“Ah, I was really surprised that day.”
A nobleman whispered to another man next to him.
Today was the day for the interim report on the Eastern Territory Support Project. The royal conference room was filled with related nobles.
Until Zion arrived, the talk that filled the conference room was naturally about ‘that day’.
If it was noisy until recently because the empress had been expelled from the family, this time the incident at the emperor’s birthday party caused a sensation among noble families.
Has the emperor ever shown such an impulsive appearance in public?
The kind of person people thought of him was someone who wouldn’t blink an eye even if a dragon suddenly rushed in.
He always acted leisurely to the point of being cunning and rational. But that day, he acted like a person who was completely unaware of his surroundings.
What’s more shocking is the sight of confronting the captain of the Croyden Knights.
What kind of relationship did the emperor and the knight captain have? They were close friends and the eldest son of Duke Richard, the emperor’s only support force.
So their collision was an incredibly shocking event.
“So I’m dying to know what happened afterwards.”
“If you’re so curious, shall I tell you?”
The nobleman, who was talking excitedly, felt like all the hairs on his body were standing up at the cold voice coming from behind.
Before they knew it, Emperor Zion had entered the conference room.
“Ah, no. I’m dying to know is another story…”
“If you don’t like it, I can kill you.”
“Heek!”
“It would be better to die by my hand than to die of curiosity.”
Zion smiled and looked at the nobleman.
The face of the chattering nobleman turned ashen. Fortunately, Zion did not take any other action and went to his seat.
But the hell started from there.
Throughout the meeting, Zion exerted low pressure, and if the nobles’ opinions did not suit him, he harshly criticized them.
It was always like that, but today it felt more brutal. It felt as if the temperature in the conference room had dropped by more than 5 degrees.
“I don’t know what’s in everyone’s brains. If we continue like this, it wouldn’t be strange if the Croyden Empire perishes within 10 years.”
“….…”
“If it’s like this next time, you all should be prepared.”
At Zion’s soft warning, everyone’s body stiffened like ice.
Only when Zion left the conference did everyone barely move their bodies as if the seal had been released.
The meetings with him were always uncomfortable as if sitting on a thorn cushion, but these days it was particularly severe.
Especially today, it was at its peak level. It felt as if their lifespan had been shortened by 5 years.
All the nobles in the conference room had the same thought.
‘Please, let the next meeting time not come.’
****
“Your Majesty, can we talk for a moment?”
“Prime Minister.”
As soon as he left the conference room, the person waiting for Zion was the Prime Minister, ‘Duke Richard’.
“What is it?”
Zion did not immediately accept the Duke’s request.
Because he didn’t want to see Duke Richard for a while because of his son, Royden.
“Hehe, I heard an interesting story. I also want to apologize on behalf of my son.”
Duke Richard said with a pleasant smile.
Duke Richard always spoke from the main point even when he had to say uncomfortable things.
No matter how roundabout the talk, Emperor Zion accurately detected it to the point of embarrassment, so he did not waste time turning the talk.
This time too, Duke Richard honestly talked about his purpose.
“Let’s go to the office.”
Zion accepted with a blank face.
Silence hovered over the two who entered the office. Duke Richard, who was elegantly drinking black tea, put down his cup and opened his mouth.
“I heard about yesterday.”
Zion and Duke Richard knew each other too well.
Since childhood, the person who educated Zion was also Duke Richard, and Zion followed him well because he was closer to him than his mother who passed away early and his father who was almost non-existent.
“A man who knows what Her Majesty the Empress means to His Majesty. I don’t understand it well either.”
Along with Duke Richard, Royden, who grew up like a brother with Zion, understood Zion’s anger better than anyone else.
Although his attitude towards the Empress was not right, he knew well that it was a problem that he could not interfere with thoughtlessly when thinking about the tragedy that Zion had experienced.
It was never understandable that Royden, who was like that, caused such an incident at Zion’s birthday party yesterday.
So when he heard that his son had caused such a thing, he thought it was a lie.
‘Although I expected it, Zion’s anger seems considerable.’
At this rate, Zion would not speak to Royden for several months, and he did not know if he would be tired.
Duke Richard, who was quick-witted, prepared a story that would soothe Zion’s heart.
“Let’s talk about something interesting.”
Zion spoke straightforwardly.
He already knew why this snake-like inspiration came. It is to give information that can be helpful on the condition that he sees Royden this time.
“I think I won’t calm down unless it’s a very interesting story.”
Zion spoke with a sullen smile on his lips. Duke Richard seemed to be still at ease, familiar with such Zion.
“It seems that Duke Hellen is planning something interesting.”
At Duke Richard’s words, Zion stared at him without any change in expression.
“Is that an interesting story?”
At Zion’s words, Duke Richard smiled.
“You didn’t call Her Majesty the Empress to the banquet yesterday, did you?”
The Duke’s expression was relaxed, but he was embarrassed inside.
He cleverly pulled out Plan B in response to Zion’s attitude, which seemed to already know about Duke Hellen’s story.
“I know who invited Her Majesty the Empress to the party.”
There was a slight ripple in Zion’s expression.
It was already known that Duke Hellen was secretly planning something else. He never thought of looking at Royden with this much information.
But Duke Richard knew him well after all.
Today, he was about to find out who had the audacity to send an invitation to the Empress secretly.
Duke Richard, who was quick-witted, knew that Zion liked this information.
“Who is it?”
Zion spoke in a low voice as if to say, don’t hesitate and talk.
“The person who handed the invitation to Her Majesty the Empress’s maid was the maid of Young Lady Bianca.”
At Duke Richard’s words, Zion furrowed his brows.
“Hmm, a charming redhead. Also the daughter of Duke Hellen.”
Duke Richard quickly added to Zion’s reaction, which seemed to not remember.
Then Zion’s furrowed eyebrows relaxed. Duke Richard quietly waited for an answer as Zion seemed lost in thought.
Zion remembered the woman who was fussing next to him yesterday.
She was noisy, sticking to him throughout the party.
He was dealing with her appropriately, but his whole mind was focused on the Empress, so he didn’t even remember what Bianca Hellen said.
And he didn’t like her more because he knew that she was the daughter of Duke Hellen.
“Ahahaha, interesting.”
Zion laughed loudly as the situation fit together like a puzzle.
He was really stupid. They might think they were secretly trying something, but their actions were clearly visible as if they were plotting right in front of him.
“I think I’ve entertained you to this extent.”
Duke Richard smiled.
He heard about the commotion in front of the banquet hall on Zion’s birthday.
He had started investigating from the back when he heard that the Empress’s name was not on the invitation list.
It wasn’t anyone else, he couldn’t have forgotten the Empress. Then surely someone was playing a prank.
There was a reward for quickly clarifying the truth. Zion would be satisfied enough with this.
“Isn’t it time for Royden to leave his father’s arms?”
At Zion’s attack, which seemed to be not over yet, Duke Richard became a little anxious.
“Haha, it’s not easy to cut off a child.”
“People without parents live in sorrow, don’t they, Duke Richard.”
Zion spoke jokingly with a smile, but considering his gloomy family situation, it couldn’t be a really sweaty talk.
‘Is it a failure…’
Duke Richard slowly sorted out his feelings at Zion’s mood, which was not easily relieved. If it doesn’t work even after doing this much, it’s over.
“I will overlook it this time, considering Duke Richard’s tearful parental love.”
At Zion’s words, Duke Richard sighed with relief.
“Apart from this incident, I always appreciate Duke Richard.”
Duke Richard, who had been patient, seemed to sweat coldly at Zion’s words of gratitude.
But Zion was sincere.
Although he looked at the world cynically, even beasts know gratitude. Zion was sincerely grateful to Duke Richard. He was a bit angry now, but it was the same for Royden.
The person who rescued him, who grew up in a brothel, was none other than Duke Richard.
Of course, he was not purely kind and moved according to his interests, but if it weren’t for him, he might have grown up in a brothel in a foreign country all his life.
Being able to become Zion, and being able to become the best magician in the empire, in a way, were all possible because Duke Richard was there.
“But if Royden interferes with Her Majesty the Empress’s affairs any more, then I don’t know.”
“I will speak and make sure he understands.”
He spoke confidently, but he couldn’t guarantee Royden’s strange behavior these days.
As a father, he could only do so much. If the same thing happens next time, he will have to deal with it himself.
When Duke Richard left, various thoughts filled Zion’s mind again.
This was always the case these days. Most of the thoughts were about the Empress. So he was uncomfortable and sensitive all day. He couldn’t sort out his thoughts at all.
Especially because of what happened yesterday.
Thanks to the nobleman who was excitedly talking in the conference room, he realized once again what he had done.
****
From the moment the Empress entered yesterday, his head was not rational.
Originally, he intended to deliberately invite the Empress to the party to make her miserable. He imagined the Empress running out of the banquet hall in shame, but he didn’t feel like doing that.
These days, he thought it would be better not to see the Empress because of his strange state, so he didn’t go to the Empress’s Palace and didn’t invite her to the party.
But the audacious daughter of Duke Hellen made the Empress attend the party.
From then on, everything changed.
The moment he saw the Empress entering the banquet hall, he couldn’t control his expression.
He thought she was beautiful, but that was it. After all, there were so many beautiful people in the empire, and she was just one of them.
But not yesterday.
Like seeing a masterpiece painting, his sight was completely stolen for a moment. He felt that way, and it seemed that all the men in the banquet hall felt the same.
It was from then on. An unknown emotion rose up in his heart. Was this the possessiveness and obsession he had always felt towards her?
No. This emotion was more unfamiliar. It was certain that it was not the possessiveness that seemed to burn his heart.
Seeing the Empress greet and go somewhere else as if nothing had happened, his mood subsided.
The redhead woman next to him kept talking, but his gaze was always chasing after Empress Irina.
Fortunately, people were distant as if there was a boundary line next to her. No one easily approached her side.
Except for one person. That person was ‘Royden’.
From then on, an unfamiliar emotion fiercely swept his heart.
