I’m in Trouble Because The Emperor Thinks My Time is Limited - Chapter 27

Water is water, and mountains are mountains.

I had achieved a state of non-attachment—except not really! I was merely pretending to be calm while anxiously gauging the situation.

Before me sat a stunningly beautiful man and woman who looked as if they had been carved from marble. Particularly Cassius, who was sipping his tea with impeccable manners, exuded a quiet yet intimidating presence.

I knew well what lay beneath that beautiful face, so I couldn’t let my guard down for even a moment.

Cassius Areta, the young chancellor of the empire, was famous for his ability to strike others with verbal daggers, all while wearing the face of an angel.

Though I had never personally been on the receiving end of his hidden blades, I had witnessed enough victims to make me wary of him.

As I fretted internally, Cassius finally set down his teacup silently and opened his mouth to speak.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m alright. I’ve gotten much better.”

“That’s good to hear. I’ve been quite worried. I asked His Majesty multiple times to allow me to visit you, but he kept you so well hidden that I couldn’t get permission until now. I hope you can forgive me for my delay.”

“Forgive you? I’m grateful that you’ve taken the time to visit despite your busy schedule.”

Behold! The face of a person perfectly adapted to a hierarchical society!

As soon as he finished speaking, I put on the biggest, most obsequious smile I could muster. Though we were both connected to the emperor, Cassius and I were worlds apart.

As the legitimate heir of the Areta Ducal House and an elite, Cassius had always been in a different league. The fact that I had managed to avoid his blade thus far was entirely thanks to my ability to navigate this society.

Cassius seemed pleased with my sycophantic grin. But there was a problem.

While Cassius appeared satisfied, Julia’s gaze grew colder as she glared at me. She hadn’t spoken a single word since entering the room, nor had she touched the teacup in front of her. Her frigid demeanor made it hard to even attempt small talk.

‘Of course, she must be upset about me becoming an empress candidate so suddenly.’

Julia and I had never gotten along well. From the moment we first met, she hadn’t shown any interest in speaking to me. She would always stand at a distance, half-covering her face with a fan, glaring at me.

I had never been entirely sure why Julia disliked me, but I could certainly feel her hostility. Even now, she hadn’t stopped staring at me for a single moment.

‘She’s really scary…!’

I tried my best to avoid her gaze, but I could still feel her eyes burning into me.

“So, what brings you here today?”

“Oh, do we really need a reason to visit you?”

Cassius’s smooth reply was as gentle as ever. He had a way of softening people’s hearts with just his words and the sorrowful curve of his eyes. However, even if he drew a line in the dirt a dozen times, we would still remain on opposite sides.

Though I didn’t agree with his sentiment, I nodded enthusiastically. “You’re right. I spoke out of turn.”

“I only came because I was worried. Am I interrupting?”

“Of course not! Never!”

Anyone who knew the Areta family—or had experienced their wrath even once—would understand why I treated them with such deference.

“As much as my concern for you is genuine, there is another reason for my visit.”

“……!”

So, there was a purpose for this visit. His low voice was enough to strike fear into me.

“What is it?”

“It’s related to the position of empress.”

Cassius’s smile faded, and his face darkened with a chill. Even his expression seemed to radiate coldness.

The inevitable had finally arrived.

‘So this is it! You can’t stand the thought of someone like me becoming empress instead of your sister, right?’

I had been expecting this ever since the two siblings arrived together. My heart raced as I anxiously awaited Cassius’s next words. But then, as our eyes met, Cassius said something entirely unexpected.

“Please take your place as empress as soon as possible.”

“I knew it would— Huh?”

He wasn’t telling me not to take the position?

Even as I sat there with my mouth agape, Cassius’s expression remained serious.

“I already know that you, Miss Lindel, have declined the empress position. However!”

Cassius shouted, his voice filled with conviction, “His Majesty and the empire desperately need you to take that position!”

I couldn’t respond right away. It wasn’t an issue I could easily say yes or no to, but I certainly hadn’t expected Cassius to say such a thing.

‘I thought he was trying to push for his sister to become empress?’

His sister, Julia Areta, was sitting right beside him, yet Cassius’s gaze was focused solely on me. I couldn’t help but feel awkward, knowing that Julia must be watching.

As I slowly turned my head to glance at her, I wasn’t surprised to see flames in her eyes. Anyone could see that she was glaring at me with murderous intent.

Her previously expressionless lips now moved for the first time. But the word that came out of her mouth was even more unexpected than Cassius’s.

“Have you…”

“Pardon?”

“Have you been skipping meals?”

Before my mind could process Julia’s question, my body reacted instinctively, and I nodded. I was, in fact, hungry at that very moment.

It had been an automatic response, something I did without thinking. But as soon as I realized what I had done, I regretted it. And to my surprise, Julia’s expression darkened even further.

“We’ll have a meal prepared for you immediately. Let’s continue this conversation afterward.”

Without even looking back, Julia stood up.

***

Julia Areta couldn’t believe her eyes.

‘How could someone so strong look so frail?’

Lindel, who had once symbolized the strength of a knight, now had arms so thin they looked like they would break with a single touch. The dynamic muscles Julia had admired were now completely gone.

‘Poor Lindel!’

Even without knowing the details of what had happened, Julia could imagine the hardships Lindel must have endured, and she had to blink rapidly to keep herself from crying.

When she closed her eyes, the memories from that day were still clear.

Julia had been 12 years old when she first met Lindel in the middle of the bustling marketplace.

That day had felt like fate.

It had all begun with a rather cliché incident. The daughter of a noble family had snuck away from her servants to wander the marketplace out of boredom, only to find herself cornered by a group of lowlifes.

The ridiculous part was that despite the Empire’s famously strict law enforcement, there hadn’t been a single guard in sight.

As people passed by, ignoring the girl in danger, Julia had been halfway paralyzed with fear, facing her first-ever life-threatening situation.

And that was when Lindel had appeared.

“Hey, you big brute! Don’t you think it’s shameful to be picking on a child?”

Lindel, who was barely half a head taller than Julia, had stepped in front of her.

With nothing but a crude wooden sword slung over her shoulder, Lindel had looked like a hero straight out of a storybook. To the young Julia, that moment had been enough to ignite something in her heart.

Lindel had defeated the grown men with ease, and Julia had been completely captivated.

“Be careful. You look like a rich young lady, and flaunting your wealth in places like this is dangerous.”

At the time, Lindel had been dressed like a commoner, and her speech had been rough. Julia fell in love that very day.

‘I want to be like her!’

From that day on, Julia had followed Lindel everywhere. She had wanted to approach Lindel and start a conversation, but her shy nature had made even standing nearby a challenge.

Julia didn’t give up, though, and she continued to hover around Lindel. Simply seeing her made Julia feel content.

Even though Lindel never noticed Julia’s devoted gaze, that had been enough for Julia.

“Why are you glaring at Lady Bodebachne like that?”

Her brother, Cassius, had often made annoying comments during that time, but Julia hadn’t cared.

“Get out of the way, Cassius. Why don’t you go pester one of your admirers instead?”

“Such a nasty temper.”

“Go away!”

Julia had admired Lindel the way a sunflower turns towards the sun. But one day, she heard news that shattered her world.

It was a rainy night when Cassius returned from the palace with a grim expression and told her the devastating news.

“She might die.”

Cassius, who usually had a smile on his face no matter the situation, hadn’t been smiling that night.

From that moment, Julia had been on edge, always on the lookout for news about Lindel. She had counted the days, waiting for a chance to be of help to Lindel.

Surely Lindel must be broken now. Someone who had once been so strong had lost everything and was now practically imprisoned.

Julia had assumed Lindel must be in a dire state. But when Julia finally saw her, her idol remained as unshaken as ever.

“Forgive you? I’m grateful that you’ve taken the time to visit despite your busy schedule.”

Julia was genuinely awestruck.

How could someone be this remarkable?

Far from being broken, Lindel radiated warmth, embracing those around her. Her gentle nature remained strong, her indomitable spirit unyielding.

Even Cassius seemed impressed by Lindel’s composure.

‘She is like unbending bamboo. She doesn’t hesitate to take up arms against the strong, yet she kneels before the weak without hesitation. In a world where cunning and treachery dominate, I’ve never seen anyone as upright as her. That’s why I believe she must become empress.’

Before they came to see Lindel, Cassius had shared his thoughts with Julia. He had said that the more the emperor wavered, the more they needed Lindel to step forward.

Cassius had looked tense as he said this, but now, seeing Lindel, his expression had relaxed, as if reassured that his choice had been the right one.

Julia’s heart swelled with pride at seeing the radiant Lindel before her. But that only made the sadness in her heart more profound.

‘Why are you so thin?!’

“Have you been skipping meals?”

That was how such an absurd question had slipped out of Julia’s mouth.

***

“Lady Bodebachne, please try this.”

“I’ve had more than enough—”

“Waiter, bring some more raspberry sauce. Lady Bodebachne’s hands have stopped. Keep eating.”

Delicious-smelling and perfectly seasoned dishes kept coming to the table, one after another.

When I first sat down, my heart had raced at the sight of the incredible feast before me, but now my heart was racing for a completely different reason.

“I really can’t eat anymore—”

“Dessert is still on its way.”

I never knew those words could sound so terrifying.

Cassius, who had finished his meal long ago, watched us with a kind smile.

‘Stop smiling and help me, you son of a bitch!’

Can’t you do something about your sister?!