"Do you wish to die?"
The emperor, that is, Emperor Azriel Lennox von Farren el Cirillo, casually sat on his gold encrusted throne as he decided the fate of another lowly one's life once again.
Finally realizing his mistakes, the viscount immediately knelt, "Your majesty! Spare me! This lowly one is rotten! Spare me–"
"Since it's rotten anyways, shouldn't we get rid of it?"
The people, be it knights or the present nobles all held their breaths, afraid that if they did breathe, the emperor would find fault and lose their heads.
The viscount trembled and didn't dare raise his head. The silence, however, was deafening and he couldn't bear it. He peeked and was instantly cold.
His majesty's eyes are famed.
Not only because of its faded color, opposite to the late emperor's bright golden eyes nor the late empress' vivid red eyes, but also because of how frightening it was.
Only when one is looking from below can they finally realize why this man is emperor, and why he is described as a 'snow covered mountain'.
Formidable, undefeatable, and piercing.
One look from him can make soldiers drop to their knees.
"Aillard, Ethel, Cirillo..." He recited the names of all the people present whilst forming the Farren flame on his palm, "heed this as a warning–" the flame struck the viscount, "unwarranted actions in my empire will not go unpunished."
"AH! AHHHH! HELP! NO! AHHHH!" The viscount crawled to the people near him, begging with desperation.
No one helped him though, no one dared to.
I sighed, the death of a viscount surely wouldn't be an easy matter to deal with. The funeral, protests, settlement.....replacement.
That should take a week or two. I estimated to be back by the twentieth, but I seem to be too wishful.
Jerome have reported that Raina have awoken and recovering slowly, inquiring of my return. That Sorin and Raina are getting along.
I wonder if they truly do. After all, they have similar personalities that do not complement each other.
When his majesty and I reached his personal study, he finally relaxed and removed his icy exterior, although, like usual he hid his face with the 'forget-my-face-haha' mask that the 50th saint created.
"Your majesty, I have discussed a few things with Lord Lucian."
As soon as he sat down, he started skimming through the papers on his table.
"Go on."
"It seems that Duke Verena had left the empire and went to the Vendea kingdom, reasons are currently unknown."
"I'll arrange someone to look into it."
"Very well. As for the matters with Lady Verena... Unfortunately, her condition still hasn't improved."
It was unfortunate indeed.
In 3 months, his majesty will turn twenty-one, yet there isn't anyone to succeed the throne.
The emperor's only living relative is a wanderer, he also doesn't have any siblings, moreover, he led the Rosenlite empire at a young age not once having any romantic affairs.
The emperor stopped and finally looked me in the eyes, he looked displeased, "Ask him to send his sister. The matter with the engagement shouldn't be delayed any further, lest the people of Ethel make noise."
"Your majesty, Lord Lucian greatly cherishes the lady."
"Then, should I, the emperor, adjust to when she's cured? If they are not willing to comply, terminate the deal with them immediately."
After saying so, he tapped on the table, "No, nevermind."
To terminate the engagement with Lady Verena would mean suffering a loss. Since his majesty's enthronement, no one has sat on the empress' seat. The position of empress, Marquis Ethel wants his only daughter to acquire it.
For years, he has been laying ground for that dream of his, carefully amassing his power and molding his daughter to be the perfect empress.
Currently, in high society, Lady Ethel's influence in the new generation of ladies and the citizens is unmatched. As the only daughter of the leading marquisate, she has money, influence, and reputation.
Moreover, the ducal ladies of Aillard and Verena have not shown their face in any events of high society which only solidifies Lady Ethel's position of 'noblest lady'.
That's why, to resist Marquis Ethel's ever-growing power, we will use the Verena's.
After all, even if the members of the Verena family have lived in seclusion for almost a century now, their prestige is unparalleled.
The Verena where the first saint and first empress came from.
The Verena where fifty-three of the sixty-eight saints came from.The Verena where countless empress came from.
The Verena who is said to be the Goddess' descendants.
If a century old marquisate can be powerful enough to dare defy the crown, much less a millennium duchy. With this union, a few problems of his majesty can be eliminated.
First and foremost, the matter of empress will be solved with minimal opposition.
Second, the ongoing feud with the church can be put at a halt.
Third, the citizens would be more willing to trust the imperial family.
And... Someone can finally share Azriel's burden.
I couldn't help but soften at the thought, however, there was still things at hand, so I dismissed such sentiment.
I was about to speak when I heard his majesty mutter to himself, "...Find a substitute."
I was quite surprised, "It seems that Lord Lucian and your majesty has the same idea."
I handed him the heir of Verena's proposal.
It was a simple proposal that states the matter of finding a substitute will be entrusted to me, the duke of Aillard, and that the materials needed for the disguise will be provided by Lord Lucian. As well as compensation for the delay. "Very well, I approve."
***
"Hey..."
"Hey."
"Hey."
"Heyyyyy. "
"Ugh! What's your problem?!" I slammed my book shut, glaring at the annoying yellow pest.
"Aren't you bored?" He leaned closer and whispered, "Let's sneak out."
"..."
Temptations are created by evil, for example, the blondie beside me is an evil pest. As the daughter of the goddess, I shall resist temptation.
Repent and resist!
Again!
Repent and resist!
But alas...I am only human.
"Let's go."
In the name of 'therapy', we were able to successfully leave the base.
The wind blew, and even though the breeze was cold it didn't affect me thanks to the layers of coat I wore.
Seriously... Am I going for a walk or am I going to a battlefield?
"Be careful." Blondie stopped me and fixed the shawl on my shoulder.
This ogre... Why is he suddenly getting handsome?
In a baby voice, he teased, "We don't want our esteemed lady to get sick, do we?
Hmm? To avoid waking others because she's whining~"
"Fucking ogre bastard! Take it off." Blondie tilted his head. He should be wondering what he should take off, but to me, this gesture was his way of taunting. "Take this off!" I yanked the fabric off and threw it on his face...
Honestly...The way this guy treats me has changed.
The first three days of being my escort knight, although he liked to tease me, he was often cold. He was always standing unamused, rolling his eyes every few minutes.
But on the fourth day, he suddenly changed. It was subtle but he's been treating me much more warmly.
Blondie hummed, after a while, we stopped in front of a 9 feet tall brick wall, "Alright, this is it." He said, stretching his arms and head.
Is this bastard pranking me?! What do you mean 'this is it'?! Do you think I'm Eiji or something?!
I kicked the back of his knee, causing So-tall, full of vigor, and muscles-rin to hiss in pain.
He glared at me, in a tone of 'I was wrong' he whined, "Why are you so impatient?" He pushed one of the bricks and a door appeared.
"My bad." Outside was a vast grassy field with only a few trees and a lone hut.
Sorin led me to the run-down wooden hut while holding the reign of a majestic horse. I couldn't help but stare at his horse that was apparently named 'Leila', she had flawless white mane, blond hair and bright eyes. She neighed when I approached and pet her.
"Yes, yes, yes, miss Leila's so graceful, aren't you? Such a beautiful lady, right?" Leila neighed once again, I couldn't help but praise her more.
Blondie, however stopped me and urged, "Alright, that's enough. Get changed already!"
I entered and just like the outer appearance, the inside was also shabby. There was only a few chairs and table where clothes as well as a wig lay.
I held the persian shield colored wig. Adopting his master's hobbies, what a dedicated servant!
I braided my hair, put on the wig, and wore the white and red dress. Judging by the clothes, shoes and this ribbon, it seems red camelia-like embroidery is a staple of the Rielta region.
I walked out and asked, "What am I supposed to do with this?"
Sir statue had his hand on Leila, with knitted eyebrows and pursed lip, it was an expression of worry.
What's there to worry about?
Only when Leila nudged him did he move, getting closer to me. He didn't joke about how I'm so old yet can't tie a ribbon, he just grabbed it and tied it on my head like a hairband.
He patted my head, "I'll do something about it... Don't worry." He said it in such a low voice that I was unsure if the reassurance was for me or for him.
To be continued.