episode_0191

The previous emperor of the empire, Julian Apostata Humil.

“Keuuk… .”

He woke up with a severe headache.

The light seemed to burn my eyes and it was difficult to open them.

Even though the light wasn’t that strong, it was like that.

The buzzing sound in my ears became more and more clear as I became conscious.

“… bar! dad! Dad… !”

When his eyes and ears finally opened, he saw his daughter’s face contorted like an idiot from crying.

“Gre… Is… .”

The throat that was uttering the voice was very rough.

“Dad-!”

Grace fell into his arms.

He was lying on a bed.

I patted my crying daughter and looked around.

Cozy lighting and atmosphere.

A bedroom or guest room in a castle.

What happened?

I remember that he died in front of Ediphus and Ian at the end.

‘This place… Is it heaven?’

Aside from the cozy room, there is a daughter who cries when she sees herself.

That alone was enough to call it heaven.

He soon found a man standing a few steps away.

It was Ian, the prophet.

‘It’s not heaven.’

And I realized it right away.

He is not dead.

“Grace, don’t cry… . This father is fine.”

“Black, sob… . Dad… .”

“Okay, okay… .”

Sniffling, Grace lifted her head.

His hair is matted from crying and his nose is shaking when he sniffles. He still looks like he did when he was a baby, which is so adorable.

Julianus looked at Ian while stroking Grace.

He slowly approached me as our eyes met.

He had a large body, and when I saw him lying down, he was as tall as a mountain.

“How are you feeling?”

“… Stiff. I think it feels a little numb.”

When I drank the lukewarm water that Ian gave me, I felt much more comfortable.

“Officially you are dead.”

“Is it an informal life?”

“That’s right. A burning ceremony was held, but a dummy was used. They took the corpse of a goblin that resembled a human and plastered it with powder to fool it. Oh, by the way, what I drank then was an anesthetic that temporarily put me in a state of suspended animation.”

“Huh, huh… . Perhaps Ediphus too… .”

“Prince… No, he, who is now the emperor, asked first. Ask for help.”

“… … .”

“In addition to me, Wolfgang and Leon were also involved in the manipulation.”

“Is that so… .”

“And, the princess here also asked for it.”

Grace nodded repeatedly.

Looking at that, Julianus smiled happily.

It’s a happy and thankful thing.

I thought I would never see the light of day again.

I thought I would have to miss my daughter’s warmth forever.

But, that man… .

“I don’t know if you’ll be satisfied, but first of all, this is my castle. Since he has officially passed away, it is difficult to give him a great title, but we will do our best to make your life comfortable.”

“… I guess so.”

Julianus looked down at his wrinkled hands for a moment.

didn’t die

He was not a tyrant, but he was not a saint either.

That means sitting in an appropriate position, over the deaths of appropriate people.

Even in his own estimation, he was not a good emperor.

But is it okay to take the opportunity to enjoy happiness like this?

Grace hugged him tightly without saying a word.

It is the most precious jewel in the world left behind by the Empress.

“… Ian.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Please stop using that title. Isn’t he officially dead? And there is also His Majesty the Emperor, whose words and actions are profane.”

“It’s still stuck in my mouth… . It needs to be corrected as soon as possible.”

“Why did you save me?”

“Dad… !”

Julianus patted the contemplative Grace and asked her in detail.

“I am the one who ordered you to be killed. Due to political pressure, my life was threatened at the time. Even if it was something that could not be helped, it is not grounds for an excuse. But why are you… .”

Ian sighed through his nose and spoke as if it was no big deal.

“Why do we need a reason to save people?”

“… … .”

“There are many reasons for killing people. Because without such a reason, murder is simply unacceptable. However, I don’t think the reverse is true.”

Grace looked up at Ian with sparkling eyes.

“Ian… .”

He looked touched.

“Well, the princess here and the current emperor have asked me to do this. If I refuse, won’t my position be in jeopardy?”

Ian made a sly joke at the end.

“Huh, huh… . ha ha ha… .”

lived

Even after doing something like that, he survives and breathes.

“Hahahaha… . haha… !”

He laughed weakly and soon began to laugh heartily.

Incongruent with the laughter, tears kept welling up in my eyes.

“Thank you… . Ian, you only owe me… .”

“Nothing to say.”

I was grateful, but I also felt guilty.

They joined hands with the prophet for a mutual purpose.

However, the emperor hid his hand under the negotiating table and lifted the poisonous needle.

I was prepared to kill him if the situation came to pass.

However, Ian saved his life by using the poisonous needle that put the opponent to sleep.

“I will never forget this debt. I never… .”

“Why the debt? . If you need anything, please let me know. It may not be as good as the imperial palace, but there are many trustworthy servants… .”

“… Land.”

“Yes?”

“Could you give me a small piece of land to farm?”

I once had such a simple dream.

An ordinary life, leisurely farming.

“I’ll tell Charles.”

“… Thank you.”

Grace smiled and nodded.

Julianus also smiled.

This is a girl that won’t hurt even if you put it in your eyes.

But, I couldn’t help but laugh at the next story.

“Hehe. I’m so glad you woke up. When I appear at the wedding, my dad has to hold my hand… .”

“… Wedding?”

Ian secretly looked out the window.

Julianus’ complexion became viciously distorted.

‘… ‘Is it hell and not heaven?’

The feelings I felt when I first woke up were overturned.

*

To talk about the wedding, we go back in time a few days ago.

It happened the night after the victory ceremony.

Ian Rye, a castle in the city of Arrogant.

Ian sat alone in his office and pounded on his desk.

Knock, knock.

The wine in the glass rippled to a certain beat.

I’ve already emptied several cups.

The documents he looked down at were a mess.

The letters and diagrams were scattered in various directions, showing various possibilities.

‘No matter how much I think about it, this is the only thing…’ .’

I looked down at the documents and looked back on my short life.

Excluding the erased episode, this is my 4th life.

Life before transference, and regression number 3.

4 times in life, 0 relationships.

“… … .”

The difference between the two numbers felt depressingly different.

There is room for excuses.

As soon as I came to this world, wasn’t I arbitrarily thrown into struggle?

There is no way I can have time to date comfortably.

I used to think that life was like a ticking time bomb, with no idea when I would die.

For him, this decision was very difficult, important, and even bold.

After making his decision, Ian stood up.

I had a few drinks, but I didn’t get drunk.

So I was extremely sane.

He thought so.

Head to the conference room.

To the place where they will be waiting.

*

“I decided.”

Ian said.

The women sitting in a semicircle at the round table all looked at him.

Kati, Mercy, Vivian, Helena, Lucia, Sylvia, Grace, and Scarlett.

‘… Why does the number of people keep increasing?’

I hesitated once, but I couldn’t back down.

“I will marry all of you.”

Rationally speaking, this was the best.

However, I didn’t just think rationally.

Reason alone cannot be involved in matters involving emotions.

It’s not that I don’t have someone I’m particularly interested in, but it was difficult to choose just one person.

It was a twisted view of love that was formed in his life where love did not interfere.

… In fact, all else aside, he was out of his mind.

It’s not necessarily the case that people lose their minds over alcohol.

Although he believed himself to be sane.

“… Is it the end?”

Grace asked bitterly.

Ian then looked at their expressions.

Like Grace, she is grumpy, sullen, or distant.

It was a completely different reaction from Ian’s decision after serious consideration.

“What else can I say?”

Lucia said.

“I thought it determined the order, but what if I say something obvious?”

“… yes? of course… ?”

“Then.”

Mercy joined in, grinning.

“Was there another option?”

“… … .”

“Anyway.”

Vivian organized it.

“I definitely listened to Ian’s opinion, so it’s not like there’s no harvest. So you haven’t decided on the order?”

“The order is, uh… . yes… .”

“We will have to decide between us as we discussed. Phew… . I want to lock myself away in a place where no one knows and enjoy it alone, but that won’t work… .”

“… … .”

“Master.”

Kati solemnly called out to Ian.

Ian, who had difficulty understanding the current situation, looked at Katy in half-fasion.

“Don’t worry.”

What on earth?

“I will win.”

So what… .

Ian couldn’t ask any more questions and was kicked out of the conference room.

From now on, it was time for them to argue.

I was disappointed and relieved, but also fortunate.

What were you going to do if it wasn’t accepted?

I didn’t think of that.

It was proof that he was not in his right mind.

I don’t even remember what I just said in front of them.

Ian stood with his back to the conference room door, then slowly slid down and sat down.

I came to my senses late.

I burst out laughing.

‘crazy… . What did you do… .’

There was a commotion beyond the conference room door.

*

Ian Seong’s conference room.

A place used only to deal with matters so important that the survival of the territory depends on it.

There, at a round table, several women sat around.

Kati, Vivian, Helena, Lucia, Mercy.

And Sylvia, Grace, and Scarlett.

It was a discussion about the wedding order.

Ian suffered and agonized for quite a while before coming up with the idea of starting a harem, but in fact, there was already a tacit agreement between them.

There was too much delay, and too many people were involved.

So everyone agreed with the argument that he should take some responsibility for this.

‘If you can’t monopolize, dominate first.’

Everyone, including Carty, had that mindset.

Kati declared arrogantly, resting her elbows on the round table and resting her chin on the backs of her clasped hands.

“I will be the first to do the ceremony.”

Everyone’s defiant gaze focused on her.

“Rebuttals are welcome.”

Katy smiled wryly, as if accepting a challenge.