/

Chapter 48




Just taking a stroll wasn’t bad either. Since your thoughts become organized.
Charlize returned to the Crown Prince’s Palace because her residence has not moved yet. The maids-in-waiting welcomed Charlize with joy.
“Jesa.”
“…What’s wrong?”
Charlize asked, noticing the maid’s expression.
“It’s nothing but the Young Duke of Delmon said that he must meet Jesa…”
“He’s waiting in the drawing room.”
If it was the Young Duke, it must be Kahu.
It was true that she received great help from Kahu the day before the rebellion. Charlize nodded.
Originally, it would have been necessary to go through formal procedures, but it was a chaotic time. She immediately entered the drawing room.
As soon as he saw Charlize, Kahu stood up.
“You’ve come, Jesa.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were waiting…”
“It’s my fault that I came without prior notification.”
Charlize sat down. Winter was coming. That was why she was glad to see the steam coming up from the warm tea.
Kahu sat down clumsily.
 
“Because I was so busy that I couldn’t even say thank you. Thank you for your contribution. I really needed a knight to handle the main gate…”
“How dare I compare myself to the contribution of Jesa?”
The fact that Kahu joined the rebellion was unexpected for Charlize. In fact, there had been so many signs.
Life didn’t flow the way she expected. She thought that no one had noticed, but Kahu went to Dylan the day before the rebellion with half confidence.
That wasn’t all.
It was also unexpected that the imperial family had been hiding the shadow monsters. What if Charlize hadn’t taken charge of the outside?
The result would have been disastrous, as there could have been no one as skilled as Charlize. Just imagining it made her dizzy.
‘I didn’t even know that the Grand Duke of Ronan would come forward to help.’
And even her family. It would be more accurate to say that she was indifferent towards them in the first place.
She believed she had things under control, but more things were not. Moreover. It was the same for Dylan.
‘There is no need to be too disappointed, nor no reason to be too excited.’
That was enough wandering for the day. Charlize ended her confusion.
“The reason why I visited Jesa is.”
“…”
“Don’t worry, I don’t mean to question you closely.”
Charlize raised her eyes. Sheepish, Kahu avoided her eyes.
“The other day… At your swordsmanship commemoration ball. I wanted to apologize for being too rude.”
“I’ve already forgotten the incident.”
And she remembered that she had already received an apology for it. Kahu nervously licked his lips.
“So, what I’m trying to say is.”
“…”
“No matter what circumstances the Jesa has. Unless you tell me first. I mean, I won’t try to dig into it.”
Was he being considerate of me?
Charlize was silent.
Perhaps Kahu was a person sensitive to the flow of time. Or he could have returned together with herself.
The reason she wasn’t sure it was a regression was because Kahu had become too irresolute.
It wouldn’t matter if she kept pretending not to know Kahu’s speculation. But she was grateful that Kahu wouldn’t cross the line.
Charlize opened her lips and lowered her head. She lifted the teacup in front of her and drank it. Her inside became warm.
“And, I wanted to tell Jesa thank you for all your hard work.”
These words. It was a word that no one had spoken to her even once. Even Charlize herself.
At the unexpected remark, Charlize quietly put down the teacup. When Charlize didn’t speak. Feeling like he made a mistake, Kahu stuttered,
“Of course, I know it’s against the etiquette to say “thank you for your hard work” to my superior… but I just,”
“I know, Your Grace.”
Charlize affirmed slowly.
Kahu slowly looked at Charlize. Charlize wasn’t smiling. A poker face. Nevertheless, it looked the most genuine.
“Congratulations on becoming Jesa.”
“…Thank you. For your help. I will definitely repay you.”
It wasn’t too bad that the first congratulation she heard was from Kahu.
The conversation ended there. Kahu stepped back, asking her to have a comfortable night.
After returning to her bedroom, Charlize became lost in thought.
‘If it’s as planned, I should have had a drink with Dylan yesterday.’
If the rebellion was successful, she decided to drink a celebratory drink with him. Charlize was convinced that Dylan was waiting.
“Mary.”
“Yes, pardon? Yes! Jesa.”
Mary, who seemed glad that her name was called, opened her eyes wide. Charlize asked,
“Will you deliver this message to His Majesty?”
“Of course, Jesa. What do you want me to deliver?”
Come to think of it, it was too much not to attend Dylan’s coronation ceremony. Charlize became regretful.
“…Please tell him that I’m ready.”
Charlize meant to have a drink with Dylan tonight. But it could sound a little strange.
Mary, who saw Charlize up close, blushed and stared at her blankly for a moment.
“I understand, Jesa.”
Mary bowed her head carefully. As Mary left the room, Charlize spoke to the remaining maids.
“Will you dress me up?”
Dylan was no longer Dylan that Charlize knows. He was a drawing paper that she was now a little unfamiliar with. He had become darker than she thought.
Thinking that she should keep her head straight even if she would drink, Charlize vowed.
She would deal with him a little more carefully.
“Of course, Jesa.”
“We’ll do our best.”
Similar to the unusually enthralling sunset, the clear moonlight came at a beautiful night. The maids bowed their heads in delight.
***
Dylan looked at Mary.
“You said that Master told you to tell me that?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Finally. Did she feel better?
Mary gave the box in her arms to the relieved Dylan. When Dylan opened the box, there was a perfume in it.
“This is the perfume Your Majesty ordered the other day.”
“…Good job.”
It was Mary who first received Charlize’s praise. As Mary said, Dylan asked her a favor.
He asked her in person to make a perfume that suited his atmosphere.
Mary politely stepped back.
Dylan ordered the servants to prepare a drink in the garden of the Imperial Palace and hurriedly finished bathing.
His eyes became curious.
Dylan recalled the testimony of the landlords who watched Charlize on the day of the rebellion.
[It was an incredible military force.]
[There was no one who went beyond Jesa …Though there were more reinforcements from the Emperor than expected, the important task went smoothly as planned.]
[…Honestly, it’s all thanks to Jesa. We just helped.]
When Dylan took over on the inside and Charlize took on the forces outside. No one could have come through the closed gates. It was true that the rebellion had been smooth.
[I sincerely thought it was a relief that we were allies.]
Their hands seemed to tremble just by looking back on their memories. Shocked face. A shudder close to chill.
Charlize’s ability was a scope of incomprehensibility that could not be explained by their common sense.
The overwhelmed landlords spoke earnestly.
[If she were an enemy. We could never have won.]
[When she came after dealing with the shadow monsters, I was really surprised. At that time, there was no time to think, so I passed it over, but when I think about it again. It was really astonishing.]
[The more I think about it, the more I feel like she went beyond human level, Your Majesty.]
Charlize was a genuine female knight. It was something that was still a rare concept on the continent, and close to an honorary title.
However, it’s not enough to break the female knight’s prejudice, that even if you search the entire continent, you wouldn’t be able to find someone who could deal with her. Even alone, she was strong.
The landlords had strong pride. However, the sense of inferiority and superiority they felt depended on the opponent.
The difference was so significant that they couldn’t even dare belittle Charlize. They could only look up and admire her.
The testimony of the knights and soldiers were the same. The touching acknowledgment of the subordinates lightly tugged on Dylan’s heartstrings.
Dylan had only been curious about one thing. The reason why Charlize had tried to use himself to destroy the Empire.
‘If she had that ability, she would have been able to end the Empire by herself.’
Why didn’t Charlize choose that path? Was it a sense of guilt? Was it her morality?
But Dylan soon became calm. She didn’t have to choose herself, because Charlize ‘chose’ him.
His trust further deepened. Whatever the reason, Dylan was fine with it.
“My Lord, Jesa had a conversation with Kahu in the drawing room.”
“Is that so?”
V appeared in the dark and stated. Dylan’s expression sank heavily. Kahu. A name that had always annoyed him whenever he heard it.
“What kind of conversation did they have?”
“The Young Duke told her to be rest assured because he wouldn’t question the Jesa closely. There seemed to be something between the two of them.”
Dylan looked in the mirror silently. He sprayed the perfume that Mary gave him.
It was reminiscent of the freshness of azure, but the scent was not overpowering but subtle.
It was like a soft and refreshing  soap used by a baby. Doubly so because of the sweet yet drowsy feeling it gave off.
“The Young Duke then said, “thank you for your hard work”. And congratulated her on becoming the Jesa.”
“I see.”
“That’s the end of it. My Lord.”
Of course, Charlize also had her own personal relationships. Dylan respected it.
However, the fact that Kahu once offered marriage with Charlize. It only made the Emperor’s mind uncomfortable.
‘Master, she doesn’t know how I feel.’
Charlize’s face, who confidently recommended young lady Remiya as a candidate for the Crown Princess, came to mind.
Dylan clenched his uniform. V read his countenance and disappeared into the dark again.
[How can a noble person who will be working in state affairs become so deeply interested in appearance?]
The tailor mumbled at the attentive request. As soon as Dylan had ascended the throne, Dylan already had pre-made clothes for him to wear.
[If people saw this handsome man right now, all the maids of the Imperial Palace will be shrinking…]
Dylan paid no mind to what the tailor had said. Even in nature, male peacocks make their feathers more colorful in order to be chosen by females.
From the standpoint of courting, his grooming was a natural thing.
Dylan’s skin reflected in the mirror was purely white. A face more suited to be a benevolent pope rather than an Emperor who ruled the empire under his feet.
The design was also fashionable, and the straight fabric made Dylan’s body figure stand out as much as possible.
The unrealistic body figure of the highly praised sculpture was also lower than Dylan’s. The tightly built muscles highlighted the broad shoulders and his abs.
“…”
If it weren’t for Charlize, Dylan wouldn’t have ascended to the throne. He wore the Emperor’s uniform that Charlize had given him as a gift.
A little exciting face appeared on the surface of the clear mirror.
He arranged his dry hair.
“The drinks are ready, Your Majesty.”
“Lead the way.”
Under the lead of the attendant, Dylan set out on his way. The garden of the Imperial Palace was splendidly decorated. When he arrived, he put his hands neatly together.
Dylan waited for Charlize with nervous eyes.
What made him nervous, most of all, was the excessive meaning he put into this. It was the first night he became the Emperor.
As if it was like a first night.
Now that he was waiting for Charlize, he couldn’t help but be excited.
***