Chapter 55

Here’s the translation of the romance novel into English using first-person point of view:

—

Asulin’s somewhat trivial stories about her married life were telling Claudia that there was still much she hadn’t seen in her long-time friend.

Every time Andy mentioned Andy, she couldn’t help but blush.

It was a topic that would never come up in Asulin’s usual demeanor.

At first, she pretended not to be interested, but gradually, she started boasting about it with great enthusiasm.

‘Is this… really at my expense?’

Claudia realized, without even realizing it, that her longtime friend was subtly mocking her with the subject of marriage, one in which she had been partially involved.

If this were any other time, she would have made a show of being angry to stop her friend from mocking her.

But now, she thought to herself, ‘Well, it doesn’t matter.’

With this resolve, Claudia didn’t try to stop Asulin, listening intently instead.

There was a reason for her attentive listening.

Seeing the person involved in her own attempt to muzzle the troublesome Paleord family was so satisfied with the marriage.

If she were to criticize her friend for being satisfied with the marriage she had covertly arranged, wouldn’t that make her seem petty, lacking the magnanimity expected of an emperor or, more fundamentally, a human being?

Not only that.

Even though Asulin couldn’t hide her embarrassment, she continued to boast about her husband endlessly.

‘…Hmm.’

This strange envy was also a factor in why Claudia listened intently to Asulin’s words.

She hadn’t lived a long life, but having lived as the imperial princess and the de facto first in line to the throne without any shortcomings, she felt proud of the many accomplishments and gains she had achieved on her own.

She had rarely felt envious of anyone in her life, even those she respected and held close as friends.

The simple reason was that whatever her friend possessed, she could have just as easily obtained if she wanted.

And conversely, there were plenty of things she had that her friend couldn’t possess.

That’s why Claudia had only known envy in theory, never having experienced it personally.

She believed that envy would remain a mystery to her, something she’d never experience.

But now, how different things were.

“Not long ago, I barely escaped an assassination attempt by a league assassin while weeding out the remaining demons. How comforting it is to know someone is by your side in dangerous places…”

Back when the Succession War had occurred, and the Paleord family had betrayed us, the outspoken woman had written to me, promising to make them pay.

But where had she gone?

“And… not just that. He takes such good care of my nerves. Even though he pretends to be annoyed, his care is so obvious, it’s adorable…”

Who could this person be? Asulin blushed and seemed embarrassed, yet she continued to boast about her husband without pause.

‘Could marriage really be that wonderful?’

Even Claudia, who had just ascended to the throne and hadn’t seriously considered marriage, felt a strange curiosity about marriage, something she had never experienced before.

Marriage, marriage… Could I find someone worthy of being my lifelong partner in this empire?

“…”

Watching Asulin suddenly become dazed and lost, Claudia felt a sense of assurance that even if there were some problems along the way, a good outcome was inevitable.

‘Wouldn’t it be?’

Thinking back to when her deceased uncle had tried so hard to find her a match, only to give up and let things fall apart, Claudia wondered.

‘If it didn’t happen then, how could it happen now?’

Claudia’s thoughts grew deep as she watched her friend turn into a fool.

“…Oh, where was I?”

Seeing Asulin’s intent to continue talking, Claudia hurriedly raised her right hand to stop her.

“Why do you keep stopping good stories?”

Despite stopping her friend, Claudia noticed her irritated tone.

“You might find it good, but it means nothing to me.”

Claudia spoke with the manner of a monarch, mixed with her usual tone.

“Try it.”

As Asulin firmly said just one word.

“…Okay.”

Claudia’s voice, which had never been heard before, let out a scream like a banshee.

“I can’t go! I’m not going!”

Her scream echoed.

In the private chamber prepared by the emperor for a personal meeting, a light argument between the two was about to break out.

“By the way, Asulin, my old friend.”

Claudia’s voice suddenly softened and filled with warmth.

“…Why?”

Asulin, who had been preparing to shout something fierce, expressed her confusion at her friend’s gentle tone.

“I’m glad to hear all the praises about your husband, but listening to it, something feels missing.”

“What seems to be missing?”

To Asulin’s reflexive response to Claudia’s comment about something important being missing from her married life,

“…It’s just that you two share a bed, but you haven’t done what couples must do…”

Claudia’s hesitant words came out.

Asulin, who had been rambling nonsensically since becoming a fool instead of a demon, fell silent.

Claudia felt she had hit the mark, a victorious smile almost breaking through, but—

“Uuuu-!!”

Unexpectedly, Asulin gathered overwhelming hostility in the room, preventing her laughter.

In truth, she couldn’t laugh even if she wanted to.

Asulin, smiling but with eyes as cold as the battlefield, raised her hostility.

“Claudia.”

At her friend’s quiet call.

“Gulp—”

Claudia swallowed hard without realizing it.

Though she had risen to the throne and ruled an empire, stabilizing a country torn by civil war and demonic invasions in a short time,

For some reason, seeing her friend silently raise her hostility, despite her smile, made her feel a truth she had never understood before.

A simple truth.

‘Ah, this mouth.’

No matter how quickly one repents, it’s always too late.

—

Even after leaving the private chamber at the emperor’s request, I had no reason to tour the palace personally.

Declining the butler’s offer to guide me, I waited nearby for Asulin to come out, my spiritual sense alert.

“Uuuu-!!”

Suddenly, I sensed a formidable energy coming from the private chamber.

I suspected an assassin from the league had infiltrated, but—

‘…This is Asulin’s energy.’

I regained my composure and focused my spiritual sense, recognizing the same hostile energy Asulin had emitted on the battlefield.

Though it wasn’t as frequent these days,

I couldn’t forget the energy that had branded her as the “Sword Demon.”

However, even knowing it was Asulin’s energy, I couldn’t relax completely.

‘Why is she raising her hostility during a private meeting with the emperor?’

Given their close friendship, it was odd that Asulin alone was raising her hostility in the private chamber.

Unless the emperor had ordered her to, there was no reason for this to happen.

‘Why does her hostility grow stronger over time?’

Even people with ordinary senses like the servants in the palace noticed something unusual happening in the private chamber and turned pale.

Wanting to act quickly, I tried to push my way inside despite the rudeness,

‘…Huh?’

But the intense energy vanished as if it had never existed.

The door to the private chamber opened unexpectedly,

“…”

Asulin walked out calmly, as if nothing had happened.

“Hahaha, it’s been a long time since we met. I look forward to bringing better news next time.”

The emperor’s cheerful voice suggested nothing unusual had happened inside, but I knew better.

“…”

Asulin didn’t react until she left the private chamber.

“…Ugh.”

The moment our eyes met, her cheeks swelled noticeably.

‘…Did the emperor take something from her… No, that’s unlikely.’

Whatever the reason, she was clearly upset.

What could have happened inside to make her cheeks swell so much?

Was my speculation correct?

Thoughts raced through my mind, but no clear answer emerged.

Given the atmosphere, I doubted Asulin would explain it herself.

Well, regardless of the reason, I needed to calm her down when we returned to the villa.

“…Let’s go back. The meeting with the emperor is over, and there’s no reason to stay here any longer.”

“Sure.”

Nodding in agreement, we left the palace, concluding the day’s activities before the end of the holiday.

All that remained was to return to the villa, rest comfortably, and prepare for the journey north.

“…Um…”

“…”

“…Asulin?”

“…”

It wasn’t true. It was definitely not true.