Episode 18

While we finished our lunch and discussed various plans, the rain continued to pour, and there was still plenty of time left.

I pointed to the chessboard he had given me as a gift and asked.

“Shall we play chess?”

“I am still not skilled enough to provide Your Majesty with a satisfying game.”

Vitrain politely declined. I looked around for something else to do, pondering how to pass the time without getting bored.

As I was thinking, he spoke up.

“You mentioned we should spend time getting to know each other, but I realized I know very little about you, Your Majesty.”

“Do you have something you’re curious about?”

“Would you answer if I asked?”

“If you agree to answer the same questions in return, then I will.”

I wasn’t particularly interesting, so my answers wouldn’t be very noteworthy, but I set the condition to avoid any potentially awkward questions.

Vitrain smiled, his eyes crinkling slightly, then adopted a more serious expression and asked.

“When was your first love?”

His approach was so natural that I forgot to comment on it, and suddenly, he was sitting right next to me.

He had let go of my hand and smoothly slid into the seat beside me, leaning in close and asking about first love.

Although I had never experienced first love, this was the first time a man had conversed with me at such close quarters.

I leaned back slightly and answered.

“I’ve never had one.”

“Not even when you were younger?”

“I was never in a position to have one.”

Watching my three older sisters marry men chosen by our father taught me to guard my heart and not give it to anyone.

Vitrain nodded at my straightforward answer and shared his own.

“I have had one.”

“Was it the woman you mentioned last time, the one you broke up with?”

“No. It was someone I met when I was eighteen and knew nothing about the world. She is now my sister-in-law.”

Hearing about someone else’s love story was intriguing, and I wanted to ask more but quickly held my tongue. Whether he lost his beloved to his brother or loved his brother’s woman, it was not something to inquire about out of mere curiosity.

Vitrain, seemingly not intending to elaborate further, moved on to the next question.

“Do you have any siblings?”

“I have three older sisters, two older brothers, one younger sister, and one younger brother.”

“That’s quite a lot. I had one older brother.”

Had, past tense. I didn’t ask further, respecting the implied finality of his statement. Vitrain then asked another question.

“What’s your favorite childhood memory?”

I paused, thinking back.

“When my younger sister was born. Holding her for the first time was a special moment.”

Vitrain smiled warmly.

“That’s a lovely memory. For me, it was the time I spent with my brother before he joined the army. We used to play by the river.”

Despite the rain still pouring outside, the conversation made the time pass quickly and pleasantly.

Why does he keep saying “had”? Does that mean his brother is dead now? Is that why the second son, Vitrain, became the Duke of Eagle?

His family history seems to be one big minefield. Knowing nothing about the late Duke of Kidmillan, I couldn’t make any assumptions.

“Were you close with your siblings?”

“Not really. I was the only one with a different mother, and being introverted, I didn’t easily join in their games.”

“It seems we share something in common, Your Majesty. I was also introverted and did not get along well with my brother.”

I wanted to say, “Don’t lie,” but I kept my mouth shut, considering the potential conflict with his brother.

As he shifted his posture to sit a bit further away, his questions became lighter.

When did you learn to play chess? Can you ride a horse? Why do you like chocolate cake?

Vitrain said he learned chess from his lieutenant. He liked horses so much that he raised dozens of war horses and mentioned that eating sweets gave him a headache.

We talked about trivial things, but it was surprisingly enjoyable.

I discovered I was quite talkative, something I hadn’t realized before. Maybe it was because Vitrain was such a good listener that time flew by as we chatted.

“Did you enjoy today?”

His blue eyes seemed to already know the answer, and although I thought of being cheeky, I answered honestly.

“Yes, I quite enjoyed today. It’s the first time I’ve found our time together not boring.”

“I told you I’d be more serious,” said the Eagle, smiling with his eyes.

* * *

The next day, I summoned Lian before the council meeting.

Lian, looking excessively radiant since the morning, entered and bowed with a bright smile.

“You called for me, Your Majesty?”

“Before the meeting, I wanted to check on the investigation into the funds allegedly embezzled to Dirmil. Is it progressing?”

“Upon investigation, it was revealed that Your Majesty did not embezzle any money and had not even used the private funds given to you. Therefore, preparations are underway to create a slush fund.”

“What are you creating?”

“Your Majesty’s slush fund.”

Duke Lian Zernia, responsible for the governance of Belpator, answered with an angelic smile. His smiling face was so beautiful it looked almost holy.

If the words coming out of his mouth weren’t related to a crime, I would have simply admired him.

But my head hurt from the start of the day.

“Duke Lian, why are you preparing a slush fund for me?”

“To ensure Your Majesty has personal resources in case of emergencies. The funds are legally allocated, but the usage will be flexible.”

“Duke Lian, I appreciate your concern, but I don’t need a slush fund.”

“Your Majesty, in this palace, having such resources can be a safeguard.”

He was relentless. His intention might be to protect me, but the means were questionable.

“Fine. Just ensure it’s done discreetly and within the boundaries of what’s legal.”

“Of course, Your Majesty. Everything will be above board.”

His angelic smile returned. It seemed I had little choice but to trust his judgment, despite the unconventional methods.

“Have you forgotten what I do for a living? If I prepare the documents, and you affix your seal, the entire treasury of Belpator will be yours. I’ll handle everything smoothly, so don’t worry.”

“It’s not that I’m worried about. What if the Chancellor of Belpator and head of the Council creates a slush fund?”

“Oh, I don’t need a slush fund. I have more than enough money. You don’t need to worry about that.”

Lian’s smile grew brighter, and my headache worsened. How could I be talking to the smartest person in Belpator and still not make sense?

The important question was why he was creating a slush fund for me, not why he needed one himself.

Why does every conversation revolve around him?

I rubbed my throbbing forehead and asked again.

“Did I ever tell you I needed a slush fund?”

“No, Your Majesty.”

“Then why are you doing something I didn’t ask for?”

“Well, of course…”

Lian trailed off as he approached the desk that separated us. Placing his hands on the desk, he leaned in to meet my eyes. It was clear he knew how to use his face to his advantage.

With his mesmerizing amethyst eyes sparkling and a charming smile, he continued in a whisper, “It’s to win your favor, Your Majesty.”

Oh, what fresh nonsense is this? His face almost made me forget the absurdity of his words.

“You made a slush fund to win my favor?”

“Exactly!”

Don’t smile proudly about that!

Ah, my head…

I turned away from his pretty but foolish face and rubbed my forehead more vigorously.

How could someone think that creating a slush fund would win a woman’s favor?

I suddenly wondered what Lian ate regularly. It must be something inedible by normal standards.

His ridiculous words left me too exhausted to be angry, so I sighed and said.

“Duke Lian, I don’t need a slush fund.”

“What? That can’t be.”

“What do you mean ‘that can’t be’? I’m telling you, I don’t need it.”

“But, Your Majesty. Everyone who gains power seeks to amass wealth. Those who think their power won’t last cling to it even more.”

“Duke Lian. Anyone who gains power and wealth through dishonest means should be punished.”

“That’s usually how I operate. It’s an excellent way to leverage weaknesses. I thought I’d make an exception for you just this once. But it seems that wasn’t necessary.”

Lian tilted his head, looking genuinely puzzled. It was as if he couldn’t understand why I was being so difficult, given that he thought everyone acted this way.

I was overwhelmed with the urge to punch that slick face of his and asked.

“Duke Lian, have you ever tried to win someone’s favor before?”

“The thought of needing to win someone over is a first for me.”

“Even so, you should know the difference between what you should and shouldn’t do.”

“Winning Your Majesty’s favor takes precedence over everything else, so I considered it an exception.”

Lian looked genuinely serious.

This made me question whether it was right to entrust Belpator’s internal affairs to someone like him. The Empire’s Snake had a twisted personality and a flawed moral compass.

When Lothania awakens and becomes the emperor, I must advise her to reappoint a new chancellor, at the very least.