I’m in Trouble Because The Emperor Thinks My Time is Limited - Chapter 28

Finally, the meal ended. The two-hour-long dining session had exhausted me completely.

Leaning against the back of the chair, I sat in a daze, half-conscious. My stomach felt uncomfortably full from the excessive amount of food.

‘This is too much.’

However, the most uncomfortable thing at that moment wasn’t my stomach but the intense gaze fixed on me. When I raised my eyes, as expected, I met Julia’s unwavering stare. She hadn’t taken her eyes off me for even a single second!

“Are you feeling alright?”

Cassius spoke to me while I continued my unending staring contest with Julia.

It was only then that I remembered Cassius’s presence. That was how much of my attention had been focused on Julia. Her relentless gaze was so persistent that I wondered if she was even blinking.

“It seems my sister’s stubbornness made you overeat.”

“I’m fine. Thanks to her, I’ve had a good meal.”

Aside from the large quantity, it was the most enjoyable meal I’d had in a long time. At that moment, Julia’s sharp voice interrupted.

“It’s outrageous to serve such food to you.”

Julia took a sip of tea with a noble posture. Though her remark was harsh, I couldn’t help but nod in agreement.

Before the meal, I had been served the usual bland patient food. However, Julia had stood up on my behalf when she saw that.

“Who do you expect to eat this?”

“It’s a perfectly balanced meal designed for optimal nutrition!”

“What good is nutrition if you can’t eat it?”

With just a few sharp sentences, Julia had sent both the priest and the chef running. To me, she was nothing short of a hero.

Though I suspected they had been more frightened by Julia’s icy expression than her words, it worked in my favor regardless.

“Miss Lindel needs to eat more.”

However, I had to laugh awkwardly at her next words. Even now, after two hours of continuous eating, my stomach still felt heavy, but Julia’s gaze was fixed on the cake that remained on the table. Although her expression was blank, I could sense that she was disappointed.

A cold sweat ran down my back.

If I ate any more, I might die.

“Yes. Thanks to you, Miss Julia, I’ve eaten very well. Thank you for your concern.”

I skillfully expressed my refusal to eat more by indirectly stating that I couldn’t eat another bite. Julia, fortunately, said nothing more. Her gaze finally moved away from the cake, but she soon turned her eyes back to me.

At that moment, Cassius suddenly burst into laughter. “Julia, even if you’re happy, you shouldn’t bend your fork like that.”

What did she bend?

It was only then that I realized Julia was holding a fork in her hand. The fork she had set down was visibly bent, with clear imprints of her fingers on it.

‘How is that even possible?!’

The palace cutlery was far sturdier than regular silverware. It was made to be durable and long-lasting, so seeing such deep marks on the fork was a first for me. Even knights or mercenaries who trained rigorously wouldn’t be able to leave such marks.

When I unconsciously shifted my gaze from the fork back to Julia, our eyes met once again. She tilted her head sweetly, but her eyes showed no sign of amusement.

“Oh, a mistake.”

The chill I felt was indescribable. It was as if she was warning me that if I wasn’t careful, I’d end up like that fork.

Sweat dripped down my back, and my pupils shook as if they were experiencing an earthquake.

“Well then, let’s continue our conversation from earlier.”

Despite the tense atmosphere at the table, Cassius smiled as if nothing was wrong. He was just as terrifying in his own way.

“As I mentioned earlier, we wish for Miss Lindel to become the empress.”

Such an incredible statement was uttered as if it were nothing.

“Are you aware that His Majesty has been canceling state meetings for days now?”

“That’s—”

“His Majesty isn’t properly governing the empire.”

Though his voice was calm, it sounded like a reproach directed at me.

The truth was, I was the reason for it. Whenever something happened to me, Sionel would drop everything and rush to my side, no matter where he was.

It wasn’t something I wanted, and I was frustrated by it, but I could see how it would be a serious issue for the duke, who had to manage the government.

“So it’s because of me.”

My voice sounded small and dejected as I replied, which made Cassius appear momentarily flustered. At that moment, Julia swiftly raised her arm and jabbed Cassius sharply in the ribs.

Cassius, clutching his side where his sister had elbowed him, slumped forward onto the table. Ignoring the loud thud, Julia calmly sipped her tea again.

“B-Brother?”

Cassius, struggling to sit back up, was met with a disdainful glance from Julia.

“How could you say something so ridiculous, Brother?”

“I’m sorry. My apologies, Miss Lindel.”

“Oh, no. It’s fine.”

Cassius, groaning softly as he smoothed his disheveled hair, and Julia, calmly savoring her tea, both seemed perfectly at ease with the situation.

It felt like I was the only one who hadn’t yet adapted to this strange atmosphere.

“Shall we start again?”

After fixing his appearance, Cassius resumed the conversation with a bright smile, as if nothing had happened.

‘He got hit that hard, and he’s just brushing it off?’

For the first time, I felt a twinge of sympathy for Cassius. Nevertheless, he quickly returned to his serious demeanor.

“I wasn’t trying to blame you, Miss Lindel. The fault lies with His Majesty’s foolishness, not yours.”

“What?”

“Moreover, you’re the victim here. His obsession has even led to you being confined.”

“Well, that’s true…”

“I was horrified when I first heard the news. It was enough to make me faint from shock. He should be begging for your forgiveness, not treating you like this.”

“……”

“From the very beginning, the problem was how poorly he handled things. Instead of expressing his feelings properly, he hurt you with his aloofness, and now we’ve ended up here.”

Cassius’s sharp evaluation was so blunt that I wasn’t sure if this was even allowed.

Tsk!

He clicked his tongue as if scolding Sionel.

“And yet, despite everything, you still care for him, Miss Lindel.”

Cassius gave me a sympathetic look, as if to say, How could you have such poor judgment when it comes to men?

I couldn’t help but feel awkward in response. I wanted to argue, but unfortunately, everything he said was true.

“After witnessing that, I became convinced. The only person capable of handling His Majesty is you, Miss Lindel.”

“Wait, what?!”

I shot up from my chair in disbelief, but Cassius merely shook his head. He clasped his hands together, resting his chin on them, and spoke in a low, calm voice while gazing intently at me.

“His Majesty—and the empire—need you, Miss Lindel.”

“No matter how serious you make that sound, it’s not making me happy at all!”

Even though he had described me as if I were some kind of problem-solver for a madman, he finished by saying I was needed.

It didn’t make me happy in the slightest.

I sat back down, trying to calm myself.

“Besides, there are plenty of women who admire His Majesty.”

That was true. Despite Sionel’s difficult personality, most women found his sharp demeanor attractive. The only reason I had become infamous for liking him was because I couldn’t hide my feelings.

These days, I did my best to keep them under control.

“Surely you don’t mean to suggest that those women are fit to become empress, do you?”

Cassius’s face twisted into a scowl as he asked the question, his tone filled with disgust.

“The only one fit to be empress is you, Miss Lindel!”

What kind of logic is that?!

I was about to argue when I heard Julia sigh. She rubbed her forehead as if she were getting a headache.

“This is what passes for a chancellor?”

Cassius flinched at her cutting remark. “Do you think Miss Lindel can understand your ridiculous explanation of why she should be empress?”

Her mocking tone left Cassius looking downcast. The man who had been so adamantly pushing his bizarre argument moments ago was suddenly gone.

I had thought this before, but it was now clear to me—Julia was definitely the true leader of the Areta family.

She shook her head and then looked back at me. I straightened up, realizing I couldn’t let my guard down just yet.

“I’ve heard that you’ve turned down the position of empress.”

“Yes.”

“As I expected.” Julia nodded, as if the answer was obvious. “The nobles in the emperor’s faction, including my brother, want you to become empress.”

“Why?”

“Because of your abilities. The role of empress isn’t something one can take on simply because they have affection for the emperor.”

She continued speaking with a calm and composed tone, “At a young age, you achieved much with your sword. That wasn’t just a matter of talent.”

“……?”

“You possess the wisdom to read the situation, the insight to foresee what’s ahead, and the compassion to unite those around you. These are all invaluable abilities you have.”

The sudden barrage of praise left me bewildered.

“That’s why the nobles admire your abilities and wish for you to become empress.”

However, I noticed that Julia wasn’t including herself among those nobles. She was subtly drawing a line between their opinions and her own.

Julia paused to take a sip of tea, moistening her dry lips. The brief silence only heightened my tension. The next thing she said would undoubtedly express her opposition to me.

“However.”

Julia finally set down her teacup.

“I don’t agree with them.”

As I expected.

Though it stung to hear, I felt like she was the only ally I had at the moment. I needed to reinforce my stance against becoming empress by siding with Julia.

“I understand. I’m not suited for the role of empress.”

“Exactly. Their foolish thinking is utterly laughable.”

While her words stung, I forced a smile. For now, Julia and I were on the same side.

“You’re not fit to be empress because you should be the emperor.”

“What—?!”

Julia nonchalantly dropped another bombshell.

“Miss Julia, as I’ve told you before, that idea—”

Cassius tried to stop her urgently, but Julia paid him no mind.

“Have you ever considered becoming emperor?”

My jaw dropped to the floor.

What now?!