The Sub Male Lead is Burning with Jealousy - Chapter 5 Part 13
Even though Emilio tried to coax her, Angelica shook her head with a troubled face. Unless they spoke up themselves, it wasn’t her place to spread the word.
“It seems His Majesty has greatly wronged Her Majesty.”
“Yes. So, don’t blame Her Majesty either. From her perspective, I must be an uncomfortable presence….”
Seeing Angelica close her mouth sulkily, Herman sent her a sympathetic look. Emilio felt the same. Normally, she would have been proactive about improving relations with the Empress, believing everything would be resolved if they got along.
‘Back then, when she immediately closed the window after seeing me, the Empress must have really disliked it.’
They imagined the Empress grimacing and avoiding her, with Angelica persistently following, hoping to prevent any major issues.
“So, you’ve decided not to get closer to Her Majesty the Empress?”
At Emilio’s question, Angelica looked at him as if to say, “What are you even talking about?”
“How could I do that? Since she’s married to His Majesty, I’ll have to see her for the rest of my life. It’s just that I’ve decided to give her some time for now.”
“Hmm~.”
“…If Her Majesty the Empress has gone out of her way to tell Angelica she feels uncomfortable, perhaps it’s best not to force a meeting?”
“But! She’s His Majesty’s wife, right? Think about it. Our children will meet and become friends, and we’ll be seeing each other for decades. It’s a loss if we don’t become close!”
Angelica spoke passionately, but Herman and Emilio didn’t quite catch the enthusiasm. Even though Rahil had somehow got married, they never planned to marry themselves. The woman they would have wanted to marry became a friend’s wife.
Despite everything, they planned to remain friends and expected to see each other for decades to come.
“You really liked Her Majesty.”
At Herman’s remark, Angelica’s face flushed red and Emilio was surprised by her rare reaction.
“You barely met, though?”
“My friends are a little different, but! Noble ladies never share anything they think might be disadvantageous to them. She’s the first person who’s been honest about such things. She seems like a good person….”
Angelica doubted she would have been able to disclose having received such a proposal herself, is she were in her shoes, especially to the very person Rahil had unrequitedly loved in the past.
That made Angelica feel embarrassed about her own eagerness. After all, who would want to be friends with a woman their husband used to like?
It was no different from saying, “I want to remain friends with Rahil, so you just have to bear with it.” The Empress didn’t pinpoint it, but Rahil’s actions made her feel sorry.
‘How did Rahil end up liking the Empress after doing all that? And if he likes her, why can’t he treat her better!’
Since he returned midway through their honeymoon, it was clear Rahil had done something terribly wrong.
“But if the Duke had a first love who is still around as a friend and works as the Duke’s secretary… could you, Lady Angelica, bear it?”
“Uh, ugh…”
“Oh dear~ I wouldn’t stand it. Absolutely not. That’d be the worst, right?” [1]
Emilio, realizing his light-hearted response had caused Angelica to look sullen, was taken aback. Herman sent him a look of disappointment.
“Ah, I mean, if I were a woman, I would think like that! Our situations are different, aren’t they?!”
Despite Emilio’s fervent attempt to explain, it did nothing to improve Angelica’s mood. She sighed deeply, not knowing what to do.
* * *
When Angelica and her companions returned to the ballroom, the atmosphere had become much gentler. Theodore, having finished a meeting at the palace and only changed his clothes, was entering the ballroom with his attendant.
“Angelica.”
He quickly approached and examined Angelica’s complexion. It was evident that something was off, even without staring intently. When he looked at Emilio as if asking for the reason, Emilio responded as if it was nothing serious.
“Her Majesty the Empress… Ouch!”
After being stepped on by Herman, Emilio quickly turned his head to glare at him, but Herman remained nonchalant. He gestured with his chin towards the nobles who had been paying attention to their conversation. They quickly turned away when their gazes nearly met with Emilio’s.
Seizing the opportunity of Emilio being momentarily speechless, Angelica grabbed Theodore’s arm.
“At home! I’ll tell you everything at home!”
“Nothing serious happened, right?”
“What could possibly happen? It’s a ball held by the Imperial family.”
Her smile, while speaking, was not much different from usual. Even if it was slightly strained, it did not seem forced. Theodore felt relieved and interlocked his fingers with Angelica’s.
Emilio appeared to become instantly uncomfortable at this gesture.
“…His Majesty?”
“He’ll be out soon.”
Theodore responded without taking his eyes off Angelica. Herman looked away, familiar with the scene, while Emilio clicked his tongue.
Soon, a servant announced the Emperor’s arrival. The nobles, without exception, straightened their attire, and the Empress also stood up, looking towards the Imperial family’s exclusive passage.
As Rahil appeared, escorted by aides and knights, all the nobles bowed deeply in respect. The only one remaining standing was the Empress, Anais.
Rahil approached her, took her hand, and together they sat on the Imperial throne. He then instructed the nobles to raise their heads and continue enjoying the ball.
As the dance music resumed and the atmosphere grew lively, the crowd’s attention drifted towards the imperial couple. Angelica noticed malicious glances coming their way but couldn’t bring herself to approach them as eagerly as before.
She had heard enough to know.
‘Today, at least for a few weeks, isn’t the right time. Pushing it might only backfire.’
Seated next to the Empress, Rahil seemed completely captivated by her, his fondness evident even from afar, yet the Empress’s response was lukewarm at best.
It was his own doing. After everything he had done, declaring his affections now wouldn’t easily sway a woman’s heart!
‘Sorry, Rahil. I promised to help when you fell for someone… but I can’t see a way.’
If she intervened, it might only make things worse. Looking at Rahil’s dim prospects in love, Angelica’s expression darkened.
Meanwhile, Anais, whose wrist was held by Rahil, recalled Angelica’s earlier reaction. She had been worried about Angelica becoming more bothersome but she was pleasantly surprised by the outcome. That didn’t mean she wanted to see her face often, though.
‘Once I have a child, I can focus on my own life.’
It seemed Angelica understood her message, likely not to approach more than necessary. Anais expected this would last at least a few months.
‘To have a child, we need to…’
Wondering if it was possible, she stared at Rahil, whose face began to redden increasingly. Seeing this, Anais thought maybe she could manage. Despite disliking Rahil, the sight of his flushed cheeks made her want to touch them.
‘After all, looks really do matter in a person.’
Or perhaps it was due to Rahil being particularly attentive these past few days. She wasn’t even angry about holding hands now.
Catching a glimpse of expectation in Rahil’s eyes, Anais abruptly turned her head away, looking at someone else. Ironically, the knights whose gazes met hers blushed and lost their composure.
It occurred to Anais that this was her first time attending a ball like this. She usually attended parties as her brother Francis’s partner, and even then, she would leave right after their first dance.
No notable knight had ever mustered the courage to ask Anais, who was protected by the famous knight Francis, for a dance until then.
She rarely attended large parties, so encounters with significant figures were infrequent. Even at imperial events, due to her father or Francis’s concerns, she would make polite excuses and leave early.
The knights, or unmarried nobles, blushing and looking her way seemed odd to her. Even if rumors of her poor relationship with the Emperor were circulating, she was still a married woman.
To those seeking a momentary fun, the Empress was a risky choice. The Emperor’s wrath could be provoked, and the Empress herself would not tolerate being treated as mere entertainment. It would be impossible to easily break off the entanglement, and one would be thoroughly manipulated until her interest waned.
Yet, the knight who met Anais’s gaze couldn’t turn away, appearing entranced, even as Rahil beside her glared at him with a menacing look.
He had been simply enjoying holding her hand, lost in his affection, when reality struck him. The sight of a knight unable to regain his composure at the sight of Anais reminded him of her declaration to take five consorts.
At the time, it seemed unlikely, she would go that far, but seeing such spellbound men made it seem plausible.
Anais was so kind, even to him, who had made such a mistake. What would happen if one of these infatuated men threatened to die if they couldn’t receive her love?
‘Would she end up accepting them as her consort after much consideration?’
Their relationship too was a result of Rahil forcibly using his power to bind them together. Even though they ended up getting married, he wondered what there was to be proud of.
Rahil anxiously observed Anais’s mood, but she remained indifferent.
A beauty knows she is beautiful, as long as she has a mirror. Anais, having received several proposals, was aware of her attractiveness.
Rahil suddenly remembered her former fiancé, Jeremy. What had possessed Jeremy to forsake Anais for a concubine? Ah. Had he met the concubine first? And they had a child too… Whatever the case, it was a foolish act.
“Anais.”
Rahil carefully pulled her hand and called her, as she wouldn’t look at him. Facing her gaze, which was devoid of emotion, Rahil kissed the back of her hand and whispered.
“May I kiss you?”
At his plea, more earnest than ever, Anais frowned.
