Chapter 166
Chapter 166
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 166
Chapter Title: A Treacherous Subject Also Has Its Uses
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One week later, at the Hidie territory under the Valderian domain.
The uncomfortable coexistence with the Emperor had continued since then.
While hosting him wasn't a problem in itself, the Emperor stubbornly insisted on staying in this mansion, clinging closely and observing his work, even when people from the Valderian domain came to escort him.
He even sat in the office and handled official correspondence from the capital, which drove Beonald to the brink of fury.
“Hoho, fortunately, the capital's food prices have stabilized. And by quickly exchanging information and coordinating with the nobles, they've blocked the merchants' actions and are sending preserved food to critical areas... Hohoho, I can stay a while longer.”
‘Could it be that my own plans... are tripping me up now? How ironic.’
“By the way, that food... I heard it was produced here, so does that mean you were behind it all?”
“Well, I wanted to prevent the Empire from falling into chaos. And I also had something to gain from the deal with the religious order. The forbidden zone to the west. Its location is too strategically vital to simply abandon. I plan to soon open a path and establish a new territory there.”
Concealing crucial information, Beonald continued the conversation, sharing only what he could afford to reveal.
For nearly a week, the Emperor had stayed by Beonald's side as if monitoring him, constantly probing his intentions and trying in various ways to see if he knew anything about Princess Zelcy, but Beonald remained an impregnable fortress, showing no agitation.
‘Hmm... This fellow is truly formidable. What kind of mental fortitude makes him so unshakable...’
‘This level of pressure is child's play. What a foolish Emperor... He has no idea how fiercely nobles tear each other apart.’
It was a sensation one sitting on the throne, with the authority of the Empire and the Imperial Family looking down from above, could never truly feel.
The pressure felt by those who, in the hellish arena created by Felix von Neumel, risked their lives and reputations tearing each other apart in a struggle for survival. Compared to the pressure of being targeted by other high nobles after suddenly becoming the Emperor's proxy from a mere young Count, the Emperor's pressure was a trivial joke.
“But according to news from merchants coming from the south, it seems Prime Minister Neumel is causing quite a stir... Are you sure it's alright to stay here?”
“Hohoho, it's the busy farming season now, what could I do even if I went? Even if I wanted to raise an army, no one would follow me now. One wrong move and we'd all perish together.”
‘That's true, but... Just go home already!’
It had already been a week like this; the issue of hosting him was one thing, but being unable to attend to his prioritized tasks was driving Beonald mad.
So he casually dropped news from the south, hoping to make the Emperor return to the capital, but the Emperor, unyielding, brushed off his words with a plausible reason and spoke nonchalantly.
‘Should I be more direct?’
Thinking there was no other choice, the Emperor decided to make his move here.
A week was short, but seeing no sign of wavering made him impatient, and if chaos had truly erupted in the south as mentioned, he needed to return and prepare. This matter had to be settled now.
“More than that, you... it's truly a waste~ If I'd just married you to Zelcy back then, you'd be hitting the jackpot by now... What a pity, truly regrettable.”
“Regretting it now is pointless.”
“True. I regret it even now. And before I regret it further, I'd like to eliminate you now.”
At the Emperor's sudden words, the temperature in the room seemed to drop instantly, the air turning cold.
Beonald's hand, which had been diligently signing documents, naturally stopped, and he subtly moved one hand toward his sword hilt, glaring at the Emperor with dangerous eyes.
This was among the more extreme scenarios he had anticipated.
“You're less shaken than I expected.”
“I'm incredibly shaken by this. One of my imaginings was, 'Surely he wouldn't go this far?'”
“Is that so? I've only spoken of a hopeful wish so far.”
“A 'hopeful wish' implies 'it is possible,' Your Majesty.”
“True. Anyway... From my perspective, you are currently far too outstanding. That makes you dangerous to the Empire. If it took you a year to build this small city, then in about 20... no, 10 years, you could create a city more prosperous than the Imperial capital. In these chaotic times, it's natural for people to flock under such an exceptional leader......”
In the end, it meant he had demonstrated abilities that could potentially defy the Emperor's will.
Originally, Beonald had thought that, considering this was the territory of the Valderian Earldom, he wouldn't resort to such nonsense.
Because the threat from the south hadn't yet subsided, and he had sent a large quantity of food to the capital through the religious order, killing him now, for various reasons, would be nonsensical timing.
“If you kill me now, wouldn't it be difficult to handle the repercussions?”
“But if not now, I don't think I'll get another chance to kill you. Keh keh keh. Considering the problems or influence you might cause in the future, killing you now might actually be more beneficial.”
“A slight misstep could lead to the Empire's downfall, you know?”
“That would be the same later on too. I don't think Joehn can handle you. In that sense, cutting the root now would be helpful.”
‘...Damn it, this wretched old man!’
From Beonald's perspective, the Emperor had chosen the option with the lowest probability, leaving him utterly perplexed.
The risk was too great, making the probability so low he had simply dismissed it, but of all things, the Emperor had chosen that option, leaving him speechless. He immediately began considering his moves, thinking about if Sir Legion entered through the door.
‘Should I make the first move and jump out the window? Or move the moment the door opens? Then head to where Hidie is? Or go to the Valderian domain? This damn Emperor has the authority; even if people see him trying to kill me, he could lie and suppress it. Then......’
“So, what if a reason not to kill you arises? Such as becoming family.”
“Are we back to the marriage proposal talk? Your method of coercion is quite peculiar. Moreover, if you lay the groundwork like this, even if it happens, loyalty wouldn't arise, would it? I've always believed that even in a political marriage, there should be mutual affection between the parties.”
“You're more of a romanticist than I thought. Well, that explains why a half-baked noble and mere academy student would dare rebel against the Imperial Family and the Empire to steal a princess. Hohoho.”
“Steal? Ah~ You mean Princess Zelcy? Me? On what grounds are you saying that?”
“No grounds. No evidence either. But my intuition tells me it's you. Because you're the only suspect with both the audacity and wisdom to do such a thing as mentioned earlier. Even if you deny it, I think it's you.”
Sometimes stubbornness is more rational than reason.
Only a hunch exists, and with power and authority to suppress, there's the problem of having no retort later when other nobles or this fellow Beonald might suppress him in the same way, but having no choice now, he had thrown out this unreasonable move.
‘At least this way, I can place him on the same blade as me.’
‘Damn old man... He's made a firm decision.’
“Anyway, let's speak assuming that. I'll give Zelcy to you. It doesn't matter if she's not the main wife. She's been missing anyway, who knows where or how she's been rolling around all this time; taking her in could be considered a favor.”
Thus, the Emperor's proposal meaning 'turn yourself in.' If he did so now, it would be a meritorious deed, he'd nominally become a member of the Imperial Family, and he could legally obtain Zelcy.
And if he refused, he'd be killed here and now—a coercion with no other choice. It seemed like a not-bad offer, but Beonald, true to being a 'snake,' had already seen through the hidden trap within.
“It seems like a good offer, but it holds little merit for me. I have no intention of entering central politics, and even if I did, being the son-in-law of the Valderian family alone is enough to earn my keep. Rather, decorations that are too flashy are not merits but demerits.”
“......”
“Furthermore, to guard and serve the Princess, Imperial personnel would naturally need to be stationed here. They could openly plant all sorts of spies and assassins. Congratulations. And if necessary, they could take away any children and treat them carelessly.”
“That's only in the worst-case scenario. Considering the merits, isn't it something you could endure?”
“Yes. But humans aren't creatures who always carry scales. Emotions exist. If you wanted to read me, you should have considered that first. If I did it, haven't you even thought about why I would dare such a bold act?”
Was he speaking to the Emperor? Or to Felix von Neumel?
The Emperor had, of all things, touched a wound deeply engraved on Beonald's soul.
How terrifying psychological trauma or wounds can be—modern Korean men often shudder, decades later, having nightmares about their military service days, harboring emotional anger over that matter to the point where reason or logic doesn't apply.
“...What are you talking about?”
“I'm saying that from the start, Your Majesty and I cannot join hands. Even if I die here. Of course, I will resist to the utmost.”
Saying this, Beonald glared at the Emperor with eyes full of hostility. At this level, it was an act of disrespect bordering on Imperial insult and treason.
But the Emperor, still not understanding, merely looked at him curiously, and upon the clear refusal, he looked troubled.
Truthfully, the Emperor's thought of killing him was merely part of a bluff; he had exuded a killing intent, but had no real intention of doing it.
‘As expected, taming him is quite difficult. But the more spirited the horse, the more satisfying it is to tame.’
‘...What scheme is this?’
Seeing the Emperor's relaxed demeanor despite the clear refusal, Beonald sensed something bad.
Could it be he had prepared another move? Beonald tried to anticipate what move the Emperor could make, but couldn't grasp it. The Emperor, perhaps having anticipated this far, or perhaps reluctant to reveal it, spoke toward the door with an uneasy expression.
“Then, would this do? Sir Legion, come in.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“......”
Beonald was momentarily startled by the person who entered with Sir Legion, but only inwardly; outwardly, he concealed his agitation.
The person who entered was Besia, who originally should have been hiding quietly in the ruins until this damn Emperor's party departed.
She was bound and gagged, only sending Beonald an apologetic look.
“Hohoho, you seem quite surprised. Truly, isn't this the guidance of the Goddess? How for.tu.nate that in the Valderian domain I came to, my disappeared daughter was here! Hahahaha!”
The Emperor laughed boastfully. Beonald wondered how he had found Besia... no, Zelcy, but that wasn't the priority now.
Where, who, how, or through what means she was found wasn't important.
What mattered was how to overcome this situation and crisis now, and how to protect her.
“She's changed so much... If I hadn't coincidentally seen her directly at the mansion entrance when I arrived here... I wouldn't have known at all. Hohoho, but once I grasped that clue and investigated, she came out quickly.”
‘I never imagined the Emperor would come here secretly in the first place......’
Thanks to the Emperor's boastful words, Beonald understood that the root cause was the unfortunate coincidence of them seeing Zelcy at the timing of their arrival.
Once her appearance was confirmed and her presence here grasped, it wouldn't be difficult for a high noble like the Emperor to use spies planted in the Valderian family or various guilds to track her down.
Beonald's mistake was mistakenly assuming the Emperor's party wouldn't have seen her.
“Now, shall we revisit what we were discussing earlier? Keh keh keh.”
‘Such a despicable act... Just like that Felix bastard.’
Grind.
The visage of the detestable father overlapped, and perhaps his well-contained emotions finally leaked out, as Beonald's teeth gritted slightly.
He barely calmed himself and began thinking of a way to overcome this crisis, then started refuting the Emperor's words with a composed expression.