Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Is It Really Okay to Believe Your Words?
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"Calm down, it's me... Esther."
Esther's frantic movements stopped as if by magic at the familiar voice.
"Your Highness...?"
"I'm sorry. I didn't expect to startle you like this... It's just too dangerous outside to explain the situation."
As Esther turned around, the distance between her and Helios, who had approached to stop her, narrowed even further.
His chest was almost right in front of her nose, startling Esther into instinctively stepping back toward the door.
"Dangerous."
Helios reflexively wrapped his arms around her back and pulled her toward him as she teetered on the verge of falling. At the same moment, Esther stumbled into his embrace.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness."
The moment Esther placed her hands on his chest to push him away and slip out of his arms, rustling with urgency...
"...No."
Helios let out a ragged breath, holding her tightly in desperation as he pleaded.
"...I was wrong."
"Your Highness?"
As Helios tightened his grip around her waist, Esther's body pressed even deeper into his.
Lowering his head, the tip of his lips brushed right next to her ear.
In the tense atmosphere, Helios's trembling voice whispered pitifully into her ear, unable to contain his shivers.
"Not twice."
"Your Highness, what on earth do you...?"
Without loosening his hold, Helios pulled her even closer into his embrace. The scent of her stimulating his senses brought a wave of satisfaction and comfort washing over him.
"Think of it as madness if you want."
Looking down, he saw Esther's face filled with worry. Even if it wasn't concern for him, in this moment, Helios wanted to believe it was.
That might be why he suddenly blurted out something to fluster her.
"Unfamiliar memories keep surfacing, and I keep having dreams for no reason."
"..."
"But they're all so vivid."
Every time he was with her, every time he thought of her, strange memories and an overwhelming anxiety plagued him, and he couldn't find the reason why. To Helios, this was a major dilemma.
But seeing Esther's expression gradually change, it seemed this issue wasn't unsolvable after all.
It was certain. Whenever he brought this up before, she had avoided him like someone who knew something.
"You were always in those memories."
"..."
Now he was convinced. They weren't mere nightmares.
"Is it just because I want to get closer to you? Because I'm sensitive from jealous thoughts about that kid?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Esther."
With a voice full of conviction, Helios called out to the woman before him. At the same time, she lifted her head to look at him.
"Is that really what you think?"
Helios sensed the tremor in her hand resting on his chest and gently grasped it as he asked.
"Is it really okay to believe those words?"
"I don't understand what Your Highness is saying."
Esther avoided his probing gaze and slipped out of his arms, stepping aside.
"Your Highness, please restrain yourself from such actions."
"..."
The moment Esther reached for the doorknob again...
"Don't go."
Helios's urgent voice held Esther back.
At the same time, anxiety flooded her. She had no idea how far his memories had returned to make him question her with such certainty.
She had thought avoiding eye contact would suffice, so she hadn't even refrained from meeting him.
"Don't go, Esther."
But now, it seemed even that wasn't enough.
"Is this a command?"
Despite Esther's voice turning chillingly cold—far beyond before—Helios answered without hesitation.
"It's a request."
"Then, I'm sorry, but I must decline."
Their relationship wasn't cordial enough for her to yield to mere requests, nor did she plan to.
The moment Esther gripped the doorknob again...
"If you go now, you might face something harsh."
"..."
"Come back another day. Not today."
"Why?"
As Esther finally demanded of Helios, who was trying to block her path, he responded as if he'd been waiting.
"His Majesty is in a foul mood right now. The fewer servants today is to avoid upsetting him further. Those who displease him at times like this..."
"..."
"Either lose something bit by bit... or are about to. One or the other."
Watching his expression now seem like concern for her made Esther's stomach turn, leading her to a somewhat biting reply.
"That's for the best, then."
"What?"
Esther let out a hollow laugh and responded to Helios, who stood staring at her dumbfounded.
"I already have nothing left to lose."
Neither in the past nor now did anything in Esther's grasp truly belong to her.
"I've already hit rock bottom. What is there to fear?"
And she had been pushed to her limits over things she couldn't even hold onto.
"What do you mean by that...?"
Helios tried to rebut her words but was silenced by Esther's resolute tone as she continued.
"So, don't worry about my life. Even if His Majesty despises me, there's nothing he can do to me."
"..."
"You, with so much to lose, should worry about that..."
Esther stared straight at Helios, who seemed precariously on the verge of crumbling. What was this man so afraid of?
It nagged at her, but he was someone she wouldn't see again after this.
"Thank you for the advice, Your Highness. I'll take my leave."
"Esther!"
Flung the door open, and light flooded the room, making Helios grimace. But Esther left without a care for such things.
Left alone, Helios clutched his head and muttered softly.
"Why on earth..."
Why do you walk down that path so casually again? Will I lose you like this once more?
Indiscernible thoughts and words floated through his mind. But Helios had no intention of ignoring these emotions any longer.
"Esther..."
There was definitely something he didn't know. If he uncovered it, he could understand her actions. Helios had to resolve this somehow.
"I come before the Sun of the Empire, His Imperial Majesty the Emperor."
"I didn't expect you to come so quickly after sending the letter."
Yet the Emperor greeted Esther without surprise, clearly having been monitoring her actions.
It wasn't unexpected, so Esther maintained her composed smile and continued.
"When Your Majesty has shown such kindness to our merchant group, shouldn't I help at a time like this?"
"Hah."
Absurdity flickered across the Emperor's face.
"Well, fine... I was relieved to hear from you too. So, what you want is exclusive rights to sell the oil through your merchant group?"
"No. We ask for protection of the farming methods and oil extraction techniques our group developed. We've taken a great risk—shouldn't the rights belong to us?"
Esther provocatively reminded the Emperor, who had once snatched her product and sold it like a thief.
"..."
"Of course, a lowly one like me has no right to choose. I shall follow Your Majesty's will."
Even as she said it, Esther mocked the Emperor's silent vigilance and pressed him.
"Given the bad rumors, I admit our merchant group has lost trust. Even if you refuse dealings..."
"We'll do it. That deal."
Before Esther could finish, the Emperor ordered his attendant.
"Prepare the contract and bring a notary."
"Yes."
As the attendant left, silence fell over the audience chamber, where only the two stared at each other.
"Do you resent me?"
Breaking the silence, the Emperor's sudden question prompted Esther's swift reply.
"I don't know what you mean."
Esther glanced at him covertly to gauge his intentions, but the Emperor simply sat there, showing no reaction.
"You know. What I did to you. Aren't you seeking revenge now?"
From here, it was a battle of wits.
A single word could tip the balance of power between them. Esther knew that well.
"The reason I bought up the Dran Oil, and profited by selling it myself."
"..."
"Perhaps you've caught on to the rumors that followed and come to challenge me."
As Esther neither affirmed nor denied, merely listening, the Emperor scowled deeply.
"Elpis Merchant Group Master."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Finally, the words Esther wanted slipped from his mouth.
"Be honest. I didn't like your actions. I won't deny coveting your group's goods. Just an old man's whim."
"...Why tell me this now?"
Composing herself at his brazen words, as if it were a mere jest, Esther asked.
"What do you think? It's about revealing something that could be my weakness."
"..."
Seeing Esther clamp her mouth shut, the Emperor provided the answer himself.
"I want you under me. To become my person."
No sooner had the Emperor revealed his goal than the attendant returned with someone who appeared to be a notary.
With a subtle glance from the Emperor, the attendant guided Esther to the table beside her and offered her a seat.
As Esther sat, the attendant placed the contract before her.
"Let's finalize the contract first. Everything you wanted is included. Just sign, and it will all go as you wish."
With that, the attendant handed her a pen. Esther took it and scanned the contents.
It matched exactly what she had said, with no unusual clauses.
In this situation, it highlighted the Emperor's calculating nature, refraining from rash moves.
Swallowing her inner contempt, as she gripped the pen to sign, the Emperor stopped her hand.
"...Before that, I have one proposal for you."
"What is it?"
Esther halted her signing hand, going on guard.
"I said it earlier. Become my person."
"Pardon?"
"I'll give wings to the Elpis Merchant Group's growth. Be your backer. And become partners who aid each other when needed."