I Didn’t Ask For Villain’s Obsession! Chapter 41

Chapter 41. An Accidental Encounter

“Does this mean it’s a tie?”

Leonard’s words snapped me back to my senses.

“Wh-what is this……?”

A flustered voice burst out.

Before I knew it, I covered my mouth with my hand.

The vivid aftershock of a powerful sensation lingered in my mind.

The searing sensation of his lips touching mine still felt fresh, as if I had been burned.

I was still this confused.

Meanwhile, Leonard looked somehow pleased.

‘No way…….’

I narrowed my eyes slightly.

“Don’t tell me you did it on purpose?”

“Of course not.”

Leonard answered casually.

“It was an accident.”

“An accident……?”

“I was so captivated by the flower that I lost myself…….”

Contrary to his words, he lightly touched his own lips with the tip of his finger.

His eyes crinkled gently.

The corners of his mouth curved with thinly veiled amusement.

‘…So it was on purpose.’

It was indeed a mistake.

It was just that the mistake had been made intentionally—that was the problem.

I wanted to say something about it, but……

“Sorry for the wait.”

Just then, the maids who had gone to fetch tea returned.

They quickly set simple refreshments on the table and poured the tea with a light trickle.

“Oh my, Your Majesty the Empress. Your face seems a little flushed. Are you all right?”

The maids, seeing my face up close, asked worriedly.

“Is there anywhere you feel unwell?”

“It’s nothing. I’m just… a little hot.”

I fanned myself lightly to cool my flushed face.

Across from me, a low chuckle sounded.

Hey.

Stop laughing like that.

Whose fault do you think this is?

“If it’s too warm, shall I open a window?”

At the maid’s question, I nodded.

“Please do.”

While she went to open the window, Countess Chloe posed a question to Leonard.

“Sir Leonard, you seem particularly cheerful today. Did something amusing happen?”

“Something amusing, you say. I suppose I did gain a small insight.”

“An insight?”

As he brushed his chin with a straight finger, he replied.

“Sometimes, a mistake can be necessary.”

“Even you, Sir Leonard, make mistakes?”

“Of course. I, too, make mistakes from time to time. Until now, I thought of them as flaws, but today, my perspective has changed.”

That was clearly meant for me to hear, wasn’t it?

Feeling like my insides were burning, I hastily gulped down the tea the maid had poured.

“Ah! Hot!”

“I’m so sorry, Your Majesty the Empress. I should have let the tea cool first…….”

“No, it’s fine. Tea is supposed to be hot. It was my fault for drinking too quickly.”

Again, a low chuckle came from across the table, but I resolutely ignored it.

“By the way, I don’t see Marie today?”

Normally, she would be smiling brightly at Countess Chloe’s side, but her figure was nowhere to be seen.

“Marie couldn’t make it today, Your Majesty the Empress.”

Countess Chloe answered.

A bad feeling flitted through my mind.

The expression she wore while mentioning Marie was dark.

“Did something happen to her?”

“Well…….”

* * *

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

I was riding in a carriage.

Unlike the other luxurious imperial carriages, this one looked extremely plain from the outside.

It had been specially made for situations requiring the concealment of identity, such as when traveling incognito.

The destination was Marie’s home.

― It seems that the circumstances of Marie’s family have worsened lately.

Countess Chloe had calmly explained the situation.

Even originally, Marie’s family, the Debon Barony, had not been well off.

Her parents had fled overnight, leaving behind gambling debts.

Marie had been busy repaying the debts burdening her family and raising her younger siblings.

She worked at the palace during the day and managed the household chores at night, barely having a moment to breathe.

It seemed the strain had finally taken its toll.

― The recent drought seems to have made things even harder for them.

Even though she had been going through so much, she had never once shown her struggles in front of me.

I let out a heavy sigh.

“Are you very worried?”

Leonard, sitting across from me, asked.

He was accompanying me today as a bodyguard.

Was it really alright for someone as important as the Knight Commander to move around so freely?

“Somewhat… yes.”

No, actually, I was far more worried than I was letting on.

When I first arrived here, the maids were the ones who had helped me adapt to life in the Imperial Palace.

Without them, I might never have adjusted to this unfamiliar, desolate place.

Among those maids, Marie was a friend who especially tugged at my heart.

“Ah, I should bring something with me before we go.”

I couldn’t go empty-handed.

Since she had younger siblings as well, it would be nice to bring some food.

If I had known, I would have asked the palace chef in advance.

I had been in such a hurry that I hadn’t thought of it.

“It’s too late to go back to the palace now and prepare something. Is there any shop nearby you would recommend?”

Leonard gave a soft smile.

“Fortunately, I know just the place.”

***

The place Leonard recommended was an apple pie shop located in a bustling part of town.

Jingle jingle.

As I opened the door adorned with a small bell, a sweet scent of pies instantly delighted my senses.

“Welcome.”

The shop owner, who had a generous air about him, greeted us warmly.

“I’d like to buy some pies…….”

I looked around the store.

There weren’t that many pies compared to the size of the store.

“Are the baked goods not ready yet?”

“No, what’s available here today is all there is.”

The shop owner spoke with a regretful expression.

“These days, the drought has been so severe that it’s not easy to obtain wheat. We were lucky to secure enough today to make even this much.”

“Is the drought really that bad?”

“Oh, don’t even get me started. I’ve never seen a drought this serious in my entire life. Not only the areas near the capital but even the southern regions, once famous for their abundant crops, have all dried up.”

“…It sounds serious.”

Lately, the drought had become the hottest topic at the noble council meetings.

For three consecutive years, the drought had caused extreme suffering among the common people.

The nobles, who valued formality above all else, spoke so blandly that it hadn’t felt real.

But seeing the shop owner’s reaction, I realized the situation was far worse than I thought.

“For now, we’re barely holding on with crops imported from abroad, but if the drought continues like this, we won’t be able to last much longer. Soon, there might be people starving to death everywhere.”

“…….”

Unfortunately, the drought wasn’t going to end.

It was expected to continue for another two whole years.

“…I’ll take a look at the pies.”

All the pies smelled delightful. Which one should I choose?

“Sir Leonard, is there a pie you would recommend?”

Instead of Leonard, Countess Chloe answered my question.

“Sir Leonard said he would take a look around and stepped out for a moment.”

“Really?”

It would have been nice if he had introduced the pies all the way to the end, having led us here.

Well, it couldn’t be helped. I’d just have to pick what caught my eye.

Since I was buying anyway, it would be good to also get some pies to share with the maids back at the Empress’ Palace.

It would be nice to gift some to the gardeners, guards, and chefs who always greeted me warmly whenever we met…

Ah! I mustn’t forget Cedric either.

Before I knew it, the pies I was picking up were piling into a mountain.

“You’re not thinking of taking all the pies, are you?”

A stranger’s voice came from behind.

When I turned my head, a man with soft, brown wavy hair was smiling charmingly.

“If you don’t mind, could you perhaps spare a few different kinds of pies?”

“Of course.”

I made way for him.

“Thank you.”

His eyes crinkled softly.

His jewel-like green eyes were strikingly beautiful.

“These days, finding fresh bread and pies feels like plucking stars from the sky. I must be lucky today.”

He picked out an ordinary apple pie and a croissant.

Handing them to the shop owner, he turned back to me.

“Thanks to you, it seems I’ll be able to enjoy pie for the first time in a long while.”

He removed his hat and bowed elegantly.

“My name is Isaac.”

After the greeting, he gazed at me quietly.

Was he asking for my name?

Of course, I couldn’t answer with Helena.

Otherwise, all the trouble of wearing plain clothes, covering myself with a cloak, and riding a modest carriage would have been in vain.

Today’s outing was entirely unofficial.

If I had gone formally, a whole procession of knights and soldiers would have followed me.

I had no desire to cause such a commotion just to visit someone who was ill.

“My name is Rena.”

“Judging by your bearing, you must come from a very distinguished family.”

“It’s not such a renowned house that you would know it even if I told you.”

“For such a modest claim, the carriage parked out front looked quite splendid. Surely, it’s one of the Imperial carriages. I almost got fooled myself.”

“!”

How did he know it was an Imperial carriage?

Naturally, there was no imperial emblem engraved on the carriage.

It was a specially designed carriage for concealing one’s identity.

“There’s no need to be so surprised. I happen to know someone who works in a related field. I just picked up a few things over their shoulder.”

“…You’re right. I work at the palace.”

“What a coincidence. My brother works at the palace too.”

“Truly a coincidence. He must be quite exceptional.”

“Yes. If you heard his name, you’d know immediately who he is.”

When he spoke of his brother, a faint pride lit up his face.

He must adore his brother deeply.

I had the feeling that if I asked about his brother, the conversation would become quite lengthy.

As enjoyable as this conversation with Isaac was, Marie’s situation was the priority right now.

Sensing the atmosphere, Isaac bowed slightly to say goodbye.

“Then, thank you for your kindness. Contrary to the rumors, you are very courteous. I hope we meet again.”

With a polite farewell, he left the pie shop with light footsteps.

Absentmindedly nodding my head, I suddenly realized something.

‘Contrary to the rumors, courteous?’

What was that supposed to mean?

Come to think of it, didn’t that mean he already knew who I was?

I turned my head quickly, but he was already gone.

***

When I returned with arms full of pies, Leonard was guarding the carriage.

“Did something happen?”

Leonard, reading my expression like a ghost, asked.

“I met a rather unique person at the pie shop.”

“A unique person?”

Leonard reacted sensitively upon hearing that I had met someone.

“A customer who came to buy pies. He seemed to know me. His name was Isaac… He had a rather distinctive vibe.”

“…….”

At the mention of Isaac’s name, Leonard’s expression stiffened.

“Do you know him?”

“Hard to say. Isaac is a fairly common name.”

“Is that so?”

Thinking little of it, I climbed into the carriage.

The carriage, carrying me, Leonard, and Countess Chloe, passed through the bustling central district and headed toward the outskirts.

As the tall buildings disappeared, wide fields came into view, and the devastation caused by the drought was revealed without filter.

Even though it was planting season, the earth was cracked and parched.

Rivers and streams had dried up completely, exposing their beds.

‘It’s truly serious.’

The original novel had mentioned the devastation of the drought.

But it was nothing compared to seeing it with my own eyes.

The drought had started even before Fay became the Imperial Consort.

It would continue for five long years, tormenting the citizens of the Empire.

Amidst the hardships, baseless rumors would spread that the drought had begun because the wrong woman had been made Imperial Consort.

Those rumors would push the heroine, Fay, into a corner.

And Helena?

What was she doing back then?

Naturally, living up to her reputation as a villainess, she indulged in extravagance.

Since Fay was the one being blamed anyway, Helena luxuriated without a care.

Of course, later she would face backlash because of it.

“Countess Chloe. Has there been any extravagant purchase at the Empress’ Palace recently?”

“Your Majesty strictly forbade it, so except for essential supplies, nothing has been purchased.”

“Well done. Make sure no luxury items are bought going forward. Even if we cannot starve alongside the people, we must not flaunt extravagance when they are suffering.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

In Countess Chloe’s eyes as she answered, I caught a flicker of emotion.

Feeling a little embarrassed by her gaze, I turned my head to the window.

Just then, the coachman’s voice reached us.

“We’ve arrived. However, the atmosphere seems off.”

“Off?”

At that moment.

As if answering my question,

Crash!

A loud shattering sound rang out,

“Hand it over right now! Or I’ll kill you all!”

A vicious shout echoed through the air.

 

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