CH 82

As much as she had moved away a moment ago, he had narrowed the distance between them.

He was simply walking, but his authoritative gestures, which seemed to be deeply rooted in his body, were impressive.

Like a demon whispering to eat the forbidden fruit, the emperor whispered in her ear.

“You only have to make one promise. You will use your power on me.”

The mind that had been confused by the word power returned.

Psychke hastily distanced herself from him.

From his place, he did not take his eyes off of her and did not pursue her anymore. He licked his lips with his bright red tongue.

“If you really are the reincarnation of the original Silkisia, then your powers must be the same as hers.”

“…”

“Is it that difficult to answer?”

When she didn’t say anything, the emperor assumed she was worried and asked.

“Having done it once, the second should be easy.”

What is the reincarnation of the first Silkisia, and what was it about having tried it once?

She couldn’t grasp what he was saying at all.

However, no matter how incomprehensible the situation was, there were laws that do not change.

For example, the criminal who framed the mother.

“I don’t like it.”

Psychke flatly refused.

She doesn’t know what her power was, but judging from the way he said it, it must be something beneficial for him.

The emperor tilted his head slightly, as if he did not know that she would reject it with a sharp cut.

Then he made a sound like a snake crawling on silk.

“Why?”

She doesn’t have to tell the other person what kind of card she was holding against him.

In this unfavorable situation, there was no need to say, ‘I know you framed me’ or that ‘I know you brainwashed me’.

So she kept her mouth shut, and the emperor clicked his tongue.

“Why was this happening again?”

As he moved his steps toward the balcony that led outside, he muttered words into his mouth that Psychke couldn’t hear.

“Was it because of Lestir again…”

Psychke stared at the emperor’s back, then opened her eyes tightly.

It was disgusting.

She didn’t know he could and would casually return Silkisia to her in a cruel and outrageous act.

She didn’t want to be here any longer.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but I’m feeling unwell, so I’m going to go.”

“Wait a moment.”

He summoned Psychke and approached with heavy footsteps.

At first glance, she seemed to see something red in his hand, but she didn’t care.

However,

“You’ve always liked this.”

He handed over what he had brought as if forcibly taking it upon himself.

‘What?’

Psychke looked down at her hand, feeling as if she was holding on to flowing water.

And she was shocked.

In her hand fluttered a butterfly with blood-red wings on her black body.

She reflexively tried to release her powers but was stopped by the Emperor.

His voice was as cold as skin of a snake and spewed.

“Think carefully. I will win this time.”

Psychke said nothing.

* *

She pretended to return to the banquet hall, but then she entered the empty terrace.

She drew the curtains to let her know that someone was using them. She hopped over the railing and leaned against it.

The night wind blew. It was the end of summer, but there was a slight damp breeze.

Because of that, Psychke finally realized that she was breaking out in a sweat.

“Eut-”

She didn’t feel well. Even though she filled herself with small meal, she wanted to eat more.

She covered her mouth with her free hand.

Her wind-blown hair hit her face, but she didn’t care.

She gasped and erased the conversation with the emperor then her nauseous stomach slowly subsided.

Then, her gaze landed in one place.

It was a red bow held in her hand.

‘This.’

Psychke raised her gaze.

She gazed at a flock of butterflies flying across the night sky against the background of a hazy full moon.

A cluster of magically colored butterflies was within reach of her head above her head.

It was released by the imperial family as part of the ceremony.

‘I heard that if you catch it, it will grant your wish.’

She doesn’t believe in superstitions like that and even if she does, she doesn’t want to accept what it will give her.

Psychke raised her hand holding the butterfly high and released it without hesitation.

Flutter, flutter.

The red butterfly, whose wings had been crumpled from the moment she received it, couldn’t keep its balance.

It struggled to flutter and blend into the crowd, but its unstable wings allowed it to stand out wherever it was.

Psychke looked at it without hesitation.

She then saw a butterfly that was slightly larger than the others and was unusually bright.

‘He looks like the duke.’

Black body with purple wings.

It was a butterfly resembling Verndia.

She was never greedy for a butterfly that grants wishes but somehow she wanted to have that.

Psychke braced herself against the balustrade, then rose and stretched out her hand in the air above her.

She wasn’t on the short side, but she was so tall that it made her fingertips almost touch it.

“Ugh…”

She took off her shoes and climbed onto the balustrade, about an inch high.

Only then did it reach the tip of her finger, but it was not enough to grab it.

‘A little bit. Just a little bit more…’

“You’re really a real bean rat.”

She was startled by his voice that came out of nowhere and she turned around.

Then she almost lost her balance and fell outside.

The astonished Verndia rushed her.

She smelled light grass from him, as she had ever been outside.

“Sorry. Were you surprised?”

“You need to stop pretending to be popular.”

“Didn’t you hear the curtains close?”

She didn’t hear, probably because she was focused on catching that butterfly.

Her face heated up. She was ashamed to think that the butterfly she was trying to catch turned into a human.

(TN: Uhm, I hate my mind somehow…)

She glared at Verndia’s chest.

“I didn’t hear you.”

“Does the princess believe in this too?”

“It’s not like that, I just want to catch it.”

“That’s right, even taking off her shoes, she’s very eager, I see.”

There was nothing more she could say against his teasing tone.

So, when she was still, he tucked the tangled silver hair behind her ear and tidied it up.

A strange feeling of heat bloomed from the place where his hand touched.

Verndia said playfully.

“Even with a brooch, you’re still short, what should I do?”

“I am not short.”

“You did not catch the butterfly.”

“That…”

She was trying to catch something that was difficult to catch on her own.

If she had tried to catch another butterfly, she would have caught it.

However, if he had ask, ‘Why did you try to catch it’, she would have nothing to say.

“Then it was. I am short.”

And tried to leave the terrace.

“Are you upset?”

But she could barely go a step and was already caught.

He blocked her way so that she couldn’t exactly leave the railing.

Then Psychke raised her eyes and looked at him.

That black hair, which had been neatly arranged, stretched out like a magpie nest.

‘Did he even fight Duke Widnix?’

Psychke inadvertently reached out and gently pressed his tousled hair down.

What are you doing? The puzzled Verndia’s face came to her mind.

“I tidied it up. Was it still messy?”

“A little bit. Did your talk end well?”

“Well, yes… How was the princess? I think the emperor called while I was gone.”

“Just, likewise.”

Psychke blurted out her words. It wasn’t a good story, so she didn’t want to tell it.

Understanding her dark expression, Verndia grabbed her shoulders and turned her body the other way.

“Shall I catch a butterfly?”

“Oh, oh, I don’t believe this—!”

In surprise, she held her feet up because he hugged her knees and lifted her up.

“You must eat a lot.”

He smiled at her, saying, “How can you lift the sword when you’re this light?” Then nodded towards the butterfly.

I’ll help you, so grab it.

Psychke looked down at him with bewildered eyes, then reluctantly averted her eyes at successive urgings.

The elusive purple butterfly was right in front of her nose.

She felt somewhat embarrassed.

‘Should I pretend I didn’t see it and catch something else?’

But before she could come to her conclusion about that thought, a voice from beneath her urged her on.

“You can catch that one.”

“That one?”

“Yeah, that. No, not that… … The one next that looks like me.”

“…!”

She should have pretended to catch it reluctantly when she tried to grab something else, but strangely, her face turned red.

Hiding her emotions from others was as good as breathing, so why was she always like this in front of him?

“Princess, your body is suddenly getting hot. Are you unwell?”

Even though he could feel her body was getting hot, he still had to say it. Like a bad person.

Gripping this, Psychke stretched out her hand toward the purple butterfly.

What was difficult with my own strength was so easy to grasp.

“Your pulse is very fast. Is it an arrhythmia?”

“No.”

He sighed and put her to the ground.

Holding the purple butterfly carefully so as not to wrinkle her wings.

“Yeah, he’s handsome because he looks like me.”

Those were his first words when he saw the purple butterfly up close.

A smile came out when he knew he was good-looking man.

He stared at her who was staring at the butterfly.

“Do you agree?”

“No.”

When she said that in a grumpy voice, Verndia was genuinely surprised.

“Butterflies? Or me?”

“Well.”

“Princess, your taste are high. I didn’t think you wouldn’t see it at this rate.”

He hoped he was not inferior. He has good aura that takes over almost everyone.

But instead of outwardly expressing such thoughts, Verndia pursed his lips and muttered seriously.

“Still, there is no one more handsome than me in the empire, so I should consider it fortunate.”

“… Pfft.”

“What is that, that smile?”

“Nothing.”

“Does that mean there is someone more handsome than me?”

“No.”

“Then you say, I’m the most handsome?”

“No.”

“Can’t you just say ‘no’?”

“No.”

“…”

Verndia had a sad expression, which was rare.

(TN: Aiya, Verndia, pout first ehehe.)

He was so funny that Psychke covered her mouth with the back of her hand and laughed.

“Was it like that? Well, it’s fine as long as Princess is happy.”

Verndia grumbled at the compliment of ‘handsome’ that didn’t come out no matter how long he waited.

“So, what are you going to wish for?”