Episode 79 – The Table Where the Guest Has Left
by Afuhfuihgs
*
It was obvious, but meeting the Emperor wasn’t easy.
Even meeting the king of a single country involves a tricky and complicated process, so meeting the Emperor of an empire who has those kings beneath him required a very long and complex process.
Even if the Emperor said he wanted to meet me directly.
And I failed from the very first step.
Ellie, thinking I would harm the Emperor, left the hotel with Deborah without setting a date for me to meet the Emperor.
I didn’t bother to hold her back.
“I’m going to change my clothes and come out.”
“Okay, I got it.”
Lara said that and went into the bedroom, closing the door.
She had participated in the conversation as soon as she woke up, so she was still wearing a thin, see-through nightgown.
Just before the bedroom door closed, through the crack, I could see Lily, who had come out wearing the same nightgown as Lara, still lying face down on the bed with her face flushed.
Well, appearing in front of the Princess and so many people wearing clothes that were so see-through that her figure and skin were clearly visible must have been a stimulating situation for her, who had only lived in the forest.
I smiled slightly at Lily’s cute appearance as she was embarrassed and didn’t know what to do.
Mena cleared the teacups on the table and brewed new tea, bringing it to me.
In the quiet living room, I once again lifted the fragrant teacup filled to the brim, sipped it slightly, and fell into thought.
I had a lot to think about regarding the conversation with Ellie, but what came to mind right now was Deborah’s words.
Deborah had whispered in my ear before leaving.
“Ed. Someday you will definitely meet His Majesty… Please be careful then.”
“What do you mean? Are you worried I’ll say something rude in front of the Emperor?”
“…Who was the smartest person you’ve ever met in your life?”
“Hmm…? Um, Ellie or Jennifer… I guess.”
“His Majesty.”
“That guy who was the King of Sioland? He didn’t seem that smart to me.”
“The person who sits on the throne of Emperor definitely has a reason for being in that position.”
“…”
“Don’t forget that a person with very high intelligence is as fearsome as someone with great martial prowess.”
“… I will keep that in mind. Teacher-nim.”
Deborah smiled at my answer and left the room with Ellie.
I pondered Deborah’s words and placed the teacup on the white porcelain saucer, which had no patterns or special decorations, but still felt luxurious for some reason, with a clinking sound.
Deborah seemed to have a very high opinion of the Emperor for some reason, but in my memory, he wasn’t a very impressive person, even though he wasn’t the Emperor at the time.
In the past, after being saved by Mela, I quit being a thief and lived a relatively diligent life. Hearing rumors that the Hero Party’s progress was slow, I went to the royal castle without hesitation, wanting to help Mela.
Of course, I was naturally blocked by the guards and kicked out, so I used my talent, which I had decided to hide for the rest of my life, to break into the royal castle.
I didn’t know when I entered, but the place I entered happened to be the King and Queen’s bedroom, and I happened to run into the Queen who was changing clothes in the bedroom.
Looking back, I was so immature.
Of course, I immediately turned my eyes away, but I was immediately caught after seeing the Queen’s body, and I became a sinner who had committed the greatest sacrilege in the world.
The vassals were in an uproar, telling him to kill me, and I was giving up, thinking it was all over, but the King unexpectedly said that he admired my talent for invading the royal castle and sent me to Deborah for training.
After that, after training, I eventually became the thief of the party, became lovers with Mela, assassinated the Demon King, was betrayed, and died, becoming a legend.
Until now, I had known that the King really admired my talent or my will to help Mela.
Of course, I know that’s not the case now, but on the other hand, I felt a little bitter, wondering if I was still too naive.
Of course, I gave him a little scare, but I didn’t have any grudges or murderous intentions towards him, who is now the Emperor, as much as Ellie’s fuss.
After all, I wouldn’t have become lovers with Mela without him.
However, in the end, he is one of the people who benefited greatly from me.
As he sits in the position of Emperor, he may be the biggest beneficiary of my achievements and death.
The Emperor owes me a great debt.
I have the right to receive some assistance in my revenge, and he has the obligation to accept at least some of my tantrums, right?
Of course, I have no intention of revealing my identity, but I must get back what I am owed.
That’s exactly what I was thinking.
[Looking at you, you’re really greedy, as expected of someone from a thief background.]
[Shh! Even if it’s true, there are things you can say and things you can’t!]
‘… What, I was the one who contributed the most to killing the Demon King, and he became Emperor because of that achievement, so I can think that much. I’m in this state.’
[I’m the one who died, so why are you feeling wronged?]
‘Well, this is a case of the bear doing the trick and the human getting the money.’
[You ate all the treasures of the Demon King’s castle?]
‘That’s money that others can’t have anyway, so I can take it.’
[…]
[…]
‘Shut up.’
[I didn’t say anything.]
[I didn’t say anything.]
Anyway, Deborah told me to be careful of the Emperor.
As she had served as the commander of the Knights of this country for a long time, perhaps she knew the Emperor best, as much as his daughter Ellie, so I pondered her advice once again.
“High intelligence is as fearsome as martial prowess… That’s true.”
I still couldn’t forget the feeling I had when Ellie’s ridiculous plan was proceeding as she said it would.
Certainly, when Ellie, who had information in her hands, started to move with that information and her ability to execute, things would work out like magic.
As Ellie is the Emperor’s daughter, the Emperor must have a similar personality.
But I also knew Ellie’s limitations clearly.
Ellie’s plans are as intricate as a clockwork mechanism made by a craftsman, so if information, situations, or variables that are not in her hands appear, she becomes helpless in an instant.
Perhaps that’s why Ellie’s most admired ability of mine is my ability to improvise in such situations.
Currently, Deborah, who is with Ellie every day, must also know Ellie’s limitations well, so what would the Emperor, whom she said was the smartest, be like?
Is he the owner of a truly ghost-like intelligence that has overcome even Ellie’s limitations? Or is he Ellie in a state where she has no information she hasn’t obtained?
Either way, he was too troublesome an opponent to antagonize.
“Hoo.”
I tapped my head and once again lifted the teacup, blowing on the hot tea that was still steaming.
The good scent of the high-quality tea leaves flew into the air and slowly settled down again, spreading subtly around.
I carefully put my lips to the cup, held the clear, brownish liquid in my mouth, and slowly closed my eyes.
It felt like a happy energy that gently wrapped around my tongue and melted into the roof of my mouth was spreading throughout my body.
Gulp.
The aftertaste was also clean and smooth, and I was satisfied with the lingering scent in my mouth, so I felt good.
“Hoo, let’s not worry in advance.”
After all, I don’t even intend to antagonize the Emperor right now.
Of course, I still don’t know anything about politics, but I roughly heard from Ellie about how the political situation is going now.
Even if I push the Emperor, it would only be good for Robin and Duke Balguer, who are keeping the Emperor in check right now, so there’s no need to do that.
All I’ll do is complain a little or make a light threat.
Ellie seemed like she would just brush it off with a sullen expression.
After even the slight scent remaining in my mouth passed down my throat, I slowly opened my eyes, gently exhaling a fragrant breath through my nose.
“Ah, shit. You scared me.”
Banata was staring at me in front of my eyes.
I was so surprised that I almost dropped the cup I was holding, so I asked Banata with an awkward smile.
“Banata-yang? What’s wrong…”
“Um, Baron-nim. Ah, no, Edward-nim?”
“I told you to call me whatever you’re comfortable with, but I guess you still haven’t decided.”
“Yes, I’m still dazed. To think that Baron-nim was the famous hero of sacrifice, Edward-nim…”
“…You can call me whatever you want, but please leave out the sacrifice part.”
“Then, can I call you Ed…?”
“…?”
*
The Baron’s expression was full of doubt at Banata’s cautious question.
Banata flapped her hands in anxiety, wondering if she had made a mistake, and continued to speak haltingly.
“Ah, no, everyone else was doing it… If, if you don’t like it.”
“Ah, no, I like it.”
The Baron, no, Ed, answered at once, as if to calm Banata, who was flustered.
A bright smile like sunshine bloomed on Banata’s face.
“Then, Ed… hehe, Ed. Um, I have two things to ask you.”
“What is it?”
“First, why are you still using honorifics with me?”
“Ah…”
Ed sighed briefly and rolled his eyes upward.
It was as if he was saying, ‘Come to think of it, that’s right.’
Banata already knew that his identity was the famous Edward, and he was even on familiar terms with the Princess of this empire,
But she felt awkward and embarrassed that he was using honorifics with Banata, who was not even a noble and was only Robin’s bastard.
Ed asked Banata with an awkward smile.
“Do you not like it?”
“Um, it’s a bit strange that you’re speaking informally to my mom but using honorifics with me. I’m going to call you Ed from now on, so you have to speak informally, okay?”
Ed nodded at Banata’s request.
“…Okay, let’s do that. Banata.”
“Wow…! Hehe, Ed.”
“You said you had two things to ask? What’s the other one?”
“Um, that’s…”
Banata hesitated and slowly approached Ed.
Ed just stared blankly at her, and before she knew it, Banata had come right next to Ed.
Banata wriggled a little, as if she was embarrassed, and then took out her hands, which had been behind her back, and slowly held them out towards Ed’s face.
In Banata’s hand was a small cookie.
Ed looked back and forth between the cookie and Banata’s face with a questioning expression, still not understanding the situation.
“…?”
“Ah…ah,”
“Ah?”
“Ah, that… um, it’s what I couldn’t do before.”
“Um?”
“Ah, ah- say ‘ah.’ Ed.”
[Oh my god, fuck,]
A shocked voice echoed in Banata’s head from someone who had been quiet until now.
.
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