101 Ways To Tame The Emperor

Chapter 22: An Ally In Me

“THEN YOU are not fit to be His Majesty’s General. What kind of General would allow the Emperor’s enemy to live?” I asked while looking straight in Malik’s eyes.

“A foolish General.” He seemed like he wanted to say more but decided against it at the last minute.

I did not respond for quite a long while. I just studied his face. He was still looking at me as if he was patiently waiting for my response… and as if time was in his hands. There was no trace of boredom or irritation in his eyes. Can I really trust this person? Looking back, the General was the one who saved me when I almost got r***d by Lancelot’s friend. He did not take advantage of the situation and he avenged me. Maybe it was all just his sense of duty but the fact that he helped me would not change.

I heaved a sigh. “I never had a good relationship with the Peiris’. I’m sure you have heard of that. I’m quite famous, you see. People talk behind my back whenever they see me. I seldom see Count Quentin even if we live in the same manor. The longest words I have ever heard from him was yesterday when he sent me away. It contained just two sentences telling me to be safe. And since I’ve always been an outcast in the House of Peiris, nobody ever really bothered paying so much attention to me.

“Nobody would talk to me there unless they will order me to do something. And by that, I meant buying groceries for them, doing the laundry, washing the dishes, and the likes. I am just another servant in the manor, General. The only thing that sets me apart from the rest of the servants is my surname. That’s why you can be assured that today is my first time hearing about that magical paper.”

“It’s magical record.”

“Right, paper, record, whatever that is. I didn’t even know that such a thing exists in this world. I can’t be a spy. Even if I want to, no one would think of hiring me. So if you will investigate, you will know that no nobles had ever talked to me before. My background does not even permit me to meet with any of them. With regards to the fighting skills you are talking about, I’ve learned them secretly. I had to learn how to protect myself since my half sisters’ favorite hobby is trying to get rid of me. I needed a way to survive.”

“Your half sisters… I see.” Was all the General said. He looked menacing in an instant.

I didn’t know that a person could look so dark and yet so beautiful at the same time. I glanced away to stop myself from fan girling. I may have lied a little but there was no way I could explain how I learned to fight without sounding retarded. Whether he believed my lies or did not, he did not show it.

“Go on. Tell me more,” he softly encouraged after a while as if he had calmed down already. This time, I did not try avoiding his gaze. There was something in the way he looked at me that told me that no matter what I say, he would not judge me. But then, maybe it’s just me.

“It was true that I was just forced into this whole marriage thing. Never in my life did I aspire to be the Empress. But now I won’t deny that I need to be the Empress. And it’s for one person.”

“Hmm… is that so? ‘Mind telling me who that lucky person is?”

“It’s my mother, though I really would not call her ‘lucky’ since she suffered ever since she decided to give birth to me. We’ve been separated since the day I was born. Count Quentin is hiding her somewhere. They used her as a leverage to push me into this marriage. But even when I did their bidding, I still can’t guarantee her safety. I can only find my mother and protect her from the rest of the Peiris’ if I become powerful enough. I know that I am not exactly the suitable marriage partner for the Emperor. I’m still lacking in so many ways. And that’s the reason why I wanted to make a deal with him.”

He rubbed his chin. “Deal, huh. ‘Sounds interesting. What kind of deal would that be?”

“If His Majesty will allow me to become His Empress, I will do my best not to embarrass him for choosing me. I am confident that I can learn the things I need to in order to be by his side. And he doesn’t need to worry in case along the way, he finds a special woman and eventually fall in love with her because I will only need to be the Empress for six months. One year at the most. After I ensure my mother’s safety, we can end our marriage. He will also be free to see other women in the duration of our marriage provided that he will be discreet about it.

“But should he decide to open up a harem just like his ancestors, I promise that he will hear nothing from me. I will give him his space and I will try not to get in his way. As long as I can eat merrily in the Castle, I will be fine. Maybe he and I can be friends somehow. We can be eating buddies. Lastly, to prove my sincerity, I am willing to sign a blood contract.”

I heard that the harem used to be a common thing for the Morvenians. The Emperors before Aldis Salvatierra’s father had a harem. But during the latter’s reign, he abolished the custom about the harems that led to most men’s disappointments. He may not have been the perfect Emperor since he was known as the Ministers’ puppet but people say that he was loyal to his wife until the day he died.

I heard from Matilde that blood contract was also a must when it came to dealing with the aristocrats.

The General’s voice became rough when he spoke. “The fact that you are willing to sign a blood contract indicates how determined you are to leave the Castle once you are done using His Majesty’s power and connection. You talk as if you are going to disappear completely after a year.”

“I just might. Look, I know that what I said may sound so heartless of me but it’s not like I will be the only one who will benefit from this. The Emperor needs an Empress. Maybe he doesn’t need one for himself but he needs it to make the Ministers shut up for a while. After all, his lack of Empress is his only flaw for others.”

 The General pressed his lips tightly together. Why did he look furious again? What did I do? All the things I said are in favor of His Majesty that’s why I don’t understand the sudden hostility in the air.

“Is there a man waiting for you after all these that’s why you sound so resolute to leave the Emperor? By chance, are you already committed to another man, my lady?”

“Committed?” I laughed hollowly. “I am only committed to finding my mother, General. I don’t have the luxury to think of anyone else other than her.”

“Then if you do succeed in finding your mother, where will you go after a year?”

It was a question I did not want to think about as much as possible. I just wanted to find a safe place for Daria and Matilde and then leave. But by the time I get to come back to my own world, the few people who are mourning for my supposed to be death now would have moved on by then while I will still be the same. I can’t even freely approach them anymore.

This was such a dilemma. Sometimes I wonder if Catherine really adores me or hates me for putting me in this situation.

“I don’t know. A year is still a long way to go. I am not even sure if His Majesty would notice me. Me being in the Castle may mean that we are engaged in people’s eyes but things can still change. After all, I’m just… me. If I were him, I wouldn’t also choose ‘me’.”

“You are wrong. Whether you are an enemy or not, I would choose you.”

I gave him a faint smile. “You talk as if you are the Emperor. And I appreciate that. But at the end of the day, no matter how high your position is in the Empire, you are not the one who gets to choose something as important as this.”

“The Emperor would choose you, my lady. From the very first time he saw you, he had already chosen you.”

“I doubt that. His Majesty refused to meet with me last night and even today. If he is interested with me even a little, he would have showed up at least.”

 “I am by your side, my lady. I could be anywhere today. I could be comfortably resting in my chamber or meeting with someone else right now but he sent me to be here with you instead. That itself indicates your importance. Remember that.”

Just when I thought my heart had finally stopped acting up, it began again. It was pounding so loudly that I could barely hear the noise outside the carriage. All I could hear is my heartbeat. And all I could see is the General and that charming smile of his. He looked so sure of what he just said. I was waiting for him to add more details but he did not say anything else.

He gently stroked my cheeks. I realized I like his hands. They are big, strong, and warm. Who knew that someone like him who wields sword almost his whole life is capable of such gentleness?

“General-“                                    

“Thank you for being honest with me. There are many things I still like to ask you but we can take things slow. You are with His Majesty now. You don’t have to worry about anything, especially about your mother. I will have someone to look in this matter as soon as we get back to the Castle and I will personally update you if there is news about her. You will be fine, Catherine. You won’t be alone from now on. You have an ally in me. I will not let you down.”

I never lived a life without worrying. It may not be obvious since people thought I had everything that money could buy but as Sabina, I constantly worry from the moment I wake up until the moment I close my eyes at night. It was still the same after I live in this world. And I never had people I can call my own or a place I can belong. That’s why what the General said would have been the biggest comfort ever… if only I am not hiding behind someone else’s name.

If only it was my name that he called and not someone else’s. Still, I had to answer.

“Thank you, General. That was very reassuring.”

“It’s Malik.”

I knew I should be refusing. But I found myself giving in. Maybe it was okay since it was just the two of us here. “All right. Thank you… Malik.”