Chapter 7. So I became an Emperor (7).
I opened my mouth with a sigh.
“Eddy, he’s the one who might marry your sister. If you kill him rashly, I’ll kick your ass.”
“Yes, sister. I won’t kill him rashly.”
“Don’t kill him.”
I nailed it because I was worried about giving a strange hint. Then, Edwin nodded, pouting his lips.1
All right. For now, Duke Dehart’s life is guaranteed.
Next is to clear Haven’s misunderstanding.
I said, looking straight at Haven.
“Haven, refrain from speaking to my dear brother.”
Haven squinted his eyes at Edwin and I, but I caught Eddy looking proudly. In fact, Haven’s misunderstanding may not actually be a misunderstanding.
If you ask me who’s the craziest guy in Philland, I’m not confident I won’t think of Eddy. However, if you call him crazy, I will slap you in the back of the head. I don’t want to see someone else insulting my brother.
Haven apologized and fixed his disheveled collar.
“All right. Count Sutton, I apologize for my rudeness. I will listen to Her Majesty’s words and do anything she say.”
Even so, Haven was older than Edwin. He caught the bullseye quickly, so I jabbed Edwin on the ribs to apologize as well, but Haven continued.
“And I promise you, Your Majesty, that I will not kill the Count.”
I forgot for a moment that he’s also no ordinary man.
He made a more terrifying promise than to kill him, and Haven smiled with one corner of his mouth raising.
I caught the hem of Edwin’s coat reflexively. I was worried that this guy might lose his mind and rush into Haven. But my brother just beamed with his teeth showing.
Haven and Edwin looked at each other and smiled like people who shared funny jokes.1
What, these crazy guys? Do crazy guys have something that only themselves understand?4
If so, I don’t want to know it at all.
I pretended not to know the two of them and moved to the entrance of the banquet hall.
The voice of the servant who announced my presence rang out loudly, and I walked into the hall with Edwin and Haven following me.
The banquet, in a different sense, was fun.
Everyone said that Haven and I look good together and gave him their congratulations, but the atmosphere was strange.
The nobles from the South and East gathered around Dalton and Japheth to sniff Haven. The western nobles watched the situation as always while the noblemen, who survived like reeds, were impatient to line up to Haven, the man who would be the emperor’s companion.
The funny thing was the reaction from the northern nobles, who seemed to be wary of Haven for some reason but wandered around him. Even though they pushed the person next to them to go and talk to him, when Haven looked back, they pretended to look at somewhere else.
What the hell is that. Haven doesn’t seem to care about them.
After time has passed, the music slowed down.
Haven moved away from the chatter that surrounded him and came to me.
“Your Majesty, I am honored.”
I took Haven’s hand and went to the center of the banquet hall.
Everyone’s eyes were on us and Haven skillfully led me. His bigger hands, warmer than my body temperature, and strides fit me perfectly.1
It was very satisfying to think that there would be a lot of dancing with this man publicly in the future. I mean, it may looked a little bad, but he is a high-ranking man.
I stared at Haven with satisfied eyes. I came close to him and whispered in a small voice.
“Come to my office tomorrow morning.”
Haven, who was leaning closer to me to listen to my voice, asked with a snort.
“Usually it’s come to your bedroom tonight, isn’t it?”3
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
I scoffed too. Why in the bedroom?1
I would stay up all night in the Oval Office, but it was my principle to not take work to my bedroom. I blinked and saw Haven staring at me with an expression of either embarrassment or sullenness.1
Only then I realized what he had just said.
“It’s the office, Haven.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Haven answered with a sad face.1
This crazy guy doesn’t know the genre is.1
***
The next morning, Haven entered the Oval Office.
After he made an eye contact with me and looked around, he stared at Caleb, who was standing beside me.
Facing the cold expressionless face of the Monster of the North, the feeble Caleb bowed his head with a whimper.
“Good morning, Your Majesty.”
“Good to see you, Haven. This is my Chief Secretary, Caleb. Caleb, Duke Dehart, who is to be engaged to me.”
Haven threw an indifferent glance at Caleb.
Caleb, who had barely looked up, shivered, and hurriedly lowered his head again. I clicked my tongue and blamed Haven.1
“Don’t scare him.”
“I’ve never done that.”
“Haven, I don’t have a liar around me.”
I stared at Haven coldly and warned him. Living as Edwin’s sister, I naturally learned how the masters of swords use their energy.
Haven bowed his head immediately.
“I was wrong, Your Majesty.”
“I don’t want to warn you twice.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
I’m glad you answered. I threw three kinds of papers in front of Haven and asked as he read them down.
“Will you approve or reject?”
Haven quickly read out all three papers and replied back to me.
“All three are rejected.”
“Why?”
“The first is not worth discussing. A special tax where you have to consider a reduction, I would’ve fired the one who raised this. The second one sounds plausible, but it’s also nonsense. The Yales Plain was reclaimed a few years ago and it has not been a long time since the family relocation took place. If someone is not doing anything stupid, then there is something big going on in Yales, so you should better find out yourself.”
“The third?”
“The development of ore of Mount Delphine should be set aside and examine the interests of the two territories bordering the mountain. If we do something wrong, we’ll have a war.”
I smiled brightly at Haven.
In all three cases, the secretaries strongly requested approval, but I did not give it. Even the post measures I took were in line with Haven’s opinion.
It’s this guy.
Now it didn’t matter much whether this man was crazy or not.
His handsome face began to shine, and I was itching to order him to bring me a strong leash right away.5
“Haven, have you eaten?”
He raised his head to the sudden question.
I met his eyes and smiled as much as I could.
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Then shall we have a cup of tea?”
“…All right, but suddenly, you seem to have changed your attitude?”
“Don’t pay attention to trivial things and sit down. Caleb, ask for tea and get some rest.”
Caleb left the office as if he were running away, and I sat opposite of Haven on the sofa.
“I’m thinking about next week for the wedding ceremony.”3
“You said you wouldn’t rush at yesterday’s banquet.”
“I changed my mind. You don’t want to?”
“That can’t be true. I’m fine with the work too.”
Even though I liked Haven’s attitude that he would actively enter the grave of work, I decided to hold the engagement ceremony next week because the grand chamberlain would freak out.
Haven nodded casually even when I said to help with my work starting today.
I was very pleased.
All right. I got one.
Now I just have to look for three workers to enter as concubine.2
As for the first concubine, Caleb would be good.
I have to say it to him again.1
I had a pleasant imagination, and it seemed to have shown on my face.
Haven remarked and followed with a laugh.
“You seem in a good mood.”
“I’m happy to have people around to help me.”
After answering eagerly, I was drawing the second concubine position in my head, but Haven, whose expression had disappeared, called me.1
“Your Majesty.”
“Why?”
“Why is it ‘people’?”
“I’m thinking of having a concubine after marriage.”2
The previous emperor had seven concubines. Only those who are accredited. The emperor’s lovers who passed through him could not be counted.
When I saw his behavior, I wondered if I was so excited that I forget my tongue. He might have felt bad because he had heard of the plans for concubine before he was married.
Haven’s eyes chilled.
No, but this guy.
Why are you raising the corners of your mouth while anger is pouring out of your eyes?1
“I will be your faithful companion.”
“It’s what you have to do.”
“So I have no intention of sharing your love with anyone else.”
“There seems to be a misunderstanding, but I need a lot of people to keep by my side.”
“…You’ll be watching a bloody battle between the Emperor Consort and the concubines.”3
His eyes were like obsidian.
This bastard, I mean it.
No. I was trying to fill the concubines with courtiers who can only read.
At this rate, there will be a one-sided massacre at my palace, not a fight.
“Haven, I’m going to have a concubine– “
“I will protect you, and I will keep them from reaching your feet.”
I don’t know why crazy kids get sullen on useless things.
The biggest threat facing me right now was the candidate for Emperor Consort, who declared he would slaughter the courtiers who would gather together, but I had no idea of that at all.
When I didn’t answer giving him a puzzled look, Haven’s pledge grew more and more intense.
“If you can’t bear the impudence of the four dukedoms, I’ll cut them off.”
Oh God.1
“If Gripton is disturbing the borders, I will be dispatched right away.”
Oh my God.
“Why? Did I say I will unify the continent?”
“If Your Majesty has a big dream, I am ready to take the lead.”
There are many types of madmen, so why is he in the same kind of craziness as Edwin…3
“Haven.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Don’t meet Eddy separately.”
“Yes?”
“I said not to talk with Eddy separately.”4
I told him very solemnly and added that ‘It’s an order’.
He tilted his head, but soon replied yes.