CHAPTER 34
Alfred had just set down his empty glass.
“Kyle doesn’t want to help the northern economy through consumption—he wants to do it through production.”
“Yes, I’m aware.”
“You can open taverns like this one and sell Ice Kuna as much as you want. But the money gathered in these northern taverns will just go back to the capital.”
“Exactly. If that happens, the North will only become poorer.”
Harfa recalled a conversation he once had with Kyle.
“He’s a good man.”
He meant it.
Kyle had done more for the people of the North than anyone born and raised there.
“I heard the proprietress makes the Kuna herself.”
“Is that so? Impressive.”
“That’s why Lord Kyle thought it was a business suited for the North.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“There are more women than men in the North.”
“Ah…”
Alfred nodded.
Just then, the tavern door opened and a large, middle-aged woman walked in.
“Boss, you’re here.”
The server greeted her, and both Alfred and Harfa turned to look at Marsha.
“So she’s the owner?”
“Seems that way. Shall we wait until Lord Kyle arrives?”
“No. This is something I need to do. I can’t rely on Kyle’s help from the start.”
Harfa raised his hand to call the server.
“Yes, would you like to order more?”
“Is that woman the owner?”
“Yes… that’s right. Why do you ask?”
“I have something I’d like to ask her. Would it be possible to speak with her?”
Soon, Marsha put on an apron and walked heavily toward them.
“She looked big from afar… but up close, it’s kind of intimidating.”
Harfa bowed his head slightly and spoke in a low voice.
“You were looking for me?”
Harfa sprang to his feet like a disciplined soldier.
“Yes, I wanted to ask you something, ma’am. Forgive my boldness.”
He bowed politely with noble manners.
Marsha took one look at his clothes and realized he was from another region.
‘His clothes are plain, but his demeanor says noble. That man sitting there—he’s a knight, judging by his posture.’
Marsha glanced briefly at Alfred, who was sipping his Ice Kuna.
“I don’t know what it’s about, but could you wait a bit? It’s a busy time right now.”
“Oh, yes, of course. We’ll wait. Please come when you have time.”
Marsha gave a nod and went back to the kitchen.
Harfa turned pale.
“Lord Kiyor… do you really think I can do this?”
His relaxed face now showed clear tension.
Alfred, amused like Kyle would be, chuckled quietly.
“Does the great Lord of Olbreno need to be so nervous about talking to a tavern owner?”
“Please don’t joke. I’m completely serious right now.”
The old knight looked at the young lord with a warm gaze.
“I’ve met thousands of people traveling the continent. Even if Lord Kyle had asked, if I thought you weren’t the right person, I would’ve opposed it.”
Harfa smiled slightly at Alfred’s words, so similar to Kyle’s.
“So you’re both planning to make full use of me.”
“Oh dear, you caught on.”
Alfred let out a short laugh and ordered another Ice Kuna.
After sending Alfred and Harfa to the tavern, Kyle returned to his room.
He dismissed his attendants and slowly buttoned his shirt—too slowly.
“Ugh… I really don’t want to go.”
According to the plan, he should’ve been in Kuna by now. It was evening, so chances were good he’d run into Everett.
If Everett wasn’t there, he planned to have Daisy the maid call her.
With his head full of thoughts of Everett, Kyle let out sigh after sigh.
Knock knock.
It was likely a servant from the emperor.
“Your Grace, His Majesty asks for you in his private study.”
“What? The private study?”
Kyle gave a short, disbelieving laugh.
He hadn’t expected the dining room, but thought he’d be summoned to one of the small parlors.
“Dinner in the study?”
Kyle scoffed at the absurdity.
“Your Grace?”
“I heard you. I’m going.”
At his response, the servant opened the door, having waited with a hand on the knob.
“His Majesty said he didn’t plan to eat, but… will Your Grace really not have dinner?”
“His Majesty requested only tea and biscuits. He ordered a full meal to be prepared just for you…”
Kyle silently cursed all the way to the study.
The emperor’s private study was one of his most secretive spaces.
Even nobles were rarely invited there, and not even the empress could enter without permission.
Kyle had only been summoned there once before—just before he left the palace with the enemy knight order.
At that time, the emperor had simply stared at him in silence.
It would’ve been better if he had scolded him.
The piercing glare in the dark left a young Kyle deeply afraid.
Perhaps that’s why the walk to the study felt so unpleasant.
“Your Majesty, the Grand Duke has arrived.”
A mumbled voice, likely meaning “come in,” floated out.
The servant bowed deeply and opened the study door.
‘Ugh, what’s that smell?’
A pungent, smoky scent—like burning wood—drifted out.
Kyle slowly exhaled as he stepped inside.
Was something burning?
He quickly scanned the room. There was only the stench—no smoke.
“This is probably your first time here.”
The small study was divided into an outer room and an inner room.
Past the arched doorway, there was the emperor’s desk and a small table for tea.
The emperor leaned back in his chair and looked at Kyle intently.
‘First time? So he doesn’t remember that day?’
Kyle quickly entered and bowed deeply before the emperor.
“Apologies for the delay, Your Majesty. I was making myself presentable…”
“No need to apologize. We have plenty of time. There’s no rush.”
The strange discomfort Kyle had felt since the audience room returned. Gritting his teeth, he forced down the unease.
The emperor before him now felt nothing like the one he once knew.
“I thank you for your vast and generous patience, Your Majesty.”
At his exaggerated bow, the emperor let out a hearty laugh.
“I’ll have tea. You must be hungry—go ahead and eat.”
Turning his head, Kyle saw a steak already set on the small table.
“Your Majesty, I dare not eat alone. I’d much rather join you for tea.”
“Didn’t you ride hard from the North without even eating dinner? Aren’t you hungry?”
“I’ve never eaten my fill in the North. I’ve grown used to it—I’m not hungry at all.”
“Is that so? I should send those fattened nobles up North, then.”
The emperor cackled and told the servant to remove the food and bring tea instead.
“This tea is quite good.”
Kyle never planned to eat anyway.
He intended to drink quickly and leave the palace as soon as possible.
The study held no fond memories—just being in the same space as the emperor made his skin crawl.
But Kyle changed his plan.
‘I’ll draw this conversation out as long as I can—until he tells me to go.’
The emperor’s tone and behavior were odd.
Occasionally, glimpses of his old self came through—but mostly, it was like he was shrouded in fog, his words unclear and unsettling.
“I’m glad it suits your taste. It’s a tea I enjoy.”
The emperor set down his cup and looked at Kyle.
“You’re not in the capital, yet the nobles are always worried about you.”
“I’m not sure what you mean…”
“They’re all in an uproar saying you need to marry soon.”
“Marriage? I’ve never even thought about that.”
Kyle set down his cup with an innocent expression.
If anyone would oppose his marriage, it should’ve been the emperor.
So he assumed it was just idle noble chatter.
He never imagined the emperor himself would bring up the topic.
‘He brought it up himself?’
It felt like a slap to the back of his head.
Normally, the emperor’s mocking tone would have annoyed him, but now he didn’t have the luxury of reacting emotionally.
A single wrong word could become ammunition to be used against him.
“Perhaps it’s because I have no heir that they’re urging your marriage.”
“Your Majesty, you’re still in fine health. To say I must rush into marriage because you have no heir—what disloyal fool dares to utter such nonsense? I’ll find out at once—!”
Though he carried no sword, Kyle moved as if to draw one.
The emperor smiled, satisfied.
“I thought the same. But nobles always pretend to worry for the royal line, don’t they? I suspect they hope their daughters might marry you. After all, you’re the only Grand Duke in the Bartmann Empire.”
The emperor didn’t sound hostile. There was no trace of the old venom.
In fact, he even seemed to approve of Kyle’s marriage.
Kyle was puzzled by his intentions.
This was the man who spent his life trying to eliminate him.
If Kyle married into a high-ranking noble family, the emperor’s throne would only become more unstable.
‘Why would he bring up marriage now?’
“I’m not the kind of narrow-minded emperor who ignores loyal counsel.”
Kyle bowed deeply, signaling his willingness to listen.
“I will hold a banquet to celebrate your successful subjugation of the monsters and your safe return.”
