The World’s Strongest Are Obsessed With Me

Chapter 7

“Your Majesty...?”

Snapping back to reality, the emperor released her hand. He stared at his hands again in surprise.

Dahlia glanced back at Hikan. He looked confused, too.

“No, I must have been mistaken...” the emperor mumbled to himself. He immediately regained his composure and smiled at Dahlia reassuringly. “Sorry, little miss. I thought I saw something.”

“I-It’s all right.” Dahlia didn’t know what he'd seen but shook her head anyway to show that she was fine.

The emperor continued to stare at her with a strange expression. He rubbed his chin. “It’s unfortunate that a cute young lady like you doesn’t have a fiancé yet. What do you think of my sons?”

Dahlia giggled, assuming the emperor was joking. “Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty.”

“I’m not joking. I’m being sincere," the emperor replied in a solemn tone. Under his earnest stare, the blood gradually drained from Dahlia's face.

Wh-wha-whaaat?

Dahlia’s thoughts spiraled.

Isn’t this a little sudden? Why are we even talking about this?

“I think my sons around Miss Dahlia’s age are... Right, there’s Leonard and Cederic. You know Leonard is the crown prince, don’t you? He might seem foolish, but he’s a good child. Cederic is my second child. He tends to disappear from time to time, but he’s not bad.”

Logically, Dahlia knew he must be joking, but the emperor’s expression was so serious that she couldn’t brush the question off.

Wha-what? What? Seriously? This is how I’m getting engaged? Just like this?!

While she knew nobles in this world were engaged quite young, an engagement at her current age was unacceptable to her. Dahlia felt dizzy. Suddenly, she became aware of Hikan’s presence behind her.

If the emperor’s being honest, there’s no reason for my brother to decline the offer.

The offer was Hikan’s best chance to get rid of his annoying little sister by marrying her off to a royal prince.

But... her face would be displayed all across the empire if she got engaged to a prince, which would in turn hinder her from running away to live a new life under a new identity. Dahlia could almost hear her future being torn apart. “I-I think that’s too much for me...!”

“Dahlia…" Hikan’s cold voice interrupted.

Oh, I’m done for.

The only future ahead of her was execution alongside her brother. Dahlia clenched her eyes shut.

“...will not have an engagement, Your Majesty.” Hikan finished in a monotone voice. His words rang in the room.

Huh...?

Dahlia peeked an eye open at the unexpected situation.

“I said she will not be engaged.”

“Really...?”

“Yes. She will never be engaged.” Dahlia had never been so grateful for Hikan’s rough attitude as she was at that moment. She turned around with an expression of gratitude, but Hikan didn’t bother to meet her eyes.

“Why?”

“Well, she doesn’t seem to like the idea.”

The emperor’s gaze moved to Dahlia. She wasn’t able to nod her head, but she expressed her agreement as much as she could with her eyes.

Reluctantly, the emperor sighed. “Hmm, that’s unfortunate. I wanted to have you as my daughter-in-law, little miss.”

Oh, um, so he was joking.

Why would he make that joke with such a serious expression? Realizing she'd been tricked, Dahlia pouted secretly. Sensing that their conversation had finished, Hikan bid his farewell. “We’ll take our leave, Your Majesty.”

“Fine," the emperor replied with a salty nod.

With the crisis averted, Dahlia bowed too. “Your Majesty, thank you for the generous offer and your attention.”

Strangely enough, the emperor took another long moment to assess Dahlia with a crestfallen look, then he smiled softly. “Right, Miss Dahlia. I’ll see you again next time. You too, Hikan.”

Their meeting was over. Dahlia and Hikan closed the door to the throne room behind them.

Once Dahlia was fully out of sight, the emperor looked down at his hand.

I must have imagined it.

Everyone revered the Transcendent because of their high intelligence and powerful magic. But the life he was living as a Transcendent was like swimming in an endless sea of torment. Was it because this power was never meant for humans?

Every time he used his power, he could feel his sanity slipping and his destructive desire building. He had managed to control himself until now. He acted the kind and friendly emperor to everyone because he didn’t want to see the world descend into destruction, if only for the sake of the humans he loved. He knew he had to bear the torment for the rest of his life in exchange for love.

The moment Dahlia held his hand, however, he could feel his head clearing for the first time in his life. For a brief moment, he felt as though he was his carefree young self again from before his magic flourishment. From the moment the child touched his hand, he could feel his entire soul being cleansed from head to toe. Yet it was common knowledge that a soul damaged by magic flourishment couldn’t be healed.

Maybe I’m confused because I stayed up all night.

He decided to ignore the feeling for now. He glanced at the spot where the siblings had stood.

Those two are starting to worry me.

As sensitive as he was to human emotions, the emperor had noticed the slight friction between Hikan and his sister immediately. Regardless of how mature he acted, Hikan was at an age where he’d value his pride above everything else, hurting what was truly precious in the process.

He’s going to do something horrible and regret it.

The emperor clicked his tongue.

* * *

Dahlia had just escaped the throne room when she saw Hikan walking far ahead without waiting for her. Still, she felt grateful.

Oh, goodness, I survived!

She had seen her life flash before her eyes the moment she'd been invited to marry someone she’d never heard of. She was relieved it had all been a joke and grateful Hikan had intervened.

Dahlia chased after him to say her thanks. “Thank you, Hikan. I really didn’t want to get engaged.”

“His Majesty says that to everyone. You’ll only be made a fool of if you react seriously to his joke. Only the stupidest ones fall victim to it.”

He never says anything nicely.

Dahlia stuck her tongue out in disappointment behind Hikan’s back, then continued to chase after him.

“It was strange that you rejected his offer, though. Anyone would have been tempted," Hikan said offhandedly.

Dahlia sped up even more to match Hikan’s quick stride and selected her words carefully. “Well, I... If I can, I want to spend more time with you, Hikan...”

Hikan glanced at her. As always, it was hard to guess what thoughts lay behind that expressionless face.

His reply came a while later. “Don’t misunderstand, Dahlia. I wasn’t trying to help you. I simply couldn’t stand to see the Pesteroz family mocked.”

Dahlia’s shoulders drooped like the ears of a sad puppy. “O-oh, okay... I shouldn’t have misunderstood...”

Perhaps it was because she suddenly slowed down in the middle of her chase, but Dahlia’s ankle gave out on her. “Oh!” With that small exclamation, her body swayed, and she fell to the floor.

Why do I keep acting like an idiot today?

Dahlia sighed and raised her head. Instead of abandoning her, Hikan had stopped in front of her.

“I’m sorry.” Dahlia said.

Hikan sighed harshly. “What are you doing?”

“I... I can get up by myself!” Dahlia hunched instinctively and raised her arms to balance on her heels. But suddenly, without a word, Hikan grabbed her by the waist and threw her over his shoulder. She wasn't small enough for just anyone to pick her up and move her around so easily. The sixteen-year-old Hikan was simply that strong. Dahlia flailed her arms, surprised to no longer be on the ground.

“Stay still.” Hikan tightened his grip around Dahlia’s legs by holding her dress. In return, Dahlia wrapped her arm around his neck for stability. Hikan froze at first, but soon relaxed.

Dahlia felt strange. She recalled Hikan’s pretty blue eyes as she swayed against his gait. Although he was mean, rude, and a future villain, he had been helping her the entire day.

I hope I don’t get attached to him.

He wouldn’t be holding her like this ten years from now. If her plan succeeded, she would be hiding somewhere far, far away.

In ten years, will Hikan be twenty-six?

Upon recalling Hikan’s appearance in the original story, Dahlia opened her mouth without thinking. “I think you’ll be very tall in the future, Hikan.”

“What?”

She couldn’t admit that she knew the future, so Dahlia tried to shrug off her comment. “It was just a thought.”

“It’s nonsensical.” Hikan resumed his walk.

For some reason, Dahlia felt excited. The atmosphere between them had never been this good.

I hope we can maintain our relationship like this. This seems like the right distance.

By habit, Dahlia continued to act like the cute and innocent little sister she'd been playing with a bit of hope in her voice. “I’m really happy you’re carrying me!”

He didn't answer, so she chattered on. “If I keep liking you, Hikan, you’ll probably like me back one day, right?”

She'd unwittingly crossed a line. It was a line she hadn't even known existed.

Hikan stopped.