Chapter 167
Chapter 167
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 167
Chapter Title: The Treacherous Subject Has His Uses
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"Why are you arbitrarily seizing my slave and talking about daughters and whatnot? She is unequivocally my private property, Your Majesty."
"...What?"
"How insolent... Huh?"
Beonald calmly began to act according to the scenario he had envisioned back in the capital.
He had already discussed a cover story in advance, in case his identity was exposed at an unexpected moment.
However, the brief pause he took was to look into her eyes and confirm her will.
If she had wanted to go back, he was prepared to pretend ignorance and let her go, but the look in her eyes was clearly a plea for help.
And Beonald immediately activated the slave brand he had carved on her back in the capital, making it glow.
"It's the contract spell for a slave. Given her rare aptitude, I paid a hefty sum to have it engraved."
"...Wh-what are you doing?"
"What do you mean? Is it a crime to mark my own property? She is merely someone who looks similar, not Princess Zelcy."
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
"Even I am not foolish enough to carve a slave contract spell on Her Highness the Princess."
Of course, he had actually done it, but Beonald declared it shamelessly and confidently.
After all, she was the one who had said she wanted to abandon her former self as the princess. He only needed to play the role of proving it.
The Emperor, caught off guard by this unexpected attack, looked back and forth between Beonald and Besia with an incredulous expression. Furious, he untied the gag restraining her mouth and questioned her.
"Who are you! You're not going to acknowledge that bastard's nonsense, are you? Aren't you the proud princess of the Calleum Empire? Refute that nonsense at once!"
"Huh? I... I am just a mere slave, Your Majesty."
"......!"
With a timid, trembling act, Besia flatly denied the Emperor.
If she were captured and taken back by the Emperor now, she would either be sold off to another noble or return to that hellish, controlled life from before. The freedom she had now would become something she could only dream of.
She had been powerless against Sir Legion's might and was captured helplessly, but this was one thing she could not give up.
"Grrrrr!"
"Originally, she is a slave I purchased from a slave merchant in the capital after the tournament ended. I was late arriving at the academy, so I bought her then. Anyway, I thought showing her would only cause confusion for Your Majesty, so I kept her hidden on purpose. I'm surprised you went to such lengths to find her."
"You shameless bastard! Do you think I'd fall for such words?"
"Even if it were a lie, what could you do? A princess branded with a slave mark? Where could you possibly sell that? Even if you tried to remove it, traces would remain."
As he said this, a faint purple slave brand glowed on Besia's hand. The Emperor, realizing he had been played by the bastard's scheme, glared with terrifying eyes but was helpless.
Now that things had come to this, taking back Zelcy, who had become a defective product beyond repair, would only be a burden. To erase this black mark from history, he would have to eliminate not only Beonald but everyone around him, which was practically impossible.
"...You dare toy with me, but there are limits!"
"Toy with you? Wasn't it Your Majesty who suddenly started stripping and dancing alone?"
"You...! Do you want your head to roll right now?"
Sir Legion, unable to bear the elegant phrasing of the Emperor's disgrace, drew his sword and pointed it at Beonald's neck, but he remained completely unfazed.
Nobles lived and died by appearances. Even if they couldn't win a fight, losing their composure meant true defeat.
"Sir Legion, sheathe your sword. If that bastard dies now, it won't do the Empire any good. Keh keh. Well, it's been a while since I got a proper blow. Good. I don't know what trick you used, but anyway... I can't leave Zelcy here."
"Why do you keep trying to take her if she's not the princess? Just leave her be."
"Have you forgotten who I am? Hoho. What does it matter if I, the Emperor, take a liking to this wench and decide to take her?"
As if determined not to lose to Beonald, the Emperor now pressed Beonald using the authority of the Emperor.
The Emperor choosing the methods of a tyrant. The Emperor of the Empire, standing above all, saying he will take her—there was realistically no way to stop this. Once he took this stance, there was no further recourse.
No matter that this was the domain of the High Noble Count Valderian, one could not directly defy the Emperor.
"So that's how you're going to play it."
"One must use the cards they have. Now, what will you do?"
"Even if you take her, I can't do anything. Take her then."
His words seemed to calmly admit defeat, but the Emperor felt a chill run down his spine as Beonald's eyes changed to a level beyond anything seen so far.
A shudder and terror akin to seeing a ferocious beast, which had been lazily growling while hiding in its cave, finally emerge. Seeing him exude an aura utterly incongruent with a man in his twenties, the Emperor realized he had crossed a line he shouldn't have.
'...If I take her now, it means I'll inevitably have to settle things with this bastard.'
Yet, he couldn't eliminate him now. That would mean returning to the capital leaving behind future troubles. To reclaim one flawed wench and create another powerful enemy, harboring such worries, was a poor bargain.
'This is as far as it goes.'
In truth, his later actions were merely a show of temper to preserve the Emperor's dignity. In this situation, no matter what he did, Beonald would essentially win.
Killing him would cause serious problems for the Empire. Taking Zelcy back like this would be like driving a nail into his own stomach, making sleep impossible at night. The best course was to leave quietly without creating ill feelings.
"Hohoho, just a jest. When one gets old, one tends to do foolish things. Why would I take a slave who isn't even my daughter? Sir Legion, it seems we were clearly mistaken. Let us withdraw."
"Y-Your Majesty? But......"
"Come, let us return. We have imposed long enough. I shall entrust the rest to you. Hohohoho. We shall stop by the Valderian territory on our way back, so please be informed. Hohohoho. Hohohohoho~ No need to see us off. Really, no need. Hohohohohoh."
With such unnatural laughter, the Emperor disappeared with Sir Legion as if fleeing.
It was a blatant retreat, forgetting all dignity, but to dismiss what had transpired as a jest and signal he bore no ill will, he had no choice.
In this world, it is the rule that the one who is at a disadvantage must yield.
"He's... gone? That Father... retreated...?"
"What a calculating old man..."
Besia looked back and forth between where the Emperor had left and Beonald's face with a dumbfounded expression.
She likely still couldn't believe the situation.
That majestic and terrifying father and Emperor would tuck his tail and run first—it was something she could never have imagined, yet it had just happened before her eyes.
"No need to be surprised. That old man is like a machine programmed to prioritize maintaining the Empire over his own pride. Having spent his entire life trapped within the framework he created, it's only natural he moves like that."
"I see..."
"Anyway, unintentionally, this has removed one worry. Carving that slave brand in the capital was indeed a good move. But are you truly without regrets now?"
"I told you I never had any from the start. Things are much better now. No, now... I want to spend my whole life with you, Beonald."
With a slightly trembling voice, Besia spoke her wish to Beonald, her words tinged with confession.
By now, Beonald could discern what she desired.
She had left the imperial palace, gained freedom, found purpose in life alongside Beonald, was reborn as a true human, and lived fulfilling days.
If he had harbored even a little ill intent or tried to use her, she would have been powerless, yet he saw her as a person until the very end.
"Now, I can't even imagine going back... or leaving."
"Indeed. Having happiness finally within your grasp only to have it snatched away... that would be hell."
"Yes. If I went back, there would be no more satisfaction from sweating and working, fighting with dust, stones, and wood. No more satisfaction from staying up all night revising and re-revising blueprints until my eyes are bloodshot and exhausted, but finally seeing the completed work. And I wouldn't be able to pile up mountains of fried sausages and chicken with beer after finishing a project or a job."
"...Uh, right."
The latter part was a bit odd, but the sincerity with which she cherished her current life came through clearly, so it was no problem.
Thus, Beonald quietly stroked her head and smiled warmly. Wanting to be honest with her feelings once more, she clung to Beonald's embrace and confessed.
"So now... please take responsibility for me for life."
"I always intend to take responsibility for those who dwell in my garden."
"I already knew that, though."
The two smiled, feeling each other's warmth. Beonald still had much to do, but he first waited for her to regain her physical and mental stability.
Even though he knew the possibility was almost nil, he had still feared she might leave him.
BAM!
"I'm truly sorry for being late, Lord Beonald! I just arrived after receiving word from Lady Selina and Sir Sain...!"
"Wow, seriously..."
"...Enjoy your time."
"What... is going on here?"
That precious moment was ultimately cut short by the people who had rushed over to rescue the kidnapped Besia.
Heidi and the rest of Beonald's party, along with Cedron—who had come perhaps due to potential political issues—arrived together. Though an awkward scene unfolded, Beonald remained composed while Besia, seemingly embarrassed, flustered and retreated.
"Could you please explain what happened? The Emperor's carriage is gone too... and with this incident occurring now, I'm completely in the dark."
"Hoo~ Well, since things have come to this, I have no choice. I'll explain everything in detail."
If he didn't explain properly, strange misunderstandings or suspicions could pile up, so Beonald had no choice but to explain in detail about Besia's identity and the events that had just transpired.
Upon hearing this, Sain, who hadn't known she was a princess, nearly fainted. Cedron's expression grew stiff beyond mere complexity... because the story was filled with tales that went beyond absurdity into sheer incredulity.
"So you're saying... since your academy days, you've been hitting His Majesty the Emperor from behind, abducting Her Highness Princess Zelcy, and now that you've been caught, you made His Majesty retreat... is that it?"
"Well, that sums it up."
"You're not just crazy, you're thoroughly insane! I knew you were eccentric... but I didn't think you were mad..."
"I'm human too, young master. When it comes to matters I cannot compromise on, I tend to prioritize my emotions. Hahaha."
Cedron felt both incredulous and inwardly somewhat relieved.
Beonald's actions thus far had been so terrifyingly precise that it was easy to misunderstand him as lacking human emotion. Seeing him like this today was, conversely, a reassuring aspect.