Sinister Obsession: Macsen Massey (Emperor Series, #3) ✔️

Chapter 30

Chapter 30

It has become her hobby, visiting him and taking care of him silently whenever he's asleep. Good thing she's silent; she doesn't make any sound that could wake the Emperor. Every night, after the doctors are done checking the Emperor's health and when he's asleep, she'll sneak in to pamper him. She cares too much, and that's becoming unhealthy for her. She comes every day to help, and she makes sure to arrive earlier than the Emperor's wake-up call.

She's still in disguise. She believes her secret hasn't been revealed yet, and only the Emperor knows of it. She has no plans to reveal herself yet, even to Lucky and some of her friends. She's still scared of her past, even though she doesn't remember most of it.

"Good morning! I brought the Emperor's morning herbs," she said while holding a tray with a glass of herbs.

The old woman, who was the Emperor's doctor, took the tray and smiled at her. "You don't have to come anymore. We can manage him now; he's healing. Thank you for helping."

She smiled back. "I still want to help. Please allow me."

The doctor sighed. "But he doesn't want to see you. He'll get mad once he wakes up. I'm just worried about you, darling. If the Emperor gets mad, we won't be able to tame him."

She looked at the Emperor. "I'll leave immediately after this. I'll only serve him once he's asleep. Please allow me to do it!

"Well then, if you insist," the doctor just said as she realized the servant had no plans to stop helping at all.

She comes by every day, and she never misses a day. She does it again and again until the Emperor fully recovers. And even though the Emperor is finally healed, she still silently visits to give him tea in the morning and water before he arrives in his room during the evening.

"May I ask why you are doing this?" The doctor asked when they met in the corridor one time. It was evening, and she was holding the tray of water. She's about to deliver it to the emperor's room.

She smiled genuinely. "I don't know. I just want to help him. I genuinely want to take care of him. I just realized that the Emperor isn't that bad at all. I feel like he needs care the most in this empire."

"Don't you see how he treats you at all? He ignores you all day and yells at you whenever he gets the chance," the doctor said.

Belle shook her head and continued smiling. "All I see is a tired man managing a really big land, doctor. He is stressed; he needs help. And I, as a servant, will do anything to assist him."

"Do you admire him?" The doctor asked, which made her silent for a moment.

"I..." Belle suddenly lost her words.

The doctor stared at her. "Do you, darling? Answer me truthfully."

She looked down to avoid having eye contact with the doctor. "I don't know, maybe? Perhaps."

From that moment on, the doctor confirmed something was going on. She signed on to the idea running through her mind. "Listen here; I don't want to hurt you, but you need to hear this painful truth. I don't know what happened between you and the Emperor or what circumstances made you so fond of him, but you better stop for your own good. He's not good for you. Like he said, he's just playing. He always does that; he plays around and throws people once he's done with them."

It stings. It's painful, but it's the truth she can't accept yet. At least for the moment, she still wants to serve him. She believes in something that's unexplainable and impossible to happen.

"And besides, the law forbids your desired romance, dear. You should stop now, for real," the doctor remarked.

She just smiled and nodded. "Thank you, madam. But I'll decide for myself. Right now, I just want to help."

Belle bowed and walked to the Emperor's room, completely leaving the doctor behind. Love makes you dumb; she knows it. She's currently in that situation, and yet she still continues to believe despite the pain and the obvious truth before her eyes: what she wants is impossible.

Another week has come; it's been so long since her last interaction with the Emperor. He has totally changed, and yet she's still chasing him. It's early in the morning, and she was heading to the Emperor's room with a tray and a glass of herbs. It was supposed to be a good day, but she panicked and started getting worried when the Emperor was not in his room.

"May I ask where the Emperor is?" She immediately asked the other servants in the hall. She was running out of breath. She ran from the Emperor's chamber to the hall to ask about the Emperor's whereabouts.

The doctor, who was roaming around for her morning duty, replied. "He's out of the Empire. I heard he's going to visit another empire, and I think it'll last for a week. Don't worry, the palace is safe. We're surrounded by soldiers since the Emperor is not around. Are you alright?"

Belle nodded. "Yes, thank you for asking."

The doctor looked at her with pity in her eyes. "Please decide already. Because once he comes back, you'll be devastated with what he brings with him."

It's painful. He left; he truly doesn't care about her anymore. What he said before: were those real? Or did she just fall for his bluffs? A nerve-wracking pain struck her chest that made her find it hard to breathe. Why is she already facing the consequences of falling for someone she should not have entertained? Maybe the heavens are punishing her. But this is too much for her fragile heart; it hurts.

Loving Emperor Macsen is truly painful.

----

Her week passed like a drifting autumn. She was lonely for the whole week. Without the Emperor's presence, the palace seems sad to her. But the good news is that the Emperor is coming back. Finally, she could see him and serve him with all her strength.

"Raph, I haven't seen you around for a long time. Where have you been working?" Lucky called.

She was cleaning in the field when the young man called. She smiled widely. "I'm working for the Emperor in the palace, Lucky."

"Oh, I thought you hated him?" Lucky chuckled.

She shrugged. "Well, things changed. He's not that bad at all."

Lucky's eyes widened, then he shrugged as he continued to chuckle. "Well, have you heard?"

"Of what?" She inquired.

Lucky's eyes showed excitement. "The Emperor is finally getting married! Everyone is getting busy because he's coming back with the Empress from another Empire! We are so excited because finally, our Emperor has found the woman who'll love him for the rest of his life."

Belle was too stunned to speak. It's like the world succumbed right before her eyes.

"What? For real? But he never wanted to get married—yet!" Another servant came to ask.

Another one happily responded. "Yeah! He always opposes that idea!"

Lucky replied while clapping. "Oh, you'll be shocked if I tell you that it's the Empress from the other Empire. What Empire was it? I forgot, but I heard she was still young, yet she has already taken the crown since she's already capable. She passed all the training and is already righteous for the crown! Like Emperor Macsen, they're perfect together!"

Belle's heart was pumping so loudly that she's getting confused by the events happening around her. All her fears came at once. "What? Are you sure? Isn't it just rumors?"

Lucky smiled. "Why would I lie for something like this, Raph? For real! You should be happy; the Emperor is getting married!"

Belle stopped in her tracks to contain her emotions. Her chest is getting heavy, and her eyes are starting to water. The news shocked her—no, it pained her. It's the most painful news she has ever heard. Oh no, before it gets too late, she needs to tell him her feelings. For the last time, she's going to convey the thought that's been running around her mind. At least, she hopes that he'll listen. It's impossible, but she hopes for a miracle.