Emir Solarion (2)
In the carriage heading back to the Solarion mansion, Emir stared blankly out the window. He was so handsome today too. Even the way he yelled at her was handsome. That perfect elegance. She felt the same thrill she'd experienced at their first meeting. She'd fallen for Morris because of his impeccable etiquette and poise.
That bitch. The image of Seria embracing Morris and smirking at her in mockery ignited a mad surge of rage. Though Seria hadn't hugged him or mocked her at all. Emir saw it that way. That's what love did to a woman.
"Kyaaah!" The more she thought about it, the angrier she got, clenching her fists and shaking them furiously. It was the only way to vent the fury boiling inside her.
It had been two whole years. The time she'd spent striving to reunite with Morris. When her family first heard she wanted to break off the engagement with House Dmitry, she'd visited her father countless times to persuade him. But his response was always the same.
For the family's sake, there's no choice.
In the end, the broken engagement proceeded. It was a tide Emir couldn't stem. She'd thrown tantrums, insisting they had to marry. She'd gone on a hunger strike. After two weeks, when her father begged her on his knees to eat, she finally surrendered. But even then, she refused any new betrothals.
She'd sought Morris out time and again. My feelings are different. We can reconnect. I want to be with you. She'd even suggested they run away together. But Morris had been resolute.
A bond broken once shouldn't be reforged.
She couldn't refute those words. In the end, she'd given up and distanced herself from him.
And then... right before she was poisoned to death by assassins sent by Seria, Morris had appeared like a prince on a white horse, saving her from the brink. His broad, sturdy back had made her heart race without her even realizing it.
That was when Emir resolved herself anew. I want to spend my life with this man.
So she'd gone to him again. This time, she proposed marriage, ignoring the custom where the man initiated. Her body burned with desperation. But his response was a firm rejection.
Not long after, she heard that Seria had undergone status execution and been granted to Morris.
"You sly vixen!" She clenched her fist tight.
She'd waited patiently by his side, biding her time until his goals were complete. Yet that woman had swooped in and claimed the spot. No matter how many times Morris had rejected her, he'd always done so with grace and elegance. He'd never shown raw desire like that before. It was all that woman's fault.
Seria... The woman who'd even tried to poison her to death.
"Why would Sir Morris choose a woman like that...?"
Suddenly, she recalled Morris's hand gripping Seria's ass and slipping under her skirt. Maybe he just needed someone to satisfy his urges? Even as a fellow woman, Seria's body was enviably perfect. The maid outfit, designed to accentuate her curves, revealed full breasts, a slender waist, and firm, rounded hips.
Was that why Morris had changed? I could do that too.
Emir glanced down at her own chest. Smaller than Seria's, but beautifully shaped and firm—her maids had confirmed it while bathing her.
My waist too. The Solarion children trained with swords regardless of gender. She wasn't exceptional, but she wasn't lazy either. Her abs formed a solid eleven-pack.
Though... I've put on a bit from stress-eating lately. She pinched her side. Soft.
"R-Recently, it's just the stress-eating," she muttered.
Was this why? Why Morris was acting so out of character?
"It's not that bad, though. No one would mock me for it."
She mumbled to herself awkwardly. It was all that woman's fault. For him to do that to her...
Emir pictured Morris's hand on Seria's ass again. Shameless. He'd never done that to her.
Jealousy—and envy—overwhelmed her.
I'll win him back. If I practice and work hard... She balled her fists, steeling her resolve. She'd take Morris back from that cunning witch Seria.
"How's it going?"
Summoned by Emperor Ryuclid, I arrived at the Sun Palace. His blue eyes gleamed sharply as he questioned me.
What else? It was about Seria.
"Progressing smoothly, Your Majesty."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
"I heard Duke Siegfried visited you recently."
"I requested the meeting."
"You did?"
Displeasure openly clouded the emperor's face. He must hate that his Magic Department Minister—the one he appointed—was meeting the noble faction's leader.
"To sever ties between the duke and Seria. She was proving stubborn."
"Ah, that explains it. The duke's face has looked rotten lately." The emperor chuckled lowly. But his eyes weren't smiling. "Must have been quite the shock—for her or the duke."
"There were results."
"Heh, sounds like it's going well. I told you clearly: tear her heart to shreds."
"Of course. However, Your Majesty."
"Speak."
"Why not simply crush House Siegfried entirely?"
If Seria took such pride in her house, its fall would deliver the ultimate blow. And the justification was ironclad: traitors who dared point swords at the empire's sun. Reason enough for extermination.
The emperor pursed his lips, his face screaming disappointment in my suggestion.
"Hmm, isn't that too crude? Lacking artistry. Like how a well-marinated dish tastes better than a rushed one—I want more than simple pleasure."
Finishing his words, the emperor grinned widely, eyes alight with satisfaction. Imagining the scene, no doubt. His gaze drifted afar as his body shuddered in delight.
"I'm awaiting the masterpiece you'll create."
Truly a masochistic novel's male lead. Definitely a few screws loose.
"And how do you plan to toy with that woman?"
"I'll take my time. Rushing risks ruining it."
"Hm, not wrong. Time ripens flavors. But if it drags too long, I might grow suspicious."
His glaring smile was downright sinister. Just watching made my chest tighten uncomfortably.
"I'll do my best."
"Minister—no, Morris. I cherish you. I still can't forget how you saved my life in that final battle. But..."
His blue eyes gleamed menacingly.
"If you're betraying me or scheming otherwise, I won't stay idle."
"How could a mere mortal gaze upon the empire's sun with naked eyes?"
I met his stare, praising his greatness as scripted.
"...I'll take your word for it."
"By the way, Your Majesty, how fares Her Majesty the Empress? She hasn't appeared in public lately."
"Ah, the empress?" He sighed wearily. How does this pass for a romance novel hero mooning over the heroine?
"She's doing well. Far better than you think."
"I... see."
"Of course. Whose wife is she?"
He snickered like a deflated balloon.
"Might I have an audience with her?"
"Listen, Minister. I cherish you, but there are lines to respect. How dare you seek a private audience with the sun's wife?"
"My apologies."
"You'll see her when the time comes."
"Understood."
His evasive tone left a bad taste. What the hell was going on? Some unseen original novel detail? No—I'd reread it obsessively; I knew every setting.
Yet this unease gripping my heart...
I shook off the nagging questions and asked the emperor, "Is that why you summoned me?"
"Ah, I'd forgotten state affairs amid my own matters."
His eyes sharpened back to normal.
"It's been two months since the empire's civil war ended. The provinces remain chaotic. I want you to suppress the remaining rebels."
"Which rebels, specifically?"
Anti-emperor insurgents were popping up everywhere. The nobles feigned ignorance, but they were surely pulling strings.
"Count Bengal in the west has raised troops for independence. Bandits in the east have seized the mountains with a large force, and northern rebels are allying with barbarians to march south."
The noble faction's lingering forces stirring trouble in the provinces.
"Understood. The Magic Department's purpose is the empire's peace."
I bowed and exited. This damn masochistic protagonist. Better get out of the palace fast. Staying too long felt like I'd catch his toxic vibe. My head throbbed as I hurried toward the gates.
"Oh my, Minister."
It was Emily. Former sub-male lead, now a woman. Her blue hair swayed.
"What brings you to the imperial palace? I thought you wouldn't show."
"When the emperor summons, one comes."
"Ahaha, perfect timing then. I was just coming to find you."
"What for?"
"Remember what I said? Lots of ladies eager to betroth with you."
"Hmph."
If I could use magic here, I'd have blasted her away on the spot. But impossible. Even the emperor couldn't. The palace-wide mana-distorting field prevented it—a rift from ancient transcendents' wars, per the author. Details on those transcendents? Naturally omitted. Damn author convenience.
Meaning mages were vulnerable here. Me included.
"Hehe, you just thought about kicking me out, didn't you?"
"You know me well."
"I told you—I understand men's hearts."
Emily pressed close brazenly.
"Think that'll work?"
"Won't it? Was Seria's bigger than this?"
"Watch that loose tongue."
"Be honest. As a man, don't you crave it? That's why you ordered those toys."
Emily would know the items I prepared were for hypnosis and hallucinations.
"Sigh."
"Don't hide from me. I get it."
Her fingertip traced a circle on my chest. Of course desire stirred. But control was key. The emperor's obsession with Seria worried me—he seemed more fixated than hateful.
"Every man wants to unleash his desires on a beautiful woman. I did too."
Emily—Emir before—had been aggressive in love. Bold enough to challenge the intense main lead, Emperor Ryuclid, for the heroine.
"When Her Majesty was still unmarried, I wanted her. No one had ever made my heart race like that. I truly yearned to claim her—to those perky breasts..."
"Enough. I don't care for sob stories from men."
"Got it. But that's as a man. Now as a woman... we're just comfy friends, nothing more or less. And honestly, my breasts are bigger than hers now."
What was I supposed to say?
"These days, I'm more into men's equipment?"
Her hand drifted lower.
"Sorry, but you'd regret going there."
"Hoho, really? What'll you do?"
"You'd be out of it for days."
"Serious?"
"Dead serious."
"If I want to feel that sincerity... will you?"
"If you want."
Emily narrowed her eyes, gazing up at me. After a few seconds of locked stares, she shook her head and pulled back, standing straight.
"Hehe, let's save that for next time. Somewhere better. Too many eyes now."
"So, what's your point? You didn't call me over for nothing."
"The ladies angling for betrothal with our minister. As head of House Dmitry, it's about time."
She opened a book. And inside...
"Emir..."
There was a photo of my ex-fiancée, Emir.