A Favor and a Deal

When I whispered into Theodora's ear, she looked at me with a look of utter bewilderment. "What? That knight is Lady Mary?"

As her voice rose in panic, I quickly hushed her. "Shh! What if someone hears you?"

She hastily lowered her voice. "But... but she'll have to take off her helmet during the award ceremony..."

Theodora's crimson eyes darted around anxiously. Even with her lack of political experience, she seemed to realize how seriously the citizens of the Empire took this tournament and was already calculating the inevitable fallout.

"Please. Just help me this once. I'll use the favor I won from our bet."

Theodora fell into deep thought at my words. "Very well. But on one condition..."

A condition? I was literally using the favor I had rightfully won from our wager. How absurd.

"There is something I am curious about. You must tell me the truth later."

I scoffed at her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠demand. "That's not how this works. I'm using the favor I won from the bet."

She offered a cold, mocking smile. "Well, then. Feel free to handle it yourself."

If I stepped in personally... the citizens of the Empire might riot. Currently, public opinion of me in the Empire was split into two main camps. To some—mostly women from their late teens to mid-twenties—I was a simple, naive man who had fallen head over heels for Theodora, the most beautiful woman in the Empire, and married her. But to the vast majority, I was viewed as a dangerous new usurper. If I openly flouted imperial protocol here, their hostility would only intensify. What should I do?

All Theodora wanted was for me to answer one question truthfully. She wasn't demanding power or authority, but if it turned out to be a sensitive topic... I would have to hear it first, then decide whether to lie. I needed to put out the immediate fire first, even if it meant fabricating an answer later. Of course, if it wasn't anything too sensitive, I would just tell her the truth.

"Whew... Fine. You win."

Seeing Theodora smile brightly for the very first time made my heart skip a beat.

"Oh? This is a first," she said, looking remarkably pleased with herself.

I replied dryly, "What is?"

"Me winning against you."

I let out a soft chuckle. Could this really be considered a victory?

"I think 'blackmail' is a more accurate term than 'winning.'"

"Well, blackmail is your specialty, isn't it?"

Her retort left me momentarily speechless. After all, I had coerced her into marriage and stripped her of her authority. Finding myself cornered, I quickly changed the subject.

"Setting that aside, why the sudden change in attitude?"

Theodora pondered for a moment before speaking. "I wouldn't call it a change in attitude. I am simply curious... how is Ipa still alive?"

She continued, "And I want to know why you lied and told me she was dead."

"Did... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠did Ipa return?"

Theodora gave a slight nod. "Yes. And seeing her perfectly unharmed—in fact, she looked like she had been treated exceptionally well—left me utterly confused."

I had given orders to release Ipa, but I never expected her to return to the Imperial Palace. I had given her a massive pension, so I assumed she would have retired to her hometown.

"Ugh."

Suddenly, a roaring cheer erupted from the spectator stands, cutting off whatever I was about to say.

"Let us discuss this calmly, piece by piece, later tonight, Grand Duke," Theodora said, turning her gaze back to the arena.

I smiled inwardly. Well, I had braced myself for some incredibly sensitive political question, but fortunately, it wasn't anything of the sort.

Gradually, the full moon began to rise, casting its glow over the sky as the blue faded into deep crimson. The award ceremony was held to honor the champions. Theodora and I stood atop the podium, waiting for the victors to ascend.

A handsome, blonde man slowly climbed the steps to the podium.

"Kyaaa! He's so handsome!"

"Who is he? Which noble house is he from?"

"He doesn't have a last name, does he? Is he a commoner?"

"A commoner? And the Grand Duchy appointed him as a general? No way!"

Seeing the sculptured beauty of Agrippa's face, the crowd rose like a swarm of bees, erupting into wild cheers. It was mostly women, but... was it just my imagination, or did Meryang—the champion of both the swordsmanship and jousting categories—seem to be trembling in the background?

While I was lost in thought, Agrippa came to a halt before Theodora and me. Theodora spoke in a solemn, regal voice.

"For your outstanding strategy and command, we hereby recognize you as the Group Combat Champion of the 978th Imperial Tournament."

She presented him with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the officially certified imperial certificate and trophy. Agrippa bowed his head in gratitude and stepped down from the podium.

"Next, we shall proceed with the award ceremony for Meryang, the champion of both the swordsmanship and jousting categories."

Seeing Mary—disguised as Meryang—strutting forward with her shoulders squared and an air of triumph, a surge of irritation flared within me. Just you wait, Mary. I swallowed my anger. Unaware of my internal turmoil, the announcer addressed Mary.

As the announcer stopped Mary just as expected, my eyes met Theodora's.

"It is quite alright," Theodora declared in a gracious, benevolent voice. "It is difficult enough to win a single category, yet this champion has conquered two. Let them approach without removing their helmet."

The announcer looked thoroughly perplexed, but complied...

At those words, Mary stepped onto the podium. Through the narrow slit of her helmet, our eyes briefly met. She immediately averted her gaze in a panic. By now, she must have realized that I had figured out her identity.

I wouldn't have minded her reckless antics if she had kept them within the Grand Duchy. But here in Roman, I was surrounded by enemies. Yohanes was an ally in name only, Speaker Charles was constantly looking for any opportunity to overthrow me, and Theodora undoubtedly wanted nothing more than to annul our marriage. To top it off, the citizens of the Empire viewed me as a usurper. The only reason I appeared to be the ruler of the Empire right now was because my army occupied Roman. That was why I would have to discipline Mary severely later for acting so thoughtlessly during such a delicate time.

"Meryang, for displaying overwhelming martial prowess ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and valor in both swordsmanship and jousting, we hereby recognize you as the champion of both categories for the 978th Imperial Tournament."

Whew... I was incredibly glad I had used my favor to ask Theodora not to force the champion to remove her helmet. If I had stepped in myself to excuse her, the crowd would have showered us with boos. Although I had been exasperated watching my younger sister run wild in the tournament, seeing the potential disaster averted safely brought a wave of relief. The tension finally drained from my shoulders. And with that, the award ceremony drew to a close.

That night, after the tournament concluded, the capital city of Roman glowed brilliantly. I sat on an outdoor cafe terrace, leisurely taking in my surroundings. Families were celebrating together, young couples were enjoying shy dates, and children were happily munching on candy apples made of melted sugar. A warm feeling washed over me. All my desperate struggles to prevent a war suddenly felt entirely worth it. Watching these people live their peaceful lives seemed to wash away the exhaustion of my past hardships. I never realized their smiles could give me such strength.

"Heh, how is married life treating you?"

I glanced at Yohanes as he slid into the seat across from me, and replied indifferently, "It is what it is."

Ever since our wedding, Theodora and I never spent time together outside of official events. We hadn't even shared our wedding night; we were a married couple in name only.

"Oh? That is unexpected. Is the current Empress not renowned as the most beautiful woman to ever grace the throne?"

"She is, but I do not judge a person solely by their appearance."

Theodora. In the original novel, she was the very incarnation of power. She didn't love the Hero, but she seduced him to join his harem solely for revenge, eventually dragging Valorang down to his ruin. Afterward, according to the Hero's descriptions, her rule was closer to tyranny than benevolent governance by modern standards. A great many people must have died. In the original story, after Valorang's death, I was captured by Theodora, tortured, and executed. My entire existence in the novel was summed up in a mere two lines: The son of Valorang was captured, tortured, and killed. I recalled those three facts being written out in slightly more detail, but that was the gist of it.

"Hmm... Then what do you look for? Is it their heart, or perhaps their wisdom?"

Why was this old man so incredibly curious? Feeling a bit annoyed, I gave a vague answer. "I look at the core of a person."

Saying so, I watched the people I had saved. Perhaps going out in disguise like this once in a while isn't a bad idea. Given the sensitivity of our business, Yohanes and I had agreed to meet outside the Imperial Palace. Both of us had brought only a bare minimum of guards and wore plain, ordinary clothes. Consequently, very few people would be able to recognize us. Now, it was time to get to work.

I straightened my posture and handed Yohanes two scrolls sealed with the double-headed eagle crest.

"These are the documents transferring Epirus and Egypt, stamped with the Empress's official seal. I have already notified the local governors, so once you present these, they will hand over governing authority."

Yohanes smiled broadly as he took the scrolls. "My thanks. But tell me, does your wife know about this?"

I shook my head. "There is no need for her to know. I am the one ruling the Empire right now anyway."

"Is that so? She might resent you for this."

It didn't matter. I was already the target of plenty of resentment. Though she had seemed to soften slightly during the tournament, she would undoubtedly fly into a rage again once she discovered I had handed over Epirus and Egypt.

"I am already deeply resented, so what of it?"

Yohanes chuckled at my response. "If you take the stamina elixir I gave you and bed the Empress, she will surely fall in love with you."

I let out a dry laugh. This old man had clearly read too many trashy romance novels. The idea of a woman falling in love with a man who forced himself on her was a fantasy that only existed in cheap erotica. No matter how physically compatible they might be, it would only leave an indelible wound on her soul. Knowing Theodora, she would use that wound to fuel an even greater desire for vengeance.

"That will never happen."

"Heh, very well. But what was it you wanted to discuss?"

I looked directly into Yohanes's eyes. "I want us to draft a bill to secure our control over the Empire."