RVMPT Chapter 55

Chapter 55

“Hurry, Harold.”

I glared at him, my thick lips trembling as I urged him on.

“You… surely not…”

His voice wavered. It seemed Harold had realized what I was about to do.

His thick fingers gently pressed against my lips. His wavering eyes lingered on my lips before meeting my eyes.

“Are you giving me permission?”

“There’s no other choice, is there? Just lower your head already.”

Did it even matter at this moment? Frustrated, I grabbed his arm.

Harold swallowed hard. My insides were burning with anxiety, but he smiled instead.

“Then, I’ll take that as a yes.”

Harold carefully cupped my chin.

He tilted his head slightly, his eyelids lowering as if he was about to close his eyes.

Just before our lips touched—

Knock, knock.

“Duke Harold Baisen, Duchess Diana Baisen. His Majesty the Emperor wishes to see you both.”

Harold’s brows furrowed dangerously. His expression looked like he wanted to tear the servant apart for interrupting.

I felt the same way. I hadn’t finished treating him yet! 

They could’ve at least come later!

Harold straightened his clothes, and I put on the gloves I had tossed aside earlier.

“You stay here. I’ll go alone.”

“No.”

“Diana.”

“The Emperor summoned the ‘Duke and Duchess of Baisen.’ That means I have to go too.”

I couldn’t back down, especially since Harold still needed treatment. I glared at him stubbornly.

“…You’re quite persistent.”

Harold sighed and held out his hand to me.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes!”

Afraid he might change his mind, I quickly took his hand.

As we pulled back the curtains and opened the terrace door, the Emperor’s servant awaited us.

The eyes of the nobles in the ballroom turned toward us. First, Kaiden had drawn their attention by asking me to dance, and now, with the Emperor’s servant appearing, even more eyes were on us.

Among them was Kaiden.

Ignoring his piercing red gaze, I focused on the servant in front of me.

“Where is His Majesty?”

“He is waiting for you both at the Solar Palace.”

…The Solar Palace? Not even in the same palace? That was a 30-minute carriage ride away. 

The Emperor clearly intended for Harold to suffer from the poison for as long as possible.

‘Let’s think positively. At least I can treat him during the ride.’

But that small hope was shattered when the Emperor’s servant boarded the carriage with us, claiming it was an imperial order.

“What’s your name?”

“I am Vivan Atlock… But why do you ask?”

Harold’s voice was low as he responded.

“So I can remember it.”

“…!”

“If you had come just five minutes later, I might have forgotten.”

“…Hic!”

Even after arriving at the Solar Palace, we had to wait again at the entrance of the audience chamber.

“His Majesty has not yet arrived.”

“I see… Baron Vivan Atlock.”

“…Hic!”

Harold’s breathing grew more labored as time passed. My own throat felt dry.

I was worried about his condition, but more than that, I wondered why Emperor Alexed had summoned us.

‘Did he really call us just to give a warning?’

I was starting to fear that he might have already discovered my connection with Prince Andrew. The idea that he would go so far as to use poison just for a warning made no sense to me.

After a long wait, the grand doors to the audience chamber finally opened.

The Emperor sat on a golden throne, now wearing a sword at his waist. Unlike his lavish crown, the jewel-encrusted sword seemed more decorative than practical.

“We greet the Sun of the Empire, Your Majesty.”

Harold and I bowed respectfully.

“I was caught up in some business and made you wait. My apologies.”

“It is no problem, Your Majesty.”

“I summoned you both to express my gratitude.”

The Emperor stroked his beard before continuing.

“Thanks to you two, I realized I never gave the prince a proper chance to develop and showcase his abilities. Especially you, Duchess Diana Baisen—I must thank you.”

“I am honored, Your Majesty. I simply wished to give His Highness a gift worthy of the occasion.”

“Haha, I see. But tell me—whose subjects are you?”

Ah… So this is it.

The Emperor smiled warmly, but his gaze was sharp, as if assessing us.

Realizing this was the real reason for the summons, I bowed even deeper. Harold spoke beside me.

“All of Baisen, including myself, serve the Sun of the Empire, His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Well said.”

“It is only natural, Your Majesty.”

“Yes, you are my subjects. As long as you remain under my rule, Baisen will continue to prosper under the ever-shining sun of the Empire.”

It sounded like a blessing, but the underlying threat was clear—if we sided with Prince Andrew, he would not stand by and watch.

The conversation continued from there…

As Harold spoke with the Emperor, I observed his face carefully and clenched my jaw. His lips were pale, and sweat was forming on his forehead.

We need to finish this quickly so I can help him… My chest ached with anxiety.

“You may leave now. Ah, I almost forgot,” the Emperor said.

With a gesture, a servant stepped forward, respectfully holding out an elegant glass bottle filled with blue liquid.

“This is a medicine that is beneficial for health. It is the only one in the royal collection, so please take care of yourself, Duke.”

The Emperor’s murky eyes lingered on Harold as he smiled gently.

“I really like you, Duke. You remind me of myself.”

He rested his chin on his hand and idly played with the hilt of his sword.

“So, I hope you understand my words and won’t disappoint me.”

“I will keep that in mind, Your Majesty,” Harold responded.

“Haha. Good, good. You must live a long life. The Duchess isn’t as quick-witted as my son—leaving her alone would make me worry.”

He was indirectly blaming me for giving my wish to Prince Andrew, which led to this situation.

The Emperor’s murky, reddish eyes pierced through me like a blade.

I quickly lowered my head to hide my expression.

When I first realized he had poisoned Harold, I thought it was because he suspected our connection with the prince. I assumed this was all just a warning.

…No, that’s not it.

The Emperor actually believed that I had recklessly handed my wish over to the prince after winning the Eclipse Hunting Tournament by sheer luck. He thought Prince Andrew had used the wish without considering the consequences. His remarks about my lack of awareness confirmed it.

A part of me was relieved that he hadn’t discovered the truth.

But at the same time, chills ran down my spine.

This country’s Emperor… is truly insane.

A tyrant in every sense of the word.

“You may leave now. It’s getting late, and I am growing tired.”

“May the glory of the Empire’s Sun shine forever,” I said, forcing my emotions down as I bowed to him.

I then walked across the vast audience chamber. Even after we left, the Emperor’s servant continued to follow us.

“Baron Vivan Atlock, if you truly want me to remember your name forever, feel free to keep following us.”

“…Hiccup!”

The servant, now pale as a sheet, stopped immediately.

After we turned to a corner and confirmed that no one else was around, I pulled out the glass bottle the Emperor had given us.

“It’s probably an antidote. It’s sturdy enough that it won’t break even if I accidentally drop it.”

Harold reached out, as if asking for it.

I opened the bottle.

“Diana?”

Then, I poured all of its contents onto the ground. The blue liquid formed a small puddle, shimmering under the moonlight.

“I don’t trust an antidote given by the Emperor.”

Based on the situation, it seemed unlikely that he intended to kill Harold, so the liquid was probably safe. But I couldn’t trust someone like him.

What if he had tampered with it? What if it was a poison far worse—something even a kiss couldn’t cure?

I grabbed Harold’s arm tightly with one hand and pushed against his chest with the other.

Weakened from prolonged exposure to the poison, Harold was easily pushed back.

“…Diana.”

Pressed against the pillar, he called my name. His heart pounded fiercely—whether from the poison or something else, I wasn’t sure.

At first, his eyes widened in surprise, but soon, he gazed at me naturally.

I cupped his cheek.

He’s burning up.

The night air was cool, but his skin was hot like molten lava.

And yet, his complexion was still pale, his lips bloodless. It made my heart ache.

I lifted myself onto my toes as much as I could, aiming for his pale lips. But I still couldn’t reach it.

“Harold.”

“Yes, Diana.”

As you wish.

Harold smiled so brightly that dimples formed on his cheeks. Then, he lowered his head.

His hot lips covered mine.