Chapter 54
The Somac family, having claimed an overwhelming victory without a single casualty, easily landed on the empire's mainland. The port cities, lacking any power to resist, surrendered one after another.
But this was just the beginning!
“We surrender.”
“We yield.”
It was undeniable that the empire was enjoying its golden age thanks to the novel author's settings, but outstanding soldiers weren't something you could buy with money. They took a long time to produce! Men and women had to meet, fall in love, marry, have children, raise them to adulthood, and train them… In other words, once military strength was lost, restoring it required ages.
“This is a nightmare...!”
“How could this happen...”
The empire's nobles and citizens could never have imagined that the empire, which had invaded the kingdom, would suffer a crushing defeat and be invaded in turn. Completely off guard, they couldn't even resist the Somac family's army.
“Open the gates and surrender!”
“Better to die than surrender!”
“Are you going to abandon the sons born and raised on this land?”
“Coward...”
“We lack food for prisoners! If they die, it's on the lord!”
“...We surrender.”
The empire's lords, hunkered down behind closed gates, had no choice with so many prisoners. It would have been better if they'd fought and died—at least then there'd be grounds for revenge...
“Daddy...”
“Brother...”
In an atmosphere where betraying to save captured family by secretly opening the gates wouldn't raise eyebrows—especially with lords and heirs among the prisoners—there was no hesitation.
Flutter~
Thud.
White flags rose in place of family crests on the castles, and the firmly shut gates and drawbridges lowered.
Before long,
“Somac Duke. Long time no see.”
“A tragedy about your son, Pimaang Count.”
An imperial noble with whom they'd made backroom deals came in person.
“...Couldn't you save him?”
“They say he ignored orders and recklessly plunged into the sea.”
“Foolish boy...”
“But Count, what brings you here in these times?”
“The once shrewd emperor went mad over one woman.”
“Hm.”
With news of the crushing defeat, the emperor's reputation had plummeted.
“The nobles of the empire's west and south have made their decision. In exchange for preserving our status and recovering our prisoners, we surrender to the Somac family.”
“A difficult choice. We accept.”
“Loyalty to Somac.”
“For Somac.”
Half the empire surrendered. Land larger than the kingdom fell to the Somac family! And since the Somac army had seized it alone, the kingdom had no claim to demand it back.
If they had any conscience, that is.
“Somac Duke, a messenger from the Bitcolin Merchant Group has arrived.”
But the situation didn't end there!
A beauty with fierce eyes that brooked no grudges boldly approached us.
“What business does an imperial merchant group have?”
“My father, Baron Bitcolin, sends a gift for you, Duke.”
“Oh! You must be...”
“As you guessed, my lord Duke, I am the pathetic woman whose lover was stolen by Anjilina Chimac.”
“Hmm.”
The daughter of the empire's great merchant, Baron Bitcolin, had suffered the disgrace of broken betrothal because of the protagonist.
“Hand over the one man we hold prisoner, and the Bitcolin Merchant Group will sever ties with the empire and aid the Somac family.”
“The baron has made a bold decision.”
“Ah!”
“We'll brand him with a slave mark before handing him over.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
A touching tale of the man who left after the broken engagement returning as a slave! We wished the reunited pair happiness after their trials.
“...Amolrang Baron.”
“Yes.”
“Things are going too smoothly. It's almost frightening. Is this okay?”
“Just accept it. You've prepared well all this time.”
“True... that much.”
Could the empire at its peak crumble this easily? It was all because of the novel's settings.
The empire was a strongly centralized system where nobles couldn't voice discontent even if the emperor married the politically useless protagonist as empress. Private armies were restricted, and the central army loyal only to the emperor made up a huge portion.
Thus, 'defeat is fatal.' War losses directly undermined the emperor's power. Moreover, nobles had only minimal forces to defend their lands, leaving them vulnerable to invasion.
This was the result.
“We surrender.”
“We yield.”
Nobles who read the tide abandoned the emperor and bowed to the invaders.
In about a fortnight, without a single proper battle, we crossed the empire's territory and surrounded the capital's imperial palace.
“The end is in sight.”
Time to meet the patient.
* * *
Anjilina Chimac, indifferent to convoluted politics and violent war, had no choice but to grasp the gravity despite the emperor's silence to reassure her. Why?
“Down with the incompetent emperor!”
“Execute Anjilina Chimac!”
“Cowardly emperor, come out!”
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The army besieging the palace drummed day and night in protest.
Especially,
“Anjilina Chimac's ass is...”
“Hundreds of men she's slept with...”
“Can't control her lust...”
They targeted Anjilina Chimac, the emperor's Achilles' heel.
Vulgar insults were basic! They fabricated tales, painting her as a lascivious demon.
“Ugh...!”
Even burying under blankets and plugging her ears, the horrific voices seeped in. The bedroom had soundproofing to protect the emperor's privacy, but she couldn't stay holed up forever.
'They're going to kill me!'
The malice-filled abuse choked her breath. Would they let her go unscathed? Captured, she'd face every humiliation imaginable.
“Don't worry.”
“You're the emperor! Do something!”
“Trust me.”
“That's all you can say?!”
“......”
No matter how she pressed, the emperor parroted like a parrot. When she snapped, he'd gently stroke her hair or steal a kiss to soothe her!
But no fundamental solution to block those horrific sounds.
'The witch?!'
Anjilina Chimac sought the suspicious woman who freed her from the mad prince's clutches. That mysterious power moving her from kingdom to empire in a blink! She needed it again.
“Help me!”
But no matter how desperately she called, the witch didn't appear.
Then,
“Anjilina, prepare yourself.”
The returning emperor spoke to her with a grave face.
“Prepare for what?”
“We're opening the palace gates.”
“Are you insane?!”
Her discarded fiancé was out there too. Would he forgive her? No way.
“Don't worry too much. I'll protect you no matter what.”
“How can I believe that...!”
“Anjilina?”
“Absolutely not!”
On the impulsive night she shared love with her guard knight, she'd defiantly mentioned mistress 'Valentine' to Baron Somac without apologizing. But surprisingly, though close, they weren't quite lovers 'yet.'
'This is so unfair!'
Regret and tearing her hair couldn't change it.
“Open the gates.”
“I said no! Why won't you listen...!”
The emperor never refused her requests. But this time, he did.
Why!
“Anjilina. I can endure any insult to me. But I can't bear you, who did nothing wrong, getting dragged into this—”
“Just endure it! I'm fine! So absolutely don't open the gates!”
“I'm sorry.”
“No~!”
Creeeak—The palace gates opened despite Anjilina Chimac's desperate pleas.
* * *
The surrendered emperor cooperated in exchange for only Anjilina Chimac's safety and happiness.
“Troubling. I planned to skin that wench alive and hang her.”
Somac Duke clicked his tongue from the emperor's throne.
“Can you just sit there?”
“Of course.”
Somac Baron, returning to Somac Duchy, married Chimac Count's third daughter, strengthening the alliance. Kingdom nobles began joining the now-stronger-than-royalty Somac family... and the kingdom lost control over Somac Duke.
'This is beyond my expectations.'
I'd hoped the tyrannical Baron Somac would shine, but his turn never came. The kingdom and empire had been that sloppy. The protagonist's love-driven character settings had caused both nations' collapse.
“Amolrang Count.”
“Hm? Suddenly a count?”
“Don't like it?”
“If you give it, I accept.”
“Considering your founding merits, even duke is too low, but overlook it for my peaceful sleep.”
“Honest, aren't you.”
With no greed for status or promotion, I let it slide.
“...Count. What's your goal? Still can't tell me?”
“Revenge.”
With nothing holding me back, I said it plainly.
“Revenge?”
“Yes. I died swept up in the war between the Somac and Chimac families while wandering the world.”
“......”
Somac Duke's eyes widened. So did Sir Valentine, who'd quietly guarded me.
“I aided you, Duke, to get revenge on Anjilina Chimac, the culprit of that war.”
“You died?”
“Yes.”
“Then how are you alive?”
“Forcibly clinging to this dead life. I'll vanish soon.”
“Hard to believe… but with the miracles you've shown, Amolrang Count, I can't deny it. Explains your unusual lack of greed too.”
Somac Duke seemed convinced.
“If grateful, erect a small statue for me.”
“A massive one in pure gold! Anything else?”
“Hmm... Ah! Please promote Sir Valentine, who supported this lacking me.”
“Do it yourself.”
“Pardon?”
“If you're truly dying soon, realize it before you go.”
“......”
Realize what?
* * *
Somac Duke's coronation began with the deposed emperor, naked and castrated before all eyes. A gruesome sight hard for any man to watch!
“......”
The emperor had silently endured scorn and pain for his beloved protagonist. Thanks to his cooperation, Anjilina Chimac survived—in a windowless solitary cell.
“Open the door.”
“Yes, Lord Amolrang Count.”
Creeeak—A plain bedroom. Suffocating without windows, but otherwise unremarkable... no.
“I'd like to speak with the lady alone. Wait outside.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Though I'd hidden my deeds thoroughly with no clear merits, no one in the palace was unaware of my sole hold on the 'Somac Emperor's' trust.
Clank.
Anjilina Chimac was monitored by knights even changing clothes or using the privy. Where were human rights? At least she escaped the deposed emperor's horrific punishment.
“Sir Valentine.”
“I refuse.”
“I haven't said anything yet.”
“Who knows what this woman, who's bewitched countless men, might do to you, Lord Amolrang.”
“...No regrets.”
“Thank you.”
I slowly approached Anjilina Chimac, buried under bedsheets.
Then,
“Get lost.”
A single word from the patient, stripped of her ideal protagonist 'Anjilina Chimac' mask that all men adored.
I pressed on undeterred.
“Kim Eun-jeong.”
“...What?”
“Kim Eun-jeong. How does it feel to be the youngest daughter of a count's family?”
She bolted upright, flinging off the blanket—Anjilina Chimac, no, Earthling Kim Eun-jeong glared at me with puffy eyes and screamed.
“Who are you! How do you know my past life's name...!”
“A shaman.”
“Shaman...?”
“The shaman who got ice cream from your real mother.”
The world's most expensive ice cream.