Chapter 40 - Harvest Festival (3)

Translator: Kimmy

Editor: Sasha_00

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Though Maximilien never admitted it, he actually really liked his cousin brother. 

The old Southern man could see it very obviously but he respected the young man’s ego.

“Duke Aragon.”

Duke Gardelli’s voice calling for him didn’t have its usual tone of cheerful insanity.

It was an emotionless, cold voice that rang so soft that it could only be heard by Duke Aragon. His voice resembled the voice of the previous Emperor. 

“You and I can no longer burden my brother. I believe you are aware of that. But if you still insist on continuing–”

“I wouldn’t dare to.”

Duke Aragon smiled benignly as if nothing had happened. 

Maximilien’s blue crystal eyes studied the old man’s face. 

It felt like he was judging if the old man’s snaky eyes were genuine.

Again, Duke Aragon smiled benignly to reassure Maximilien. 

“How could I dare to after all these years?”

*.·:·.☽✧    ✦    ✧☾.·:·.*

“Ah, finally.”

“Wonderful speech. Your Majesty.”

Karlos loosened his tight cravat. 

He hated all the layers of clothing and the excessive amount of jewelry. 

If a man with a normal level of strength was dressed like him right now, he would need help walking because of the weight of all the accessories. 

Perhaps this unnecessary weightlifting is the reason why the Emperors that were not Rumilesas all died at an early age. 

Karlos grumbled. 

“Don’t you have other duties to attend to from now?”

“I did, but the Chief Commander told me to just keep a low profile. He said that’s more helpful than me staying on duty…”

“Huh? Then who is covering for your position?”

“Eric.”

Brigitta scratched her head. 

Her perfectly slicked-back silver hair was ruined but it didn’t matter since the official event for her to be present in was no more. 

She genuinely contemplated if she should wash her hair now.

“I see. It must be good to be able to go home soon.”

The Emperor was genuinely envious of Brigitta. 

He still had a lot of work left to do. He still had to get reports from the Chancellor, greet the nobles pretentiously, share jolly conversations with those who’d want to stab him instead, and visit the church and the altar multiple times. And all the while he had to avoid the areas with children so he wouldn’t frighten them and lastly, he had to attend a ball. 

Even though he only sat still the whole night at yesterday’s ball!

It would be wonderful if something exciting happened like in the novels but the balls in reality were nothing like that. 

The most dramatic things that did happen were when young ladies tried to break open their corsets and attempted to escape their mothers. Another time was when young gentlemen who just had their beautillion* got too drunk and embarrassed themselves. 

Marquis Villiore was worried deeply about his second son’s debut. 

Karlos didn’t know what happened exactly but from what he heard Marquis Villiore had embarrassed himself terribly at his beautillion. 

Marquis Villiore was so worried about his son that Karlos was growing tired of it. 

It was a good thing that Karlos debuted in the society after he became an Emperor. 

“Ah, I’m attending the ball though.”

Karlos’s eyes opened wide at her words. 

Brigitta didn’t hate banquets as much as he did but she didn’t enjoy it much either. 

Despite being a swordmaster with extraordinary flexibility, she had no talent for dancing. 

“Huh? Bri, you too? Wearing a dress?”

“No? Well, I could but if I want to but I need it to be custom made to my size. I’m only going because of Amber… uh, I mean the knights asked me to help. They requested my escort so I’m just going to wear the knighthood ceremonial uniform.”

Brigitta shrugged. 

Most women of the knighthood hated high society.

But most of the Royal Knights were nobles so their mothers were naturally nobles too. 

Lesa’s noble ladies didn’t want their daughters in armors swinging swords and instead wanted them to wear a pretty dress and flap their fans. 

They wanted their daughters to marry a handsome, kind, and wealthy gentleman. 

There was a reason why the knights who were assigned to guard duty tonight cheered when they saw the schedule. 

“It seems like they have a conflict of perspectives with their parents.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

Brigitta and Karlos were both orphans so they couldn’t relate but they still sent their regards for the knights. 

“It would be around 2 A.M. when the banquet is over. Are you going to leave? Or spend the night in the night-duty room?” 

“I’ve already told Eva to lock up the doors because I’ll be spending the night in the Palace.”

Brigitta was wondering if the journalists would still be there for her even at that time but she decided to not underestimate them. 

She was concerned for Eva but the City Hall did take some protective measures so everything should be fine.

“Then drink with me after.”

“I only drink expensive liquor.”

“I have more than enough money.”

“Isn’t that a waste of your fund?”

The orphans of the Palace joked around and walked together to the Sun Palace. 

*.·:·.☽✧    ✦    ✧☾.·:·.*

Glenn was reading the envelope delivered by the carrier pigeon. 

It was written in cute bubbly handwriting. 

To Investigator Glenn. From Evangeline. 

“Hm.”

“Did that author send it? To you, sir?”

Informant B in a fancy outfit, flopped on his seat and asked. 

“I see. Hmm.”

This letter wouldn’t be about Maximilien. 

The Chancellor recalled the immoral Duke’s tired face caused by overwork.

Unless Gardelli mastered the legendary time-traveling magic, it would be impossible for him to stop by at Eva’s house. 

Glenn opened the letter with curiosity and doubt. 

As he read it a smile started to form on his face.

Informant B couldn’t believe his eyes and had to rub his them 3 times to recheck if it truly was a smile.

“Oh.”

Informant B rubbed his arms from the chills. 

Glenn was happy right now!

“She truly is something! I want to hire her immediately!”

Dear author, please pack up this instant and immigrate. 

Informant B quietly prayed for Eva’s peace. 

For some reason, Glenn was giving the best of the best compliments to the author of “The Emperor loves”. 

Informant B mumbled that he had to go to the ball and escaped the office.

*.·:·.☽✧    ✦    ✧☾.·:·.*

There were crowds of people on the streets and the city glowed with the decorations of paper flowers, various street foods, and entertainment but Eva was stuck in her room pulling her hair. 

There were too many little things that she had to handle recently that she didn’t have the time to polish her manuscript. 

And tomorrow was the deadline!

‘Will I have to tell the publisher to extend the deadline? Will I have to take a hiatus instead?’

Eva depressedly placed her head on the table. 

The blank papers on the table were more distracting than usual. 

Ah, damn people who schemed against naive people for their own benefit truly disgusted Eva. 

Well, no one ever likes those kinds of people anyway.

Eva banged her head on the table. 

This was all because of the Morning of Glory newspapers. 

The reason why she couldn’t meet the deadline, why she was so annoyed, why she couldn’t be out there enjoying the festival, was all because of that scandalous article– no, scandalous trash. 

Eva’s small foot exerted an unexpected force and kicked the table. 

“So annoying!”

Eva got off her seat and laid on the bed. And starting rolling. 

Her bedsheets were getting all wrinkled but she couldn’t care less. 

While creating a mess with all her might, she stopped abruptly.

“…Will it be alright?”

She sent the messenger bird early in the morning so the investigator named Glenn would send his answer back by tomorrow. 

The wait felt like it took forever. 

Eva turned and faced the ceiling. 

If she counted the patterns on the ceiling, perhaps the time would pass faster?

An author faced with a deadline would do anything else but to finish the work, and Eva was one of them. 

She had already cleaned the whole bedroom. 

The nightstand was shining and even the floors were shining. 

Brigitta said she’ll be back tomorrow. 

That meant, there was no reason for Eva to go out today nor could she. 

Brigitta would be able to skillfully avoid the reporters but Eva couldn’t. 

Her strength and power were weaker than common women because of the nature of her occupation. Also, her stride was smaller than most. 

If those leech-like reporters started following her, would Eva be able to escape them?

The answer was ‘no’.

Just a few steps out of this house and the reporters would surround her like flies.

The City Hall officers accompanied her when she went to drop and pick up Brigitta but she knew this protection wouldn’t last forever. 

To be under surveillance when she did nothing wrong was truly, in vile words, bullshi**. 

Eva was never the type to go out often but having to stay inside because she wanted to, compared to having to stay inside because she can’t go out was drastically different. 

‘At least tomorrow it will be a little better.’

‘Since tomorrow is the day I can go out with Brigitta the reliable swordmaster and Karl the tall and scary–sorry Karl!–knight.’

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TL/N: Sorry for the long wait guys~ Also, important notes: internal thoughts/dialogues will be italicized and narrated descriptions (e.g. character reading off from the signs/letters or SFX) will be bolded. Also, I wanted to brag about my editor who suggested this; thanks to Sasha, the quality will be better now!