Your Majesty, I’m Not that Man - Chapter 12. The Tyrant’s Fiancée (2)

The way he whispered with a low growl, like a predator ready to devour her, sent a shiver down Levinia’s spine. Slowly, she moved her hand from his lips to his cheek.

“Later, Your Majesty. You’ve done enough already.”

Her soft, gentle whisper made Cassion’s lips curl into a slight pout.

“…Then will you let me release this burning desire on the bed later?”

Memories of being trapped in his office, completely at his mercy, flashed through her mind. Since today was their engagement celebration, Levinia knew Cassion wouldn’t let her off so easily.

“When the party is over… then… Your Majesty can do whatever you want.”

“You truly know how to handle the emperor,” Cassion chuckled.

He kissed her palm with a playful smile before reluctantly turning his head. Though he wanted nothing more than to carry her off to the nearest bedroom, it seemed he would have to wait a little longer.

“I hate waiting. So…”

He pulled Levinia close and whispered in her ear, his lips brushing against her skin.

“Every ten minutes, I’ll collect one kiss.”

What?!

Cassion mischievously winked at Levinia, whose eyes had gone wide in shock. While she stood there stammering, he took her hand and executed a graceful bow. It was a flawless gesture, completely different from how he had merely watched her bow earlier.

“Shall we return to our seats? We should remain there until the party is in full swing,” Cassion said smoothly.

Levinia swallowed hard. There were too many eyes on them for her to suggest they leave right away.

Ugh… Well, even without that promise, His Majesty would have done plenty anyway! So…

But convincing herself it would be fine was difficult—especially since she was genuinely worried about her poor waist.

＊ ＊ ＊

When the emperor and the duchess returned to the throne after greeting the nobles, the high-ranking aristocrats hesitated for a moment before finally stepping onto the dance floor. Following their lead, other noble couples joined in, and the atmosphere of a proper party began to take shape.

Levinia breathed a sigh of relief and glanced around. Sensing an opportunity, some nobles—mostly the higher-ranking ones—started making their way toward her.

“Your Majesty, Your Grace, Duchess of Wendell.”

Cassion’s gaze was cold as he looked at them, but that was nothing new. The nobles were used to the emperor’s icy stare. Given that Cassion would ruthlessly oppress anyone who fell out of his favor, the nobles cautiously approached, swallowing their anxiety.

At that moment, several of the emperor’s closest allies joined the crowd to greet them. Despite his long reign as a tyrant, Cassion had his own faction of supporters. His allies were mostly from a younger generation of nobles who were tired of the deep-rooted corruption of the older aristocracy.

Among them were nobles like Marquis Siesz and Count Hill, who shared Cassion’s ideology. Cassion had carefully chosen individuals with similar beliefs, even among the children of high-ranking noble families, and brought them into his inner circle.

They acknowledged that his methods were extreme, but they believed the empire had needed such drastic measures—like a surgeon cutting out a diseased part of the body. Because of that, they feared him but respected him at the same time.

Since Cassion was a ruler who didn’t shy away from showing his rough and sharp edges, his allies were constantly seeking ways for him to build closer ties with both the nobility and the people. After all, a ruler who only crushed others could never escape the label of a tyrant.

Now that Levinia had become the emperor’s fiancée, there was great hope. If Cassion married and had children, perhaps the sharpness in his personality would soften over time. Eventually, people might even forget that he had killed all the other members of the royal family to seize the throne.

After all, Cassion had at least the justification of avenging his murdered father and brothers.

“…The scenery is quite beautiful. If you take a look around, I’m sure you’ll find it charming.”
“I’ll keep it in mind,” Levinia replied with a faint smile, deflecting the suggestion skillfully.

Watching her, Marquis Siesz breathed a sigh of relief. There was a reason he had recommended Levinia Wendell as a candidate for empress.

Although Marquis Maxim tried to keep it under wraps, anyone with decent information knew that his daughter was the one propping up the Wendell household.

If it weren’t for the need to continue the family line, Levinia Wendell would have been a highly sought-after daughter-in-law. Her skill in managing both the internal and external affairs of the Wendell family was unmatched.

The value of the Wendell family name had significantly increased thanks to her efforts. One could say that there was a clear distinction between the Wendell family before and after Levinia took charge.

Cassion watched her with a satisfied gaze as she gracefully handled the nobles. Suddenly, Levinia glanced back at him, seemingly aware of his gaze, and gasped.

“What is it?” The gathered nobles all turned to the two of them in curiosity.

“Y-Your Majesty… I feel a little dizzy… I think I should retire for the evening,” Levinia stammered.

“Is that so? Martin,” Cassion called.

One of the emperor’s attendants immediately stepped forward. Cassion handed him the glass he was holding, then helped Levinia to her feet.

“The duchess seems tired. We’ll be leaving now. Everyone else, enjoy the rest of the evening,” Cassion announced.

The nobles gathered near the throne bowed their heads. Cassion wrapped his arm around Levinia’s shoulders and escorted her out through the royal family’s private entrance. Levinia glanced around to confirm that they had left at just the right moment.

How many hours have passed?

Listening and responding to the endless chatter of the nobles had taken quite some time. And not once had Cassion stepped in to help her!

As they entered the hallway, Levinia looked up at Cassion, assessing him carefully.

He gave her a sly smile.

“…It’s been over five hours.”

“You’re lying, right?!”

“It’s true. Why would I lie about that?” Cassion said with a sly smile. While he might have been tempted to fudge the number of times something happened, he had no reason to lie about the time—it was something Levinia could easily confirm with an attendant.

“And what about your dizziness, my love?” he asked teasingly, his tone playful.

Levinia glared at him, her lips trembling into a pout.
“It’s still there. In fact, it feels worse after hearing Your Majesty’s words.”

“Oh dear… We must hurry back to the bedroom so I can nurse you back to health. You won’t be able to leave the bed for even a single step, so be prepared,” Cassion whispered, pressing a kiss to her temple with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

His relaxed demeanor made Levinia feel a little more at ease. Cassion had clearly noticed that something between them had changed when they danced earlier. Embarrassed by the thought, Levinia looked away, feeling her heart race.

Her ears were flushed red, and she chewed on her bottom lip nervously. Cassion, clearly amused by her reaction, watched her for a moment before effortlessly lifting her into his arms.

Her dress was adorned with real jewels, making it extraordinarily heavy. With the added weight of an adult woman, the burden was considerable.

“Y-Your Majesty! I’m too heavy!”

“Not at all. Wouldn’t it be better if I wore you out a bit so you can rest properly?”

He wasn’t wrong, but it was still incredibly embarrassing since the attendants and royal guards were right there listening. Yet Cassion didn’t seem to feel her weight at all, striding lightly as he hurried toward the Rose Palace.

It was the day of their long-awaited engagement celebration. Cassion had no intention of letting this night slip away so easily. He was determined to make it an unforgettable night for both of them—one they would never forget.

＊ ＊ ＊

Albert gazed at the distant lights of the imperial palace.

Today, Levinia was holding her engagement ceremony with the emperor. It seemed he had firmly decided to crown her as empress. Though the wedding date had not yet been set, everyone expected it to take place soon.

Levinia…

She would undoubtedly look stunning in her engagement dress. Albert had accompanied Levinia as her partner to several balls in the past.

Back then, Levinia had looked at him with cold eyes—but she had still been beautiful. Remembering the thrill he had felt back then, Albert chuckled bitterly.

There had been many chances. Even if she had rejected him, he should have confessed his feelings to her.

But he never managed to speak his heart. His father, and the weight of his own existence, had made him believe he would only ruin her life.

What’s the point of these regrets now?

The emperor had rushed to save Levinia, unlike him—despite being a Swordmaster, Albert had done nothing.

Albert was certain that Maxim had tried to threaten Levinia. The fact that she had attempted to flee from the emperor could have been enough to disgrace the Wendell family, but it was also the perfect excuse to coerce her.

However, Maxim had failed spectacularly. He hadn’t even been able to lift a finger before being stripped of all his authority and banished from the capital. He never got the chance to threaten Levinia.

Albert believed the emperor must have already realized that Levinia had tried to escape. That was why he had rushed to hold the engagement ceremony—binding her even tighter with a duchess title and everything else he could offer.

No man would fail to resent a woman who tried to run away from him. Cassion might pretend to care for Levinia in public, but behind closed doors, he was likely oppressing her.

Clenching his teeth, Albert recalled the tears he had seen in Levinia’s eyes at the Hyacinth Palace.

He knew he needed to rescue her from that situation… but there were far too many obstacles in his way. With the added responsibility of managing the Wendell duchy, would Levinia even want to leave the emperor’s side?

No… there’s still a way. It wasn’t entirely hopeless. From the start, Albert had kept one method in mind.

Assassination.

The emperor was immune to poison and possessed transcendent power, so it wouldn’t be easy. But it wasn’t impossible.

Albert’s eyes turned cold as he looked away.

For now, there was nothing he could do for Levinia.

＊ ＊ ＊

Cassion carried Levinia all the way to the Rose Palace, seemingly unfazed by her weight. Even when Levinia, mindful of the eyes watching them, asked him to put her down, he stubbornly refused.

When they finally arrived at Levinia’s chambers in the Rose Palace, Cassion gently set her down on the sofa. He dismissed the attendants and guards, then instructed the maids to prepare a bath. As the maids swiftly dispersed, Cassion knelt and began to remove Levinia’s shoes.

Since she had been at the ball for hours, her feet were undoubtedly sweaty. Embarrassed by the thought, Levinia instinctively pulled her feet back, hiding them beneath the folds of her dress.

“What are you hiding?”

“I’ve been wearing those shoes for a long time… I’m sure they smell,” Levinia said, tugging at her skirt with a sheepish excuse.

Cassion chuckled softly but didn’t press the issue. Instead, he sat beside her.

“Are you hungry?”

As the emperor’s fiancée, Levinia couldn’t exactly walk over to the buffet table, and she had been fasting all day to fit into her engagement dress. During the party, Cassion had the attendants bring her fruit juice, but that was hardly a substitute for food.

“A little… yes.”

“Then after your bath, let’s have a meal. You’ve worked really hard today because of me. Thank you for your efforts.”

Levinia blinked in surprise. She hadn’t expected to hear such words from Cassion. The way he spoke made it feel like they were already married, even though the wedding hadn’t happened yet.

“You too, Your Majesty.”

“It was nothing difficult for me,” Cassion said with a shrug, beginning to remove his coat.

Levinia glanced nervously at the maids, still present, and called out in alarm.

“Y-Your Majesty?”

“No matter what you say, we’re bathing together. I don’t want to waste time taking turns.”

Cassion cast a brief glance at the maids.

“I’ll take care of the duchess’s bath myself. Prepare some champagne for us to enjoy—make sure it’s to her taste.”

“Understood, Your Majesty,” the maids answered and respectfully lowered their gazes.

Cassion then reached for Levinia’s dress. Startled, she quickly grabbed his hand, but he merely smiled.

“We need to bathe, don’t we? Don’t you usually undress easily in front of the maids?”

“There’s no need to do that in front of you, Your Majesty…”

“If anyone heard that, they’d think it’s the first time I’m undressing you.”

Levinia shot him a sharp glare, but Cassion ignored it entirely and started loosening the laces of her dress. His expression said You’ve taken your clothes off in front of me and the maids before, so what’s the big deal now?—but combined, it was a different matter entirely.

Levinia tried to stop him in a panic, but Cassion caught her off guard by leaning in for a kiss. Clearly, he intended to distract her and use the opportunity to undress her.

Like I’m going to fall for that trick! she thought, glaring at him.