My Contract Husband Resembles the Male Protagonist - Chapter 31
“Huh?”
I lifted my head to look at Dale. He was gazing at me with dark eyes.
I couldn’t decipher the meaning behind that look.
Was he angry? No. Did he want to cry? Not that either. Handsome? He’s always like that.
Just looking at him seemed to fill the air with a profound presence, making him appear even more mysterious and handsome.
‘Can his face get any more handsome?’
I couldn’t help but admire Dale’s beauty without resistance.
“…Miss Enya, do you perhaps wish for the Emperor’s death?”
“The Emperor? Why?”
“Do you wish for him to die?”
“Me?”
I looked around nervously. I never entertained thoughts of treason.
“No? Not at all? Absolutely not?”
I shook my head wildly, and Dale covered his face, letting out a sigh.
It seemed like he was relieved.
“That’s a relief.”
“Are you relieved I’m not secretly plotting treason? Absolutely not. And if such a misunderstanding occurs, I will beg the Emperor! Especially that Dale is innocent.”
“……”
Dale’s face didn’t show any signs of happiness after hearing my words.
Doesn’t he trust me?
…. Perhaps I seemed unreliable.
“I swear. I’ll exclude you, Dale.”
“..…!”
As I overlaid my hand on Dale’s, he stiffened.
“Ah. Unnecessary touch. A breach of contract, right? Did that upset you? I’m sorry.”
I quickly raised both hands to show I meant no harm.
“Anyway, the Emperor must live a long and healthy life.”
But he couldn’t marry me, of course.
“I do wish for the Emperor’s well-being, really. I don’t want to marry him, but that doesn’t mean I dislike the Emperor.”
It might sound similar, but it’s essential for the Emperor to be in his right mind and alive for our family’s safety.
“I may wish him to overwork but not to die from it. I’m just an ordinary citizen of the empire who wishes the Emperor to be extremely! Incredibly! Busy.”
“…….”
“Because there are so many consecutive issues, he won’t have to pay attention to minor matters that don’t require his direct involvement.”
Dale’s face, which seemed to be deep in thought, gradually relaxed.
He returned to his pale but clear face and faintly smiled.
There still seemed to be a hint of stiffness.
“May I ask one more thing?”
“Of course.”
I nodded with a smile.
“I would like to know the real reason why you dislike the idea of marrying the Emperor.”
His expression became incredibly serious.
“If you understood the Emperor more, could your mind change?”
“No. I think life as an Empress would be dull.”
Dale’s face turned pale.
It was an expression which said it was something he never considered.
“So, does that mean it would be okay if it were fun?”
Is that what it is?
I tilted my head.
The position of Empress isn’t something to take lightly for fun, so no answer seemed fitting.
“It’s just not my taste.”
“What exactly is not to your taste?”
Dale asked, almost anxiously. Was he always this talkative?
Today he seemed a bit odd.
“It’s just that too much power is not to my taste.”
“Power?”
“Probably because he’s the Emperor.”
“Is the throne the problem?”
“It is a reason.”
If he weren’t the Emperor, our family could overshadow him with power.
If the male protagonist had been, say, a prince of another country, or someone from the Hexagon Ducal House, or even just a count, I would have dismissed him immediately, but it had to be the too powerful Emperor.
I was well aware of the power dynamics in a hierarchical society.
And how futile it is to go against it.
“Then, if the Emperor abdicated and proposed, would you accept it then?”
“That would put the Emperor’s life in danger, wouldn’t it? That man needs to firmly hold the power of leadership. There are too many villains targeting the Emperor.”
Dale nodded calmly, seemingly in agreement.
He slowly opened his mouth.
“So, you mean that while the Emperor must not leave his position, as a man he is acceptable, and while you dislike the idea of becoming the Empress, the person himself isn’t unpleasant to you?”
“I-I think it’s kind of similar… to that?”
