assistirfilmes Chapter 36
Chapter 36
“......”
For a very brief moment, silence filled through the room once more.
I was rolling my eyes, trying to grasp the intention behind the question, while the Emperor was just leisurely waiting for my answer.
“Answer His Majesty’s question, Felix.”
...What do I need to know to answer?
At the words of the man beside the Emperor, presumably the prime minister, I burst with indignation inside but calmly chose my words.
Since I couldn’t clearly understand his intent in asking such a question, I had to state the facts.
“I believe we are just ordinary senior-junior academy colleagues, Your Majesty.”
“...Ordinary academy senior and junior, you say.”
He repeated my words, mulling them over.
At that moment, realizing it was the wrong answer, I licked my lower lip with my tongue and bowed my head.
...No, how can there be a wrong answer? This is the truth.
However, I couldn’t openly express that complaint.
I could only feel frustrated inside.
“I will ask again.”
What answer should I give?
In fact, could it be that he is misunderstanding? Just based on the fact that Ashillya simply called me her escort, could he be thinking I’m her lover?
I considered that possibility, but the Emperor was no fool. It was unlikely he would think that way based on that alone. The Sun of the Empire wasn’t that shallow.
This meant that there was something else I was unaware of. However, it wasn’t something that could be resolved by racking my brain.
“...Your Majesty, may I speak freely.”
So, at times like this, I also had to confront it head-on.
“Speak.”
“I am nothing more than a loyal subject of Her Highness the Crown Princess and Your Majesty the Emperor. With my ignorance, this is the only answer I can give. I humbly ask for your broad understanding.”
“...Hmm.”
At my answer, the Emperor let out a small hum and fell silent.
The prime minister also remained silent, waiting for his response.
In a way, it could be heard as an answer saying I don’t know what you’re talking about, so I quietly waited for that silence.
“You see,”
At the end of the silence, which felt long but wasn’t actually that long, the Emperor spoke again.
“I am simply curious as to how you became Princess Ashillya’s partner.”
“......”
“No matter how I look at it, I cannot understand why she was adamant about having you as her partner.”
Adamant?
Hearing his words, I realized the hidden factor.
...No, if Princess Ashillya wants to do it, can’t she just do it? Of course, she would need the Emperor’s permission, but she threw a tantrum because of that?
‘That’ Ashillya?
My mind is in chaos. He still demands an answer, but I couldn’t understand Ashillya’s intentions.
But I couldn’t keep my mouth shut forever, so I slowly opened it.
“I once saved Princess Ashillya from danger. I believe it’s because of that.”
“You’re talking about Leonhardt.”
Slowly walking down the corridor with Ashillya, I opened my mouth.
It was clear that the Emperor would have ears here, but I had no choice but to ask. In the first place, wherever you go in the Empire, his eyes and ears would be there.
Perhaps it would be better for the Emperor to hear the answer through Ashillya’s mouth.
“What is it?”
Ashillya tilted her head curiously at my serious attitude and asked back.
I took a deep breath and slowly spoke.
“Why did you choose me as your escort, Your Highness?”
“... Haven’t I already explained that sufficiently?”
Ashillya paused for a moment before answering my question. I gently shook my head and demanded an answer.
“I have a feeling there’s more to it than that, so I’m asking.”
“......”
Ashillya fell silent.
I also walked slowly down the corridor without urging her for an answer.
The dance time would only begin once Ashillya, the protagonist of the banquet, entered the hall and took her seat, so there was no need to move hastily.
“Well.”
After a brief silence, Ashillya opened her mouth.
All my attention was focused on her. She seemed to be inwardly choosing her words as she walked with a somewhat enigmatic expression.
“I wonder why?”
It wasn’t a question.
Instinctively sensing that, I kept my mouth shut and walked with Ashillya.
After passing through the long corridor and descending dozens of stairs, we finally reached the entrance of the banquet hall in the distance.
As we approached, I could feel her footsteps gradually slowing down. Ashillya seemed to be pondering alone.
“If Your Highness doesn’t want to say...”
“You.”
My words, trying to say that you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, were cut off by Ashillya’s voice.
Her red eyes looked at me for a very brief moment. I met them, waiting for her to continue.
“If I...”
“......”
“...If I say it’s because I’ve developed an interest in you, would you believe me?”
... There’s no way I can believe that.
Ashillya is someone who doesn’t take an interest in anyone. She never found anything interesting or enjoyable.
However, regardless of what I thought, I had no choice but to believe her words.
Thus, I had no choice but to answer like this.
“Of course.”
“...I see.”
“How could I dare doubt Your Highness’s words?”
When I playfully responded to Ashillya’s words, she burst into laughter and took a step ahead of me.
The reason I had no choice but to believe her was not because of her words,
“Let’s go.”
But because her earlobes were flushed bright red.