/
Episode 142: The Next Move
* * *
After the attack of Barbatus, the nobles who attended the party sent me letters and gifts every hour.
The contents of the letters were all roughly the same.
Countless words of praise and thanks.
In addition, feature articles poured out from various newspapers.
The front page of the largest daily newspaper in the empire was decorated with a special article about the imperial couple who defeated the barbatus dragon.
〈According to the testimony of a nobleman resembling a quokka who was present at the scene,
‘When Her Majesty the Queen shouted solemnly, the barbatus dragon trembled and stepped backwards.’〉
“…That’s an exaggeration.”
I sat down on a chair, put a hand on my forehead, and let out an embarrassed breath.
But the next line was even more speculative.
〈When the barbatus dragon tried to spit flames, Her Majesty the Queen flew and made its mouth shut with a kick.〉
“That’s too much?!”
Seryl, who was reading the newspaper next to me, blinked and commented.
“Oh, I think I saw it?!”
‘I think you just saw it in your dreams. Silly cotton candy.’
“I, I must have seen it. Barbatus taking a step backwards!”
I pressed my temples to Maribel’s testimony.
“It staggered against your powers. You never yelled.”
Laura, who was at least rational, commented with a smile.
“It’s probably because everyone’s excited. They must have felt protected for the first time in a long time.”
“…….”
“It’s been a long time… since the two of them have left their seats.”
I was aware of the accident that caused the Emperor and Empress of Aktoum to be absent.
After that, the empty thrones of the monarchs might have caused Aktoum some unrest.
It was only then that the impression that this incident had made on the people of Aktoum was truly felt.
In the meantime, even the daily newspapers that were friendly to Johann published articles predicting when Rixus would ascend to the throne.
‘Everyone recognizes him as the monarch.’
Rixus, and me.
When ascending to the throne, these impressions would certainly be helpful.
“Since the scene was dark, everyone had no choice but to testify what they felt.”
At Laura’s words, I folded the newspaper in one movement and handed it to her.
“Still, a flying kick was too much, so please fix it.”
“Yes!”
“Don’t accept the nobles’ gifts for a while, just letters will do.”
“…Ah! Why not the presents, Your Majesty?”
Seryl, who was holding a bunch of presents, ruffled her pink hair as if regretfully.
“Everyone would have the same feelings of gratitude, but if they have no choice but to give gifts according to their circumstances, nobles with low titles or no wealth will feel deprived.”
I wished it didn’t happen this time.
“…More than anything else, I feel like I’m stealing money from my nose.”
I just suddenly started my 8th life, but…
The ‘0’ in my balance was uncountable…
I checked my balance the day before yesterday and almost passed out.
“Okay, Your Majesty. Do you have anything else to do?”
I was deep in thought. The doubts I had about Johann yesterday could not be erased from my mind.
“Your Majesty prefers to reform people rather than punish them.”
That was true. However…
‘Did I ask for Deborah’s pardon myself?’
It felt as if the doubts, once sprouted, gradually took root in my head and were firmly entrenched.
‘…Maybe Johann is taking advantage of my memory loss.’
Then for what purpose?
I thought for a while and finally decided to look back on the day before I lost my memory.
When I go back to the last days when my memories were intact… I might get a clue.
I gave Laura an order.
“Make an announcement to the Aktoum nobles.”
“What announcement?”
* * *
“She’s looking for the last nobles who met with her?”
Johann raised his eyebrows slightly and asked Melfis.
“Yes, all the nobles who she had met since the afternoon of the day before the memory loss. She’s asking them to tell her the time period and the details of the meeting.”
“…Hmm.”
Johann gently stroked his chin with a long finger.
‘I guess I was too suspicious.’
Efforts to recover memories were natural, but to make such an announcement the day after the big battle.
He also felt that it was quite active to want the participation of the entire nobility.
Due to her strong will to regain her memories, and since his guilty conscience needed no accuser, a reasonable doubt that he might have contributed to this slowly crept in.
[Now that’s not important! Barbatus is a waste, a waste!]
Johann’s gaze slowly turned to the crow.
Toulouse’s three heads nodded as it spoke loudly.
[Oh, don’t regret it! You can’t protect Barbatus, but yet you stop the flames?]
Barbatus emitted countless flames, the first of which was blocked by Rixus.
However, there was a moment in the middle when the monster widened its mouth to Berylia and then… it stopped.
At that time, it was the power of Johann that made Barbatus’ mouth shut, not Berylia’s ‘flying kick’.
He had tied up its mouth for fear that the flames would injure Berylia.
Barbatus cut off most magic at the time, but he could not neutralize Johann, who had the power of ‘Toulouse’, who ruled over the demons.
Johann spoke in annoyance.
“If she had been hurt even a little, it would have been torn into 100 pieces.”
[…….]
The crow pouted as if dissatisfied, and grumbled.
Well, to begin with, its beak was protruding, so it didn’t show.
Johann looked at Toulouse with strange eyes.
“…Of course, the Archduke also met Her Majesty the Queen that day. What should I say?”
At Melfis’ words, Johann finally turned his gaze away from the crow and answered.
“Tell it as it is. Without any special embellishments.”
Now that was the most suspicious way. But that wasn’t quite enough.
‘It’s fun to live in doubt.’
As Johann raised the corner of his lips, he slowly poured wine into a glass.
‘It’s much more enjoyable to confuse.’
He soon said,
“Tell Madam Deborah to come.”
He was thinking of moving the puppet once for fun.
After a while.
Deborah, who had been called by Melfis, entered with a twisted face.
“Please, leave me alone! You already took all my fortune!”
The effect of the promise to donate to the nobility was demonstrated today. Every nook and cranny, without leaving even a single jewel, members of the noble council came and robbed Deborah of all her assets.
‘I’m going crazy and jumping, but he even called me again!’
Deborah was already angry. Still, she couldn’t hide her fear.
“Madam Deborah. There’s something you can do for me.”
“……Again?!”
Deborah questioned Johann with a red face.
“I did everything you told me to do! But there’s something else to do?”
She had apologized in humiliation and lost all of her fortune.
He was trying to use her even though she didn’t have anything now.
At that moment, Johann, who was looking at Deborah, slowly stood up from his seat.
“!”
That alone surprised Deborah and she took a step back.
Dun, dun.
Each time Johann kept his gaze on her and walked nearer, Deborah staggered back and eventually, her back reached the window.
“Deborah.”
His voice was low and sweet. enough to make one cringe.
Deborah shut her eyes tight, remembering the terrifying touch last time, where he grabbed her hair roughly.
But the next thing she felt was a soft, supple touch that gently tickled her chin.
“…….”
When she opened her eyes slowly, Johann was looking down at her.
A person without greed, those black eyes that made me think my whole life was good.
—It flashed at her like a demon.
“When I give orders, you just have to obey.”
“Ahh…”
Deborah was about to cry with horror; she bit her lips.
“You should be happy I called you.”
With his cold eyes, Johann whispered sweetly like chocolate.
“I’ll kill you when you’re useless.”
Ugh—
Soft fingertips slowly and horizontally drew on Deborah’s neckline.
Soon his hand fell, and Deborah collapsed in her place with wobbly legs.
She was a woman who prided herself on having dealt with all kinds of evil humans.
However, the feeling Johann gave her was beyond the scope of the evil ‘humans’ she had ever met.
Killing when one’s useless… He meant it.
She asked, trembling.
“W-What should I do…?”
Johann uttered, casually looking down at her.
“Ask to be the Queen’s maid.”
“!”
“Say, ‘I want to pay for my past sins while serving you by your side’.”
Berylia would not turn down this challenge.
She would keep Deborah by her side just out of curiosity, even temporarily.
Johann smiled quietly, imagining her reaction. Then he whispered to Deborah.
“And when the time comes, say ‘this’.”
“……How?”
* * *
“Why does Rixus refuse treatment?”
“It isn’t that he refused treatment, he actually disinfected himself…”
I was troubled while inquiring about the condition of Rixus through the doctor.
It came into my ears that while he was killing the barbatus dragon, he sustained a large cut on his chest from its scales.
He had just recovered, but he was hurt again.
Besides, I couldn’t help but worry when he got hurt again in the already injured area.
Yet he cleaned it himself like a stubborn person?
“The disinfection area wouldn’t be very small, but he did it himself?”
“To begin with, he doesn’t like showing his body in front of others. He doesn’t usually want help when changing clothes or bathing.”
No, but…? What if it got worse? Anyway, there was something about it that really bothered me.
I asked in frustration.
“He’s not a new bride, what is making him so shy?”
“Well. That’s…”
‘How picky.’
I sent the senator out.
‘If he’s used to doing it alone, he’ll be fine.’
But no matter how much I tried not to pay attention, I kept leaning towards it.
The image of yesterday’s Rixus flashed before my eyes.
When danger came, it looked like he was protecting me, not himself.
The way he fought against the hellish black flames with his whole body, and having not even a single strand of hair hurt…
‘How could you let yourself be hurt like that.’
I gave up trying to distract myself, and eventually got up and went to his bedroom.
When I told him I had come, I heard a voice telling me to come right in from inside the door.
“Berylia.”
The blue-purple eyes shone kindly and gladly.
Half-open shirt with unfastened buttons, and disinfection tools scattered on the table.
Even if I hadn’t spoken to the doctor, I knew what Rixus was trying to do.
I didn’t want to show that I was worried, so I approached him with a hardened expression.
Then I spoke as softly as possible.
“Take it off.”
Rixus’ eyes slowly rose.