episode_0062

Debian always showed a strong side in front of me.

My feelings as I watched him thoroughly lead and lead state affairs can be summarized in one word.

hero.

Debian has shown itself to be bold compared to ordinary people like us.

Although he was wicked, he slaughtered Valorant, the strongest knight in the empire, and when the war against the imperial faction broke out, he went to the enemy camp with a small number of soldiers and negotiated directly with Ioanes. His appearance was like a hero from a myth. It was the same.

That’s not the end.

How can we develop the empire after taking control of the political situation?

I admired him for thinking about it all night, checking with his own hands to see if anyone was being unfairly persecuted, and inviting people reputed to be wise to listen to their opinions.

A man who is not much older than me.

But it seems like he’s been in this political world for a long time.

I was surprised that he was able to negotiate with the imperial councilors and great nobles, who were always calculating and good at fighting, to bring out favorable situations, and that he was able to skillfully lead ministers who had been discussing state affairs all their lives.

There isn’t much of an age difference between me and you.

As an emperor, I couldn’t do the same thing, so looking at him, I always wanted to be at least half as good as him.

As if he was born to rule.

He skillfully ruled the empire without a single error.

I am still not skilled enough to run an empire.

It was like a hero from a myth that is difficult to compare to myself.

No, he seemed like something more than a hero.

Even heroes who appear in myths and legends are destroyed or suffer hardships due to extremely human actions.

What can I say?

How do you feel about him? Can you say he is a perfect hero?

Because of his always restrained behavior and near-perfect personality, everyone in the Grand Duchy is left speechless when they see him take care of even the smallest things with his own hands.

Can a person have such a good memory?

I remember numbers and information accurately even after several days.

How can you know so much?

I think about Debian, which has mastered military science, alchemy, public administration, and other fields.

Because he is a hero after all. Because he’s a genius who comes along once in a century. Of course.

There was a time when I thought that way.

Debian shed light after hearing bad reviews about him.

Their slander was so wrong that it made me so angry as I listened to it from the side.

However, Debian, the person involved in the story, just smiled and let it go.

A bold hero.

A hero who I felt was more suited to be an emperor than me.

The perfect hero inside me.

Debian was so brilliant that it was difficult for me to touch it.

Such a hero collapsed.

Was he a person too?

The sight of him hurting over something that wasn’t his fault.

He is struggling to hold back tears.

How hard was it?

He was an ordinary person who worked hard for the empire with a strong sense of responsibility and duty.

An ordinary person, no different from me.

-Sreuk…

Sitting on the bed, you can see the sofa where Devian is lying.

When I first saw him or when I was forced to marry him.

My first impression of him was that he was a man full of rudeness, to the point where I wondered if there were any men like this.

I am the woman who almost became his stepmother, and Devian shamelessly forced me, who would become the owner of this empire, to marry me.

I thought he was the kind of person who played political chess without emotion.

After that, I got to know him one by one while staying with him.

He… lives for the Empire.

You only think about the empire, whether you are awake or awake.

Devian took control of Roman’s political scene with a quick understanding of politics and action skills that were not appropriate for his age.

Suddenly, I turn to Debian, who is sleeping on the sofa.

Debian’s face illuminated by moonlight.

I look at Devian’s face, who is sleeping soundly, probably because he drank too much.

What is it? Is he the same person as me?

handsome face.

Good heart.

Deviant has a soft and tender heart, contrary to his cold and cold reason.

I gently caress his face with my hand.

How much did he sacrifice for what he achieved?

It is difficult to estimate easily.

“Debian…”

How much did you have to endure alone?

Debian and tears.

What an incongruous combination of words!

-Pisik.

Is it because he is not a hero sent from heaven, but a person like me?

I feel it as I look at his sleeping face.

“It’s a little cute.”

The sacrifice brought about by one’s own choice.

I hate to admit it, seeing Debian in pain, but…

I thought it was cute and that I wanted to protect it.

No matter how strong he seems, he will need a place to rest his heart.

“You got a good wife.”

-Pisik.

“Sleep well.”

So I pat his head once and go back to bed.

I feel like I’m a little closer to him.

To be honest, I felt sad about the secret that was kept from me.

Because he doesn’t trust me. I know that’s true, but aren’t they still married?

I was hoping to hear more of my true feelings.

And today… I feel good because I can know a little bit about his inner thoughts.

-Pisik.

“You… you’re cuter than I thought.”

I fall asleep while thinking about Debian, who was crying a little while ago.

***

It’s been quite a while since I went on a secret trip like that.

I feel uneasy physically and mentally at the shame that I, a grown man, cried in Theodora’s arms.

-Sreuk…

“I was crazy… really…”

My body still trembles when I think about the embarrassment of that day.

From that day on, whenever I encountered Theodora, I felt so embarrassed…

I am once again looking for room and board at this official residence.

As I was flipping through the documents I needed to see again today…

“This is…?”

Report from the Grand Duchy.

[Currently, the enemy has dispatched cavalry near Pomerania and Cherburg and repulsed them.]

[Currently occupying the fortresses step by step and approaching at high speed towards Win.]

[It is judged that it is necessary to move on to the next plan.]

“Hmm…”

I am lost in thought while reading Agrippa’s letter.

“Now shall we move the army?”

A trump card to overcome this unfavorable situation.

I open the drawer and take out a couple of white pieces of paper.

And fill the fountain pen with ink.

-Srur! Srur… Srurr!

Writes in fancy letters.

It is not just the opposition party or Ioanez who has prepared a secret move.

I also have a sure-win card that will surprise them.

“Hmm~ I wrote it all.”

Spill the molten wax on my letter and engrave the Archduke’s seal.

“There’s no way they can move with just this.”

Since they only follow the emperor’s will, I think they might ignore my orders.

“Lucius?”

Let me call Lucius outside.

-Squeak.

“Did you call me?”

Today again, Lucius comes in with dark circles.

“Well… please tell me to come see Theodora for a moment.”

He says it as if he is surprised by my words.

“Are you finally putting an end to your fight?”

He says it as if it is absurd.

“What is a fight between a couple…”

“There are rumors that His Highness the Archduke has been avoiding His Majesty the Emperor recently?”

I answer those words with a humble face.

“P… What is avoid? Don’t talk nonsense, just call me.”

I think as I look at Lucius, who nods his head as if he understands what I said and leaves.

Yeah… I admit it.

It’s true that I was avoiding it.

Didn’t he cry like a child in her arms?

I’ve become really lazy too.

Let’s think about it that way.

-smart!

[His Majesty the Emperor has arrived.]

-Squeak!

When the door opens, Theodora comes into the room.

“Hehe? I guess you’ve given up on running away now?”

Since I’ve been avoiding her on purpose lately…

“Whoa… I’ve never been in harm’s way.”

Theodora smiles softly at my words.

“Lie. You didn’t come to the room on purpose, and you only received reports through Lucius, right?”

“That’s…”

He’s smiling, but… why? What makes you feel scared of her?

“And even if you have something to talk about, you avoid it because you are busy…”

I clear my throat as I see her approaching me like a wildcat with her eyes shining.

“Keuhm… That must be a mistake, sit here first.”

As she sits down across from me, I give her the note I received from the Grand Duchy.

“This is…?”

Theodora, who looked at the letter for a moment, tilts her head and speaks with a bright smile.

“Aha? Do you need my letter now?”

I nod my head at those words.

“Of course, Sir William only takes orders from the Emperor.”

Even if I took power on behalf of the Emperor, William would not listen to my orders.

Basically, William is only loyal to the emperor.

He smiled slyly at my words and waved the note…

“Would you like me to write a letter? Or not? I don’t want to write this when I think of my husband who keeps avoiding me these days.”

Theodora came out differently than I expected to write a letter with ease.

uh…? Shouldn’t it be like this?

“That… Where is that? You already agreed to write it, right? How can I change my words now?”

In politics, it is foolish to trust one’s opponent, but it is not desirable to backstab someone like this.

If you’re going to hit someone in the back, it’s only possible if you take down the opponent and take control of everything.

It’s so foolish to slander me while I’m still alive.

Theodora waves the note at my words and says she doesn’t know.

“That’s right, we were on good terms with you back then… but now you keep avoiding me, right?”

Those words make my head hurt, so I press my forehead and say.

“Ha… It’s not that I was avoiding it, it’s just that I’m busy. I have to pay attention to both the Empire and the Grand Duchy, right?”

In fact, there is a lot of work to be done as we are now preparing for a giant slalom against the enemy.

“Hmm… Really? That being said, if you do me one favor, I will write you a letter.”

I sigh and say those words.

“Whoa… what is it?”

I don’t know why the normally cooperative Theodora is being so uncooperative.

Well… I guess it’s because there’s something I want to rip off.

The plan I told Theodora before.

After hearing the plan, she probably waited for this moment.

I’m pressed for time as I have to get Sir William moving right now, but she’s free now.

Anyone can see that Theodora is suggesting a surprise negotiation at a time when I am anxious.

Indeed… I saw you as water.

I had forgotten for a moment that even in the original novel, she was good at sneakily stabbing people in the back.

Worst case scenario… I’ll have to take the imperial family hostage again to get the letter.

I was curious about what he wanted before that and why he planned this.

Thinking like that, Theodora speaks brightly.

“Starting tonight, I will sleep in the honeymoon room instead of the study room.”

“What?”

My body stiffens at her completely unexpected words.