Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: The Empress's Winning Bid
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"70,000 gold!"
"What nonsense? 80,000 gold!"
The banquet hall had devolved into a frenzied madhouse, reason utterly abandoned.
A date with the emperor, no less.
It was the perfect chance to etch one's family into His Majesty's memory,
and a golden ticket to eye the throne of the empress amid all the bad rumors swirling around her.
"100,000 gold! I'm betting my entire fortune!"
Just then, as the noblewomen and ladies lost their minds completely,
creeeak.
The heavy doors of the banquet hall swung open,
and a cold voice sliced through the room.
"500,000 gold."
Silence fell like a bucket of ice water dumped over the crowd.
All eyes turned to the entrance.
Every gaze fixed on the entrance.
There stood Empress Elena of the empire.
She glided elegantly through the throng in her resplendent gown.
Click. Click.
Her footsteps echoed alone, filling the hall.
"His Majesty tosses and turns at night, fretting over his people—how could I, his empress, sit idly by?"
Elena stood tall before the dais, chin held high with noble grace.
"500,000 gold?!"
"How could we possibly beat that..."
As the nobles buzzed in shock,
"On top of that, my family—the Ducal House of Phaenor—will donate our entire autumn harvest from the granary regions as relief supplies."
"Gasp!"
The nobles gasped in disbelief.
"The whole ducal house's grain stores?!"
"To go that far for the people!"
500,000 gold plus the full autumn yield from prime granary lands.
No noble could even dream of matching it.
'Dare to eye His Majesty? I'll kill you all before you try.'
She flashed a smile both chilling and alluring.
"And one more thing."
Elena curved her lips gracefully and winked at Darcor.
"His Majesty's time belongs solely to me. I'm not sharing with anyone, got it?"
Mad, obsessive fervor.
"Aigoo, my head."
Darcor pressed hard against his throbbing temples.
From behind the dais, Chloe mouthed exaggeratedly.
'Your Majesty, I did great, right? Give me a fat bonus!'
Darcor shook his head and let out a deep sigh.
'Just you wait, Chloe.'
The next morning.
As Darcor reached for his usual uniform,
bang.
"No, you don't!"
The bedroom door flew open as if it might shatter, and Elena burst in.
Maids followed, wheeling in racks loaded with flashy outfits.
"Today's our date. Did you forget?"
Elena snatched the uniform from his hands without mercy and thrust her chosen attire at him.
"You have to wear this. I made it just for you, Your Majesty."
The sleeves and collar brimmed with excessive frills,
golden embroidery sprawling everywhere—a prince's fashion straight out of a romance fantasy novel.
Darcor's brow furrowed deeply.
"You want me to wear this? I'm not a clown."
"C-clown...? I stayed up all night making this..."
Tears welled up in Elena's eyes, brimming over.
"I just wanted to see Your Majesty at his most handsome... You won't even grant me this little wish?"
Here we go again.
That damn tear offensive.
Darcor scratched his head.
Refuse now, and he'd endure her whining all day.
'Sigh... I took the money. Got to cater to the customer's request.'
"Bring it here. I'll wear it, alright? I'll wear it."
Darcor shoved his arms into the sleeves with resignation.
His reflection in the mirror was the spitting image
of a romance novel's male lead.
'Damn it, just for today. Seriously.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A plain noble carriage, devoid of imperial crests,
came to a stop in the street.
They looked every bit the perfect noble couple.
The capital's bustling main street teemed with weekend crowds.
Snap.
The moment she stepped down from the carriage, Elena hooked her arm tightly through Darcor's.
A grip so vise-like it cut off circulation.
She wasn't letting go, no matter what.
"Buy me that one. And this, too."
"Sure, sure. Buy it all."
"Oh my, that hat is so cute! This one, too!"
Darcor opened his wallet mechanically, soul detached.
But everything Elena bought was for Darcor.
"Try this on. Oh my god, you're adorable!"
What she plopped on his head was a ridiculous teddy bear hat.
She delighted in dressing him up like a doll.
Passersby glanced over and whispered.
"Wow, what a handsome couple."
"But the guy's totally whipped. Can't move an inch without her say-so."
Darcor hung his head low.
'Handsome couple, my ass.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Lazy afternoon, the capital's finest restaurant.
Sunlight poured in warmly, floral scents lingering—a perfect spot.
"Take it away."
But the mood at their table was downright hostile.
Elena coldly shoved aside the premium steak plate the waiter had set down with deference.
"Ma'am? This is our signature dish..."
"I can't feed mystery meat like this to my husband instead of His Majesty.
What if it's poisoned?"
The waiter shrank back at her glare.
Darcor said in confusion,
"This place is supposed to be famous. Just eat it."
"Don't worry, dear. I brought everything."
Elena beamed proudly and unpacked a hefty cloth bundle.
A three-tiered bento box.
Opening the lid released eerie purple steam.
"...."
Nearby diners dining elegantly pinched their noses in horror.
The menu: drake wing salad and troll pudding.
Both emanated an ominous purple aura.
"Here, say ahh~."
Elena smiled innocently, spearing salad on a fork and offering it.
All eyes in the restaurant locked on Darcor.
'He's actually gonna eat that?'
'What hold does she have on him? Debt?'
Cold sweat trickled down Darcor's spine.
But the power of 500,000 gold was immense.
He squeezed his eyes shut and opened wide.
Chomp.
Chew chew.
A burst like fireworks exploded in his mouth.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ [Severe Poison Resistance (Intermediate)] ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ You endured a harsh environment. Gained a large amount of resistance experience. Darcor swallowed down the scream rising from his throat and gave a thumbs-up.
"Ugh... Ah, delicious. Out of this world."
"As expected, Your Majesty loves my cooking best, right?"
Elena grinned like she'd conquered the world.
After the meal, the pair headed to a lake on the capital's outskirts.
They rowed a small boat to the center.
A secluded spot, just the two of them.
The water lapped gently, the breeze cool.
"Your Majesty, I wish time would stop. Shall we run away somewhere, just us?"
Elena rested her head on his shoulder, lost in bliss.
'Are you insane? Why would I?'
Darcor recoiled inwardly.
How he missed the palace's cozy bed and fine food.
Then—
Boom!
A dull thud rocked the boat from below.
"Eek!"
The vessel lurched violently; Elena lost her balance.
Her lace parasol she held plunged into the water.
"What the—?"
As Darcor started to rise,
the surface exploded, a massive shadow surging up.
Roooar!
A colossal sea monster leaped amid the spray,
its jagged-toothed maw gaping wide as it lunged at Elena.
"Kyaaah!"
Elena screamed and burrowed into Darcor's arms.
In the crisis,
Darcor instinctively shielded her and slammed down his fist.
"Where do you think you're going."
Splat.
A heavy thud, and the monster's skull caved in, eyes popping out.
Boom!
Its head burst like a ripe watermelon,
a geyser of water erupting as blood and flesh rained down like a waterfall.
Splash!
Darcor and Elena were drenched head to toe.
Wet rats.
"Whew... Soaked through."
Darcor slicked back his wet hair and exhaled roughly.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Dusk, a bench by the reddened lakeside.
The two sat there like drowned rats.
Elena's voluminous gown hung heavy with water,
her carefully applied makeup smeared into a mess.
"Sniff... It's ruined..."
Elena sniffled, face crumpling.
"It was supposed to be the perfect date... Look at us. I wanted to show Your Majesty only my best side."
Her shoulders slumped.
'To let His Majesty see me like this.'
Darcor let out a wry sigh.
He shrugged off his jacket and shook off the water.
Plop.
Then draped it casually over her shoulders.
"Ruined? Hardly."
Darcor said flatly.
With the jacket off, his toned upper body showed clearly through the thin frilled shirt.
The wet fabric turned sheer, clinging transparently to his skin.
Veins pulsing beneath, the outline of firm chest muscles rippling.
'Oh my... Goodness.'
Elena forgot her tears and gulped dryly.
Darcor's raw, primal allure.
Pink-tinted romance fantasy filters overlaid her vision once more.
'His Majesty is seducing me.'
Darcor pulled out a damp handkerchief
and gently wiped the smudged makeup from around her eyes.
"Feels refreshing. This'll stick in the memory more."
Rough touch.
But to Elena, it was
the most romantic skinship imaginable.
"Yes, Your Majesty..."
She buried her face in his wet chest,
whispering in ecstasy.
"I'll never forget this day."
Darcor desperately wanted to peel off the soggy, clinging woman.
'Sigh... Get off me.'
Money was one scary thing.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Tonight, I want to sleep without washing."
Late night, servants in the palace corridor gaped in shock.
At the emperor and empress returning like drowned rats.
Yet Elena clutched Darcor's wet jacket to her chest,
wearing the happiest smile imaginable.
"Sniff sniff... Ahh, it smells just like Your Majesty."
Utter bliss.
Darcor shook his head and all but shoved her into the bedroom.
"Making money ain't easy."
He shook out his wet hair and trudged toward his office.
At the corridor's end, Edel waited.
"Your Majesty, why are you soaked? And what's that fishy smell?"
She sniffed at him pointedly.
"Sigh, long story. Don't ask."
Darcor waved her off.
"More importantly, what I asked for?"
Edel's face turned serious in an instant.
She glanced around, then whispered in his ear.
"It's ready."
The fatigue from the day's ordeal melted away.
"Perfect."
A dark smile crept across Darcor's lips.
"Then we should go check it out, right?"