“Tell me.”
Carson got up from his seat and bowed his head to the Emperor.
“I apologize. And I am embarrassed, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor shook his hand again and sat his son down.
“A 21-year-old man should be anxious because of a woman. It is only natural that I will give you Lesonia as soon as possible. Give it as a gift to the woman who will become your wife.”
Upon receiving the Emperor’s permission, Carson bowed his head once more in response.
“I will also give my approval for your marriage. Don’t worry about that either.”
Carson listened to his words and looked at the glass of wine clinking in front of him. It was the first time that he had sat down with the Emperor alone in an empty room, and that he had also been drinking the wine he had poured for him.
“But that’s unexpected. I thought you had no interest in women at all... How did you meet?”
At that question, Carson naturally recalled his first meeting with her. He was about to tell his father that she was the one who had saved Louisianne’s life but stopped. He thought that perhaps the ears attached to the palace could convey the story of Ines to the Empress.
“We met for the first time at my welcome party.”
After hearing his son’s words, the Emperor laughed like an ordinary father and answered.
“It was a very boring meeting, but it was the most natural way to meet. Your love was in Landhill.”
In Carson’s memory, his father was always in uniform. The Emperor, sitting in his pajamas with his neat hair down, looked much older than he had known.
Carson was already a lord of a fiefdom. As he shared a drink with his father, man to man, he could understand his life.
What could he have done if he had not loved women, who had no power at all? That might have been all he had for his limited freedom.
But even so, he should have kept it. If he couldn’t take responsibility for the woman he loved and the children he had with her, he shouldn’t have set out on that path.
Carson, who emptied his glass in one go, swallowed his desire to understand his father as if it were the wine.
And he simply looked at the Emperor as an object to achieve his goal.
“Your Majesty, I have one more request.”
“I thought you had a lot to do after a long time, but now you’re adding more to it.”
“...”
“Why are you taking so long?”
Carson chose his words carefully, as he had said. The intention he was about to reveal was something no one in the imperial family had known about.
“I understand that there will be an important meeting about the right to build a railroad from the Imperial Palace to Lesonia.”
The Emperor paused for a moment at the mention of the right to build a railroad. Then, the sound of a glass landing on the table was heard.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I would like you to postpone the meeting a little.”
He stared at his son’s face for a moment. The inscrutable golden eyes were staring straight at him.
“Carson, my son. Do you wish to ride it and climb to the highest point of the palace?”
Carson naturally understood what the Emperor meant by his question.
It was a question asking if he dared harbor any ill will. He raised his body and folded his waist in half.
“No.”
“Then what?”
“Only... to protect.”
“What, from what?”
“To protect my wife and my sister from a great power that cannot be resisted. I cannot bear any more force.”
The Emperor did not know the accusation hidden in his son’s words. He picked up his glass but put it back down without drinking.
“The meeting will have to be held after you have fallen into the hands of Lesonia.”
A month was not a long time for Noah to properly investigate Fisterra. However, he should be able to handle the matter.
“Yes.”
Carson, who was bending down, heard the Emperor pouring wine again.
“Me... Do you resent me?”
“Yes.”
The Emperor laughed hollowly at the answer that came out without a moment’s pause.
“You’re leaving me no room for excuses.”
“Don’t do that. I already understand that it was an unavoidable situation.”
Carson straightened up. He then looked at his father, who had grown old and pale.
“However, I just don’t want to go down that path.”
The Emperor got up from his seat while still drinking and patted Carson on the shoulder.
“Yes, I’ll do whatever you want.”
“...”
“So, you watch. Your wife, your sister...”
After his father’s permission was given, Carson left the bedroom without looking back.
The Emperor watched his son leave from the window. His son, with his many subordinates behind him, was the best-suited person to lead the way. He was by far the greatest creation the Emperor had ever created.
The Emperor knew that Carson truly did not want to rise to the top of the empire. However, there was one thing his smart son didn’t know.
“I am on my way back from meeting Her Majesty the Empress.”
“Why?”
“The Lord of Lesonia will soon be hanged. Therefore, the Empress has permitted me to integrate Lesonia into Landhill.”
The Emperor smiled as he brought his wine glass to his lips. He continued to watch the development of events, keeping a close eye on where the cup of victory would end up. But Lesonia...
“Yes, the Empress has always wanted to give you a big gift.”
“I understand that matters regarding territory boundaries are usually dealt with carefully over time. However, isn’t this a territory whose master’s position has been vacated?”
“So... Please handle it quickly?”
“Yes.”
“How quickly?”
“A month would be adequate.”
The Emperor expressed his reluctance. Even three or four months would not be enough time. Even if the Empress had given permission, it was obvious how those dirty and greedy high-ranking nobles of the Empress’s faction would react.
As the Emperor’s face darkened, Carson straightened up.
The Emperor was indifferent, but he was not a heartless father. If he hesitated due to political issues, he would appeal to any possible negative feelings.
“Besides, there is an urgent matter that requires me to go to my territory as soon as possible.”
“Urgent matter?”
Carson paused for a moment and met his father’s eyes.
“I must get married. Please approve that as well.”
“Hahahaha.”
After a long time, the Emperor’s hearty laughter passed through his bedroom door. Who on earth could this talented son of his be the one who came forward and said that he must marry?
“Which family is she?”
“A noble family from Landhill. I’m sure the Emperor has never heard of her.”
“A Count’s family?”
“A Viscount’s family.”
As long as he wasn’t pursuing a grand dream, a Viscount’s family wasn’t bad either. Besides, unlike himself, his son wasn’t the type of person who would rely on the power of a female family. So there was only one thing to ask.
“Is she pretty?”
Carson’s face showed emotion for the first time at the unexpected question.
“Yes?”
“I asked if she was pretty.”
“Yes... Yes.”
“Yes, then let’s do that. If you want to get married, can’t this father hurry up and do anything?”
“Is that really possible?”
The Emperor also understood that Carson was not trustworthy of him.
Being incompetent, and having no power as an Emperor, was no different from an Emperor who trampled his son under his feet.
Whether the Emperor trampled him or not, the result was the same.
“It is true that I am a weak Emperor and am pointed at every morning and night. However, I still have the strength to lift my seal.”
“Why?”
“The Lord of Lesonia will soon be hanged. Therefore, the Empress has permitted me to integrate Lesonia into Landhill.”
The Emperor smiled as he brought his wine glass to his lips. He continued to watch the development of events, keeping a close eye on where the cup of victory would end up. But Lesonia...
“Yes, the Empress has always wanted to give you a big gift.”
“I understand that matters regarding territory boundaries are usually dealt with carefully over time. However, isn’t this a territory whose master’s position has been vacated?”
“So... Please handle it quickly?”
“Yes.”
“How quickly?”
“A month would be adequate.”
The Emperor expressed his reluctance. Even three or four months would not be enough time. Even if the Empress had given permission, it was obvious how those dirty and greedy high-ranking nobles of the Empress’s faction would react.
As the Emperor’s face darkened, Carson straightened up.
The Emperor was indifferent, but he was not a heartless father. If he hesitated due to political issues, he would appeal to any possible negative feelings.
“Besides, there is an urgent matter that requires me to go to my territory as soon as possible.”
“Urgent matter?”
Carson paused for a moment and met his father’s eyes.
“I must get married. Please approve that as well.”
“Hahahaha.”
After a long time, the Emperor’s hearty laughter passed through his bedroom door. Who on earth could this talented son of his be the one who came forward and said that he must marry?
“Which family is she?”
“A noble family from Landhill. I’m sure the Emperor has never heard of her.”
“A Count’s family?”
“A Viscount’s family.”
As long as he wasn’t pursuing a grand dream, a Viscount’s family wasn’t bad either. Besides, unlike himself, his son wasn’t the type of person who would rely on the power of a female family. So there was only one thing to ask.
“Is she pretty?”
Carson’s face showed emotion for the first time at the unexpected question.
“Yes?”
“I asked if she was pretty.”
“Yes... Yes.”
“Yes, then let’s do that. If you want to get married, can’t this father hurry up and do anything?”
“Is that really possible?”
The Emperor also understood that Carson was not trustworthy of him.
Being incompetent, and having no power as an Emperor, was no different from an Emperor who trampled his son under his feet.
Whether the Emperor trampled him or not, the result was the same.
“It is true that I am a weak Emperor and am pointed at every morning and night. However, I still have the strength to lift my seal.”
Carson got up from his seat and bowed his head to the Emperor.
“I apologize. And I am embarrassed, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor shook his hand again and sat his son down.
“A 21-year-old man should be anxious because of a woman. It is only natural that I will give you Lesonia as soon as possible. Give it as a gift to the woman who will become your wife.”
Upon receiving the Emperor’s permission, Carson bowed his head once more in response.
“I will also give my approval for your marriage. Don’t worry about that either.”
Carson listened to his words and looked at the glass of wine clinking in front of him. It was the first time that he had sat down with the Emperor alone in an empty room, and that he had also been drinking the wine he had poured for him.
“But that’s unexpected. I thought you had no interest in women at all... How did you meet?”
At that question, Carson naturally recalled his first meeting with her. He was about to tell his father that she was the one who had saved Louisianne’s life but stopped. He thought that perhaps the ears attached to the palace could convey the story of Ines to the Empress.
“We met for the first time at my welcome party.”
After hearing his son’s words, the Emperor laughed like an ordinary father and answered.
“It was a very boring meeting, but it was the most natural way to meet. Your love was in Landhill.”
In Carson’s memory, his father was always in uniform. The Emperor, sitting in his pajamas with his neat hair down, looked much older than he had known.
Carson was already a lord of a fiefdom. As he shared a drink with his father, man to man, he could understand his life.
What could he have done if he had not loved women, who had no power at all? That might have been all he had for his limited freedom.
But even so, he should have kept it. If he couldn’t take responsibility for the woman he loved and the children he had with her, he shouldn’t have set out on that path.
Carson, who emptied his glass in one go, swallowed his desire to understand his father as if it were the wine.
And he simply looked at the Emperor as an object to achieve his goal.
“Your Majesty, I have one more request.”
“I thought you had a lot to do after a long time, but now you’re adding more to it.”
“...”
“Why are you taking so long?”
Carson chose his words carefully, as he had said. The intention he was about to reveal was something no one in the imperial family had known about.
“I understand that there will be an important meeting about the right to build a railroad from the Imperial Palace to Lesonia.”
The Emperor paused for a moment at the mention of the right to build a railroad. Then, the sound of a glass landing on the table was heard.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I would like you to postpone the meeting a little.”
He stared at his son’s face for a moment. The inscrutable golden eyes were staring straight at him.
“Carson, my son. Do you wish to ride it and climb to the highest point of the palace?”
Carson naturally understood what the Emperor meant by his question.
It was a question asking if he dared harbor any ill will. He raised his body and folded his waist in half.
“No.”
“Then what?”
“Only... to protect.”
“What, from what?”
“To protect my wife and my sister from a great power that cannot be resisted. I cannot bear any more force.”
The Emperor did not know the accusation hidden in his son’s words. He picked up his glass but put it back down without drinking.
“The meeting will have to be held after you have fallen into the hands of Lesonia.”
A month was not a long time for Noah to properly investigate Fisterra. However, he should be able to handle the matter.
“Yes.”
Carson, who was bending down, heard the Emperor pouring wine again.
“Me... Do you resent me?”
“Yes.”
The Emperor laughed hollowly at the answer that came out without a moment’s pause.
“You’re leaving me no room for excuses.”
“Don’t do that. I already understand that it was an unavoidable situation.”
Carson straightened up. He then looked at his father, who had grown old and pale.
“However, I just don’t want to go down that path.”
The Emperor got up from his seat while still drinking and patted Carson on the shoulder.
“Yes, I’ll do whatever you want.”
“...”
“So, you watch. Your wife, your sister...”
After his father’s permission was given, Carson left the bedroom without looking back.
The Emperor watched his son leave from the window. His son, with his many subordinates behind him, was the best-suited person to lead the way. He was by far the greatest creation the Emperor had ever created.
The Emperor knew that Carson truly did not want to rise to the top of the empire. However, there was one thing his smart son didn’t know.
To protect his family from the Empress, his son had to climb higher than that.
It wasn’t a dream he had chosen, but since he had started dreaming a grand dream, a great ordeal was in store for the Emperor.
A month had already passed since Carson left.
Ines was still sitting in the backyard reading the Bible today. After he left the estate, Ines mostly stayed in the mansion. The Bible, which she had read halfway through, was already nearing its end.
Susan didn’t stay with Ines because she asked to be alone while she was in the backyard.
In the meantime, Noah had finished his research on Fisterra and had come to see Ines once more. He had dug into the mountain as she had said, and he had told her that there was a lot of fine sand mixed in, making it impossible to dig a tunnel.
That was why the news that Carson would be able to return on time was a great comfort to her.
Ines had visibly withered away while he was gone. Her nightmares had only gotten worse, even though he was no longer nearby. Now, she was having nightmares even in broad daylight.
But Ines had a feeling that those days were not far off. Today was the day that Count Graham would be hanged on the gallows.
Rumors were spreading through the lands that Landhill and Lesonia would soon be united under the name of Landhill. And that Carson von Raymond, now the great lord, would take the daughter of the Viscount Swenden as his wife.
All of this was carried out by merchants coming and going from the capital.
Of course, Ines had heard the rumor that he was going to propose to the Viscount Swenden soon. It was a false rumor, but she deliberately did not correct it.
This would make Joseph even more angry.
Just yesterday, Joseph had sent Ines a letter. It was a long letter that showed that his patience was already running out. Ines wrote back to him after a very long time.
"Dear Joseph.
Don’t you think that you dared to dream too big from the beginning?
How dare a servant who worked in my house look down on the daughter of a noble Viscount...
I have never really cared for you. How could you possibly do that? You were just a little game to me. But now I don’t even want to do that. Do you think that you can’t leave me alone when you meet me?
It wasn’t a dream he had chosen, but since he had started dreaming a grand dream, a great ordeal was in store for the Emperor.
***
A month had already passed since Carson left.
Ines was still sitting in the backyard reading the Bible today. After he left the estate, Ines mostly stayed in the mansion. The Bible, which she had read halfway through, was already nearing its end.
Susan didn’t stay with Ines because she asked to be alone while she was in the backyard.
In the meantime, Noah had finished his research on Fisterra and had come to see Ines once more. He had dug into the mountain as she had said, and he had told her that there was a lot of fine sand mixed in, making it impossible to dig a tunnel.
That was why the news that Carson would be able to return on time was a great comfort to her.
Ines had visibly withered away while he was gone. Her nightmares had only gotten worse, even though he was no longer nearby. Now, she was having nightmares even in broad daylight.
But Ines had a feeling that those days were not far off. Today was the day that Count Graham would be hanged on the gallows.
Rumors were spreading through the lands that Landhill and Lesonia would soon be united under the name of Landhill. And that Carson von Raymond, now the great lord, would take the daughter of the Viscount Swenden as his wife.
All of this was carried out by merchants coming and going from the capital.
Of course, Ines had heard the rumor that he was going to propose to the Viscount Swenden soon. It was a false rumor, but she deliberately did not correct it.
This would make Joseph even more angry.
Just yesterday, Joseph had sent Ines a letter. It was a long letter that showed that his patience was already running out. Ines wrote back to him after a very long time.
"Dear Joseph.
Don’t you think that you dared to dream too big from the beginning?
How dare a servant who worked in my house look down on the daughter of a noble Viscount...
I have never really cared for you. How could you possibly do that? You were just a little game to me. But now I don’t even want to do that. Do you think that you can’t leave me alone when you meet me?
I don’t know what you can do as a knight from a commoner’s background but try it once. You won’t even see my feet.
Ah, now that the family you served is gone, you will no longer be called a knight."
It was a childish letter. But it was enough to provoke a man who had lost all hope.
“It’s been a long time, Ines.”
And as a result, he appeared before Ines.
Ah, now that the family you served is gone, you will no longer be called a knight."
It was a childish letter. But it was enough to provoke a man who had lost all hope.
“It’s been a long time, Ines.”
And as a result, he appeared before Ines.
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