Chapter 123
Chapter 123
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Pulling and Pushing to Get What You Want (3)
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The archbishop was a delinquent priest who had spent his clerical years without much piety. However, his tongue was exceptionally skilled, masterful at inciting people.
Long ago, Emperor Theodore had recognized his greedy nature and talent, and taken him under his wing.
He had redirected the empire's support for the saintess into loyalty toward the imperial family, and extracted massive donations from nobles seeking the saintess's blessings.
Even now, look at him.
"Dio Benedica!"
"Dio Benedica!"
The central square was a cauldron of faith.
Despite the sudden incident, the archbishop had cleverly turned the situation around. Moreover, he had used it to his advantage, drawing cheers from the crowd.
Emperor Theodore stepped forward amid the people's applause.
"Since the gods have blessed us, I am endlessly overjoyed."
Standing on the platform, he surveyed the central square with a dignified expression.
"To commemorate today's events, I shall double the amount of food distributed during the three-day festival."
"Woooow!"
The crowd's cheers doubled in volume at the bold declaration.
"Long live His Majesty the Emperor!"
"May he live ten thousand years!"
Emperor Theodore waved generously. Indeed, was that the caliber expected of the ruler leading this empire?
'He's great at managing his image.'
Even though the saintess Rachel's outburst must have boiled his blood inside, not a hint of it showed.
On top of that, he had climbed onto the stage the archbishop had set up and further solidified the people's support for the empire.
'Tsk, tsk.'
I clicked my tongue and looked at Rachel.
Her head was bowed deeply, hands clasped together, utterly still. The thick veil hid her face.
But I could guess what expression she wore.
'She's in for a rough night tonight.'
Considering Emperor Theodore's temperament and his relationship with Rachel as described in the original story, probably...
Before long, the stage was being cleared.
The imperial family, led by Emperor Theodore, departed first, followed by the saintess and her temple entourage.
Rachel didn't look back until the very end. Her slumped shoulders looked particularly listless.
'She must have overexerted herself quite a bit.'
I was staring blankly at her retreating figure when Mikel's voice reached me.
"Young Lord Abel, shall we go?"
"Yes."
The nobles were also rising to leave. Mikel took the lead and asked as we walked.
"Do you have plans afterward? I got my hands on some good liquor—care to join me?"
"Sorry, but I have a prior engagement."
"I see. You must be terribly busy."
Mikel smacked his lips regretfully.
Even after getting thoroughly beaten by me last time, he still hadn't learned his lesson. He had a nickname as a boozehound old man, but I hadn't realized it was to this extent.
"How about tomorrow then?"
"I have plans tomorrow too..."
"Ha ha, I see. Then the day after?"
"Sorry, but the day after too..."
"No, Young Lord Abel!"
Mikel lowered his voice and burst out.
"Then the next day? It's the hunting tournament—you won't say you can't drink then, will you?"
"Ah, how did you know?"
"......"
Mikel's mouth flapped open and closed before he let out a sigh.
"You're really something. You're the first person to stand me up like this."
"Hahaha."
"So when can I drink with you again?"
A strange fervor burned in his eyes. I couldn't fathom why he was so fixated.
'Is he liking me too much?'
Did our drinking contest leave that big an impression? No matter how I thought about it, I couldn't figure it out.
This wasn't like queuing up for a date invitation or anything.
"I was going to send an invitation, but I don't even know your residence. How could I not be frustrated?"
"Ah, sorry about that."
I scratched my head with an awkward smile.
"Truth is, I don't own a residence in the capital."
"Huh?"
Mikel froze, forgetting his disappointment.
"What do you mean? How can a noble not have even one house in the capital?"
Ah, hitting where it hurts all of a sudden. It made me think of someone who was probably working hard right now.
"It's embarrassing, but it's true."
I deliberately put on a pitiful expression and let out a deep sigh.
"My father is particularly incorruptible, you see. He doesn't skimp on spending for the knights, and that's how it ended up like this."
Mikel's face instantly filled with regret.
"No, I... Young Lord Abel, I'm truly sorry. I had no idea you lived so frugally."
He was the generous type who repackaged poverty as frugality.
"Then where do you stay? I had no clue. You always appear so impeccably put-together."
"I'm staying at a high-end hotel in the central district. So please don't worry too much."
Though I'd checked out long ago, in fact.
Right after the conference ended, I'd packed up and left the hotel. The Mare Guild was surely tailing me.
They'd plant people around my residence to monitor me, and dealing with that was too much hassle.
Now I was living in the building where I was setting up the new merchant group. But revealing that was premature.
It needed to come out a bit later that I was the owner of that merchant group.
"I see. So that's why you're so busy..."
Mikel spoke in a sympathetic tone. Then, as if struck by a good idea, he said,
"How about staying at my residence then? I'll tell my butler to make sure you're comfortable as a guest."
"...Pardon?"
Mikel was known for his easygoing nature, but I hadn't expected this level of kindness. He was the type to take good care of those within his circle.
"How could I impose like that?"
I bowed politely in refusal.
"I'll gratefully accept Lord Mikel's kind heart. I'm managing fine on my own, so please don't worry."
I said this to Mikel, whose face was still full of regret and concern.
"After the hunting tournament, I should have some free time. I'll contact you then."
"You mean it?"
Only then did Mikel's face brighten fully.
"You can't back out after saying that much."
"Of course not."
Mikel nodded satisfied and stepped back from me.
"Then where's the meeting place? I'll have our family carriage take you."
"I appreciate the gesture, but it's fine."
"You, really."
Mikel let out a hearty laugh.
"You seem so straightforward, yet you're quite the enigma."
He waved once and turned away.
"Don't forget the promise you just made."
"I won't."
Only after shaking him off did I finally feel free.
The noble seating area was already empty, and the cloud-like crowd was dispersing bit by bit. There were so many that more than half still remained.
I stood there, seemingly gazing at the scene leisurely. Truth be told, there was no need to rush.
'I don't actually have an appointment.'
The next one was still in the planning stage. I hadn't told Mikel the truth for another reason too.
'He'd flip if he knew who I was meeting.'
The easiest way to meet the heavily guarded saintess: use the imperial bloodline.
Today, I planned to exploit Princess Violet thoroughly once more. With her temperament that flared up at the slightest provocation, she'd be easy to handle.
'The problem is I have to go to the palace to meet her...'
This method had a fatal flaw. There would be an official record of me visiting the palace to see her.
The emperor must not know of this meeting.
Above all, it was hard to visit the palace without a prior appointment. And Princess Violet was the most famous figure in high society.
To meet her, I might have to get on the list and wait ages.
'So what should I do?'
I tapped my chin thoughtfully. Soon, a mischievous smile crept onto my lips.
'Time to pay a visit after so long.'
The answer was the casino.
❖ ❖ ❖
"Saintess! Are you alright...?"
"Please let us take care of you, Saintess!"
Rachel pushed away the clinging priests and headed to the prayer room.
"I'll pray to the gods, so don't disturb me."
"But Saintess..."
Bang!
She slammed the door in their faces and collapsed in the center of the room.
"Hnngh."
Alone at last, a frail groan escaped her.
"It hurts..."
Rachel lifted her veil and closed her flushed red eyes.
Her body, brimming with vitality, allowed no wounds, however small. But the damage from overusing Serenade's power wouldn't heal.
"Haa, haa."
Rachel panted shallowly, subsiding the pain.
"This can't be..."
A sigh-like mutter finally emerged.
"This can't be happening."
Serenade craved a pure, innocent heart, endlessly compassionate. Thus, it desired to possess its host at the purest age of a child.
Indeed, Rachel had obtained Serenade at the apparent age of fourteen.
In contrast, Requiem was Serenade's opposite attribute: profound emptiness. A young wielder would inevitably be overwhelmed by it.
"And yet, how did he endure it? How!"
Rachel wailed fiercely. Only the prayer room's soundproofing absorbed her rage.
Her painstaking plan in ruins, thrown back into endless waiting, the throbbing pain in her eyes that persisted.
Everything infuriated her. Her head felt like it was boiling white-hot.
"How much I looked forward to today!"
Why were the gods so cruel to her? She'd planned to grab that divine neck and shake it today.
"It's all over now... All over."
Was she truly denied the peace of death? Must she continue living like this?
Just how long?
"That mere brat! That puny little shit! Giving me this humiliation?!"
Her aimless fury shot out like arrows. Toward the culprit who ruined today.
"You bastard! Damn emperor bastard! If not for him!"
Toward the demon who had cast her into this hellish pit.
After raging for a while, Rachel collapsed onto the prayer room floor.
"Aaah..."
She sobbed face-down.
"Please..."
Over the old man's voice, girlish tears fell drop by drop.
"Please, just kill me..."
Rachel's sobs filled the prayer room. The pain in her eyes was slowly, agonizingly fading.
"-!"
Suddenly, Rachel snapped open her closed eyes.
'He's coming.'
She sensed a life approaching the prayer room. The aura of the one she loathed to the point of nausea.
"...Ah, fuck. Of course that bastard would come."
Rachel chewed her lips and rose. She adjusted her veil properly and turned to face the wall.
A moment later.
Bang!
The prayer room door flew open without a knock.
"Y-Your, Your Majesty!"
The knights' cries rang out, but
Slam!
The door shut roughly, muffling even that. A chill silence enveloped the room.
Thud, thud.
Somewhat rough footsteps approached from behind.
"Rachel."
A low voice, as if grinding teeth. Rachel pretended not to hear, showing no reaction.
"Rachel, look at me."
"......"
"Hah."
A disbelieving sigh scattered, then
"Aaack!"
Rachel was grabbed by the hair and forcibly turned around. It felt like her scalp was being torn off.
"Can't you hear me?"
Anger etched into each syllable surged forth,
"Hm? Rachel."
Her gaze met blood-red eyes.
The sun of this empire, Emperor Theodore Magiore Impero.