The Concubine Does Not Love the Emperor - Chapter 27

“Did you buy the harem? Will you tell me?” Margaret clenched her lips and glared at Suleiman.

“Why.”

He chuckled lightly.

“I might kill anyone who knows. Haha. Don’t glare at me like that. It’s just a joke. Just a joke. Relax, okay?”

Setting down the empty coffee cup, he poured another cup while looking at her. Margaret’s coffee remained untouched. She had no intention of drinking. Who would casually drink coffee and eat snacks in such a situation? Yet the man leisurely took a snack, making a sound as he licked the powder off his fingers, staring intently at her. His gaze was unabashed.

“Stop staring and either eat or drink. It’s already night. Do you have something to tell me today? Or is it someone sent by Mohu, not Mustafa?”

At Suleiman’s words, Margaret recalled her original mission. Yes, what did it matter if Ray was the emperor? In fact, it worked out well. Although the lingering uncomfortable emotions remained, it might be due to weakness. Her head was dizzy, and she kept getting angry and resorting to violence. Perhaps the emperor behaved arrogantly without dignity due to some weakness.

Thinking like that, her emotions softened a bit. Seeing her expression, Suleiman swallowed the coffee in one gulp and approached her.

“Is this to seduce me?”

With the tip of his finger, he provocatively lowered the loosely draped clothes. As if waiting, her breasts slightly popped out. The scars he had carved were still vividly visible in red. Startled, Margaret pushed away the emperor’s hand and pulled up her clothes. However, it was originally a deeply cut outfit. She knew that trying to cover it would only make it more ridiculous.

Yes, Margaret came dressed like a harlot to seduce the emperor. It was an undeniable fact. Shameless and without applying makeup to her body. Confidently, she had set her mind to it. But now that she knew he was just Ray, she hesitated.

Suleiman showed no discomfort and slyly approached again. Then, he lifted his hand and pressed her lower lip firmly. Instinctively, her lips slightly parted.

“You’re Kadima.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At her response, a smile played on Suleiman’s lips. His innocent and pure face still seemed so upon a second look. Behind this delicate facade, however, Margaret now understood that there was a beastly ferocity. The man’s violet eyes harbored a dangerous passion and an imminent, precarious dominance that felt like he could pin her beneath him at any moment. Her body tensed like a rod; this was what she had desired—the situation she had wanted. Yet, despite that, she couldn’t help but feel nervous and kept retreating.

“Kadima is the emperor’s woman.”

With Suleiman’s words, Margaret’s eyelids drooped weakly.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

His hands encircled her shoulders. The emperor, slowly closing in within her lowered field of vision, appeared. She tightly shut her eyes, feeling the man’s breath so close. Irregular and warm breath. Finally, soft lips lightly met hers. The scent of fresh coffee lingered as their lips touched.

Moist.

The lips imitated the sound of spring rain and then smoothly slid. As the tension released from the grip on her shoulders, Margaret found herself embraced by Suleiman. Yielding to his expectant weight, she fell backward without resistance. The primal scent of the man brushed her nose. Overwhelmed by the impending act, Margaret shut her eyes tightly.

“…”

For a while, Suleiman leaned on Margaret like a lifeless body. She opened the eyes she had closed. The sight of a crystal chandelier hanging in the center of the high, round ceiling greeted her. The man’s breath was still felt near her chest. Her heart pounded.

‘The emperor’s residence is splendid, even in the ceiling.’

Delicate and beautiful patterns adorned the surroundings of the chandelier, radiating gently like rays and extending to the walls. Following the intricate pattern with her gaze, she lowered her eyes.

‘…Why.’

Why wasn’t anything happening? She was puzzled. The man, who seemed ready to pounce at any moment, was now leaning on her, exhaling evenly. It wasn’t sticky breath. Once again, she slowly closed her eyes and opened them. Eventually, Margaret cautiously addressed him.

“Your Majesty.”

There was no response. After waiting for a moment, Margaret called out to Suleiman more boldly.

“Hey!”

Once again, only silence echoed back. Unable to endure, she pushed Suleiman’s shoulders. The man, without resistance, moved aside and fell. Startled, she quickly pressed her ear against his chest. The rhythmic and powerful sound of a beating heart resonated in her ears. At least Suleiman was alive. The man lay there with a peaceful expression, as if deeply asleep. His thin eyelids showed slight movement as his eyes moved left and right.

“Can a person fall asleep in an instant like this?”

Doubting, Margaret forcibly lifted his eyelids. Only the whites of his eyes flashed. Startled, she let go and stepped back. Suleiman, seeming annoyed, furrowed his brow for a moment before turning over and lying down.

“He’s… asleep! He’s asleep!”

It wasn’t an illusion. Suleiman was now sound asleep. And it was an incredibly deep slumber, to the point where he wouldn’t wake up even if touched. Something was wrong. With an ominous feeling, Margaret quickly looked around. There was nothing suspicious. Just the lavish snacks piled up like a tower and the untouched coffee cups of both Margaret and the now-empty of Suleiman.

“Could someone have done something to the coffee!”

Just as she was about to inspect the coffee cup, she felt a change in the air. The rough and sharp aura, like a wild beast, suddenly filled the room. Instinctively, she looked for something to use as a weapon, but naturally, there was nothing. Feeling helpless, Margaret instinctively lay down next to Suleiman.

“Who would dare to harm the emperor.”

It was deep within the Harem, within the inner sanctum of the palace. It was undoubtedly the work of an insider. Calmly, Margaret gathered her hands and listened carefully. Eventually, the sound of a door opening reached her ears. Someone had entered. It wasn’t someone experienced, as they didn’t hide their presence and footsteps.

“He’s not on the bed but collapsed on the floor?”

“Is it true that the emperor only sleeps with men?”

From the voices, there were only two people. One of them approached. Glancing at Margaret, he casually whistled.

“Look at this; they came prepared.”

“Stop the useless talk. The effects of the potion won’t last long.”

Listening to them, it felt as if they were the culprits who had tampered with the coffee.

“[We’ve prepared it in advance tonight to expose the truth to His Majesty.]”

Altar’s words echoed in Margaret’s mind. Even if Suleiman hadn’t brought her snacks, it would have been a risky endeavor.

‘Whoever planned this doesn’t know much about the emperor. But reaching into the kitchen with such authority…’

“Hurry up. It’s a shame to kill him like this. If my things were intact, I would’ve stabbed him a few times.”

“If you touch the emperor’s woman, you won’t even go to heaven if you die.”

“Alright, alright. Stop the nagging.”

As the conversation seemed to be cut off from above, a hand suddenly reached between her armpits. Margaret was surprised, but she remained still, feigning sleep. The man dragged Margaret along and sat her on a chair. From a little distance away, another man spoke.

“The emperor turning out the snacks made things easier. Can you handle her alone?”

“This woman is enough. But don’t let your guard down. It could be troublesome if someone catches on.”

It seemed they had tampered not only with the coffee but also with the snacks. Considering that not everyone had fallen asleep, how could they boldly enter through the door?

“In the name of the gods.”

The man recited a prayer. Margaret felt a soft silk wrapping around her neck. Perhaps he intended to strangle her. She quickly slid her hand between the silk and her neck. When the man pulled the cord, she swiftly leaned backward.

“Wait! The woman’s coffee is still there!”

Another member of the group shouted, but it was too late. It was an unexpected counterattack. The man, who had assumed she was asleep and had let his guard down, missed the silk cord. Margaret didn’t miss the opportunity. She quickly took the silk cord, looped it around with her hand, and identified the position of the other man. He was still in the same posture, searching through the emperor’s belongings.

“This… this woman!”

It was the eunuch with the white turban on his messy skin. She tightened the cord in her hand even more. The face of the man held in the intense pressure turned from red to blue. Seeing this, the eunuch drew a knife from his waist.

“Let go immediately!”

“Shh, if you make too much noise, we’ll get caught.”

Margaret spoke sweetly, lifting the corner of her mouth. The man writhing in pain and gasping for breath soon lost consciousness. Only then did Margaret release the silk cord, tossing it away.

“What, what are you?”

The eunuch with the knife couldn’t react in time. Standing tall, Margaret was as tall as the eunuch. Threateningly, she swung the knife through the air a few times. It was a common act of intimidation used to instill fear. A smirk flickered across Margaret’s face.