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Chapter 40




As the emperor, I said I was fine, so there was no reason for the regent or the Marquis of Gadenia to oppose it.
“Isn’t Mabel too young?”
The regent, who seemed to be nitpicking at my age, was sternly countered by Duke Javier.
“His Majesty the Emperor may be young, but he has the discernment to decide what is best for the empire. I believe His Regency would agree, wouldn’t you?”
“……”
If I oppose here, I’ll just be seen as a discernment-lacking child. The regent’s expression hardened as if he understood Duke Javier’s intentions. Sensing the cold atmosphere in the meeting room, I looked around at the pale-faced ministers.
‘It’s amazing how they get scared every time the regent gets angry.’
If I were in their place, I’d quit my job, sell the land and buildings, and live in my territory. Is power really that good? Anyway, I need to end the meeting quickly because I have something important today.
‘It’s melon cake for a snack!’
I grabbed the regent’s sleeve.
“Puhang.”
My voice made his cold face warm up like a spring day. The regent, who smiled affectionately, knelt on one knee and looked me in the eye.
“Yes, Mabel.”
“I’m going, Kyuyeje.” (I’m going, Kyuyeje.)
“But Mabel, please reconsider. If you collapse again, I...”
The regent paused to catch his breath and continued.
“Moreover, outside the palace is very dangerous. While calming the people’s hearts is important, your safety cannot be neglected.”
“No, it’s not dangerous at all.”
I answered firmly. Collapsing was just an act, and at worst, it would only involve a bit of blood or a nosebleed, so it wasn’t a problem. The regent, who didn’t know the truth, frowned slightly in worry.
“Mabel.”
I shook my head at his pleading tone.
“Risando is there, and other knights are going too. What’s dangerous?”
“I don’t want to expose you to any potential danger...”
I cut off the regent’s words.
“Puhang is there too.”
I said, recalling that the regent was a renowned battlefield hero and a Sword Master even in his days as the crown prince. Could anyone really attack a procession guarded by Risando, the regent, and the knights? It was a calculated thought, but the regent seemed moved as he called my name.
“...Mabel!”
“...?”
The regent, looking very touched, grabbed my small hands. To say he grabbed them, his large hands completely enveloped mine. Suddenly having both hands held, I broke out in a cold sweat. The regent’s blue eyes were serious.
“I will not betray your trust.”
“Huh...?”
Why did trust come up all of a sudden? Before I could react, the regent squeezed my hands tightly.
“No matter what happens, I will protect you, Mabel.”
“Eh...?”
“Since you wish it so much. Let’s do it, Kyuyeje.”
“Umm...?”
Without doing anything, everything turned out well. Confused and bewildered, I looked up at the regent, who was gazing at me with a sweet expression.
‘Well, if it’s good, it’s good, right?’
Just as I thought that, someone clapped. Distracted by the regent, I had momentarily forgotten that this was a meeting room. One person’s clapping soon spread, and everyone except the Marquis of Gadenia and the regent clapped. Clap clap clap clap! A shower of applause...!
“Indeed, His Majesty the Emperor is full of dignity!”
“Perhaps only His Majesty the Emperor can stand up to His Regency!”
‘Wait, hold on.’
That statement might be a bit dangerous, right? Startled, I looked up at the regent, but he was smiling at me, seemingly pleased. Sigh. My sigh was deep. I wanted to go home, even though I was already at home.
‘This is a strange country...’
Anyway, the goal of getting the Kyuyeje to happen was achieved. The only thing left was to watch Duke Javier eat his candy.
***
The accommodation given to Eidan was a secluded annex at the corner of the palace. Though it had been unused and neglected for a long time, it was an old building that had everything. For someone who was once a hostage and a person of interest to the regent, it was a luxurious facility. Despite some objections to such lavish treatment, they were quashed by Esteban. The annex at the edge of the palace was enough to satisfy Regent Esteban. It was the farthest building from the main palace where Mabel stayed. Even though there were objections that it was close to the city gates and could facilitate an escape, Esteban didn’t flinch. It was a clear indication that his daughter’s safety was more important than a hostage’s escape.
‘Does he really not want me to meet her?’
Eidan sat on the bed and looked out the window. The surveillance troops surrounding the annex were clearly visible. The number of troops was so strict that it was as if an entire knight squadron was deployed just to watch one person. Since moving from the prison to the annex, Eidan had never met Mabel. He couldn’t even leave the annex. If he needed something, he could ask the servants, and they would bring it with the approval of the higher-ups, who deemed it safe. Knowing he wasn’t trusted, Eidan understood that this treatment was more than enough. It was also a warning not to try to escape the surveillance. But Eidan didn’t mind.
‘At this distance, it’s fine.’
Being closer to Mabel made him feel more comfortable, but even at this distance, he wasn’t at risk of losing his sanity. In fact, since entering the palace, Eidan had never lost control. This proved that the curse didn’t work when the Emperor of Ermano was nearby. Eidan recalled the last time he saw the baby in the prison.
“Wait a bit. I’ll definitely get you out. Got it?”
Indeed, after Regent Esteban visited, Eidan was able to leave the prison. This was his first night in the annex. Eidan felt a faint presence near him. It was so insignificant that he ignored it, but the presence kept circling around him. Initially patient, Eidan finally cast a dark veil to capture the intruders.
“Squeak!”
“Squeak!”
The intruders, pitifully struggling, cried out. Eidan was momentarily speechless when he saw what they were.
“...Mice?”
Less than ten mice, with red eyes, looked up at him pitifully, caught in the dark trap.
“Huh.”
A hollow laugh escaped him. Though he couldn’t understand animal language, he could read the desperate plea in their eyes. The mice’s movements, seemingly irregular, had a pattern. Eidan easily deduced that someone was using the mice to spy on him.
“Squeak...”
He had no intention of killing innocent animals. Instead, Eidan released a small amount of his energy to pressure the mice’s necks.
“Squeak, squeak!”
Feeling the threat of death, the mice started to cry frantically. Once he felt he had delivered the warning, Eidan withdrew the dark veil.
“Squeak? Squeak-squeak-squeak!”
Suddenly free, the mice, bewildered, fled as soon as they made eye contact with Eidan. They didn’t know that Eidan had left a trace on them.
‘I should check who’s using animals to spy on me.’
The trail of darkness left by the fleeing mice led to a specific place. When Eidan confirmed the destination, he was speechless.
“...The baby emperor’s bedroom?”
Unbelievably, the mice had arrived at Mabel’s bedroom. Veron had made Eidan memorize the map of the Ermano palace while in Devlin, so he knew it was definitely the emperor’s bedroom.
‘I knew she wasn’t an ordinary baby, but to control animals like her limbs...’
If Mabel heard this, she would probably argue, “It’s not controlling; they’re just being extorted.” This way, Eidan inadvertently learned about Mabel’s abilities and speculated that she wasn’t just an innocent baby. Around the time Eidan got used to his secluded life in the palace, he overheard a conversation between the maids passing by the annex.
“Today, the nobles were in an uproar, offering any gift to His Majesty the Emperor.”
“I understand. I’d want to give anything to His Majesty too. If he wished, I might even cut off my hand...!”
“Mother! Are you crazy?”
“Why? Wouldn’t you think the same?”
“I would! I could even give him an organ!”
Eidan, who overheard the conversation unintentionally, was speechless.
“So, what gift did His Majesty like the most?”
“Well, he was the same as usual.”
“Of course, our Majesty. So dignified and cute!”
“I heard His Majesty likes shiny things like gold and jewels...”
The conversation faded away.
‘A birthday gift, huh.’
Eidan’s preparation of Mabel’s birthday gift was almost impulsive. Before he knew it, he had given a large piece of cheese to the mice with a note. Realizing his mistake too late, the note was already sent.
‘Since she received a cake last time.