Chapter 1. Kill the Empress
***
After looking out the window for a while, Roselyn got up from her seat.
The clothes she was wearing were too thin and flimsy, so after putting on her jacket, she slowly walked down the hallway to the stairs. Because of the bandage on her ankle from the injury the other day, Tasha held her arm to support her.
“I’m fine, I can walk with a little limp.”
“But stairs can be dangerous. I’m nervous watching.”
Not wanting to fight about this, Roselyn let Tasha help her.
Then, she turned around and saw the three guards who were guarding the front of her room following her.
‘There are three guards in the mansion……’
Roselyn looked dumbfounded, but still wasted no time in trying to leave, so she moved forward.
But oddly enough, it sounded like there were a few more footsteps following her.
When she turned around again, she saw that there were seven guards…
And there were the twins and Asrell………
She didn’t have that many guards when she was Empress.
Roselyn looked back at the ten people following her, sighed, and turned back again.
“I think I’d better stay in my room.”
“Huh? Why? It’s nice and warm with the breeze outside……..?”
“Yes, it is. I’ve also prepared a cart!”
What is a cart?
It seemed like something that was ridden by a lazy nobleman. It was something like a rickshaw pulled by a man… As expected, it’s better not to go out,
The twins’ reaction gave her the feeling that there were probably more people waiting downstairs.
Who would assign this many guards for a bedroom slave? And for a slave to ride a cart for a mere walk….
Even if it was in Tamon’s mansion, the words would leak out among the servants.
It was bound to raise interest in her, not to mention lower his prestige.
Roselyn felt burdened by it.
Up until now, she had only wanted to be known as a little pretty foreign slave, who could be cut loose at any moment.
At first glance, she even resembled the dead Empress of Tanatos.
Roselyn sighed and walked up the stairs again.
That’s when it happened.
“Why aren’t you coming down?”
Suddenly a familiar low tone stopped her.
At that moment, the air changed.
The knights who had been following her knelt in unison and gave a modest bow.
Asrell and the twins, who had been snuggled up close to Roselyn, also took two steps backward to show their respect.
“Aren’t you going for a walk?”
The sound of thumping footsteps approached.
She could tell who he was without looking back.
Roselyn slowly turned around and looked at Tamon.
It felt like it had been a very long time since she saw him under the sun.
Perhaps that was why her lips became dry at the sight of him in the sunshine….
Yes, it was probably just the tension she felt again after so long.
[…There are too many people following me…]
Roselyn used Hirusha language deliberately, aware of the guards behind her.
Tamon smiled curiously at Roselyn’s Hirusha accent.
[There are only ten of them.]
[Even in Tanatos, there weren’t many people following me like this.]
[Lie. There were more than five maidens followed you there.]
[There were only three guards. And most importantly, I were an Empress back then, but not now.]
Tamon’s eyes bent beautifully at her words.
His red eyes glowed smoothly.
He reached out and stroked the tips of Roselyn’s hair under the sunlight.
A satisfied voice was flowing out lazily.
[Yes, you’re not Empress of Tanatos now, you’re Aranrosia of Amor. My beautiful bedroom slave.]
Roselyn scowled at him, her eyes narrowed.
She didn’t like his words, which he deliberately passed on knowing that she hated it.
[I think I need to see if there’s a chance to die again. I’d rather die than live as your bedroom slave.]
[You are very clever. You must have realized that the word “die” is a threat to me. So the humble Tamon must bow to the noble slave.]
Tamon bowed curtly and kissed Roselyn’s stiffened lips quickly.
Roselyn was startled and quickly pushed him away.
She was just amazed at how someone could kiss in places with people in broad daylight.
[What kind of lewdness is this? In a place where everyone sees it…]
[So it’s okay to do more where there’s no people? I don’t mind, but…]
… Ah, isn’t this man really crazy?
It seemed that the disease of his bloodline made him this lewd.
Roselyn glared at him with an absurd face and took a step back.
It was better to run away than to deal with a madman.
Tamon, who was staring at Roselyn, reached out and snatched her wrist just before she turned around.
[I’ll stop joking, so don’t run away. As I said then.”]
Tamon said in a serious voice, placing his hand near his heart in Roselyn’s suspicious eyes.
[I’ll get hurt.]
Roselyn was almost fooled by how serious his handsome face was.
But it wasn’t enough to kill Roselyn, who was tired of looking at his beautiful appearance.
Roselyn, who was still looking at him suspiciously, suddenly felt the gaze of the fierce melodramatic novelists behind her, who were watching the two of them with sparkling eyes.
Fearing that she would read about this very moment in their novel, Roselyn sighed and reluctantly replied,
[I understand. Now, let go of my wrist….]
Tamon stared at her slender wrist he was holding onto.
He let it go gently and chuckled.
Roselyn thought a smile like that was a bit ominous, and as expected…..
[I’ll hold your hand if you don’t like me to hold your wrist.]
A large, rough hand encircled Roselyn’s pure white, small hand.
How can he manipulate her easily all the time?
Roselyn was truly amazed.
She had no idea that Tamon Krasis, the man who had made her so nervous, was so rude and crazy……
[Hand-holding is what children do. Aren’t you afraid you’ll loose your authority?]
[I don’t have any authority]
[Then, why don’t you pay attention to your reputation?]
[What for. For them, it would be fun to see a lustful master blinded by a foreign slave. A generous master would not deprive his attendants of their enjoyment.]
Tamon grumbled, leading a distracted Roselyn down the stairs.
Before she knew it, the seven guards fell back, and the twins were being pulled away by Asrell.
As Tasha had said, there was a glittering cart waiting in the lobby.
Roselyn averted her gaze and walked as Tamon led her.
Tamon walked slowly, as if he was aware of her limp.
At first glance, he looked like a nobleman enjoying a leisurely stroll.
Roselyn glanced down at her wrapped hand.
The rough palm looked more like a piece of wood than a hand.
How hot his hand was.
She couldn’t help but frown at the embarrassed, annoying feeling.
‘I’m a crazy person, really.’
She deliberately averted her gaze to avoid being conscious.
The road outside was very peaceful as she stepped out for the first time.
Warmth sunray stung her eyes.
Even though she had only been walking for about five minutes, Roselyn felt a little hot.
The body, which felt only cold, seemed very weak in the heat.
Phew.
She swallowed a hot rising breath.
At the sound of her voice, Tamon looked at her and asked curiously,
“Is it hot?”
“….a little.”
“It hasn’t even started to get really hot yet. You need something nourishing to eat before the summer comes.”
Tamon spoke casually as he picked her up when he started down the dune.
“It’s a little steep here. You don’t mind if I hold you, do you?”
He had already lifted her up in a flutter, so why was he pretending to ask now?
“If you’re not going to listen to my answer, why are you asking?” (Roselyn)
“To make you feel better?” (Tamon)
“That’s weird. I’m not feeling very good about it.”
“Really? It looks pretty good to me.” (Tamon)
“Don’t lie to me.” (Tamon)
“What makes you think I’m lying?” (Roselyn)
“I’m the one who can see your face now.” (Tamon)
At his words, Roselyn frowned even more and turned her head away.
Her heart pounded for no reason, as if she was someone who had been caught doing something she shouldn’t have been caught doing.
Tamon was a poisonous plant. A poisonous plant that could destroy her.
He walked across the beach with Roselyn in his arms in broad strides while she constantly ruminated on him about the superfluous spell.
On one side of the beach was a wooden deck that stretched straight out into the ocean.
He climbed onto it and walked straight down to the deepest part.
“I bet you’ve never seen the ocean this close before.”
Tamon said as he set her down.
He was right. It was the first time she’d seen the ocean this close.
“What do you think? Isn’t it vast?”
“…”
Standing on the deep seated deck, she felt as if she was standing in the middle of the ocean.
The expansive horizon was ecstatically beautiful from afar, but the difference in emotion was different from seeing it up close.
“…… I feel like I could stand here all day. The ocean is constantly moving and there’s never a dull moment.”
Roselyn nodded slowly at Tamon’s words.
“Yes, it’s really, really beautiful.”
‘Why am I so sad?
Is it because all the people who wanted to see this beautiful world with me had left? For what purpose did I become an empress and take care of the royal family to death? I was betrayed by an idiot who had never done anything for me and for those I loved.
No, I cannot call it betrayal. Because he blatantly hated me.
It was my fault for taking the easy way out.’
Roselyn, who had been quietly gazing out to sea, turned to Tamon.
“Did you say you want to be with me?”