Duke Javier pretended to be someone else when he made the request, but he couldn't escape the intricate information network of <Evil>. The news that the Duke was looking for someone soon reached Eidan's ears. Eidan, who happened to be visiting the guild, heard the report directly from Casey, the deputy master in charge of operations.
"He's looking for a man who appears at every auction, raises the bidding price, and then disappears."
Eidan narrowed his eyes. Meanwhile, Casey continued his report.
"His age is unknown. He wears a black hood, so no one has seen his face."
What kind of reaction should he show? Eidan was in a difficult position. It was a very funny situation to have the leader of the information guild request the guild to find him.
Casey asked. Eidan found a piece of paper and a pen. This wasn't something he could decide on his own. As Eidan wrote a short note, Casey looked around nervously.
"Are you writing to 'Him'?"
"Who is 'He'? I've never met Him, so I'm curious."
Eidan harshly cut off Casey's curiosity. Three years had passed since the founding of Evil. Everyone knew Eidan as the guild leader, but a few trusted guild members knew that there was another master. However, Eidan never revealed the true identity of the master, so they had no information about him.
'Sometimes the information he brings is just mind-blowing.'
The information he brought was so chilling that it made one wonder how he obtained it. It included intimate details among nobles that one could only know by hearing them directly. When Eidan realized that all the information came from one person, he was eager to know who it was. But neither his personal abilities nor the guild's information network could uncover the master's identity.
'What kind of person is he?'
He knew nothing about the master's gender, age, or status. Casey, feeling a bit frustrated, asked again.
Casey made a show of crying and left sadly. Eidan, without even glancing in his direction, summoned Mabel's animal friend, a mouse, which had been lingering around him. The mouse, trembling under Eidan's presence, took the note and left. By the time he finished handling the guild's backlog, it was already dusk. He wouldn't be able to return to the palace today. Looking out the window, Eidan suddenly thought of Mabel.
'What if she falls when I'm not there?'
Mabel often tripped and fell during her walks. If Eidan was there, he could catch her, but sometimes she would return with blood on her knees after a solo walk. Because of this, Eidan found it hard to take his eyes off her. He would often find himself taking care of her. Mabel had a clumsy and adorable side, which made it impossible for him to resist. Just as Eidan was about to resume his work, a small creature got caught in the dark curtain he had spread around him.
Ignoring the mouse, which was feigning pitifulness, Eidan snatched the letter from Mabel. Since he had just been thinking about her, he was actually quite pleased to receive a message. Unfolding the letter, he saw Mabel's crooked handwriting and the surprisingly ruthless and strategic content. [Spread false information about your identity. Say you're a confidant of Duke Gadenia. Since we don't get along anyway, it shouldn't matter. And how about gaining Duke Javier's trust and starting a trade with the merchant guild? It would be great to get him to invest and then crush him in one go!]
He could almost imagine Mabel's face as she wrote the letter, delighted that the foolish Duke Javier had walked into a trap.
'Usually she's like a baby at her age, but why is she so evil at times?'
Forget the clumsy and adorable part. If there was a problem, it was that he didn't mind her evil side. ***
Yawning slightly, I got off the throne. I had been lying down to fulfill my role as a lazy emperor, and drowsiness had crept over me.
'I should eat some cake, brush my teeth, and take a nap!'
Just as I was about to leave the meeting room, satisfied with my perfect plan, someone called out to me.
I turned around, wide-eyed, as the loud voice drew the attention of my father and the other ministers.
"Why are you stopping me?"
Is something wrong? The minister's face looked serious, making me tense.
"Your Majesty, I have something to say."
"I have a lifelong wish, and I beg you to hear it. I plead with you...!"
What could be so desperate that he would start with such a grand prelude? I became serious. As a noble attending regular meetings, he was a symbol of power. So it probably wasn't about money. What could be so serious that it couldn't be solved with money?
But I wasn't the kind of person to easily agree to anything. Looking up at the tall minister, I saw him clench his fists as if making a decision.
"My lifelong wish is to stroke Your Majesty's head, even just once..."
Murmurs broke out. The other ministers, who had been watching, stood up, their faces red with indignation.
"How dare you spout such impure nonsense?!"
"That's a capital offense! Kill him!"
A terrifying gaze from my father, who slowly walked over, made the minister even more nervous. His eyes were so fierce that they seemed to want to tear the minister apart.
"Are you really asking for death? To stroke the emperor's head? You must be crazy."
I tilted my head, looking at the minister, who had turned pale with fear.
"I won't stroke your head."
Uncle Si's shoulders slumped in disappointment. But there were limits to what I could allow, even if I was just a figurehead emperor with no real power. Stroking a minister's head would undermine my dignity. I understood that he found me cute and meant no harm, but...
'I don't want to be seen as easy to handle.'
Instead, I raised my hand and grabbed the minister's hand. My hand was so small that it was more like gripping his fingers.
"But I can shake hands like this!"
Shaking his hand up and down, I made the minister's hand move with it.
What was so surprising? Uncle Si's eyes widened.
'Does he dislike shaking hands?'
Just as I was about to let go, feeling a bit disappointed, my father rushed over and firmly held my hand.
"Mabel, what are you doing?"
"With these small, precious, and adorable hands... how could you..."
My father, seemingly overwhelmed with emotion, couldn't finish his sentence.
'Anyone would think I was digging the ground with my bare hands.'
I looked at my father with a cold eye.
"Whatever. It's my hand, after all."
"Even if you're my father, you can't just do whatever you want!"
I said this to prevent him from killing the minister who had asked to stroke my head. Requesting to stroke the emperor's head was disrespectful, but it wasn't a capital offense. My father, who hadn't said anything particularly harsh, was shocked.
'Sigh. Being a daughter is tiring.'
Just as I thought I had resolved the commotion, another minister approached hesitantly.
"Your Majesty, can I shake hands too?"
Soon, a line formed in front of me. I was a bit surprised by this unexpected situation but gladly shook hands with them.
"Ah, it's an honor, Your Majesty!"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Hehehe!"
I added a word of encouragement to each handshake. Maintaining a close relationship with my ministers was important.
"Can I shake hands with you too, Your Majesty?"
Only, when Duke Javier smiled and extended his hand, I wanted to cancel.
After that day, a strange custom emerged in the palace.
"Your Majesty can shake hands with us."
People were eagerly asking for handshakes as Mabel passed by.
"Your Majesty! Can I shake hands too?"
Mabel, who was happy about the handshakes, didn't realize that Esteban was furious.
"Damn. Using Mabel's innocent heart to gain unfair advantages."
Of course, he could stroke her, pick her up, and even give her a secret kiss on the forehead when she was asleep, but he still didn't like it. Unaware of Esteban's burning gaze, people happily shook hands with Mabel. At first, he tolerated it, but his patience wore thin. Finally, Esteban took a drastic step.
[Anyone who touches the emperor will be fined.]
He imposed a huge fine to prevent people from approaching. However, he had overlooked something. People loved Mabel so much that they were willing to pay the fine.
"Fine? I can just pay it!"
"Now I can shake hands with Your Majesty without worrying! Hehe!"
Instead of deterring them, it made it legal (and acceptable) to shake hands. Thanks to Esteban's self-defeating move, a new attraction was born in Ermano's palace: the 'walking fine' known as the emperor. ***
Today was the day of my lesson with the teaching priest. In fact, only I and Yangyi knew that the teaching priest Hae was actually the divine king Michael.
'He did it to save the world, so I can't really say anything.'
Since his only purpose was to meet me and reveal the hidden prophecy, there was no reason to send him back to Abelard. Of course, I had a ulterior motive.
'I need to learn how to handle divine power.'
The teachings from previous priests were useful, but now I was dealing with the divine king. There had to be something different. He seemed like an excellent and valuable prey.
Entering the reception room where the divine king was waiting, he greeted me warmly.
"I heard a rumor. The national treasury seems to be quite solid now."
This was about the fine my father had imposed. I shrugged and sat opposite the divine king.
"Well, I didn't expect it, but if the money runs out, I'll take action."
Money is always right. Being able to take money from the pockets of wealthy nobles, where it would otherwise rot, was a good thing. Smirking, I saw the divine king shake his head.
"You're cute but ruthless."
"Thanks for the compliment. Will the divine king pay the fine?"
What a lie. Despite the small territory and population of the Divine Kingdom, it boasted immense power due to the people's devout faith and substantial donations. Abelard's finances were so robust that wealth accumulated even without effort. The kingdom used this budget to play money games with neighboring countries, gaining advantageous positions in negotiations.
"That's a lie. The divine king is richer than me."
"Judging by personal wealth, no one can surpass the emperor of Ermano."
Hearing this, I recalled everything my father had given me since my birth: the Ponce Castle, the northern forest of the palace, the Bisante Principality, and various villas, countries, territories, and treasures. Yes, I was rich...
Feeling a bit foolish for provoking him, I brought up the reason for my visit.
"Did you prepare for the lesson?"
Today, the divine king came empty-handed, as usual, so I didn't expect much. But he nodded matter-of-factly.
"What did I receive from the gods?"
"The memories of all previous divine kings?"
"Right. So why carry heavy books?"
I was amazed by his attitude, as if he was asking a strange question.
'What? He's cool despite being annoying.'
For several days, I had been secretly mining Duke Javier's gold mine, but the Duke still hadn't noticed. Just as everything was going smoothly, the moles suddenly appeared. I was crouching in the Third Garden, looking at the moles poking their heads out.
"Why? Is there a problem?"
[No problem, but... I found this in the gold mine.]
The mole briefly burrowed into the ground and brought something out. My eyes widened when I saw it.