I Became the Master of the Devil

Resemble the statue? The person who can get a statue modeled by them is either the first emperor, his successor, or his successor’s successor…

 

Don’t tell me.

 

My head turned quickly.

 

Is he the emperor? Or not?

 

Should I set an example? Or don’t do it?

 

It was a greater sin to set an example to someone who wasn’t the emperor than to ignore the emperor.

 

“Ah, you must have been surprised that I suddenly appeared when you were alone.”

 

“…”

 

Fortunately, the man showed an apologetic expression first.

 

“My name is Kailus. I came to assist my older brother, but the grand duke took him away and sent me here.”

 

Kailus? Ah, I immediately remembered who it was.

 

Kailus Hyu Rixon, the emperor’s younger brother and high priest. He was also the owner of a temple dedicated to Theia, the goddess of the empire.

 

Really? I took a quick look at him. Although I’ve never seen the emperor, I knew his descriptions thanks to my recall of the original story.

 

<Neatly swept dark blue hair and cold, languid golden eyes.>

 

On the other hand, this man…

 

He’s completely different. He had platinum blond hair that slightly covered his eyebrows and a mysterious and noble aura. There was no way the emperor would wander around here alone.

 

“Greetings to Your Holiness. Please forgive my rudeness for not recognizing you first.”

 

“How many people in the Empire know my face?” Then he frowned. “His Majesty probably doesn’t really know me either.”

 

In fact, nothing was known in detail about the high priest, Kailus. Even in the original story, the description mostly mentioned him being covered by a black robe. He was also referred to as a representative of the goddess for retribution rather than showing mercy. It was said that he had an extremely closed-off and cold personality…

 

“But why are you alone? Just by looking at you, you look like a lady from a noble family.”

 

But he seemed a bit lively for that.

 

“This looks quite precious. How much did it cost at the auction? I wonder if there are any hidden assets.

 

What is this?

 

“This is very suspicious too. Is it a smuggled work?”

 

The man roamed the parlor, looking in the mirror and rummaging through drawers and bookshelves.

 

“The Grand Duke’s maid will be at the main residence by now. I asked for warm tea.”

 

“If it’s tea, there is tea in this room, right?”

 

“They didn’t serve the kind I wanted.”

 

“Ah, then…?” The man burst out laughing. “Did you intentionally kick out the watcher that Grand Duke Benio had attached to you?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“The Grand Duke is such a sly snake. He’s a man who only puts on a show, but you can’t tell what he thinks inside.”

 

But aren’t you a bit too straightforward?

 

“Is that possible? How dare I ignore the sincerity of Grand Duke…”

 

“These days, young nobles are so bold. It’s not just the grand duke who’s a problem; it seems they even disregard the emperor.”

 

“Disregard the emperor?”

 

I looked closely at the suspicious man. Something didn’t feel right.

 

“Well, I heard there was a gemstone that His Majesty had been eyeing for a long time.” The man who was staring at the picture on the wall murmured. “But some cheeky princess stole that gemstone.”

 

“…”

 

I could tell by hearing it.

 

Is he targeting me now? The cheeky princess is Siani, which means me, and the gemstone is the Belleng District.

 

“How, why, and for what reason would that princess buy a gemstone that everyone thought was a rock?”

 

It was after a moment of silence.

 

“There must have been a spy who leaked imperial secrets.”

 

“Aha…”

 

For now, I nodded as if I was listening.

 

“He gritted his teeth, saying he would kill them if they were caught.”

 

Kill? Who? Do you mean me?

 

“He will put those involved on the guillotine as soon as they’re discovered.”

 

It suddenly hit me. I was prepared to ask the source of the emperor, but I didn’t know he was so determined. Even if I explained it, it seemed like the result would be either he didn’t believe me or accused me of lying.

 

“Well, I don’t know.”

 

Then I’ll lay the groundwork. It would have been unfair to die at the hands of Redian like in the original, and I couldn’t die here like this.

 

“If the princess had known that it was a gemstone that His Majesty was interested in, would she have intercepted it?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Why would she make such a provocation when it would immediately arouse suspicion?”

 

I blinked slowly with the most innocent expression possible.

 

“Even more, against His Majesty the Emperor.”

 

“Hmm… Really?”

 

Only then did the man look away from the painting and stare at me. His strangely colored eyes were cold and stiffened.

 

“Then why did the princess buy that rock? I guess she bought it because she knew it was a gemstone that would become a jewel.”

 

“There’s only one princess in this empire. I know her a little closely…” My eyes were going to be very serious. “She’s very intelligent, reasonable, and discerning.”

 

“A…ha?”

 

“If it was a gemstone that His Majesty was looking at, there must have been something special about it, so someone with a keen eye was bound to recognize it.”

 

Just like Princess Felicite, which is me.

 

This time, the man who was fiddling with the teacup burst into laughter. “Well, that could be possible.”

 

But he soon frowned. “Still, the gemstone was something that His Majesty had been watching for a very long time… he must be very heartbroken because he was robbed overnight.”

 

What do you mean he got robbed? That’s unfair. Manage my expression. Just manage my expression.

 

“They dare to rob something from His Majesty, so they should be prepared to die.”

 

That’s His Majesty’s situation. That was what I wanted to say, but this was a monarchy. And that person happened to be none other than the emperor’s younger brother.

 

“You said it was confidential, right?”

 

“What?”

 

“That means, after all, His Majesty has never once officially announced the gemstone was his…”

 

I felt that my tone became clear even when I heard it.

 

“How could you call it robbed?”

 

“…”

 

“Items whose owners are unknown cannot be robbed.”

 

If I could have set my sights on becoming the owner in my past life, I would have already built several buildings in Gangnam.

 

“In that case, it would be more accurate to say that the princess took it first rather than robbed it.”

 

“…”

 

Then the man stopped talking. The atmosphere in the living room suddenly turned cold.

 

Oh no, I’m overly absorbed. Because of this nature, I couldn’t tolerate even a little frustrating situation after living N lives. No matter how true it may be, I can’t believe I just sided open to myself in front of the emperor’s younger brother.

 

“That’s what I’m saying.”

 

“Because she took it first. Hahahaha.”

 

But the man suddenly burst into lively laughter.

 

“Ah, that logic is interesting. When my older brother hears this, the back of his head will feel tingly.”

 

The man laughed for a long time, liking the tingling sensation on the back of his older brother’s head.

 

“After all, whoever gets it first becomes the owner.”

 

At that moment, ding, the bell rang. It was the bell announcing the beginning of the first part of the banquet.

 

“I apologize for speaking like that, Your Holiness. I have to go now.”

 

“We both have to go in alone anyway, so let’s go together.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

At the same time, the man flicked his finger lightly, and my vision suddenly changed. We moved through the space without being guided by a servant.

 

What is this?

 

It wasn’t surprising that he would use magic carelessly in the Grand Duke’s mansion.

 

“I don’t think this is the door I can enter.”

 

Rather, the problem was that I was standing in front of the main door to the banquet hall. The main door was used only for the entrance of the head of the mansion hosting the banquet or a higher-ranking person than the head of the mansion.

 

“Since I’m a member of the imperial family, of course, I must enter through the main door.”

 

“But I’m not a member of the imperial family, so I can’t use the main door, Your Holiness.”

 

“It’s okay. Who’s going to say something when I allow it?”

 

“…Yes?”

 

Is this man really that ‘Kailus’? The ‘Kailus,’ who ripe the hearts of the still alive priests who have sinned? The Kailus who is so cold that he only talks with his eyes?

 

“I’ll even escort you. Aren’t we both in a shabby position without a partner?”

 

I stared at the hand he gave me. Going in alone was no problem. However, it was clear that entering through this door would attract a lot of attention. Not only did I hold the High Priest’s hand, I entered through the main door.  If I were to monopolize all the attention at Ash Benio’s welcoming party…

 

“It’s an honor, Your Holiness. Then I will ask you a favor.”

 

“As much as you like.”

 

I’m grateful. It was good to be lucky this way.

 

Just as I was waiting for the door to open, holding that hand slightly.

 

“I had been thinking,” the man said in an eerie tone. “Depending on your answer, I can kill you right here.”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

“Or allow you to enjoy the irreplaceable glory.”

 

Suddenly, what was this all about?

 

In the meantime, it seemed that the door from another entrance had come to an end. From the hall, a mix of melodies and voices of people could be heard.

 

“I’ve just decided.”

 

Then the light leaked out with a squeak as if the door were about to open.

 

“I need to impress the landowner well.”

 

“…!”

 

It happened in an instant.

 

What is this again?

 

As if Kailus had taken off his mask, he turned into a different person.

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