Chapter 120
Side Story 2-4
Max’s younger sisters’ skills were excellent. Canyu’s reputation after joining the administration quickly spread in the Imperial Palace. Max loved to hear the rumors with tears in his eyes. Before, he had thought he was dying while paying for his younger sisters’ academy.
Now that he saw the light on his sisters, he felt truly relieved. In particular, Carien made great achievements in the imperial cooking competition, making Max’s money worth a lot.
But Elnos had become very uncomfortable lately. It was because of Max’s younger sister, who always visited and scratched his temper.
“Your Majesty, are you busy?”
What a joke to ask to an Emperor buried in a pile of papers. It was not worth answering. Looking at Canyu, Elnos grabbed his feather pen again.
Canyu was adamant in delivering the documents she had brought from the administration to Elnos. She could order a servant, but she wanted to do it herself.
Thanks to this, Canyu could see Elnos once a day. It was according to her plan.
“Your Majesty, why are you postponing your marriage?”
He could not listen to her anymore. Elnos was trying to answer something angrily, but Canyu laughed.
“How about me?”
“…What?”
“I will lead the revival of the Harknon Empire until I die.”
Canyu’s dream was as wide and deep as the sea. She wanted to move forward with this Empire, not just have a high-ranking position.
To do so, she had studied hard with Max’s support. Even though she knew he was struggling with other things at the knights training center, she could not stop.
The Imperial Palace work, which was handled by Nathan’s subordinates, was interesting. In particular, there was less to do after Elnos changed the old procedures.
The important thing was the traces left by the former Emperor. However, it could not be overlooked because it was a diplomatic issue that had been accumulating for a long time.
The best way was to get married, but Elnos continued to refuse. As if it was scratching his pride.
Canyu knew the reason better than anyone else. His eyes were sorrowful as he occasionally looked at Leasis. But Canyu needed to correct Elnos.
Elnos knew he could not have her, but he could not give up. He was being stubborn like her youngest brother. Then, it was best to make him realize his mistakes.
Canyu spoke incessantly, provoking Elnos.
“Your Majesty. There’s nothing I can’t do.”
What the hell is up with this crazy woman? Elnos opened his mouth wide at the weird things he was hearing. Unlike Max, she was a reckless and strange woman.
Is she really Max’s younger sister? Elnos looked at Canyu with doubts. However, Canyu’s appearance was the same as Max’s.
“I mean it.”
You’re lying. Elnos was a little intrigued by the slyness read in her voice. If another woman had done this, he would have removed her head.
However, there were many unusual things about the woman in front of him, apart from being Max’s younger sister. In fact, Nathan was secretly preparing her to be the next chancellor after him.
Hizen also saw Canyu’s potential at a glance. He praised Canyu, saying she could become the next intellectual after Neren.
‘Then let’s test her out.’
Elnos gave Canyu unexpected orders. He asked her to find out what dishes an enemy Emperor hated, and to write a paper on the weaknesses of the knights of an enemy country.
Then after that, Canyu did not come to him again. It seemed that she was a woman who gave up faster than he thought. Elnos looked at the tightly closed door of his office several times.
Canyu returned a week later. She knocked on the door three times, as usual, and came in calmly.
But Canyu’s condition was unusual. Her cheeks were purple and swollen, with clear handprints and rope marks on her neck.
Elnos stared blankly at her. She approached him and handed over some papers.
Still staring at her, Elnos opened a document.
(The dishes that the Byzantine Emperor hates are vegetables. Mostly those with a hard texture such as cucumbers and carrots…]
In addition, information about enemy knights was clearly arranged. He laughed after looking at the contents alternately.
Just crossing the border could lead to death. But you risk death to obey orders?
Canyu’s torn clothes bothered him. Elnos clicked his tongue and took out a small glass bottle.
“This…”
“Take it.”
There was no way a servant would disobey their monarch. Canyu drank the holy water gently.
“Why did you drink it!”
“What?”
Are you making fun of me? Elnos jumped up and tapped her on the back. Canyu was startled by the unexpected violence.
“It hurts! I’m going to report it!”
“What a stupid woman to be the next chancellor! You can’t drink holy water!”
Holy water would cause a rejection reaction when ingested by a weak person. In severe cases, it could lead to death.
But the wounds on Canyu’s body quickly healed. Elnos stopped tapping on her back and opened his mouth.
“I studied at the Rondo Academy, too.”
Rondo Academy was a difficult academy where only nobles or excellent students could enter. Elnos sat down again, coughing.
The sight made Canyu burst into laughter. To be precise, until Elnos glared at her.
“Oraboni!”
It’s loud
“Blix-oraboni!”
It’s loud, it’s loud.
“Blix-oraboni!”
Blix, who was sleeping on a tree, yawned a long time. When he lowered his head, he saw Carien with her long hair in a fine braid.
You again? Blix unknowingly covered his mouth with both hands. It was obvious what would happen if he was caught by that woman.
She had made all kinds of strange dishes and had asked him to taste them. In particular, she had focused on spicy dishes that Blix hated.
Carien had followed Blix for days and days without getting tired. So Blix had no choice but to sleep on a tree instead of the ground.
“Tsk. I brought bread today…”
Blix’s ears raised at her words. When he sniffed, he felt the smell of savory bread, whether it was a lie or not.
Carien opened the package she had carried with both hands, as if to lure Blix. Then the smell of the bread became much stronger.
Eventually, Blix jumped down from the tree. Then Carien clapped at the performance.
“Great!”
“…What about chocolate sauce?”
“Here it is. I also packed milk.”
Facing Carien who had a big smile, Blix felt a little strange. The girl in front of him kept coming even though he was avoiding her.
Carien’s black robes were gorgeous. Since becoming an imperial cook, she had been recognized for her skills and had even taken the position of chief cook.
Rumors said that Elnos’ meals were made by this woman as well. All three siblings had important positions in the Imperial Palace. Max’s family was likely to rise soon.
Blix was lost in thought, as he ate bread sitting on the floor, and Carien laughed at the sight. She did not know what she liked so much about Blix.
When he emptied the bread, he opened the lid of the glass bottle. Instead of gulping down the milk, Blix breathed some.
“Cough!”
“Are you all right?”
“…Yes.”
Blix, who barely answered, became embarrassed. Then Carien took a handkerchief out of her pocket and wiped his mouth clean. It was like treating a pet.
At this point, a question arose in his head. Blix asked without eating bread.
“Why are you so nice to me?”
“Well, actually, Oraboni told me.”
This ‘Oraboni’ was referring to Max. Blix focused, trying to guess what Max might have said.
Carien looked at Blix with her sparkling brown eyes. She seemed so excited that he flinched.
“In fact, he told me you were an escort to protect His Majesty the Emperor!”
“…What?”
“In addition, you help the Imperial Elite Knights whenever they have a hard time!”
Max had told a white lie. That was not really a reason for him to leave the Utran Empire, come all the way here and hold a sword.
In addition, Blix’s recent presence in the Imperial Palace had intrigued everyone. At first glance, it seemed to be related to the Emperor.
Max had never imagined it would have this butterfly effect. Blix became very embarrassed because he liked the innocent girl.
If he told her the truth, he would break the girl’s fantasy, and if he lied, he would feel like throwing away bread. Blix did not say anything, eating bread silently.
“Blix-oraboni.”
“…You’re always calling me Oraboni. Can’t you stop?”
“Why?”
“Well. It’s just… I’m embarrassed because I don’t hear it often.”
Blix had never been close to a woman in his life. (1) It was different with Leasis because he had thought she was a man at first.
“Then I’ll say it until you get used to it.”
“Oraboni.”
Blix lowered his head as Carien smiled broadly. Strangely, his face felt feverish and his heart seemed to be pounding.
“I can’t do this. I really can’t do this. What did I do wrong, for God to do this to me?”
“Calm down. Max-nim.”
“How can I calm down?”
Leasis was anxious when she saw Max come lat at night at the mansion. Then Hizen frowned and sat next to Leasis.
Max looked like a man crawling up from hell. His eyes were dark, his lips were dry, and his face was full of despair.
“How did I raise Canyu and Carien? His Majesty and Blixrond-ssi!”
“Ah… haha.”
Sitting in the reception room, Max seemed to need a drink. Leasis sighed inwardly at him.
The two sisters who came to the capital had been Max’s pride not long ago. But Max was surprised when they suddenly told him that they wanted to get married, and Elnos and Blixrond came into the Commander’s office.
Max told the four people not to joke, but no one laughed. Eventually, Max ran out of the Commander’s office and fled to the mansion of Hizen and Leasis.
Hizen said, glaring at the uninvited guest who woke his pregnant wife up.
“Now that they’re adults, they are responsible for themselves. It’s none of your business.”
“That’s funny! Hizen, could you still say that if it was your own younger sister?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t lie!”
“Hey… you two, calm down.”
Leasis managed to calm the two and said.
“Don’t worry. His Majesty Elnos and Blix-nim are a bit cruel, but they’re not bad people.”
“Ahem… I can’t let them go like this.”
Max even shed tears. Leasis held his hand tightly, saying that she understood his sad feelings more than anyone else.
“They will live happily ever after. They need to be happier than anyone else.”
“But…”
“There is no one perfect from the beginning. We all learn it by being together. First of all, they didn’t have much time to meet each other, so wait a bit before considering a wedding, and allow them to have a serious relationship.”
For some reason, he felt like she had become more adult after getting married. Max nodded at her remark.
Leasis gave Max a guest room and returned to the bedroom with Hizen.
Then Hizen, lying next to her on the bed, said anxiously.
“It will be difficult for Canyu and Carien to live normally if they marry these two.”
Hizen was concerned about the two sisters because he knew them. At Hizen’s question, Leasis whispered quietly.
“Not long ago, Canyu and Carien came to the mansion.”
The two said that they loved Elnos and Blix with all their heart. They wanted to hear the truth from her, saying that they wanted to know the past of their loved ones.
So Leasis told the story she knew. It was not the fake rumors circulating inside and outside the Imperial Palace, but the clear truth. If it was Canyu and Carien, they would make both men happy.
Hearing the truth, the two left at once. Leasis smiled as she looked at the door after they left. It was obvious where they were heading.
I’m sure they will be happy.’
Like Hizen and herself who came back after a long time. Leasis closed her eyes in Hizen’s arms, who had regained peace.
TL notes
[1] This means Blix is used to be called ‘Hyung’ (by a man) and not ‘Oraboni’ (by a woman), in case it wasn’t clear.
And… this is the end of the side stories. Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed the novel as much as I did! ?