Chapter 20: Chapter 20 - Between Lovers (2)

Chapter 20: Between Lovers (2)

Enoch left the emperor’s office. Those who saw him hurriedly bowed their heads and struggled with all their might pretending they had not seen his swollen cheeks glowing bright red. They heard the Empress’ anger directed towards the Grand Duke and they heard the clear and crisp slap too.

“Are you alright, Your Majesty?” asked the aristocratic noble with a blushed look.

“…..”

Aran said nothing.

“Her Majesty is in a terrible mood. Pay extra attention.”

Though the nearby onlookers were curious about Enoch’s behavior who they knew to be cold-hearted and vicious remained calm and gentle to the Aran, they said nothing. They knew his keen senses and wits were the foundation that kept the Imperial Palace and the empire together. They could only guess that the Grand Duke said words that made the Empress feel helpless.

Enoch walked down the hall and touched his red and swollen cheek. Today’s incident would bring Aran into the limelight and he had no plans to clear up any misunderstanding. The more isolated she was from the outside world, the more fun it would become.

Before long, he encountered Duke Silas.

The duke looked at his face and reacted wonderfully. He, too, heard the rumors of the Grand Duke angering the Empress, but he was not aware that she had slapped him.

“Oh! Good Lord! I can’t believe this happened… Her Majesty is too much.”

“It’s only a given. I offended her. She had given me mercy with only a slap in the cheek. This is nothing,” Enoch answered faithfully with a stunning smile.

“I wonder what you did that she would raise her hands at you, Grand Duke,” Duke Silas said curiously.

“You’d not be able to imagine.”

Duke Silas tilted his head at his words, but Enoch had no intention to explain any further.

“You seem to have more in your hands than I expected. You look tired, Grand Duke. I regret applying for an interview right away. Who knows what would become of me. Will I get a slap too?” Duke Silas spoke jokingly.

“Everything will be fine,” Enoch replied with a calm smile.

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because I’m the only one in the world who can make Her Majesty upset.”

Enoch’s voice was full of conviction as his red eyes flashed for a moment.

Duke Silas frowned faintly.

The world venerated the Grand Duke as a saint, but somehow Duke Silas felt a strange air whenever he was near the Grand Duke. No matter how gentle he seemed, Duke Silas felt an aura of danger and a conscious warning not to get too close.

“But what brings you here?” Enoch asked.

“Oh! I have something to speak to you about the consensus decided at the last meeting.”

Enoch looked back at the Empress’ office. He was lost in thought for a moment before parting his lips, “Her Majesty is upset right now, so if you don’t mind, let me hear what you have to say first.”

Then he reached out his hand to the document Duke Silas was holding.

Duke Silas lowered his gaze and looked at Enoch’s wet sleeves.

“It’s from spilt tea,” Enoch answered calmly seeing his gaze.

“Ah! So Her Majesty slapped you in the cheek and dared to spill a cup of tea.”

At the duke’s joke, Enough gave an impervious and meaningless smile.

“What is it that you need to speak to Her Majesty about?” Enoch asked.

“Well…”

Duke Silas trailed off without much thought. He felt an impending sense of doom and incompatibility with Enoch. It was a great sin to have the documents be read by anyone else before the ruling empress could take a look, yet Enoch had no qualms with it. It was the first time the duke saw Enoch exceed his authority despite serving as a de facto.

Even so, he felt a slight sense of fear from Enoch, but when he saw the marks on his cheek, he suddenly shut his mouth. He remembered that small, pale face desperately holding on to her opinions despite the wolfish aristocrats hounding at her earlier. It fascinated him.

Duke Silas had seen the Empress once as a child. She was stubborn and kind and never one to easily anger despite her rough personality.

What was it that caused her to become angry?

“I don’t think it’s good to share right now. Maybe later.”

Enoch’s red eyes flashed and stared squarely at Duke Silas.