Episode 75. Doubts (2)

Soon to be the emperor of this country, Julius’s newfound maturity was reassuring but also left me feeling a bit lonely. I fiddled with my fingers.

“Still…”

“And back then, you were unconscious, so even if I had told you, it wouldn’t have changed anything.”

“Oh, I see.”

It seemed like he had made up his mind when he received a penalty for breaking the rules.

‘Sienna is weak for a villainess.’

I was lost in such awkward thoughts when Julius took a step closer to me.

“Sienna.”

My face reflected in his plain brown eyes.

“I’m very anxious. I don’t have confidence that I can handle everything. There’s no one left in the palace now.”

What a childish statement, like saying he can’t go to the bathroom alone! I shrugged my shoulders.

“The Empress is still there.”

“My mother is not on my side. She’s on her own side. I want you to stay by my side.”

“That’s…”

I was surprised by how cold Julius’s voice was when mentioning the Empress and even more surprised by the unexpected closeness between us. As I fumbled to respond, the chamberlain interrupted at just the right moment. It was someone different from the one who used to harass me.

“Your Majesty, it’s time for the capital parade.”

“Alright.”

Today was a very important day. Unable to spare any more time for me, Julius patted my shoulder with his palm.

“I hope you can join me soon, Sienna.”

* * *

It’s really unsettling how people can make you feel uncomfortable in so many ways.

After seeing Julius off, I crossed the hallway again, letting out a long sigh.

‘Did he take his medicine? What’s wrong with Julius?’

Considering our previously worse-than-stranger relationship had improved this much, I thought it was acceptable. But that’s where it ends. Were we close enough to live in the same house together?

‘I can’t understand Julius’s thoughts.’

Moreover, what benefit does he get from keeping a villainous princess by his side? No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t come up with any good benefits, so I concluded it must be exactly what Julius said it was.

He wants to rely on me because he has no one else.

‘No, but why me? At his age, shouldn’t he be relying on a wife or father-in-law?’

Being older than me, he should have been married with one or two children by now. But it seemed he didn’t even have a decent fiancée.

‘Ah, this must be a sister’s heart. I hope he meets a good woman and gets married soon. So he stops bothering me.’

I sincerely hoped some virtuous woman would quickly take that fool away.

Just then, Percy, who had been anxiously pacing the hallway waiting for me, smiled brightly when he saw my face.

“Sienna.”

“Percy.”

I was equally happy to see him. As I approached him with a cheerful step, Percy naturally held my neck and kissed my forehead. The kiss tickled, and I burst out laughing.

“You also want me to enter the palace soon, don’t you?”

“No.”

Though I couldn’t help but ask mischievously, Percy answered without hesitation. But then he added with a dark expression.

“But if the emperor insists, I cannot refuse.”

“Oh dear.”

If Julius suddenly decided to command my return to the palace, there was nothing we could do.

‘Ah, this is worrisome. You know how Julius sometimes snaps.’

He’s better than others, but that doesn’t mean he’s normal.

Having escaped the palace, I was on the verge of being dragged back. I put my hands on my hips and sighed.

“Maybe we should just get married quickly.”

“You’re right.”

Percy’s laughter-filled voice matching my joke was surprising. I tilted my head.

“You’re a bit strange lately. More honest, I should say. You never used to agree with me.”

“True.”

Percy chuckled, mocking my usual spiteful remarks.

“I don’t want to be honest with someone who doesn’t tell me the truth.”

“You’re such a twisted person.”

It’s not like I don’t want to say I love you and kiss you passionately. It’s just that my situation doesn’t allow me to be honest!

‘Ah, I wish this tiresome game would end soon.’

We’ve already passed the halfway mark of the game days.

‘I was relieved thinking I had avoided the bad ending, but seeing Beth earlier, I can’t be too sure.’

She could appear out of nowhere again, slam into me, and frame me as a bad person. Earlier, I had the support of a knight and clear justification on my side, but we can’t always meet under such favorable circumstances.

Coincidentally, Percy, who was also thinking about Daniel and Beth, spoke with a serious expression.

“I met Sir Daniel earlier. That strange young lady was with him. There were many suspicious things.”

‘Yes!!’

I wanted to nod vigorously in agreement, but I froze at Percy’s next words.

“Do you love me, Sienna?”

“That…”

Why is he bringing up love all of a sudden?

‘Of course, that…’

As my heart pounded and I hesitated, the choices appeared before me.

▶ Nonsense.
▶ Don’t be mistaken, Duke Stewart.

‘Oh, seriously.’

This game clearly wanted me to die single. I clenched my fists in frustration. Just then, without me having answered, Percy gently enveloped me with his hands. His lips softly touched mine like fitting a puzzle piece.

The unexpected kiss felt like walking on clouds. I blinked in surprise, and Percy, who had given me a brief kiss, smiled warmly and said,

“I will answer you when I know your true feelings. But know that everything I do is for you.”

“What do you mean, all of a sudden?”

Isn’t this a death flag? People usually say things like this before they die.

While I was hesitating, unsure of how to respond, Percy whispered as he kissed my ear naturally.

“You look good in formal attire as well.”

“Please return first. I will handle your concerns and return to you.”

* * *

Beth clung to Daniel’s arm. Having pledged loyalty to the emperor, it was time to return to the mansion.

‘But the weather is so nice. Can’t we take a walk before heading back?’

I wanted to visit the popular dating spots from the game.

‘It’s not like Beth to speak bluntly. Maybe I should pretend it’s for Daniel’s health? But even at the mansion, that kind of talk didn’t work.’

As Beth fidgeted, wanting to suggest they stay out a bit longer, a tall man she had never seen before approached Daniel and greeted him warmly.

“Sir Daniel. Or should I call you Count Bohan now?”

“Lord Chester.”

Judging by his uniform, he seemed to be part of the same knight order as Daniel. He threw an arm around Daniel’s shoulder and laughed heartily.

“Can we talk for a moment? It’s been so long since we last met.”

“…Sure.”

After a brief hesitation, Daniel nodded slightly. He then opened the door of the Bohan family carriage that had just arrived.

“Please get in the carriage first, Beth. I’ll join you after a short conversation.”

“Yes.”

Beth answered obediently and climbed into the carriage, but inside, she was boiling with anger.

‘I don’t like this. Shouldn’t he prioritize me in any situation?’

Just because an acquaintance spoke to him, he sent me off to the carriage!

‘The Daniel I knew would never leave me alone.’

Clearly, the game’s Daniel and the current Daniel were somewhat different. What had gone wrong? Beth, who had been sulking, folded her arms and turned her head sharply.

‘I should just close my eyes and avoid getting more upset.’

Having already been troubled by Sienna, her mood was sour. Sitting in the carriage, she felt a sudden wave of exhaustion.

She closed her eyes in anger and, before she knew it, had dozed off. When she woke up, the carriage was moving.

‘What? The carriage is moving?’

Beth opened the small window to speak to the coachman.

“Why did we start moving already? Where is Daniel?”

“Sir Daniel said the conversation might take a while and instructed us to depart first.”

That answer only made Beth more furious. She slammed the window shut.

‘He’s really frustrating. Not one thing about him is likable. What if I get kidnapped while riding in this carriage alone…’

Beth, who had been grumbling, suddenly froze as if struck by a hammer.

‘…Wait. Kidnapped?’

Was there a similar plot in the game?

‘There is an episode where Princess Sienna kidnaps Beth out of jealousy.’

Daniel eventually comes to rescue her, but…

‘But she goes through a lot of hardship until he does!’

Since Sienna intends to kill Beth, she treats her very harshly. While Beth’s suffering in the game appeared romantic when she reunited with Daniel, it’s not something she could laugh about if it happened to her.

‘It’s not funny when it’s my own situation!’

As Beth realized the gravity of her situation and turned pale, the carriage came to a stop. A man with a black hood opened the carriage door and greeted her.

“Hello, Miss.”

“Wh-who are you?”

“I’m here to take you on behalf of my master, so I can’t answer that. Please come quietly.”

It was a real kidnapping! Beth turned pale and screamed.

“Don’t be ridiculous! Why would I come quietly?”

She began to shout uncontrollably, knowing what was likely to come next.

“Daniel!! Daniel! What kind of male lead is this! You should come save me when I’m in danger! Of course, you should rescue me!”

But maybe because the story had changed, or because it wasn’t yet time for him to appear.

No matter how much she screamed for Daniel, he did not come.