Chapter 4. So I became an Emperor (4).
The arena was packed with people who came to watch.
The unmarried emperor held a tournament as a means of finding a companion, so the people of the empire focused their attention.
The number of nobles gathered to support their families’ representatives was enormous, as well as the candidates for the emperor consort.
And all of them cheered at my appearance.
Edwin smiled and talked to me as I walked into the air’s vibrating cheers.
“Sister, look at this. Everyone likes you.”
“Everyone’s having fun with this weird thing.”
“No, everyone likes you. My sister is the best.”
I laughed at Edwin nodding his head with a serious look.
If all these people truly like me, that’s because I’m the emperor. Because people like powerful beings.
The 178 husband candidates, who are staring at me, are also hoping to be the winner of this match. The emperor’s husband is also a powerful man.
You don’t even know the hell that is waiting for you.1
As I moved around with a big smile, Edwin cried out, saying his sister was also in a good mood.
Edwin and I climbed onto the podium where the arena was best seen.
178 men kneeled in one knee in front of me in unison. The crowd who filled the stands also bowed their heads to show their courtesy.
Edwin, who was standing next to me, also bend his knee.
Eddy was just playing games, but every time this happened, it was a good feeling as my fingertips tingle.
This is why you work so hard to be the emperor.
I raised my chin and said in a voice that was neither loud nor small.
“Rise.”
Everyone rose up in my words. I looked through the candidates for workers.
I liked the fact that they all looked strong. Physical strength was very important because one of my secretaries was unable to come to work today due to a high fever.
The ones standing in the front row were the candidates from the four Dukedoms.
As I made eye contact with them one by one, I looked at the Duke of Dehart more carefully.
Black eyes in a mud-colored hair.
(T/N: Mud color can come in shades of brown, gray, green, and yellow. The author is referring to light gray, as on the cover Haven is silver-haired.)
It’s a very modest combination, but I can’t take my eyes off it. Maybe it’s because of his clear features, it is much more noticeable than the second son of Duke Pagos, who boasts his splendid blonde hair next to him.
It was the same when I first saw him.
That terribly cold winter, when I headed North with the last string of hope, he saved Sutton County with the same expressionless face as he has now.
I was going to say thank you when I see you again.
It’s the first time we’ve met since I returned, so I’ll just have to tell you in my heart.
Before returning. When I first became Countess Sutton.
A 14-year-old girl was ridiculed for being the family head, so I did my best to do what I really don’t have to.
I’ve been ignored a lot and been swindled a few times.
Although I endured with the conviction that I couldn’t ruin the family my parents left behind, there were many days where I secretly cried alone.
It was one of those days.
It was a time when I had to sell off my goods in a hurry because of a ridiculous scam.
I was in urgent need of money to get through the winter, but no one bought our top goods. Thus, I went to see the lords as I begged them myself.
The duke bought it. They weren’t even necessary items in the North.
Did you take pity on me, who was trembling that time?
Anyway, thanks to you, I got through that winter safely.
What ‘Monster in the North’. He was Sutton’s benefactor.
Smiling as I slipped out of the memories of the past, I gave a short encouragement to the participants and sat down on a chair.
Come to think of it, what happened to that crook?
After returning from time, I led the family with great ease.
I thought it was because I had already experienced it once, and suffered mountains of hardships, but it was definitely easier than last time.
Aren’t there guys who approached to scam me?
The swindler, who even made me a door-to-door salesman, when showed up was going to be killed in half by me, did not appear and I couldn’t see even his nose.2
“Sister, it’s starting.”
Edwin’s voice reminded me who is thinking about different things.
Looking over the stadium, Japheth Delmoy and a young Viscount stood with their swords.
It hasn’t even started yet, but the victory is already obvious.
I don’t know how to deal with sword, but I am the sister of the empire’s greatest knight. I’ve spent several years packing lunch and watching Edwin’s swordsmanship training.
Just by looking at his standing posture, I could see a rough angle.
As expected, the duel came to an end not long after it started. Japheth blew his opponent’s sword into the air.
Edwin’s whistling sound was heard from the side and soon a thunderous cheer broke out. Japheth looked at me and bowed gracefully, and then went down from the arena.
Soon after, the second game began.
This time, Dalton Pagos climbed to the stadium.
I clicked my tongue.
I was going to go out after only one game, but I missed the timing because it finished rather quickly.
When Edwin heard the sound of my tongue clicking, he asked with a grin on his face.
“Do you not like that bastard, Sister?”
“I don’t like the way your eyes look. Eddy, pull that out of your eyes. And didn’t I tell you not to laugh like that because you look crazy?”
“It’s okay because you won’t abandon me even if I’m crazy.”
“That’s obvious, but it’s hard on my eyes. I raised you nicely, but I get upset when I hear the sound of a lunatic.”
“Okay. Hehe.”
Edwin smiled brightly.
It’s not because he’s my younger brother, but he’s really cute at times like this. As I reached out to stroke his head, an anguish scream rang out in the arena.
Turning my head, a man with a broken right leg was standing in jeopardy with his weight on his sword.
His opponent, Dalton, had a relaxed face as if teasing the injured man.
Dalton’s lips moved. I think he’s saying something to his opponent, but I couldn’t hear him from all the way here.
The man with a broken leg raised his sword with a loud sound, and even swung it at Dalton.
Dalton dodged it easily and kicked his opponent. He was dragging the game by provoking the man whom he could defeat thoroughly.
I opened my mouth when I saw the fallen man trying to get up.
“Eddy, finish that.”
“Yes, sister.”
Edwin ran off like the wind. He, who stormed in the stadium, helped the fallen man to escape Dalton’s sword.
The doctors approached Edwin’s gesture, and the man with a broken leg looked at me.
I don’t know why he’s looking at me when one of his legs are rattling, but I nodded.
As the game seemed to be over, Dalton shouted.
“How can you break into a sacred duel like this?”
His eyes were directed at Edwin, but his voice was loud enough for me to catch. I wore a deep expression holding my chin up and said in a voice he could hear.
“If you call it sacred, you will be angry with God.”
Dalton looked at me and I said, pointing my chin at Edwin.
“If you’re upset, that kid will deal with you. Would you like to try?”
Edwin’s eyes twinkled. Liking it, he pulled out his sword.
As he stared at Edwin, who was warming up by bending his neck to both sides, Dalton clicked his tongue and inserted his sword back.
I don’t know how good you are, but you’re already out.
I got up from where I was sitting.
“He who kills his opponent during the game will be guilty of murder. Those who inflict unnecessary injures on his opponents will be eliminated immediately.”
Dalton who was going down from the stadium turned around and protested.
“Your Majesty, how can you do that?”
“I could.”
“Yes?”
“In choosing my husband, my words are the law. Is there a problem?”
“Ah, no. It’s not like that…what about me?”
“It will not be applied retroactively, so be extra careful in the future.”
(T/N: It will not be applied to those that already happened in the past.)
Dalton finally closed his mouth.
All right, this atmosphere. The opportunity is now.
I naturally came down from the platform while I was up.
It’s much more productive to go back to the Imperial Palace and prepare for the meeting.
Edwin jumped down from the stadium.
“Sister, are you going already?”
“You go play some more. Don’t get into trouble.”
“Hm!”
I thought you’d say, ‘I’m coming, too.’ Edwin seems to be having a lot of fun with this tournament.
***
The issue of exchange rates with the Zilton Empire, which began at the meeting that day, became the most expensive piece of shit in my reign for four months after the Emperor’s inauguration.
The Seven Hills Empire, the Gripton Empire bordering the northeast, and the Zilton Empire which runs to the northwest.
Seven Hills had long maintained a friendly relationship with Zilton, a commercial country. Seven Hills and Zilton were checking the Gripton Empire that would cross the border whenever they had a chance, and a trade friction with Zilton occurred.
This, too, was a problem with the shit that emperor left behind.
The former emperor’s maternal uncle was in charge of dealing with Zilton. The money that had been collected by the exchange rate difference between the two empires piled up.
The difference between the Seven Hills’ gold coins made of 12 grams of gold, and Zilton’s gold coins made of 14 grams of gold, accumulated and spitted out a whopping 320,000 gold.
Zilton, who has been patient with the friendship with Seven Hills, has officially protested, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who is in a financial crisis, said they cannot afford it.
“For not managing the trade and entrusting the cross-border transactions to the top of the private sector, let the foreign minister take responsibility and cut his belly.”
I said to the Royal Guards, shamelessly telling the foreign ministry to give me the money.
“What, yes? Y-y-your Majesty. What do you mean by that?”
“I didn’t say it to you, so don’t worry and just follow them.”
“Oh, no, Your Majesty. Didn’t you say you were going to poke his stomach?”
“Yes. I said cut. You understand well, so go ahead and cut it prettily.”
“Please save me, Your Majesty! I’m sorry!!”
“No, drag him away.”
The guards held the foreign minister’s arms. The conference room became quiet as if it had been poured cold water.
The other aristocrats who wondered if I really meant it and soon realized that it wasn’t a joke, turned their heads to the documents and ignored the foreign minister being dragged out.
“Y-your Majesty, it’s too harsh.”
“The lack of management is obvious, but there aren’t any good people?”
“I have been working for the Empire for many years, Your Majesty.”
Each one of them came up with a few words, but my patience as a graceful emperor was shattered because I was so busy I had no time to be angry.
I shouted, slamming the table.
“Harsh? A man who’s been rusting at the Empire for 12 years and is not ashamed of his incompetence. What’s so harsh about giving up his stomach? Shouldn’t we take countermeasures if something happened? You want me to come up with this and give you money? Why should the taxes of the empire be used to wipe out your incompetence!”
The foreign minister, who was being dragged away, was silent as well as those who defended him.
I asked, staring at the foreign minister.
“You, tell me. If you tell me the truth now, I won’t cut your stomach. Did you really not know that Marcos Top was embezzling?”
The foreign minister’s eyes were shaking.
Speak well. I’ll find out everything when I investigate.