I’m in Trouble Because The Emperor Thinks My Time is Limited - Chapter 2

“Miss Lindel, I brought your meal.”

“Just leave it there. I’ll eat it later.”

Now was not the time for eating. With my head in my hands, I groaned as a short-haired girl scurried over to me. It was Luna, who had become my personal maid after I was confined here. Aside from the priests, she was the only one allowed to speak to me.

“You need to eat while it’s still warm.”

Her voice was filled with concern as she pleaded with me. I glanced over at her youthful face, feeling a twinge of guilt, but at that moment, I couldn’t manage even a single bite.

“I’ll eat it later. Just leave it there.”

After a moment of hesitation, I ultimately declined the meal. Normally, skipping a meal wasn’t something I would ever consider, but given the circumstances, it couldn’t be helped.

It had already been a week since I was locked in this luxurious room, unable to do anything. Sionel hadn’t shown his face at all. I had hoped to clear up the misunderstanding when I saw him, but I hadn’t been able to even catch a glimpse of him yet.

I couldn’t muster an appetite in this situation. No matter how extravagant the food was, it would all taste like sand in my mouth.

As I lowered my head to avoid her gaze, Luna approached me, her voice wavering with tears. But no matter how guilty I felt, I couldn’t force myself to eat.

“The chef made duck soup just for you.”

“Hmm?”

But if it was duck soup, then things were different.

‘That stuck-up old man made duck soup just for me?’

Surprised, I peeked at the tray. Sure enough, there was a bowl of steaming soup. When I sniffed the air, the aroma I hadn’t noticed before now filled my senses, and my mouth watered instinctively.

Duck soup!

My favorite dish—duck soup!

I couldn’t take my eyes off the bowl. Luna, seeing my reaction, spoke up again, “I heard this is your favorite food. Everyone’s worried because you haven’t eaten since you arrived. Please, just have one bite, at least out of consideration for their efforts.”

Luna was practically begging me to eat, not because today’s menu happened to be duck soup but because she was genuinely concerned. Even if the food tasted like stones, I had to eat for her sake. Making her cry would go against every knightly principle I held dear.

Although I had been stripped of my knighthood due to the misunderstanding, I still had to uphold the code of a knight, a vow I intended to keep until my dying day.

“Alright, I’ll eat a little, out of respect for you and the chef.”

“Yes! I’ll prepare it right away!”

When I straightened up, Luna eagerly brought the tray closer. The tender-looking duck meat glistened invitingly. My mouth watered, and I quickly grabbed the fork.

“I haven’t had much of an appetite lately,” I muttered casually, swallowing my saliva as I stealthily prepared to dig in. My eyes were locked on the food like a predator, but luckily, Luna didn’t seem to notice.

“You must eat, even if just a little. You need your strength to fight off illness!”

Her words made my hand falter. Every time Luna said something about me being unwell or battling illness, it grated on me. It was uncomfortable to hear, especially when I was perfectly healthy.

I put the fork down and looked at her. For some reason, her eyes were wet again.

“Don’t worry. I’ll always be by your side, giving you strength. I’m on your side, Miss Lindel.”

Though it had only been a week since we met, Luna had become incredibly devoted, as if she would give me her heart and soul. On the first day, she had been half-terrified. The next, she seemed awkward. But now, she had changed.

When I was bored to death, staring at the stars, Luna had struck up a conversation. I had responded half-heartedly, only to find her like this.

The problem was, I couldn’t remember what I had said. To clear up the misunderstanding, I needed to know, but it was all a blur.

Before I realized it, Luna had sworn her undying loyalty to me, tears streaming down her face.

I felt nothing but guilt. It wasn’t exactly satisfying to have a perfectly healthy adult deceive a pure-hearted child.

“I’ve told you before, but I’ll be fine, Luna.”

“Yes, you will. Absolutely!”

It seemed like she wasn’t even listening. My expression grew more awkward, while her determination only intensified. Just as I gave up and reached for the duck soup again, a second interruption arrived.

This time, it was the knight standing guard outside the door. The one who had always remained silent, no matter what I said, spoke for the first time.

“His Majesty is here.”

‘I haven’t even had a bite yet!’

It was ridiculously difficult just to eat a meal. After a week of ignoring me, Sionel had chosen this exact moment to show up. If it had been a priest, I would have pretended not to notice and continued eating, but this was the emperor.

Reluctantly, I put down the fork, and at that moment, Sionel entered the room. I had cursed him in my mind, but seeing his face again, I couldn’t help but feel pleased. I truly was a simple person.

With the emperor’s entrance, both Luna and the knight bowed deeply, not daring to raise their heads.

I, too, began to rise to greet him, but his sharp voice cut through the air before I could.

“Refusing to eat again, I see.”

I awkwardly lifted my head, only to meet his furious gaze.

“You haven’t had a single bite.”

His cold eyes scanned the tray, and he spat out the words bitterly.

It was utterly ridiculous. Who’s the one who interrupted me just as I was about to eat?

Out of frustration, I kept my mouth firmly shut, which only made his eyes sharpen even further.

“What, are you planning to starve yourself to death now?”

“That’s not it!”

Startled, I quickly explained, but Sionel didn’t seem convinced. Just like a week ago, he approached me with frightening intensity and grabbed my arm.

Due to the aftereffects of a cursed contract, my arm had lost much of its muscle and couldn’t withstand his grip without pain.

“Ah! Your Majesty!”

Unable to bear it, I cried out, and only then did he release his hold, though he still kept a firm grip on my arm.

“A former knight can’t even endure this? And you expect me to believe you’re fine?”

His voice, cold and accusatory, demanded the truth. Yet again, our meeting had taken this unfortunate turn.

“I’ve already said it isn’t like that. I’m neither sick nor planning to die. It’s all a misunderstanding.”

Frustrated and exasperated, I glared at him, refusing to back down.

“Then explain. Why are you in this state? Tell me why you coughed up blood in front of me, and make it clear.”

“That’s…”

“Please, just tell me the truth.”

His voice was heavy. In that single sentence, I sensed more than just anger—there was pain and a deep-seated sorrow.

The intensity in his dark eyes left me speechless. I couldn’t tell him the truth.

When I remained silent, Sionel finally let go of my arm and stepped back. The air between us grew cold. With the conversation over, I couldn’t help but glance at him cautiously.

Sionel rubbed his temple with one hand, then gave a low command, “Priest, come here and examine her.”

“Y-Yes!”

It was only then that I realized the priest was even in the room. He had been lingering near the door, and now, looking flustered, he hurried over to me. The more I saw him over the past week, the more haggard he appeared, undoubtedly due to my condition.

‘I’m sorry, priest, but no matter how many times you check, you won’t find anything.’

There was nothing the priest could do to detect my state. Even if he took my pulse and used his divine power, it would be in vain. I felt bad for the old man.

As expected, after his examination, the priest turned to the emperor with a worried look, unable to find anything.

“Well, it seems her energy is depleted and… ahem, her pulse is unstable…”

“The cause?”

“Well, that, uh, I’m not sure—”

“Even after a week, the emperor’s personal physician hasn’t found the cause?”

“Please, kill me!”

The priest collapsed onto the floor, trembling. The tension in the room grew sharper, and I couldn’t just stand by and watch him suffer, so I finally spoke up.

“Enough. It’s not the priest’s fault.”

“M-Miss Lindel!”

The priest looked at me with pleading eyes, but I couldn’t bear to meet his gaze out of guilt. Instead, I focused solely on Sionel, who was already staring at me coldly.

“Please let me go.”

“You!”

“No one here can heal me.”

It was the truth. No human could break a contract made with a dragon. But I couldn’t tell him that.

Unable to bear the fury in his eyes any longer, I closed mine tightly.

I had already given up on the now-cold duck soup.

From this point on, I had to find a way to convince Sionel to release me from this place. There was no time left if I was going to save myself.

“Abandon me, Your Majesty.”

The die had already been cast.