The Sub Male Lead is Burning with Jealousy - Chapter 6 Part 2
* * *
The ball was in full swing, but there was no need for the Empress to stay there all the time. Sensing that Rahil, who kept sending fervent glances her way, might cause some trouble, Anais chose the right moment to rise from her seat.
As expected, Rahil, who had only had eyes for Anais, got up eagerly to escort her through a passage reserved for the imperial family. The nobles watched with keen interest as they exited.
“His Majesty is really smitten.”
“I thought something interesting might happen since the Duchess also attended today…”
“Speaking of which, where are Duke and the Duchess Calix?”
They had been brightening up one corner of the ball until the Emperor arrived. It seemed like they greeted him, but unusually, they didn’t engage in long conversations and soon headed towards the direction of the garden.
“Have they already left?”
“Surely not. With the ball still going on, it’s unlikely that such prominent figures would leave so early.”
A lady, thrilled to continue the conversation, turned her attention to another young couple in society who were the subject of recent gossip about their romantic disputes, quickly forgetting about Duke Calix and his wife.
At the same time, Theodore was being led through the palace corridors by Angelica, whose intentions were clear.
“We don’t need to be here anymore!”
“What are you talking about? Didn’t we just arrive? I even rushed through a meeting with His Majesty to be with you…”
Strictly speaking, both Rahil and Theodore had their reasons. Rahil wanted to guard Anais as soon as possible, while Theodore was concerned that Angelica might cause some friction with the Empress, especially since Angelica had been intent on resolving her issues with the Empress at this ball.
“Did something happen? You couldn’t even look His Majesty in the face…”
She had avoided looking because she feared harsh words might be exchanged. Now that Rahil was no longer just an outcast prince if she continued this way, it could bring great trouble to the House of Duke Calix.
“Something did happen, but I can’t speak of it here. I’ll tell you on the way back in the carriage.”
Theodore glanced around cautiously and followed Angelica. He had already sent a servant to tell their family’s coachman to prepare, so the carriage would be waiting at the palace entrance.
“…Did your talk with Her Majesty go well?”
“Well… I guess you could say that.”
Angelica responded with an ambiguous expression and descended the stairs. The waiting coachman and servant bowed their heads. The servant opened the door, and Angelica, pulling Theodore’s hand, climbed into the carriage. Urged by Angelica’s gestures, Theodore quickly got inside.
The carriage door closed, and the servant and coachman climbed aboard. As the carriage started moving, Angelica looked towards the palace as if on guard.
“Now you can tell me. What happened?”
At Theodore’s question, Angelica looked at him intently.
“The Empress said she feels uncomfortable around me… She would maintain the proper etiquette, but she wished I wouldn’t try to become her friend.”
“She said that outright?”
Theodore immediately showed signs of displeasure, to which Angelica held up her hand.
“Theo, don’t get angry. Once you hear everything, you’ll understand the Empress too. Actually, the Empress…”
As Angelica revealed the circumstances surrounding Rahil and Anais’s marriage, Theodore’s expression changed constantly. He knew about the vows Rahil had made to Angelica just before the wedding, but he had no idea that Anais had witnessed them.
“My goodness…”
“Right? Even I would find it awkward to face myself. I thought the Empress hated me because of the rumors… I thought if I tried, it could be fixed…”
“…”
Theodore listened to Angelica and speculated that perhaps it wouldn’t be easy. Rahil was certainly at fault, but ordinarily, people don’t want their spouse’s first love nearby.
But Angelica seemed determined not to accept the ordinary. Around her, there had been those who initially hated her as a love rival but later became friends, so perhaps the Empress might have felt similarly.
‘If only it were that simple.’
“…Is it all really true? You’re only saying the Empress told you this. Maybe she made it up to keep you at a distance.”
Theodore’s suggestion surprised Angelica. Could that statement be a lie?
“That can’t be! How could she lie about something like that? If we ask His Majesty, he’ll reveal the truth right away! You were also with him all day today!”
‘Well, that’s true.’
While they didn’t meet every day, while in the capital, they saw each other four to five times a week. Theodore sighed and rubbed his forehead.
“The Empress is not a simple person. She probably won’t forgive easily.”
“So what should we do? His Majesty already likes the Empress. I want to help, but if I interfere, it might complicate things further…”
Angelica’s rare display of caution relieved Theodore. If she had insisted on meeting the Empress to persuade her, it would have complicated matters.
“Hmm… They say that a couple’s quarrel is like cutting water, maybe it’ll resolve somehow? It seems His Majesty is unusually willing to concede.”
Rahil was someone who never apologized, even when he was at fault. The first time Rahil apologized was to Angelica, and since then, he had learned to apologize when necessary. Still, receiving an apology from him remained a difficult task.
“Her Majesty is from the Ruol family, so she will act cautiously. She won’t keep opposing His Majesty indefinitely; she’ll forgive him at the right moment.”
Unless Rahil makes another mistake, that is. Last time, during their honeymoon, the Empress from the very same Ruol Family had caused a scandal that made them return to the capital prematurely.
“Do you think it will go that smoothly?”
“It will.”
Theodore, harboring the same worries as Angelica, pretended otherwise. There were limits to how much he could counsel from the sidelines.
‘Sion is there, so hopefully, things won’t get too bad.’
* * *
