CHAPTER 005
An old and cheap rectangular dining table for eight stood alone in the first-floor dining room. It was an embarrassment to call it the lord's dining room.
Emperor Maxwell sat at the head of the table, crossing his long legs, enduring the extras in this setting.
“I have dressed and fed Arabelle better than my own daughter Margot. She’s practically my daughter. Arabelle also treats me, her great-uncle, as a father.”
“Even when the budget was tight, Arabelle always had a dedicated maid, Your Majesty. I raised her with plenty of love, in place of her runaway mother.”
Baron and Baroness Cander, seated on either side of the Emperor, continuously emphasized how much they had invested in Arabelle. Listening to them, it seemed like the financial issues of the estate were due to Arabelle.
Not to be outdone,
“I have three daughters, but Arabelle is the most special to me. Since childhood, I favored Arabelle so much that my other two daughters were quite displeased. They had to help with the work in the castle, but I never let Arabelle lift a finger.”
Arabelle’s father, sitting next to the Baroness, added with a servile smile.
Even Camille, Roxy, and Margot joined in at the dining table. They were desperate to show that they were the closest to Arabelle.
“As her older sister, I raised Arabelle in place of our mother. She was quite a handful. Though she still lacks a lot, I will follow her to the palace and diligently teach and help her.”
“Arabelle is the sister I love the most. She may be a bit naïve and will face difficulties in palace life, but I will go with her and be her hands and feet, just as I always have.”
“Arabelle is my best friend. We share secrets and cover for each other's mistakes, most of which were Arabelle’s... I took a lot of scolding. When she enters the palace, she will be lonely, but as her best friend, I will be there to protect her.”
The three young women were eager not to miss the opportunity to go to the capital.
As a benevolent smile formed on the Emperor's lips, Arabelle’s family rejoiced inwardly. The substantial compensation they would receive was not the issue. They might even receive fertile land and a high title.
Lost in such grandiose imaginations, they did not notice the Emperor's red eyes growing cold.
“It seems true that you care more for her than your daughters.”
Maxwell finally spoke, his gaze fixed on Arabelle, who stood with her head bowed at the end of the table.
“You don’t even serve this pathetic food to Lady Arabelle.”
Seven plates of supper and seven wine glasses were on the table.
When the Emperor entered the dining room and took his seat, the Cander couple, their daughter Margot, and Arabelle’s father and two sisters took their places. Only Baron Cander yielded the head seat to the Emperor and sat in his absent son Eric's place. Arabelle, who followed them, stood at the end of the table to serve them.
The head maid from the kitchen unconsciously handed a water pitcher to Arabelle. She accepted it and poured water into the cups before everyone, who took her service for granted.
These foolish people did not immediately grasp the Emperor’s sarcasm. Their faces simultaneously turned pale as they realized they had entirely forgotten about Arabelle.
“Oh, Arabelle, why are you standing there? Come quickly and take your seat.”
The Baroness called out to Arabelle with a voice full of forced kindness. Her father, Jonathan, quickly added with a shake of his head.
“Arabelle is so slow in her movements; she gives us trouble.”
Arabelle’s large eyes wavered in confusion at being urged to sit. There was no place set for her at the table.
“Roxy, what are you doing? Why are you sitting in Arabelle’s seat? Get up immediately!”
The Baron frowned, scolding Roxy. With a flushed face, Roxy pushed her chair back and stood.
“M-Margot hasn’t been eating supper lately because she’s gained weight, so the kitchen only prepared seven servings. Arabelle, come quickly and eat.”
Baroness Cander made excuses, and quick-witted Margot sprang up and went to Arabelle.
Margot’s arm affectionately linked with Arabelle’s, causing her thin shoulders to stiffen. Red eyes watched this with amused interest.
“Arabelle, hurry and take your seat. She’s very clueless and needs to be taught how to behave step by step. Don’t worry, Arabelle. I will go with you to the palace and help you.”
As Margot pulled Arabelle to her seat, Camille and Roxy glared at them. They were resentful for losing the chance to impress the Emperor.
Arabelle’s family began to argue that it would be better if they all went to the capital together.
“Enough.”
The Emperor raised his right hand slightly.
As the benevolent smile vanished from his lips, the air in the dining room turned cold. The bustling mouths fell silent.
“This is as far as my tolerance goes. I need to speak alone with Lady Arabelle, so everyone, leave.”
The red eyes that didn’t spare a glance at anyone else focused on Arabelle.
Even the most foolish among them sensed they should leave immediately. Feeling a chill down their spine, Arabelle’s family quickly vanished outside the door.
“You too, leave. I have urgent matters to discuss with the lady.”
The guards promptly exited the dining room and stood watch outside the closed door.
Silence settled in the room with only the Emperor and Arabelle left. The Emperor was in a foul mood, having wasted time on worthless people. But somehow, it felt like there was another reason, which made him even more irritable.
He was annoyed by the girl who, despite being so affectionate with a beast, now refused to look at him.
Arabelle felt the weight of the Emperor’s silence on her shoulders. She still didn’t understand what he had said in the stable, and being alone with him was very uncomfortable.
‘Is he worried I might reveal the secret? He must be here to confirm, unable to say it outright.’
As if realizing the Emperor’s intention, Arabelle’s face brightened slightly.
As her light brown eyes turned to him, the Emperor’s frown eased, though he was unaware of it.
Wiping the sweat from her hands on her skirt, Arabelle spoke.
"I swear I will never tell anyone what happened in the mountains until the day I die."
It was a simple statement, yet it was the most trustworthy promise the Emperor had ever heard. When Arabelle lowered her gaze again, the Emperor's brows furrowed once more.
"How can I believe your words? Most people can't look someone in the eye when they're lying. You keep avoiding my gaze, which makes me suspicious."
Arabelle quickly raised her head and shook it vigorously.
"No, it's not like that. I will never break my promise. I do not lie."
"How can I trust you without any collateral? For all I know, you might have already spread rumors among the villagers. You seem to enjoy chatting with animals; did you tell them too?"
Her large eyes wavered with a sense of injustice at the Emperor's threat. As her pink lips quivered as if she was about to say something, the Emperor's eyes softened, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
Seeing Arabelle stiffen in front of those unworthy of his attention had annoyed him. However, seeing her flustered and at a loss because of him somehow made him feel better.
To prove that she wasn't lying, Arabelle met the Emperor's gaze directly. The sight of her wide eyes turning red made him feel a strange tickling sensation below his navel.
'I don't usually enjoy teasing women.'
Especially not the weak. He might play with and crush those who are strong or evil, but not the innocent.
The Emperor found himself wanting to tease her clear and innocent face more and more.
"We'll leave tonight. Prepare yourself."
Maxwell commanded gently, as if showing mercy.
Even at a glance, it was clear she had been treated like a burden in this household. Surely, she would understand what he meant by taking her to the palace as a candidate for the Empress. An unimaginable future was about to unfold for her.
Those who didn't become the Empress but made it to the final ten candidates were awarded honorary titles and received enormous consolation money. It was more money than selling this entire estate. No matter how naive she might be, she wouldn't miss such an opportunity.
After a brief pause, Arabelle slowly lifted her head and met the Emperor's gaze to avoid any suspicion.
"I am very grateful for your offer, but I cannot follow Your Majesty."
If it had been any other woman giving the same answer, Maxwell would have scoffed, thinking she was just trying to play hard to get. But her clear eyes held no trace of deceit.
Feeling insulted, the Emperor's voice took on a mocking tone.
"I'm not taking you to make you the Empress. Just being a candidate can bring you great wealth, so consider it a reward for helping me."
"I understand. I would never presume to think otherwise. I am leaving this place soon. My master promised to come and get me."
The Emperor was so taken aback that words failed him.
"That master you praised so much last night, saying he was the best and most perfect?"
"Yes... He promised to come on the night of the next full moon."
When the Emperor asked calmly, Arabelle smiled and replied.
"A night with a full moon... So, where did your noble master say he would take you?"
The smile disappeared from his red eyes, but Arabelle didn't notice as she answered.
"My master travels through time, saving mythical creatures in danger. Until now, he couldn't take me because I was too young, but he promised to take me this year."
"When did he make that promise?"
"When I was ten."
"Was that the last time you saw your 'most handsome and perfect' master?"
"Yes, but he promised to come for me when I turned twenty. On the night of the first full moon in October. So I can't follow Your Majesty to the capital."
Time travel. Mythical creatures. The Emperor, who rarely let emotions sway him, found himself controlling his breath to suppress his rising anger.
He, too, was cursed to transform into a beast once a month, but hearing this absurd story filled him with self-loathing.
It seemed that a wandering poet or a quack had played a trick on this naive girl. She had been waiting for eight years, believing in that promise.
"Does your father know?"
"Oh, no. But he always said that when I turned twenty, I should leave home and earn money. I turned twenty last month, so I can go with my master. He said he would pay me a salary, so I can send money back home."
"Where are you supposed to meet him?"
"In the cave where I first met him. He taught me about mythical creatures there."
Maxwell's usually composed mind began to ache. He pictured Arabelle, waiting with her bundle on the night of the full moon.
Waiting endlessly for a master who would never come, or worse, being deceived and following him, made him seethe with anger.
"If you need money to send to your family, becoming a candidate for the Empress would be much better. It seems you don't understand, but becoming a candidate can elevate your family."
"I promised my master. I vowed to train diligently until he returned. My lifelong dream is to travel through time with him, saving animals in danger. I can't imagine anything else."
Arabelle's firm response made the Emperor's eyes narrow.
She had an unexpected stubbornness. He thought she was soft-hearted, but she was resolute about her future.
"What if I, as the Emperor, command you? Will you still refuse?"
Pettily invoked his authority, but Arabelle shook her head.
"I am not qualified. The Empress candidates are all noble and exceptional in every field. For me to become a candidate is unthinkable. I would surely bring great harm to Your Majesty."
The Emperor's throat bobbed as he swallowed hard.
He had intended to coax her into coming. During the selection process, he would investigate how she was linked to his curse and then give her a substantial reward before sending her away. If she continued to refuse, he would take her by force and conduct his experiments.
I am the Emperor of the Empire. For my safety, any sacrifice is acceptable. Arabelle had no choice from the start.
Seeing her lips, which rejected his proposal, the Emperor suddenly felt an overwhelming thirst. His red eyes darkened as they fixated on her slender neck.
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