Ch.97Why Don’t They Combine with Each Other? (3)

# Chapter 97: Why Don’t You Two Connect With Each Other? (3)

“Well anyway, since we have definitive evidence confirming the administrator’s testimony, there won’t be any further questions.”

“Hmm.”

Despite having eagerly collected evidence herself, Artraia’s reaction was noticeably indifferent and dissatisfied.

‘What on earth is bothering her?’

The problem was that no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t figure out why Artraia was reacting this way.

If only an event message would pop up, at least I’d have some guidelines on how to resolve this.

[Pause]

Unable to understand the situation, I had to use the pause function once again to sink into contemplation.

But even with all the time in the world, it was useless since I had no clues to work with.

Eventually, after continued deliberation yielded no answers, I released the pause and decided to just go with the flow.

[Resume]

After releasing the pause.

Looking at Artraia’s expression, which seemed completely devoid of interest, I thought that staying here any longer would only reduce her working hours.

“Artraia, do you have any questions?”

“Umm… no, not really?”

Only after this final confirmation did I decide to get up and prepare to return to the Diplomatic Enforcement Agency.

“Alright, since there’s nothing else to report… I’ll be heading out now.”

“Okay.”

But just as I was about to leave, having completed everything I needed to do, Artraia started staring at me intently.

-Staring…

“What is it, Artraia?”

“…”

Even when asked, she just kept staring at me with a strange look in her eyes without saying anything.

If Riel had shown such an attitude, I would have immediately struck her with the etiquette injection rod.

Setting aside the fact that I shouldn’t do such a thing to Artraia.

I couldn’t do it anyway since it was obvious my spine would break along with the rod if I tried.

Trying to escape this bizarre situation, I stood up and began to slink away with Riel and the administrator from the private room.

“Um, Miss Artraia? Why don’t you just tell him at this point?”

When the administrator suddenly blurted that out, I couldn’t hide my momentary bewilderment.

“Tell me what?”

In response to my question, the administrator wriggled free from my grasp and…

“You’re so frustrating! Miss Artraia is doing her best in every way as your wife right now!”

She dropped a bombshell declaration right in front of the person in question.

“…”

Well, at least it wasn’t assassination as I had said.

It was just an explosion.

A true terrorist if there ever was one.

Who could have predicted she would detonate such a bomb right in front of the person concerned?

Thanks to that, I should have been trembling in fear, anticipating Artraia’s angry scolding and the blade of purge that would eventually come, but…

“…?”

For some reason, not a single word came out of Artraia.

‘What’s going on?’

Witnessing this strange phenomenon, I unconsciously lowered Riel whom I had been using as a shield, naturally clearing my view.

And through that cleared view, Artraia’s appearance was…

“Uuugh…”

“…Hmm.”

Her face was flushed red all the way to her slightly elongated ears, to the point where it seemed feverish.

Her large eyes were brimming with tears, so much that even her imperial vertical pupils couldn’t hide them.

Her mouth seemed like it wanted to say something, but her emotions were running so high that the words wouldn’t come out.

Seeing this, a thought flashed through my mind.

‘Wow, I’m screwed.’

That expression, that reaction.

It was as if she couldn’t handle the emotional surge caused by anger(?).

[Pause]

Since I had no intention of facing Artraia’s genuine anger in an unprepared state.

I immediately activated pause, mentally cursed the administrator who had committed suicide bombing on me.

To calm my anxious heart, I also took some time to meditate.

Only after taking as much time as possible could I finally organize my thoughts.

No, beyond organizing my thoughts…

As my panicked mind calmed down, I was able to view the situation more realistically.

‘Come to think of it, Artraia has no reason to purge me, does she?’

Although I had unconsciously fallen into a panic state due to the administrator’s bombshell statement, causing my mental state to fluctuate.

Realistically, if I think about it a little, I can see that the situation I had imagined makes no sense.

The current internal and external stability of the empire is thoroughly achieved because Artraia handed me the Diplomatic Enforcement Agency, and I used it appropriately.

Purge me?

Even Georgia’s human butcher uncle selected the right people and timing when carrying out purges.

Our Artraia might not be as good as Georgia’s mustached uncle, but she’s much smarter than me, so she should be able to think that much.

Therefore, no longer trapped by the fear of purge, I maintained a healthier and more rational mindset.

‘Alright, let’s face this head-on.’

[Resume]

I decided to stand tall and face whatever the angry(?) Artraia might do.

But after releasing the pause.

“…Uuuugh!!”

“?!”

Artraia, whom I thought was furious to the tips of her hair, covered her face with her hands, sat back down on the sofa, and curled up.

‘Artraia showing such a side?’

In the distant past.

At least 15 years ago, when Artraia had just ascended to the throne, I occasionally saw this side of her, but to see it again now.

Thanks to this, not only me but also Riel beside me seemed dumbfounded by this sudden situation, unable to say anything.

But this situation didn’t continue forever.

“…Ha, fine!”

Artraia, who had buried her face in her hands, suddenly stood up with her earlobes still flushed red…

“Arto!”

Of all the people present (3 people), she specifically called out to me, then strode over to me…

-Step!

She stopped right in front of me, assumed a posture full of the arrogance unique to those in power, and said to me.

“Arto!”

“Yes.”

“Since that administrator… has spilled everything, I’ll be honest!”

Although Artraia was trying to show a bright smile and display arrogance and conceit through her posture…

Even while saying those words, her reddened face and ears showed no signs of returning to normal.

With a flush and small teardrops in her eyes, Artraia spoke to me with a trembling voice despite her arrogant posture.

“I, I, I, Artraia Belliard Penashu Khan Sebelli! Like Arto Virtorius Sebelli!!!”

“…”

And at the end, her tone rose to the level of screaming with her eyes closed, which was truly a commendable effort.

But hearing those words, I felt an immense sense of emptiness wash over me.

“Um, what did you say?”

Wondering if I had misheard, I dared to request a repeat from Emperor Artraia.

“Uugh… I just said it, like the administrator said, I like you!”

Although Artraia was dying of embarrassment, she still managed to answer my question as calmly as possible.

Seeing Artraia like this, I fell into contemplation for a moment.

And after a while.

‘I see, so that’s what it was.’

Having realized the truth, I stood in front of Artraia, adjusted my posture, and said.

“Artraia, I like you too.”

“…Arto!”

And surprisingly, upon hearing my words, Artraia’s eyes welled up with tears as if moved.

“Ha, finally that oblivious minister has managed to notice her feelings.”

“Amazing, how can he understand everything else so well, yet fail to recognize such feelings and struggle with it.”

I heard Riel and the administrator muttering something behind me.

But ignoring their words, I continued speaking to Artraia in a calm tone.

“So let’s continue to maintain our relationship as the best of friends and the most trustworthy sovereign and minister.”

The highest pledge of loyalty I could offer to Artraia.

But the moment I uttered those words.

“Oh for fuck’s sake.”

Riel, who was behind me with the administrator, spontaneously cursed.

“What’s wrong, Riel?”

Turning my head back, wondering if she wanted another lesson with the etiquette injection rod, I saw Riel and the administrator looking at me with what could only be described as…

The kind of look you’d give to an incredibly dense person.

‘It seems Riel’s head needs a new bump today.’

So I immediately turned around, preparing to discipline them, but…

-Grab!

“…?”

Feeling a hand grabbing my shoulder, I carefully turned my gaze back.

And there was…

“Arto.”

“…”

“This won’t do. I usually like that side of you, but I don’t think I can let it slide today.”

“Um… what?”

Her tone was completely different from before, very relaxed and nonchalant.

But I thought that Artraia’s words somehow resembled the howl of a hungry carnivorous predator.

So I naturally tried to escape from Artraia’s grasp and return to the Diplomatic Enforcement Agency, but…

“The time has finally come.”

“Sometimes, all that’s needed is a little push.”

“We’ll be taking our leave now. Have a good love.”

‘What.’

After those two ungrateful women blocked the only exit by closing the door behind them.

“Sigh… Arto.”

“…Yes.”

“You’d better prepare yourself.”

In my living life.

No, including my previous life and current life, for the first time, I experienced the terror of prey standing before a predator.