Unbeknownst to Me, I'm Secretly Dating the Emperor

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The morning of the day when Lina and Edwin were supposed to meet, two days after Lina and Connie had enjoyed the festival together, Kyle found himself greeting Edwin at the café instead of the guild. He racked his brain, trying to figure out why Edwin was here.

‘What’s going on? Why is he here?’

There hadn’t been any prior notice.

Kyle, ever the courteous host, approached Edwin with a welcoming smile and guided him to a seat.

“Good to see you, Your Highness. It’s a beautiful day, so I’ll lead you to a window seat.”

Like a friendly café owner glad to see a regular customer, Kyle acted with utmost professionalism. Edwin, wearing his usual bored expression, slowly sat down in the seat Kyle suggested.

Kyle stood nearby, still smiling. To a stranger, it might have looked like he was simply waiting for Edwin to order. But beneath that calm exterior, Kyle was anything but relaxed. He had completed all of Edwin’s tasks, or so he thought. Yet, the surprise visit made him uneasy, as if he had forgotten something important.

Despite his sweet appearance, Kyle was thorough and meticulous when it came to his work. But even for him, an unannounced visit from his superior was nerve-wracking enough to make him second-guess himself.

“Whiskey… No, just bring me water,” Edwin ordered in a slightly tired tone, a rare sight from him.

Kyle, who might have grumbled on any other day, noticed the slight shadows under Edwin’s eyes and silently brought him a glass of water. Edwin drank it all in one go, as if he were parched, then slumped back over the table.

Sensing that something was off, Kyle took a seat across from Edwin.

“Is something wrong?” he asked, slipping into his old friend mode.

Edwin, still sprawled across the table, replied lazily, “I didn’t sleep well.”

“Why not?”

Kyle found it odd. Edwin was the kind of man who slept well even in the middle of a battlefield.

“Could it be an assassin?” Kyle whispered, lowering his voice so no one else could hear.

“No,” Edwin replied, adjusting his posture slightly in response to Kyle’s serious tone. “Do you think my enemies have the resources to send an assassin into the heart of the imperial palace?”

Edwin twisted his lips into a cold smile, his usual self.

“Then why couldn’t you sleep?” Kyle pressed.

Edwin seemed to ponder the question, taking his time before answering.

“I think I had a dream about Miss Diaz. Maybe that’s why I couldn’t sleep—dreaming when I usually don’t.”

It was rare to hear Edwin trail off like that.

“Miss Diaz?” Kyle repeated, confused. It was a familiar name, but not one he expected to hear in this context. Why would Edwin mention Carolina Diaz now, especially after the recent resolution of the Duke of Camelot’s tax evasion case?

Sensing Kyle’s questioning look, Edwin added, “Maybe because we’re supposed to meet today?”

But even this explanation lacked certainty.

‘Wait, when did this happen?’

“Did you plan to meet Miss Diaz today?” Kyle asked, carefully guiding the conversation.

“Yes, in a couple of hours,” Edwin replied.

“Is it because there’s something unresolved from the last time? If so, I can meet with her on your behalf,” Kyle offered, testing the waters.

“No, it’s not about that,” Edwin said, pausing before continuing as if he had finally found a suitable reason. “I owe Miss Diaz a favor, so I’m returning it.”

As he mentioned Carolina Diaz, Edwin’s expression softened slightly, something Kyle noticed with his keen eyes.

“So, you came out of the palace today just to meet Miss Diaz?” Kyle asked.

“That’s right.”

“But the meeting is in a couple of hours?”

“I got the timing wrong,” Edwin admitted.

“Ah, I see,” Kyle said, struggling to keep a straight face.

‘So, raising a kid on the battlefield turns them into a hopeless romantic.’

Kyle shook his head internally. ‘Romance doesn’t always lead to marriage, but…’ He wasn’t even sure this would lead to a romance yet. Given Edwin’s status, Kyle decided to plan a more thorough investigation into the Diaz and Renkel families, just in case.

Kyle glanced at Edwin again. He noticed Edwin was tapping his finger on the table, a clear sign of impatience. If Kyle asked Edwin whether he was excited about meeting Lina, Edwin might only realize he was nervous once it was pointed out. Emotions like these often became more evident when put into words.

Kyle decided not to stir the pot.

‘It might just be a fleeting crush.’

Honestly, Kyle hoped it would end there. The imperial power was so secure that there was no need for a political marriage. However, the imperial family’s marriage still required a certain level of prestige.

‘Unless Miss Diaz inherits the Renkel Earldom, that is.’

The Renkel family, being moderate and of noble lineage, wasn’t the worst choice. But Kyle quickly abandoned the idea, realizing it was premature to weigh Lina against the prospect of an empress’s crown.

‘We don’t even know if Miss Diaz has any feelings for him.’

As Kyle pondered, Edwin’s finger-tapping quickened. Kyle shook his head, clearly frustrated by the situation.

‘Even if I can’t support this, I don’t want to see him get rejected outright.’

“Are you planning to go dressed like that?” Kyle asked, eyeing Edwin’s usual black robe. With the hood pulled low, only his nose and lips were visible.

‘All he has going for him is power, wealth, and looks. He might as well use his face to his advantage,’ Kyle thought.

He pulled back Edwin’s hood, revealing his face.

‘That’s better.’

Even this small change seemed to improve Edwin’s chances significantly. Kyle, who didn’t want to see his friend fail, finally felt a bit more at ease.

“If you’re meeting her to repay a favor, it might be good to show a bit more formality,” Kyle suggested, offering Edwin a polite excuse to improve his appearance.

“That makes sense,” Edwin agreed, halting his attempt to pull the hood back up.

Under the café’s gentle lighting, Edwin’s face looked more like that of a young man experiencing his first love.

“Have you chosen a place to eat?” Kyle asked, deciding to meddle a little more.

“Not really. I’m not sure what kind of food Miss Diaz likes.”

Kyle couldn’t help but suppress a chuckle.

“Where are you supposed to meet Miss Diaz?”

“Somewhere nearby.”

Kyle quickly arranged for a guild member to reserve a suitable restaurant in the area—quiet, with a good atmosphere, perfect for a date.

Even after the guild member returned with news of the successful reservation, nearly two hours remained before Edwin’s meeting with Lina. Edwin, oblivious to his own nervousness, continued to kill time.

The café was unusually empty, making the atmosphere feel tense. Finally, Kyle suggested, “Since there’s some time left, why don’t you stop by a tailor’s shop nearby? If you’re going to a restaurant, it might be good to dress accordingly.”

‘I’m not trying to help him succeed, but if he shows up in that black robe, Miss Diaz might die of embarrassment,’ Kyle rationalized to himself.

With this reasonable excuse, Kyle led Edwin to a nearby tailor.

“They sell ready-made clothes, but their craftsmanship is quite good,” Kyle assured him.

Edwin immediately gravitated toward a black suit in the display.

“If you’re going to wear that, you might as well stick with the robe,” Kyle said, putting the all-black outfit back. He then asked the tailor to bring out suitable clothes for Edwin.

The tailor, with a discerning eye, selected several options that fit Edwin well. Kyle picked one that wasn’t black and asked for it to be tailored to Edwin’s size. By the time the adjustments were complete, it was nearly time for Edwin’s meeting with Lina.

Kyle gave Edwin one last once-over.

‘Hopefully, Miss Diaz is the type who appreciates a good-looking man.’

He silently wished that Edwin’s first experience with love wouldn’t end in disaster.

“It’s time to go,” Edwin said, checking the time and glancing toward the shop’s window.

“Good luck,” Kyle said as he saw Edwin off.

‘Please don’t get rejected right away,’ he thought.

And so, a date neither participant fully realized was about to begin.