Chapter 47

Fortunately, Ejed quickly regained his energy.

As usual, he steadily completed the work throughout the imperial family. Most of them were simple menial tasks like reviewing documents and putting seals, but he still worked hard.

But at today’s meeting, his expression was not bright.

“More nobles will attend this masquerade ball than usual. So, at the grand ballroom in the capital…”

His red eyes looked toward the ground shakily.

Ejed was devastated.

‘To show Annie such a shameful sight…’

It was a man’s desire to show only his cool side to the girl he loved. However, that day was the worst, regardless of however else it was already being ruined.

Oh my gosh. So stupid!

The more he thought about it, the more embarrassing it was. Ejed, who scrunched his eyebrows, muttered without knowing.

“Stupid…”

“…”

The long hall where the ministers gathered on both sides quickly became awkward. Ejed hurriedly shut his lips, but it was too late.

Instead of reporting with huge parchments in both his hands, he slumped down.

He was as frustrated as a man on the verge of the end of the world.

“I’m fine, so please save my innocent children…”

Ejed’s chest slowly sank down at that appearance. If Annie knew who he was, she was likely to treat him no differently than them.

Ejed’s expression darkened before he could fully enjoy the happiness properly.

He got up.

“Go ahead.”

No one rebelled against the words. Only two aides hurriedly followed the dark-faced Ejed.

Unlike dull Fizz, Doher noticed quickly.

“Your Majesty, Lady Dsev loves strawberries.”

He already knew this, so Ejed took a step calmly. He secretly bought a kingdom famous for its strawberries for Annie.

At that time, a fascinating story was heard.

“The next destination is the strawberry farming experience.”

‘A strawberry farming experience…’

As Annie wrote her book on Porcaus, it would not be about a different empire.

If so, there was a high probability that it would be the most famous “Duchampria Strawberry Field” in the neighborhood.

The delicious strawberry in Duchamp state, was called the ‘Duchampria Strawberry Field’.  Obviously, Annie would choose it.

A faint goal struck Ejed’s fair forehead.

That wasn’t the problem.

A strawberry farming experience. What a dangerous thing this was!

Ejed voiced his thoughts aloud without knowing it.

“… I have to protect it.”

‘What? You’re going to protect it?’

Doher was confused. It was not like monsters are summoned in the strawberry field. What was he protecting it from?

When Doher was silent, Ejed muttered seriously.

“Bees…”

Even though they are small, their sharp stingers are threatening. It may cause red sores on Annie’s fragile skin.

In particular, he became more concerned because Annie hated bugs.

‘… Don’t tell me it’s not the bees I know of but honeybees?’

Doher couldn’t hide his confusion.

*

The hot spring resort was full of red, ripe strawberries.

Ejed’s face, who entered the strawberry farm, looked like a knight on the verge of war. His breathing was low, and his tightly closed lips were solemn and serious.

You don’t know when and what will happen to a person. It was the same on the way by carriage, and this strawberry field was no exception.

The sharp gaze touched the ripe strawberries one by one. It was as if the strawberry was frozen with just a look from his eyes.

The strawberry farmer trembled in the wind. The only thing that made the sunburnt weather cold was the tyrant.

‘Why is the tyrant in our farmhouse…  Did I sell Porcaus in my previous life?’

The farmer’s heart almost fell when the tyrant looked directly at the farmer himself. He was reluctant even if he received money that was double the sales of strawberries for ten years.

The rumored fierce tyrant was likely to crush this precious strawberry field right now. No, it wasn’t strange even if it got burned to ashes.

Everyone was nervous and stared at Ejed. However, he only looked closely at the strawberry fields and did not give any other orders.

Fizz, who was waiting behind him, misunderstood Ejed’s gaze and approached him. He was eager to show off anything to prove that he’s better than Doher.

“Sire, shall I pick a strawberry?”

“Fizz, Your Majesty hates strawberries.”

Fizz’s eyes widened as Doher warned a little from behind.

He asked, turning his head back without knowing it.

“Huh? Is there anyone in the world who hates strawberries? Nonsense.”

“…”

Looking at it, Fizz seems to have multiple lives. Fizz, stabbed by Doher’s glance, shivered.

Ejed’s heart, staring at the strawberry field, was as mixed as it could be. He wanted to deny it, but it was a sad fact.

It wasn’t that Fizz’s reaction was unintelligible. Because most Porcausians love strawberries, dishes related to strawberries such as cakes, juices, and jams, have developed very much.

However, Ejed hated strawberries the most. He didn’t even put it in his mouth. He hated the peculiar sourness of one bite or the slick flesh.

Since he was a child, he seldom enjoyed any of the dishes made with strawberries. However, he tried to eat as many strawberries as possible that entered the Imperial Palace.

Only then can the good strawberry farmers who supply them to the Imperial Palace eat and live. Fizz, who was late to understand Doher’s broad meaning, bit his mouth firmly.

Ejed was lost in thought. He came here for now, but he couldn’t decide.

He wanted to help Annie without the burden, but what can he do?

He would like to present a whole strawberry field or a strawberry kingdom that he had in advance. But then Annie will feel burdened by it.

He wanted to give the gift in an inconspicuous way that wasn’t uncomfortable. He wanted to protect her from the threats of the strawberry fields, make good memories, and even greet her properly.

If possible, even confess his identity.

Ejed’s gaze, which had been struggling, went down to the short strawberry farmer. Then the farmer reflexively pulled a document out of his arms.

The strawberry field document that has been passed down from generation to generation.

Ejed’s heart became confused as the thick fingers trembled over the proof of the farmer’s whole life in farming.

Ejed said slowly.

“Keep it.”

“Th-Thank you…”

“Instead.”

The strawberry farmworkers were terrified and froze. The words that would follow automatically flow by their ears.

Instead, your life, your neck, soul, limbs, and others.

Ejed, who felt the need to clear up the situation, hurriedly opened his mouth as everyone trembled.

“Let me be a daily volunteer.”

“…”

What? Volunteer?!

Everyone doubted their ears. It was more realistic to say that he would kill them instead.

The strawberry farmworkers exchanged looks with each other.

Was he not trying to kill us while playing with this?

It might be a trap!