episode_0046

“Kael Klauwitz. What do you think about that young man?”

At the emperor’s words, Isabelle felt as if her head had gone blank for a moment.

The first thought that comes to mind is, what on earth was the intention of my father when he said such a thing?

Isabel racked her brain and came to one conclusion.

‘Are you asking about Prince Kael’s character?’

When I think about it that way, these questions naturally follow.

Perhaps my father, the Emperor, is suspicious of Kael Clauswitz.

Do you think that I am someone who is so outstanding that I might easily become rebellious?

Are you worried about whether you should believe and push forward now or worry about the future?

‘No. Absolutely not. He is absolutely not that kind of person.’

You could say it was a hasty judgment, but that was what Isabel wanted to say.

Kael was definitely not that kind of person. Something inside his heart was screaming.

“Your Majesty.”

Even if the person right in front of you is the emperor of this empire.

Even if it is something that makes you feel a great sense of awe just by looking at it.

“Kael Klauwitz is clearly a talent that will be hard to come by again.”

“Huh?”

“This is not just about his ability. He is someone who is worthy of the name of genius, but also someone who is worthy of the name of loyalty.”

“… Why are you so sure?”

“I saw it right up close. I got to know him better from the closest perspective.”

His abilities are obviously great. It is worth being both amazed and worried at the same time.

But if you look at their personality, what they want to achieve, what they want and what their dreams are, it’s just groundless fear.

“Kael Klauwitz only moves for the sake of his surroundings. He has no self-aggrandizement or ambition. He has no ambition to shine and make others follow him.”

“… .”

“He is not the kind of person who would betray those who trust him. If he were, wouldn’t he have stepped back after coming up with such a plan for the empire?”

By taking a moderate step back, you can gain the advantage while still maintaining humility.

In contrast, what Kael has shown so far is far beyond humility.

There is no advantage to it. You have more to lose by bowing down like that.

If there is another meaning. If you are someone who does all kinds of calculations in your head, you cannot do that.

“Your Majesty. I have been with Kael Klauwitz since the clash with Novogord, through the Eastern Front, through the Pavilion campaign, and through the Burghei assault. I dare say, he will never be a threat to this empire!”

At the end, I raised my voice without realizing it. That shows how desperate I was.

It was something I would never have dared to do normally, but this time it was different.

He wanted to somehow dispel the Emperor’s suspicions about his father staying by his side.

“… .”

But the emperor simply looked down at Isabelle without giving a proper answer.

There was no change at all. Only a calm look in his eyes.

This fact drove Isabel even more crazy.

‘By any chance. Did you give such an enormous reward to Prince Kael?’

It’s not something that never happens. In fact, there have been many such cases.

An act of deliberately giving a large reward to reassure the other person, only to later punish them.

If someone who is already very arrogant makes a mistake, it will be an even more perfect net.

At first I thought the Emperor just liked Kael, but maybe that wasn’t the case?

“I, I dare to guarantee it, Your Majesty. So if you are looking for something from Kael Klauwitz, please don’t… .”

Still the emperor had no answer.

Rather, he only stares at Isabel with even more sunken eyes.

At that sight, I couldn’t say anything else and just lowered my head.

―Gulp

My heart feels like it’s going to burst because of the tension. Every second feels like an hour.

What on earth will come out of the Emperor’s mouth? What will he mean?

I wish you would listen to me, but maybe you won’t.

Unlike herself, who was at best just a princess, the Emperor was still an Emperor.

A place where you can’t consider all aspects and rule out all possibilities.

One who must do anything for the future and well-being of this empire.

Therefore, it is our fate to immediately pluck out even the smallest bud of doubt.

Isabel knew it all too well, and that made her even more afraid.

If. If, really. If the Emperor were to view Kael as a threat.

What should I do as a princess? How should I act there?

Should I just bow my head and follow the Emperor’s will as I have always done?

Or should I trust my convictions and ask the Emperor one more time?

‘Please, Your Majesty. Father. Please. Don’t say that. Please. Please…’

My heart is pounding and thumping like crazy.

“… Huh.”

But what came out of the Emperor’s mouth was not everything she had worried or wanted.

“Heh heh. Heh heh heh! Heh heh heh heh!!”

“… ?”

The emperor suddenly starts to laugh out loud.

He laughed so loudly that Isabel was greatly surprised.

Even the crown princess, who had been quietly by his side until now, could not hide her smile.

The emperor, who had been laughing like that for a long time, finally opens his mouth.

“This. I guess there’s no need to rush things. Don’t you think?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I think so too.”

“Your Majesty? Oh, Sister?”

The emperor and the crown princess are both like that. For the time being, I have no idea what they are talking about.

As Isabel stared at the two with wide eyes, the Crown Princess spoke.

“If you knew it would be like this, there would be no reason to do such a conspicuous amount of pre-work. Bell.”

“What is that… .”

“Do you really think that he gave that huge territory as a reward against the opposition of his subjects just to commend his military achievements?”

Wasn’t that it? Then what the hell is it?

As Isabelle keeps blinking, the Emperor speaks.

A deep smile still lingered on his lips.

“2nd princess.”

“, Yes! Your Majesty.”

“If you say so, I will believe you. That young man named Kael will be a great blessing to the royal family and the empire.”

“Ma, I am so sorry! Your Majesty!”

“But. Since you said you would guarantee it, it would be right to keep your word.”

Isabel flinched for a moment, but she couldn’t turn back now.

And to be honest, I had no intention of doing anything.

“Yes! Your Majesty. I can assure you. Kael Klauwitz will never―”

“Have you heard, Crown Princess.”

“I heard you clearly, Your Majesty.”

After saying that, the emperor ordered them to step aside.

Isabel, who had barely found relief at that sight, disappeared from her seat.

“Maybe it’s because we spent time together, but we became much closer.”

“That’s why the human mind is truly a scary thing. Even without realizing it, the mind has already been turned.”

Originally, I was thinking of calling you here and subtly urging you.

It seemed like he had no intention of doing anything, so he even played the commonly used political marriage card.

But looking at it this way, it seemed like there was no need to forcefully push the man and woman’s backs.

Even if I didn’t do that, it seemed like Isabel would approach first.

“Now all that’s left is Kael. That guy, I guess.”

“Should I make arrangements for the two of you to meet more often?”

The emperor thought for a moment, then shook his head as if to say yes.

When the Crown Princess remained silent as if asking the reason, the Emperor opened his mouth.

“Bell. That child is quite a smart child. But Kael, that young man is even more amazing. A young man of that level can sense the discomfort right away.”

“It seems that you are concerned about the feeling that it is a political marriage.”

“There’s nothing good about it. Rather than saying, “The beginning wasn’t that great, but the process and ending were good,” wouldn’t it be more memorable in people’s hearts to say, “It was beautiful from beginning to end.” ”

One does not become a great emperor simply by being good at handling political affairs.

You must know how to control the human mind. By reading it, understanding it, and accepting it.

At the same time, you must know how to get the most out of it.

In that respect, the Kael Gun should never have felt artificial.

“Honey, just leave it alone. Even if you don’t intervene, the relationship that has already started will continue to become tangled like a thread and eventually lead us to meet in one place.”

“Peha’s words are correct.”

The Crown Princess bows her head with a smile.

The emperor looked at his successor and became lost in thought.

‘I originally thought about the position of the State Councilor.’

There is more harm than good in doing so.

The position of the head of state is ultimately one with more restrictions than rights.

It was not right to give a cage to someone who had just started to flap his wings.

*

Aaaah. As expected, home is the best. My room. My bed! Kyaaah!

I rolled around in bed doing nothing until morning.

What else is heaven? Being able to have a relaxing weekend like this. This is heaven!

“Oh my. Your Highness. The one who will one day succeed you should not act like this.”

Alexei, who came in saying he had news to tell, kept saying “Oh my!”

It’s not right for a genius strategist with such a great reputation in the empire to act like this.

But, Alexei? This is the real me. This is the real me.

I don’t really have much of a sense of resonance. I don’t have any manly ambitions either.

Just me and my family. If only the people around me could live like we do now, that would be enough.

“So. You said you had news to tell me. What’s going on since the weekend?”

“That’s it. There are rumors going around that a delegation will be sent from Novogord soon.”

“The delegation? Novogord?”

What is this? I ask myself while lying face down on the bed, and Alexei continues.

“I heard it was sent to celebrate the Empire’s victory.”

“No one knows if that’s the real reason or if it’s just a superficial reason.”

The Empire and Novogord have entered into a treaty to maintain mutual peace.

So it is entirely possible to send a delegation to congratulate the victory in war.

But only a short while ago, the two armies were face to face and growling at each other.

Even before that, they had fought several wars.

It is unlikely that the delegation was sent for purely pure purposes.

‘If things get noisy in the North like this, it’ll be a big problem.’

“Alexey.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Let’s get ready to go out at any time.”

“Yes? Do you have an appointment?”

“Not right now. I have a feeling someone will call me again soon.”

It’s called a premonition, but it’s a trap to be almost half-sure about it.

I have a feeling. I have a feeling. Ah, I want to eat some candy. Who in this world doesn’t develop food?