Chapter - 15 || His Majesty Has Shown Great Talent, Hasn't He?
The withered lilies were placed in one of the hidden rooms known only to the royal family.
Within the walls of the room Natalia was using and the one next to it, there was a room that could not be seen from the outside.
Alexander told Natalia,
"Let's just tell the maids that we've moved the lily to where it belongs. No need to elaborate."
Natalia nodded.
And that night, Jacek was summoned by Alexander.
As soon as he was summoned to Natalia's room, Jacek's mood was dark.
"You wanted to see me, Your Majesty?"
Alexander was sitting on the sofa, his hand on Natalia's shoulder, drinking wine.
He said to Jacek in a sloppy way,
"You said, Jacek, that there is a jeweler on the outskirts of King's Landing who is a skilled craftsman."
"Yes."
Jacek replied, puzzled.
"You mean old Adrian from Novi's store? He's a bit of an eccentric, but rumor has it he's the best in the capital."
Jacek had heard this from a jeweler who frequented his home.
"Does he have a family?"
Alexander continued, the rims of his eyes red with drunkenness.
"Maybe his grandfather? I don't know. They say he's an eccentric, so I doubt he does."
"Do you drink?"
"I'm sorry, Your Highness. Not that much."
Alexander said plainly,
"If you're going to drink, get him drunk and bring him to me, saying you have something good to tell him. Don't tell him who I am."
Jacek broke into a sweat.
Why would I need to get a drunk craftsman?
No way.
I searched desperately for words.
"Oh, old Adrien says he won't do the job unless he's in the mood. If you don't tell him who we are, he may refuse."
Alexander's expression didn't change.
"Then threaten his family, but bring him to me. If he doesn't have a family, hurt him. Just enough to keep him working."
"Your Majesty..."
Jacek asked, his hand tightening in his grip.
"What do you intend to do?"
Alexander tipped his glass.
Natalia opened her mouth instead.
"Jacek... please."
Natalia burst into tears and looked up at Jacek.
"You are the only one I can rely on."
Natalia's good looks seemed to be kind of piercing today.
"But, no, no way."
Alexander blurted out to the terrified Jacek,
"It is time to make you a minister."
Jacek's eyes widened.
Even though Jacek has been making his presence felt, the Prime Minister of this country is still my father, as he was when he was the former King.
And now, suddenly, it's me?
Alexander told him as if it was matter-of-factly,
"Your father will have to step down. It's a big decision considering his age, but I think you can handle it."
Jacek replied in a shaky voice.
"Oh, thank you..."
He felt a dark joy well up in the depths of his heart.
He could finally get past his father, who was always yelling at him.
Alexander added,
"But that will only happen after Natalia and I are married. For that, I really need to bring the man in secret."
Jacek straightened up.
I don't need to go into why a jeweler has anything to do with the king's marriage.
"Leave it to me. I'll bring Adrian's guy over right away."
As for me, I'll do whatever I'll have to do.
"I'm counting on you."
Alexander tilted his glass.
——
Meanwhile,
In the palace of the Zomer Empire, the Empress was taking care of the Emperor who had returned from his inspection earlier than planned.
"I'm glad you are safe."
The Emperor nodded in satisfaction.
After making sure that they were alone, the Emperor said to the Empress,
"Why do you think the visit ended so quickly?"
The Emperor, who had gone on a tour of the drought-stricken southern provinces, was not supposed to be back yet.
To say that it had been hastened would be an understatement.
The Empress smiled,
"It's because His Majesty has shown his talent, isn't it?"
The Emperor laughed as he touched his prized beard.
"I didn't do anything."
The Empress gave him a surprised look.
"What do you mean?"
"I didn't do anything, but the drought is over."
"How is that possible?"
The Emperor turned to look out the window.
"There it is."
There was a pleasant blue sky.
"As soon as I arrived, the dried up lake was flooded back and a new spring was formed."
The Empress looked surprised.
The Emperor looked into her face, amused.
"The people were weeping and thanking me, but now, is this really my work?"
"Your Majesty, could it be...?"
Before the Empress could say anything, the Emperor nodded.
"The heavens must be welcoming the saint who has come to our empire."
The blue sky stretched out as far as it could go.