The Solitude of an Emperor [TO BE UNPUBLISHED]

67 : Pandemonium

Darya and Zale did not realize that it was already morning when they finished their long conversation. Darya only realized it when she heard the tweeting of the birds. Upon looking outside the window glass, she walked back to the couch where Zale is currently lying down. He was intoxicated with the wine and ended up telling her every stage of his life. He even cried a bunch like a little child yearning for familial love.

Zale said that since the people started praising and praying to him, he had lost the familial love he wanted from his parents. They also see him as a deity and they do not want him to act as an ordinary person. They wanted him to stay as 'a son of god' with all the benefits coming to them. In the end, he was not able to hate their greediness and was still sad that they had been executed because of his existence.

Freedom.... That is what he wants and what his friends' wish for him to achieve. He dreams of such simple things, just something ordinary... just like how she wished back in her first life.

The more she gets to know Zale, the more she sees herself back in her first life. She wanted an ordinary life but she was given a heavy responsibility that she could not bear to neglect. She abandoned her wishes for something that had been given to her.

A long sigh escaped her mouth. She walked to the bed to take the blanket. She comes back to cover Zale's body as she could not help but look at his peaceful slumber. She combed his hair slightly before walking to the door to go to her personal chambers.

As soon as she came outside, she was already guarded by some knights and maids. Upon entering her personal chambers, she was attended to in the bathroom and then dressed, formally. When she arrived at the dining room, Reginald immediately stood up from his seat to greet her.

"A pleasant morning to Her Majesty," he lowered his head and guided her to her seat. He then kissed Darya's head, from the side.

"Did you have a good night with your fifth consort?" He leaned down to kiss her cheek and then observed the expression on her face.

Darya replied with a hum of approval. Since Darya did not turn her head towards him, he could only see the bad complexion of her eyes. She seems to have not slept well. This made his brows furrow as his eyes became dark when he stood up straight.

Did they perhaps do it all night?

He almost wanted to chew his nails but restrained himself to remain formal. He came back to his seat and showed his usual 'sweet' smile.

"Are you fond of the fifth consort? He looks pure and innocent. I am worried that Her Majesty might intimidate him." He joked and chuckled to show enthusiasm, although he really wanted to know what exactly happened to them last night.

He tried putting a spy but Sir Alluka specifically put too many knights all over the consort's palace. He hates the fact that he never got the chance to appease the Emperor and a newbie had guts to go ahead of him? How could he, a second consort, a crown prince, could lose to that woman-like man?!

"Zale is truly innocent and pure." Darya looked into Reginald's eyes and smiled. "I like him."

Reginald felt like his body was struck by lightning. His ego was extremely hurt. What? Does the Emperor like that kind of beauty? Such woman-like beauty could beat his flawless manly beauty that his whole Empire is proud of?!

Darya started eating, trying her best to suppress the chuckles living in her stomach. This man, Reginald, has been thirsty since day one. It is distinctive in his expression to how he is craving to touch her. Besides his cravings, she knows very well that this man is someone who tosses a subject if it is no longer useful. This man is someone who would only value the useful. This man never changed, since her third life.