Don't Concern Yourself With That Book
Chapter Side Story 1-5

Side Story 1-5

Translator: yun

Ira mustered the courage to ask. Still staring at the book in Ira’s hands, Ashley pulled up the corners of her lips. 

“Because I’ve been wanting to meet you.”

“Huh? Are you talking about me?”

Widening her eyes in surprise, Ira tilted her head.  Sᴇaʀᴄh the ɴøvᴇlFɪre.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

“You are referring to me, aren’t you?”

There should be no reason for the emperor to want to meet a ducal princess. 

“Yes. You. Because I knew we would meet.”

Just like before, Ira could not understand her. 

Mulling in her thoughts, Ira was suddenly reminded of Cjezarnian. And as though she could read her mind, Ashley brought him up.

“I had received word from your Crown Prince that he would be sending an envoy from the Kingdom of Walter here.”

Ira could only blink naively. 

“That was when I replied that I wanted to meet the most intelligent and wisest woman his kingdom had.”

The most intelligent. Those were not words one would use to describe a Walternian woman. Women were often described to be crafty or clever instead. 

“Pardon me for asking but may I ask why?”

Ira was curious. But Ashley shook her head. 

“I didn’t have much in mind. I just wanted to meet someone like that.”

The emperor that won against her eight brothers who had been ahead of her in the line of succession. The one that had obtained the throne soaked with their blood   But Ashley was unlike the rumours she had heard of her. She looked easygoing. 

“Hm. If I had to come up with a reason… it’s because I have only encountered one woman from Walter.”

Whilst sitting on the couch, Ashley nodded at Ira to sit as well. 

“Women may be beautiful and smart but are still played into the same sad fate. I just thought it would be sad for a woman that smart to end up as a mere fiancée of another man… or something like that?”

Once again, Ira could not understand what she was saying but Ashley had an expression as bitter as the winter sunset. But that expression of hers disappeared in an instant and a smile took its place. 

“But looking at you now reminds me of my lady-in-waiting’s old self.”

“Your lady-in-waiting?”

“Yes. She’s a very dashing woman with bright red hair.”

Was that so? Ira nodded unknowingly. 

“When we first met, she had been a woman who did not recognise her own worth.”

Her bright eyes stared straight back at Ira. 

“There are many like her who don’t see their worth.”

“What are you trying to tell me?”

“I’m not so sure either. I can read another person’s thoughts sometimes though I never really asked for this power. Whether it be their concerns or their past. Even their aspirations.”

Ira was suddenly reminded of how old Ashley was. She was only in her early twenties. She was only three or four years older than Ira but she felt like a much more seasoned adult. 

Was it because she was the emperor? 

Ira waited because she thought Ashley still had more to say but, to her surprise, Ashley had nothing more to say. 

“Your Majesty.”

Ira shifted her gaze before slowly parting her lips. 

“To be honest with you, there was someone who wanted to visit my place more than anyone else.”

Ira thought this would be the perfect time to bring it up.

“Please send me news of her. Got it?”

Ira’s childhood friend. The man who had actually wanted to attend the celebrations was none other than Cjezarnian. 

“Is that so?”

Slightly tilting her head, Ashley smiled. 

“I wanted to see the ducal princess though.”

Before she noticed, Ashley had gotten much closer to her than what was considered polite. 

“Can’t you talk with me a little longer, ducal princess?”

“W-what do you mean?”

“I mean exactly what I mean.”

Facing the smile that exploded in front of her eyes as clearly as dew, Ira could not help but to blush. 

Ira already had high expectations for the looks of the people living here after seeing so many otherworldly handsome men. Still, though she was not an outstanding beauty, there was something about Ashley that caught her eye. 

“I don’t have many friends.”

As she tried to cool off her reddening cheeks by shaking her head, Ira suddenly realised something the moment she made eye contact with the emperor. 

The gaze of the smiling Ashley looked deep and unfathomable. The beautiful purple of her eyes reminded Ira of a deep well.  

Was the emperor not aware of how much Cjezarnian liked her?

Ashley continued to smile. Strangely enough, although she was smiling brightly, Ira could not bring herself to say anything under this atmosphere. 

A sudden realisation dawned on Ira. 

If Ashley had not replied as such, Cjezarnian would have merrily travelled to the Empire himself. 

‘I know him well.’

In the meantime, Ashley was gently spinning her around. To prevent her from bringing it up at all. Ira would not be able to bring Cjezarnian any hope at this rate. 

And that was what she had been enlightened to find out.

‘You have really fallen in a hopeless and fruitless love.”

As a friend, Ira did pity and feel sorry for him but there was nothing she could do. But at the same time, she wondered. The reason why she did not resent the emperor for rejecting him. 

Ira glanced at the man to her side. The man who held the empress at the end of his gaze was as still as snow-covered forests. Nevertheless, he still looked cold and sharp. 

‘Should I be grateful that I’m this quick-witted?’

His eyes that seemed to have been constructed from fragments of a winter forest melted like snow when they faced the emperor. How should she take this? 

Similarly, the one who had captured Ashley’s gaze was also someone no one else could replace. 

So, the rumours were true. 

She had heard rumours that the relationship between the emperor and the empress was very very good. 

‘Sorry, Cjezarn.’

The moment Ira sighed inwardly. 

“Here you were.”

Someone new appeared by the door. Looking at the fluttering red hair, Ira thought the visitor was Marissa but it wasn’t. 

“Though the maids were shocked to find out that the guest had disappeared without a word.”

Her eyes that were as black as obsidian captured her in their gaze. 

“Rebecca.”

Ashley’s expression softened like a child’s. 

“… Why are you here? You should still be in the City of Beasts.”

“Hahaha. Are you tracking me?”

“…..”

“… And of course, you aren’t! I wanted to hurry and rest. After taking care of everything I mean.”

“… Do you call that an excuse?”

Rebecca shook her head as though she was pained. With her head slightly buried in Amor’s shoulders, Ashley smiled. 

“You don’t have to force yourself to do anything that pains you.”

“Your Highness.”

Rebecca called out to him forcefully.

“Rosé.”

Ignoring Rebecca’s response, Amor’s soft gaze swept down her hair before he planted a kiss at the ends of the strands.

“Since you’re resting, why don’t you remain here till night comes?”

The way he then tilted his head before bringing Ashley’s ears into his lips was so sensual, Ira turned red.

“That is very tempting. I’ll keep it in mind.”

Laughing without sound, Ashley pushed her prince consort away. 

“But we have a guest here, don’t we?”

She then looked at Ira.

“Shall we get going now?”

“Ah! Yes!”

“Oh. There’s no need to be nervous. I truly did want to meet you, ducal princess.”

Ashley grabbed Ira’s hand. 

“This is a secret but I’m deathly afraid of my lady-in-waiting. Accompany me.”

Ira’s eyes shook at the emperor’s little gestures that made them seem like the bestest of friends. 

“W-why are you bringing me around like this?”

“Hm. I don’t have much of a reason.”

The wheat-coloured hair much like hers shook in front of Ira’s eyes. As those purple eyes curled gently. 

“We can come up with a reason now. I don’t really have other friends my age so could you come up with one, ducal princess?”

“M-me?”

“We have the same hair. Since we have something in common, we must get along great, right? This must be what they call fate.”

Ira felt as though she might become bewitched by the words flowing out of her. No, she might already be in the midst of being bewitched. 

“… Do you not want to be friends? That’s sad to hear.”

Seeing how sulky the emperor had gotten, Ira was reminded of the cat one of her friends had been raising. She quickly shook her head. 

“That’s not it!”

In Walter, cats were sometimes believed to have magical powers. They had a strange magic that mesmerises whoever laid eyes on them to let down their guard. 

“I’m glad to hear that.”

As if she suddenly thought of something, Ashley widened her eyes before clapping her hands.

“Come to think of it, I forgot your clothes.”

Ashley tilted forward and whispered to Rebecca who had been walking slightly ahead of them. 

“Shall I show you something interesting?”

She asked playfully. 

“But before that, could you return that to me?”

Ira returned Ashley the notebook. Just then, a white energy that was mixed with purple arose from the book. And the growing light enveloped her body. 

After the light that had surrounded her disappeared almost instantly. Ira found herself wearing a new dress. 

The dress was made of carefully woven fabric with golden threads cascading down the cloth. It was not the simple outdoor dress she wore when she arrived or was it the maid’s uniform she had been wearing just earlier. It was a splendidly gorgeous and beautiful Imperial dress. 

“Do you like it?”

“Huh? Ah. I do!”

“Really?”

“Really!”

Excited, Ira waved her hands around before exclaiming. She felt like she was dreaming. 

“It feels like you’re tricking me.”

Ashley paused for a moment before bursting into laughter. 

“I’ve heard that a lot before.”

He then curled his eyes slowly. 

“Will you still come with me even if I trick you?”

“… Huh?”

Ashley smiled widely. 

“I’m kidding. The clothes are just gifts. To celebrate our first meeting.”

A long time ago, Walter had magic. But the power, which had always been considered miraculous, had long vanished from Walter. 

For Ira who had just been living a normal life in a world of man, Ashley was a mystical existence who could perform such miracles. Ira’s heart was set aflutter. 

‘… I’m not going to have to become love rivals with Cjezarn, do I?’

She found herself worrying about useless things. 

“Come to think of it, I had forgotten to introduce my lady-in-waiting. The person walking ahead of us is Rebecca, my lady-in-waiting and my Deputy Secretary of Court.”

Unfamiliar with the position she just heard of, Ira wrinkled her nose.

“A Secretary of Court…?”

Noticing her confusion, Ashley explained. 

“It‘s like the person who oversees all palace affairs in Walter.”

Ira’s mouth gaped open. But she managed to pull herself together to give a nod and close her mouth. 

From that moment forth, there was no conversation. 

Scrape scrape.

A thin piece of fabric grazed Ira’s legs. Discovering that Ashley had been wearing clothes similar to hers, Ira glanced at her cheek. 

But she then slowly turned her eyes away before staring directly at the back of the lady-in-waiting walking in front of her. The red-haired woman, whose face she had only caught a glimpse of, marched proudly forward. 

‘My heart keeps pounding.’

Ira felt strange. She wanted to smile and cry. She seemed to feel disappointed with something and jealous at the same time. But she felt all the while confused because she had no idea what was going on. 

Walking along the path of acceptance, she soon reached a crossroads. 

“What a shame.”

Seeing the fork in the road, Ashley stopped. 

“We shall be parting here.”

Ashley approached her and grabbed both Ira’s hands.

“I shall see you at the banquet then. Though I’ll be greeting you as the emperor.”

From up close, Ashley’s expressions were much more vivid. 

“Please remember me as Ashley Rosé. I will much prefer that.”

After remaining silent for a moment, Ashley added with a bitter smile. 

“Could you also tell Crown Prince Cjezarn that I have been well?”

“… Ah.”

“And that this will be the last time.”

Ashley let her hands go before turning around.

“See you again, ducal princess.”

The emperor as well as her prince consort left on a different path. The red-haired woman next to her tried to guide her towards a separate path but Ira found herself staring at the emperor and her prince consort for a moment. 

“Amor. How did you find the present I’ve sent you?”

“You mean that girl in a maid’s uniform?”

“Oh my, anyone eavesdropping might misunderstand. What I gifted you was a memory. Memories we both share.”

“Is that so?”

Ira found the couple smiling with their heads lowered. Soon, the man held the woman’s hand and gave it a peck. 

“Well. I prefer the you in front of me than any memory, Your Majesty.”

Ira could no longer hear their conversation. But the clear sight of the bright smiles on the couple’s faces left Ira a deep impression. If Ira were to draw a happy face, would she look like them? Ira turned her head.

The emperor’s birthday banquet that was held for the first time since the war ended five years ago was both grand and luxurious. The festivities were of unprecedented scale as domestic and foreign guests and all the templars attended. 

Unlike her lacklustre arrival, Ira remained faithful to her duty as Walter’s representative. 

Till the after-party ended and till she returned to her home with some regrets and a change within her. Ira would never be able to forget this trip for the rest of her life. 

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