IBMMLLWAM Chapter 050

New chapters released weekly here. Read the completed novel on my patreon by clicking the banner at the bottom of the post!

_______________________________________________________________________

It didn’t matter what birthday gift they prepared. Cian was the kind of person who would be happy to receive silver socks with Yenis’s face on them, as long as it was something his beloved daughter prepared for him.

The problem was that Dolorosa was crying. It was because of Sigar.

‘He’s not satisfied with taking over the emperor’s position. I must inform the Archduke.’

Lylus opened his eyes and lowered his hands. He chuckled at the three people looking at him with sparkling eyes.

“Oh dear, looking at me like that makes this old man feel burdened.”

“Did you see it? How was it? Will my dad be happy with the cake?”

Lylus smiled kindly and nodded.

“His Highness the Archduke will accept any gift the princess prepares with joy and gratitude. So, you don’t have to ask this old man about the future.”

“Ah…”

Dolorosa nodded, understanding his meaning.

“Come to think of it, my dad was happy even when I gave him a seashell necklace or a scribbled drawing as a present.”

“There you go. You don’t need me to prepare a birthday gift for His Highness the Archduke.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry, Bishop. I must’ve bothered you when you’re busy…”

“Not at all. It was worth it for the princess to invite me.”

“Huh?”

Lylus called the maid and had her prepare paper and pen, then wrote a short letter and handed it to Dolorosa.

“Please deliver this to His Highness. No matter how curious you are, my lady, you mustn’t open it. In the name of Yenis. Please.”

Dolorosa tensed up as she received the letter delivered in the name of Yenis. She carefully wiped the ink off her hands with a handkerchief and received the letter politely.

“In the name of Yenis. I’ll deliver it to my dad.”

“Please do.”

Lylus smiled, and Rachel looked at him nervously.

 

* * *

 

The door to the dining room, set with a modest dinner, opened, and Dolorosa peeked in.

“Dad, I’m back!”

“Come on in, Dolly.”

“Ehehe. Have you been waiting?”

“Of course.”

Cian smiled warmly at Dolorosa.

“Looking at your face, it seems you had fun. I’m a bit sad that you had fun without me.”

He meant it.

Dolorosa, who’d been attracted to Rachel since they first met, eagerly awaited the days she could visit her.

It was nice to see her matching dresses with Rachel, witnessing Lylus’s foresight, and chatting with her peer, Graham, but it was also disappointing.

This was because as the time spent at Rachel’s mansion increased, the time spent with Cian decreased.

Because he was busy with work, he couldn’t spend time with her often or for long periods, but whenever he did have time, he always drank tea with Dolorosa. But these days, it was difficult to even see her face except during dinner.

Dolorosa grinned.

“Even if you’re sad, please bear with it for a little longer. I’ll come back after having fun for a few more days.”

“I’m curious about what fun you’re having. Are you really not going to tell me?”

“Nope!”

Was she filling the absence of her mother with Rachel, or did she like the affection she received from Lylus like a grandparent, or was she already playing lovers with Graham?

Cian bitterly laughed, imagining Dolorosa holding hands and playing house with Graham.

It was really an unwelcome thought.

‘Kids these days mature early, but falling in love at seven is too early. There’s no need for an arranged marriage like other noble girls, but dating… it’s too soon.’

Seven years old. The age when Rachel was formally engaged to Theodore, and Cian started learning imperial studies from the former emperor, Zeus.

But to Cian, a doting father, his seven-year-old Dolorosa seemed as young as a baby just starting to walk.

‘At this rate, how will I ever send her off to get married? Will I be one who draws a sword and chases away any boyfriend she brings home?’

Even though he thought he would generously accept anyone Dolorosa liked, be it a prince from another country or a murderer, it didn’t seem like it would be easy.

“Dad? Why did you suddenly go quiet? Are you mad because I didn’t tell you my secret?”

Cian quickly paused his thoughts at her cautious question.

He couldn’t neglect the Dolorosa in front of him over an uncertain love affair between her and Graham.

“Sorry, dear. I’m not mad. I was just thinking for a moment. I believe you have a reason for not telling me what you’re up to.”

“Thank you for trusting me. Yes, there’s a reason why I’m keeping it a secret from you. I’ll tell you soon, so please wait. It’ll be a surprise!”

“Thank you, Dolly. I’ll look forward to it.”

“Thank you, Dad. Oh, and Bishop Lylus asked me to give you this. He said it’s a letter delivered in the name of Yenis.”

“In the name of Yenis?”

Cian took the letter nervously and opened it.

 

[Be wary of the false emperor.]

 

The only person Lylus would call a false emperor was Sigar.

‘What is Sigar planning?’

A meal to celebrate Cian’s birthday was scheduled to be held soon at the imperial palace. With a stern expression, Cian counted the days remaining until then.

 

* * *

 

Smack!

At the same time, the emperor’s palace was colder than a snowstorm in mid-winter. It had been like that for days.

Smack!

Sigar slapped the cheeks of the servants kneeling before him in a long line.

After slapping all the servants, Sigar sighed heavily.

“You wretched fools! I wouldn’t be satisfied even if I beheaded you all at once!”

Those who were dragged in today were those who’d ever mentioned Rachel’s name. That included those who had no choice but to say Rachel’s name under Sigar’s orders.

It was an outburst of anger.

After returning from failing to feed Cian the wasp wine, Sigar couldn’t hold back his boiling rage.

It was blatant and risky, but he offered him the drink without thinking twice. He thought that as long as he dealt with Cian, it didn’t matter what happened after that.

However, the plan failed due to the drunken antics of a worthless duke.

The noble council members criticized Sigar’s actions.

 

‘Your Majesty the Emperor. Archduke Dicarsignac sacrifices his body and soul for the Empire. To offer him wasp liquor was reckless.’

‘Giving wasp liquor to Archduke Dicarsignac implies you could give it to any noble. Nobles below a marquis are trembling in fear.’

‘Do not turn the council into enemies. Do not doubt or test our loyalty.’

 

It was a threat.

The emperor’s mighty power came from the unwavering support of the noble council and the Yenis Church.

The support of the council brought political, economic, and military benefits to Sigar, and the support of the Yenis Church brought unity and compliance to the people of the empire.

But what if the council turned its back on him?

‘I don’t want to become an emperor who was loved by commoners, who’re neither powerful nor useful. I didn’t kill Zeus and become emperor for something like that!’

Support from the Yenis Church was as important as that of the noble council, but Sigar, who looked down on those under him, did not understand this.

The Yenisites had the power of foresight and used it to do things such as predicting the weather or the right day to hold a big event.

Although they had to pay a fee, they treated simple illnesses, gave up the church’s building for homeless people, and distributed food to them.

Though seemingly trivial, these activities were crucial in maintaining peace in the empire, something Sigar failed to comprehend.

In a way, it was natural since he was ungrateful to even Cian, who was loyal to him and who maintained order and guided the noble council.

‘I’m the emperor. The emperor, I tell you. I have unparalleled wealth and power, so why can’t I kill Cian as I wish? Why, damn it, why!’

Grinding his teeth, Sigar kicked the servant kneeling before him.

Wham!

“Ugh!”

The servant’s groan and cowering disgusted him.

He was afraid something would happen, so he deliberately tried to kill him, but he’d acted too impulsively.

‘I wanted to see Cian’s distorted face! Shit. It would be nice if I could do that again, like I did with Zeus.’

What on earth could he do to make Cian’s face contort!

Grinding his teeth, Sigar paced before the servants and noticed Atreille ‘s portrait hanging on the wall.

‘A child… Yes. Dolorosa, that brat. I’ll use her.’

A few words would be enough to hurt a seven-year-old child and make her cry. There was no need for a grand plan that could draw the noble council’s criticism.

Sigar’s lips stretched into a long, wicked grin.

 

* * *

 

Early morning, before Cian and Dolorosa arrived.

After Graham went to the training room to practice swordsmanship alone, Rachel sat in the office by herself.

There was a knock on the door and Katie, wearing her glasses, came into the office.

“Did you call for me, Countess Rachel?”

“Yes, thank you for coming. There’s something I want to do and I need Katie’s help, so I called for you.”

“I’m always ready to help you, Countess. Please, tell me anything.”

From the time she first thought about leaving Theodore, there was something she really wanted to do.

Thanks to the alimony she received from Theodore and the servants who worked at Count Elrosa’s mansion, she’d saved up some money and gained a family name and title, now it was time to start working in earnest.

“I want to buy the manor and estate that my late father and mother managed.”

It was to reclaim everything she’d lost because of Theodore.