Chapter 138
He’d come intending to scold her, but Calix couldn’t keep the corners of his mouth from turning up, so he forced himself to steady his voice and admonished her sternly.
“Do you have any idea how dangerous that emergency contraception was? If you say you knew and still took it, I’ll really lock you up in a cage.”
“I-I didn’t know.”
“Now that you do, promise me you’ll never take it again.”
He thought she’d get the message with that, but when he saw Lea stubbornly keeping her mouth shut, his mood, which had been ready to soar, plummeted with alarming speed.
Calix glared at her with a terrifying look, and Lea spoke in a trembling voice.
“…If I can see a future ahead, I promise I’ll never take it again.”
To attach conditions… Calix felt some frustration with Lea, who refused to give up her stubbornness even to the end, but since she’d still promised not to take it, he decided to leave it at that. His little fox was strangely stubborn in odd ways, so he would have to coax her slowly over time.
To be honest, the moment she’d shouted that he was all she needed, all his anger had melted away.
“Then I’ll just have to rule well so you can dream of a future.”
With his reassuring voice and gentle touch on her cheek, Lea looked up at him as if bewitched. The curve of his lips etched itself into her eyes.
For some reason, it felt like whatever he said would come true.
“So listen to the words of your future ruler.”
He ended with a rebuke after all, but then he scooped Lea up in his arms and carried her leisurely inside. Smelling his familiar scent, she felt all the strength drain from her body without even realizing it.
Maybe because she was always carried around by him when she was a fox, being in his arms felt like her proper place. It was a curious feeling.
* * *
Bianca was so furious she thought she would lose her mind. She vented her rage indiscriminately, changing out the palace staff every other day.
“That wretched girl! The things she dares to say to her own mother! Unbelievable!”
Fuming, she summoned her lady-in-waiting.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I must go see His Majesty the Emperor at once.”
“Yes, I’ll prepare everything.”
Adorned in a lavish, beautiful dress and jewelry, Bianca strode confidently to the Emperor.
When she appeared, the knight standing in front of the office opened the door without even asking the Emperor. Bianca entered as if it were only natural.
“Your Majesty!”
With a coquettish voice, Bianca ran up and clung to the Emperor.
“For the Empress to come see me first, there must be something you want.”
The Emperor, holding a cigar between his lips, murmured languidly as he exhaled smoke.
“Oh dear, I can’t hide anything from Your Majesty.”
“Hah, didn’t I tell you? You’re free to be as greedy as you like.”
“Truly?”
“Yes. But I told you to keep your promises.”
Bianca felt the Emperor’s touch growing more intimate and nestled deeper into his embrace. At the same time, she let out a guiding flow to entice him, almost but never quite giving in.
“So, what is it you want?”
The Emperor, recognizing her intentions, asked impatiently, a hint of annoyance on his face. As if she’d been waiting for this, Bianca asked for what she wanted.
“Please get those two children out of the palace for a while. I can’t stand the sight of them.”
The meaning of ‘get rid of them’ was open to interpretation. Bianca didn’t care if the Emperor misunderstood and had them killed, or dealt with them some other way.
She just wanted those two chased out of the imperial palace immediately.
“I like that you’re so greedy. I like that you say what you want without hesitation. That way, you’ll never stray far from my side.”
“…I will be with Your Majesty forever.”
“I’ll do my best to keep you interested in me for the rest of your life as well.”
“I am honored, Your Majesty.”
With the Emperor’s positive reply, Bianca felt her long-standing displeasure begin to melt away. So she let out even more guiding flow to the Emperor than usual.
Hoping that he would reward her as much as the guiding she gave.
She should have come straight to the Emperor instead of pulling those petty tricks. Bianca’s only regret was of that kind.
Discussion
1 CommentReactions
wittyying
Going purely from Bianca's reaction, it's almost as if Lea had JUST mouthed off to her mother before walking off...except the timing is off. The last mother-daughter interaction happened over a week ago.
I guess for Bianca, there's no such thing as a cooling off period?