CH 16

3. The Memories of the First Opera that was Not Beautiful

The imperial aristocrats, who had been watching Deltinus for a long time, could not hide their bewilderment. The reason for this was because the emperor’s hair was short and well-groomed, and he was indistinguishable from the Duke of Rubius. Had it not been for his characteristic arrogant posture of sitting on the throne with his legs crossed, he could have rolled his feet and no one would have known.

“I heard that your headache got worse again. Are you in good health, Your Majesty?”

The central nobleman of the Imperial Faction and the closest aide to Deltinus, Count Enderk, captured the turbulent atmosphere. He seemed to be a person who satisfied Deltinus with his ability to quickly grasp the situation.

Other nobles soon rushed to express their concerns about Deltinus’ health.

“Do you know who made my headache worse?”

It was a question with an obvious answer. However, no one could easily put the name ‘Yulif’ in their mouths. They were afraid of triggering the wrath of Deltinus for nothing.

“Why is everyone so quiet? Others would think that I am a crazy emperor who grabs people from time to time, huh?”

“No, Your Majesty. How about expelling Duke Rubius to his estate?”

One count had the courage to speak. Deltinus answered in a light voice.

“Don’t worry. There will be a conclusion soon. Nobles, let’s take it easy and watch.”

Count Enderk was skeptical. Yulif never stayed three days in the Imperial Palace. It was because Deltinus was blatantly giving off a sign that it should be resolved quickly.

But this time, instead of giving an imperial order until the week is over, he had such a relaxed attitude.

“Count Enderk, I have a question for you.”

“Please ask.”

“What do I have to do to please a woman?”

Sounds of deep breaths were heard everywhere.

Count Enderk was also pretending to be calm, but he was quite surprised. Deltinus, who treated  women as a mere entertainment by mercilessly abandoning them when he lost interest, was asking a question never worthy of his mouth.

He carefully raised his eyes and looked at Deltinus. Deltinus was looking down at Count Enderk with a look of boredom.

Whatever the emperor’s intentions were, it would need to be discovered later, but for now, it was the time to answer his question. Before the rage emerged in his snake-like eyes.

“To be honest, it is better to first understand the taste of the other person.”

“Do I have to do that much?”

“When she receives a gift that suits her taste, it feels good in and of itself, but it makes her feel that you care about her and that she is loved, so that makes her more inclined.”

“That’s really annoying.”

“Of course, there is no woman in the Empire who would dare to reject Your Majesty’s favor.”

“I thought so too, but she did.”

There was no displeasure in Deltinus’s voice as he answered sternly. Rather, Count Enderk felt that he was strangely excited. He seemed to be having fun.

That being said, the ‘woman’ that Deltinus referred to was not Estella, the empress.

“Aside from material gifts, how about preparing other gifts?”

“Other gifts?”

“I heard that it is fashionable in the social world these days to watch opera. Operas performed at the Garde Theater are said to be particularly popular. It is pleasing to the eyes and ears, and we can sit side by side in a small space and talk about various things.”

“Opera.”

Deltinus stroked his chin with his fingers.

His red lips was soon drawn into a smile as if he was satisfied.

*******

Early in the morning just before sunrise, the side effect of regression came after a long time.

Yulif casted a spell over Canaren’s room so that no one could enter. And he locked himself in another room with no one around. However, the number of side effects decreased and the intensity was weakening. It was a side effect caused by time, but time was medicine. If he thought about it, it was amusing.

It had been a long time since he was alone like this. It had already been a few days since he had been in a ballroom with Canaren. It was the best way to protect her, but now he had to find a different way. How long his own sense of reason would hold out, Yulif was unsure. His love for Canaren only grew day by day, so he didn’t know when or how he would burst.

When he came back to Canaren’s after tidying up, several people were stomping their feet in front of her door that didn’t open.

Two of them are familiar. One was the chief servant and the other was the maid who followed Canaren like a shadow.

“What is the purpose?”

“Duke Rubius, we have been waiting for you.”

The chief servant and maids bowed their backs. Yulif looked at them with cold eyes.

“Very well. What is it that you are here for?”

“Is Miss Canaren inside? His Majesty has commanded that we dress up Canaren and bring her home.”

The way he spoke was annoying, as if he wanted his favorite item to be beautifully packed and brought. Did they intend to hide the fact that Yulif would not discover Delitinus’s intention?

Yulif did not hide his displeasure. The maids, who were under his pressure, slowly retreated back.

“Where is the destination?”

“Excuse me, but for safety reasons it is difficult to tell.”

“There are a lot of people who will listen to me even if they are not a servant. In that case, it will be better for you to do business with me.”

The servant sighed inwardly. Deltinus ordered him to bring Canaren no matter what, even if he was killed by Yulif.

Yulif was right. It was far better to deal with a rational duke than a mad emperor. At least the duke would converse with him. As soon as he heard the request, the duke did not throw things at random or wield a knife at the servant.

“Your Majesty has rented the Garde Theater. I think he wants to bring Canaren to see an opera.”

Opera?

The chief servant gulped as Yulif’s eyes indicated he wanted him to talk more in detail.

“Among the singers in the theater, there is a woman of the Hwira tribe blood. He says he has designated her as a prima donna.”

“The other party?”

“There is not. It was also ordered to keep the number of escorts to a minimum. It seems that he really wants to see an opera.”

That couldn’t be true. Who is this Deltinus?

Yulif thought for a moment.

Deltinus was a person who acted outside of common sense, who did extraordinary things.

‘What kind of deceit will it be this time?’

As long as the number of escorts was kept to a minimum, it was enough to release people to the Garde Theater in advance. Of course, he wouldn’t be able to put his hand on Canaren because of the secret medicine of the blue snake that he had placed on him.

“Wait.”

However, apart from Deltinus’ intentions, the first priority was to listen to Canaren’s opinion. Somehow, it struck him that Canaren might want to see an opera.

Yulif measured the noticeably improved flow of magic. At this level, there was no problem in dealing with Deltinus. At this point, it seemed that it would not be bad to give a clear warning to Deltinus.

‘I’m by Canaren’s side, so don’t think nonsense.’

After defeating the following gazes, Yulif entered the room and locked the door. Immediately, a small voice spoke to him.

「What happened? Who is here?」

「The Emperor has sent someone.」

「Huh … Did he come to pick me up?」

「It’s similar. It seemed like he was trying to show you an opera.」

「Opera?」

It’s been a while, but Canaren’s eyes twinkled as if intrigued.

Yulif sat down with his knees bent. He was more comfortable with this than his previous overbearing position looking down at her from above.

「Have you seen one?」

「I just listened. It’s a song play… Yes?」

「Yes.」

「My sister, who explained to me, said she saw an opera at a building called a theater. She secretly watched it, and she liked it because she said that the colorful stage was really cool. The clothes the singers wear are also gorgeous. My sister said that in the scene where several people came out and sang together, she couldn’t hold back and so she sang together with them. She was caught right away and had to run away.」

Like a fool? She wondered if she sounded so, but she didn’t think so. Canaren laughed out loud as if it was funny.

Yulif had to stop himself from smiling as he looked at her.

「Do you want to see it?」

「I missed it, but… I would have to go with the Emperor. I hate that. So it’s better not to be able to see. Oh right…I have to go even though I don’t want to go, right?」

Canaren quickly became somber and her body trembled. Yulif raised his hand to stroke her hair.

「If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to go. But if you want to go, I will go with you.」

「Yulif too?」

Yulif nodded his head. Canaren held her hands together and fell into troubled thoughts.

He wondered if she would eventually succumb to her curiosity and ask to go see it, but unexpectedly, she shook her head.

「It’s okay. The opera is not a must-see… Because of me, Yulif is forced to go. That’s it.」

Even as she said that, her little hand twitched as if it was regretful.

Yulif glanced at her white hand and opened his mouth.

「Neither have I ever seen it.」

「…Really?」

「I was busy.」

「Yulif isn’t even the emperor, so why is he so busy every day?」

Canare pressed her lips together. It was her way of scolding that he had seen her give sometimes in his previous life.

Yulif suppressed the growing longing.

“Things you want to do, things you want to have, things you want to eat. Ask for anything. Don’t hold back. Don’t even think of others. I want you to only care about what you want.”

「How can I? No one can make a living doing whatever they want.」

「It’s okay. I will do it for you.」

Canaren was speechless. She simply stared at Yulif.

Did he say something wrong? Was that too suspicious?

‘Don’t give up your life thinking of others like you did in your previous life. I was hoping to become a person who puts your happiness first.’

A short laughter penetrated Yulif’s ears, who was worried.

「I think Yulif is a really great wizard. How are you so confident? Then can I tell you anything?」

「As much as you want.」

「I like that. Please lend me your ear, Wizard. I will tell you my wish.」

Yulif leaned his body towards her. With the sound of her blanket falling, the sweet scent of Canaren brushed the tip of his nose. And a warmer breath tickled his ear.

「What my wish is…」