Episode 116. Kidnapper
“Your Majesty, the Emperor of the Bahamart Empire!”
Bam!
The door to the audience room opened wide with the shout of the chamberlain.
At the same time, the people who had gathered and were making a fuss in the hall split into two sides.
Bam bam.
Christine crossed the center of the wide hall with Zimmer and a dozen knights.
As he walked confidently yet leisurely, the nobles of Kalame knelt down on one knee and bowed their heads one by one. The nobles who had waited for him from morning until dark were speechless.
He was now their monarch.
Finally, Christine climbed the high steps of the audience room and sat on the throne.
From where the former Emperor Jan had sat, he now looked down at the nobles of Kalame.
“It’s been a long time, everyone. Please stand up.”
Then Isabelle stepped forward and said politely.
“It is an honor to meet Your Majesty, the Emperor of the Bahamart Empire. Please understand that the King is currently in critical condition and cannot meet you.”
In the end, Emperor Rustis of Kalame sent a surrender document to the Emperor of the Bahamart Empire. That was the end of the war.
However, the two nations had yet to discuss in earnest.
The first of these was that only the ruler of the Bahamart Empire could use the title of Emperor.
No,w Kalame was demoted to a kingdom, and the Emperor to a King.
Kalame also had to follow the same laws as other vassal states of the Bahamart Empire.
They were obliged to serve the Emperor as their lord, and to pay tribute and military service to the Empire every year.
For the Emperor of Kalame, this was as humiliating as death. So he had no choice but to avoid this place.
“I heard. Unfortunately, he is on the verge of death from a fever.”
“I apologize for the trouble.”
Christine, who had been sitting with his chin on his hand, raised his lips coldly at Isabelle’s words.
“But his ears are fine, right?”
“Yes?”
“Go and tell him. Keep the oath of loyalty you made to your lord.”
“Your Majesty!”
Christine’s eyes were sharp, and he spoke somewhat languidly.
“Then why don’t you speak more clearly? Stop hiding in your mother’s skirt.”
Isabelle’s face turned red. As expected, her son had made excuses about being sick and was trying not to come here.
“I’ll bring the King.”
When Isabelle left, Christine’s gaze turned to the members of the noble council.
Just receiving his gaze made them all turn pale and frozen.
They were descendants of the family that sealed the wolf clan.
After finishing all his schedules, Christine entered the Emperor’s bedroom that Jan had previously used.
When he expressed his intention to use it, the King of Kalame hurriedly moved to the annex. It was a humiliating order, but he couldn’t object.
“Did you finish your audience?”
Leana, in her pajamas, followed him with her long silver hair fluttering.
Her behavior was no different from when she was a girl, but now she was a dazzlingly beautiful woman.
“It seems late, but do you have anything to say?”
Leana followed him into his bedroom and sat on the sofa, puckering her lips.
“Tch, do you really have to talk to me? I just can’t sleep...”
Then she smiled brightly when she saw the apple pie on the table. A slice of pie was beautifully plated on the fancy silverware. It was the one he had given to Zimmer.
“Wow, I was hungry!”
Leana cut a big piece of pie and put it in her mouth. Then she stamped her feet like a child and exclaimed.
“Mmm, it’s delicious! It’s delicious! It’s just like the one Adele made before...”
Then she paused and raised her head, making eye contact with Christine. No, she thought she did, but he was staring intently at the pie on the table.
“Yeah, you said Adele was a good cook.”
When he thought about Adele, he couldn’t remember anything, as if he were covered in thick fog.
So, most of what he knew about her was what Zimmer and Leana had told him.
That they had grown up together like real siblings.
That she was a good cook.
And the fact that she was his fiancée, with whom he had lived in the Marvel Palace for about three months.
What she looked like, what kind of voice she spoke with, what they did together, what he felt at that time... He couldn’t remember anything.
“Would you like some?”
“Fine. If it tastes good, take it and eat it.”
But Leana put down the fork she was holding and smiled.
“I forgot. I told you that I’ve been working on my figure lately. Well then, good night, Your Majesty.”
Thump!
When Leana left, Christine stared at the apple pie on the table for a while.
An ordinary piece of pie that you can see anywhere.
It didn’t even have a name on it, but it felt strangely familiar. Could it be that this was made by a woman named Adele?
[The Most Delicious Bakery]
That was the name of the most famous bakery in Greenhill.
“What a naming sense.”
Christine, who had come to the bakery early in the morning, clicked his tongue.
Then suddenly he remembered. The bakery that Adele’s mother had run a long time ago had the same name. And that his father had made that sign.
Things he had completely forgotten.
It seemed like it was her shop after all.
Did she make that apple pie too?
‘Then the child I met yesterday...?’
Even though it was early in the morning, the spacious store was already bustling with people. It looked lively with the chefs wearing white hats and people gathered to buy freshly baked bread.
‘Is Adele among them?’
There were a few young ladies in the store. But she didn’t seem to be there.
Somehow, he felt like he would recognize her right away if he met her. Just like he recognized apple pie.
“Hey, by any chance...”
Christine turned his head at the cautious voice.
“Ahhh...!”
The gorgeously dressed lady covered her mouth as if she had seen a ghost.
It was definitely a face that recognized him.
“Why are you so late... How long have we waited for you...”
Her eyes quickly became watery.
Could this woman be Adele?
At that moment, Christine despaired. The woman he once loved as much as his life. But even when they faced each other like this, he felt no emotion. He shouldn’t have come.
He was at a loss, not knowing what to say.
“Auntie!”
A child’s voice rang out from behind her.
“You’re falling, young master. Slow down.”
Tanya hurriedly followed Aaron, who was running frantically.
“Hello, Aunt Mia! Where is Casey?”
Aaron politely bowed to the woman in front of Christine. The child, who had just washed up, had wet bangs. He looked as refreshing as a new leaf sprouting in spring.
“She’ll be here soon. She’s been complaining about her hairstyle since this morning. That’s why I came first.”
He remembered. That woman was Mia. Adele’s friend!
Christine felt relieved without realizing it. But it seemed like it would be the same if he met Adele. He wouldn’t feel any emotions like he did now.
‘Well, what’s the point of meeting her now?’
Adele was startled.
“So, where is Aaron now?”
“Playing with Casey at the mansion.”
Casey was Mia’s daughter and the same age as Aaron. That’s probably why the two of them were so close.
“Anyway, be careful. The atmosphere was different from the person we knew before. Well, now that His Majesty is the Emperor of the Great Empire, he must be foolish. It’s like the name Bloody Emperor, it’s kind of cold.”
Adele didn’t hear Mia’s words.
It had been ominous since Aaron had met him, and now he had tried to kidnap him!
‘Is he showing up now and trying to take Aaron away?’
She eventually got up and ran to the mansion.
The mansion was connected to the garden behind the bakery. Adele had bought the mansion of the Counts of Grills that had been put up for auction and remodeled it.
“Aaron! Aaron!”
Tanya ran out of the mansion at Adele’s call.
“You’re here, madam. Master Aaron is in the south playroom.”
“No, Aaron isn’t here.”
A cute girl holding a large doll appeared out of nowhere and said,
“Casey, where is Aaron?”
When Casey shook her head, her pigtails swayed.
“I don’t know. He went out a while ago. He said he was going to meet an old man.”
“Your Majesty, the Emperor of the Bahamart Empire!”
Bam!
The door to the audience room opened wide with the shout of the chamberlain.
At the same time, the people who had gathered and were making a fuss in the hall split into two sides.
Bam bam.
Christine crossed the center of the wide hall with Zimmer and a dozen knights.
As he walked confidently yet leisurely, the nobles of Kalame knelt down on one knee and bowed their heads one by one. The nobles who had waited for him from morning until dark were speechless.
He was now their monarch.
Finally, Christine climbed the high steps of the audience room and sat on the throne.
From where the former Emperor Jan had sat, he now looked down at the nobles of Kalame.
“It’s been a long time, everyone. Please stand up.”
Then Isabelle stepped forward and said politely.
“It is an honor to meet Your Majesty, the Emperor of the Bahamart Empire. Please understand that the King is currently in critical condition and cannot meet you.”
In the end, Emperor Rustis of Kalame sent a surrender document to the Emperor of the Bahamart Empire. That was the end of the war.
However, the two nations had yet to discuss in earnest.
The first of these was that only the ruler of the Bahamart Empire could use the title of Emperor.
No,w Kalame was demoted to a kingdom, and the Emperor to a King.
Kalame also had to follow the same laws as other vassal states of the Bahamart Empire.
They were obliged to serve the Emperor as their lord, and to pay tribute and military service to the Empire every year.
For the Emperor of Kalame, this was as humiliating as death. So he had no choice but to avoid this place.
“I heard. Unfortunately, he is on the verge of death from a fever.”
“I apologize for the trouble.”
Christine, who had been sitting with his chin on his hand, raised his lips coldly at Isabelle’s words.
“But his ears are fine, right?”
“Yes?”
“Go and tell him. Keep the oath of loyalty you made to your lord.”
“Your Majesty!”
Christine’s eyes were sharp, and he spoke somewhat languidly.
“Then why don’t you speak more clearly? Stop hiding in your mother’s skirt.”
Isabelle’s face turned red. As expected, her son had made excuses about being sick and was trying not to come here.
“I’ll bring the King.”
When Isabelle left, Christine’s gaze turned to the members of the noble council.
Just receiving his gaze made them all turn pale and frozen.
They were descendants of the family that sealed the wolf clan.
***
After finishing all his schedules, Christine entered the Emperor’s bedroom that Jan had previously used.
When he expressed his intention to use it, the King of Kalame hurriedly moved to the annex. It was a humiliating order, but he couldn’t object.
“Did you finish your audience?”
Leana, in her pajamas, followed him with her long silver hair fluttering.
Her behavior was no different from when she was a girl, but now she was a dazzlingly beautiful woman.
“It seems late, but do you have anything to say?”
Leana followed him into his bedroom and sat on the sofa, puckering her lips.
“Tch, do you really have to talk to me? I just can’t sleep...”
Then she smiled brightly when she saw the apple pie on the table. A slice of pie was beautifully plated on the fancy silverware. It was the one he had given to Zimmer.
“Wow, I was hungry!”
Leana cut a big piece of pie and put it in her mouth. Then she stamped her feet like a child and exclaimed.
“Mmm, it’s delicious! It’s delicious! It’s just like the one Adele made before...”
Then she paused and raised her head, making eye contact with Christine. No, she thought she did, but he was staring intently at the pie on the table.
“Yeah, you said Adele was a good cook.”
When he thought about Adele, he couldn’t remember anything, as if he were covered in thick fog.
So, most of what he knew about her was what Zimmer and Leana had told him.
That they had grown up together like real siblings.
That she was a good cook.
And the fact that she was his fiancée, with whom he had lived in the Marvel Palace for about three months.
What she looked like, what kind of voice she spoke with, what they did together, what he felt at that time... He couldn’t remember anything.
“Would you like some?”
“Fine. If it tastes good, take it and eat it.”
But Leana put down the fork she was holding and smiled.
“I forgot. I told you that I’ve been working on my figure lately. Well then, good night, Your Majesty.”
Thump!
When Leana left, Christine stared at the apple pie on the table for a while.
An ordinary piece of pie that you can see anywhere.
It didn’t even have a name on it, but it felt strangely familiar. Could it be that this was made by a woman named Adele?
***
[The Most Delicious Bakery]
That was the name of the most famous bakery in Greenhill.
“What a naming sense.”
Christine, who had come to the bakery early in the morning, clicked his tongue.
Then suddenly he remembered. The bakery that Adele’s mother had run a long time ago had the same name. And that his father had made that sign.
Things he had completely forgotten.
It seemed like it was her shop after all.
Did she make that apple pie too?
‘Then the child I met yesterday...?’
Even though it was early in the morning, the spacious store was already bustling with people. It looked lively with the chefs wearing white hats and people gathered to buy freshly baked bread.
‘Is Adele among them?’
There were a few young ladies in the store. But she didn’t seem to be there.
Somehow, he felt like he would recognize her right away if he met her. Just like he recognized apple pie.
“Hey, by any chance...”
Christine turned his head at the cautious voice.
“Ahhh...!”
The gorgeously dressed lady covered her mouth as if she had seen a ghost.
It was definitely a face that recognized him.
“Why are you so late... How long have we waited for you...”
Her eyes quickly became watery.
Could this woman be Adele?
At that moment, Christine despaired. The woman he once loved as much as his life. But even when they faced each other like this, he felt no emotion. He shouldn’t have come.
He was at a loss, not knowing what to say.
“Auntie!”
A child’s voice rang out from behind her.
“You’re falling, young master. Slow down.”
Tanya hurriedly followed Aaron, who was running frantically.
“Hello, Aunt Mia! Where is Casey?”
Aaron politely bowed to the woman in front of Christine. The child, who had just washed up, had wet bangs. He looked as refreshing as a new leaf sprouting in spring.
“She’ll be here soon. She’s been complaining about her hairstyle since this morning. That’s why I came first.”
He remembered. That woman was Mia. Adele’s friend!
Christine felt relieved without realizing it. But it seemed like it would be the same if he met Adele. He wouldn’t feel any emotions like he did now.
‘Well, what’s the point of meeting her now?’
He was about to quickly turn around and leave.
“Oh, it’s the kidnapper!”
Aaron shouted, his blue eyes shining as he spotted him. Mia and Tanya’s expressions became extremely alert at those words.
“A kidnapper? Aaron, what do you mean?”
Mia quickly asked, hiding Aaron behind her skirt.
Christine was embarrassed.
“There was a misunderstanding.”
“That’s right. It was a misunderstanding!”
Aaron laughed brightly, as if he were having a hard time.
But Mia’s expression did not soften easily. Her eyes were filled with hostility toward Christine. However, she spoke politely and politely.
“I dare to risk my life to tell you. Please do not come back. She has barely forgotten you...”
Christine’s lips went up sadly.
“Of course, I will not come back. I can just call her to the palace.”
“What?”
Christine ignored Mia, who was furious, and greeted Aaron, lowering his eyes to meet his.
“Then I will see you later, Aaron.”
“Wait a minute, sir!”
Aaron glanced at Mia, as if he had something to say. Then he quickly approached her and whispered something.
“...Got it?”
The child winked and smiled secretly.
“Sorry, I am late. The meeting took longer than I thought.”
It was almost noon when Adele showed up at the store.
Every year at this time in the spring, a cathedral bazaar sponsored by Isabelle was held. Adele also attended the meeting about the bazaar that was to be held next month. In the meantime, she asked Mia to take care of Aaron and the store for a while.
“Mia?”
But Mia was sitting absentmindedly on the terrace chair, not even noticing Adele’s presence.
“Is something bad happening?”
When Adele approached and gently wrapped her arm around Mia’s shoulder, Mia turned around in surprise.
“Oh! Adele! You’re here? Did the meeting go well? Were you tired? Hurry up and change your clothes. It’s really warm. It’s the perfect weather for a walk.”
Adele stared blankly at Mia, who was talking nonsense.
“Are you hiding something from me?”
“Hiccup!”
Adele chuckled and untied the ribbon on her hat.
“What? I’ll forgive you, so tell me everything.”
Mia hesitated for a moment and then spoke carefully.
“That person... no, that person... came.”
Adele’s face turned pale.
“Again...?”
“Again? Did you meet him too?”
Suddenly, Adele felt weak, so she put down her hat and sat down in front of Mia.
“No, I think he met Aaron.”
“Oh, it’s the kidnapper!”
Aaron shouted, his blue eyes shining as he spotted him. Mia and Tanya’s expressions became extremely alert at those words.
“A kidnapper? Aaron, what do you mean?”
Mia quickly asked, hiding Aaron behind her skirt.
Christine was embarrassed.
“There was a misunderstanding.”
“That’s right. It was a misunderstanding!”
Aaron laughed brightly, as if he were having a hard time.
But Mia’s expression did not soften easily. Her eyes were filled with hostility toward Christine. However, she spoke politely and politely.
“I dare to risk my life to tell you. Please do not come back. She has barely forgotten you...”
Christine’s lips went up sadly.
“Of course, I will not come back. I can just call her to the palace.”
“What?”
Christine ignored Mia, who was furious, and greeted Aaron, lowering his eyes to meet his.
“Then I will see you later, Aaron.”
“Wait a minute, sir!”
Aaron glanced at Mia, as if he had something to say. Then he quickly approached her and whispered something.
“...Got it?”
The child winked and smiled secretly.
***
“Sorry, I am late. The meeting took longer than I thought.”
It was almost noon when Adele showed up at the store.
Every year at this time in the spring, a cathedral bazaar sponsored by Isabelle was held. Adele also attended the meeting about the bazaar that was to be held next month. In the meantime, she asked Mia to take care of Aaron and the store for a while.
“Mia?”
But Mia was sitting absentmindedly on the terrace chair, not even noticing Adele’s presence.
“Is something bad happening?”
When Adele approached and gently wrapped her arm around Mia’s shoulder, Mia turned around in surprise.
“Oh! Adele! You’re here? Did the meeting go well? Were you tired? Hurry up and change your clothes. It’s really warm. It’s the perfect weather for a walk.”
Adele stared blankly at Mia, who was talking nonsense.
“Are you hiding something from me?”
“Hiccup!”
Adele chuckled and untied the ribbon on her hat.
“What? I’ll forgive you, so tell me everything.”
Mia hesitated for a moment and then spoke carefully.
“That person... no, that person... came.”
Adele’s face turned pale.
“Again...?”
“Again? Did you meet him too?”
Suddenly, Adele felt weak, so she put down her hat and sat down in front of Mia.
“No, I think he met Aaron.”
“Yeah, he did. Aaron said he was a kidnapper, so I think he tried to take the kid away.”
Adele was startled.
“So, where is Aaron now?”
“Playing with Casey at the mansion.”
Casey was Mia’s daughter and the same age as Aaron. That’s probably why the two of them were so close.
“Anyway, be careful. The atmosphere was different from the person we knew before. Well, now that His Majesty is the Emperor of the Great Empire, he must be foolish. It’s like the name Bloody Emperor, it’s kind of cold.”
Adele didn’t hear Mia’s words.
It had been ominous since Aaron had met him, and now he had tried to kidnap him!
‘Is he showing up now and trying to take Aaron away?’
She eventually got up and ran to the mansion.
The mansion was connected to the garden behind the bakery. Adele had bought the mansion of the Counts of Grills that had been put up for auction and remodeled it.
“Aaron! Aaron!”
Tanya ran out of the mansion at Adele’s call.
“You’re here, madam. Master Aaron is in the south playroom.”
“No, Aaron isn’t here.”
A cute girl holding a large doll appeared out of nowhere and said,
“Casey, where is Aaron?”
When Casey shook her head, her pigtails swayed.
“I don’t know. He went out a while ago. He said he was going to meet an old man.”
Could that old man be Christine?
Mia caught Adele, who was staggering as her vision went dark.
“Don’t worry, Adele. He didn’t really kidnap the child, did he?”
“Should I call Count Castle?”
Tanya, who was next to her, also asked worriedly.
“No, it’s okay. I’ll look into it first.”
Adele barely managed to move her trembling steps.
Christine knew that someone had been following him for a while.
That’s why he purposely walked around Greenhill City. However, the stalker, whom he thought would leave soon, was quite persistent.
In the end, he stopped as soon as he turned the corner.
“Ack!”
Aaron, who was quickly chasing him and turning the corner, bumped into his long legs. He quickly grabbed the scruff of the child’s neck as he stumbled as if he was about to fall.
“Aren’t you back yet, kid?”
“It’s not kid. It’s Aaron.”
“Yes, Aaron. Why did you keep following me?”
“Because the old man didn’t take this.”
There were three platinum gold coins on the child’s small palm.
In front of the bakery, Aaron had whispered to them to wait. Then he sneaked out to Mia and Tanya and tried to return the gold coins.
However, since he didn’t take them, he chased after him for a long time on his short legs.
The kid could see that he had some tenacity.
Mia caught Adele, who was staggering as her vision went dark.
“Don’t worry, Adele. He didn’t really kidnap the child, did he?”
“Should I call Count Castle?”
Tanya, who was next to her, also asked worriedly.
“No, it’s okay. I’ll look into it first.”
Adele barely managed to move her trembling steps.
***
Christine knew that someone had been following him for a while.
That’s why he purposely walked around Greenhill City. However, the stalker, whom he thought would leave soon, was quite persistent.
In the end, he stopped as soon as he turned the corner.
“Ack!”
Aaron, who was quickly chasing him and turning the corner, bumped into his long legs. He quickly grabbed the scruff of the child’s neck as he stumbled as if he was about to fall.
“Aren’t you back yet, kid?”
“It’s not kid. It’s Aaron.”
“Yes, Aaron. Why did you keep following me?”
“Because the old man didn’t take this.”
There were three platinum gold coins on the child’s small palm.
In front of the bakery, Aaron had whispered to them to wait. Then he sneaked out to Mia and Tanya and tried to return the gold coins.
However, since he didn’t take them, he chased after him for a long time on his short legs.
The kid could see that he had some tenacity.
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