CHAPTER 96…………………………………………….
“Isn’t the audience over for today?”
Teo asked his younger sibling in a tired voice, perhaps because dealing with the empire’s people had been exhausting.
As he said, the audience for today had indeed already ended. Since there were many people lined up to meet the Emperor, one could not just meet him whenever one wished.
That’s why I used a personal favor. Coincidentally, my sister’s boyfriend happens to be none other than the Emperor’s brother.
My acquaintance diligently started persuading the Emperor to grant my request.
“This is a special audience I allowed. The circumstances were such that I couldn’t refuse.”
“Wait, you’re not the Emperor, so why are you granting permission?”
“Since it’s a request from my sibling, I just agreed.”
Teo didn’t know that I was the one requesting the audience. Though we were in the same audience hall, the moment the Emperor announced the start, a thin curtain separated us. That’s why we were only seeing each other’s silhouettes.
“I’m tired, you know. And it’s unfair too.”
I could see Teo’s silhouette gesturing toward Noah as if to say I should be dealt with.
Feeling the annoyance coming from behind the curtain, I considered just leaving. If I had known he would be this tired, I might have scheduled another day. I had come with a light heart because Noah had readily agreed to let me meet Teo, but now I was beginning to regret it.
“If you don’t attend this audience, you’ll regret it deeply. Besides, you never know what kind of retaliation there could be.”
Noah, seemingly ignoring Teo’s complaints, tried to scare him. Though Teo wasn’t one to be intimidated so easily.
“You really think I’d be scared by that?”
Of course not.
“Wait… no way…”
His voice, which had sounded fearless until just now, began to tremble. Who was he thinking of to sound so scared?
“The person behind me…”
“Yes, brother.”
“Candy?”
“It’s me!”
Hearing the wrong guess, I couldn’t help myself and flung the curtain open. Teo’s face showed a mixture of surprise and joy. I returned his smile warmly.
“Joyce?”
“No, Miss Joyce! How dare you open the Emperor’s audience curtain!”
“Sorry, I was just so impatient. I broke protocol, didn’t I?”
I quickly apologized to calm Noah, who was fuming. Watching his eyes glare as he gripped the curtain, I asked,
“Shall I close it again? Would reopening the curtain after closing it again break protocol?”
“No, I was planning to take my time and surprise him,” Teo said.
Teo looked at his sibling with a stunned expression. Noah seemed genuinely disappointed. Being with his brother made him seem like such a child…
“Anyway, I will attend your special audience, so leave, sibling.”
“What? You let me in all this way and now you’re telling me to leave?”
“Are you the Emperor? Why should you stay here?”
“Well… what if Miss Joyce is an assassin targeting you?”
“Are you seriously saying that the person you brought for the special audience might be an assassin?”
Out of logic, Noah gave me a pitiful look. He seemed determined to stay and eavesdrop on our conversation.
“I’d appreciate it if you’d let us talk alone, Your Majesty.”
Upon hearing this, Noah looked betrayed and shocked. Sorry, but I didn’t have time to explain everything to him.
He looked at me again as if to reconsider, but I avoided his gaze. Over such a trivial matter, he looked as though the sky was falling.
His exaggerated reactions were amusing, but how does Luna handle his energy? If it were me, I’d find it exhausting to keep him around.
As soon as Noah reluctantly stepped aside, Teo cleared his throat.
“Now, my subject, why have you requested an audience with this noble, intelligent, gracious, dignified, extraordinary, and handsome self of mine?”
Like brother, like brother.
I looked around and, seeing not even a single servant nearby, stretched my knees and sat comfortably.
“Ha. No matter how I think about it, Feredel doesn’t know the law of being rejected.”
“Do you intend to continue speaking in that insolent posture?”
“Then will you continue speaking in that strange tone?”
Playing Emperor… well, he really is the Emperor…
He clicked his tongue, seeing no sign I would participate in his audience game. Did he miss the stage? I should have indulged him a bit in his roleplay.
He returned with the familiar voice and gaze I knew and asked,
“Have you decided to go to Bria?”
“I never said I wouldn’t go to Bria in the first place.”
“So, what’s the problem?”
Whenever I got stuck in writing the plot, Teo had occasionally offered helpful ideas. Hoping for a lifeline, I came to him.
Having heard the story so far, he looked puzzled and asked,
“Can’t you just break up first? If you say you don’t like him anymore, it would end. Why drag it out?”
“If I break up, he won’t let go of his feelings quickly. I want him to end the relationship—move on from me fast.”
“You want him to initiate the breakup, avoid hurt, have no lingering feelings, and start fresh quickly. Aren’t you asking too much?”
“I know. I know.”
Overwhelmed, I slumped back and looked at the ceiling, letting out a crying sound.
“Every method I tried was useless. That man’s crazy about me.”
“Then how do you expect me to turn his feelings around? You can’t do it either.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Sorry for troubling you. Rest.”
Though no solution had appeared, at least I felt relieved after venting and got up. Since he said he was tired, I shouldn’t disturb him any further.
Just as I brushed off my wrinkled clothes and prepared to leave, his voice stopped me.
“Ah! Even if I can’t change his heart, I can at least make him look your way.”
“Welcome, Duke.”
“I pay my respects, Your Majesty.”
Dressed in uniform, he came to the Emperor’s office for a private audience as commanded.
Coventin and Seymour. The Emperor and the diplomatic envoy. Even without pressing business, it was sometimes necessary to share tea to maintain a close relationship, but he didn’t particularly enjoy private meetings with the Emperor. Perhaps due to their past rivalry.
Although the Emperor had never treated him unfairly, simply facing him required more energy than meeting others.
“You know why I called you, don’t you?”
Tension lasted only an instant. Seeing the Emperor smiling amusedly, he realized it was the same business as always. The issue the Emperor had nagged him about countless times. Feeling bored, he said,
“Your Majesty, I’ve told you many times that I cannot meet swords with you. What benefit would showing the Empire a duel between us bring? Aren’t you afraid of rumors of Coventin and Seymour breaking off?”
“Yes, I know. Noah said you should stop repeating yourself to the Duke.”
He was genuinely surprised that the Emperor had actually granted the request mentioned during the outing. Noah’s surprisingly diligent action made him like the younger sibling more.
“Then I apologize, but I cannot guess the reason you called me.”
“Of course not. I called you for something new.”
Ah, if only he weren’t the Emperor… He felt a surge of frustration, but he wasn’t a rookie. He skillfully suppressed the insubordinate feelings that arose toward a superior.
Finally, the Emperor revealed the reason for the private audience.
“The princess of the Kingdom of Kopes wishes to meet Duke Seymour.”
