I’m in Trouble Because The Emperor Thinks My Time is Limited - Chapter 31

As always, things didn’t go the way I had imagined.

“Cassius, you may leave now.”

“…Understood.”

Sionel, who had been silently staring at me, finally spoke, dismissing Cassius. I had thought he would be flustered by my confession, but that had been a huge mistake.

Sionel remained calm and composed, sitting there with an expressionless face. Even the tense atmosphere from earlier had completely disappeared.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave.” Cassius, seemingly overwhelmed by Sionel’s aura, glanced at me briefly before following his orders. We exchanged a short look, but in the end, neither of us said anything.

‘This is a failure…!’

As I stood there in the silence of the office after Cassius had been chased out, I silently screamed in frustration. This situation hadn’t been part of my mental simulation.

‘You won’t leave me?’

‘I won’t! You’re the only one for me, Sionel!’

‘Lindel!’

‘Sionel!’

I hadn’t expected the conversation to unfold like a fairy tale, but honestly, it had been something close to that.

However, I had not anticipated such a lackluster response. I had at least imagined Sionel showing some sort of emotion and me reassuring him. That would have been the moment to present my future plans in a well-packaged way, even if I couldn’t tell him everything.

But from the very beginning, my plan had gone completely awry.

“Um, Sionel?”

“Speak.”

“Well, I thought it would be nice if you had something to say, not me.”

“I’m thinking.”

“What exactly are you thinking about?”

“I’m wondering what on earth could be going through your small head.”

Sionel’s calm voice only made me more nervous. He was tapping the armrest of his chair with his long fingers—a habit he displayed when contemplating something important. I prayed fervently that whatever Sionel was contemplating, it wouldn’t involve finding new ways to confine me.

“I really can’t figure it out.”

“Huh?”

“I asked you what you were hiding, and you show up early in the morning to confess your love. I really didn’t see that coming.”

‘Was it really that random?’

To be fair, if I were in his position, I would probably find it strange too. But from my perspective, I had spent all night agonizing over the decision. Since I couldn’t reveal the truth, I had concluded that the best way to calm him—and everyone else—was to prove that I was fine. With my health improving, and now that I no longer coughed up blood, it had seemed feasible.

But for my bold confession to result in this? My face burned with embarrassment. Unable to meet his eyes, I lowered my head. At that moment, I heard Sionel’s voice, laced with amusement.

“Well, it’s not bad.”

Sionel, resting his chin on his hand, smiled softly.

“You really are impossible.”

Instead of telling me to come closer, Sionel extended his hand toward me. Mesmerized by his beautiful smile, I took his hand. In an instant, he pulled me into his arms with surprising strength.

Before I knew it, I was nestled in his embrace. As I fidgeted slightly, Sionel’s arms tightened around me.

“You know, it feels good to hear such things, even if it’s said without much thought.”

His deep voice whispered in my ear, and I could feel my face growing hot for a different reason.

“If you liked it, you should have said so from the beginning! You startled me!”

“Startled by what?”

“You seemed so unaffected,” I mumbled awkwardly, wrapping my arms around his back. My voice, which had come out more like a whine, embarrassed me, so I buried my face into his chest.

I had to agree with Sionel. No matter the atmosphere or how off-track my plans had gone, it felt comforting to hold each other like this.

‘I should be keeping my head straight!’

The resolve I had made before coming here—to stay composed no matter what he said—was already wavering. As my heart pounded wildly, I tried to regain my focus, but Sionel pulled me even closer.

“Ah!”

A startled cry escaped from my lips as our eyes met—his blue gaze locking onto mine.

“W-What are you doing!”

In an instant, I found myself straddling him, his well-sculpted face staring straight at me. Just that alone made me feel like there was no way out.

The distance between us was too close. His red lips hovered just inches away from mine, and my eyes flickered wildly at the sight.

“Th-That’s cheating! Using your looks like this!”

My mouth, once again failing to grasp the situation, spouted nonsense.

Sionel, apparently amused, smiled, his eyes crinkling.

“Say that again.”

“…Cheating… with your looks?”

At my bewildered response, Sionel furrowed his brow slightly. “No, not that. Say you like me again.”

His low voice whispered seductively as his large hand cupped my cheek, preventing me from turning away. I hadn’t been wrong earlier when I thought there was no escape. My face burned.

“I love you.”

Even though my voice wavered, Sionel smiled sweetly. It was as if he had been waiting to hear those words, his joy evident. I instinctively gripped his shoulders tightly, but he didn’t seem to mind.

“I love you too, Lindel.”

“……!”

I had no immunity to such a tender confession. Especially not from someone like him!

‘I’ve only ever experienced one-sided love, so I don’t know how to handle this!’

Saying ‘I love you’ and hearing it were completely different experiences. Receiving a confession wasn’t my area of expertise.

As I looked into his deep blue eyes, my reflection seemed panicked. But Sionel merely smiled at me even more sweetly.

“I’ve always wanted to say that.”

“If… if you’re teasing me—!”

Our closeness made it hard to think. Though we had hugged like this before after his first confession, today felt different. Was it because of the quiet dawn? I couldn’t keep my head straight.

“I’ve wanted to tell you ever since I first saw you.”

“…That’s impossible.”

“I know you don’t believe me. Even if you’re angry or insult me, it’s fine. I deserve it.”

His words were whispered as if to himself, but I didn’t have time to ask for clarification. His strong fingers caressed my cheek, his thumb brushing against my lips. I flinched, my body trembling slightly, and Sionel’s gaze shifted to my lips. His eyes, which had returned to mine, were now darker and more intense.

“I want to kiss you.”

I was so startled that I thought my eyes might pop out of my head. Never in my life had I imagined hearing such words from Sionel. It was only natural that I panicked.

“Saying that won’t change my mind!”

“What?”

“You’re trying to seduce me so you can lock me up again, aren’t you? I won’t fall for such a cheap trick!”

I knew I was rambling. But there was no stopping the nonsense pouring out of my mouth. It was the side effect of years of unrequited love.

Sionel didn’t seem offended—instead, he smiled, his eyes narrowing.

“So, if I let you go free, will you give me a kiss?”

“Huh?!”

Sionel was more formidable than I had imagined. While I was still reeling, he continued, “I was wrong. I knew you hated it, but I had no choice. I was afraid.”

His calm voice, as he met my eyes and confessed his fault, was steady. But his quiet tone was anything but light. I suddenly became aware of how closely he had been watching me all this time.

“I’m afraid of losing you.”

“Sionel, I—”

“I want to trust you, but I can’t.”

His eyes, which had once brimmed with tears, came to mind, contrasting sharply with his calm expression now. He wasn’t crying, but I felt as if he were. I couldn’t tear my gaze away from him, nor could I think of anything else. There were no tears to wipe, so my eyes lingered on his dry cheeks.

“I trusted too easily before, and because of that, I lost everything. I don’t want to be that miserable anymore.”

I didn’t understand what Sionel meant. He often said things that were hard for me to grasp. Maybe he was hiding something, too. But whenever he said such things, he looked at me with sad eyes, just as he was doing now. And that was why it always felt like he was crying.

“So stay by my side and keep telling me that you love me, that you won’t leave.”

Though my nerves calmed down, my heart pounded louder. Moments like this always reminded me. I could never hate this man. I loved him—this pitiful, yet lovable person.

“What can I do to make sure I don’t lose you?”

“Just keep saying what you said today.”

Don’t torment yourself with things I can’t understand. Just be honest.

“Just tell me that you love me.”

That would be enough.

At my answer, Sionel smiled, his expression almost teary.

“Kiss me.”

His voice, usually so calm, trembled slightly. If the surroundings hadn’t been so quiet, and if I hadn’t been hanging onto his every word, I wouldn’t have noticed the subtle tremor. But his single desperate plea made me close my eyes.

I carefully released my grip on his shoulder and cupped his cheek instead.

‘I hope you find happiness.’

With that wish on my lips, I kissed him softly. It was a simple kiss—just lips touching, like the kiss of children. But I hoped my feelings would reach him.

In the quiet dawn, our first kiss was peaceful. When I finally broke the kiss and opened my eyes again, Sionel was looking at me, his gaze intense and unguarded. His hand cradled my face.

“Sorry. If you don’t want this, push me away.”

With that brief apology, his face moved closer again. Before I could grasp what was happening, his hot lips devoured mine.

“……!”

Shocked, I instinctively clamped my mouth shut, but Sionel’s lips gently nibbled at my lower lip. He teased my lips as if seeking permission.

With my eyes squeezed shut, all my senses concentrated on my lips. This kiss was nothing like the sweet, innocent one before. I felt like he was consuming me.

His breath was hot, and the urgent, greedy kiss overwhelmed me. Our second kiss was anything but peaceful.