Chapter 33: What’s the Best Thing to do?

*Aloof King and Cool (Acting) Queen*

T/N: I am so sorry everyone. It’s been a bit over 20 days and I am very sorry about that… Well, what happen was: I wanted to update, but then I had to hurricane prep as Hurricane Irma was coming my way (as I live in South florida). And then when Hurricane Irma hit, I lost electricity, and Wi-Fi (obviously). I lost Wi-fi for a while and got it back Friday. Then Saturday morning when I wanted to update,  I ended up losing power once again because some asshole blew up the transformer. No one had power in my neighborhood after that… SO here I am, with a new update. Sorry I suck at translating on time LOL.

Also, thanks for all the help in the previous chapter and thanks for all the loveee.

Edit (9/19/17): Thanks Kiriko and C.T World for the help as always! 

Raws: http://novel18.syosetu.com/n8981cr/33/ 

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*POV: Shane*

Recently, I feel that I have had less opportunities to see Leo-sama. Our “Othello Meetings”, which we had every night until a while ago, have become scarce. Instead, a small bouquet of flowers would be delivered on the days when he doesn’t come.

Suddenly losing something that had become a habit affected me a lot.

One day, Elma-sama, one of the concubines that I became friends with since the tea party, came to drink tea in my room.

“Shane-sama, you haven’t been looking well lately.”

“I’m fine, I’m just a little busy with work. Thank you for worrying.”

Well, Elma-sama, who was blushing a little, looked really lovely when she was sipping her tea.  Even though she was only in her teens, for her to have to become a concubine to his Majesty the Emperor, there must have been quite the reason. However, I held favorable feelings towards her because she didn’t expose any of her dark sides at all.

“By the way, I’ve heard some bad rumours in the inner palace but don’t worry about them”

“Bad rumors, is it? I am not entirely disinterested in such things.”

“Oh, is that so? Then, continue on without minding them.”

Aruma-sama, flustered, took back her words, it instead made me curious.

“Please tell me without putting on airs. Elias, do you know what the rumors are?”

I quietly asked Elias, who was holding back, but he hesitantly answered with “no”, “that is…” and other things like that.

“If you know, hurry and answer me.”

“Um, that, it’s just a rumor, so please do not mind it… His Majesty the Emperor seems to have gone back and forth to the inner palace lately, and there are rumors that he had finally gotten bored with the Empress”

Oh, that must have been difficult to say to me.

“So there are such rumors? I don’t really mind, so it’s okay”

In order to restore the atmosphere that had sunk a bit, Elias offered the sweets she (Elma-sama) had prepared.

After eating it, Elma-sama returned to her room, but on the way home…

“I am your friend, so if there is something going on, you can talk to me” She insisted while grasping my hand.

 

At the tea party, I replied that I didn’t mind it, but honestly I had feelings that I couldn’t understand. When I think about Leo-sama’s smile being directed at other people, such things makes my feelings sink further. As I thought, real women were better. Having thought that far, I became dumbfounded with my own contradictory feelings.

So far, I acted cool so that Leo-sama wouldn’t like me, but now I thought that I would like that he liked me more than the concubines. That evening, I thought so much about it that I couldn’t sleep.

 

The next morning, like usual, flowers were delivered. It was to inform me that we wouldn’t be meeting up this evening. When I saw that bouquet of flowers, I couldn’t help but think of his comfortable low voice whispering sweet words to a woman.  I was angry with myself.

Up until now, I had displayed the flowers by the window, but I had them arranged so they wouldn’t stand out. When I looked at the flowers I received, bad thoughts would slip into my mind. It was the first time I had ever held been angry due to the flowers I loved so much.  

 

Nevertheless, today I had to discuss some work with Leo-sama, so I couldn’t help but feel depressed. I had to resolve myself to go into Leo-sama’s office for work even if I didn’t feel like facing him.

As usual, I knocked on the door and entered the room, and there Leo-sama was, leaned back on his chair, looking a bit worn-out. Seeing that figure, I remembered how I wanted to help this person with work. And before I knew it, I realized how my feelings had changed.

With this realization, it gave me answers to the series of emotions that had me overwhelmed since yesterday. Ah, I like this person. That thought gradually calmed me down.

“Oh, Shane, what’s wrong?”

Leo-sama asked me, and I felt my face become red when our eyes met. Without a single word, I left the room out of embarrassment.

 

Even though I didn’t run, my heart was beating violently.  I sat down immediately while my hand held the left side of my chest.  

By becoming aware of my own feelings, the depressed feeling in my heart was lost, but I was becoming increasingly uncertain of what I should do.

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T/N: Thanks for reading and I apologize for the delay. Maybe someone else should pick this up instead (because, man, I’m getting lazy, but lol will still try to translate). Sorry about the crappy quality of the chapter. Next chapter is longer too….

Edit: Again, I would like to thank Kiriko and CT World. If you see any mistakes, just say the word and I will fix it! 

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