Empress of Another World

Forty Nine

“…”

What the hell!

I didn’t plan on losing this battle. I looked up straight into his eyes and replied, “Your highness, the emperor.”

He scowled at me and sat right next to me on the bed.

I thought about jumping off the bed and run, but I knew I couldn’t outrun him. He was surprisingly athletic, while I was terribly unfit.

He reached out for me and touched my neck gently. To me, it felt like a snake or a poisonous spider walking on my body.

He held my chin and turned my face towards him.

He said to me, “I knew it wouldn’t be easy.”

“…”

“But this is beyond what I expected. You always surprise me like this.”

I couldn’t help but be sarcastic.

“What? Did you think I would feel honored to be a recipient of your love? Did you think I would fall madly in love with you?”

This was one of my pet peeves ever since I was a young girl. Why did some men think women had to reciprocate love to every man who fell in love with them?

This man must have expected it from me. He genuinely thought I would have fallen in with him by now.

I know that a lot of girls would have been interested in him. A gorgeous emperor! A bad boy who cares only for you!

However, I knew the truth. I knew for a fact he wasn’t some hero from a romance novel. Lucretius would never become a selfless man who would die for love.

If he could gain something he needed by sacrificing his loved one, I knew he would do it in a heartbeat.

He chuckled and replied, “I know you aren’t that kind of girl.”

“… Good.”

I was glad he still had his common sense.

He smiled.

“I see I have lost your trust completely.”

“Are you surprised considering what you did to me recently?”

“… I guess not, and I have no excuse for it.”

I smiled bitterly.

“So stop playing around.”

He didn’t say anything for a while. He looked at my cold face and asked quietly, “Aren’t you afraid?”

“Of what?”

He touched my shoulders and answered, “Afraid I might force myself on you.”

I flinched. I couldn’t help but show fear on my face and by my body language. He seemed disappointed.

“I see I have lost your trust completely.”

“…”

“I don’t know if you’ll believe me, but I want you to know you are safe with me always. I will not break my promise.”

I knew exactly which promise it was. He promised me before if I didn’t want it, he wouldn’t do anything.

I glared at him distrustfully.

He continued, “Please don’t look at me so angrily. It looks like you want to stab me like my previous wife.”

“… I don’t even have a knife.”

“But if looks can kill, I would be dead by now.”

I needed to make sure he really meant to keep his promise.