chapter_0139

138 – Past and Present

138 – Past and Present

Her voice, laced with moisture, lacked strength.

It lacked the density to be sincere, yet the weight of the words was too heavy to be a lie.

Thanks to that, Daniel understood.

Selvia was currently expressing her muddled heart with the help of alcohol.

She was merely acting spoiled, hoping someone would acknowledge her hardship.

‘If she weren’t drunk, I probably wouldn’t be seeing this side of her.’

Selvia was the Emperor of the Empire.

Having risen to the position of ruling over all, Selvia couldn’t show weakness to anyone.

To be weak was the same as being unable to control others.

So, until now, Selvia had been acting resilient.

Even when her brother tried to kill her to inherit the throne, even when the nobles turned their backs on her, she must have comforted herself, saying it was alright.

Because she believed that once she became Emperor, all problems would be neatly resolved.

At the very least, she must have estimated that the opposition from the parliament and nobles would subside.

However, what Selvia saw after becoming Emperor was nobles who, beyond turning their backs, were trying to antagonize her.

The parliament, representing the people, was also constantly voicing opposition to the policies devised by the new Emperor.

In the midst of all this, she heard from her doctor that her father, Bertham, wouldn’t make it past this month.

It would be strange if she didn’t collapse.

She had risen to the most noble position in the Empire, yet she realized that nothing was being resolved as she wished.

With immense responsibility pressing down on her shoulders and countless complaints grabbing at her ankles, how many people could maintain their sanity?

Nevertheless, Selvia didn’t give up.

She even reduced her sleeping hours to focus on running the country.

To win the hearts of the antagonistic nobles, she catered to their convenience as much as possible and forced a smile.

She took the trouble to visit the parliament building in person to understand exactly what the lawmakers’ grievances were.

To give faith to the people who were dissatisfied with the new Emperor being a woman, she toured major cities and gave speeches.

In addition to these, she worked on numerous other tasks, wanting to be recognized as the Emperor of the Empire.

However, what Selvia heard upon returning to the Imperial City was not praise for her efforts, but malicious rumors defaming the Emperor.

From Selvia’s perspective, it was a wonder she hadn’t gone on a rampage, thinking, ‘These rebellious bastards have gone completely mad because I’ve been too lenient? They all deserve to be purged!’ She could be considered a wise ruler just for not doing that.

Just as Daniel, who fully understood Selvia’s heart, was about to offer a comforting reply,

“…Of course, I’m just kidding.”

Selvia, who had once again taken the initiative, released the hug and stepped back.

Whether she had sobered up a bit or was surprised by her own words, he wasn’t sure, but her face was subtly tinged with shame.

“I feel somewhat sorry. I didn’t call you here to say such things…”

A sigh escaped from Selvia’s small lips.

“I hope you don’t misunderstand. I just arranged this meeting to encourage a war hero who is about to leave for the Eastern Front. So…”

Now as ever, Selvia was clumsy at deceiving herself.

Suddenly, Daniel knelt on one knee and gazed at Selvia.

Selvia’s self-reproaching figure was somehow similar to his own in his previous life.

After some deliberation, Daniel quietly opened his mouth.

“Your Imperial Majesty. I don’t know if you’ll believe it, but I was quite a famous person in my previous life. I had a job that was in the public eye, so naturally, many people followed me.”

It was a sudden story about a past life, but Selvia didn’t dislike it.

Because she knew that Daniel was talking to her to comfort her.

“I enjoyed tremendous popularity. It was to the point where, even if it wasn’t as much as Your Imperial Majesty, I had to suffer because people recognized me when I walked down the street. But popularity doesn’t last forever.”

A bitter smile spread across Daniel’s lips.

“Once a false rumor started to spread, everything went wrong. People prioritized criticizing me rather than judging whether the rumor was true or not. Thanks to that, I had to give up everything and live in seclusion at home.”

That day, Daniel realized for the first time that the world was a scary place.

“Naturally, contact with acquaintances also ceased. I was desperately lonely. Why don’t people try to see the truth? Why are reporters trying to kill me so much? For the first week, I couldn’t overcome my anger and took it out on perfectly good objects.”

The internet on his smartphone, which had been filled with praise for him, now only contained malicious comments.

Disgusted by it, Daniel took his anger out on the innocent smartphone.

A long time passed before the rumor was revealed to be false and Daniel was acquitted, but nothing changed.

Having been dropped from all programs, Daniel had nothing left.

“As my anger began to subside, I became very sad. Because I thought my life was ruined? That’s also true, but it wasn’t the fundamental reason. What made me the saddest was that when everyone was criticizing me, there wasn’t a single person who said it wasn’t true.”

How nice would it have been if there was someone by his side who sincerely said, ‘I know it’s not your fault.’

Then he could have had at least a little hope.

He could have found strength.

“So…”

Even if she was the Emperor who ruled over all, the situation wouldn’t be much different.

Daniel, who instinctively felt this, decided to say what Selvia wanted to hear.

“Selvia. This isn’t your fault.”

Selvia’s eyes, who had been listening to Daniel’s story, widened.

Soon, her blue irises, resembling a clear sea, began to fill with moisture.

“I was wondering what nonsense you were going to say…”

She was trying to act calm, but her voice was trembling.

“Do you think I’d believe in a past life? Even if you try to comfort me with such unrealistic words…”

Selvia’s expression began to distort.

She bit her lip tightly as if trying to hold back her tears, but it was not enough.

A moan escaped through her teeth, and unable to bear it any longer, Selvia rushed towards Daniel.

In a fleeting moment, their bodies were pressed together.

Hugging Daniel tightly, Selvia no longer held back and burst into tears.

She poured out all the sorrows she had to endure as the Imperial Princess of the Empire, and furthermore, as the Emperor.

Daniel embraced Selvia in return and quietly offered words of comfort.

“Even if everyone in the world criticizes Your Majesty, I will believe in you until the end.”

To that, Selvia replied not with words, but with tears, sobs, and a small nod.

Amidst the expressions that could not be put into words, Daniel gently stroked Selvia’s back.

For now, he thought of Selvia not as the Emperor of the Empire, but as a younger sister who had experienced the coldness of the world.

*

“…Even so, a past life. Wouldn’t there be a more plausible comfort?”

Selvia, who had stopped crying, asked while leaning her back against the wall.

Daniel, who was sitting next to her as if nothing had happened, answered with a smile.

“That’s all I could think of at the moment. I’m sorry if you didn’t like it.”

“It’s not that I didn’t like it. I just thought it was unrealistic.”

“I see. I’m glad it seems like I barely passed.”

As Daniel joked, Selvia chuckled.

Selvia tilted her head and looked at Daniel.

As she did so, her platinum blonde hair flowed down her shoulder.

Noticing her gaze, Daniel turned his head, and their eyes met.

Selvia’s eyes were still red, as she had only recently stopped crying.

After a moment of silence, Selvia quietly opened her mouth.

“Will it take long to return from the front?”

“I don’t know exactly, as I haven’t accurately grasped the situation on the battlefield.”

“I see…”

Selvia, who was grumbling as if she didn’t like it, turned her gaze forward.

“…You know. How did it feel?”

“What do you mean?”

“When you called me ‘Selvia.’ So presumptuously.”

Daniel coughed as if he had choked.

The fact that he had said her real name, caught up in the atmosphere, was the root of the problem.

As he was nervous because he wouldn’t have anything to say even if he was punished for treason, Selvia chuckled softly.

“I’m kidding. Actually, I was happy. Because other than my parents, there’s no one who calls me by my name. Before, it was all ‘Princess,’ and now it’s ‘Your Imperial Majesty.’ Honestly, I don’t know if my subjects are serving me or my background.”

But Daniel was different.

He looked properly at the human inside, not the Emperor herself.

“In that regard, will you promise me just one thing?”

Selvia held out her little finger towards Daniel.

“Come back soon. I hope you’ll call me by my name again then.”

Daniel chuckled at the request filled with innocence.

Daniel raised his hand and hooked his little finger around Selvia’s.

“I will keep that in mind.”

Under the starlight-filled window, Selvia, having heard Daniel’s answer, smiled with joy.

“Thank you.”

For some reason, the night breeze was not cold tonight.

Thus, the night, marking the end of winter and the beginning of spring, slowly deepened.

A word from the author (Author’s Note)

Thank you for the 10 coin donation, GomGomGomBearYuna! Thank you for your support again today! I will work hard on writing!

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