The Carrot and the Stick
Here’s the basis for Kylus’s analysis.
Lina had achieved the remarkable feat of entering the academy as top student, graduating as top student, and passing the recruitment exam in first place—yet she was still working as a low-level clerk in the Ministry of Finance.
‘She doesn’t seem to have any connections with the higher-ups, nor any intention of making them. The type with no great ambitions.’
Even if you handed her a blank check, she was the sort who would feel burdened by an excessively large sum and instead write down something modest—an adorable two-story house, enough living expenses to laze around without working too hard, and a modest emergency fund just in case things went wrong.
Seeing how she had drawn a clear line with the Renkels County, she also possessed both stubbornness and decisiveness.
Come to think of it, the current situation—where Lina still didn’t know his true identity—was actually the best possible scenario for Edwin.
Kylus added one more thing, hoping to lighten the burden on Edwin’s heart.
“I’m not saying you should keep it a secret forever. I simply mean you should put it off until Miss Diaz comes to like you enough that the fact you’re the emperor no longer matters to her.”
But Edwin was still hesitating.
“Then shall I just tell her the truth and get dumped by Miss Diaz because it’s too burdensome?”
Kylus had no desire to interfere against Edwin’s wishes, so he withdrew the carrot.
‘If she dumps him, I’ll just drink with him or something.’
The moment Kylus tried to pull his foot out, a spark flared in Edwin’s eyes.
‘He really doesn’t want to get dumped.’
Kylus continued his provocation, driving the nail in deeper.
“A woman like Miss Diaz would make a perfectly fine bride. Even if she’s not with Your Majesty, she’ll quickly find another lover. She’s also at the right age for marriage.”
Crack.
The corner of the table Edwin was gripping shattered into pieces from the surge of displeasure.
Edwin glared at Kylus as if he were looking at Lina’s ‘other lover.’
It was as if the face of the future man who might appear after she kicked him to the curb was superimposed over Kylus’s own features.
Even under a gaze sharp enough to sting his skin, Kylus kept smiling and continued.
“Your Majesty can simply enter a strategic marriage with a suitable noble lady. Then you can bless Miss Diaz as she lives happily with her husband in a cozy two-story house, giving birth to adorable rabbit-like children! Peacefully! Harmoniously! With a house full of blessings!”
Crack.
At the words ‘rabbit-like children,’ another chunk of the table broke off.
Wooden fragments slipped from Edwin’s grasp and scattered across the floor.
Those fierce golden eyes stared straight at Kylus.
Edwin wasn’t angry at some imaginary man. He was angry at Kylus himself.
Maybe the provocation had gone a bit too far.
Ultimately, everything Kylus said was for Edwin’s own good. But Kylus, whose body was trained only to the level that noblemen learned as a cultured hobby, was starting to find it difficult to endure.
‘Time for the carrot again, I suppose.’
Having confirmed that his provocation had worked sufficiently, Kylus whispered like a hypnotist.
“Forgiveness often comes faster than understanding. Just look at my father. He gets nagged constantly, but he’s never been divorced.”
It was a carrot made even more convincing because it was based on real events.
Kylus’s warm-looking brown hair, refreshing green eyes, and kind impression had all been inherited from his father, Terence. Terence was a collateral branch of the Robertus Marquisate, which had been the closest aides to the previous emperor.
That put him in a politically hostile relationship with Viola Seymour, the daughter of a vassal family that had served Edwin’s father, the former crown prince.
Yet Terence, who had fallen for Viola at first sight, cut ties with his already strained family, hid all contact with the Robertus Marquisate, and succeeded in marrying her.
At the time, the situation had been merely awkward—the crown prince was firmly set to inherit the throne, while the Robertus Marquisate supported the second prince to keep him in check.
So it hadn’t seemed like a major issue, and Terence’s burden hadn’t been that great.
However, not long after their marriage, the crown prince’s health suddenly began to deteriorate.
At first it looked like a mild cold, but the situation grew serious as he started coughing up blood at regular intervals and suffering seizures.
Since the crown prince had always been exceptionally healthy, everyone suspected poison or a curse.
The most likely suspect was the second prince, but there was no clear evidence beyond circumstantial suspicion.
Even after mobilizing every possible method, they couldn’t even identify what exactly was wrong with the crown prince.
The crown prince was slowly dying. The emperor was old, and his only son was far too young.
In the end, the crown prince was replaced.
By the second prince.
The former crown prince, now a grand duke, went into seclusion after a private meeting with the second prince.
It had been a choice for the family and vassals he would leave behind, but to those left behind, it was nothing but resentment.
They quietly burned with rage while protecting their dying lord.
Seymour and Robertus went from political rivals to mortal enemies.
Terence’s position became incredibly awkward.
Since he had already been disowned by his own family anyway, Terence had planned to hide his old surname forever.
But exactly seven years after the marriage, it was discovered.
A great many things happened right after it came out, but the two of them were still a rather affectionate couple.
Even though their situation had been far worse than Edwin and Lina’s.
“That’s true.”
Thanks to that, Edwin’s resolve hardened.
In truth, it didn’t matter if forgiveness came later and was more difficult than understanding.
He simply didn’t want the future where he would have to watch, through tears, as Lina lived happily with another man in a cozy two-story house, giving birth to rabbit-like children, living peacefully, harmoniously, and with a house full of blessings.
Edwin really, really didn’t want to get dumped.
‘I’m screwed.’
I lay on the bed with only my upper body on it, kicking my legs in the air.
Far from giving him a warning, it felt like I had only made things awkward between me and Everett.
I had been careless.
I had overlooked the fact that even if the emperor was a cold-hearted man who ruthlessly cut down subordinates who caused trouble, there were still those who would offer him fervent loyalty from the other side.
Emotions could sometimes be one-sided, after all.
Confusion, sadness, and some other emotion I couldn’t quite interpret had filled Everett’s eyes.
‘From now on, I absolutely cannot say the word “emperor” in front of Everett. Not even the first syllable.’
I swore to myself once again.
But regret was always too late, and the words had already left my mouth.
‘I wish I could regress like the female lead. Just one day.’
That probably wasn’t possible.
According to the world’s official setting, the only artifact capable of turning back time was reserved for the female lead.
And it was single-use.
Across the entire timeline.
After kicking the blankets a few more times, I finally found the courage to face reality.
‘I need to make up for it.’
Since my wrong choice seemed to have lowered Everett’s favorability, getting something else out of this would at least be some consolation.
For example, a new job that would let me approach the center of information unavailable to low-level palace clerks.
‘If you’re willing, come find me anytime.’
I fixed my disheveled hair and checked the time.
Kylus’s café had long business hours, fitting for a front for the information guild.
‘It’s cutting it close. I need to hurry.’
Since I’d already made up my mind, I decided to get it over with and headed to the café to tell him I would accept the scouting offer.
I practically ran the whole way and fortunately arrived before closing time.
But I didn’t go straight inside.
I couldn’t risk the embarrassment of gasping for breath and blurting out, “Please take me in.”
‘I should’ve exercised more and lost some weight.’
I caught my breath while looking at the lights shining through the glass window.
‘I don’t see anyone. Is Kylus inside the guild building?’
My breathing steadied, and my slightly flushed cheeks cooled in the lukewarm summer night breeze.
‘Okay.’
I slowly placed my hand on the door handle.
And the moment I took a deep breath and tried to open the door—
The door opened from the other side first.
Pulled forward half a step by the force of the door being pulled, I saw the person on the other side.
It was someone I knew very well.
‘Why is Everett coming out from here?’
Again?
For some reason, I felt a strong sense of déjà vu.
“Miss Diaz?”
Edwin, who had been lost in deep thought, was slow to process the completely unexpected encounter.
He recognized her face a beat late and called out as if to confirm, and Lina answered reflexively.
“Ah, yes.”
Because something was weighing on his mind, Edwin didn’t notice, but her tone was quite stiff.
The one who broke the standoff between them at the entrance was Kylus.
He had approached after seeing Edwin—who had said he was returning to the palace—standing awkwardly in front of the door.
“Is there some kind of problem? Your M—”
As he called out to Edwin.