I Helped The Imprisoned Male Lead And He Became Obsessed - Chapter 69

The day after the hunting festival, an imperial attendant came to find me.

He informed me that the Emperor had summoned me to bestow a reward upon the festival’s winner.

Now that he mentioned it, I vaguely recalled hearing something about this yesterday, but the confusion caused by both Emilian and the Crown Prince had completely driven it from my mind.

Of all times, why do I have to meet His Majesty now?

The thought of facing the Emperor after the events of the festival left me uneasy.

Lucas, the Crown Prince and the sole legitimate heir to the throne had shown favor toward me—a commoner. This was no small incident, and while there was nothing between us, the nobles would undoubtedly think otherwise.

Walking through the palace, I couldn’t ignore the peculiar stares of the people I passed. Rumors must already be circulating.

I’ll have to speak with the Crown Prince and clarify things. And I’ll need to explain everything to the Emperor as well.

Then there was Emilian. I had already promised to meet him today to talk.

I don’t know how everything became so tangled, but…

I resolved to untangle it somehow, though the weight of it all bore down heavily on me.

Following the attendant, I soon arrived at the Emperor’s study.

The Imperial Guards stationed at the door opened it without a word. As I stepped inside, the door closed silently behind me.

The Emperor was seated at a grand desk framed in mahogany and adorned with intricate gold embellishments.

When I approached, his eyes crinkled with a kind smile.

“Anise. It’s been a while,” he said warmly.

“Your Majesty,” I replied, lifting the hem of my dress in a polite curtsey.

The Emperor acknowledged my gesture with a nod and said, “I imagine you know why I called you here. I have something to give you.”

He glanced at Vincent, who stood a step behind him.

“Vincent, bring it to her,” the Emperor commanded.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Vincent replied, bowing before stepping forward with a small chest in his hands.

As I accepted the chest, the Emperor gestured for me to open it.

Inside was a bracelet crafted from gold, set with a large gemstone in its center. Its intricate design was embellished with detailed patterns and runes etched across its surface.

“This bracelet is an artifact from the Imperial treasury,” the Emperor explained. “It is said to have once belonged to the Queen of the Elves.”

I had expected the Emperor’s reward to be significant, but this was far beyond anything I could have imagined.

“Your Majesty, forgive me, but is it truly appropriate for someone like me to receive such a valuable item?” I asked, unable to hide my surprise.

The Emperor laughed softly.

“What I choose to give is my decision, is it not? Besides, the Empire, with its thousand-year history, has an abundance of artifacts such as this,” he replied.

He assured me that the Imperial treasury was more than sufficient, urging me to accept the bracelet without hesitation.

Though I was still somewhat bewildered, I ultimately thanked him and accepted the gift.

However, there was a more pressing matter to address.

“Your Majesty,” I began hesitantly, searching for the right words.

The Emperor gave me a look of encouragement, silently inviting me to continue.

“I believe you are already aware of what happened at the hunting festival yesterday,” I said.

“Ah, yes. My son offered his prize to you, didn’t he?”

I had expected the Emperor to treat this matter with grave seriousness, but his reaction was surprisingly casual.

His demeanor emboldened me, and I decided to press on.

“I have been undeservedly graced with the Crown Prince’s attention, but there is nothing between His Highness and me. Therefore, the matter Your Majesty is concerned about will never—”

At that moment, the Emperor burst into laughter. Even Vincent, who stood steadfastly by his side, looked like he was struggling to hold back his amusement.

I blinked in confusion, finding the situation perplexing.

“Your Majesty?”

“Ha ha, my apologies. I couldn’t help myself when I thought about my son…”

“…?”

“So confident, and yet, that boy of mine…”

The Emperor laughed again, as though he found something extraordinarily amusing. I could only stare at him, baffled, with no idea what had prompted his mirth.

After some time, he finally stopped laughing and spoke.

“Anise, there’s no need to explain yourself to me.”

His words were unexpected. I had assumed the Emperor would be deeply concerned about the Crown Prince’s actions.

Then, turning to Vincent, the Emperor asked,

“Vincent, what is it the young people call meddlesome, overbearing elders these days?”

“They call them kkondae, Your Majesty.”

“Ha ha, yes. I have no intention of becoming a kkondae.”

Did this mean the Emperor intended not to interfere in the Crown Prince’s romantic matters?

But was that really okay? The Crown Prince was, after all, the heir to the throne.

As my thoughts spiraled, I gave a small shake of my head. It wasn’t my place to question the Emperor’s decision.

With a serene smile, the Emperor interlaced his fingers and said,

“Lucas, that boy, is quite stubborn despite appearances. It would be better for you to speak with him directly.”

However, he added that the Crown Prince had important duties to attend to and would not be available for a while.

After expressing my gratitude to the Emperor, I exited his office.

Crossing the palace corridors, I headed toward the research laboratory, my thoughts a jumble.

‘It’s fortunate His Majesty isn’t upset about this, but what should I say to His Highness the Crown Prince…?’

Why did the Crown Prince even show interest in me in the first place?

In the end, I would have to hear it directly from him to truly understand.

***

That afternoon, I left work earlier than usual and stepped out of the research lab.

When Theo and Dr. Hermann heard I had plans to meet Emilian, they smiled warmly, almost too approvingly, and gave me a gentle push on the back to hurry me along.

Their behavior struck me as oddly suspicious, but worried about being late, I quickly left the lab.

The heart of the Empire, the capital city of Felice, was bathed in the crimson hues of the setting sun as it cast its glow over the Terrin River.

The carriage Emilian sent stopped in front of a high-end restaurant by the river. When I stepped down, I saw Emilian waiting for me.

He extended his hand with a soft, charming smile.
“Shall we go, Anise?”
“Oh, sure!”

I quickly entered the restaurant with him. Inside, the gentle strains of music filled the air, and the space was entirely ours—there wasn’t another soul in sight.

Emilian deftly placed our order, and before long, the first course was served. As expected from such a luxurious establishment, the food was exquisite.

“Is the food to your liking?”

“Yes. The chef here is truly talented.”

I nodded while neatly cutting my steak into bite-sized pieces. Emilian chuckled, seemingly pleased to see me eating well.

“I’m glad to hear that. Now Leonard won’t have to run a hundred laps around the training grounds.”

“Sir Leonard? Why bring him up all of a sudden?”

“He’s the one who recommended this place.”

Worried that Sir Leonard might indeed be subjected to such a grueling punishment, I hastily said,

“Then I’ll have to thank Sir Leonard. It’s such a relief to enjoy a meal so peacefully during the quieter hours.”

In response, Emilian only curved his eyes into gentle crescents, a silent yet telling gesture.

‘Wait… Did Sir Leonard really make this reservation?’

I found myself pondering his cryptic reaction while continuing to eat.

By the time dessert arrived, the sky outside had shifted to a deep violet hue, signaling the end of the meal.

Despite the passage of time, not a single other guest had entered the restaurant.

This lingering oddity left me increasingly suspicious, and I finally turned to Emilian with a look of realization in my eyes, the thought creeping in: Could it be…?

“Emil, did you… rent out this entire place?”

Emilian didn’t answer, but his expression gave me all the confirmation I needed. Surprised, I spoke up.

“Isn’t that a bit over the top just for a meal?”

“Well, the Bernstein estate isn’t exactly poor,” he replied casually, swirling the wine in his glass.

Perhaps the events of the hunting festival had become fodder for gossip in high society, as I had felt subtle yet persistent stares wherever I went. Renting out the entire restaurant was Emilian’s way of sparing me that discomfort.

‘He must’ve been thoughtful enough to consider that I might feel uneasy under all those gazes.’

I felt grateful for his consideration and kindness.

After finishing our meal and stepping outside, the gentle breeze from the river brushed against my cheeks. Emilian turned to me and said,

“Shall we walk a bit?”

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

We strolled along the riverbank, the season’s warmth lingering in the air. The lamplight shimmered on the surface of the water, dancing like tiny sparks.

The path occasionally narrowed, and each time, Emilian’s fingertips would graze mine.

The fleeting touch of his warmth, coming and going, sent ripples of unfamiliar sensations through me.

It felt ticklish and oddly exhilarating, leaving me tense yet strangely light.

‘Why do I feel this way when I’m with Emil…?’

The thought nagged at me until I shook my head slightly, as though to push it away. Just then, Emilian spoke.

“I heard there’s a lantern festival happening tonight.”

“Huh? Oh…”

Following his gaze, I saw people releasing lanterns by the river. The reddish-orange glow of the lanterns floated gently upward, carried by the breeze.

Now that I thought about it, the lantern festival always took place around this time of year.

As we walked further, a stand selling lanterns came into view. Well-dressed nobles and modestly attired commoners alike carried lanterns in their hands, enjoying the festival without regard for status.

Seeing this, Emilian’s earlier words came to mind.

“There were so many things I wanted to do with you when I returned.”

He had mentioned wanting to tell me something today. Though I was curious and couldn’t help but wonder what it might be…

“Emil, let’s do that too,” I suggested.

I figured he’d never had the chance to enjoy something like this before.

At my words, Emilian’s ruby-red eyes brightened like a jewel catching the light.

“Let’s do it.”

He took my hand and led me toward the stand.

We bought a lantern and, after lighting the wick, watched as it expanded like a blossoming flower bud.

“Did you know, Emil? They say if you make a wish and release a lantern, it’ll come true.”

When I invited him to make a wish with me, Emilian smiled and replied,
“Really? Then…”

He closed his eyes softly. Following his lead, I closed mine, clasped my hands together, and silently made a wish.

May Emilian always be healthy and happy.

After wishing, I opened my eyes, only to find Emilian’s crimson gaze fixed on me.

For a moment, our eyes met, and then we released the lantern.

The lantern floated gently upward, carried by the wind. Hundreds of lanterns released by others lit up the sky, creating a breathtaking spectacle. It was as if a river of stars was flowing across the heavens, the lanterns weaving a luminous tapestry.

As we admired the view together, Emilian spoke.

“Anise, do you remember?”

“Remember what?”

“Back at the research lab, after I underwent experiments, you’d come to see me at night and take care of me.”

Since escaping the Transcendent Research Institute, we had rarely spoken about those days. The memories were too painful to revisit, even after seven years.

“After the experiments, the pain was so unbearable that there were days I thought dying might be easier.”

His voice, as he reflected on the past, was calm yet heavy with emotion.

“But somehow, when I heard your footsteps echoing from afar, those thoughts would vanish like a dream.”

I looked up at him, unable to say a word. His low voice, carried by the evening breeze, seemed to brush against my heart.

“When your small shadow fell on the dark corridor, and you lit the lantern to brighten my room…”

Emilian’s gaze, deep and piercing, locked onto mine.

“I thought to myself, maybe I wanted to live a little longer.”

The wind carried the lanterns higher, their glow pushing back the darkness around us.

“You’ve been my light ever since.”

The sounds of the festival seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of us in this moment.

“And now,” he said softly, “I want to tell you something I’ve held back for a long time.”

As soon as he spoke, I had a sense of what was coming. And then,

“I like you, Anise.”

His voice was tender, his smile sweet enough to melt the coldest heart.