The Emperor's Ideal Type
“I’d prefer next week, if possible.”
Lina’s gaze refused to leave the hood.
Edwin quickly changed the subject, terrified she might actually suggest meeting again next week. A week without Lina felt unbearably long to him.
Today happened to be the day Lina had gone to the detached palace to teach Ivetta the ancient language.
“Is the Saintess settling in well?”
Lina had grown quite close to the Saintess and often visited the palace even on days without lessons. It was a convenient topic shift.
While Lina pondered her answer, Edwin began walking slowly. With his hand resting near her waist in an escorting manner, Lina naturally fell into step beside him. Only then did her gaze finally drift away from his hood.
Edwin let out a quiet sigh of relief that she didn’t notice.
“She seems to be doing fine.”
Edwin took a moment to process the delayed reply before remembering he had asked about the Saintess’s well-being.
“That’s a relief. She’ll need to begin public activities soon.”
The maids at the detached palace had been sending regular reports on the Saintess. However, because of her shy nature, they hadn’t been able to get close enough to build real trust. Since the Saintess seemed to trust Lina, Edwin decided her judgment was reliable.
He had already prepared a detailed plan for the Saintess’s public debut but had kept it on hold. Now he intended to move the schedule forward.
Lina wore a worried expression but offered no further comment. She seemed to understand the current situation.
Public opinion was beginning to stir, thanks to the temple’s behind-the-scenes maneuvering. The Saintess’s awakening had been so dramatic that there hadn’t been time to prepare, but at least it had bought her time to adjust. Since she had already demonstrated a miracle, the public had been relatively quick to accept her existence.
Still, only those with even a trace of divine power had witnessed the awakening. Most citizens possessed none. Gradually, curiosity grew about who the Saintess was and how powerful her abilities truly were.
The temple was cleverly stoking that curiosity. Having extracted the Saintess from the temple through somewhat forceful means, they couldn’t afford to let the rumors linger unchecked. If they did, it would be all too easy for the public to believe the Emperor was trying to monopolize the Saintess’s powers—just as the temple wanted.
To ease Lina’s worries, Edwin began explaining the plan in greater detail.
“There’s a privately run orphanage near the capital, operated by a retired noble. She’ll go there. We’ll pass through the city streets once on the way, but that’s the entire itinerary.”
The plan took the Saintess’s timid personality into careful consideration. While the exposure time would be fairly long, the distance between her and the crowd would remain sufficient. All she needed to do was smile and wave.
The schedule after arriving at the orphanage was left flexible so they could adapt on-site. It would be ideal if she could demonstrate her divine power, but it wasn’t strictly necessary. Even if she only stayed briefly before returning, the pro-imperial newspapers Edwin had already contacted would spin the story appropriately. That alone would satisfy the public’s curiosity for a while.
Lina’s expression gradually softened as she listened.
“Ah, Count Kylus Seymour and Beth will be accompanying her as well.”
Edwin added this quickly, hoping to see Lina’s face fully relax.
He had assigned Kylus to oversee the Saintess’s escort because he trusted him to handle any unexpected situations swiftly and discreetly. At the same time, it was a clear signal to the Saintess that the Emperor valued her safety. Since the only remaining imperial family member was the Emperor himself, Kylus was his closest aide.
As for Beth…
Honestly, Edwin hadn’t planned to include her at all. But if it would reassure Lina, perhaps a little risk was worth taking.
“Kylus will keep her in line.”
Yet Lina seemed to share Kylus’s concerns. The faint crease between her brows that had eased at the mention of Kylus tightened again when Beth’s name came up.
She asked very carefully, “Would it be all right if I joined as the Saintess’s attendant? I’m worried I might say something wrong in front of the reporters, and… I’m concerned about Beth.”
It was a reasonable worry. Even pro-imperial newspapers were always hungry for gossip. Beth was the illegitimate daughter of House Robertus—the same family that had received a title because of her connection to the Saintess. Combined with her rather unusual personality, she was more than enough to become sensational material.
While the newspapers might be careful about their coverage of the Saintess, they might not hold back when it came to Beth.
“In that case, having you go instead of Beth would be acceptable. I’ll pass the message along.”
The final decision-maker had just received her request, and Edwin had already decided to add Lina to the list. He then added, with obvious self-interest, “I was planning to go as well. This works out nicely.”
Of course, he meant as Everett Rohas. It was a plan that hadn’t existed thirty seconds ago, but Edwin said it with complete confidence.
Kylus’s carefully compiled list was being rewritten in an instant.
“You too, Ed? That’s great.”
Lina looked genuinely pleased by the unexpected news.
“His Majesty must be very concerned about the Saintess.”
It was one of the first genuinely positive remarks Lina had made about the Emperor.
Edwin’s judgment slipped slightly because of it.
“He is, rather.”
Lina seemed to regard the Saintess like a younger sister. If the Emperor treated her well, perhaps he could earn Lina’s favor—that had been his hopeful calculation.
It was a miscalculation.
Lina still hadn’t abandoned her “contract dating” strategy.
“It would be even better if His Majesty accompanied her in person. Showing a kind side would do wonders for calming public opinion.”
Lina’s suggestion went far beyond simple accompaniment, and Edwin’s mood plummeted instantly. He couldn’t let his displeasure show—he was Everett Rohas right now.
But emotions didn’t obey logic, especially not for a man experiencing first love with heightened sensitivity.
Edwin finally couldn’t hold back his complaint. “Why do you keep trying to pair the Saintess with the Emperor?”
Lina, now accustomed to his prickly reactions whenever the topic arose, spoke in a soothing tone. “I’m not trying to pair them. They’re both unmarried, and the public loves scandals. I’m just saying it’s one possible approach.”
She paused, then added thoughtfully, “Besides, no one knows how people’s feelings might develop.”
Wrong.
He knew exactly how his feelings would develop—nowhere near the Saintess. Edwin was a man of unwavering loyalty. He couldn’t openly declare that loyalty yet, but he needed to make it clear he had zero romantic interest in the Saintess.
“I happen to know the Emperor’s ideal type.”
The woman who had become Edwin’s ideal type was standing right beside him. Since he couldn’t say that directly, he chose his words carefully and offered one reason.
“He dislikes large age gaps.”
In his opinion, a one-year difference was ideal between lovers. Edwin decided to subtly promote his own preferences.
“I feel the same way.”
But Lina’s reaction was lukewarm.
“We’re eight years apart, though?”
Edwin’s mouth snapped shut.