episode_0050

As I see the two people making eye contact, I feel joy in my heart and continue.

“Yes. What is your name?”

The waiter responds to my words by scratching his cheek with his finger.

“Uh… My name is Lucius. But what about talent?”

I nod and say to Lucius, who doesn’t understand the situation.

“Yes. Lucius, you are a talented person of this empire.”

First of all, the man who will save me from this difficult situation and who will likely become a key player in discovering talent for the empire in the future.

Looking at the blank expressions on Theodora and Lucius’ faces, I hastily express my thoughts.

In any case, if Theodora finds fault, it may become difficult to deal with it later.

Don’t give yourself time to think. I have to hold on to this atmosphere and express my opinion.

“You said you were a third year student at the empire’s proud academy, right? In addition, didn’t I express my opinion a little while ago that I was anxious about the current situation because my power was weak and that King Ioannes would try to swallow up the empire?”

Lucius, who caught a glimpse of me and Theodora at my words, closed his eyes tightly and spoke.

“That was… I was foolish and made a mistake.”

I shake my head and say that.

“No. That’s the correct point.”

In fact, if I were strong, Ioanes would have stayed still.

Ioanes did not dare to raise his teeth against the late emperor, who had great power.

He is an extremely realistic person.

That is, considering the current situation. Since the leader of the imperial faction is stronger than the leader of the anti-emperor faction, which was all ruined, and because he has the support of the most nobles in the empire, he can attempt to usurp the empire.

Theodora’s eyes widen in surprise, as if she didn’t know I would say this.

It’s like I’m talking about something I said a while ago.

You probably think he thought the same thing as me, right?

“If I or Theodora had as much support and power as the late Emperor, Ioanes would never have thought of showing his teeth. But we’re not like that.”

“Debian…”

I continue ignoring Theodora’s words, who looked saddened by my words.

“Like you said, the empire will definitely be engulfed in civil war.”

Actually, I have no intention of keeping the secret promise that I and Ioanes made.

A civil war will probably break out from here.

If you hand over Joey, it’s obvious that Ioanes will try to usurp the empire.

And personally, I feel very sorry for letting my cute and lovely sister-in-law marry Ioanes’ son, who is much older than me.

“I salute your insight and skill in predicting that. So, aren’t you interested in working at the Grand Duke’s Office?”

Lucius looks puzzled at my words.

“Uh… me? I’m just a third-year student at the academy, right?”

I nod my head at those words.

Even if you are only a third year student at the Academy, you can be considered competent.

Of course, it would be better if you graduate and have a degree, but since talented people with advanced education are rare here, there are quite a few cases of getting a job at a large commercial company during the second or third year.

“Although you are a student, aren’t you a high-level talent? As long as you agree, I will appoint you as my assistant on my own authority.”

At my words, Lucius rolls his eyes and gets lost in thought before turning to Theodora and asking a question.

“But Your Majesty, what are those hand gestures?”

“Huh? What hand gestures?”

At Lucius’s puzzled words, I turned my head and looked at Theodora. She says with a slightly sad look on her face.

“My… What kind of hand gesture did I make?”

“Didn’t you make a gesture of frowning and scratching your neck with the blade of your hand?”

I don’t know what it is, but it doesn’t seem to fit the conversation, so I’ll speak for Theodora.

“Hmm… Well, I guess Theodora was just playing a prank. Anyway, what do you think? Your salary will be generous, and since you are my assistant, you will have a lot of authority and power.”

Of course, you will have to work overtime every day.

I speak calmly, trying to hide my joy at having found a new slave…

“Can I discuss this with my family before answering?”

I nod my head and say that.

“Of course it is possible. Think slowly.”

Saying that, I take out a fountain pen and a small notebook from my pocket and write a temporary invitation to enter the study room.

-Ik!

I will receive “ja.”

When I handed over the torn invitation, Lucius spoke with a puzzled expression.

“This is…?”

“It’s an invitation to the Grand Duke. If you present this, the guards will not stop you when you enter the imperial palace and the Grand Duchy.”

I say this while looking at Lucius, who looks touched by my words.

“Then, let’s finish eating now.”

***

-Rat…

A carriage heading to the imperial palace.

There is silence inside.

“But how did you find out about it?”

-I flinch.

Theodora’s shoulders, who were looking out the window, twitch at my words.

“That’s…”

As I calmly wait for her, who cannot speak, she soon begins to speak.

“Tailed was added. Because he sneaks out of the palace in two weeks.”

As I look at her back, I am lost in thought.

In the original work, she had a strong obsession with own possessions.

That’s why it was a refreshing shock to readers when he entered the warrior’s harem on his own.

The scene where the haughty and obsessive princess gives herself to the warrior who has built a harem out of revenge was a bit erotic.

“Whoa… I see.”

After my words, no words are exchanged between us.

“But… you… did you really stay out all night because of that guy?”

I gently turn my head and nod as I see her staring into my eyes.

“Yes. But?”

Actually, I just stay out, eat delicious food in Roman, listen to the music of bards, and go see performances.

Then, I met an academy student by chance and found out that it was more useful than I thought, so I just came up with a temporary solution.

However, if I tell it like it is, Theodora will be angry for being ignored today, so I have to hide it as much as possible.

“Chi… lie.”

But Theodora shakes her head and says:

“I’m not stupid. A moment ago, that man clearly saw you for the first time. And if you just listen to the conversation a little while ago, anyone will know that today was the first time you saw each other.”

Oops… I didn’t pay attention to that part because I thought I had to escape the situation somehow.

“That… That…”

Theodora shakes her head and says at my words.

“I don’t know why he’s leaving the palace, but at least I know it’s not because of another woman. Maybe you’re going out because you want to look around the outside of the palace like Joy?”

It has been rumored for a long time that Joy likes to go outside the palace.

I smile wryly at those words.

“I thought I went through all my efforts well.”

When I think about it now, it’s so clumsy.

“So I didn’t question you earlier because you had respect, but I vaguely understand.”

I nod my head and say that.

“That’s right. I felt frustrated because I was working so hard inside the palace, so I went out to the night market every time it was open to go on a secret trip.”

Why lie when you’re caught anyway?

Then Theodora blushes slightly, opens her mouth, and then closes it again.

Do you want to say something?

I look at her hesitating about something and wait for her to speak.

“Then next time, I will go with you.”

“What?”

Her unexpected words.

“Next time we go out, I want to go with you.”

I nod my head at those words.

“Then.”

Anyway, it would be more fun to go out together than to go out alone. I think she, too, would feel frustrated being confined to the imperial palace under the pretext of being a security guard.

As I spoke with that thought in mind, Theodora smiled brightly.

A dazzlingly beautiful smile.

“Did you promise?”

I nod my head at those words.

“Yeah, how about going out together? Should I take Joy with me at this point?”

-match!

Theodora seems to be offended by my words, raising her eyes and hitting my chest.

“You call that a horse?”

“Huh? Wouldn’t Joy want to go out too?”

Because you said you used to visit Roman often. I think you will like it.

As for the guard… well… wouldn’t it work out somehow if he disguised himself?

When I think like that. Theodora sighs and says.

“You usually seem like a genius, but at times like this, you look like a complete idiot.”

I ask because I am puzzled by that statement.

“Huh?, what?”

At my words, Theodora turns her head and looks annoyed.

“Hmph, that’s it.”

I smile softly at the sight of her looking upset for something.

It’s kinda… cute.

But what Lucius said flashes through my mind.

-Didn’t you make a gesture of frowning and scratching your neck with the blade of your hand?

“Oh, that’s right, but what did Lucius say earlier? What are the gestures?”

At my words, Theodora looks at me with cold eyes.

“Would you like to ask that at this timing?”

I say with a shy smile at her slightly sharp words.

“No… just? Are you curious?”

“That’s it. I did it because I felt sorry for an innocent student who knew nothing about you and was trying to go to hell on his own.”

I say that with a chuckle.

“Tsk… Tsk what is that.”

Theodora shakes her head and says at my words.

“But are you really going to hire that person?”

I say that with a smile.

“Of course. And if there are talented students in the academy, they will be recruited. At this point, it might be a good idea to start a scholarship project later when you have some free time.”

There is nothing more precious than a scholarship to students in difficult circumstances.

I think that if we distribute a lot of scholarships, poor but capable students will be favored and it will be easier for them to get hired in the future.

Hehe… If you can get so many slaves for the empire, scholarships are cheap.

Theodora’s face turns slightly pale at my words.

“You… are such a devil…”

***

Lucius lays down on his bed after finishing his work day.

“Ha… Grand Duke…”

Lucius gently stands up, spreads his arms, and smiles brightly.

“Hehe… It’s a job, a job!”

While others graduate from the academy and take a mid-level civil service exam, Lucius feels proud that the Archduke himself offered him an aide position.

“Hehe… If I tell my family tomorrow, they’ll be surprised, right?”

If I had to name the most powerful place in the empire right now, I would say the Grand Duchy.

That’s why Lucius stands up and looks at the invitation he left on his desk, lost in thought.

-That talented person is a waiter in this room and a third-year student at the academy. Hmm… but what is your name?

-okay. Lucius, you are a talented person of this empire.

Lucius is drunk with thoughts.

I was moved by the words of the Grand Duke, who looked at me and said that I was a talented person.

Lucius is overcome with emotion, thinking that he has met a master who recognizes him.

“Hehe… As expected, I was a talented person.”

Lucius was deeply moved by the archduke’s firm eyes and words.

‘Should I go right away tomorrow? No, if you want to raise my price, it’s right to take time.’

He told the Archduke that he would think about it, but Lucius has no intention of turning down this offer.

Working at the Ministry of Education is a top-level civil servant with enormous salary and authority.

Moreover, he is not an ordinary employee, but an aide to the Archduke.

A smile appears on Lucius’ face as he realizes that this is probably a position that can project enormous influence over the empire.

Lucius, who has been using technical terminology to persuade, ponders what to do if he receives a large salary from the Archduke.

‘If things go well this time, I’ll buy a house and marry a girl from a prestigious family…’

Lucius is already envisioning a rosy future.

At that moment, I remembered the emperor slightly raising his hand and waving it next to his neck with a contemplative face…

‘Well, is there anything wrong?’

And a month later, Lucius is said to have shed tears and regretted having accepted the archduke’s offer.