The Sub Male Lead is Burning with Jealousy - Chapter 4 Part 5
Though introduced through Theodore, Emilio had favored Rahil over Theodore, who was his romantic rival. Despite their shared affection for the same woman, their friendship couldn’t deepen.
‘Perhaps because their love was doomed from the start.’
Angelica had always loved Theodore since they were children, relegating others to the sidelines, mere secondary characters. They must have realized they couldn’t change her heart.
“Shall I have the bathwater refreshed?”
In this location, not in the capital, fresh water had to be brought in for bathing. It seemed Anais had bathed and changed while Rahil was greeting Emilio, the faint scent of bath soap lingering around her.
Rahil, feeling he had missed a moment, wrapped an arm around Anais’s waist.
“No. Cold water might be better now.”
Pressing his lips to her temple in a gesture almost like a caress, Rahil pulled away and started up the stairs without looking back, leaving Anais to watch him. The back of Rahil’s neck and the tips of his ears were distinctly red.
‘What was that?’
Anais found it unexpected, but Rahil’s shy expression lingered in her memory.
* * *
Emilio loitered outside the hotel, pondering why he had been kicked out. Was it because his greeting wasn’t noble enough?
‘That can’t be it.’
If Rahil had been that particular about propriety, he would have faced consequences long ago. Folding his arms, Emilio looked up at the towering eight-story building, a symbolic presence in the city.
‘They think locking the door will keep me out?’
Ignoring the glances from passersby, he moved towards an alley behind a less crowded building. Concealing himself, he quickly transformed into a sparrow and took flight. Had there been more pigeons around, he might have chosen a pigeon form instead.
‘Now, where…’
If this had been the palace, the magical wards laid beneath the building would have posed a hindrance, but this hotel was different. Despite presumably having brought mages for protection, the level of magical defense on the upper floors was surprisingly weak.
‘This, tsk, tsk…’
Approaching what he initially thought was a simple task of demonstrating ‘how it’s done,’ Emilio realized the setup was a trap meant to lure in enemies and quickly altered his course.
Tsk…
It was more impressive than he expected. Still, being the head of the Mage Tower, Emilio managed to partially dismantle the barrier and successfully infiltrated the building.
He swiftly chose a window left open for ventilation, flew in as a sparrow, and reverted back to his human form. Maintaining his magic any longer would have triggered the potent alarm spells.
“Ha…”
Of course. There’s no barrier I can’t break.
Emilio chuckled to himself as he surveyed the room he had entered, one of the top-floor suites of the hotel. The highest two floors were reserved for the imperial couple’s use, so many rooms here were likely vacant.
He strode out into the corridor with a triumphant look only to be immediately apprehended by the waiting knights and soldiers.
* * *
‘Ugh…’
Rahil was bathing so the one who received the report was Anais. Normally, the chain of command would have directed the report to Sion through the captain of the guard, but Anais being on the same floor justified the direct report. Reporting to Sion first would have seemed dismissive.
Anais was surprised to learn the intruder was the head of the Mage Tower, presumably Emilio had allowed himself to be captured without causing a commotion to avoid a scandal.
Having heard just moments ago that Emilio had left, Anais found herself wanting to meet him.
‘I didn’t plan on showing such indecency on my first meeting with her.’
The knights had acted swiftly, Emilio’s wrists already secured with magical restraints. While his power could easily break such constraints, he remained compliant, presumably waiting for Rahil to release him.
“Her Majesty wishes to see Master Emilio. Please conduct yourself with decorum.”
The knight, aware of the close relationship between Rahil and Emilio, didn’t adopt a confrontational attitude despite Emilio being a trespasser. Emilio nodded and stood up without a fuss.
“Ah!”
The woman who entered the room wasn’t a stranger to Emilio. They had met years ago in the corridor of a mansion hosting a ball.
Back then, Emilio had been merely intrigued by Angelica, not yet in love. That’s why Anais’s face had caught his attention.
‘I wanted to meet her again because she was beautiful…!’
But subsequent events and his growing affection for Angelica made him forget. Now, Angelica was married.
“You-You’re the empress?”
“Cough!”
Though no other officials were present, most of the emperor’s attendants were of noble birth. Emilio collected himself at the knight captain’s discreet cough.
“…Your Majesty, you are beautiful!”
Realizing his blunder after speaking, Anais remained composed. She remembered Emilio as the only character from the story she had met.
“This is your second time, right? I’ll take that as a compliment.”
He was a carefree and frivolous man, but without malice.
Even then, Emilio had exclaimed “A beauty!” upon seeing her face at their first meeting, a reaction Anais hadn’t minded since it was the first time someone had been so direct with her.
“Ah… hahaha, sorry. I mean, I apologize. Back then… ”
Emilio started to scratch the back of his head before remembering his hands were restrained. This was only their second meeting, and he had already embarrassed himself.
“So you’re… the empress now.”
“Yes.”
Anais smiled in response, causing Emilio to feel wronged. Why do all the beautiful women marry so quickly? And why to Rahil of all people?!
‘This is a scam marriage! Miss, you need to rethink this marriage!’
In reality, Emilio had infiltrated the hotel to check on Anais, not Rahil, but that thought had long since vanished. This guy is just like me! He still has someone he likes…
“Sir Knight, about Master Emilio’s wrists…”
As Anais was about to suggest releasing him, the drawing-room door burst open. Rahil, having rushed over immediately upon hearing the news, entered with wet hair.
‘Huh?’
