A Tipsy Marriage Proposal for the Emperor

Chapter 5

I had no idea what kind of mental state I was in while getting fitted. I barely managed to pull myself together and just nodded my head at the designer’s recommendations. I couldn’t even remember whether the last dress I chose had been blue or red.

I was too naïve.

I thought that if I stalled and ran away to the Academy, everything would be resolved, but that wasn’t the case. From what I had heard in the boutique, regardless of the Academy’s neutrality, the Emperor was someone who would come kill me and go back as if nothing had happened.

Know your enemy and know yourself to win.

I got to researching old newspapers and reviews to collect information about the current emperor.

It contained the expected content.

The Emperor had been born as the third prince and was the second wife’s child, and did not show much distinction from the other princes. However, he had joined the knighthood at the age of fifteen and rose to the position of commander through his own efforts. He successfully exterminated the monsters of the Coural Mountains, which everyone had thought was impossible, and returned to the capital after completing a map of the Western Mountains, which had been unknown territory.

This was the big event that even the Academy focused on.

The story of the knighthood who were the first to subdue the Western Mountains, which was the stronghold of the monsters, had caused quite a stir in the school for a while.

I had also heard that the commander had cut off the horn of Balrog—who was the ruler of the mountain range—with overwhelming force. Of course, I’d had no idea that the commander of that knighthood was the current emperor.

I added the line of “incredibly strong” to the Emperor’s information that I was organizing.

I continued to collect information and organized it by time period.

The following year, the crown prince died in a horse-riding accident, and the following year after that, the second prince also lost his life in a carriage accident. With the empress’s bloodline gone, the third prince, the only legitimate heir, assumed the throne. Afterwards, the deeply heartbroken empress died of an illness at her southern villa where she had gone to rest.

If you were a member of the imperial family, you were subject to the most thorough protection and management in the empire. What were the odds that three members of the imperial family would accidentally die within five years?

And if those incidents were not mere coincidences, the one who benefitted the most is the current emperor.

I wrote in my notes, [There are no exceptions, even for family.]

As I investigated the Emperor and organized all the related families and officials, I became more tired than I thought. Just like when I had written my thesis, my body felt drained and my head felt dizzy.

When I looked outside, the sun was already setting.

“It’s already this late.”

I cleaned up the materials that I had spread all over the desk.

In order to avoid the situation that was impending, I had even searched through imperial court documents. But no matter how hard I searched, I couldn’t find a way for me to escape safely.

It just reaffirmed the fact that the best thing to do was to hide and avoid him as best as I could.

My steps back to the bedroom were heavy as I thought about the ball that was coming up tomorrow.

***

“Then, I’ll be off...”

“Go and come home safely. Be sure to keep an eye out for someone nice!”

I said goodbye to my parents as they saw me off at the front of the carriage. They had long since left high society behind, and the invitation that had been sent to the mansion only had my name written on it as I was the unmarried young lady of the family. I had no choice but to attend the ball alone.

Lorraine had been waiting outside our house to accompany me. Considering that I had no male siblings or cousins to escort me, Lorraine and her fiancé had agreed to accompany me.

“Is that dress by Madam Rosso?”

“I believe it is.”

“The design suits you well.”

As soon as we got into the carriage, Lorraine admired my dress. Per my wish to not stand out, the frills and lace had been kept to a minimum. As a result, the silhouette and the delicate embroidery stood out even more on the dress.

And since I had said large jewels were burdensome, the designer had added several small jewels, which emphasized the flowing, luxurious feel of the fabric.

So unfortunately, with the addition of Jeri’s hard work in making up my face and setting my hair, I ended up with a more noticeable and mature image than usual.

I didn’t want this.

While I was fiddling with the ends of my hair out of nervousness in showing a different image than usual, the carriage arrived at the imperial palace.

The area in front of the palace was filled with carriages waiting for their turn. From the main gate of the palace to the statue of the Ergas the Sage standing at the entrance, it was completely full.

My mouth fell open in amazement at the sheer scale of it.

“Wow, this is the first time I’ve seen so many people gathered together like this.”

When Lorraine said that, I felt a growing sense of anxiety in my chest.

The ballroom was visible through the open doors and was filled with people in various attire. It was so crowded with people and so large in size that one couldn’t see it all in one glance, but it was a spectacular scene.

I quickly looked around for a spot that would be as inconspicuous as possible.

There were a few people looking at us as soon as we entered, but fortunately, not many people focused on me.

“Young Lady Lorraine, you’re here. It’s been a long time.”

“You are as lovely as ever. That must be your fiancé next to you.”

Lorraine’s social circle gathered around her. I took that moment to naturally take refuge in a corner that was out of sight.

I put my back against the wall and hid behind a remote pillar, and some peace of mind returned to me.

Let’s just hold on like this for a few more hours.

The guests were not allowed to leave the ballroom before the Emperor entered. I had to leave at a time when other people were leaving, as exiting right after the Emperor had arrived was susceptible to attracting more attention.

I also figured out a way to escape by looking between the pillars.

How much time had passed? As I was sipping my low-alcohol champagne and waiting for the time to pass, a huge trumpet sound filled the hall.

It was the appearance of the main character.

“His Majesty, Emperor Ropherce Catar Esperion, the Sun of the Empire and the Lord of Eternal Glory, is entering.”

The noisy hall was now filled with silence. Everyone’s eyes were focused on the entrance, where the emperor was seen walking slowly through the ranks of the knights in full regalia.

With his tall stature that rivaled that of the knights and his black cloak, the Emperor displayed a presence that was noticeable even from afar.

Everyone’s eyes were on him, but it was so quiet that not even a breath could be heard. Only the sound of the orchestra announcing his entrance and the Emperor’s footsteps as he walked toward the throne resonated in the hall.

Even in my memories of that day at the pub—and when I had seen the photo in the newspaper—I had felt that he had a handsome face. I felt the same today. His deep amber eyes and facial features caught my eye even from afar.

The only difference was that, unlike the photo where I just felt he was handsome, the Emperor I saw in person had a sharp and honed aura that gave off a feeling of being difficult to approach.

I must’ve been crazy. How could I have asked a man like that to marry me in such a casual way?

How much courage did I have when I was drunk?

After the Emperor sat down on his throne, which declared the ball to officially begin, the quiet hall came to life as the orchestra began to play a waltz.

One by one, the people began to dance in pairs and gathered around to socialize and show off friendships. Meanwhile, the Emperor sat on his throne and watched the scene with a look of boredom.

Contrary to my expectations that he might be looking for me, he didn’t seem interested in his surroundings. He just stared in disinterest at the party venue, occasionally chatting with the knights who stood near him.

Was I too sensitive?

I may have reacted sensitively because this was an unprecedented event.

Yeah, what is the Emperor even lacking to be looking for someone like me? If he really did want to find me, he would’ve checked out the pub first.

My heart, which had been uncomfortably throbbing for several days, relaxed a bit. I leaned back against the wall where I had settled down and caught my breath. It was only then that I could properly see my surroundings.

Even though I had styled my hair for two hours and brought out every jewel that my family had owned, I looked ordinary here. Everyone was wearing rings the size of their fingernails and necklaces the size of their fists.

If I had come wearing a black dress like I had originally wanted to, I think I would have stood out amongst these colorful dresses in a different way.

After some time had passed, one or two people started to go out to the balcony to have a secret rendezvous. The atmosphere had calmed down, and since I had confirmed my attendance, it seemed okay to leave my spot.

I need to slowly get out of here.

As I turned to exit into the garden opposite the entrance where people were gathered, I heard a familiar, unwelcome sound from a distance.

“Ah, I guess I need to tell you about this again. Hahaha!”

Ugh, my god.

I heard a voice that had the unique ability to send goose bumps all over my body just by hearing it. I turned my head and looked in the direction of the sound, and sure enough, Count Feccida was standing among people while gesturing exaggeratedly and drawing attention.

The only difference from the garden party was that while the count had been alone there, he had a young lady next to him now that looked like she had only recently become an adult.

If she was attending this Coming of Age Day ball, she would already be an adult. But this young lady, who looked younger than seventeen, seemed to not be used to this kind of atmosphere and was timidly sticking to the count’s side. Seeing her shrinking back whenever anyone looked at her, I felt a strange sense of pity.

But the count was blinded by the words of those who flattered him and just continued to brag.

“Do you see this necklace? It’s the emerald I imported this time. You’ll be really surprised when you hear how much it costs. Hahaha.”

“Oh my, since the count is saying that, I look forward to it.”

“Haha, the young lady received a precious gift.”

There was a large and gaudy-looking necklace hanging from the young lady’s slender neck. While the emerald was certainly impressive in size, its cut was old-fashioned and hung from a thick string, so it was far from being sophisticated. The young lady’s expression didn’t look very promising either.

I sighed when I saw the count chattering next to the escape route I had planned to take.

I have overcome one hurdle, and now, here’s another.

Just when I had been reassured by the Emperor’s disinterested attitude, another headache had appeared. I waited for a while, but the count’s heavy feet showed no sign of moving. I had no choice but to reduce the sound of my footsteps and advance toward the exit.

“Oh, look who it is. It’s our smart Young Lady Elliere. Hahaha!”

I guess the thick flesh that was stuck to his body hadn’t blocked his vision, as the count discovered me from a considerable distance away. Even if I had to scream and draw attention to myself, I wanted to run away from the approaching situation.

“Hello, Count Feccida.”

As I tried to greet him with a forced smile, the corners of the count’s already smiling lips went up even more.

“The ball is in full swing, but you’re already leaving.”

“I feel awkward in this kind of...”

“No, it’s too sad if a young lady in the prime of her life just stands against the wall in such a festive place.”

The count, who had been looking around with exaggerated gestures, shook his head as if he felt very sorry for me.

“It seems like you also didn’t have anyone to escort you. But you’re still my ex-fiancée, so I feel really sad! Hahaha.”

It was hard to keep a forced smile on my face when I faced the sarcastic attitude that was obvious to everyone. I quickly nodded and was going to just go my way.

But the count seemed to have set his mind on the matter and took his young fiancée by the arm to lead her forward.

“Do you see it? The sparkling necklace around her neck? What a pity. It could’ve been your necklace today. If you had just stayed still and stopped acting all smart and arrogant, I would have done everything for you.”

“Oh yes, the necklace is really nice. Well then, I’ll take my leave now.”

When I firmly said goodbye and turned around, I heard the sarcastic voice behind me again.

“I just don’t understand why her parents sent their daughter to the Academy. After all, she won’t need her education once she gets married. I’ve never met them, but they’re quite... unique.”

I thought that he would brag some more and then get tired of it. But I couldn’t tolerate it when he brought up my parents.

Are those even words coming out of your mouth now?

I was about to say something, but the count kept saying things that crossed the line.

“Well, I guess they had high expectations for their daughter because they couldn’t have sons. But a daughter is still a daughter, right? It would have been better for the family to have married her off when she was young. What a pitiful pairing.”

When I heard this, it was the last straw. I had been tightly keeping my mouth shut, but then it began to move without my brain controlling it.

I turned again and smiled brightly at the count’s sly face.

“If you’re talking about high expectations, can it compare to your parents, my lord? When I see that they still haven’t found their son a proper tutor, it seems that they trust you too much. Ah, or were their expectations so high that they hired a tutor that was too high-level for you?”

“W-what did you say?”

The eyes of those watching the situation turned in my direction in shock.

But I was already prepared to return to the Academy, so nothing mattered anymore.

Just live for today and pack your bags and run away tomorrow!

“It’s not shameful to be a slow learner, so I hope you find a great teacher who is suitable for your level right now. Of course, it won’t be easy.”

“What are you even saying right now? Are you trying to smoke me right now?”

“The word ‘smoke’ is used when grilling meat. I think you’ve confused it with ‘scold’? Or if you wanted to use more advanced vocabulary, perhaps you meant ‘admonish’? That’s a word that is used when a superior scolds a subordinate. But I am not your superior, my lord.”

“You...!”

The count, who had been huffing and snorting because he couldn’t control his anger, stomped toward me.

Did he think that I’d be scared by that?

I crossed my arms and confidently met Count Feccida’s gaze. Behind me was a wall, so I had nowhere to escape. The distance between the count and myself narrowed as he came right up to my face.

“Do you think you’re cute just because you’re a little smart?!”

His face was flushed all the way up to his eyebrows as he raised one of his trembling hands.

It was a more petty reaction than I had expected. What I had thought would happen was that we would argue and then get socially shunned. But to raise his hand against me?

“What kind of man would take something like you?!” the count shouted.

I closed my eyes tightly as I saw him swiftly lowering his arm. At that moment, the noisy crowd became quiet as if cold water had been poured over them. The song that was being played stopped and silence fell upon the huge hall.

But I didn’t feel the hit that I had expected.

As I slowly opened my eyes, I saw a large, white hand grabbing the count’s wrist. The long, thick-jointed hand snapped the count’s swinging arm and twisted it to the side. At that, the one who had been blocking my path staggered and was pushed away helplessly.

The shadow that had been like a lump disappeared from in front of me. The light of the magnificent chandelier from the ceiling poured down on me, and the figure of the person who had been standing behind the count appeared.

The man paid no attention to the count who had fallen on the floor and he opened his mouth while looking straight at me.

“I’ll take her.”

The man who appeared before me had deep amber eyes that were hard to forget.