It’s not as easy as I thought.

    I thought it was a young lion and almost got ruined.

    “You really are a shady guy on the inside.”

    If he couldn’t find an answer to the question he asked himself, he would have tried to reveal that His Majesty Ioanes had taken Epirus and Egypt.

    In this way, the great nobles, who felt betrayed, are clearly aware of the plan to turn their arrows on His Highness Ioannes rather than on the Archduke himself.

    So, His Majesty Ioanes probably did not easily agree to the tax reform plan.

    Although he had no choice but to agree due to the attempted assassination of the emperor…

    If the Archduke betrays us at the end, we have no choice but to face the worst situation.

    First, the Grand Duke will amend the bill.

    It’s enough to gain time like that.

    In the meantime, we will be building up a huge military force.

    We are already negotiating with both the Empire and Babylon Empire’s sizable mercenary groups.

    Soon… if your contract with them ends, all your thoughts and plans will become pieces of paper.

    I will turn your plans back to nothing.

    I’m already looking forward to seeing you, who arrogantly act like you’re already the winner, so shocked and embarrassed.

    Time… When I get just a little more time, then you will beg me to save you.

    They are the empress and great nobles, and we will no longer pay attention to them.

    When the time comes.

    I grind my teeth, thinking about Debian who has taken me hostage all the way here.

    “Inevitably… you will fall.”

    ***

    A considerable amount of time had passed since Theodora’s sexy event that day.

    In the meantime, I avoided meeting her as much as possible.

    Because when I slept, I mostly slept in the study room.

    I know that thanks to this, rumors spread that Theodora and I had a fight in the imperial palace, but honestly, I am very satisfied with our separation situation.

    At least I don’t have to worry about getting eaten.

    Of course, I’m not just playing here.

    We put a lot of thought into the tax reform plan.

    If a civil war breaks out, the arrow could be turned on Ioanes, but the risk must be managed.

    What if things don’t go as I intended?

    Or what if things go as intended, but too much national power is wasted?

    If the war is prolonged or the administrative network collapses, it will become difficult to manage the empire.

    In addition, I not only have to deal with Ioanes, but I also have to deal with demon worshipers.

    I have no intention of prolonging the war and creating space for them to flourish.

    “Phew… what should I do? Should tax reform be postponed until later?”

    If a civil war breaks out and becomes prolonged, it will be difficult to stop the resurrection of the devil.

    “Even now, I don’t know where he might do something dirty… Sigh… It’s complicated.”

    So, after much deliberation, I am thinking of first putting tax reform on hold for the time being.

    I think I’ll have to have Epirus and Ezip in my hands to at least implement tax reform.

    Afterwards, one way would be to eliminate all the demon worshipers and then start a civil war to solidify their power.

    Of course, when I think about the people of the empire dying, my mind becomes more complicated.

    There is no choice but to use food to keep the great nobles in check…

    Apart from that, there are other things to pay attention to.

    Considering Theodora was so blatantly flirting the other day, you might assume that he will try to sleep with her again someday.

    “Things are really messed up.”

    I think while tearing my hair with my fingers.

    How come something like this never happens?

    If I work this hard, shouldn’t I be rewarded for something?

    To be honest, I am trying my best to save this place by myself.

    There is no one to help.

    Is it because I committed a lot of sins in my past life? I don’t think you did anything particularly bad?

    When I think such complicated thoughts.

    -smart!

    [His Majesty the Emperor has arrived.]

    I answer the guard’s words indifferently.

    “Take them inside.”

    -Squeak.

    Theodora comes in through the door, holding a paper bag in one hand.

    “Huh? What is that?”

    At my words, Theodora strides over and places a large box on my desk.

    “Huh? Isn’t this a mondicque?”

    Theodora nods at my words.

    “That’s right. It’s your gift.”

    “Gift?”

    Let’s open the box after hearing Theodora’s puzzled words…

    I see a familiar fountain pen.

    “This… is this?”

    It looks very similar to the fountain pen I received as a gift from my mother.

    I gently open the cap and take a look.

    Familiar nib shape.

    The Ryan family pattern and texture engraved on the gold nib…

    But it is not the same fountain pen.

    The fountain pen I used was originally for children.

    “The former Grand Duchess asked me to make it for you as she requested. Fortunately, since it is made to order, there is still an order form left…”

    At those words, I quietly turn the tip of the fountain pen.

    Calm your excited mind with the feeling of the piston gently turning, and dip the pen tip into the ink to lock the piston.

    “The one you originally used was originally for children, so I made it in adult male size.”

    And without saying anything… I write on the paper.

    -Sruk… Sruk…

    [Debian Ryan.]

    “Ah…”

    I get goosebumps because it feels almost similar to the fountain pen I’ve been using for a long time.

    That couldn’t be possible, right?

    If you use a fountain pen for a long time, the nib wears out and gives you a unique writing feeling, which is surprisingly similar to the writing feeling of the fountain pen I have been using for 10 years.

    “I put the tip of your fountain pen nib here on purpose. How does it feel?”

    What do you think…? Should I say that?

    Any person is bound to become attached to an item that has been used for more than ten years.

    From the time I first studied letters as a child, to the time I graduated from the military academy and ran the Grand Study Center in Roman…

    It can be said that he is my companion.

    So I have no choice but to be happy.

    “Thank you so much. Theodora.”

    It may be a calm tone of voice, but I won’t be able to hide my happiness and joy within it.

    When the fountain pen breaks. How disappointed were you?

    It is an item that brings together good memories, bad and difficult memories.

    She smiles when she sees my expression.

    “Hehe, I see you like it. I feel good.”

    “I can’t help but like it. This is… my mother bought it for me.”

    To be honest, I didn’t know this fountain pen was custom-made.

    So I thought I could find a similar fountain pen. The last time I went to a department store, there wasn’t a fountain pen that suited my needs, but I bought it in a hurry because I needed to use it right away.

    As I look at the fountain pen, I reminisce about the moments I had with this friend.

    “Now that I think about it. I don’t know much about you yet.”

    Theodora suddenly came next to me.

    “What color do you like?”

    Out of the blue, I answer her question without thinking.

    “Blue.”

    “Why?”

    “I have no idea? Would you say it’s a bit comfortable just looking at it?”

    Theodora nods at my words.

    “Then what is your favorite food?”

    My favorite food is Korean food, but there is no Korean food here… I say with a wry smile.

    “I don’t have anything to hide.”

    “Then… um…”

    What else are you trying to ask? Favorite artist or music?

    What about anything? She gave me such a big gift.

    But she asks back with a puzzled look on her face.

    “Why don’t you ask me these things?”

    I answer with a tingling feeling inside.

    “That’s it… Because you know?”

    Theodora speaks as if she is surprised by my words.

    “A lie!”

    “Is it real?”

    He asks with a skeptical look at my words.

    “Then what is my favorite color?”

    At those words, I search for the original text in my head for a moment and speak.

    “Red.”

    “Then what is my favorite food?”

    “Tiamat’s nipple.”

    This dessert is named after the goddess Tiamat, the younger sister of the local god El.

    You might think it’s an obscene food because it’s called nipples, but it’s sweet chocolate, so it’s quite popular here.

    But he asks with an expression that seems surprising at what I say.

    “Huh? How did you know?”

    I answer her words with a shrug.

    “I told you. I love you, I love you It doesn’t make sense that I don’t know what you like and what you don’t like.”

    Just look at the original work carefully to find out.

    How ridiculous is it that we know everything because we love each other in the first place?

    To put it bluntly, I know everything about other heroines besides Theodora, what they like and dislike, and even their sexual feelings.

    Then, I am no different from a rare playboy who loves all four people.

    And to begin with, I am not as lecherous a person as Lee Seo-jun, the hero.

    For men and women, one-on-one is best.

    I don’t feel the need to have multiple women.

    But I guess my words felt different to Theodora… She blushes profusely.

    “That… I see. I didn’t know.”

    huh? What do you not know?

    It’s just lip service to make Theodora feel better. It’s strange to see your face blushing so much.

    “What?”

    He speaks hesitantly, his face turning red at my words.

    “Well… I… thought you didn’t know. Thank you… for giving me so much love… ”

    Her appearance is a little embarrassing.

    No, it wasn’t long ago that he was openly seducing her while wearing sexy underwear…

    Are you blushing over trivial things now, like a country girl?

    I think that being a woman is a very difficult thing.

    “Kuhm… And because I’m not angry. Starting today, sleep in the newlywed room.”

    uh…? I was afraid that if I made a mistake, I would be eaten, but then a fact came to mind.

    Come to think of it, Theodora’s period started yesterday, right?

    Healthy women menstruate once a month.

    Well, it’s not that I know her menstrual cycle because I’m a pervert… Should I say that I naturally find out since we live together?

    Anyway, he probably won’t tempt me during my period.

    I nod and answer.

    “Yes, I will go to the bedroom and sleep today.”

    Theodora nods at my words and quickly leaves the room with a red face.

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