THHAAWMF

Chapter 120

I could feel Reynos' gaze waver as he watched me. I had a feeling he hadn't expected the Emperor to ask such a question.

I squeezed my eyes shut in endless frustration. Then, in a shaky voice, I answered.

"No, me and Little Marquis Lavirins are... are only good friends.'

"I see."

But the Emperor didn't seem to believe me, and instead of dismissing me, he continued.

"How did you become acquainted with Little Marquis Lavirins?"

"The Little Marquis... asked our guild for a favor because of her work with Duval Essit..."

"Why would you ask such a thing?"

The lesser Reynos interjected bluntly, but the Emperor was stronger than Reynos.

"You have your own feelings for the Little Marquis, don't you?"

"..."

Irrefutable words have sunk Reynos. Arghhhh... The emperor didn't stop there, he poured more water on the fire.

"It doesn't matter if there are many who have the same person in mind, this is a matter that must be settled."

"..."

He could not say anything more. Ah... Ahhhhhhhh... While I wailed in my confused state of mind, the Emperor continued to ask questions that seemed to make me spin.

"Does the Little Marquis know that she is in your heart?"

"... I beg your pardon, but I do not consider Little Marquis Lavirins to be anything more than a friend; above all, I am a woman and..."

I bowed my head and closed my eyes tightly. I emphasized the last sentence, not caring if my voice trembled or not.

"I like men."

"I see."

The Emperor nodded, a look of satisfaction on his face.

He no longer considered me a competitor to Reynos, and my heart was already tattered like a piece of rag.

It was the resurrection of Netherella, but the Emperor did not stop at Netherella.
(T/N: I don't know what she's talking about.)

"Since you are a friend of the Little Marquis, I assume you know about her as well."

"..."

"Do you know who the Marquis has in mind?"

"..."

"I've heard that Duke Absulekti, Duke Justice, and even the High Lord of Luminous have taken a liking to the Marquis, and I wonder if she has taken a liking to any of them."

Ahhhhh.

When will this conversation end, and how far will my dignity fall?

For the record, as I've said before, Duke Absulekti and Luminous High Lord have cleared up the scandal, though not by their own hand.

There was nothing scandalous about the Duke of Justice, and yet he seemed to care enough to ask such a question, being the only child of his beloved Empress.

It was a good thing for Reynos, but I had been beaten to a pulp and reduced to rags.

I was Nuduellla now.

Lying flat on her back, Nuduella closed her eyes tightly.

Barely holding back the urge to cry, I spoke.

"I'm not sure we're in the right place to talk about it. I'm sorry..."

"I know. I'm sorry."

Fortunately, the Emperor believed Nuduela.