MHC 32

Chapter 32

After finishing the letter, evening had already approached.

When she arrived at the dining room with her maid, only a single place setting was laid out.

“His Majesty says he still has much work to attend to, so due to lack of time, he will dine separately in his office.”

This was the Emperor’s dining hall, yet she had to sit there alone without him.
If that were the case, wouldn’t it be better to go to the guest dining room and enjoy the dinner there?

‘…Is this consideration?’

Chloe replied that she understood, though puzzled.

Soon, the courses of the meal were served one by one. As she leisurely enjoyed her dinner and reached the final dessert, the head attendant who had been waiting behind her approached and spoke.

“And His Majesty has said that after your meal, he would like to see you briefly.”

“A man too busy to even dine in his own seat says that?”

“He added that there is something he must hear today.”

The attendant smiled slyly.

If he emphasized “today,” then he must be referring to what Chloe had discussed with the physician.

“I understand. Where is the place he arranged?”

“He did not specify… I will go and confirm it now.”

“That’s not necessary.”

Chloe stopped him, even as he was about to leave immediately.

If the Emperor had not mentioned the place, then it must be his quarters. Her room and his were so close they were practically connected.

A mature man and woman. A married couple meeting in his private quarters at night—did the Emperor truly not realize how improper that was?

“Please inform His Majesty that it has been confirmed.”

But since the Emperor wished it, she had no choice.

Having come to carry out the Emperor’s command, Chloe lingered in front of the door to the appointed room.

After finally steadying herself, she raised her hand and knocked on the ornate, gold-trimmed door. Gentle knocks followed in succession.

For some reason, there was no reply.

By etiquette, one should knock three times.
Putting a bit more strength into her hand, Chloe knocked again.

Then the door opened on its own.

It seemed it had been open from the beginning.

‘…Is this a signal to come in on my own?’

Since they had made an appointment, there was no way he was unaware of her presence.

After staring at the open door for a moment, Chloe carefully stepped inside.

And before long, she came face to face with him.

“…Your Majesty?”

The man without the mask he always wore.

The only thing that had distinguished the Emperor from her friend—was gone.

Moonlight filtered through the window, casting a pale bluish glow. The faint light revealed his face.

Despite wielding a sword under harsh sunlight, his skin shone almost sacred. Even with his eyes closed, his double eyelids were prominent. A high nose and sharp jawline completed a mesmerizing face that captivated anyone who looked upon it.

As if enchanted, Chloe slowly approached him.

The closer she got, the faster her heart began to beat.

And as the sound grew louder, the truth became clearer.
What began as suspicion turned into certainty.

Now, only a table stood between them.

Stopping before it, Chloe whispered softly,

“…Kuhn.”

A name she should never have uttered.
Yet one so familiar to her.

Before the ruler of the world, she had committed the discourtesy of calling him by name.

‘The Emperor… and Kuhn are the same person?’

The Emperor—cold, ruthless, a man who once seemed ready to devour an entire kingdom.

She vividly remembered the aura he had when she first met him.
The ruler of the empire made everyone before him feel small.

When his cold red eyes swept over someone, they would beg forgiveness for sins they hadn’t even committed. He had the power to turn what was not into something real, and what was real into nothing.

‘Though he has been kind lately.’

It was also true that he had shown boundless kindness—at least toward her.

Even so, she had never once thought to equate him with her dear friend Kuhn.

Not until she saw him sleeping peacefully like this.

The man, unusually gentle in atmosphere, reminded her of that close friend.

With a stunned expression, Chloe alternated her gaze between the mask on the desk and Kuhn’s face.

As if making one final attempt, she picked up the mask and brought it close to his face.

“…!”

Though it did not touch his skin, it was close enough.

Placing that single mask over the face of her dear friend—she could see the Emperor.

A silence so deep it felt as though her hearing had vanished filled the room.

Had it not been for the Emperor’s faint groan as he shifted in his sleep, Chloe might have remained frozen there forever.

Only after a long while did she exhale and move.

She placed the mask back where it had been and quietly left the room, hiding any trace of her presence.

Leaning her body against the closed door, her legs gave way as the tension left her.

‘Kuhn… the one who met me that day, became my friend, and exchanged letters with me all this time… was the Emperor?’

At that moment, all the suspicious things she had pushed aside resurfaced.

The letters disappearing every day and replies returning immediately.
The expensive parchment used so casually.
The way he always appeared whenever she needed him.

A voice echoed in her ears—her friend’s gentle voice.

‘I will serve you. So please, become happy.’

Their first meeting.

Now that she thought about it, his confidence that he could make her happy felt strange. It had sounded less like a casual remark between friends and more like a solemn vow.

“Chloe. Is something wrong?”

The way he noticed immediately when she was in trouble.

“Then… will you help me? Please.”

And the moment she asked for help, she was invited to the imperial palace.

Yes—just as if Emperor Kuhn had heard what her friend Kuhn said.

‘I feel relieved hearing that. Still, I will also do my utmost to help you. No—let me help you.’

There, the Emperor had confessed a shocking truth. He had even said he wanted to atone for the past and told her to name what she desired.

As though fulfilling the promise her friend Kuhn had made.

“Then, Your Majesty… could you help me divorce the duke?”

For Chloe, who needed the Emperor to help her divorce, the timing had been perfect.

Now that she realized her friend “Kuhn” had been the link between her and the Emperor, everything finally made sense.

“Madam, I will escort you to the dining hall for breakfast.”

During her stay in the palace, breakfast together had become routine.

Yet the walk through the corridor felt suffocating.

Her mind was in turmoil.

How should she act toward Kuhn, whom she had seen every day?

Should she treat him like a friend?
Or maintain distance as before?

Lost in a swirl of thoughts, she soon arrived.

Kuhn was already seated.

“I fell asleep early yesterday and failed to keep our appointment. I apologize for the discourtesy.”

He apologized first.

Fortunately, he seemed unaware that she had come to his room and left.

“It’s… it’s alright. I understand.”

Chloe responded politely, though her throat felt dry as she awkwardly lifted her cup.

“…Your Majesty.”

Only after finishing the flower tea did she finally speak.

‘I want to ask.’

Her instincts urged her forward.

She wanted to ask everything—
Do you know my friend?
Or… are you my friend?

But her lips refused to move.

‘If His Majesty deliberately hides it… do I have the right to reveal it?’

He was intentionally concealing his identity—even acting as if he didn’t know “Kuhn” in front of her.

For whatever reason, he wanted to hide the truth—even creating another persona.

She couldn’t be the one to ruin that.

Besides, she had already seen his true face. If he considered that a problem, he could revoke everything he had promised.

He was that kind of man.

More than losing a dear friend, the reality before her felt more pressing.

There was no need to ruin their current relationship—this vague alliance under the Emperor’s protection for her divorce.

“…I was just wondering if your workload had eased.”

“Thanks to uninterrupted focus, I’ve put out the urgent fires.”

“That’s a relief.”

Chloe smiled, covering up her slip.

As she quietly drank water, Kuhn—who had been watching her—asked,

“By the way, did you come to see me last night?”

His question carried clear curiosity.

If she admitted it, she would be confessing not only that she visited his quarters but also that she had learned his identity.

Raising her head calmly, Chloe met his red eyes behind the black mask.

“No. I couldn’t go. Since no location was specified, I wandered for a while and returned to my room as it got too late.”

“I see. I thought you knew, since the butler said nothing.”

“Ah…”

“Where were you waiting?”

A series of sharp questions.

Was it coincidence?
It didn’t feel like it.

It was as if he had traced her every step.

“I waited at the balcony in the corridor. It seemed the only place appropriate at such a late hour.”

“I see. I should be more precise next time.”

Fortunately, he accepted her improvised answer without suspicion.

Perhaps she had worried too much.