The Sub Male Lead is Burning with Jealousy - Chapter 6 Part 13
Just as she had processed a couple of documents, Rahil returned. Considering the time it took a nobleman to get dressed, he was quite fast.
‘Did he start undressing on his way to the room?’
She could vividly imagine the attendants swiftly dressing him as he discarded the knight’s armor and uniform on his way to the room.
“You’re back!”
Anais almost patted his head and praised him for a job well done, but quickly remembered that such behavior was inappropriate as the other was the Emperor. She handed the documents to her secretary and dismissed them.
“Get in.”
Rahil, dressed in an outfit resembling the knights’ formal attire, looked impressive. As soon as Anais’s secretary got out, he entered the carriage and sat next to Anais, almost leaning into her. Anais didn’t push him away but signaled the attendants with her eyes.
Soon, the door of the carriage closed, and she heard the sound of the coachman starting the carriage.
‘It’s probably best for me to get used to this.’
If she pushed him away, Rahil would noticeably sulk. That look tugged at her heart, and she couldn’t bring herself to be harsh to someone who expressed such affection for her.
Jeremy Noer had also been like that to Anais at first.
He acted as if he had fallen for her at first sight, and she had thought he was an innocent and kind person so she got engaged to him under that impression. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined he had a mistress and child, and that he would blatantly disregard the Ruol Marquisate.
‘Regarding the other side of His Majesty…I think I’ve already seen it.’
In his letters, he had excused his behavior by claiming he realized his love for her too late, but treating women other than the one he loves that way is also part of who he is.
That’s why Anais didn’t fall for Rahil’s gentle demeanor.
He was a man who acted rashly and thought only of his own gain. He might be competent politically, but in social affairs, he would make mistakes and then claim he didn’t see them coming.
Every time such incidents occurred, Anais didn’t want to shed tears of sorrow.
‘I don’t even know how long His Majesty’s love for me will last.’
Unaware of Anais’s thoughts, Rahil cautiously wrapped his arm around her waist. It felt like a big puppy acting playfully.
* * *
Before the carriage even arrived at the temple, the paladins and priests were already waiting for them. She had sent word in advance that they would be coming but hadn’t specified to limit the number of people.
‘It’s not like I clearly stated that I would be coming.’
From the message alone, they probably assumed a subordinate of the Empress would be visiting. Given the security issues, it was unavoidable. Announcing the Empress’s arrival publicly would have required an entourage of knights.
However, whoever received the message had good intuition, or maybe an imperial attendant had tipped them off, because high-ranking priests and paladins of similar rank were there waiting.
They looked surprised when they realized it was the imperial couple who had alighted from the carriage. The high priest hurried to offer his greetings, which made sense given that they were someone who should be received by the high priest.
“This way, please!”
There were separate spaces for noble and wealthy worshippers as well as prayer rooms for high-ranking nobles inside the temple. The high priest led them past those to an area reserved for high-ranking priests.
Rahil followed the man with familiar ease. It was nearly impolite to visit without prior notice, but complex formalities cost money. Employing people, ceremonies, and causing commotion all required funds.
Although the Imperial family had sufficient budget, the church, caught between the Crown Prince and the second prince, was likely dire, akin to a shrimp’s back bursting in a whale fight. Additionally, with many knights dispatched for monster hunting, it wasn’t ideal to mobilize multiple knight orders unnecessarily.
“Your Majesties, welcome.”
Anais was confident the church wouldn’t see this visit as a bad thing. As the Ruol Marquisate had always maintained good relations with the church.
The church likely had high expectations for Anais, now that she was Empress.
“Welcome, Your Majesties. May the grace and blessings of the gods be with you.”
The high priest greeted them with a gentle smile and open arms. Anais, noticing the slight tremor in his eyelids, could tell he was pleased.
‘He’s in a good mood.’
She had no intention of ruining that smile. Both sides would benefit—she would make use of them, and the temple would gain as well. Anais adeptly received the high priest’s greeting.
* * *
While Anais was in a meeting with the high priest, Rahil was receiving reports. He nodded upon hearing the news that Demian had rescued his nephew.
‘It’s a pity for the child.’
The child’s father was trash, but the child was innocent. No one knew what the child would become when he grew up. Demian planned not to return the child to Jeremy until his safety was assured. It seemed he intended to keep it a secret that the child was alive.
Rahil responded that Demian could handle it as he saw fit. Until they had clear evidence to charge the Duke Noer, the imperial family couldn’t intervene.
If a noble killed another noble, that might be different, but when a noble killed a commoner, it was difficult to get evidence or witnesses that would be recognized.
If Rahil were to investigate the incident on the child’s behalf, it would only be if Jeremy, the child’s father, stepped forward to accuse his father.
‘Of course… that won’t happen.’
There was already news that Jeremy, the child’s biological father, had returned to the Duke Noer’s residence. He had doubted how long the Duke Noer’s act of expelling his son would last. It seemed Jeremy had returned home before the heat from burning his mistress’s body had even cooled.
‘Such profound love indeed.’
Since his stupidity had inadvertently led to Rahil’s fortunate marriage to Anais, he didn’t intend to mock him outright. However, he still didn’t like the idea of Jeremy Noer becoming a duke.
‘It would make Anais uncomfortable.’
