CH 48

Painlessly

Warning: Disturbing Content Ahead. Read at Your Own Discretion

***

Before that day even went, Nathaniel invited the Emperor. Kyrie’s feelings of being able to hear outside news became miserable as soon as she faced the Emperor. The Emperor was wearing a black dress and a black mesh over her face.

“Are you feeling okay?”

Reflexively, Nathaniel’s cane pressed against Kyrie’s shoulder, who was trying to get out of her seat. The Emperor indifferently raised her hand to stop Kyrie, who neither yielded her upper seat nor moved.

“Don’t mind. I’m just an invited guest.”

“Your Majesty….”

[No, it’s just that you’re worse than Kyrie.]

Kyrie and the Emperor’s faces hardened at the same time. Nathaniel said it as if he were singing, without even paying attention to it.

[It’s amazing that you still have pride to build.]

“Nathaniel, please…!”

[Hold your tongue right.]

The tone was gentle, but the gaze was stern. The Emperor avoided his eyes.

“……Yes, Miss Buchanan. Now you are the most honorable person in this Empire. I’ve made a fool of myself.”

Nathaniel turned his head as if he were satisfied only after trampling on the last pride that ordinary people would give respect over. Kyrie bit her lips hard. She shivered and whispered in helplessness.

“……I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.”

The Emperor answered after a brief silence. At her overly plain words, Kyrie looked at her. The Emperor’s green eyes were strangely calm.

“I am very sorry. On behalf of the Royal Family, I apologize.”

“…….”

“It was all Julia’s fault. She was going to kidnap you and manipulate you with mind control magic.”

“Is that so…….”

Kyrie lowered her eyes. She really wouldn’t have known Julia’s plan. But Julia died. She couldn’t get to the bottom of it, and she couldn’t get anything if she bit into it now.

“There’s no meaning in what has passed, so I won’t remember it.”

“Thanks.”

The Emperor nodded formally.

“It’s not a reward, but I’ve decided to promote Buchanan as a duke this time.”

“What?”

Kyrie asked back in surprise.

“There must be a lot of opposition from the nobles.”

The Emperor looked down and took a sip of tea before replying.

“But no one did that.”

“……Nobody did that?”

“I called the central noble families this morning. In conclusion, everyone was in favor of raising Buchanan as a duke.”

That was ridiculous.

‘Just because of what happened yesterday? There must have been more nobles who weren’t there, so how?’

The Emperor was staring at Kyrie absentmindedly. For the first time, Kyrie saw the faint fear in the Emperor’s green eyes. Realizing something, Kyrie’s head turned back. Nathaniel was staring at herself. It was a faint and beautiful smile.

“……What, did you do?”

Nathaniel replied softly.

[I did a little show.]

***

Morning, before Kyrie woke up.  All the nobles of the capital were summoned to the Great Cabine, the largest hall in the Imperial Palace Sel. In nominal terms, it was the convocation of the Emperor. However, everyone at the meeting knew that the Emperor’s role was only an intermediary.

“Are you all here?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you for gathering together even though it is very early.”

The Emperor calmly looked around. It was a gathering of all the two dukes, two marquises, three counts, which can be said to be the whole families that supported Trevereum, and all the owners of prestigious families in the political and financial world.

‘If it were really my call, they wouldn’t have all gathered like this.’

She swallowed a bitter smile and said.

“The Legendary Lord said he has something to tell you.”

The time everyone had been waiting for had come. The Legend, who was sitting lazily and was as if he were perfect in a portrait, opened his mouth.

[Hello.]

It was as dangerous and beautiful as the sound of waves in the night sea. At the same time, his voice was clear and innocent, overshadowing the tension in the Cabine. The nobles held their breath as if they had swallowed a spider in their stomach.

[First, I think we need to talk about something you don’t know.]

The Legendary Lord said, putting his cane on his finger.

[I was very sorry for this Empire, so I was going to kill you as soon as I woke up.]

The nobles looked back at the Emperor. The Emperor nodded his head.

“That’s true.”

“That’s….”

[It’s Kyrie Buchanan who stopped it, so you owe Kyrie your life. But……]

Laughter disappeared from the eyes of the Legendary Lord.

[You’ve done something truly regrettable.]

A terrible chill had spread, which was not enough to be described as ‘regret’. The nobles, who did not know about the details, began to murmur low.

“But wasn’t this the sole discretion of the late Princess?”

For the first time, one of the nobles opened his mouth. When the Legendary Lord moved his eyes to him, people thought something scary would happen.

But it didn’t. The blue eyes shone rather with shallow interest.

[It’s the blood of Old Ciudad.]

“Linus Old Ciudad.”

[I’ve always liked their right words.]

“What?”

[About the invitation.]

The Legend muttered. The Duke didn’t know how to react to the words that recalled memories without longing. Seeing such a duke, the Legend put his chin on his hands.

[It’s pretty good.]

“……Thank you.”

[You’re right. The Princess’ ‘fault’. Nominally.]

He looked as if he were telling the funniest joke in the world, and the nobles who were quick to sense the cynicism were the first to realize.

It was not the sole discretion of the princess. It was clear that there was the Emperor’s intervention. Then, this was to pressure the nobles and to warn the Emperor. Don’t be ridiculous. In that sense, the Emperor’s overly calm attitude was understandable.

The Legend muttered languidly.

[If that fault is repeated, I’ll be very sad.]

“……With all due respect, I’d like you to say it more specifically.”

[Say? No. If you wanted me to solve it with words, you shouldn’t have let things go like this.]

“What?”

[The time has already passed for me to solve it with words.]

The Legendary Lord raised his cane and pointed to the door of the Great Cabine. People were surprised once more. Gladioso Vermont, who was caught by several generals, was coming in.

“Father!”

Right away, the Marquis of Vermont got up from his seat.

“Glad!”

“F, Father!”

“Why are you here……!”

“Father, save me, save me! Father! Dad!”

Gladioso, who was shedding tears, was dragged to the front of the Legendary Lord. The Marquis of Vermont’s face turned red and blue.

“What the hell is this, Lord Legend!”

[Wait a little longer. The fun part starts from now on.]

The servant made Gladioso kneel down before the Legend. The Legendary Lord sat in an arrogant posture and touched Gladioso’s head with the tip of his cane. 

The Marquis of Vermont, who was originally a knight’s family, was about to run forward, but other nobles around him managed to stop him. The Legendary Lord was also in a good mood.

[Now, wild boar. Tell me what you did.]

Gladioso sobbed. Gladioso, who had once felt his fear, could not refuse his order. He cried out with a momentum to lick even the shoes of the Legend.

“I, I….!  I wooed, Miss Kyrie Buchanan, for her love…….”

[Tell me how.]

“A, At night, heuk, I was going to visit her at night……!”

[And?]

Nathaniel encouraged his answer with a quiet voice like a child.

“But she turned me down……out of spite, I framed her…….”

[At the Crown Prince’s engagement celebration.]

“That’s right……I, I’ve done everything wrong, and here, I admit my sins, please…….”

[That’s it.]

The Legendary Lord cut off Gladioso’s words and lowered his cane. Gladioso’s face lit up a little, knowing the fear of the blade hidden in it. The Legendary Lord’s words continued softly.

[He’s a repetitious offender, but he regrets his mistake, so I should take that courage into consideration.]

“T, thank you! Your Excellency!

“Have you seen such a dog bone-like situation……What the hell are you talking about!”

(P/R: dog-bone situation is an idiom for bullshit, nonsense)

The Marquis of Vermont was exclaimed as he saw Gladioso groveling to the Legendary Lord like an animal. 

The Legendary Lord smiled. It was a different smile than before. Only the Emperor and some nobles noticed that the smile was suspicious. The Emperor closed her eyes, and the Legend whispered languidly.

[That’s what I’m saying.]

The Legendary Lord stretched his finger out to Gladioso’s forehead.

The clouds that covered the sun suddenly darkened the interior of the Great Cabine. The white light shining on the face of the Legendary Lord was covered with the darkness of the clear boundary, unrealistically and slowly.

Nathaniel flicked his finger. Then Gladioso’s head flew away.

“……Huh?”

Some of the nobles muttered foolishly. It happened so suddenly without any sign or warning.

Bang, 

The head that exploded was left with no shape. Blood burst all over the faces of the nobles, scattering like petals.

[Taken into consideration, painlessly.]

The five senses of the people around were forcibly opened. They heard beads of sweat flowing on the forehead of the person next to them, and felt the air and fine wind touching their skin. 

The servants on the third floor were heard talking, and the way the eyes of the person sitting far away trembled was as clear as they could see him in front of them.

People thought that their bodies were not moving at will. But soon they realized that they were moving very slowly and that they were just frightened by every slight move.

In the meantime, strangely enough, only the Legend was moving on time. He stood up with a cane so lightly and gracefully.

[What you’re going to do from now on is very simple. Serve Kyrie well. If Kyrie doesn’t like it, don’t do it, put Kyrie first, and don’t let Kyrie be hurt.]

The Legend stepped gracefully across the people who were hardened like a pillar of salt. People felt as if something very ominous had passed by them.

[And if Kyrie asks you to die, you will die.]

The clattering sound of shoes stopped at the end of the Cabine. Nathaniel slowly raised his head like a star observer. Then the door slid open as if he could not let him open it himself.

[Maybe it’s better than dying in my hands.]

He spoke softly and playfully and left the Cabine.