#152. It’s a Pleasure for Me
The Emperor quietly studied my face before lightly tapping the documents in my hand.
“What’s this?”
“It’s a document.”
“But you could also see it as just paper, couldn’t you?”
Of course… I thought he was trying to play a word game, and when I stared at him, he let out a small chuckle.
“If you look at it as a document, it’s just something to read. But if you see it as paper, you could leave a note on it, or even use it to start a fire. —This is something like that. As you said, dealing with stubborn old men is tiring and bothersome. So I didn’t bother. But helping you? That’s different.”
The Emperor took the documents from my hand once more. I didn’t resist.
“That’s a pleasure for me,” he said.
So, does that mean this is a kind of courtship?
After all, even after I waged a war, he never withdrew his proposal. In fact, he was even staying here now in the capacity of a suitor.
If this is meant as some sort of courtship gift, I could understand it.
Especially for me, help like this was far more crucial than material things.
“Leave them to me. I’ll have them turned inside out and acting like obedient puppies within a month.”
So I resolved, for now, to let the Emperor do as he wished. But I also steeled myself to be ready to step in and take over whenever he grew tired of this task.
“Then I humbly request your guidance. If there are procedures or permissions required, please tell me—I’ll prepare them.”
“If you give me one of your seals, I can handle it all myself.”
I called to him with a gentle smile, despite the intimidating nature of his words that didn’t match his radiant expression.
“Your Majesty.”
“I already gave it to you, didn’t I?”
It was a story from a past life. After the war ended and I returned to the capital to focus on domestic affairs, the Emperor had granted me the imperial seal.
With that, I could personally issue decrees if needed.
It had been a generous offer, but it had also been nerve-wracking for me.
“Do you remember how I knelt and pleaded for three days back then?”
Thinking back, it had been utterly excessive.
The empire was not on the brink of collapse, and who would dare use the Emperor’s seal without permission right after unification, when the Emperor’s authority was at its peak?
I had no intention of ever repeating such a thing.
“Ah, here comes the scolding again. Fine, fine. This time, I’ll step back.”
The Emperor exaggeratedly spread both hands in surrender, rose from the sofa, and lightly walked toward the door.
“…Wait. Please let me withdraw the guards first before you leave.”
Even in this moment, I remembered that he had entered through the window and hastily stopped him.
If someone who had never been here suddenly walked out of my office, the guards would undoubtedly be on high alert.
“I also need to make sure they’re instructed not to interfere with your visit.”
I still didn’t know what answer the Emperor wanted, but if there was something he wished to do, I had to help him.
If it also happened to be helpful to me, then all the better.
I went ahead and left the office before him.
The first task of the day was set to be expanding the Emperor’s authority.
When Melchizedek returned to his room after dinner with complete strangers, Riana was already sitting there.
“You’ve been busy lately, Melk.”
She had surely sensed his presence before the door even opened, lifting her head to greet him.
Judging by the book in her hands, she had been reading.
“There aren’t really rules about dinner here.”
Melchizedek shrugged off the coat draped over his shoulders and placed it on the chair.
Unlike the Empire, where dinner was typically shared with family, the Kartian Kingdom had no such restrictions.
So he was taking full advantage of all the time available—lunch, dinner, tea—to meet the Kartian nobility, aiming to achieve his goals before the month ended.
“I haven’t seen you this enthusiastic before. Are you enjoying yourself?”
Enjoying himself? Melchizedek tilted his head.
It wasn’t difficult for him to subtly manipulate people’s thoughts using vague implications.
If he had been born an ordinary man, would he have become a con artist…?
People believed him without any definitive proof. They assumed they understood him.
Kartian nobles were no different. Some believed him to be a minor duke of Lamore; others thought he had been Blanche’s academy classmate. Some assumed he was a minor noble from the Empire, while others judged him as the heir to a nationwide trading guild.
Despite never revealing his true identity, they were convinced they saw the truth.
Amid such steadfast beliefs, rumors about him and Riana only became more confusing, and the Kartian nobles were so distracted speculating about Melchizedek that they even forgot to watch Blanche.
It would be a lie to say he didn’t find it amusing—but could it really be called “fun”?
Melchizedek tilted his head and sat down in front of Riana.
“I’m not sure if it’s fun, but seeing idiots who think they’re the smartest people in the world is entertaining.”
If he had said that to Blanche, she would have probably scowled. Yet despite the cutting remark, Riana smiled.
“As long as you find something enjoyable, that’s enough.”
“And how about you? Are you enjoying yourself?”
Even though she came as Melchizedek’s guard, Riana devoted herself to teaching Blanche’s “knight candidates” rather than staying by his side.
They weren’t knights yet, but after achieving sufficient feats, they would be granted knighthood and become the core of Lamore’s new order.
These were the ones Blanche had honed into her most carefully trained swords.
“Teaching kids is the same anywhere…”
Melchizedek noticed the book Riana was holding.
The text was upside down, but he could easily read the title:
“The Pros and Cons of Deification Caused by Excessive Loyalty in the Military”
It was unmistakably a book Riana would read.
“It’s interesting that, despite only fighting in wars with Blanche, they still display excessive loyalty to her. Especially Sharkel Raman.”
The name caught him off guard, but he smiled calmly.
Blanche must have considered him as a potential suitor. He knew that.
But it was simply a convenient option. Blanche’s feelings were still directed toward him.
So as long as he was here and did not withdraw his pursuit, that option wouldn’t come to pass.
Unlike in his past life, Blanche would not marry anyone else.
He strove to maintain the composure of a victor. There was no need to stoop to petty jealousies over an unworthy rival.
“Victory is the best ingredient for loyalty.”
When victory is secure and everything runs smoothly, it’s natural for a group to maintain a good atmosphere.
Using clever strategy to achieve a great victory, it was only natural that soldiers would be loyal to Blanche.
It had been the same in his past life. When he first appointed Baekryeon as commander, there were many concerns, but after unification, there were no complaints within the army.
Those who tried to oppose or check her were simply sitting safely in the background, enjoying the victory.
“That’s true. But loyalty is like fire—it takes time to catch. …But Blanche had no time to wait.”
Melchizedek shifted slightly in his seat.
“Are you surprised?”
If he were speaking to anyone else, he might have been nervous.
Riana’s comment implied both a warning—that such abnormal loyalty could pose risks—and a question about Blanche’s abilities that could cause this phenomenon.
But since it was Riana, he remained calm.
She knew what she needed to know and what was better left unknown.
If she sensed danger, she would step back.
“Melk.”
Riana’s green eyes met Melchizedek’s blue ones.
As he had expected, her gaze was not trying to pry his thoughts.
It was clear, serene—as if she already knew everything.
“Have you done this before? Is that why it seems like you’re causing conflict for no reason?”
He only paused to consider his answer.
