Empress of Otherverse Chapter 51

Chapter 51:

Lucretius said proudly. It was ridiculous.

“I’m such an understanding guy. Look how I am treating you! I am willing to do anything you ask, even though you won’t even look at !”

“Oh, sure...”

I didn’t have any energy left to argue with him. When he saw my expression, he laughed.

“I think if I go on any further, you will get really angry.”

“You’re right,” I answered calmly.

He chuckled and pulled the rope beside the bed to call for a maid.

He continued, “I know you still don’t believe , but my feeling for you is genuine. I will prove it to you.”

“Prove it to how?”

When I looked at him curiously, he whispered to , “It will be a ball season soon. I will be throwing a banquet in your honor.”

“A ball?”

“Yes. It will be the biggest one of this year. Every important figure from all over the world will be invited. Soone you know will also attend.”

“Who?”

“Soone you have t before.”

I couldn’t figure out who it could be.

“It’s soone I know?”

“Yes. It’s the priestess.”

Oh! Oh! I rembered. That lady!

She was the one who was present in the room when Lucretius declared himself the new emperor for the first ti. If Lucretius was the most handso man I had ever t here, then the priestess was the most beautiful woman around.

He touched my cheek gently and whispered, “She is the symbol of our religion Aos. It is believed Aos began even before the beginning of our history.”

“And how would you prove your feeling by that?”

“I will explain. The biggest treasure in Aos is the record by every priest and priestess in history. It includes everything that has happened on this land.”

I was surprised. He smiled vaguely and continued, “If there were ever a person who ca from a different world like you, there could be a record of it. The priestess is the only one who has access to this record.”

My mind beca a turmoil. I couldn’t understand why he was voluntarily giving this information.

If his feelings for were genuine, then he wouldn’t want to leave. That was my biggest fear. What if he won’t let go? I was afraid.

I was wrong. He was really helping to return ho as he promised. He was doing it even before I kept my side of the bargain, which was to help him thwart the dowager empress.

I bit my lips, which were dry.

I asked sharply, “Why?”

“Like I just said, I want you to choose voluntarily. This ans I need to provide you with all possible options. To tell you the truth, I don’t think even the priestess will be able to find a way for you to return. Anyway, it will also be advantageous to have a good relationship with the priestess.”

I didn’t know what to say. If I accepted this as proof of his sincerity, that ant I had to acknowledge his feelings for .

After a few seconds of silence, I asked, “What is it that you want in return?”

“...”

Give and take. This was what I learned from him. This was how I defined our relationship.

He flinched. I wanted to ignore it, but his disappointed expression was one I cannot ignore. He touched my chin and gave an answer that surprised .

“I would like you to call Luc.”

What?

For a second, I thought I misheard him.

He knew I was stunned, so he said it again.

“I would like you to call Luc.”

“...”

I started to sweat. Yesterday, he asked to call him Lucretius, and now, he wanted to call him by a pet na. I stared at him like a cautious cat.

“...”

“...”

Another silence fell. Unlike my worry, he didn’t insist on completing my part of the deal right away even though he had all the right to ask of in exchange for this favor.

Then why didn’t he?

There was only one reason I could think of.

To , I could only accept a business relationship with him. I had hoped he would want the sa thing, but I was beginning to think perhaps he really did want more.

Did he really feel sothing for ?

My heart started to beat fast. I felt strange. What was this feeling?

I had to ignore it before it beca too big. I decided to take up on his offer. I said to him.

“Lu... c...”

A happy smile blood on his face. It was so bright I almost fell for him right then and there. I turned away quickly.

He said to , “I like it.”

He giggled like a child. I beca red as I yelled, “Why are you smiling!”

He continued to grin and replied, “Because I’m happy.”

I beca speechless.

He was acting like a prince from a fairy tale. It was so strange to see him being kind and loving. I didn’t know why, but I felt anxious while my heart fluttered.

He was acting like a completely different person. This was not the Lucretius le Cransia I knew. He was being so sweet.

He was a man who killed his own father and wife. He also handed a cup with poisoned water. However, right now, it was hard to believe he was the sa person.

I wondered if he asked to call him Luc because he wanted to see him as a man in love rather than Lucretius le Cransia, the emperor.

***

My head felt heavy. Was it because I was thinking too hard? It felt like a balloon filled with water. Like pricking the water balloon with a needle, I wanted to get all my thoughts out of my head.

I watched as the maids and servants worked busily around .

Suddenly, soone walked towards .

It was Lisbeth.

“...”

We were one of the few people who weren’t actively working. She sat in front of with a sour face.

Everyone else was working to get ready for the banquet. The emperor announced his plan yesterday.

There wasn’t much ti to prepare because it was such a short notice. The castle and the entire kingdom were bustling with excitent.

This would be the first ball ever the new emperor held. It would be the biggest event of the year. As Cransia was the biggest kingdom of this land, the royalties from other nations would be attending too.

This would be a celebration for the entire world.

Every available body was recruited to get prepared.

Samantha ca to in a hurry. She was holding several pieces of paper.

“Your highness, I have brought you the list of nas you asked for.”

I took it with a smile.

“Thank you.”

My work began now, which ant Lisbeth was the only person in the entire castle who wasn’t working. Even if I wanted her to work, I couldn’t let her. She couldn’t accomplish even the easiest tasks.

After Lisbeth showed how incompetent she was, no one ever gave her any responsibilities. She was quickly becoming an outsider.

Despite it, she didn’t show any effort to change this situation. She didn’t even try, but I knew why. The only reason for her to accept this position was because she wanted to be noticed by Lucretius.

Her ultimate goal was probably to replace .

I had to stop myself from laughing out loud. Just thinking about Lisbeth standing beside the emperor was so ridiculous.

I didn’t like the idea at all.

I was at a crossroad. I thought very hard, and I was sure I ca up with the right decision. I had thought of it well last night.

I just couldn’t accept Lucretius’s feeling even though I now knew he was sincere.

The main reason was that I was not of this world.

My only priority was to survive and return ho.

This ant Lucretius’s feeling was a hindrance to . I thought very carefully last night. Thankfully, Lucretius had too much work and didn’t co to my room, so I had plenty of ti alone to think.

Would it be better if I made an attempt to push Lisbeth towards the emperor? I did consider it briefly. If he beca interested in another woman, he would lose his interest in . Not to ntion, this world was filled with won who wanted to be in his bed.

I really wanted to go back ho. This ant I couldn’t accept his feeling.

I knew he felt this way because I was the only woman in his life right now. Even if this wasn’t the case, it didn’t matter. I didn’t care.

I just needed to make things work.