For the One Who Hates Me - Chapter 43

Josh and Theo were in Karl’s office after being summoned by him. They didn’t know where Karl had been that morning, but his expression was terrible.

“Josh.”

“Ah, yes… yes.”

“From now on, I want you to check all the letters that come to the Empress’s room.”

“…Pardon?”

“But Your Majesty, that is not in accordance with the law.” Theo interjected.

But Karl didn’t seem to hear him.

“Josh, check all the letters, even the ones sent to the Empress’s maids. Anyone suspicious… especially from someone named H, bring those letters to me without fail.”

Sensing the unusual atmosphere, Theo finally fell silent. Josh looked at him with a knowing glance and then nodded.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“And Theo, there’s something I need you to do as well.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Please tell me.” Karl leaned back in his chair.

“Summon Duke Taine to the palace.”

“…Pardon?”

“Duke Taine.”

Theo gulped. “I was in the middle of finding a way to contact Lady Elise without Duke Taine’s knowledge.”

“Yes, I know.”

Karl had planned to handle the matter in a traditional manner. He had intended to use his influence to ensure the ducal title went to Elise. In return, he would receive the piece of Pin.

But now that Aura had one piece, he had no time for that. He had to get the second piece from Duke Taine before she made a move.

“The plan has changed. I need to see Duke Taine first.”

This was no time to be considerate of Elise’s situation. After all, the piece of Pin was with Taine, not Elise.

As a condition for handing over the piece, he could ask Taine to take Elise as a concubine. Then he could arrange for her to be married into another family in the name of the royal family. Duke Taine’s goal was to get Elise out of his ducal family, anyway.

‘Unless Elise makes a move first.’

Meanwhile, Josh was flustered. As Karl’s confidant, he had a rough idea of the Duke’s situation.

‘Wouldn’t that… put Lady Elise in a difficult position?’

But he couldn’t dare to say such a thing to the resolute Karl.

Josh and Theo left the office. Karl turned his chair to look out the window.

He nervously tapped his finger on the armrest.

‘The law?’ Karl scoffed. ‘What good is the law when we’ve already sunk to the bottom?’

‘If you break the seal, you’ll leave me.’

He had said that, casting aside all his pride and dignity. He had clung to her, putting all his feelings for her and his desire not to lose her on the line.

She couldn’t have been oblivious to his feelings. She knew it all, and yet, she had said:

‘…Yes, I’ll leave.’

In that case, Karl had no choice.

‘Keep chasing Pin, Aura. I’ll just keep following you.’

A few days later.

Karl invited Aura to breakfast. She accepted.

When she arrived at the dining room, Karl was already sitting at the table.

“Good morning, Karl.”

“Come in.”

Aura was surprised by Karl’s complexion. There were dark circles under his eyes, and the veins were red. He clearly hadn’t slept in days.

But Aura pretended not to notice. She couldn’t be there to put him to sleep forever.

“I didn’t think you’d come.”

Aura shrugged at Karl’s words. “There’s no reason not to.”

“Are you eating properly now?”

She wondered if that was why he had invited her. To her, Karl seemed to be the one who needed to take care of himself.

“Of course, otherwise, I wouldn’t have come to the dining room. There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

“Talk about? What is it?”

“The reservoir construction in Ancena has started.”

“Ah, I heard the news.” Aura picked up a forkful of salad. A fresh tomato burst with flavor in her mouth. She swallowed it and spoke. “So I was thinking of going to Ancena.”

Karl, who was cutting a piece of meat with his knife, stopped. He looked at Aura. She was still toying with her salad.

“Do you think I’ll give you permission?”

“Is there a reason I can’t go?”

“You tried to kill yourself there.”

From Karl’s perspective, it wasn’t a lie. But Aura hadn’t been planning to kill herself in Ancena. She had only been prepared to die.

“I wasn’t the Empress back then. I am now.”

“Does that make such a big difference in your attitude?”

Aura slowly chewed her salad.

“It’s not as grand as an ‘attitude.’ I just think it’s right for me to pay attention to it as the Empress.”

“…”

“They’re building a reservoir in the Suroon region, where the Kasans live, and bringing water to Ancena. It’s not a construction project for the Zenia people alone.”

“Fine. Let’s say that’s true. But why do you have to personally go? You want to show the Zenia people that the Empress is behind them? Then the reporters will definitely not stay quiet.”

Aura finally put down her fork. The sound echoed in the dining room.

“This construction is being done in the name of the royal family. I’m going as a representative of the royal family.”

She said that, but Aura had another goal in mind.

First, as Karl suspected, she wanted to encourage the Zenia people. Those who must be exhausted from the long drought and water shortages.

Second, she wanted to track Ruan’s whereabouts. So she could find out when he would arrive at the palace.

“‘A representative of the royal family’… “

Karl muttered softly. Her words were plausible. They fit the duties of the Empress perfectly.

Karl smiled faintly. “Alright, let’s go.”

“…What?”

His words were strange. Not “You can go,” but “Let’s go.”

“Aura, as you said, is a construction project in the name of the royal family. It would look better if the Emperor and Empress went together.”

“There’s no need for you to go.”

“It’s not a ‘need.’ Did you forget whose money is being used for this project?”

Aura had no words. It was in the name of the royal family, but it was Karl’s money.

Karl poured wine into a glass. The red wine filled the glass halfway.

“And I don’t plan on letting you go alone.”

“…”

“No matter where it is.”

He picked up the wine glass and stood up, walking toward her.

“The weather is perfect today. Since we’ve decided, let’s leave today.”

Just as Karl said, the weather outside was beautiful. Aura wiped her mouth with a napkin and reluctantly replied, “…Alright. Let’s do it.”

‘I have no choice. I’ll just have to find a way to get away from Karl.’

Karl looked at Aura and smirked.

Thud.

He placed the glass in front of her. “I’ll see you later, Aura.”

The red wine shimmered in front of her.

The Emperor and Empress’s outing was prepared immediately. Aura spent a long time in front of the closet choosing her clothes. She wanted to show the Zenia people that she was doing well, so they wouldn’t give up hope.

“Your Majesty, have you chosen your attire?” Mina asked from behind her. Aura slowly nodded.

“I’ll wear green. Something clean but not too simple. And no jewelry except for small earrings.”

She couldn’t look too well-off, or they would worry that she would abandon them. But she couldn’t look too shabby, or they would feel she didn’t have the power to protect them.

‘Since I’m going with Karl, I have to be even more careful.’

Was it because she had given up Pin? Karl seemed more unpredictable than before.

Aura finished getting ready and went to the front of the palace. The carriage and Karl were already waiting. Coincidentally, he was also wearing a dark green outfit.

‘Of all the colors…’

If she had known, she would have never worn green. But Karl had already seen her and seemed to find the situation highly amusing.

It wasn’t just Karl. The knights exchanged glances with one another. They clearly thought the couple had matched their outfits. Josh and Theo especially looked touched.

Karl held out his hand to Aura in front of the carriage.

“They all seem to think we’re a very loving couple.”

“I can go back and change if you wish.”

“I think the Empress wants to, but I don’t have the patience to wait.” Karl said, shaking his outstretched hand as if to hurry her.

Aura had no choice but to take his hand and get into the carriage.

‘I’m already tired.’

She let out a soft sigh. For some reason, she had a feeling this trip wouldn’t be easy.

Karl got into the carriage after her. He sat right next to her.

“What? What are you doing here?”

Ignoring her, Karl calmly gestured outside the carriage. Josh, who was on his horse, told the coachman to start. Karl immediately pulled the curtains closed.

‘This is unbelievable…’

Aura tried to move to the other side. But Karl grabbed her hand and made her sit back down. Aura was starting to get angry.

“…What do you want? Did you agree to come to Ancena for this?”

“Yeah. I agreed to come for this.”

Karl leaned his head on her shoulder and closed his eyes. “You won’t let me into your bedroom, and I need to get some sleep.”

His voice was hoarse. Aura tried to get up again, but then gave up.

“Then at least let go of my hand.”

“I told you before. I can only sleep when I’m touching you.”

Karl didn’t just let go; he intertwined his fingers with hers. Aura was dumbfounded.

“There’s a limit to how shameless you can be, Karl.”

“If you keep talking, I won’t be able to sleep. Be quiet, Aura.”

He muttered in a truly exhausted voice. Aura was about to say something else, but she finally gave up.

She reached for the curtain and pulled it back. Since she couldn’t move, she might as well look out the window.

The sunlight was warm and gentle as it seeped into the carriage. The view of the lush spring was very nice. It was as if the cold, harsh winter had never happened.

But…

‘…He’s heavy.’

Aura glared at Karl. The big man was resting his weight on her shoulder.

“…”

Aura’s sharp gaze softened. She looked at him again and again. His long, black eyelashes, his well-defined nose, his firmly closed lips.

There was a time when Aura had loved all of these things. She had thought they were a shortcut to finding happiness.

Then…

Clatter!

The carriage shook violently.

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