie is far more important than such trivial courtesy.”
Having said that, Zachary wrapped his arms around Iellie’s shoulder. He continued in a soft tone, “It’s better to be that way than to have Len misunderstood.”
“….”
The Emperor’s face looked hot and defeated for a moment. Zachary had already seen through his inner feelings.
‘He must have been trying to attach the Princess to me to separate Iellie from me and somehow approach her.’
However, he had no intention of succumbing to the plot. Zachary spoke calmly.
“And, Your Majesty…”
The Emperor glanced back at Zachary. He glanced at the Emperor with a calm face and uttered straight away, “I hope you don’t play pranks like this in the future.”
“…What do you mean?”
Unlike his calm voice, his tone was full of sarcasm. The Emperor’s expression hardened.
“Princess Annerose, isn’t she Your Majesty’s only sister?”
Zachary shrugged his shoulders. Although his expression was calm, Zachary was very angry right now.
“To put the pressure on your sister like that, and to have her give me the handkerchief…”
Zachary smiled brightly. The pressure from the best warriors of the Empire rushed in and he swallowed a sigh.
“…I think you should be aware that it’s something that could damage your sister’s honor.”
“Young Duke!”
The Emperor was furious. Still, Zachary didn’t raise an eyebrow. Rather, he smiled coldly at the Emperor.
“The Princess would be stigmatized for clinging to a man with a wife.”
“To say I did this to Annerose, are you not interpreting the child’s favor too much?”
“Well, if you dare say that, I will not deny it separately.”
Having said that, Zachary glanced at the Princess. The Princess chewed her lips and looked at the Emperor, and was startled when Zachary and his gaze met. Well, it was none of his business.
Zachary opened his mouth.
“Anyway, we’re leaving.”
…Huh?
Iellie, who had been listening to the conversation for a while, peered up at Zachary, and he met her eyes and nodded his head slightly.
“Because Len made a promise with me earlier.”
“What, what promise?”
“Don’t you remember? A promise to dance the first dance of the day together.”
Zachary whispered sweetly to Iellie, who was bewildered… Oh, she did.
As she blinks her eyes blankly—
‘…What?’
For a moment, he lightly grabbed the back of her hand. Iellie was bewildered. As he gently raised the back of her hand, she wondered if his gaze was lowering… She widened her eyes.
“Lady.”
Kiss.
A kiss like a butterfly fell. Iellie’s face turned bright red. Zachary whispered.
“Will you give me the honor of doing my first dance?”
“…I am willing.”
Iellie shyly nodded. He didn’t care about the others at all, and he escorted Iellie to the dance hall. The Emperor stared at their backs with a look of inferiority complex. The two set foot on the dance floor side by side.
People’s eyes naturally began to turn towards them. Still, the two held each other’s hands without paying any attention to their gazes.
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