They say that after hardship comes happiness. The journey to the capital that seemed like it would never end has finally come to an end.
Perhaps because of the psychological battle with Klisha that lasted a whole day, Eugene was on the verge of exhaustion.
Since at first glance, Klisha didn’t seem like it, but thinking that she might be a highly trained spy of Perza IV, Eugene attempted to get some information out of her subtly. However, in the end, it was Eugene who became the victim of the endless questioning.
For example, it went like this.
“Lady, what brings you to the capital? Is it perhaps your hometown?”
“That’s not important.”
“….”
Eugene was dumbfounded.
“Okay. We should start our discussion, shall we?
Your beloved woman fell down in the hallway.
1. Kill the architect who designed the hallway.
2. Kill the servant who cleaned it.
3. Kill the designer who made the shoes.
Which one is the correct answer?”
“Why do all the options end with killing? Is there a problem with your brain?”
Klisha lifted her small, round chin. As she glared at Eugene with her small, red lips pouting as if she was dissatisfied, even the sole successor of the mighty Servan Empire, that once ruled half of the continent, Archduke Eugene Wigner, flinched slightly.
‘What?’
When the young lady in front of him lowered her almond-colored eyes, her voluminous and neatly arranged eyelashes fell like a curtain, almost covering her eyes entirely.
‘Looking up close. She’s incredibly… beautiful.’
At that moment, Klisha shook her head firmly and said.
“Failed.”
Eugene didn’t have the slightest desire or need to know what the criteria for passing and failing were. However, for some reason, he felt somewhat offended by Klisha’s decisive judgement.
It was a situation where he couldn’t even understand why he was engaging in such a conversation.
“Ugh. Then let’s do this.”
“…?”
“Your beloved woman can’t sleep at night.
1. Kill the carpenter who made the bed.
2. Kill the maid who didn’t report her possible insomnia…”
Eugene didn’t even bother to listen to the rest of the options and replied while rubbing the back of his neck.
“Should I just kill them all? Just search the people who are involved and kill them all?”
“Oh.”
Klisha raised her head, her two large eyes sparkling golden like the dawn sky.
“Good Job.”
[T/N: This ‘Good Job’ was said in literal English.]
“….”
“Then, onto the next question.”
As the meaningless questions continued for a while, Eugene’s patience reached its limit.
He interrupted Klisha, who was dispersing neatly into the wide carriage, with a slight threatening tone to intimidate the immature and reckless woman.
“Lady. Would you please stop that?”
Klisha stared into Eugene’s red eyes.
“If I refuse, will you imprison me?”
“…..”
Eugene was once again at a loss for words from the unexpected counterattack.
In fact, there were very few people in the world who could make the most famous new businessman in Perza, Tomma Ryuiken, or Eugene Wigner, speechless.
Whether she understood it or not, Klisha’s almond-shaped eyes deepened slightly, now shimmering with anticipation which was even more vivid than before. Even a peachy blush spread across her white, chubby cheeks.
‘What the heck?’
Eugene roughly swept back his glossy black hair that shone like satin.
“Why me, why me, Lady.”
Klisha slowly shook her head with a regretful expression.
“Failed.”
“…..”
For the first time in his life, Eugene was overcome by a sense of defeat. All he could do was pray for this moment to pass quickly.
* * *
In front of the alley leading to the center of the capital city, Zekrit, Klisha suddenly spoke up.
“Ah, please let me off here.”
“….?”
Eugene, who had been leaning against the backrest, straightened his upper body and uncrossed his arms.
“If you let me know your desired destination I can….”
“No. There are people I need to meet here.”
A sharp light flashed through Eugene’s eyes before disappearing.
“Is that so?”
After ordering the carriage to stop, he escorted Klisha.
As the young man with a more striking appearance than anyone else in the capital got off the lavish carriage, people passing by, regardless of gender or age, could not take their eyes off him. He elegantly extended his right hand with a neat posture.
“Lady, please step down.”
“….”
Klisha smiled shyly, which was unlike her and said unresponsively.
“I’ll be a bit busy for the next few days, but after that, you’re allowed to kidnap me. Well, you’ll need to complete a few more quests to catch up with me, though.”
Shut it, you crazy woman.
Eugene, unable to express his true feelings, hurriedly saw her off with a picturesque smile. He felt a bit embarrassed, worried that others might overhear their ridiculous conversation.
Klisha walked lightly as usual and looked back at Eugene.
“You need to work a little harder. It’s not enough right now. You will get 60 points at most?”
“What?”
“You’re far from passing as the Northern Archduke. We only accept scores in the 90s.”
“What kind of qualification test is this?”
Klisha flashed a slight smile at the young man with black hair and red eyes, then placed her right hand on her chest and exaggeratedly bowed again.
“Your Highness the Duke. Please take care.”
“….”
The eyes of Eugene Wigner’s secret guard, the coachman, who had been observing the entire situation from the back, widened in surprise at the scene.
‘Has His Lordship revealed his identity to this person? Who is this woman? Is she someone special to His Highness the Duke?’
Eugene watched the back of Klisha, who was walking away in the distance, with his arms crossed for a moment before speaking in a cold voice.
“Follow her. Find out who she’s meeting.”
“!”
‘Your Highness. Obsessive men are unattractive. That’s not the trend these days.’
Eugene’s secret guard resolved to put in extra effort for the rosy future of his Lord in love, who has just started his relationship.
Unbeknownst to Eugene, a new misunderstanding was beginning to take root right among his closest aides.
* * *
In front of the temple of the capital city of Zekrit.
Klisha stood there with a firm expression, clenching her small fists.
“If I explain everything properly, they’ll surely understand. Hmm. Let’s first meet with the High Priest and then assess the situation.”
Knock. Knock. Knock.
“Is anyone there? Klisha Mezerine from Schmarin requests an audience with the High Priest.”
…..
Silence flowed for twenty minutes.
This was strange. Normally, shouldn’t the gate of the temple be open no matter how late it was?
What could be the reason? Is it the time of prayer when visitors aren’t allowed? It shouldn’t be, right?
Knock. Knock.
“Excuse me?”
“Excuse me, anyone in the temple?”
Klisha continued knocking and waiting, calling for someone until her throat became dry.
The side door next to the entrance of the grand temple creaked open slightly.
A young priest emerged from the door, glanced at Klisha up and down before saying.
“Um, this isn’t the place for free meals. You need to go to the plaza in front of the palace.”
“….”
At those words, Klisha looked down at her clothes for a moment.
Her hair was disheveled, she hadn’t washed it in five days.
Her clothes were dirty, as if they had been soaked in muddy water from the rough journey.
As for her face… she had only managed to wash it somehow and get by….
Klisha, feeling a bit embarrassed about her appearance, scratched her cheek with her finger and said.
“Um, I’m not a beggar… I’m from the Viscount Mezerine Household….”
The young priest pointed to one side with a determined expression.
“You need to go that way.”
“…..”
I guess I should change my clothes and come back.
After giving a light bow to the young priest, Klisha walked in the direction where the young priest had pointed with her shoulders slumped.
As the young priest entered through the side door, an old man with a kind smile stood there and patted his head.
“Well done.”
“Um, but High Priest. Why don’t you want that person to enter the temple?”
The High Priest Norva replied, gazing at Klisha’s small back as she walked away.
“It’s not me he should meet first but someone else. Therefore, if he comes again tomorrow….”
“Yes! I understand! If that person comes, I won’t let them in! If he tries to force his way in, I’ll say the High Priest has entered a period of difficult training and will not be returning for six months!”
“Yes. You are intelligent. That’s how you should handle it.”
Norva’s eyes deepened. It was definitely not because he had nothing to explain… that’s not why he avoided her.
* * *
Zekrit, the capital of the Great Empire Perza.
Named after the first Emperor of the Empire, the city was a blessed land where two rivers, which were the lifeline of all the people of the Empire, met and flowed through.
A place referred to as the holy land of the continent of Asha, overflowing with beautiful lakes, fertile land, ancient buildings, and rich cultural heritage.
The naturally gifted environment itself formed a protective barrier, making it an impregnable city that had never allowed foreign invasions throughout the history of the continent.
At the center of the capital, the place that has been blessed by the footsteps of great Emperors of Perza for generations, stood the majestic ‘Reigning Royal Palace’.
In front of the Royal Palace was the Great Plaza, to the left stood the grand Genesis Temple, and to the right, the Three Halls that are responsible for the legislative, administrative, and judicial branches of the Empire, were situated.
Behind the Royal Palace, the headquarters of the Royal Military Command, one of the Emperor’s three major military forces, was located. The outer palace was guarded by the Royal Knights, while the Shadow Guards were located in the inner parts of the Royal Palace, each force maintaining an ironclad defense. With such a strong defence, no one could dare invade the Royal Palace where the young ruler of Perza resided.
The young ruler in context, walking across the Great Plaza, brushed back his golden hair, paused for a moment and looked at the tall spires of the Genesis Temple.
“The six spires symbolizing Truth….”
The owner of the sunken blue eyes opened his mouth with a smirk.
“Should I just blow it up?”
Count Mirhi, the External Cooperation Officer, who was walking behind the young ruler, flinched for a moment.
“Um, Your Majesty?”
“What?”
“I hope Your Majesty doesn’t intend to do that. However, this advice is just in case. If Your Majesty truly wishes to blow it up, you must send a written declaration at least three days in advance according to the External Cooperation Policy. Your Majesty can’t just act on a whim.”
“Is there really a rule for that? Who on earth decides such things?”
“Well, it was newly established by the Three Halls this time.”
“Useless.”
The young man, looking somewhat disappointed, turned his head away from the temple he had been gazing at.
Count Mirhi, the External Cooperation Officer with a pale face, thought inwardly as he shook off his falling white hair.
‘Thank goodness I have silver hair. If only it weren’t so….’
Count Mirhi had recently developed a significant amount of white hair due to stress, along with hair loss.
In the face of hair loss and graying hair, even the beautiful and shiny silver hair, which was the pride of his family, was of no use.
Drip.
‘Huh? Why are there tears in my eyes….’
In fact, ever since Count Mirhi had caused a ruckus at the Genesis Temple regarding the Emperor’s marriage, he had contacted the Three Halls out of concern that the capricious Emperor might attack the temple. Thus, he established various rules. Whether those rules would actually be effective, however, remained uncertain…
“Your, Your Majesty!”
Count Mirhi briefly regained his shaken thoughts and hurried to catch up with the young man walking ahead. He needed to ensure that the young man’s sudden change of heart wouldn’t lead him toward the Temple.
T/N: My Kofi is up again! Support me to read extra chapters 😘
