Chapter 99
“Please, ensure that I am never treated as anything other than a battle slave.”
At those words, the Emperor’s face fell into sudden disappointment. Did he really want to live his entire life as a battle slave? Was that his lifelong wish?
‘Why is he so obsessed with being a battle slave?’
The Emperor looked at Karl as if he were looking at a madman.
“For my third wish, please assign my quarters to the room closest to my master. I used to stay in the underground prison, but I want to stay as close to my master as possible.”
The Emperor asked, curious to see how far this would go.
“And the fourth wish?”
“Allow me to dedicate my crown and glory of victory to my master. These four wishes are sufficient for me.”
When the final wish was stated, the Emperor’s expression turned extremely sour. After all, he had once been the crown prince of the Fenril Kingdom. What kind of vessel has he become?
Raised too nobly, does he want to be treated in such a vulgar way?
“Tch.”
The Emperor was irritated. He had publicly presented the four-wish card to justify bringing Karl along. But because of Karl, it had now become a grand declaration that he would be “Odette’s eternal battle slave.”
At this point, he couldn’t threaten Odette into selling the slave either.
‘Tried to get him for free, and now you can’t even buy him.’
Just as the Emperor was about to sigh and give up,
“Haha, is that so? Well, then it can’t be helped.”
Seeing Count Albrecht breathe a sigh of relief and grin with joy, the Emperor could not contain his anger.
‘According to the report, Karl cannot become Odette’s slave. Odette is being abused at home, so in fact, that Count is the one behind this.’
“Very well, Karl. I will grant all four of your wishes.”
Count Albrecht, unaware of the Emperor’s ulterior motives, shouted happily.
“You are so generous and wise, Your Majesty!”
“Still… he’s the champion of Athena Island, isn’t he? If I grant these wishes, it would be disappointing if it were only in words.”
Saying this, the Emperor had an aide bring something forward.
“Mustn’t we ensure it is properly enforced?”
The Emperor looked at Count Albrecht with a sly smile. Finally, he had the chance to humiliate someone who had been daring him for so long.
‘A wolf-like bastard who constantly extorted the royal family. Do you know how much it burned inside me every time I gave up the mines I cherished because of you?’
“Your Majesty, I have brought what you ordered.”
What the Emperor took was a thread bracelet for the wrist—one gold, one silver. It was a magical item famous for having only two pairs across the entire continent.
‘It just so happens that on the ship coming from Athena Island, the Prime Minister had gifted me this extremely rare item.’
It was a bracelet that would sever the wrist if the contract was broken. Once worn, only the wearer could see it; no one else could.
The Prime Minister was a devout follower of the capital astrologer Gisela and had bought the bracelet from her, unaware that it would be given as a gift to the Emperor with a prophecy of good fortune.
Odette glanced at Madame Becker. The moment she saw the thread bracelet, her trauma flared, and she went pale, trembling violently.
“Count Albrecht! Step forward!”
Even a count familiar with magical items understood its purpose. Yet he looked confused, not grasping why the Emperor called him forward with that item.
“Three of Karl’s wishes can be better fulfilled by his master than by me. So, if you put this bracelet on Odette and enforce the restrictions to fulfill Karl’s wishes, won’t they be ensured? After all, no one wants to risk their own wrist.”
“Yes… that’s correct.”
The Count nodded. Giving up Odette’s wrist was nothing to him; for now, he remained calm.
“But, you see, how could I cut off the hand of the empire’s only noble purifier? Count, I am merely a father to a son named Johan. Odette’s hand is noble. In extreme situations, it can purify my son. So, Count Albrecht…”
When the Emperor said that with a grin, the Count’s face gradually turned pale.
“…What?”
The Count, now filled with unease, asked back.
“You must wear this thread bracelet. Guarantee Karl’s wishes on behalf of your daughter.”
“That is impossible! What nonsense is this—”
“Oh, how unexpected. Aren’t you known as a count who loves his daughter more than his own life? I thought you would gladly wear this bracelet.”
The Emperor easily steered the atmosphere. Even the nobles seemed to agree with the Emperor.
“…Count Albrecht, you would surely give your own wrist, wouldn’t you? You have such excellent character.”
“Indeed. You are very weak to Lady Odette, aren’t you?”
Noticing the reactions around him, the Count quietly ground his teeth. Odette smiled.
‘He fell for my plan himself. He’s been pretending for three years to value his daughter’s will more than his own life.’
That was why she had chosen such a public setting. A count who had worked hard to build a reputation to avoid charges of betrayal could not escape at a moment like this.
Refusing here would arouse suspicion from everyone present.
“Your Majesty, what is there to say? Of course.”
As Odette expected, the Count forced a smile and nodded.
“Rather than putting it on my daughter, it is right for me to wear the bracelet. My daughter… is very precious.”
“Exactly! No need to hesitate. As expected, the Count cherishes his daughter. No wonder he wouldn’t let her even hold Johan’s hand if she dislikes it.”
Eventually, the Count, with tears and gritted teeth, walked in front of the Emperor. The Emperor placed the gold thread bracelet on the Count’s wrist.
“I swear that I will only use Karl as my daughter’s battle slave—”
“No, wait a moment. I will determine the oath’s wording. Don’t end it so simply. Repeat after me.”
“Yes… Your Majesty.”
The Count’s lips trembled with anger; even the corners of his eyes twitched. He was probably so furious that he could barely stand it.
“I, Count Albrecht, swear. Karl shall serve only as Odette’s battle slave. No one else shall command him. Karl shall always stay near Odette and may not protect anyone else. Karl shall obey only Odette’s orders, and no one shall force him to obey theirs. No one shall intimidate Odette to issue commands to Karl.”
From the Emperor’s choice of words, it was clear this was meant to prevent the Count from using Karl. But the Count had no way to refuse.
“I swear—”
“No. Not yet! …While Karl stays at your residence, he shall be in the room closest to Odette. Should he be used for any other purpose, I will gladly exact the bracelet’s penalty.”
Count Albrecht barely suppressed his boiling anger as he recited the Emperor’s words. The thread bracelets on both wrists glowed, then adapted perfectly to his arms and disappeared.
‘He’ll probably be able to see it.’
Odette smiled and said to Madame Becker,
“A matching set with Father. You must be very pleased.”
At Odette’s taunt, Madame Becker’s lips trembled. Gold and silver thread bracelets—the only two pairs of such magical items on the continent. She likely realized Odette was the source of these items.
“Oh… should I call it a couple cuff?”
As Madame Becker trembled, the Emperor continued,
“Count, do you know? People used to think only the silver thread bracelet severed the wrist, but the gold thread bracelet works differently.”
The Emperor laughed.
“It doesn’t just sever the wrists—it takes both arms.”
The Count’s face turned even paler.
“Now, I must grant Karl’s wish. He wanted to dedicate his crown to his master, so a ceremony is in order. Once my treatment concludes, the ceremony will take place in the square.”
