The Emperor, looking at the flustered Nike with a slightly pathetic expression, said.
"Sit down."
"Yes."
Idiot, why on earth did this happen!
The Emperor let out a deep sigh and immediately opened the seal.
Contrary to expectations that a barrage of questions would follow, the Emperor immediately began to systematically gather the documents on the table.
And starting from the first page, bang, bang. He began rapidly stamping the blank spaces.
Gasp.
I covered my mouth and looked back at Nike. Nike was surprised, too.
In the case of a royal marriage, the amount of documentation was ten times greater than that of marriage registrations by other noble families.
This was because there were many specific details that needed to be agreed upon, as it was a matter of dividing the royal family's surnames.
Things like the plan for the use of the national treasury, or issues related to the right of succession...
Honestly, there was so much content that I didn't read it all and just stamped it, but I think I got an arm workout about a hundred times.
On that document where Ryan, I, and Nike's seals have already been stamped, the Emperor is now the last...
Standing tall.
The Emperor's movements, as he skillfully stamped his seal while flipping through the documents one by one, came to a halt.
I immediately got nervous.
"Young Lady."
That's right. I knew it would come out.
“Before the regression...”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
I opened my mouth right away.
"I ate, dressed, and grew up on the Duke of Wassenberg's money. Even after realizing the family's flaws, I remained involved. Whether by choice or by circumstance, it is an inexcusable and shameful past."
"Acknowledge what needs to be acknowledged..."
I also had Ryan's advice.
It wouldn't be good if only your boyfriend got screwed, so you should add some gold to it.
“However, after meeting the Prince, I underwent a mental reformation and have strived to live an upright life. With this second chance granted by the Prince, I will never yield to the corrupt families this time and will prove myself to be a cornerstone of the great revolution. Thank you!”
“...”
The Emperor blinked and looked at me.
Ah, really.
Then, starting to stamp again, he said.
"The question I was going to ask was whether Ryan remembers what happened before the regression."
Aaaaaaaah!
“...I made a mistake because I was nervous, Your Majesty.”
“No. I was curious about Young Lady’s story, too.”
“I am the only one who retains all the memories from before the regression. My brother found out about it from me.”
"That’s a relief, at least."
As he continued to stamp the seal, the Emperor let out a sigh.
“I thought he would have felt incredibly empty if he remembered everything.”
“...”
I quietly kept my mouth shut and glanced back at Nike. He was silently bowing his head.
Pause.
There were only a few sheets left, but the Emperor's hand, which was stamping the seal again, stopped.
Hesitating hand.
I was trembling for some reason.
The Emperor's consent to this state marriage means that he is exercising his right of summary execution, which amounts to a declaration of war against Wassenberg.
Of course, he must have heard that the Crown Prince has made full preparations...
As an Emperor who has experienced the terror of superpowered individuals his entire life, it is only natural that he would feel afraid and hesitant.
“I believe this royal marriage will threaten the Young Lady’s safety in one way or another. Will you be alright?”
...Oh no, it was my worry.
"Don't worry."
Nike answered the Emperor's question, which was out of concern for me, on my behalf.
"I will protect Vania no matter what."
He turned to look at me and tightly clasped my right hand. Then he added to the Emperor.
“I will ensure that Your Majesty never witnesses failure. If necessary, I will try again dozens or hundreds of times and present only the successful results.”
Oho...
It was cool, but I'll give it 80 points.
The Emperor is currently consciously avoiding mentioning the incident where his son sold out the country for a woman.
In front of him, holding my hand tightly, making remarks like saying he would go back in time if we made a mistake... really?
“...Come here.”
The Emperor, who had been staring at Nike in silence, gestured for the seat next to him.
Nike, having risen, walked around the table and sat beside him. The Emperor grabbed the back of Nike's neck with a sigh.
He, who seemed to be affectionately massaging the back of his son's neck,
Match!
I gave him a good smack on the back.
Nike merely paused, showing no change in expression.
“...”
“...”
The father and son, and his woman, are facing each other.
“...Doesn’t it hurt?”
"Yes, it's fine."
“...”
You fool, that's not it!
Nike, noticing my frustration, corrected it belatedly.
"It hurts."
"Yes."
The Emperor sighed and picked up the seal he had put down again.
"However, since I am the Emperor, I cannot help but rebuke your choices from before the regression."
“...”
"Furthermore, considering that a person with supernatural abilities from Wassenberg fought for this country of all people, and that the one who stopped him was the Emperor's son, I have no face to show Ryan."
"...I'm sorry."
"That’s why."
Wow. To think the punishment the Emperor carried out for the crime of selling out the country was just a single slap on the back.
This is preferential treatment just because he is the son...
Bang, bang, bang.
The Emperor soon started doing arm exercises again.
The speed of stamping the remaining documents increased.
My heart also beat uncontrollably fast, following him.
For Nike and me, the institutional vow we sought to obtain after a long journey.
To Ryan, the executioner's knife.
The scaffold will be lowered upon Wassenberg.
The Emperor's permission.
Finally, on the last page of the document, in the single remaining blank space.
Bang!
Edgar opened the door to his son's room.
As soon as he entered, thick cigarette smoke flowed into his nose.
Richard, who had been lying stretched out on the sofa sucking on a cigar, stood up as he stubbed it out in the ashtray.
"Would you like to go to Father's room?"
As Richard waved the smoke with his hand and asked, Edgar shook his head and sat opposite him.
"It's okay. Let's talk here. Thank you for coming despite being busy."
"Busy? Not at all."
Richard leaned back lazily and rubbed his brow as if tired.
“It’s nothing special about playing cards. If Father calls, I have to come.”
Edgar had been keenly observing his son from the moment he entered the room until now.
Christa, the daughter who has been hiding her hostility from her father's eyes.
And Christa and Richard, who grew up caring for each other, especially among the children.
They were also similar in that they longed for their half-siblings, whom he had excommunicated long ago.
So Edgar suspected that Richard had also clearly been hiding his resentment toward his father.
However, judging by Richard's actions so far, there was absolutely no evidence to turn suspicion into certainty...
"Do you know what this is?"
He had called him just to figure out his true intentions.
X
The note Christa intended to deliver to the informant.
Upon seeing this, Richard probably...
Pretending not to know, or denying it.
Conspicuously flustered or.
“Tsk.”
"Sit down."
"Yes."
Idiot, why on earth did this happen!
The Emperor let out a deep sigh and immediately opened the seal.
Contrary to expectations that a barrage of questions would follow, the Emperor immediately began to systematically gather the documents on the table.
And starting from the first page, bang, bang. He began rapidly stamping the blank spaces.
Gasp.
I covered my mouth and looked back at Nike. Nike was surprised, too.
In the case of a royal marriage, the amount of documentation was ten times greater than that of marriage registrations by other noble families.
This was because there were many specific details that needed to be agreed upon, as it was a matter of dividing the royal family's surnames.
Things like the plan for the use of the national treasury, or issues related to the right of succession...
Honestly, there was so much content that I didn't read it all and just stamped it, but I think I got an arm workout about a hundred times.
On that document where Ryan, I, and Nike's seals have already been stamped, the Emperor is now the last...
Standing tall.
The Emperor's movements, as he skillfully stamped his seal while flipping through the documents one by one, came to a halt.
I immediately got nervous.
"Young Lady."
That's right. I knew it would come out.
“Before the regression...”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
I opened my mouth right away.
"I ate, dressed, and grew up on the Duke of Wassenberg's money. Even after realizing the family's flaws, I remained involved. Whether by choice or by circumstance, it is an inexcusable and shameful past."
"Acknowledge what needs to be acknowledged..."
I also had Ryan's advice.
It wouldn't be good if only your boyfriend got screwed, so you should add some gold to it.
“However, after meeting the Prince, I underwent a mental reformation and have strived to live an upright life. With this second chance granted by the Prince, I will never yield to the corrupt families this time and will prove myself to be a cornerstone of the great revolution. Thank you!”
“...”
The Emperor blinked and looked at me.
Ah, really.
Then, starting to stamp again, he said.
"The question I was going to ask was whether Ryan remembers what happened before the regression."
Aaaaaaaah!
“...I made a mistake because I was nervous, Your Majesty.”
“No. I was curious about Young Lady’s story, too.”
“I am the only one who retains all the memories from before the regression. My brother found out about it from me.”
"That’s a relief, at least."
As he continued to stamp the seal, the Emperor let out a sigh.
“I thought he would have felt incredibly empty if he remembered everything.”
“...”
I quietly kept my mouth shut and glanced back at Nike. He was silently bowing his head.
Pause.
There were only a few sheets left, but the Emperor's hand, which was stamping the seal again, stopped.
Hesitating hand.
I was trembling for some reason.
The Emperor's consent to this state marriage means that he is exercising his right of summary execution, which amounts to a declaration of war against Wassenberg.
Of course, he must have heard that the Crown Prince has made full preparations...
As an Emperor who has experienced the terror of superpowered individuals his entire life, it is only natural that he would feel afraid and hesitant.
“I believe this royal marriage will threaten the Young Lady’s safety in one way or another. Will you be alright?”
...Oh no, it was my worry.
"Don't worry."
Nike answered the Emperor's question, which was out of concern for me, on my behalf.
"I will protect Vania no matter what."
He turned to look at me and tightly clasped my right hand. Then he added to the Emperor.
“I will ensure that Your Majesty never witnesses failure. If necessary, I will try again dozens or hundreds of times and present only the successful results.”
Oho...
It was cool, but I'll give it 80 points.
The Emperor is currently consciously avoiding mentioning the incident where his son sold out the country for a woman.
In front of him, holding my hand tightly, making remarks like saying he would go back in time if we made a mistake... really?
“...Come here.”
The Emperor, who had been staring at Nike in silence, gestured for the seat next to him.
Nike, having risen, walked around the table and sat beside him. The Emperor grabbed the back of Nike's neck with a sigh.
He, who seemed to be affectionately massaging the back of his son's neck,
Match!
I gave him a good smack on the back.
Nike merely paused, showing no change in expression.
“...”
“...”
The father and son, and his woman, are facing each other.
“...Doesn’t it hurt?”
"Yes, it's fine."
“...”
You fool, that's not it!
Nike, noticing my frustration, corrected it belatedly.
"It hurts."
"Yes."
The Emperor sighed and picked up the seal he had put down again.
"However, since I am the Emperor, I cannot help but rebuke your choices from before the regression."
“...”
"Furthermore, considering that a person with supernatural abilities from Wassenberg fought for this country of all people, and that the one who stopped him was the Emperor's son, I have no face to show Ryan."
"...I'm sorry."
"That’s why."
Wow. To think the punishment the Emperor carried out for the crime of selling out the country was just a single slap on the back.
This is preferential treatment just because he is the son...
Bang, bang, bang.
The Emperor soon started doing arm exercises again.
The speed of stamping the remaining documents increased.
My heart also beat uncontrollably fast, following him.
For Nike and me, the institutional vow we sought to obtain after a long journey.
To Ryan, the executioner's knife.
The scaffold will be lowered upon Wassenberg.
The Emperor's permission.
Finally, on the last page of the document, in the single remaining blank space.
Bang!
***
Edgar opened the door to his son's room.
As soon as he entered, thick cigarette smoke flowed into his nose.
Richard, who had been lying stretched out on the sofa sucking on a cigar, stood up as he stubbed it out in the ashtray.
"Would you like to go to Father's room?"
As Richard waved the smoke with his hand and asked, Edgar shook his head and sat opposite him.
"It's okay. Let's talk here. Thank you for coming despite being busy."
"Busy? Not at all."
Richard leaned back lazily and rubbed his brow as if tired.
“It’s nothing special about playing cards. If Father calls, I have to come.”
Edgar had been keenly observing his son from the moment he entered the room until now.
Christa, the daughter who has been hiding her hostility from her father's eyes.
And Christa and Richard, who grew up caring for each other, especially among the children.
They were also similar in that they longed for their half-siblings, whom he had excommunicated long ago.
So Edgar suspected that Richard had also clearly been hiding his resentment toward his father.
However, judging by Richard's actions so far, there was absolutely no evidence to turn suspicion into certainty...
"Do you know what this is?"
He had called him just to figure out his true intentions.
X
The note Christa intended to deliver to the informant.
Upon seeing this, Richard probably...
Pretending not to know, or denying it.
Conspicuously flustered or.
“Tsk.”
...It wasn’t both.
Richard clicked his tongue as soon as he saw the note and rubbed his forehead as if he were troubled.
"What about Christa?"
“...”
"You didn't hit her or anything, did you?"
“...That can’t be. She’s in her room.”
Richard clicked his tongue as soon as he saw the note and rubbed his forehead as if he were troubled.
"What about Christa?"
“...”
"You didn't hit her or anything, did you?"
“...That can’t be. She’s in her room.”
He did keep her half-confined so she couldn't go outside the house, though.
"Was this going to you?"
"Yes."
Richard admitted it plainly.
“What does that mean?”
"Does that mean you want me to come over because something troublesome has arisen?"
“...”
"I heard that Father is planning to bring my younger siblings into the family."
"That's right."
“Christa told me that. She also said she hoped the two of them wouldn’t come back.”
“Why did she say that?”
"She says she really doesn't like her home."
Edgar narrowed his eyes. He was carefully observing his son's expression, but it was difficult to read his mind.
“...What did Christa say to you?”
"I already said the obvious. She's been whining about how she doesn't like this place for quite a while now, but there's nothing I can do for her."
Half worry. Half annoyance. Richard's expression looked unremarkable.
The son, who was a concern because he was weak, started to enjoy gambling at some point and became quite resilient.
He listened well to his father, and he never cried or couldn't sleep because he missed his half-siblings.
His interests are gambling, cigarettes, and alcohol.
And the sibling he cherishes the most is Christa.
Therefore, even if he had already known about Christa's resentment, he was sufficiently willing to keep quiet about it.
"... This is confusing."
Edgar laughed as if finding it amusing and recalled the last remaining bait.
Before calling Richard, he had secretly confirmed this with his bodyguard.
The fact that Vania had come to find Richard alone not long ago.
If anything is bothering Richard about that day's meeting, he would not go out of his way to bring it up first...
“Oh, right. Vania came looking for me.”
“...”
Edgar paused.
From the moment he entered this room, Richard has never once reacted as he expected.
It means that he could not grasp even the slightest clue as to whether or not his son had escaped his control.
However, Edgar cannot dismiss his doubts.
Because of an indescribable intuition that sends shivers down his spine.
A situation where, as the conversation continues, it becomes confusing whether the gains or losses will outweigh the losses.
Nevertheless, unable to avoid listening, Edgar asked, covering the corners of his trembling mouth.
"...Why?"
"Was this going to you?"
"Yes."
Richard admitted it plainly.
“What does that mean?”
"Does that mean you want me to come over because something troublesome has arisen?"
“...”
"I heard that Father is planning to bring my younger siblings into the family."
"That's right."
“Christa told me that. She also said she hoped the two of them wouldn’t come back.”
“Why did she say that?”
"She says she really doesn't like her home."
Edgar narrowed his eyes. He was carefully observing his son's expression, but it was difficult to read his mind.
“...What did Christa say to you?”
"I already said the obvious. She's been whining about how she doesn't like this place for quite a while now, but there's nothing I can do for her."
Half worry. Half annoyance. Richard's expression looked unremarkable.
The son, who was a concern because he was weak, started to enjoy gambling at some point and became quite resilient.
He listened well to his father, and he never cried or couldn't sleep because he missed his half-siblings.
His interests are gambling, cigarettes, and alcohol.
And the sibling he cherishes the most is Christa.
Therefore, even if he had already known about Christa's resentment, he was sufficiently willing to keep quiet about it.
"... This is confusing."
Edgar laughed as if finding it amusing and recalled the last remaining bait.
Before calling Richard, he had secretly confirmed this with his bodyguard.
The fact that Vania had come to find Richard alone not long ago.
If anything is bothering Richard about that day's meeting, he would not go out of his way to bring it up first...
“Oh, right. Vania came looking for me.”
“...”
Edgar paused.
From the moment he entered this room, Richard has never once reacted as he expected.
It means that he could not grasp even the slightest clue as to whether or not his son had escaped his control.
However, Edgar cannot dismiss his doubts.
Because of an indescribable intuition that sends shivers down his spine.
A situation where, as the conversation continues, it becomes confusing whether the gains or losses will outweigh the losses.
Nevertheless, unable to avoid listening, Edgar asked, covering the corners of his trembling mouth.
"...Why?"
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