I Captured the Enemy Who Tried to Kill Me

Unfortunately, the misfortune of a hierarchical society is that when someone above tells you to do something, you must do it unconditionally.

“Research is progressing well. Just now, a magician made a groundbreaking invention, so Your Majesty will likely see impressive results.”

“Well, that is surprising.”

If you’re going to make that unimpressed face, why did you come here in the first place?

I signed some documents and shuffled through them to show how busy I was, then finally sighed and set them aside.

His gaze was intense.

My heart felt like it would burst from that sharp look filled with obvious suspicion.

I asked calmly:

“Your Majesty. Why did you really come?”

“What a fierce look. Do you dislike it that much?”

As if I’d like it?

Careful not to let my cold, heartless Duke persona waver, I raised an eyebrow.

“Please don’t pretend ignorance. Every word and gesture exchanged between Your Majesty and me stirs up various things.”

I gritted my teeth while looking at the man who had crossed his arms as if challenging me to continue.

Just forget it. Forget it.

Keep believing as you have until now that someone like Duke Ariel couldn’t possibly be your match, who visits you every night!

“Isn’t our relationship one without even formal gifts or letters exchanged?”

“So you’ll openly reject my visit? Your boldness is almost offensive.”

“I mean that the relationship between magicians and Awakened Ones’ leaders cannot be seen as that of loyal subject and monarch. Have you forgotten? Even your brother, despite being royalty, cannot easily set foot in the imperial palace.”

“……”

It was a warning not to upset the balance.

‘Stop twisting the boundaries.’

This was unexpected.

Even in the original story, there was no mention of the Emperor personally visiting Hillaria’s residence.

As I glared fiercely, urging him to reveal his true intentions, the sculpture-like handsome man sitting elegantly with crossed legs twisted his lips ominously.

“Of course I know.”

With an extremely displeased expression.

“But, Duke.”

The blue eyes that examined me up and down with careful observation suddenly curved in amusement.

And then, bluntly:

“I came because I was worried about you.”

What nonsense is this?

“What did you say?”

“I said I was worried. About you.”

“……”

For a moment, I couldn’t maintain my composure, and my face contorted.

The man’s pleased smile at my violent rejection looked truly malicious.

“Did you know there’s a rumor going around that you’re terminally ill?”

A dry cough burst out, and I quickly covered my mouth.

Terminally ill? Who?

“What nonsense are you talking about? Terminally ill? Who?”

Kaisis smiled meaningfully, almost like a sigh.

But it’s no illusion that he looked like a large hawk before a small mouse.

I already knew well how this man could smile warmly, capable of melting his opponent.

That cold gaze, setting traps and observing how the other person reacts, was too different from him at night.

I laughed inwardly.

I couldn’t understand why I felt so strange whenever I noticed that difference.

What is this man to me?

“Well. The normally composed Duke Ariel, who could stay up for several nights without issue, uncharacteristically collapsed?”

That was because I came out after rolling through a Gate trying to save that damned Emperor.

“Or perhaps because there was a witness who saw you painfully coughing up blood at the training grounds at dawn?”

“……”

“Of course, that person is one of those I’ve planted, so I thoroughly silenced them, but it seems some words have already leaked.”

“……”

Don’t proudly admit to such things!

My head hurt.

‘It seems someone saw me retching at the training grounds.’

How that got distorted into rumors about being terminally ill, really.

I frowned as I recalled how lately the magicians had been unusually obedient, looking at me pitifully, or sniffling with haggard faces.

Surely these foolish people didn’t believe that rumor?

“So what choice did I have? I had to come see. To confirm. Therefore, Duke, you should accept my visit.”

“There’s nothing to confirm.”

“Nothing?”

What? What are you looking for now?

My heart was pounding.

The system flashed bright red.

The Emperor, whom I thought I had grown accustomed to and was no longer afraid of, seemed frightening today.

“Let me warn you, Duke Ariel.”

The Emperor was a man who knew how to wield power, just as he was portrayed as an arrogant tyrant throughout “The Tyrant Emperor.”

“Though I’m reluctant to admit it, you are one of the pillars supporting the Empire. Conduct yourself properly.”

“I haven’t changed.”

“Has nothing really changed?”

“……”

“Truly?”

Though he was pretending it was a joke, I swallowed hard at Kaisis’s words.

“The you I knew would never show affection even to your magicians.”

His words had a sharp edge.

“You were a woman who would never hold Luias’s hand. So I can’t help but wonder. What is it? What has changed?”

If I could, I would have pushed away the Emperor’s handsome, burdensome face and fled immediately.

What are you?

I felt slightly dizzy as he directly questioned why my past behavior differed from my current behavior.

I must not be discovered.

I would die.

“If there’s anything you can tell me now, speak.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“……”

Perhaps my face had grown somewhat pale?

The Emperor, who had begun to suspect something since before, had come to examine me with knife-like eyes.

Whether there was something strange about me or not.

Whether the memory of seeing a woman with a face resembling mine was real or not.

The system window was sending intense reactions, making it worse.

[The character’s identity is wavering!]

System, speak plainly.

This isn’t my fault for raising suspicion. Who was the one who went blank in the Gate?

If I had kept my maid face as usual, would this have happened?

Anyway, regardless of the internal screaming and chaos, I coldly denied it outwardly.

“Yes, what did you say? That I’m different from usual? It must be because I have a lot of work. These interrogative questions are just unpleasant and irritating. Why have you been like this lately? I’m fine, so if you’ve finished confirming that, please return to the imperial palace.”

“Of course, I have other business too.”

Not only suspicion, but other business as well?

Looking at this hateful, irritating man, I only widened my eyes fiercely.

“What is it?”

“Duke, as you know. Originally, during the season when the cold moon rises, a delegation from the Holy Kingdom was scheduled to visit and cooperate with your magicians’ research.”

“……”

Not knowing the exact national schedule, I shamelessly nodded as if I knew all about it.

Of course, due to the original storyline, I did know that a delegation from the Holy Kingdom would come.

‘Though I didn’t know it was to cooperate with the magicians.’

Anyway, I couldn’t understand why he was bringing up a topic about events that hadn’t happened yet.

With a suspicious expression, I pressured him to speak quickly, and the Emperor, who was again looking me up and down, said.

“The kingdom has sent an urgent message. They want to move up their visit.”

I see, this time.

“They sent an official document saying they want to visit earlier to coincide with your magic demonstration. They want to depart early to observe the duel between magicians and Awakened Ones, and to check the Gate research.”

…What?

The delegation that was originally supposed to come in winter is now coming because of me?

“Since we maintain friendly relations with them, I thought there was no need to refuse and sent a positive reply.”

Kaisis continued nonchalantly, not noticing my dumbfounded state.

“Since it concerns you as well, I had to come urgently to inform you. Is this enough to understand why I suddenly visited?”

Even though I knew the blue eyes were observing me, I couldn’t stop my eyelids from trembling faintly.

“So make preparations.”

You damned, insane person.

What were you thinking, quickly approving that? It would have been better to discuss it with a Duke of the country.

This is troublesome. Very troublesome.

In that delegation, in that group…

‘The leader of the villains is hiding.’