Chapter 156
The first thing Ludwig did after leaving Halbern was to return to the Southern Empire.
The gate between the capital made the trip easy, but Ludwig was in a hurry.
He feared that while he was away, Valar might pull some trick and throw him out.
‘I’ve made some preparations,’ he said.
It wasn’t enough to reassure him.
Determined to get back to his urgent business, Ludwig turned to his aide, to represent him in the now deserted castle of Locke.
“Your Excellency, I think I misheard you, but what do you need me to do…”
“Deputy.”
“…”
German was genuinely worried that Ludwig was already senile.
“Anything that must be authorized by me is to be sent to Halbern.”
“What? Halbern…?”
After quickly wrapping up the business at Locke Castle, leaving the frozen German to his own devices, Ludwig’s next stop was the Imperial Castle of the South.
“Hello, Uncle.”
“It’s been a long time, Franz.”
“Well, well, what brings you here.”
Was it because of what he had done?
Ludwig shot a pitiful glance at Franz, who paled, not daring to look up, and then sighed.
It was he who had made his half-brother Emperor despite his mania, and it was he who had crowned his three-year-old nephew in place of his half-brother, who had died shortly afterward.
It was a choice he had never regretted, but Arellin had made him repent for once.
He felt a different emotion.
He had always felt sorry for his niece, but maybe he was the one who made him that way.
“From now on, I’ll leave the Pythal to you.”
“Huh, what?”
“That doesn’t mean I’m giving you full control, don’t get me wrong. I can always take it back from you if you do something stupid.”
“…”
The scarecrow Emperor who had been pushed by the regent blinked rapidly.
The regency had been Franz III’s lifelong dream, but he had never thought it would be so easy to obtain.
“Why, what the hell…”
Normally, he wouldn’t have said something like that, but was it because he was half-awake?
Franz III swallowed hard at the question.
Ludwig, seeing the pathetic state of affairs, didn’t lash out as usual. He simply replied calmly.
“I can’t be your ruler forever.”
“…?”
It was true in principle, but it wasn’t the kind of thing a man who’d spent his entire career as the Southern Empire’s first ruler would say.
“Don’t be pathetic, be dignified as Emperor of the Southern Empire.”
Ludwig thought.
The man he was before he met Arellin.
The one who had become even more self-righteous and insular, unable to deal with his feelings for Sione and the way she had hurt him.
Confronting the wrong version of himself was terrifying to say the least, but the exhilaration of overcoming it was indescribable.
‘I miss Arellin already.’
There was still so much to do.
“I’ll be staying in Albrecht from now on, so you can reach me there.”
“Eh, eh?”
Franz III was overwhelmed just trying to follow the sequence of events.
What the hell was going on?
“Oh, and Franz.”
Franz was dumbfounded.
Ludwig, who had stopped in his tracks to leave, looked at Franz with wistful eyes.
“Your father’s journals are at Locke Castle. Speak to the German and he will give it to you.”
“…!”
“You wanted to see the will, didn’t you? Ask German to show it to you, too.”
Franz questioned his father’s death and longed to find the journal and he’d been searching for his entire life.
Franz thought something was wrong, that his uncle, who always stood on edge and looked like he would smash the whole place if he touched it wrong… was really strange.
“Why, why…”
‘Why show me that?’
Wasn’t it a document that would prove fatal to Ludwig, or did the Emperor himself know something about Uncle Ludwig?
As his nephew swallowed dryly and looked mortified, Ludwig said one last thing to him.
“Live well.”
***
As Ludwig wrapped up his affairs in the Southern Empire and headed back to Lemren, one of his vassals quietly asked him a question.
“Was it necessary for you to hand over your journals and will?”
Ludwig, lost in thought, pulled up the corner of his mouth and replied.
“Because there’s no reason to keep them now.”
From that point on, Ludwig favored his half-brother, the first Emperor.
He knew that Franz III was frightened by the absurd misconception that he had “murdered the first Emperor and would do the same to him,” but he deliberately let it go.
He thought that Franz would grow up better with such resentment as manure.
As it turned out, he grew up to be a halfpenny who couldn’t even speak to his uncle.
‘It doesn’t matter now.’
Ludwig savored the peace he found in letting go of what he had held so tightly.
“As soon as I finish my business in the Kingdom of Lemren, I will return to Halbern.”
Ludwig’s mind raced again.
***
“Arellin, I have something to tell you.”
And so presently.
Ludwig, who had succeeded in returning Halbern in a week after all the hard marching, faced Arellin again.
“Something to say…?”
Ludwig confidently pulled something out of his arms.
It was a deed, issued in the name of the Holy State of Lemren.
“This body will be your godfather.”
“…”
Arellin was at a loss for words.
“Godfather…?”
“If I can’t be your father, I want to be your godfather.”
Ludwig’s strong will to be tied to Arellin somehow, even if it wasn’t by blood, even if he couldn’t be her father, was palpable.
“…”
“…”
Mehen and Valar, watching, were speechless.
‘He said he had some business in the castle country.’
What kind of business?
Unlike Mehen, who was merely annoyed, Valar frowned and openly protested.
“That’s ridiculous, who’s paying you to be a godfather?”
“Do you have the right to decide?”
“Ha, I’m Arel’s father, isn’t that a given?”
“It’s already been approved by the Holy State.”
It wasn’t just a high priest, it was a godfather’s certificate approved by a saint.
“How much did you pay in donations…?”
Even in this day and age, when the power of the temple was no longer as great as it once was, the position of godfather endorsed by the temple was not taken lightly.
Valar shouted.
“I don’t approve. Do you think you can become Arellin’s godfather with a mere deed like this?”
“Yes, I do.”
Mehen, on the other hand, rolling on the abacus, was coolly welcoming.
“If the Regent can be Arellin’s godfather, at least things will never be the same again.”
“I’ll try.”
Even if the Southern Empire of Pythal was inferior to the Albrecht Empire, it was still an Empire that encompassed the Southern Continent.
To have such a powerful man favor Arellin would do more harm than good.
Besides, isn’t it a hundred times better to do this than to go to war over a misunderstanding?
Mehen decides to sacrifice peace at home for peace in the world. After all, he and Arellin are fine.
There was one man who, unlike the positive Mehen, could not accept this situation.
“Honey!”
“Who’s your wife, you bastard!”
Valar could not deny it.
“Daughter!”
A pathetic call to take his side!
Unfortunately, Valar’s daughter agreed to it.
“I’ll do as you say, mom.”
“Arel…”
Valar was defeated.
Ludwig said shyly.
“Will you call me Godfather?”
“Godfather.”
“Yes!”
It was just one word, and Ludwig’s fists clenched in excitement. Arellin could only stare in disbelief.
‘Is it that good?’
Valar, unable to tolerate the cheerful scene between the two, immediately interrupted.
“Call me dad!”
“Dad.”
“Again!”
“Human, grow up!”
Mehen’s interruption prevented Valar from continuing his tirade, but the seemingly meek Ludwig revealed a hidden ambition.
“I’m still working on my karma, but one day I will be your father.”
“…?”
He asked, wanting to be a father?
