Chapter 24: 24

Davan, who muttered with gritted teeth, made me regain my senses even though I couldn’t see his fierce expression in this position.

 

‘How did you get here so quickly?’

 

There was quite a distance between where Davan had been standing and where I was.

 

I couldn’t believe that the man had caught me as soon as I staggered.

 

How the heck did he come so fast when the surface was shaking so hard?

 

“…”

 

I looked at Davan involuntarily.

 

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a look.”

 

Contrary to me, who was embarrassed, Davan looked calm at once.

 

‘Such a look? How do I look now?’

 

I fumbled across my face.

 

Seeing that both cheeks and ears were hot, I wondered if my face was blushing.

 

‘In this situation… Why is my face turning red?’

 

There was nothing to blush for.

 

If I ever blush in this world, it’s either when I’m very angry or when I’m terribly angry.

 

‘Why is it so hot all of a sudden?’

 

Come to think of it, it suddenly got hot.

 

“L-let’s go first. I’ll fix up my hair and follow you.”

 

I pretended to shake off the hem of my clothes, and shook my head.

 

I bent down.

 

Somehow, it was a little embarrassing to look into Davan’s eyes.

 

“…”

 

Davan looked at me for a moment and then turned his back.

 

I lifted my head only after the tall shadow had completely disappeared.

 

“Why is it so hot?”

 

I looked around, roughly fanning my cheeks.

 

“Wow. It’s really pretty.”

 

I couldn’t help but be amazed.

 

I thought it was just an outdoor garden that was nothing special. However, upon closer inspection, it was a picturesque landscape.

 

Meteor showers fell from the night sky, and colorful flowers bloomed in the forest.

 

I slowly entered the garden.

 

It was clear that the grass was brushing against the hem of my skirt, but I didn’t feel anything.

 

‘Oh my, are those truly golden roses?’

 

The first thing that caught my eye was a flower vine overgrown with golden roses.

 

The surface was so shiny that I wondered if it was really made of gold.

 

“Could it be real gold?”

 

This was the Phantom Palace, the emperor’s castle. If it looked like gold, then it must be pure gold. There was no way that it was painted.

 

The blood of capitalism wriggled within me.

 

‘What’s this?’

 

I reached out to touch the rose, but stopped after a moment.

 

I didn’t feel anything.

 

The only thing that touched my finger was the soft touch of the air.

 

I raised my head and looked at the view again.

 

Greenery stretched beyond the night sky, and flower vines were in full bloom right in front of me.

 

However, there was no scent that brushed the tip of the nose or the sound of the leaves shaking the ears.

 

“It must have been a real painting.”

 

I thought it was like a painting, but it must have been a painting.

 

‘No wonder it is called the Phantom Palace…’

 

After all, everything I was seeing seemed to be an illusion. Was it made by magic?

 

As soon as I realized that, my excitement disappeared in an instant. The meteor showers that embroidered the sky, and the roses with golden hue.

 

There was nothing more that caught my attention.

 

As we exited the flower bed, an outdoor terrace unfolded. When I entered the fence, I finally saw them.

 

The emperor, Davan, and Cadel were seated around a round table covered by a golden tablecloth.

 

They haven’t looked back yet as if they hadn’t felt my presence.

 

‘What on earth is this…’

 

My toes stopped before the door.

 

I stared blankly at the scene unfolding before my eyes.

 

The emperor and Cadel were chatting with a smile on their face, and Davan was drinking water.

 

All of this scenery seemed slow as if it had been played in slow motion.

 

The black night, the lush rose forest, the golden tablecloths, the smiling people.

 

None of it seemed real.

 

I wasn’t even impressed that they were all so damn handsome.

 

So now, right before my eyes…

 

There were all three main characters, right?

 

“It’s only natural that they fight.”

 

My gaze glanced over at Davan and Cadel.

 

‘They look fine so far.’

 

This time, I looked at the emperor and Cadel.

 

Those who didn’t know what’s ahead, who would fight with blood in the future, were bumping their wine glasses together.

 

‘Why do I have to be here?’

 

I knew I shouldn’t delay, but that didn’t keep me from stopping.

 

Why am I in the middle of all of this?

 

Why me? Why should it be me, not Ollina? What’s wrong? Damn this.

 

“Uhhh…”

 

I let out a deep sigh of my own.

 

“Oh, Leah is finally here.”

 

Perhaps feeling my presence, the emperor spoke with a welcoming expression.

 

“Have you seen the night sky and the garden? I’ve specially prepared it. How about it?”

 

“Yes, it was beautiful. Especially the golden roses in the garden…”

 

I smiled brighter and walked towards the table.

 

After I found out that it was a fantasy, I lost interest in it, but I couldn’t show it.

 

“That’s the golden rose that blooms only in the Felix Mountains. It must be Leah’s first time seeing it.”

 

As I sat down, three pairs of eyes flew in at the same time.

 

Davan and the emperor were on either side of me, and Cadel was in front of me.

 

‘Felix Mountains?’

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I think I’ve heard it somewhere…

 

“Yes, it’s my first time seeing it.”

 

I couldn’t think of anything, but still responded.

 

“It is indeed a private palace that Your Majesty cherises. All of this beautiful scenery is a fantasy.”

 

“I tried mixing the Southern summer and Felix’s golden roses.”

 

The emperor smiled happily. I couldn’t tell if he hated Cadel’s admiring compliments.

 

“You must have seen Felix’s golden roses in person.”

  

 

“Yes. It’s been a while, though.”

 

Although the end of the emperor’s speech was a bit blurred, there was no change in his expression.

 

Cadel’s eyes twinkled with curiosity at once.

 

“How did Your Majesty see it? Felix is the forbidden land because it is on the border with the Tower, isn’t it?”

 

“Ah, that’s…”

 

When the emperor looked like he was in trouble.

 

Tak— Davan, who had been listening quietly, put down the glass. The emperor’s words, which he could not utter, naturally faded.

 

‘The forbidden land on the border with the Tower?’

 

I squinted.

 

As soon as Cadel uttered those words, the expression of the emperor, the action of Davan, and the silence that came at the same time.

 

The atmosphere was somehow strange.

 

As I felt it, Cadel must have felt it too, but his countenance didn’t change.

 

“Have you ever been there, sir? Was it really full of rare monsters like the rumors?”

 

Davan didn’t answer.

 

“…”

 

He just looked at Cadel with a cool gaze.

 

“I was always curious because it was a land full of magical power.”

 

“…”

 

“We have already lost contact with the demonkin when I was a child, so I’ve never been there.”

 

Davan’s eyes hardened, and the emperor only took a few sips of wine.

 

Cadel’s voice was the only thing that could be heard in the still silence.

 

‘I don’t believe the male lead is this blind.’

 

I thought secretly.

 

The atmosphere had become so cold that even I, who didn’t know what Felix was, noticed.

 

But Cadel was smiling brightly, not knowing whether it was out of ignorance or pretense.

 

I didn’t mind them arguing.

 

I was just annoyed that there was such a commotion as soon as I arrived.

 

“Oh yeah. Come to think of it…”

 

Cadel opened his lips as if he was going to say something more.

 

In the meantime, I looked at the dishes on the table.

 

I’m sure the fork is the best.

 

“The reason for the discontinuation of the empire and the demonkin—”

 

“Oh, my!”

 

Cadel’s words were not finished.

 

It was because of my exclamation at the same time.

 

‘What? Why is there no sound of it falling?’ I intended this to happen, but I was surprised.

 

I definitely pushed the fork with my forearm… I could feel it falling to the floor, but couldn’t hear anything.

 

“I’m sorry, I accidentally…”

 

I apologized reflexively and looked down at the floor.

 

“Oh?”

 

My two eyes widened.

 

I looked around, but I couldn’t find the fork.

 

How the hell did this happen?

 

“It’s been a while, so you must have forgotten.”

 

The emperor’s muffled laughter was heard.

 

“It’s a magic lawn, so whatever falls will be absorbed as it is. By now, it should be in the kitchen of the Imperial Palace.”

 

“Aaah…”

 

A sigh escaped my mouth.

 

I noticed that I couldn’t feel the texture of the grass under my feet, but I didn’t expect it to absorb things.

 

It must have required a lot of hands to manage a garden this large, so seeing that everything could be managed with a single magic was an amazing feeling.

 

“Sorry for making a fuss.”

 

I covered my lips with a handkerchief as if I was embarrassed.

 

“I’m very easily frightened.”

 

“…”

 

Suddenly, I felt Cadel’s gaze.

 

Since his seat was in front of me, I could feel him staring at me even more clearly.

 

“Am I interrupting your important conversation?”

 

I made eye contact with Cadel and smiled slightly.

 

“It was unintentional.”

 

“No matter. You must have made a mistake unintentionally.”

 

Cadel shook his head as if it didn’t bother him. 

 

“This is why I like Leah.”

 

Suddenly, I could hear the emperor’s voice from the seat next to me.

 

“You’re so cute.”

 

I didn’t know what kind of signal he was giving, but the emperor was looking at me with one eyebrow raised.

 

‘I can’t get used to this!’

 

I had goosebumps.

 

I already knew that the relationship between the Khajans family and Count Prezis was particularly strong, and that the emperor adored Leah.

 

It was mentioned again and again in the original work, and there were times when I actually felt it myself.

 

However, there were many times when I couldn’t adapt to the appearance of such an emperor.

 

In the original story, the emperor often appeared in conflict with Cadel, Ollina, or the empress dowager, so I could not even imagine him having such an image.

 

‘Do I have to do it too?’

 

I wondered if I should do that secret eyebrow signal.

 

I was at a loss how to react when he said such a thing out of the blue.

 

“Haha, indeed. Her ladyship has surprised me many times.”

 

At that moment, Cadel laughed softly.

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