episode_0042

# 40. My dream is to be a pillar (1)

“You. Be my partner.”

“Yes?”

“Partner. Do it.”

“Yes… … .”

I am now appointed as a real-time partner before Emperor Elysia.

How did it come to this?

Let’s go back to this morning for a moment.

* * *

“Hello, Your Majesty. I am Rico Abidea, your personal secretary.”

“Ah… … Yes, hello.”

Early in the morning, the Willow Mansion was put on high alert by the appearance of a woman who introduced herself as the Emperor’s direct secretary.

The current emperor’s authority is literally such that he can even make a bird fall.

Her exploits of executing the high-ranking officials who were destroying the empire with her own hands brought both joy and fear to many.

Of course, her love for her people is genuine, and the empire has become much more stable through the implementation of numerous welfare policies, but those who have personally felt her pressure even once instinctively submit to her.

At this point, when the Emperor’s power was at its peak, the fact that her direct secretary was visiting the mansion, whether it was good news or bad news, would be a huge burden to the people of the mansion.

“You could have just called me to the palace.”

“By His Majesty’s command.”

“Haa… …He does things like this to burden people-”

“Please refrain from rude words or actions toward His Majesty.”

When I called Elysia ‘that’ and showed my annoyance, she frowned and made a face.

Rico Abidea.

She has short blue hair and black eyes. She is the opposite of her cute appearance, but she always maintains a blank expression, and is called the ‘Ice Witch’.

When Elicia was creating her own organization, he was the one who saved Elicia from being abused by her alcoholic father, and later showed her blind loyalty and helped her establish her new empire.

He is one of the key figures who was selected as the Emperor’s direct secretary for his outstanding talent in administrative work and personnel management, and who uses his talent to contribute to the prosperity of the empire.

It’s only natural that the mansion would be turned upside down when such a person comes in person.

But to me, who had been through many battles, it was just a daily routine where a special guest came to visit, and her half-threatening remarks were nothing more than the cute cries of a small animal.

“I am calling you this because it is an order from His Majesty the Emperor, whom you love. Surely you would not refuse an order from your superior, would you?”

“… … Tsk!”

The inside story was revealed by her tongue-clicking briefly.

As a secretary, I guess you could have guessed the relationship between us, but I mentioned my real position and wanted you to know the topic, but I think she felt jealous of our deeper relationship than I thought when she said it was the order of the emperor she liked and respected.

“So, why did Ellie send you?”

“… … A message from His Majesty.”

Rico continues to speak, glaring at me as if he’s going to kill me for calling him by his nickname.

Just when I was thinking that if I showed my true will to kill her, she, who had never even held a weapon, would tremble and wet her pants, I heard shocking words.

“I will visit you soon.”

“… … Hmm?”

You’re visiting? Where?

The others who had been listening to her message together also became shocked and denied the reality of the Emperor’s visit.

“Okay, okay, wait a minute. Let’s not even talk about coming, but when are you coming!”

“… … 5.”

“5 hours later?”

“4… … 3… … 2… … 1.”

bang!

The door opened with a loud noise.

In that place where everyone’s eyes were focused, a familiar blonde hair was fluttering.

“Na. Gangrim.”

Then, looking at me and smiling faintly, Elicia’s face gave me a headache.

What a crazy bitch… … .

* * *

The writer was in an uproar after the appearance of the emperor.

Fortunately, the people of the mansion were quickly calmed down by Secretary Rico’s suppression and focused all their energy on welcoming the Emperor.

In just a dozen minutes, a sumptuous meal was served on the table in the mansion, and the Marquis and his wife, the warrior party, and I were seated at the table.

It was a bonus that all the servants who had finished preparing passed me by every once in a while.

This is so unfair… … .

“I’m sorry to visit you so suddenly, Marquis Willow.”

“Oh, no, Your Majesty! It is truly a glorious day for all in the mansion to see Your Majesty in person!”

The father bows deeply to Elicia’s apology and praises her as an honor.

The sight reminded me of a cadre who greeted a commander (three stars) who visited his unit in a previous life, and I felt a little sorry for him, not to mention sorry.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, warrior. Did you have a nice vacation in the North?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Thanks to the Duke’s consideration, I was able to rest comfortably.”

This time, Elysia turns her head and looks at the warrior, asking about his time in the North.

Even the hero who saved the world seemed powerless against power. His stiff posture and hurried answers made me think he was a new recruit who had just been transferred in today.

Although she exchanged a few words with the warrior, Elicia didn’t say much to the party members, but as she passed by them with a cold gaze, she noticed that the three women were shivering from the cold.

“Finally… ….”

Finally it was my turn, and I waited to see what she would say.

“… … ?”

After a while, there was no word, so I turned my head and looked at Elicia.

Ppaan-

I saw her face, resting her chin on the desk without saying anything and looking at me with a strange expression.

Everyone in the room’s eyes widened as they saw the emperor’s feminine appearance for the first time, and the ladies at the party in particular showed jealous expressions.

“You… … .”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Do you have anything to say to me?”

“… … ?”

It’s the kind of tone a pissed off girlfriend might use towards her boyfriend.

I’ve never been in a relationship before, but when I saw ‘that’ situation that I’d heard so much about from other people’s experiences, I couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat.

‘Saying no is the worst option. Not only Ellie, but everyone else will look at me like a bug. But if I ask what you’re talking about, you’ll probably say you don’t know… … If you make up an answer and it turns out to be wrong, that’s a big problem in its own right.’

It only lasted about a minute, but I carefully opened my mouth after completing calculations in my head that rivaled those of a supercomputer.

“See… …I missed you?”

At my answer, Elicia opened her eyes wide for a moment, then smiled brightly and nodded.

Fortunately, it appears to have been correct.

However, my mother covered her mouth and tried hard to hide the corners of her lips that were going up, and the three women glared at me with crescent-shaped eyes.

I’m sorry… … but I have to live too, don’t I?

“Duke Cain.”

“Yes.”

“You. Be my partner.”

“Yes?”

“Partner. Do it.”

“Yes… … .”

I was caught up in Elicia’s way of speaking, which was just going straight into things without any hesitation, and I absentmindedly answered “yes.”

She smiled, showing satisfaction at my answer, and began to attack my mother.

“Hello, Marchioness. This is the first time I’ve seen you in person.”

“Oh, it is an honor, Your Majesty! Please lower your voice!”

“How could that be? To the person who will become my mother-in-law.”

“Oh my!”

They say that if you want to take down a general, you have to shoot his horse first.

My mother reacted very happily to the word mother-in-law.

After all, what parent wouldn’t be happy if a pretty woman said she likes her child?

That too, the emperor said.

“You can call me Ellie for friendliness.”

“How, how can I… … .”

“Of course it’s hard right now. But since we’ll be seeing each other often in the future anyway, I think you’ll get used to it little by little.”

Then, Elysia gestures to her secretary, who hands her envelope to her mother.

‘Invitation to the Imperial Tea Party?’

A tea party hosted by the Emperor himself, attended only by the hostesses and young ladies of the Empire’s powerful families.

Among them, the emperor himself handed out a splendidly customized invitation?

Even without saying a word, everyone would notice that Mom was the host of the party.

“, thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you for accepting. We will send a royal person to help you prepare for your attendance before your visit.”

She is already showing off her daughter-in-law’s power without any filters.

The party members simply bit their lips and watched this farce with eyes filled with anger.

“Oh right, I should have asked Mom for permission first! Is it okay if I bring Kane as my partner?”

“Do I need to ask for your permission? I am a child who has suffered because of my bad mother. If Your Majesty would appoint me as your partner, I would be so grateful~”

Mother responds to Elicia with a smile.

Elicia, who was watching the scene, secretly showed a mocking expression to the three women.

Ugh-

I heard the sound of metal spoons crashing from the women’s side, but I tried to ignore it.

It’s not that I’m particularly scared.

No, no.