Chapter 12 Whose letter is this?
Kuhn’s letter was concise.
It began with his recollection of his first meeting with Chloe and how he lived after the war. It went on to describe his background, something he hadn’t been able to explain during their first conversation.
His personal details were not included in the long story. Chloe was disappointed because she had been looking forward to learning more about him.
Chloe’s identity was already known, so what was he trying to hide?
A man who hides his identity like that is usually one of three things: a bad guy, too good to be true, or both.
Considering the value of the letter, he’s probably too good to be true.
If the name Kuhn is too good to be true, there is one man who comes to mind.
The current Emperor of the Empire.
But Chloe didn’t think her friend could be the Emperor.
The Emperor of the Empire wouldn’t be wandering around town in shabby clothes, and he wouldn’t be looking for his wallet.
Besides, Kuhn and the Emperor were too different.
The Emperor Chloe had met in person, and the one she’d heard rumors about, were both cold and cruel.
‘Perhaps after we get to know each other better, you’ll tell me who you are.’
Chloe finished the letter with a sigh. It was the last chapter.
“I’m sure you’re wondering when we’ll meet, and so am I.
It won’t be long now, I dare say, and we will meet soon, Chloe.
Until then, I wish you well.”
It was a mere typewritten story, shorter than any book, and yet so intriguing.
“I would be very honored if you would write an answer, Chloe.”
There was a postscript at the very bottom of the letter.
The handwriting was formal, but with a hint of playfulness.
Chloe decided that she would have to start her reply with “Glory to you.”
After that, it explained how to send the letter.
“You can leave your reply in the same place as my letter. There’s no specific time you have to send it, so write it at your convenience.”
The letters were not to be sent from Chloe’s side, but were to be picked up by the recipient, Kuhn.
At this point, Chloe began to wonder about the man’s identity, which she hadn’t been too curious about before.
‘… Is a wanted man?’
Too much money, but no identity. Somehow, someone comes to mind.
It would not be an unfounded suspicion.
Chloe decided to be discreet and ask for his identity in her reply.
The next day, Chloe sat down at her desk as soon as she woke up.
Unless there was a specific time to send the letter, it could be sent at any time. She wanted to write him back as soon as possible so she could hear back from him.
For Chloe, who had been used to writing only business letters, it was unusual to play with a friend.
Chloe would tell her own stories in between, and write about how she felt after hearing Kuhn’s stories.
As she wrote, she realized that the letter had gotten quite long.
Chloe felt a little embarrassed that she was the only one who was excited, so she snatched a few sheets of paper before putting the letter in the envelope. She’ll save for another time if she gets a chance.
After she finished writing the letter, she went downstairs to breakfast. The quality of the meal was noticeably lower than yesterday’s, but she was more satisfied than ever.
Chloe returned to her room as soon as she had finished eating, wondering if the letter had been sent.
‘There it is!’
The letter, which she had placed on the side table according to Kuhn’s instructions, had vanished.
Was Jane in on this letter prank? Who could have taken the letter?
Her curiosity was piqued, but she decided to leave it alone.
As with any magic trick, there was something to be said for leaving secrets unexplored.
***
“Why are you reading a letter addressed to His Majesty?”
Dylan asked in surprise as he entered the monarch’s office.
He was surprised to see the man sitting so still in his chair, and even more surprised to see the letter in his hand.
He wondered if this was the same man who had given him stack after stack of letters that he’d refused to read.
“I’m interested.”
Dylan’s heart skipped a beat at the next words.
Excitement, joy, and a sense of grandiosity rose in him.
Finally, this man was interested in foreign affairs!
In his excitement, Dylan didn’t unpack the nagging questions he’d been thinking about all the way home.
It was the third best thing he’d ever done in his life.
To break Kuhn’s concentration on the letter would have been too much for him to handle.
‘To my dear friend…’
Kuhn began reading the letter from the beginning again, poring over it until the paper wore thin.
The very top line, where she wrote the sender. There she addressed me as her “dear friend”.
Her strokes were jagged, as if she’d thought about it many times while writing. It was a loving testament that only he could find.
At the bottom was a reply to the letter and the story of Chloe’s new life.
At the end, she sneakily asks for Kuhn’s information. Did she really think he would give her the answer? It was both naive and reckless.
“So, can I expect a reply? No, I’ll wait.”
In contrast to the cheerful start of the letter, the final words were tense.
The woman who hadn’t liked Kuhn’s relationship was now welcoming it.
For a moment, the reversal of dominance was sweet. Suddenly, Kuhn’s emotions were running high.
‘I shouldn’t have given her my heart so easily.’
For someone who had been through so many relationships, she was surprisingly vulnerable.
He wondered if he would give his heart to others so easily.
I wonder if she uses such a cute way of speaking to those rats.
It was from such insignificant thoughts that Kuhn’s discomfort began.
“Dylan.”
The negative emotion that he thought would pass quickly followed him for a long time.
Finally, he called his dedicated fixer.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Dylan answered the solemn-looking monarch’s call. To be honest, he was a little nervous.
“I wonder why the one who was wary of me has suddenly taken a liking to me.”
“What?”
“When she doesn’t like me, and now she needs me.”
Dylan was confused.
If he’d asked after reading the letter, shouldn’t the question be about the letter?
But the question didn’t seem to have anything to do with diplomacy.
“Uh… You must be a people person.”
Dylan answered anyway, because he had to.
The other man’s face twisted at his standard response. He realized that what he had just said wasn’t what they were looking for.
Dylan was surprised and quickly corrected himself.
“… I stand corrected. I may not have been at first, but now I have no choice but to trust you.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Because now that I know how much you’re worth, it’s your loss to let you go. Not just materially, but emotionally.”
Dylan tensed again at the eloquent answer in such a short time. Would this be the one he liked this time?
Soon, Kuhn’s head nods. The satisfied look on his face said he was satisfied with the answer.
That’s what he wanted to hear, that I was good, that he was drawn to me. He was waiting for Dylan to say what I already knew.
“What do you care about such things? Whatever the truth, or what the other thinks, things will turn out as the Emperor wishes.”
Worried that Kuhn might ask another useless question, Dylan drove a wedge. It was half flattery to save face, half sincerity.
No matter the hardship, Kuhn would get what he wanted. And if it’s hard to get, he’ll do it with skill and finesse.
A man who has gotten everything he’s ever wanted, and succeeded in every grand plan he’s ever made.
A man of great ability and great standing, he was already on top of the world.
There was nothing he couldn’t accomplish.
‘Oh, right. You failed in the war.’
Dylan, who had been worshipping Kuhn, snapped out of it.
There was still the war with the kingdom of Vallont, which had ended in a fiasco too futile to be a man’s mistake.
The only thing that remained of Kuhn’s great accomplishments. Dylan felt suddenly resentful, even though he hadn’t done it.
“… But, Your Majesty, may I ask you a question this time? Why did you give up on the Vallont Kingdom?”
At that moment, the fingers tapping on the table stopped in midair. Kuhn’s gaze fell from the letter to Dylan.
Ouch.
A cold sweat ran down Dylan’s spine as he met the cool red eyes.
Such an impudent question, so proudly displayed.
Even he, who had stood by Kuhn’s side for so long, would not have survived. Dylan tensed, waiting to see what would happen to him for crossing the line.
“I never gave up.”
Kuhn replied calmly. His unexpected gentleness suddenly frightened Dylan.
Perhaps His Majesty had eaten something wrong.
“It’s just that the object has changed.”
“What does that mean…”
“I’ve never not gotten what I wanted, and no matter how long it takes or how much effort I put into it, the object will eventually come into my hands.”
“…”
“Which means it’s the same this time. Dylan.”
The tone of the voice contrasted with the gentle tone.
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
Part of him wanted to ask one more time, but he felt like he might actually hear it.
Finally, he shut up.
“Dylan.”
Kuhn called out to Dylan, who stood there dumbfounded.
“…Yes.”
“Parchment.”
At Kuhn’s command to get the parchment, Dylan said yes and left the room.
‘No, but what kind of parchment?’
Dylan wondered as he slowly made his way to the warehouse.
What kind of parchment is this man looking for, he wondered, a man who said he had no manners for those lesser than him, a man who wrote letters on random pieces of paper.
Who was this letter from?
