Dylan's eyes grew deeper.
Charlize observed Dylan's expression. She didn't know if the expression 'immersion' was the right term. But at the moment, Charlize immersed herself in Dylan.
Slowly. The Emperor's mouth opened.
"Yes. There's someone I've loved for a long time."
A plain answer.
However, Charlize couldn't let Dylan's words slip as it was.
Dylan. He answered that he had someone he loved.
The one who has been by Dylan's side for a long time. Charlize would be the only one to know.
It was herself.
"…"
Charlize hesitated without saying anything properly.
'The reason why I suddenly asked this question is.'
Just, to be sure.
She wondered if Dylan loved her.
Half of her mind thought that was impossible. But, if it was love, she could understand the reason why he fed the Ehyrit's piece to the Emperor.
Charlize became more confused after hearing the answer.
This time, it was Dylan's turn to ask questions.
"Does Master have someone you love?"
Charlize gulped.
At that moment, as soon as she heard the question, the person who came to her mind was the dubious 'Kahu'.
However she didn't love Kahu.
In fact. It's close to affection for the opposite sex among her feelings.
She didn't know what love was.
Love, as the world portrayed it. Not seeing Kahu didn't torment her; she didn't miss him to the point of death.. When she remembers Kahu, even a smile doesn't come out.
It was just nostalgia for the dim past. Gratitude. A sense of protection. That was all.
If she had to express it, it would be a good feeling.
"…There are none, Your Majesty."
Was it the long silence before the answer that bothered him or was it the answer that bothered him?
Dylan looked strangely gloomy.
The turn came back to Charlize again.
Charlize asked with a straight throw.
"Who is the one you love, Your Majesty?"
Before Dylan became the Emperor. Charlize had unconsciously avoided him.
She had always felt that she should keep a distance, so she personally recommended young lady Remiya to be the candidate for Crown Princess.
But now the situation was different.
'Because Dylan fed the late Emperor a piece of Ehyrit.'
Charlize's initial plan had to be discarded. Although she was shocked and distressed by the plan that had not been completed.
'I can always make another plan.'
However, what if Dylan's love was directed to her?
She was thinking of taking full advantage of Dylan's love in her new plan.
If she were indifferent because she didn't need it in the past, but not now.
Charlize's calm eyes made Dylan quiet.
"…"
Dylan didn't answer.
The Emperor only looked at Charlize.
Because.
'Don't answer that.'
Because Dylan had a gut feeling at that moment.
He didn't think that he should reveal his feelings frankly. It was a gut feeling close to unconsciousness.
'Once Master knows how I feel.'
How would Charlize respond? If she were Charlize whom he had met so far.
That's right.
'She's going to abandon me.'
Although it was a flow of thoughts and conclusions that were not rational at all.
Dylan was a genius.
Sometimes even he himself couldn't keep up with the reason for his decision because he thought too fast.
Abandon him, why? But only this was certain. At this moment, Dylan should never be honest.
But he didn't want to lie. So, Dylan said nothing.
"…"
A long beat passed. Dylan eventually failed to answer the question.
Ehyrit's game. It was a truth game that tried to boost the atmosphere of a drinking party.
When the winner was determined, only a strange silence fell.
"…I lost, Master."
When Dylan lightly admitted his defeat, Charlize was momentarily confused.
No way. Was it true?
"The person who loses in Ehyrit's game must grant the winner's wish."
Dylan asked.
"What wish would you like to make?"
The crack in Dylan that Charlize just saw seemed to be an illusion, and now he had a calm face.
"Hmm."
Charlize drank while putting off answering for a moment. The glass was emptied soon.
Her mind became complicated. She already had the right to dispose of Dietrich.
'A wish?'
She didn't want anything more right now.
It was Dylan, who quickly poured a bottle of alcohol whenever Charlize emptied her glass.
This time, Dylan held the bottle of alcohol again. Charlize stared blankly at the alcohol filling the glass.
The alcohol that had been poured into the glass eventually overflowed and wet the table.
Charlize looked at Dylan's trembling hand.
'Even though he pretends to be calm.'
That hand.
He couldn't hide it.
On the watery and wet table. A glass that overflowed because the water level couldn't be adjusted.
Strangely, it was like an allusion of a relationship.
Between Dylan and herself.
Charlize slowly raised her eyes.
***
"There's still a dumb kid like this? What's this? You want me to kill the grandmaster?"
Lucy was dumbfounded and laughed. Does he want to ruin her business?
"I prepared enough money for the deposit."
The client mumbled in low spirits.
It wasn't what Lucy wanted to hear.
"Wow- is this a new project to eliminate assassination guild rivals or something? I'm not saying you want to give us mass death as a gift."
Lucy was smiling, but it was full of murderous looks.
"Aren't you telling me to kill myself while picking a fight with her?"
If she sent Charlize one more assassin. As it was, the assassination guild would be exterminated. Charlize had warned Lucy firmly.
'And Charlize. She saw it with her own eyes. Charlize was an unbelievably skilled person.'
Charlize's sword dance under the moonlit night in the meadow was still clear in her memory. As far as that went. It was Charlize who won the bets of the mercenaries very easily at the bar they went with that day.
'She's the only one who put a dagger in a black stone so perfectly.'
"I, I'll double the money!"
"I don't want to."
"Tri, triple!"
"No! You think I'm trying to bargain with you?!"
Lucy shouted loudly, and the client hunched his shoulders.
He couldn't understand when she said in good words. Lucy's expression became frigid.
"I won't take it. No matter how much money you give me, I won't take it. We won't accept requests about Charlize Ronan."
Lucy also ordered her subordinates who were next to her.
"Write it down, all of you. If you don't want to die in droves."
Lucy sat down again, smacked her lips. At first glance, the client seemed to have a lot of money. And Lucy was crazy about money.
"Does it have to be the grandmaster? Is there anyone else you want to kill?"
"If, if so… Is it possible to request for the Ronan family?"
Lucy hesitated for a moment.
"That's uncertain."
Isn't Ronan the family of Charlize? But Charlize didn't seem to care at all whether Ronan died or not.
'She didn't even warn me not to touch her family.'
"What, is that possible?"
Lucy tilted her head in worry. The uncertain answer made the client's expression curious.
But for Lucy, this was a challenge. Even if Charlize thinks of her family as a street stone. If she touches them and comes running for revenge. How could she deal with the consequences…
"Ah, damn it. No. No, no! Requests for anyone related to the grandmaster are prohibited!"
Lucy jumped up in annoyance and kicked the door.
"Hey! You guys write it down! I sent him away!"
The assassination guild leader's attitude was too rude to the client. But neither the client nor the assassins pointed it out.
Originally, Lucy was a woman known for speaking informally to everyone. And she was also the most capable assassin in the empire.
Originally, if you had outstanding skills, even if your personality was dirty, people around you could tolerate it.
But even such a person. For Charlize, she crawled on all fours.
The client was kicked out without knowing the reason why.
"I'm so jealous of Ronan."
In the quiet interior, Lucy muttered. It was like they were receiving preferential treatment for mixing some blood with Charlize.
'But there's no other choice. I still remember those eyes.'
Frigid eyes. Sometimes, Charlize looked at Imperial Palace or Lucy with those eyes.
'Even the assassins who are worn out don't look like that.'
That's how she looked when she saw something to get rid of. For the time being, she had been coaxed by Lucy by desperately acting cute and trying to please her, but she didn't want to face those eyes again.
'But when we talk about the Crown Prince…'
It seemed like she was a little softer, but Lucy didn't even think about it. She didn't want to touch anything of hers if it meant seeing those eyes again.
Unconditionally, she had to look good. Lucy, who had a strong instinct for survival as well as her greed for money, had an eye for recognizing the strong.
And Charlize was a strong person.
***
"It was a mistake. I'm sorry, Master."
Dylan immediately apologized.
"I think I'm drunk."
He poured a glass full of alcohol. He seemed to apologize.
Charlize's face became hard to read.
She was thinking.
'Do you really love me?'
Wasn't he just tamed? Dylan's respect had always always been consistent. But in the first place, it was her who treated Dylan with a strong boundary.
Since when did he start to love her? She felt too distant to understand reality.
As she thought about it, the front of her eyes became blurred. Was it the same for Charlize that got drunk?
'No, I'm not sure it's love yet.'
Charlize had a cautious personality.
Then.
'I just need to find out if it's love or not.'
Her decision was quick.
It was Charlize who had no other goal than to take revenge against the empire. If it had to be this way. Then she would gladly walk this way.
She calmly looked at Dylan who had his head down. Charlize suddenly opened her mouth.
She smiled slowly. And, she whispered to him.
"Your Majesty. How busy you must be when you ascend the throne."
Dylan slowly raised his head. Dylan's face became strange.
Charlize said.
"As a wish. When you're free one day, I'd like to ask Your Majesty to teach me."
"You mean… Me, Master?"
As if it were unexpected, Dylan spat out.
It was Charlize, who had always been the teacher. When it came to swordsmanship, there is no one better than Charlize in the world. It's a matter of course.
However, there were certainly areas where Dylan outperformed Charlize.
For example,
"I want to learn how to play the piano."
Like the piano that Charlize has never played before.
If it was the piano. Inevitably, the distance must be close.
Asking about the hand position to play the piano properly. She could also make an excuse to touch his hands naturally.
The piano was a familiar object in Charlize and Dylan's relationship. They often communicated with the song 'Secret Hello'. Moreover.
'Maybe.'
She would have a chance to measure his pulse naturally.
At that time, if Dylan's pulse was noticeably fast. She would be able to verify if it was love.
Charlize was obviously shocked, but this was an opportunity.
If Dylan loved her.
"Yes."
Rather than pushing him away, she smiled. Charlize's eyes gently folded. Her soft voice was as smooth as the velvet of temptation.
"Teach me how to play the piano, Your Majesty."