Chapter 39
Eyes followed them everywhere they went. All bowed to the emperor with gazes of reverence, but their attention immediately shifted, keenly scanning Jia, who wore his coat and held his hand. Their stares were persistent, probing.
The emperor surely noticed, yet he said nothing. Perhaps this, too, was a calculated move on his part.
They arrived at his cubiculum. Jia naturally helped him prepare for bed, and wearing nothing but a slip, she went to him. Without a word, she curled up beside him where he already lay.
Stroking her hair as she rested against his chest, the emperor said, “You will attend the hunting festival as my partner.”
“…Pardon?”
“Why the surprised look? Were you planning on finding another partner?”
Was a partner required? Jia was genuinely flustered, having no idea. He smiled and elaborated. “Every woman must have a male partner.”
“Oh, I… I see.”
“I have no intention of letting you be partnered with anyone else.”
“…Yes, I understand.”
It wasn’t as if she had anyone else to ask, anyway. Tristan and Ethan came to mind, but she had a feeling they would both refuse.
“Only a week remains,” he murmured, his voice languid.
Biting her lip, Jia gave a soft “yes” in reply.
That was all the time she had left. The swift passage of time was unsettling; she hadn’t kept track of the days since first meeting the emperor, and the memory was hazy.
She carefully took a lock of his hair and channeled her divine power into him. A look of peace slowly smoothed his features. Just before he drifted off, his eyes opened to a slit.
“I will see you at the Mutatio.”
“…Yes. Sleep well, Your Majesty.”
While I face you with eyes hollow from lack of sleep, she thought, a small, wry laugh escaping her.
Between practicing magic and learning to ride, the time flew by in a flash. The hunting festival was tomorrow. She even had a custom-made hunting habit, and because it was identical to the emperor’s in all but color, she felt as if she truly were his mistress. A little late for that realization, she thought wryly.
It was the first time Jia had worn trousers since coming to this world, and they felt strange after so long.
“…How should I conduct myself tomorrow?” she asked Tristan.
He answered without hesitation. “You are to be grateful for the privilege of standing by His Glorious Majesty and act in a manner befitting his honor.”
In other words, she was to do nothing to draw attention to herself. Jia understood at once and replied with a quiet, “Yes.”
She practiced her magic diligently in preparation. Surely I can take down at least one fox. She prayed she wouldn’t come back empty-handed.
“Will Sir Tristan and Sir Ethan be attending as well?”
“Yes, they will.”
“And Julia?”
“I’ll be there as a spectator. It’s one of the grandest events in the empire, after all. I want to see it all, right through to the award ceremony.”
The hunting festival, she was told, spanned three days. The first day was for the opening ceremony, where the emperor would offer a sacrifice to the god Erun and pray for a successful hunt. The second was for the hunt itself. The third day, with its award ceremony and celebratory banquet, was the true highlight.
The thought of making an official appearance with the emperor for three consecutive days made her chest tighten.
…There would be unkind stares. There might even be those who wished her harm—though it mattered little, given that she could not die.
The only way to change their perception was to display her magic or her divine power. Jia watched the light flare brightly in her palm. Her skill had improved remarkably since she had first started.
She could now pierce a distant target with a bolt of magic. She understood the flow of her power more intuitively, and she could gather it into a single, cohesive mass. She still couldn’t shape it with any precision, but Julia had assured her that, too, would come with time.
So far, so good.
Jia didn’t stop practicing until she had pierced the very center of the final target.
“Perfect!” Julia praised.
Jia allowed herself a small smile.
But while Jia huddled into herself, unable to relax, the emperor’s expression remained impassive. Noticing her obvious tension, he said, “What are you so nervous about? It’s a trivial event.”
“I… I’m afraid… I will somehow… damage Your Majesty’s honor,” she stammered.
He let out a short, hollow laugh, his expression making it clear he had no such expectations of her to begin with.
“Enough of these useless thoughts. Just stay by my side.”
“…Yes.”
Jia let out the faintest sigh as she touched his hair, channeling her divine power into him. His features softened, and his eyes drifted shut.
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