The Male Lead Knelt Before Me

I burst into tears in Caleb’s arms as soon as he finished his words.
I didn’t simply cry.

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I wailed and wept as I clutched Caleb’s uniform, causing it to crumple and get stained.

I sobbed, as if relieving all the emotions that had been weighing on my mind and heart all this time.

Meanwhile, Caleb caressed my back and soothed me till I stopped sobbing.

I felt awful looking at Caleb’s tattered uniform after I had hardly stopped sobbing.
Caleb, on the other hand, merely stated everything was alright since he had an extra uniform.

Then he led me to my room, telling me I needed to rest.
He even covered me with a blanket before leaving.

‘I didn’t even cry like this when I initially possessed Lena……’

Although I grieved occasionally after that, this was the first time I wept like this, and I felt embarrassed and ashamed.

Because, while it wasn’t the first time I cried in front of Caleb, it was the first time I cried in front of him out of sadness.

On the other hand, I felt terrible for him.
Because it’s evident that I wasn’t the only one who missed my parents.

The butler told me a story about Caleb’s childhood the first time I went to the corridor where the portraits of the former dukes and duchesses were displayed.

And one of the things I heard was that Caleb lost his parents when he was young.

I couldn’t believe I sobbed over my parents in front of someone who obviously also missed his……

‘I should make sure that this does not happen in the future.’

I sighed deeply and drew the blanket up to the tip of my nose.

⇺⇺⇺⇼⇻⇻⇻

What am I doing here?

Who am…

…no, not this one.

Well, it’s a long story.

I gave up attempting to retrieve my senses, which had gone missing for a short moment.

Instead, I looked outside through the window of the carriage.
Well, strictly speaking, I focused my attention on the palace’s main entrance.

The reason I came to the palace unexpectedly was because of the words I heard a short while ago.

 

“My lady, His Majesty the Emperor has requested a meeting with you.”

 

When I initially heard what the royal attendant said, I was taken aback.

Because the emperor has no reason to seek for me.

It would make more sense if the emperor had requested Caleb, but no matter how many times I asked, the royal attendant insisted that the emperor had requested me.

The emperor stated that anytime is fine, but the emperor has already dispatched a carriage and escort knights to accompany me to the palace.

I had no option but to come to the palace after the situation had worsened and I had no excuse to decline.

Together with the ten escort knights Caleb had assigned to stand by……

It was a burden, but because Caleb did it out of concern for my safety, accompanied by ten escort knights, I headed to the palace.

‘How come the Emperor wants to meet with me? Perhaps, is it because of the time when I sing in front of him?’

I remembered performing a song from a play in front of the emperor.

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He apparently let it go at the moment…

…Was he just acting that time?

That seems plausible to me.

The emperor may have stated he would let it go because there were so many people at the birthday banquet, but no one knew he was gnashing his teeth and waited for the perfect moment.

As I prepared to meet the emperor, I hoped that it was only my fantasy.

⇺⇺⇺⇼⇻⇻⇻

Every stride I made caused me to sweat more.

The tremor peaked when I was directly in front of the emperor.

“Greetings, Lady Oreu.
I haven’t seen you in a long time.”

The emperor on his throne sensed my presence and greeted me warmly, as if he knew me well.

The emperor was obviously smiling, but there was no way I could join him.

Because I didn’t know when the emperor would stop smiling and give the command to punish me.

‘Let’s stay calm.’

I attempted to keep my tremors at check and greeted him respectfully.

“Your Majesty the Emperor, please accept my greetings.”

“I heard you were unwell for a few days.
I apologize for bringing a sick person here.
How are you feeling? Is your body alright now?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.
I am alright.”

“I am really sorry for what occurred during the birthday banquet.
I heard the perpetrator had yet to be arrested.
For that thing that had happened in the palace, I am embarrassed to see you, Lady Oreu.”

I remained still as I heard what the emperor stated.
Because I didn’t know how to respond.

“That’s right, you must be wondering why I sent a servant to summon you here so early in the morning.”

It’s finally here.

I shut my eyes firmly.
In my mind, I imagined a sequence of punishments meted out by the emperor.

“Lady Oreu, the reason I summoned you here is……”

Start by scolding me harshly, command the guard to put me in jail, till get rid of me without even a rat knowing.

It was the point at which a series of events unfolded in my thoughts like a skit.

“I have a favor to ask of you.”

Without realizing it, I gazed up at the emperor in response to the unexpected words.

Favor? Not a punishment?

“If you don’t mind, Lady, I have a favor to ask of you.
Is that all right? I will pay anything for this favor.”

The emperor said, smoothing his chin.

I was glad to hear he wouldn’t punish me, but…… what exactly does the emperor want from me that he is ready to pay anything for?

It was terrifying since I couldn’t figure out what it was, but I was determined not to be repulsed by him.

He is the Emperor, after all.

“I’m not sure what type of favor you’d want to ask of me, Your Majesty.
But if you tell me what it is,  gladlyI will accept it.”

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“I appreciate you saying that.
It’s not a difficult task.
It has something to do with your field of expertise, Lady Oreu.”

Even after hearing that, I couldn’t figure out what he wanted me to do.

When I glanced at him with a perplexed face, the emperor continued.

“In a few days, there will be respected guests visiting the palace.”

“Respected guests?”

“That’s right, they’re respected guests from other countries.”

Was there going to be any guests to the palace around this time? I tried to remember such a passage in the original story , but I couldn’t remember anything like that.

The emperor’s birthday banquet was the only thing I remember happening in the original.
I had no idea what happened after that because I had stopped reading after that point.

“So I’ll throw a welcoming banquet for them in a few days, and I’d like you to sing there, Lady Oreu.”

“I… sing? But the only songs I know are from the play……”

“I understand your concern, Lady Oreu.
But there’s no need to be concerned.
When I ask you to do this favor, I already consider that.”

“That indicates……”

“It’s alright if you sing a play song.
And if you wish, it is even fine if you want to sing songs from plays other than Goddess.”

The emperor continued.

“I’ll leave the song selection entirely up to you, Lady Oreu.”

“Can I really do that, Your Majesty?”

“Because you will be singing it, I believe it is best if you choose a song that you are comfortable singing.
You don’t have to worry about stage preparation.
The imperial officials will handle everything.”

It was a very exceptional offer.

The fact that I could sing songs from another play was no different from the emperor’s indirect consent for the plays.

Moreover, I could even choose whatever songs to my heart’s content.

My brain was flooded with familiar songs.

“Your Majesty, is there anything I should be cautious of while selecting songs? Please let me know if there is anything I should be cautious of, whether it is a specific subject or words.”

“Any song is good as long as it isn’t dark or contains anything indecent.
Only that…… oh, no.
There is another thing to consider.”

I waited for the emperor’s next words.

“The song should not make people think about their child or mother.
That is, you should never sing Goddess.”

“Then, Your Majesty, I will carefully select the song.”

“Thank you for that, lady.
It’s now time to talk about the price.
Please let me know if you have any special requests.
I’ll give you everything I can.”

“Can I have everything I want, Your Majesty?”

“That’s correct.
As long as it’s not the throne, just say it comfortably.”

I realized what the emperor was saying so that I could relax and talk freely.

It didn’t help, though, because knowing and experiencing are plainly two different things.
‘How should I respond?’

In fact, when the emperor asked what I wanted for the price, one thought sprang to mind.

Because that was something I had always desired before I had Elena.

‘However……’

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I wasn’t sure if I should say it.

Because I was scared the emperor would be enraged if he found out.

When I was having difficulty expressing myself, the emperor added.

“If you desire, I could restore Baron Oreu’s status and make you the baron’s family’s heir.”

He’d appoint me as the heir to the baron’s family?

“Of course, I’m not expecting you to say anything like that.
I just make some ideas because I heard you were grown up and educated as the successor previously.”

Ah……

That’s when I realized what the emperor meant.

If I were the real Lena, that would be the thing I want the most, right?

Because her aim when the baron’s couple was still living was to inherit the baron’s family.

‘I’m already aware of it, but……’

But I couldn’t ask the emperor to do it.

Because there was something else that I ‘myself’ desired from the minute the emperor inquired what I wanted.

I was hesitant because I wasn’t sure whether or not I could say it.

When the emperor said what the true Lena may wish for, I wondered whether I could insist on my wish here.

“I……”

“……”

“So, I mean… what I want is……”

It was the moment when my lips twitched and I opened and closed my mouth numerous times.

When he saw me like that, the emperor shrugged his shoulders and murmured, ”

“It appears that you require some time to contemplate.”

“……yes.”

I gladly accepted.

“Well, even if you want to talk it over after the banquet, it is fine.
Consider it carefully, and let me know when you’ve reached a decision.”

“Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty.”

“Okay.
Then I think you should go back now.”

I bowed and exited the audience hall once the emperor granted his permission.

⇺⇺⇺⇼⇻⇻⇻

The emperor stroked his chin carefully after Elena exited the audience hall.

‘I never imagined I’d ask for such a favor.’

Whether his younger self could see what he was doing today, he would wonder if he had entered his dotage.

‘However, I couldn’t help myself.’

The emperor remembers hearing Elena sing for the first time.

Elena may be unaware of this, but the song Goddes was the emperor’s mother’s favorite lullaby when he was a child.

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When he was a youngster, the emperor was tormented and loathed for being the crown prince, despite the fact that he was born to an empress who was not nobility but a commoner actress.

His helpless mother, who has no strong family ties, often cries and apologizes to him for not being able to protect him.

He was fed up and disgusted with everything.

Even his father, who was apathetic and abandoned his weak mother.

He clenched his teeth every time he had to face the day.

He swore that when he became Emperor, he would behead all nobles who dared to discuss his ancestry, and he would take the designation from himself.

And he did it as soon as he ascended to the throne and became Emperor.

To eradicate any traces and labels from his mother, he prohibited play within the palace and prohibited anyone from discussing his mother in front of him.

And he never, ever thought about saving the theater industry after that.

He even thought it was a shame that he couldn’t get the play out of the roots.

He had already endured it for half of his life and believed there was no way he could go on doing it for the rest of his life.

However, he recognized as soon as he heard Elena’s song, Goddess.

That deep down inside his heart, he was missing his mother.

Even while his resentment remained, his love for his mother was stronger.

He was not upset with Elena when he recognized the buried truth within himself.

Instead, he hoped to hear more of Elena’s songs.

He knew Elena would always be willing to perform a song for him if he asked her to.

He was troubled, though, by what he had done all this time to desire that.

As a result, he devised an exquisite excuse for her to sing for respected guests at the banquet.

‘Obviously…… with this situation, I’ve realized that I don’t act my age.’

He felt he had to apologize for what he had done and re-establish the theater business right away.

The emperor was well aware of this, yet he couldn’t take the thought of changing his mind.

‘What value is my dignity and pride here?’

It was the emperor’s opportunity to laugh at himself.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to him.

‘But that child, she seems eerily familiar.’

He clearly hadn’t seen her before until the crown prince brought her singing in front of him, yet she seemed very familiar.

She was quite similar to the lost child.

That, of course, will not be the case.

That child had already been missing for more than twenty years.

Despite the fact that all available manpower was dedicated to the search for the child, twenty years had passed with no results.
Such a child cannot be living today.

‘My instinct is also worn out.’

The emperor shook his head, as if attempting to dismiss the pointless notion that had just occurred to him.

Instead, he considered preparing to greet the respected guests who would be visiting the palace a few days later.