For a moment, Ines opened her mouth and couldn’t answer. She wanted to pretend like nothing happened, but she couldn’t even form a weak smile. The document she received with trembling hands felt as heavy as a stone.
“Your family’s name is in it.”
“...”
“His Majesty the Emperor has appointed your family as the Lord of Landhill.”
In the end, she closed her eyes tightly.
In a world filled with contempt and malice toward Ines Swenden, Carson von Raymond was reaching out to her again.
To climb to the highest place with him.
“It won’t be easy.”
The chamberlain’s last words hung like a thorn in Ines’ neck. The desire to hold Carson’s hand and the guilt of not being able to do so clashed sharply.
“I’ve decided.”
Carson snickered at the sudden determination in his voice, even to his ears.
“What else?”
“I will be closest to Your Majesty for the rest of my life. A place where I will never leave.”
The water in the jug he was holding suddenly stopped, and his back stiffened slightly.
Ines’s eyes were filled with the events that would happen the moment Carson declared that he would make her his Empress. She could not put him in trouble, nor could she leave his side.
“But, you are not yet ready to be my woman...”
“I will become the chamberlain. Definitely!”
She knew that rumors about her being Carson’s mistress were already rife in the imperial court. Up until now, it had not mattered. People were just talking nonsense.
However, if the Empress was elected in this situation, Ines could not stay by his side.
“What... the chamberlain?”
Carson, surprised, seemed unaware that the water was overflowing onto the table.
“The chamberlain.”
“You, have you become a man without me knowing?”
It was a serious concern for her, but she knew that it would sound funny to him.
However, she was serious the whole time.
It was the conclusion of the worries that had started after she found out that he was going to make her the Empress. The Emperor did not have a maid as his closest confidant. Therefore, the only person who could be closest to the Emperor was the chief chamberlain.
“There is no document or law that says that a chamberlain must be a man.”
“Haven’t you ever thought that it is so obvious that it doesn’t even need to be stated in the law?”
Ines raised her head at the words. She smiled brightly as if his words were permission.
“Are you serious?”
“That’s what you’re saying.”
“Then please cheer me on. I will definitely become the chamberlain.”
He stared at Ines with an incomprehensible gaze.
“But why do you live your life so tiringly?”
“What do you mean?”
“Haven’t you ever thought that there might be an easier... way? For example...”
“Even if I’m not the chamberlain, I don’t mind anything as long as I can stay closest to Your Majesty. But as things stand now, that’s the only perfect way for me to stay by Your Majesty’s side day and night. I have no other choice.”
Carson shook his head, drank some of the water in his glass, and brought it to her.
“Why don’t you just say that you’re... my concubine like people say?”
Ines glanced up at him at the provocative words he had mentioned. For some reason, he wasn’t looking at Ines.
“You said your purpose was to be closest to me. Then you could sleep next to me every night...”
Sleep next to him every night? A breathless laugh escaped Ines’ mouth at the words she had never imagined.
“Why are you laughing?”
His voice suddenly became sharp as if he had noticed Ines laughing.
“How could I be Your Majesty’s concubine?”
“Why... why not?”
“Is Your Majesty a man?”
“Then what am I?”
Ines sipped her water because her throat was parched. Did he really not know what she meant to Ines?
“You don’t know, are you asking?”
“Am I your God?”
“It’s similar.”
He laughed as if he was dumbfounded.
Just a few hours ago, he had said that he was not a God, so Ines’ words were understandable. But even so, he couldn’t turn over her feelings that she had harbored for years with just one word.
Carson slowly, but without the slightest deviation, faced Ines head-on.
His eyes licked at her.
There was no sign of impatience anywhere on Carson’s face. Ines was the only one who kept getting anxious as she avoided his gaze. She put strength into her voice as if she was struggling.
“No, it’s more certain than that. I can see it and you reach out to me. To me, you are higher than God.”
Carson was still smiling leisurely.
As if he knew why she was talking nonsense.
Ines frowned at that. If he knew why she was acting like that, he had to consider her feelings as well. Carson von Raymond couldn’t help but know why he had to be a God.
He raised his eyebrows and lowered his eyes, showing his displeasure, but then suddenly smiled and looked away. Even at his unstoppable smile, Ines’ heart raced.
“Is there anyone who feels like a man to you?”
Carson asked with a smirk in his voice as he walked back to the table. She was lost in thought as he shook his head and walked away.
‘Someone who feels like a man...’
Ines looked at his bare upper body. Then, a chill reflexively came over her body. Was it because he knew how hot that body was?
And she immediately thought of Marcus Knight.
The man who had expressed his feelings to her in the cold windy imperial palace garden today. And the man who had smiled so coolly despite her repeated rejections.
Was it okay to use that kind of man now? Ines hesitated, but she was more desperate than ever. If she didn’t reveal his name, the Emperor wouldn’t meet the disciple of the imperial councilor, so it didn’t seem like it would be a big problem.
“Ines?”
She was not good at making up lies, so she couldn’t make up stories. But she couldn’t help but hesitate.
“Ines!”
“Yes?”
“I think I asked you a question just now..?”
“Ah...”
“Oh?”
Ines lifted her glass of water. Her throat was parched, and it was also an act to hide her lying expression.
“Actually...”
“Tell me, don’t try to muddle through.”
Carson urged Ines for the first time. He made a dry expression as if his composure just now was a lie. She smiled a little awkwardly, her cheeks flushing for no reason, even though it was nothing special.
“That... There’s someone who has been expressing good feelings toward me every single day. He knows that I have mental problems, but he doesn’t really care.”
“So...?”
“At first, I thought it would just end, but he’s been doing it pretty consistently.”
At this point, Ines thought it was time to go back to her room. Now, even though she was adjusting her clothes, it didn’t change the fact that she was wearing a completely transparent nightgown, but she straightened up a little.
“Do you feel the same way...?”
Ines took a deep breath and looked at him at the question she heard.
For a moment, his sharp gaze felt familiar.
It seemed as if the confession he had poured out that evening in the office was coming to Ines in real form. It was exactly the same gaze that had driven Ines back with a brilliant glare at the Edmont Temple. That day, when her heart, which had been scratching down without knowing the meaning, replaced the voice of her heart.
“Have you known each other from the beginning?”
How could she not know?
“The person you are looking at right now.”
That gaze stared at her with such a clear meaning that she couldn’t help but know no matter how much she wanted to not know.
“Who is that man?”
That meant she had seen that day when she had first backed away from him who had approached her with such a passionate voice.
Ines closed her eyes for a moment, remembering that day so vividly that she could picture it. How could she have ignored it until now? If only her eyes were not blind and her heart closed.
She had only been running for her revenge. Perhaps Ines’s greed was also wanting to put Carson in the highest position.
If what he really wanted was to have her by his side, and if Ines had known that in advance.
She should not have taken revenge or put Carson on the throne.
How selfish is it to throw yourself to the ground to achieve a low goal and go next to the person who has risen to the top?
Ines bit the soft flesh inside her mouth.
“I can’t say that, but I’m also a human being, so wouldn’t I be shaken? No tree in the world doesn’t fall after ten blows.”
Even if Carson got angry and questioned her words, Ines would just keep her mouth shut. Even if he pressed her to ask if this was her answer to his feelings, her answer was already set.
“There’s no tree that doesn’t fall after ten blows?”
But Carson completely avoided Ines’s thoughts this time. An unexpected word came out of her flustered mouth.
“Huh? That’s just a proverb...”
“Why isn’t there a tree like that in the world?”
“What is that...”
Carson looked down at her sitting on the bed and came close enough that their knees were touching. Ines didn’t even notice him coming closer because she was busy thinking about the meaning of Carson’s words.
“Ines.”
“Your family’s name is in it.”
“...”
“His Majesty the Emperor has appointed your family as the Lord of Landhill.”
In the end, she closed her eyes tightly.
In a world filled with contempt and malice toward Ines Swenden, Carson von Raymond was reaching out to her again.
To climb to the highest place with him.
“It won’t be easy.”
The chamberlain’s last words hung like a thorn in Ines’ neck. The desire to hold Carson’s hand and the guilt of not being able to do so clashed sharply.
“I’ve decided.”
Carson snickered at the sudden determination in his voice, even to his ears.
“What else?”
“I will be closest to Your Majesty for the rest of my life. A place where I will never leave.”
The water in the jug he was holding suddenly stopped, and his back stiffened slightly.
Ines’s eyes were filled with the events that would happen the moment Carson declared that he would make her his Empress. She could not put him in trouble, nor could she leave his side.
“But, you are not yet ready to be my woman...”
“I will become the chamberlain. Definitely!”
She knew that rumors about her being Carson’s mistress were already rife in the imperial court. Up until now, it had not mattered. People were just talking nonsense.
However, if the Empress was elected in this situation, Ines could not stay by his side.
“What... the chamberlain?”
Carson, surprised, seemed unaware that the water was overflowing onto the table.
“The chamberlain.”
“You, have you become a man without me knowing?”
It was a serious concern for her, but she knew that it would sound funny to him.
However, she was serious the whole time.
It was the conclusion of the worries that had started after she found out that he was going to make her the Empress. The Emperor did not have a maid as his closest confidant. Therefore, the only person who could be closest to the Emperor was the chief chamberlain.
“There is no document or law that says that a chamberlain must be a man.”
“Haven’t you ever thought that it is so obvious that it doesn’t even need to be stated in the law?”
To be elected chief chamberlain, you had to have at least the title of Baron. The reason she couldn’t be the chief chamberlain was not because she was a woman, but because women couldn’t have titles. It was ridiculous.
“You’d rather say you want to be the Empress.”
“Mock me all you want. That’s what people said to me when I first said I wanted to be the imperial maid.”
Carson was silent for a moment. Ines waited nervously for the words that would come out of his mouth. Her head naturally bowed.
“Ines, I would never mock you. Respect... I guess that would be different.”
“You’d rather say you want to be the Empress.”
“Mock me all you want. That’s what people said to me when I first said I wanted to be the imperial maid.”
Carson was silent for a moment. Ines waited nervously for the words that would come out of his mouth. Her head naturally bowed.
“Ines, I would never mock you. Respect... I guess that would be different.”
Ines raised her head at the words. She smiled brightly as if his words were permission.
“Are you serious?”
“That’s what you’re saying.”
“Then please cheer me on. I will definitely become the chamberlain.”
He stared at Ines with an incomprehensible gaze.
“But why do you live your life so tiringly?”
“What do you mean?”
“Haven’t you ever thought that there might be an easier... way? For example...”
“Even if I’m not the chamberlain, I don’t mind anything as long as I can stay closest to Your Majesty. But as things stand now, that’s the only perfect way for me to stay by Your Majesty’s side day and night. I have no other choice.”
Carson shook his head, drank some of the water in his glass, and brought it to her.
“Why don’t you just say that you’re... my concubine like people say?”
Ines glanced up at him at the provocative words he had mentioned. For some reason, he wasn’t looking at Ines.
“You said your purpose was to be closest to me. Then you could sleep next to me every night...”
Sleep next to him every night? A breathless laugh escaped Ines’ mouth at the words she had never imagined.
“Why are you laughing?”
His voice suddenly became sharp as if he had noticed Ines laughing.
“How could I be Your Majesty’s concubine?”
“Why... why not?”
“Is Your Majesty a man?”
“Then what am I?”
Ines sipped her water because her throat was parched. Did he really not know what she meant to Ines?
“You don’t know, are you asking?”
“Am I your God?”
“It’s similar.”
He laughed as if he was dumbfounded.
Just a few hours ago, he had said that he was not a God, so Ines’ words were understandable. But even so, he couldn’t turn over her feelings that she had harbored for years with just one word.
Carson slowly, but without the slightest deviation, faced Ines head-on.
His eyes licked at her.
There was no sign of impatience anywhere on Carson’s face. Ines was the only one who kept getting anxious as she avoided his gaze. She put strength into her voice as if she was struggling.
“No, it’s more certain than that. I can see it and you reach out to me. To me, you are higher than God.”
Carson was still smiling leisurely.
As if he knew why she was talking nonsense.
Ines frowned at that. If he knew why she was acting like that, he had to consider her feelings as well. Carson von Raymond couldn’t help but know why he had to be a God.
He raised his eyebrows and lowered his eyes, showing his displeasure, but then suddenly smiled and looked away. Even at his unstoppable smile, Ines’ heart raced.
“Is there anyone who feels like a man to you?”
Carson asked with a smirk in his voice as he walked back to the table. She was lost in thought as he shook his head and walked away.
‘Someone who feels like a man...’
Ines looked at his bare upper body. Then, a chill reflexively came over her body. Was it because he knew how hot that body was?
And she immediately thought of Marcus Knight.
The man who had expressed his feelings to her in the cold windy imperial palace garden today. And the man who had smiled so coolly despite her repeated rejections.
Was it okay to use that kind of man now? Ines hesitated, but she was more desperate than ever. If she didn’t reveal his name, the Emperor wouldn’t meet the disciple of the imperial councilor, so it didn’t seem like it would be a big problem.
“Ines?”
She was not good at making up lies, so she couldn’t make up stories. But she couldn’t help but hesitate.
“Ines!”
“Yes?”
“I think I asked you a question just now..?”
“Ah...”
“Oh?”
Ines lifted her glass of water. Her throat was parched, and it was also an act to hide her lying expression.
“Actually...”
“Tell me, don’t try to muddle through.”
Carson urged Ines for the first time. He made a dry expression as if his composure just now was a lie. She smiled a little awkwardly, her cheeks flushing for no reason, even though it was nothing special.
“That... There’s someone who has been expressing good feelings toward me every single day. He knows that I have mental problems, but he doesn’t really care.”
“So...?”
“At first, I thought it would just end, but he’s been doing it pretty consistently.”
At this point, Ines thought it was time to go back to her room. Now, even though she was adjusting her clothes, it didn’t change the fact that she was wearing a completely transparent nightgown, but she straightened up a little.
“Do you feel the same way...?”
Ines took a deep breath and looked at him at the question she heard.
For a moment, his sharp gaze felt familiar.
It seemed as if the confession he had poured out that evening in the office was coming to Ines in real form. It was exactly the same gaze that had driven Ines back with a brilliant glare at the Edmont Temple. That day, when her heart, which had been scratching down without knowing the meaning, replaced the voice of her heart.
“Have you known each other from the beginning?”
How could she not know?
“The person you are looking at right now.”
That gaze stared at her with such a clear meaning that she couldn’t help but know no matter how much she wanted to not know.
“Who is that man?”
That meant she had seen that day when she had first backed away from him who had approached her with such a passionate voice.
Ines closed her eyes for a moment, remembering that day so vividly that she could picture it. How could she have ignored it until now? If only her eyes were not blind and her heart closed.
She had only been running for her revenge. Perhaps Ines’s greed was also wanting to put Carson in the highest position.
If what he really wanted was to have her by his side, and if Ines had known that in advance.
She should not have taken revenge or put Carson on the throne.
How selfish is it to throw yourself to the ground to achieve a low goal and go next to the person who has risen to the top?
Ines bit the soft flesh inside her mouth.
“I can’t say that, but I’m also a human being, so wouldn’t I be shaken? No tree in the world doesn’t fall after ten blows.”
Even if Carson got angry and questioned her words, Ines would just keep her mouth shut. Even if he pressed her to ask if this was her answer to his feelings, her answer was already set.
“There’s no tree that doesn’t fall after ten blows?”
But Carson completely avoided Ines’s thoughts this time. An unexpected word came out of her flustered mouth.
“Huh? That’s just a proverb...”
“Why isn’t there a tree like that in the world?”
“What is that...”
Carson looked down at her sitting on the bed and came close enough that their knees were touching. Ines didn’t even notice him coming closer because she was busy thinking about the meaning of Carson’s words.
“Ines.”
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