Chapter 125
Chapter 125: I’ll Just Hold Your Hand
Though she hadn’t mentioned it for fear of worrying her brother, Anasha seemed to be struggling with her current situation.
After the coronation ceremony in three days, she too would gain the most noble status in the Valdeon Empire.
However, having just begun learning imperial etiquette, she couldn’t help feeling stifled and awkward.
Unlike her relatively free life as a young lady of House Devonshire, the position of Imperial Princess came with many restrictions.
Although it was merely reclaiming her rightful place, Anasha didn’t seem entirely happy about it.
“Once we live in the Imperial Palace, I won’t be able to see Gemma and Gale often, will I?”
Head maid Gemma and head butler Gale, who had long served the duchy, preferred to remain in the north rather than move to the capital.
Thus, Lupeon had no choice but to accept their wishes. After all, the north was like a sanctuary to them.
Once Lupeon officially ascended to the throne, he said he would appoint a proxy lord for the Devonshire duchy.
Perhaps because she had spent over a year—short or long depending on how you look at it—in the north, Elena too had grown deeply attached to the servants she lived with.
‘I’ll miss the duchy’s servants when we part, too.’
While feeling sad about the upcoming separation, she gave a faint smile as she looked at her young lady.
“Miss, shall we visit the north together sometimes to see Gemma and Gale?”
“Really? Big sister, can we really?”
Anasha’s blue eyes grew round like a rabbit’s. Elena watched the child blink for a moment before giving a small nod.
“Of course. Let’s go together when spring comes.”
Only then did Anasha show a bright smile, seemingly relieved.
* * *
On the evening before Lupeon’s imperial coronation, Elena arrived at the Imperial Palace with Anasha.
As the head court lady showed her to her room, Elena began to feel puzzled.
This wasn’t the guest room where she had stayed before, but rather a room in the Empress’s Palace.
‘Why did they guide me to the Empress’s Palace?’
Elena looked around her room slowly, wearing an awkward smile tinged with perplexity.
From the crystal chandelier bathed in soft light to the elegant silk wallpaper and sophisticated, dignified furniture—every detail spoke of meticulous attention.
Feeling sheepish about receiving such lavish treatment when she wasn’t yet married to Lupeon, Elena scratched her cheek with an embarrassed look.
“Is it really alright for me to stay here?”
The head court lady responded with a gentle smile.
“Of course. We were ordered to treat you as reverently as we would Her Majesty the Empress.”
‘Like the Empress… surely not?’
A thought suddenly struck Elena, and she swallowed hard before carefully asking.
“Is this the Empress’s bedroom?”
“You noticed right away, as expected.”
Startled by those words, Elena waved her hands frantically in the air.
“That’s absurd! How could I possibly use the Empress’s bedroom…”
“You are the noble person who will lead the Empire alongside His Majesty the Emperor.”
The head court lady offered her opinion calmly yet respectfully. Of course, Lupeon’s orders must have played a part.
‘Still, this seems too much…’
There would likely be no record in the Empire’s history of an unmarried woman staying in the Empress’s Palace.
After being introduced to her new court ladies along with Vivian, Elena let out a small sigh when she was finally alone in the room.
While grateful to the servants treating her like an Empress, she couldn’t help feeling somewhat overwhelmed.
Although she and Lupeon had confirmed their feelings for each other, they hadn’t yet had any serious discussions about marriage.
Elena was about to get up, thinking she should talk with Lupeon, when—
Knock knock—
“Big sister, may I come in?”
‘Why is Anasha here at this hour?’
Surprised to see the child she thought would be asleep, Elena quickly opened the door.
“Miss, what’s the matter—”
But before she could finish her sentence, she spotted a tall man and stared at them both with wide eyes.
“What brings you both here?”
In response to her question, Lupeon showed an elegant smile and slightly waved a storybook before continuing.
“I came to read her a story, but she says she wants to sleep with you tonight.”
“I’m still not used to my room!”
The child twirled her silver-white hair with her fingers and pouted slightly as she complained.
It seemed she was already feeling uncomfortable with the servants treating her as an Imperial Princess and the new environment.
‘I’ll need to pay special attention to helping Anasha adjust to the palace.’
Determined to take good care of the young lady on behalf of the busy Lupeon, Elena bent her knees slightly and spoke to the child.
“Then shall we sleep together in my room for now? Until you’re ready?”
“Yes, I’d like that!”
As if hearing exactly what she wanted, Anasha’s eyes sparkled like stars as she smiled brightly.
As Elena watched the child with affectionate eyes, Lupeon’s quiet voice emerged.
“Until she’s ready… you mean indefinitely?”
For some reason, he had raised one eyebrow and was wearing a blank expression.
Not understanding what the problem was, Elena tilted her head and replied.
“Yes, the young miss will need time to adjust.”
Having somehow already settled herself in the middle of the bed, Anasha said with a bright face.
“So you don’t need to read to me for a while, Brother!”
“…”
Lupeon’s eyes trembled slightly as he looked at his sister, and soon a languid sigh escaped his lips.
‘Is he disappointed that Anasha wants to be with me instead of him for a while?’
As Elena was looking back and forth between the Argenta siblings with an awkward expression—
“That won’t work, Anasha.”
“What? Why not?”
Apparently finding her brother’s words unreasonable, Anasha sat up abruptly and asked.
“Because I’ve changed my mind too.”
‘Changed his mind about what?’
Like the child, Elena looked at her fiancé with bewildered eyes.
The man raised one corner of his mouth and his gaze soon fell on her.
“From now on, I’ll come here every night after finishing state affairs.”
“What? What do you mean…”
Elena’s golden eyes wavered as she momentarily doubted her ears.
Lupeon smiled mischievously and whispered softly in her ear.
“Don’t be alarmed. I’ll just hold your hand while we sleep.”
“…!”
As Elena could only gape wordlessly, the man let out a small chuckle.
“Well, for now at least.”
‘You… you rascal!’
Elena’s face flushed hot as she cupped her cheeks and glared at her fiancé.
However, he seemed unbothered and simply took his place next to Anasha in the middle of the bed.
“You must be tired too. Won’t you join us?”
As the bed grew crowded with this unexpected situation, the child glared at her brother with pursed lips.
“It’s cramped because of you, Brother.”
“That’s just your imagination, Anasha.”
Elena approached them with a gentle smile as she watched the two bicker.
Soon, Anasha fell sound asleep listening to Lupeon’s gentle voice reading the storybook.
As Elena softly patted the child’s back, she looked at the man sitting on the bed and said.
“No matter how I think about it, this seems too much.”
“What does?”
Lupeon raised an eyebrow as he listened to her words.
Playing with her fingers, Elena continued in a slightly embarrassed voice.
“Using the Empress’s bedroom, and everyone treating me as if I were already the Empress…”
The man smiled contentedly at her words and briefly kissed her rose-pink hair.
“Get used to it. It’s your rightful privilege.”
“Lupeon…”
Elena’s cheeks turned bright red at his clear answer, which seemed to contain nothing but truth.
“Well then, I should be going now.”
“What…?”
