MPGF 08

Chapter 8: He’s Grown Up, My Son.The Emperor’s Audience Chamber.

“Your Majesty, it’s been a long time since I last visited.”

At the sound of that familiar voice after a long while, the lazy Emperor suddenly lifted his head. He turned his eyes to see Hertian walking in.

“Have you been well?”

His voice echoed throughout the spacious room. The Emperor, who had smiled softly at the pleasant sound, quickly wiped the expression from his face.

“Spare me the formalities.”

He welcomed his son with a cold tone that didn’t match his inner feelings.

Hertian replied curtly to the Emperor’s usual attitude.

“Then I’ll stop.”

It was their first reunion in two years. With the Emperor. And in the capital.

No matter how many times he came, the palace felt unfamiliar. Feeling suffocated, Hertian loosened the button tightly fastened at his neck and approached the throne.

“Coming back victorious from war has made you even more arrogant?”

“I’ll stop.”

“Good. Stop being arrogant to your father…”

“I said I’m done wandering the battlefield to avoid my relatives.”

Hertian cut off the Emperor’s words and got straight to the point. He wasn’t one for long pleasantries.

“What did you say?”

Startled by his son’s sudden defiance, the Emperor straightened his slouch.

“I’m tired of it. The fact that the place I fled to for my life is a battlefield where people die is horrible.”

Four years had passed. While his friends played at the academy, he inherited the title of duke and wandered the warfront. He thought he had grown used to suppressing his desires, but now he didn’t want to live giving up everything.

Moreover, Anette wanted him. In this situation, war? Even if the empire falls, he wouldn’t go out there.

“It’s still premature. Wait until your power is established.”

But the Emperor wasn’t one to accept easily. He had lost loved ones and didn’t want to lose his son too. Yet, if the Emperor intervened directly to protect Hertian, it would also provoke rebellion. Knowing this well, the Emperor was still measuring the timing.

“I refuse.”

Hertian answered firmly.

“Are you saying you’ll defy my will?”

“You promised before the war that after this war ends, I could return to my territory.”

“But you ended the war earlier than promised.”

He was told to drag it out at least another year. But for Hertian, Anette’s letter was more important. With Anette possibly marrying another man, he couldn’t leisurely waste time on the battlefield. Better to clash now than live like that.

“Not finishing something that can be finished is incompetence.”

“How dare you defy the Emperor?”

“No. I’m informing you. I won’t go out to the battlefield anymore just to save my life.”

Hertian left the statement like a notification and turned coldly away.

He had expected the Emperor would get angry.

Just as he was about to leave the audience chamber—

“Ha ha ha ha.”

The Emperor burst into loud laughter. Hertian stopped walking.

“The time has finally come.”

At the heavy voice, Hertian turned his head irritably. There was a satisfaction on the Emperor’s face he had never seen before. He seemed very pleased with his son’s first rebellion.

“You should have done this earlier. Now that you’re standing up to me, you’ll be able to protect your life and your people.”

Hertian’s eyebrow twitched.

“…So you were testing me all along?”

For four years?

“The true king of the forest lion throws his cub off a cliff. It wasn’t a test but helping you grow on your own.”

“You’re the one playing word games, Your Majesty.”

“Think what you want.”

The Emperor didn’t care.

With that kind of guts, he probably wouldn’t get beaten like a fool anywhere.

“So what do you plan to do when you return to your territory? You only know war so far.”

Of course, the real challenge would start now. Living in the cold and barren land would be harder.

‘He must have a plan to act so confidently.’

The Emperor grew a little curious.

But what came from Hertian’s mouth was far from what he expected.

“I’m going to marry.”

Not Serdis, not anyone he expected from Hertian’s mouth.

“You, you’re getting married?”

“Don’t meddle.”

That guy… he was serious, not joking.

He was really planning to marry.

“You’ve been under Calix’s command, and now your head’s grown too big… you don’t even have a match.”

The Emperor still doubted. Seeing his reckless younger brother Calix neither marry nor have a romance, he wondered if Hertian might be the same.

“I have someone to marry.”

“You do? You, who only wandered battlefields? Did you fall for a neighboring princess?”

“Even if I say, Your Majesty won’t understand.”

“That brat…!”

The Emperor slammed his hand on the armrest. Hertian ignored the reaction and moved toward the exit. But a noisy commotion outside made him stop.

“No entry without permission!”

“Even nobles must request an audience with the Emperor in advance!”

The door opened, and a servant bowed repeatedly, approaching the Emperor.

“What’s the matter?”

The servant gestured outside and reported.

“Well… the Lady Countess of Leamberia suddenly wished to see the Emperor, causing a small disturbance. She came unannounced, so we persuaded her to leave quickly.”

The Lady Countess of Leamberia.

Hertian’s head instinctively turned.

“Anette…?”

His eyes naturally followed the direction she was in.

The Emperor also quickly noticed that his son, who only knew war, mentioned a woman’s name, and saw the flicker in his gaze looking outside. This was the first time the Emperor saw such a reaction from his son.

‘Could it be he plans to marry that lady?’

A sly smile appeared on the Emperor’s lips.

This was the perfect card to tease his rebellious son.

“Bring her in.”

The Emperor was not about to miss this opportunity.

“Yes?”

“Bring in the Lady Countess of Leamberia.”

Meanwhile…

I entrusted Serdis to Violet.

Serdis might come looking for me while I met the Emperor.

I needed someone to keep him tied up. Violet gladly agreed to my request.

And I recklessly barged into the Emperor’s audience chamber, causing a scene, but succeeded in being admitted by the Emperor’s order. My father would be furious if he found out, but I too was driven to desperation.

“I know this is rude, but I came to see Your Majesty no matter what.”

I bowed deeply under the high throne.

“You are the Lady Countess of Leamberia?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“If you asked the Count to arrange a meeting, you wouldn’t have caused such a fuss. Why did you come here so stubbornly without an appointment?”

“Because I had to tell you immediately. Please give me a moment.”

The Emperor exhaled sharply and said,

“I will give you time. But if I find your story unreasonable, I will imprison you in the dungeon.”

His voice was cold and dry like an ice pick. But I didn’t care.

“If you deem it absurd, punish me. But since this was my reckless act alone, punish only me.”

I added boldly,

“And if my story is true, please grant me one wish in the future.”

This was my Plan B.

To foresee the events in the original story and get the Emperor’s protection.

It was not safer than marriage. As I experienced, the original story might not follow as expected, and the Emperor had no reason to grant my wish. But after repeated failed marriages, having nothing to lose made me confident in trying anything.

“Speak.”

The order was given.

I spoke the prepared words.

“There will be a poisoning at the victory ceremony.”

Why I had to meet the Emperor today.

Because today was the day of the victory ceremony. Normally, one had to request an audience at least a week in advance, but there was no time.

To get what I wanted quickly, I had to take a risk.

Heavy silence filled the room. Then the Emperor’s strict and heavy voice broke the silence.

“How do you know this?”

“Since I was a child, after an accident, I’ve occasionally seen things that don’t happen in this world.”

The only way to convince him of my knowledge from the book’s possession.

“You’re trying to act like a prophet with deceitful words.”

“I’m not a prophet. Not everything is visible to me, especially not concerning this matter.”

I declined the prophet role. It would only bring trouble.

The Emperor snorted and ignored me.

“This is the most absurd story I’ve heard all year. I can’t let a baseless story ruin the victory ceremony.”

A natural reaction.

If someone suddenly came and said they knew the future, I’d think they were crazy too.

“I know where the item you seek is located.”

But I came prepared with proof.

“The item you’re looking for? Dig at the end of the stone wall path behind the palace.”

“Lady, if this is another prank, I won’t let it slide.”

I smiled confidently.

“Welcome.”

The Emperor stared at me for a long moment, then ordered a servant to dig. Not long after, the servant returned.

“Your Majesty.”

The Emperor sneered without looking.

“Did you find any gravel?”

“Well… not much, but an old hair ornament was found.”

“Bring it here.”

The servant unfolded the cloth wrapping it. Inside was a well-preserved orange-colored hair ornament. The Emperor’s eyes slowly widened as he examined the unremarkable item.

“How… how did this get here…?”

It was the very item he had once secretly placed on the woman he loved as they sneaked beyond the palace walls. After she died and all traces of her inside the palace burned away, it was a precious and nostalgic object to the Emperor.

The steadfast Emperor stood, carefully took the hair ornament, and I bowed deeply without looking at him.

“I don’t know what this item is, but I merely glimpsed that Your Majesty would find and weep over it someday.”

And I waited silently for the Emperor to regain his composure.

“I will believe you. Now, rise and speak.”

His trembling voice softened. I hid a victorious smile and brushed the dirt from my hands.

Though I knew the original story, the location was vague, so digging secretly was a good idea.

I hadn’t expected it to be so effective.

“Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty.”

Now, the real negotiation began.