Chapter 73
“Boring beyond measure.”
The empire of Taranta ruled over the western continent of Karilonia.
Edward Lakteas was the sovereign of that empire.
Except for a few regions, the empire thrived on fertile lands where crops grew abundantly.
It grew rapidly, especially after achieving continental unification and expanding its territory.
The gold and silver piling up in the treasury had reached overflowing levels, and the taste of power was exquisitely sweet.
Perhaps that was why,
Edward had, for some time now, found it difficult to feel interest in anything at all.
“Your Majesty, I am Chessen from the Kingdom of Bierne in the Eastern Continent. My lord has sent you a special gift.”
A man in unusual attire stepped forward.
A faint curiosity flickered in Edward’s eyes.
Perhaps because he was an envoy from an Eastern kingdom, he wore garments unlike anything seen anywhere in the empire.
“What my lord has sent…”
The envoy smiled slightly, and as if on cue, several figures appeared from behind the pillars.
They were young and beautiful women.
The emperor didn’t flinch even as he saw the group of men and women together—but that was when
“Th…! How insolent! Chessen of the Kingdom of Bierne!”
The sharp voice of Empress Karin rang through the central hall.
Her eyes were wide, and she stood, glaring at the envoy from the Eastern Continent.
“Do you think this is a place to offer humans as tribute?”
The Eastern envoy responded, looking startled.
“In our Eastern Continent, beautiful humans are considered precious gifts. My lord personally selected them and sent them…”
“Do you really think the lowly ways of your Eastern continent would work in our empire, right here, right now?!”
Karin shouted like an angry cat and leapt to her feet.
She then approached the throne and casually took hold of Edward’s left arm, shaking it slightly.
“Your Majesty, this is offensive. Just looking at this gift alone shows how the Kingdom of Bierne views our empire…”
“Why? Are you afraid I might drag them into the bedroom?”
Empress Karin stared at Edward as if she couldn’t believe what she just heard.
“Excuse me? What… did you just say…?”
“So that’s why you’re making such a scene.”
“Your Majesty!”
A flash of frustration and sorrow crossed Karin’s face.
But Edward moved his arm and brushed off her hand.
Then, as if for the envoy’s benefit, he spoke.
“Convey my thanks to your lord.”
The Eastern envoy bowed deeply, clearly pleased, and stepped back.
Edward spoke quietly to the frozen Karin.
“I thought I told you to control yourself.”
It was just loud enough for the two of them to hear.
“You already know I despise anyone who lets personal emotions cloud their judgment.”
Empress Karin trembled.
“Your Majesty! That was… about trying to annul the contract with Abner’s weapons…”
“I’ve already heard enough excuses.”
Edward tilted his gaze sharply over her face.
“Not everything you do is admirable. So stop overstepping your bounds.”
Karin swayed but gritted her teeth and straightened herself, returning to her seat.
The courtiers, sensing the pause, ushered forward the next noble.
“The head of the Abner family, Sharon Abner, pays respects to the Sun of the Empire.”
Edward’s eyes widened.
Finally, the person he had been waiting for had appeared.
“I’ve been expecting you, Lord Abner.”
The emperor looked completely different from what I had imagined.
He was so strikingly handsome that my mouth fell open at first sight.
‘So that’s who Tian takes after…’
The emperor’s eyes, nose, and overall facial structure were exactly like Tian’s.
Even the ruby-red irises were identical.
There was only one difference: the hair.
Whereas Tian had jet-black hair, the emperor’s hair was a vivid gold, as if sunlight itself were shattered in strands.
“I’ve heard you’ve worked hard in many ways. From weapons production to collection and transport, you personally oversaw everything.”
“Not at all. It was all done by His Highness the Crown Prince. I merely assisted where I could.”
Sharon Abner bowed to the emperor with perfect precision.
The emperor smiled, clearly pleased.
“You’re too modest. The leader of the allied nations even sent a letter personally. They said we owe a great debt to our western continent.”
The emperor’s laughter rang out, satisfied.
I couldn’t help but glance at Empress Karin, seated to his left.
The more the emperor praised Sharon Abner, the more Empress Karin’s face contorted in frustration.
‘Serves her right for trying to betray.’
If Empress Karin hadn’t unilaterally annulled the contract with Abner, all the credit would have gone to her, not Tian.
After all, it had been Empress Karin who had managed the Abner weapons contract from the start.
‘Of course, I don’t feel sorry for her. Not in the slightest.’
Because Empress Karin had abused young Tian.
In fact, in her previous life, she had expelled Tian from the royal palace, and Tian had even lost his life as a result.
I couldn’t help but feel a bit satisfied internally.
“Should I accept this gift from you? Or should I be the one giving instead?”
At the emperor’s words, I lifted my head.
Behind me, the servants carried the gift boxes we had prepared inside.
They were two heavy wooden chests wrapped in silk cloth.
Sharon Abner glanced at me, and I nodded.
I knew exactly what was inside.
The servants removed the cloth and opened the boxes.
The emperor asked curiously,
“What is this?”
Inside were numerous cobalt-tinted glass bottles, all a deep blue.
Even Empress Karin furrowed her brow slightly, focusing intently on this unfamiliar item.
Meanwhile, the servants opened the other box.
The emperor’s eyes went wide.
This box contained things he likely recognized.
The recently formalized medicines, now selling like wildfire: Rubarina and Rubawen.
Finally, Sharon Abner spoke.
“Your Majesty, what I’ve prepared is the second invention recently developed by the Abner Academy.”
“……”
“My granddaughter personally created this rare medicine to present to Your Majesty.”
The emperor looked at me, astonished.
I quickly placed a hand over my navel and bowed deeply.
“I pay respects to the Sun of the Empire! I am Anelia of the Abner Duke family!”
The emperor nodded.
“Indeed. I heard the developer of Rubarina and Rubawen is only five years old.”
Then, in mock surprise, he asked,
“Did you really develop the medicine in those blue bottles?”
“Yes! Ria developed them with my teacher at the Duke’s residence!”
“And Rubarina and Rubawen as well?”
“Yes!”
The emperor’s eyes gradually lit with curiosity.
“So you made a second rare medicine to present to me?”
“Yes!”
I spoke, eyes sparkling.
“Shall I demonstrate how it is used?”
“Do so.”
I quickly received an identical bottle from Wendel, who was waiting behind me.
I rolled up my left sleeve slightly.
The scar on my inner arm was clearly visible.
It was from when I had tumbled down the stairs after being attacked by Brook.
“This medicine is…”
Carefully, I opened the blue bottle and poured the flowing liquid onto the scar.
Immediately, a cool scent rose with white mist from the skin.
Some of it drifted into the air, some absorbed into the skin.
“It’s made from Amias flowers that regenerate the skin, combined with Ridge herbs from the Eastern Continent.”
I lifted my arm to show the emperor.
The once-red, slightly raised scar had visibly faded within moments.
It had almost completely disappeared.
“It removes scars!”
The emperor’s eyes widened, his mouth half-open in disbelief.
“Just two or three applications are enough to erase even large scars! I used this to remove a large scar on my back as well!”
I smiled slightly at the emperor’s frozen expression, having anticipated this reaction.
I slowly let my gaze travel down his attire.
The collar of his garment reached just below his chin, and the sleeves extended nearly to his hands.
‘Because the current emperor’s body is full of scars.’
Wounds from assassination attempts and poison insect bites in his childhood.
