The Sub Male Lead is Burning with Jealousy - Chapter 3 Part 9
“People might think it’s weird…”
Even her grumbling voice was so cute, that it took Rahil’s breath away. Rahil grabbed Anais’s b*ttocks, which were trying to slip down.
“Ah!”
When she screamed in surprise, Rahil laughed out loud, and she turned around quickly.
“Why are you laughing! It’s because of you, your Majesty!”
“No, but you’re cute…”
Both Rahil, who answered with a grin, and Anais realized the weirdness of this conversation. Anais shut her mouth and Rahil’s face turned red.
“Well. No, I mean… yeah.”
With a fully blushed face, Rahil held Anais’s waist again and buried his face in her shoulder. It was an attitude that seemed natural.
Should I touch it after all? Anais wondered, looking at the black hair fluttering in front of her. She worried if he would hate it if she touched him, or if he would react too sensitively, but…
When she reached out and dared to touch the emperor’s hair, Rahil raised his head and looked at her with a surprised expression.
“…Should I not touch it?”
Her face had been hot for a long time, but now it seemed that the heat had moved to her ears. It felt like her ears were burning.
“Touch me.”
Rahil whispered, burying his face in Anais’s bosom again.
*****
Now that she was the empress, even a simple outfit for a long trip was extravagant. Anais checked her outfit and wondered if she needed to dress up like this since she would stay in the carriage all the time.
Their honeymoon destination was a famous summer resort two days away from the capital. She heard that they planned the route to make even the city they pass through a travel destination because it was not a place they could reach at once.
Recalling Rahil’s demeanor in the morning, she pondered whether he would continue to treat her the same. His attitude wasn’t upsetting, just surprisingly different, more than a little – in fact, quite a lot.
‘Maybe he’s lonelier than I thought.’
While she felt pity, she knew it was a consequence of his own actions. Of all people, it was she who he was growing fond of.
‘No matter how much he sulks, I’m going to keep my resolve.’
Yesterday was the day of wedding, so he behaved in such a way probably out of consideration. She had no intention of playing the role of a miserable empress, looking woefully after the emperor as he leave her for Angelica.
She wouldn’t be fooled by his current kindness into harboring feelings for him, and she planned to stick to her original plan. What bothered her was what Rahil might be thinking.
‘Surely he’s not planning to break his initial vow and try to get along with me… No. I witnessed that oath. Rahil is just…’
She found it complicated to decipher his true intentions. The complexity was reminiscent of when they had signed their marriage contract, although back then, his intentions seemed clearer.
He had already said it. He chose her because she seemed like the only woman who wouldn’t trouble Angelica. It was unlikely that the emperor’s decision would have changed so quickly.
‘Unless he has some ulterior motive.’
Therefore, she resolved not to be hurt if Rahil suddenly became cold and detached. If she had no expectations from the start, she couldn’t be hurt. It might be a coward’s way of thinking, but in her relationship with Rahil, it seemed the right approach.
‘After all, he is a man who pledged his love to another woman.’
It was easier to steel her heart this way. Just recalling the scene where Rahil knelt before Angelica, vowing eternal love, would cool any budding feelings of excitement.
Anais left her room upon hearing from a maid that the carriage was ready. Rahil, being attended to by his servants, should have been dressing in another room. She hesitated for a moment upon seeing him already waiting in the corridor.
“Have you been waiting long?”
“No.”
His cheerful smile as he approached and took her hand momentarily disoriented Anais. It seemed like the smile of a man in love.
‘How many times have I seen a man in love?’
But the expressions of those in love can be so vivid. The face and eyes of a person looking at what they love, what makes them happy, and what delights them can sometimes be striking.
Rahil’s expression was just like that.
Anais could not bring herself to be angry at his smiling face. She quickened her pace to keep up with Rahil, who was slightly hurrying while holding her hand. He seemed to be happy about their honeymoon.
‘Should I throw cold water on his excitement?’
Drawing a clear line in their relationship was not a bad idea. It would avoid any headache later if Rahil suddenly questioned why she wasn’t responding positively to their seemingly good rapport, despite the existence of their contract. She could push back against any forcefulness from the emperor because of the contract…
‘But there’s no point in provoking him for nothing.’
She still couldn’t fathom the emperor’s true intentions. Therefore, she thought it best to save any confrontation or questioning for later.
For now, she didn’t mind the atmosphere.
Perhaps it was because Rahil, whom she had expected to ignore her in favor of dancing with Angelica at the event, had instead come to her.
‘So, I won’t talk about her now.’
She was aware of the reality. She hadn’t been hurt yet and was preparing to avoid any future hurt. Whether she would be okay in the future was still uncertain, but…
‘It’s okay. I am not weak.’
With these thoughts, Anais looked up at Rahil, who was smiling at her.
* * *
Having dealt with the significant event of attending the emperor’s wedding, it was time for them to return to their original schedule. Theodore had planned to return to the capital, and from there, embark on their honeymoon trip.
Unlike the emperor and empress, who were spending a week in a resort two days from the capital, their itinerary involved touring the continent’s resorts for nearly half a year.
More than half of that period had already passed, but a month still remained. Theodore had no desire to return to the Duchy just yet.
Honeymoons are a once-in-a-lifetime event, so naturally, Theodore wanted to fully enjoy this precious time. He assumed Angelica would share this sentiment.
