I’m in Trouble Because The Emperor Thinks My Time is Limited - Chapter 60

Hasina certainly had a well-oiled tongue. I knew she was impressive, but I didn’t expect her to be able to sway even the stubborn Sionel.

Sionel, who had refused to allow me to leave the capital under any circumstances, had granted permission for this outing because of Hasina’s words. She argued that my gloomy mood could affect my health, and a change of scenery would be helpful.

It was bittersweet that Hasina could easily meet Sionel, who was avoiding me, but the prospect of finally going out was gradually lifting my spirits.

The marketplace was still bustling with people, and the noise of their daily lives was vivid. Unlike the quiet palace, the noisy atmosphere somehow made me feel at ease. It seemed like I could forget all my worries for a while.

“It’s just like before.”

Mumbling with a nostalgic look on my face, Hasina approached my side with a stride.

“It must be because it’s the capital; there are so many people.”

“Have you always lived far from the capital, Hasina?”

“Yes. The place I lived was very quiet. Lute’s temple has that kind of atmosphere. If Ursula’s temple is lively, Lute’s is quiet and solemn. After all, it’s a place where people face death.”

Her gentle eyes looked kindly at the people, and the guards following us smiled along with her. Amid the warm atmosphere, there was only one person grumbling, and of course, that was Melaine.

“Why not just bring the whole Order of Knights?”

His sharp gaze wasn’t directed at Hasina but further back. Melaine grumbled irritably, looking at the knights trailing us.

“Don’t be like that.”

“How is this an outing? It’s more like a parade.”

“……”

I couldn’t argue with Melaine’s words. To call the group behind us an escort for an outing was an exaggeration. There was a lot—really, way too much—wrong with this situation.

Feeling anxious, Sionel had quickly dispatched an escort. As a result, a group the size of a small detachment was following us. And it wasn’t just the number of people; the knights chosen for the escort were rather unusual.

-Thunk.

“Oh, I’m sorry—eek!”

“Watch where you’re going, mister.”

“I-I’m so sorry!”

One of the younger knights—younger than me, even—accidentally bumped shoulders with someone. Although the knight didn’t say much, the person ran off in a panic.

The young knight scratched his head and watched them flee.

“What’s with him?”

“Maybe he really had to use the bathroom.”

Sure, that must be it. My expression grew darker with their naive exchange.

Just then, I overheard whispers from nearby.

“What’s going on? What’s happening?”

“Are they going to a fight or something?”

“Isn’t that the gang that’s been showing up in the back alleys lately?”

“Shh! They might hear you. Be quiet!”

People were clearly avoiding us. When I glanced back, the innocent-looking faces immediately focused on me. The grins they gave were far from reassuring, and their intimidating appearances didn’t match their good intentions at all.

‘He must’ve done this on purpose.’

The knights chosen as escorts were all tall, bulky, and had somewhat menacing looks. And despite this being a simple outing, they had changed into civilian clothes instead of armor—all black, of course. Even the gold chains hanging from their necks gleamed brightly.

No matter how I looked at it, this was intentional.

“Miss, are you feeling unwell?”

When I stopped walking and looked back at them, one of the knights asked with a worried expression. To blend in, they had even changed how they addressed me, but why “miss,” of all things?

“Did you hear that? He called her ‘miss’! What, is she their leader or something?”

“……”

Melaine looked at me with a questioning gaze. You’re still telling me not to make a fuss after seeing this?

I eventually put a hand on my forehead. Any hope of a relaxing outing had been doomed from the start.

I nodded to reassure the kind-hearted knights, and just then, someone tugged at my clothes from beside me. When I turned my head, Hasina’s face was right in front of mine.

“W-what is it?”

Startled by the sudden closeness, I saw Hasina’s expression remain stiff.

“Lady Lindel, may I act separately as I mentioned earlier?”

“Ah.”

Hasina muttered quietly enough for only me to hear and glanced at the knights and Melaine trailing us. They were too busy glaring at each other to pay any attention to our conversation.

“It’s fine. But where are you in such a hurry to go?”

I lowered my voice and asked, and Hasina gave a sly smile. Her smile was as fluttering as the spring breeze, her excitement unmistakable.

Before we came here, Hasina had revealed that today’s outing had a different true purpose. There was a place she had to go, and she had hurriedly planned this trip for that reason. Since she said it was also good for me, I hadn’t questioned it, but seeing her so excited piqued my curiosity.

“Well,” Hasina’s eyes sparkled as she answered, “I had a good dream today.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“It means I’m going to have good luck.”

Luck? What kind of luck?

Seeing that I still didn’t understand, Hasina gave a sly smile and made a circle with her thumb and index finger.

“I heard there’s an amazing gambling den in the capital. And if I had a good dream today, it must be a sign from God.”

Hasina’s face was filled with bliss, as if she was imagining golden waves.

“I’m going to hit the jackpot today.”

“……”

With that solemn vow, Hasina dashed off. The knights behind us tried to chase after her as she suddenly took off running, but I raised my hand to stop them.

“Where is the priest going?”

“…It’s better if you don’t know.”

We hadn’t even been out of the palace for an hour, but I already felt extreme exhaustion.

***

Our group drew attention wherever we went. The sight of burly, intimidating men along with a tall man and woman in robes was undeniably suspicious. If we had come out in knight uniforms, we might not have received such fearful stares, but it was far too late for regrets.

We had even run into some real thugs on the way here and ended up in a fight, making things irreparable.

“He picked the guy up with one hand and threw him!”

A man who had been watching the fight was enthusiastically recounting what he had seen to others.

Curious and fearful gazes swept over us once again.

“And that woman—she’s the boss.”

The man pointed straight at me.

Damn it, that “miss”!

“Let’s just eat and get out of here.”

Melaine nodded at my grim suggestion.

“Where did that human go?” Melaine asked absently while glancing at the menu.

Since Hasina had disappeared, Melaine seemed to be in a much better mood. He pretended otherwise, but the constant irritation that had been evident was gone, replaced with his usual indifference.

“She went off to find her dream.”

He gave me a look that clearly said, ‘What nonsense are you talking about?’ but I avoided his gaze. There was no way I could tell him she’d excitedly gone to a gambling den.

“Why do you dislike Hasina so much?”

“She’s irritating.”

The answer was firm, even as he pondered over the menu. It wasn’t typical of Melaine, who generally disliked all humans equally, except for Sionel.

“How so?”

“It’s only natural to be irritated by someone so sinister.”

“You knew she was a fraud?!”

I was genuinely surprised. Even with her perfect act, he had figured out she had a dark side! I looked at Melaine in newfound amazement. Maybe all those times he’d acted oblivious had been a ruse.

But Melaine was giving me an odd look. “What fraud?”

“Huh? Aren’t we talking about Hasina?”

“I mean, how is she a fraud? She looks like she’s spent her whole life locked up in a temple, just praying.”

I felt relieved. Melaine was still Melaine.

Sitting back down calmly, I asked again, “Then what’s so sinister about her? Hasina’s clearly a kind person.”

“Because she’s a servant of Lute.”

Melaine set down the menu and looked me in the eye. For a brief moment, there was a chilling atmosphere about him.

“I hate Lute.”

Seeing me stay silent, Melaine relaxed his expression. He sighed as if resigned, and snapped his fingers.

The noisy surroundings fell silent in an instant.

He had used magic.

“I hate dragons, Lindel.”

Melaine’s gloomy voice continued, “What do you think of my eyes?”

“I think they’re beautiful.”

“That’s right. They’re beautiful. When they catch the light, they sparkle like jewels, like they’re sprinkled with stardust.”

Despite his boastful words, Melaine’s face was twisted.

“My eyes didn’t always look like this. They used to be… repulsive.”

“Repulsive?”

“I can see souls. And that’s Lute’s power. That was the problem. I’m not even human, but I was born with Lute’s power.”

“So what? What’s wrong with that?”

“You really don’t know anything about dragons, do you?”

Melaine laughed self-deprecatingly.

For a brief moment, his face bore an expression of intense loneliness, but he quickly hid it away. The deep-seated solitude vanished without a trace.

“Dragons serve Ursilla. It’s almost an obsession. And just as much, they consider Lute to be a terrible evil.”

Melaine raised his hand and touched the corner of his eye. The eyes I had always thought of as beautiful gems now seemed like faded glass beads.

“But one day, among Ursilla’s eternal servants, a young dragon was suddenly born, beloved by Lute.”

“…Melaine.”

“They found it abhorrent.”

His somber voice seemed to recount moments unknown to me.

Only then did I fully understand why, the first time he saw me, Melaine had tried to kill me simply because I was a dragon.

“Lute’s blessed eyes were unmistakable. Pitch-black eyes with two white pupils. They said they were hideous. Even I thought so. It was awful. I guess they couldn’t bear to look at it.”

Melaine lifted the corners of his lips. He spoke as if telling a funny joke.

“They ruined my eyes.”