The Sub Male Lead is Burning with Jealousy - Chapter 5 Part 6
“The rings are said to grant resistance to fire, ice, and poison.”
The inside of the rings was inscribed with the ancient words, “For eternal passion.” Although it was a cheesy phrase, it wouldn’t pose a problem since only mages or priests could pronounce those words.
Rahil agreed and ordered the flowers and the rings to be brought.
* * *
Anais heard from a maid that the Duke and Duchess of Calix were returning to the capital sooner than expected. This sparked rumors of the Duchess’s potential pregnancy, especially since their honeymoon had lasted nearly half a year, unlike her own abruptly ended trip.
It was news she shouldn’t care about, yet Anais felt oddly irritated by it. It might have been her imagination, but it seemed as though they hurried back to the capital upon hearing that her own honeymoon had ended early.
‘Could it be that the Duke and Duchess intend to meddle in my marital life?’
The mere appearance of Emilio trying to spy on her had been enough to upset her. If there was further interference, she didn’t know if she could keep her composure.
‘…Rahil might not stand up for me a second time.’
Although she received letters and flowers regularly, Rahil did not show up. Anais suspected that perhaps someone other than Rahil was sending them because of this.
She handed the documents to her secretary and rose from her seat. Upon telling her maid she wished to take a walk, the palace staff began bustling around. It seemed excessive to her that even within the Empress’s palace, such precautions were necessary.
But Anais was the Empress, and the palace was larger than she had anticipated. There were still many areas she hadn’t explored, and wandering alone might lead her to get lost.
“I want to be alone in the garden.”
“As you wish, Your Majesty.”
The maids bowed and stepped back, but Anais wondered how far they would actually keep their distance.
‘At least the garden will be beautiful.’
Each palace within the imperial compound maintained at least three gardens, designed to bloom flowers for each season except winter. Additional gardens were created or removed depending on the Imperial family’s circumstances, but the Empress’s palace was known to have as many as eight gardens.
Anais had visited only three of these gardens so far and had yet to visit the others. She had no interest in visiting gardens out of season and planned to visit the remaining five when the time was right.
“Your Majesty, the Empress!”
Anais stopped at the sound of a maid’s hurried footsteps. Though she was irritated by the interruption to her solitude, it wasn’t enough to anger her.
“What is it?”
“His Majesty has arrived.”
Anais had expressed her frustration to Sion, wishing the Emperor would stay away from the Empress’s palace for a while. However, she hadn’t formally banned his entry—after all, the Empress didn’t have the authority to do so. Conversely, the Emperor could ban the Empress from entering the Emperor’s palace, but that’s another matter.
Anais felt her heart beat slightly faster, causing her to furrow her brow.
“Is he being brought here?”
“Yes. He should be arriving soon.”
Aware of the recent discord between the emperor and Anais, the maid spoke cautiously. Anais didn’t issue any further instructions. Soon, a servant came to inform her that the emperor was entering the garden, having requested that people around be sent away.
There was no reason to refuse such a request. Anais ordered the maids and servants to step back and waited for Rahil.
“Your Majesty.”
Her feelings were complicated. The anger had mostly dissipated, but a residue of resentment remained. Anais straightened up as the Emperor told her to raise her head as there was no need for formalities.
Rahil was holding a bouquet of flowers, his face turning red as Anais looked at him.
‘Were the letters really written by him?’
The thought didn’t feel quite real, but her mood softened. Rahil looked nervous under Anais’s steady gaze.
“Your Majesty, even if the Empress acts a bit spitefully, you should take it lightly.”
“What are you talking about? Why would Anais be spiteful towards me?”
Rahil responded as if their past issues were nonexistent, but Sion didn’t show any sign of frustration. He gracefully said,
“Her Majesty had once permitted you to kiss her. That must have meant she was somewhat open to you, but then you fled, did you not?”
What?
Naturally, Sion continued to say that the Empress might act coldly or spitefully because of this, but Rahil barely listened, too caught up in the realization that Anais had once opened her heart to him.
”So that was the case? I… I didn’t realize and stupidly…!’
Essentially, Anais’s permission for a kiss was her way of expressing her feelings. Rahil had panicked after their kiss, fearfully retreating.
Rahil felt embarrassed about his past self and more apologetic towards Anais.
‘Anais came to like me, and I didn’t even notice!’
Though Sion had only mentioned partial acceptance, not that she liked him, but in Rahil’s mind, things had already taken that turn.
Anais likes me, too.
Knowing this, his heart beat uncontrollably. Such intense heart-racing was a first in his life.
“Your Majesty? Ah…”
Unable to look directly at Anais and standing stiffly, Rahil suddenly extended the bouquet of freesias. Anais received it with both hands.
Thankfully, it was of a manageable size, likely prepared by Sion. If Rahil had been in charge of choosing, it might have been too large to hold comfortably.
But that was based on her knowledge of Rahil from the original novel, and she understood that the real Rahil could be different.
Rahil, seeming to gather his courage, finally met her eyes.
“I came today to properly apologize. I’ve expressed my feelings through letters, but it seemed insufficient…”
He didn’t have the courage to confirm whether she had read the letters or not. Even if Anais had burned them unread, he was prepared to understand.
