Chapter 35
(35) Overwhelming Affection (6)
“Lady, those who have never known emotion fall into chaos when they first encounter it. It might be fine now, but that chaos may one day swallow you whole.”
“I see.”
“You’re keeping him close because he’s useful. It would be best to discard him once he’s no longer of use.”
“Of course, Sir Bastid, you’re not wrong… but,” Eleanor tilted her head slightly, “I feel sorry for him.”
“Pardon?”
“I’ve always been the kind of person who can’t just ignore something pitiful and wretched.”
Eyo looked like he hadn’t expected to hear that. His lips parted wordlessly before he cleared his throat.
“I didn’t think you were that kind of person, Lady.”
“And how much do you know about me, Sir Bastid?”
“Well… how should I put it? You just give off a certain… vibe.”
He made a round shape with both hands.
“Like this.”
“…I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Yes, well. Honestly, I don’t know either. But really? Are you truly the kind of person who can’t leave something sad and pitiful alone?”
“Don’t I look like it?”
“Not really… more like this.”
Eyo made the same round gesture again, and Eleanor laughed softly. She stepped around him and continued walking.
“I’m soft-hearted. That’s why I try so hard to seem strong.”
“Well, then you’ve succeeded. You certainly seem strong.”
“You don’t believe me, do you? I’m really soft-hearted.”
“I believe you.”
“I mean it. That’s why I didn’t say anything to you.”
“Didn’t say what?”
“That I know about your shapeshifting ability.”
Eyo stopped walking. When she didn’t hear his footsteps behind her for a while, Eleanor stopped too and turned around.
He was frozen like a statue. Eleanor walked up to him and craned her neck to look up.
“Surprised?”
“Uh… no, I mean…”
Eyo clearly tried to come up with a lie, but eventually gave up and ran a hand through his hair.
“Yes. Just now, the sky fell on me.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t discuss this with anyone besides His Majesty.”
“…Wait, even His Majesty knows you know?”
“Yes. I asked him when he changed form. I wondered if he had the same ability as you.”
Eyo muttered,
“This is insane.”
But Eleanor pretended not to hear.
“I’d really like to have a deeper conversation about that ability sometime. Otherwise, I might end up asking around in the wrong places.”
“You’re very skilled at threatening people.”
Eleanor winked.
“I know, right?”
She resumed walking, and Eyo didn’t immediately follow. He had to speed up to catch up again.
“Lady Snow. This ability must never be leaked.”
“Yes, I know.”
“Truly. Seriously.”
“Even if someone chopped off my arms and legs, I wouldn’t say a word. But I do have a question. Are His Majesty and you the only ones who possess this ability?”
Eyo thought for a moment.
“You’ll have to ask His Majesty. I’m not allowed to say anything.”
“Even if I go around asking others?”
“You wouldn’t do that.”
Eleanor smiled.
“His Majesty doesn’t trust me, but it seems you do.”
“No. I trust you because His Majesty does.”
“His Majesty… trusts me?”
“Yes. If he showed you that ability, it means he trusts you—more than anyone else in this world.”
Eleanor’s lips parted in surprise. She had never felt trusted by Heraith before. Maybe he’d lowered his guard a little since they first met, but it hadn’t felt like trust.
“But he keeps testing me.”
“I think he just enjoys it.”
“He enjoys it?”
Instead of answering, Eyo gave her a grin.
“We’ve arrived at the dining hall, my lady. Please enjoy your meal.”
***
As Eleanor sat at the table waiting for Heraith, she thought about what Iho had said.
The Emperor enjoys it?
Come to think of it, Heraith did smile more than she’d heard. But still…
“His Majesty, the Emperor, enters,” announced a servant.
Eleanor stood and turned to face Heraith as he entered.
As always, he looked wrapped in darkness—not literally, but the lack of expression on his face and the weight in his eyes gave that impression.
‘He doesn’t look like he’s enjoying anything at all.’
The dining hall didn’t seem designed for entertaining guests—it wasn’t very large. A table for maybe eight people.
Eleanor sat opposite the head seat, leaving it empty. But Heraith sat in the center of the long side and gestured to the seat across from him.
“It’s better to talk face to face, isn’t it?”
As soon as Eleanor moved to sit closer, maids brought in the food.
Apparently Heraith had told them to serve everything at once instead of course by course.
Now alone with him in the room, Eleanor clasped her hands to her chest in mock awe.
“Wow, as expected of a meal prepared for the Emperor, every dish is exquisite.”
“…”
“It’s such an honor to dine with you like this. None of the imperial consorts have had the chance to dine with you alone yet, have they?”
Heraith silently stared at her, amused by her different tone, then let out a quiet laugh.
“Is that how you behaved in front of the Empress Dowager?”
“Yes. Is it strange?”
“No, it suits your appearance well. Did she fall for it?”
“Maybe not yet…, but one day, I hope she will.”
Heraith picked up his utensils.
“Well then, let’s eat and talk.”
Eleanor followed suit, copying exactly what he did, starting with the salad.
She waited until he tested it with a silver knife for poison, then took a bite herself.
“You didn’t go through these steps when you lived with House Snow, did you?”
“No, I just picked up whatever and shoved it in my mouth.”
“It must be tiresome having to check for poison every time you eat.”
“Someday, I hope that won’t be necessary anymore.”
She watched him test the duck meat next, then served herself the same. After savoring a bite, she said,
“There’s going to be a palace party soon.”
“To celebrate naming the next empress?”
“Yes.”
“Then I suppose I’m the host.”
“Most likely. It’ll be an extravagant party. The public will be outraged. Even those who praised Your Majesty for containing the rift might turn on you.”
Eleanor reached for the lobster meat Heraith had just taken.
“I, too, will be criticized for being unfit as empress. I’ll attend the party in a luxurious necklace the Empress Dowager gave me, looking thrilled.”
“I’m curious to see that thrilled expression.”
“You’ll be surprised.”
Their eyes met. Both smiled at the same time… then dropped the smile just as quickly.
“How should we deal with this situation?”
“I’ve come up with two options. First, Your Majesty could issue a decree announcing a mourning period for those who died because of the rift—and ban all celebrations and parties until it ends.”
“And the second? Turn the party into chaos?”
– ‘I think he just enjoys it.’
Eyo’s words overlapped with Heraith’s voice because Eleanor herself was beginning to enjoy this.
Despite the need to check for poison, decipher the Empress Dowager’s plots, and remain on edge for potential assassins, this conversation was fun.
She liked that Heraith was thinking the same way. She was genuinely enjoying this moment.
“The gates are locked, so those responsible for the rift couldn’t have escaped. Since opening a rift costs lives, they’re probably dead already.”
“I’m searching for traces of sorcery. I’ll find them soon enough…, but linking it to the Empress Dowager won’t be easy.”
Eleanor pulled something small from her pocket and slid it across the table.
Heraith’s eyes sparkled when he saw it.
“This hideous flower is the sigil of House Iglor. How did you get it?”
“Well, I accidentally bumped wrists with Hensa Iglor when she was being careless.”
Heraith burst into laughter. He rolled Hensa’s cufflink in his palm and said,
“I want to give you something in return. Is there anything you need?”
