Your Majesty Cannot Kill Me
"Are you mocking Us right now?"
The emperor's treasured sword trembled against my throat.
"From the start, Your Majesty had no intention of listening to this humble subject's words, did you?"
"What did you say?"
"Would words spoken with a blade at one's throat hold any sincerity?"
I stared straight into the emperor's eyes. Calling me to the imperial palace already meant suspicion. About my meeting with Emily, and which side I—who hadn't declared allegiance to any faction—would join.
"If Your Majesty truly wished to hear me out, you wouldn't have drawn the imperial sword."
The emperor's eyelids fluttered wildly as he glared at me.
"Then, if I hold this sword to your throat, does that mean your loyalty is directed toward me?"
"I do not consider that loyalty."
"Then you refuse to be loyal?"
My neck burned where the emperor's sword had nicked it, but my expression didn't change.
"Speak!"
As the emperor bellowed, veins bulging, I slowly opened my mouth.
"This humble subject serves only for the sake of the Empire."
"For the Empire...? Not for your own gain?"
"Is not the Empire the emperor, and the emperor Your Majesty, one and the same?"
"Does that mean you'll join the imperial faction?"
"Yes."
"Is that so...."
The emperor chuckled lowly.
"Heh heh heh."
"Lower your sword and think coldly. To win a true vassal's heart, softness is required."
"You swore unwavering loyalty to me until the end."
"That is correct."
"What makes me believe you?"
His grip tightened on the sword.
"Even if Your Majesty doubts it, you cannot kill me."
"What?"
"Because I alone on this continent can heal Her Majesty the Empress."
"Such confidence. But I could kill you and the empress."
"If that were your intent, you would have done so already."
"......"
"If Your Majesty had truly meant to kill, Her Majesty the Empress would have been slain long ago."
A glint sparked in the emperor's eyes.
"Ordering the treatment of a broken empress—doesn't that mean you still have business with her?"
"I do. But confirmation of actual improvement is necessary."
"Her condition has improved significantly."
At those words, the emperor's brow twitched. His interest shifted to the empress.
"How so?"
"Her tongue has recovered enough for basic words. Her eyes can now distinguish simple shapes. But she still cannot hear."
"Such rapid recovery? The priests couldn't heal her at all. Heh heh heh heh."
The emperor's eerie laugh echoed as he sheathed his sword. Enough lingering affection for the empress to quell his rage toward a disloyal vassal. My gamble had paid off. If the empress hadn't sufficed, I was prepared to swear on my mana circles in my chest. Mana oaths bind mages absolutely, but in the imperial palace where mana is suppressed, they lose potency—that was why I'd hesitated. Unnecessary now that the sword was sheathed.
"Making me sheath my sword not through loyalty, but ability.... You truly are a dangerous man."
Yet he didn't stop laughing.
"Claiming I can't kill you because I need you.... But once you've fully healed the empress, what then?"
"Then I'll demonstrate new abilities. Ones even Your Majesty will approve of."
"Kuh hah hah hah hah!"
The manic laughter filled the audience chamber.
"I must have been mad for a moment, nearly killing a capable vassal like you. Is your wound alright?"
The emperor brushed my injured neck with his hand. The stinging pain flared as his fingers grazed it.
"It's fine. Pay it no mind."
"Truly.... I wish all my vassals were like you. Helpful in ability or loyalty alike."
Finishing, the emperor cackled again. Silence settled between us.
"I trust you, but I must confirm the empress's treatment is progressing. May I visit tomorrow?"
"Of course."
"If her state hasn't improved much from before...."
The emperor growled.
"Then I'll have no choice but to seriously doubt your loyalty."
The Solarion mansion in the capital.
In the mansion's courtyard, Solarion swung his sword.
"997!"
Emir thought of her maid Misa, turned into a cold corpse in the carriage.
And swung her sword.
"998!"
Emir thought of her own weakness, failing to properly punish those who dared draw blades against Solarion.
And swung her sword.
Whoosh!
Emir thought of Morris. The grand mage of the empire who effortlessly slaughtered Solarion's enemies she couldn't subdue. In the end, she'd stood alone and needed his aid once more—like in the past.
As if shaking off weak thoughts, Emir swung her sword wide.
"One thousand!"
Whoosh!
"Hah, hah."
She clutched her heaving chest. Breathless. She'd swung her sword to forget that day. While swinging, she could forget. But even more so, she'd realized her weakness anew. She'd thought herself stronger. But one month wasn't enough. Despite calluses from relentless effort, she couldn't wield her full strength against real foes.
Her hands trembled. The feel of the enemy she'd killed lingered vividly. She'd felt life slip away in her grasp. Misa's death, her own cowardly flight—all because she was weak.
"Miss, that's enough."
Bartlam, unable to watch, grabbed Emir's wrist.
"Captain...."
Emir looked up at Bartlam holding her hand. Tears streamed from her swollen red eyes.
"You're pushing too hard."
"Captain, Misa died because of me."
"It's not your fault, miss."
"No. If I'd been stronger.... Misa wouldn't have had to die."
"Why is that on you? It's those scum who dared raise blades against Solarion's banner."
Blood dripped from Emir's hand as she released the sword. Torn calluses exposed raw palm skin, blood trickling down to stain the blade.
"Captain, why am I so weak?"
"You've only just taken up the sword."
"I couldn't protect her."
"You can't protect everyone."
"But.... that man was different."
"Morris, you mean?"
Emir bit her lip. A name she didn't want to hear. Yet the man who saved her, perhaps the empire's strongest.
"Yes. He did it as if it were natural. Like it was an everyday occurrence."
"Morris's strength transcends human limits. It's only natural."
"I want to grow strong too. Without that man's help."
"You can. But rest today. Overtraining is poison."
"Yes...."
Emir's voice lacked strength. But she couldn't voice it. How Morris, her savior, kept filling her mind. His sturdy, towering back as he unleashed magic to slay foes wouldn't fade.
"Ryu...clid, uh?"
Cecilia, lying abed, strained to speak, gazing toward the emperor. The first word she'd uttered upon seeing him.
Ryuclid. Despite vision so dim she could barely make out shapes, she'd recognized and named him.
"She's undoubtedly recovering."
The emperor nodded, observing his empress.
"So your confidence stems from real skill?"
"Confidence comes from proven results."
"Heh heh heh, I like that about you."
Gazing at me briefly, the emperor asked,
"How long until full recovery?"
"Two months. Possibly one if sooner."
"One month.... Ensure perfect healing by then."
"Understood."
I bowed. As the emperor examined the empress again, he spoke.
"Truly beautiful, isn't she?"
"Yes."
"I want you to train the empress."
At the abrupt command, I raised my bowed head to look at him.
What is this?
I'd half-expected it. The emperor who'd ordered Seria's training. But the empress? Absurd.
As I stayed silent, the emperor spoke irritably.
"Train the empress. Do as you please. I want to watch."
"Ryu...clid, uh."
The empress desperately called his name from beside him. He knew she couldn't hear—hence the words.
Hearing her piteous voice, I bowed my head. I couldn't bear it. Not wanting to see the heroine of my favorite novel broken further. And as a human, unable to witness such horror.
"Forgive me, but even by imperial decree, I cannot."
"What?"
"As a vassal, how could I touch Her Majesty's sacred form? Withdraw that order."
"You are of the imperial house. It is the emperor's command. Obey."
"Impossible."
Crack. Veins bulged on the emperor's forehead.
"Say it again."
"Impossible."
My words remained firm.
"I'll heed orders to treat her. But this command is impossible. How could I touch Her Majesty?"
"Seria was fine?"
"Seria is a lowly woman. But I cannot touch nobility."
"Is your loyalty to the imperial house greater than to me?"
"I speak of human decency."
"Ha hah hah hah hah hah!"
Ryuclid's laugh was hideous.
"You dare lecture me on decency? Torturing and training with glee is your specialty!"
"Even I have limits."
"You lied to me. Your vows of loyalty were all false!"
The emperor's teeth ground audibly.
"I am ever loyal to Your Majesty. But refusing unacceptable orders stems from that loyalty."
"Kuh heh heh heh, damn you."
The emperor giggled like a madman.
"The empress is off-limits, but Seria's fine?"
"Yes."
"Then kill Seria."
Refusal would invite more nitpicking. Murderous intent surged. Could I kill the emperor here? But no. Slaying him now would turn nobles and imperialists alike against me. Assassinating the emperor—who would cheer?
I suppressed the rising killing urge.
"Impossible."
"Wasn't that your forte? Why? Sudden pity?"
"Not that. Merely...."
"Merely?"
"Isn't she too valuable to kill now?"
"What?"
Caught off-guard, the emperor looked at me in bewilderment.
"She's still a virgin. The empire's greatest beauty—haven't you seen her lose her maidenhood and wail?"
"......"
The emperor didn't know. That she'd already shared my bed multiple times.
"Ah...."
Greed lit his eyes. Like a child rediscovering a forgotten toy. His peaked rage subsided.
"Or will Your Majesty take her yourself?"
His gaze shifted to Seria. She stood silently behind me, head bowed.
"No. I have no taste for the unworthy. I'll merely watch. As she breaks."
He refused, but his tone softened. Excitement replaced fury on his face.
To think this man was the protagonist of my beloved romance fantasy.
It hurt, saddened me. But hiding sincerity was effortless in this body.
"Then shall you watch?"
"Show me a satisfying scene."
"Of course. Shall we move to another room?"
I led the emperor and Seria from the recovery room.
"Ryu...clid, uh."
Cecilia's voice calling Ryuclid faded behind us.