Chapter 117
Raymond Ruslo was originally second in line to the imperial throne, but he raised an army, succeeded in a revolution, and became the new Emperor. The former Emperor, Kyle Ruslo, had been abandoned by the people due to severe corruption, and in the end their cries were heard, resulting in the sun of the Empire being replaced.
As such, it was only natural that attention focused on how Kyle would be dealt with.
“The former Emperor, Kyle Ruslo, neglected the nation’s affairs and oppressed the people. Though he deserves execution as a traitor of the highest order, taking into account his noble status and the fact that he is repentant, it has been decided that he will be exiled to Xylophone.”
At Chief Chamberlain Melas’s proclamation, the citizens gathered in the square burst into cheers.
Some clicked their tongues, saying the punishment was too light, while others agreed, saying he should reflect and repent until the day he dies. Despite opinions being sharply divided, the people unanimously praised Raymond’s magnanimous character.
There was a reason Raymond decided on exile. It was because of Niyan and Amelia.
A meeting had been arranged with the meritorious subjects to discuss rewards, and Amelia’s remark there became the decisive factor.
Seated at the head of the table, Raymond looked at each person in turn and asked what they desired. It was his consideration to hear their opinions and reflect them.
Soon, it was Amelia’s turn.
“Baron Sophe, is there something you wish for?”
“Yes.”
“And what might that be?”
“Before I say it, please promise me first, Your Majesty. That you will grant it, whatever it may be.”
As Amelia spoke with burning eyes, Melas interrupted her and pointed it out.
“Baron Sophe. That is a highly disrespectful remark to His Majesty.”
“I apologize.”
She readily admitted it and apologized, but her gaze did not waver in the slightest. It was filled with determination not to give up. Raymond stroked his chin, then soon nodded in permission.
“Very well. So be it.”
“Your Majesty. That is a rash promise.”
“I trust Baron Sophe.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Amelia bowed deeply in gratitude.
“My wish is that Kyle not be executed.”
“Not executed?”
“Yes.”
“Your Majesty! Isn’t that an overreach?”
Melas stepped forward to point it out once more, but Raymond quietly shook his head.
“It’s fine. I also wished to avoid execution. Then let me ask you—so long as it isn’t execution, is that acceptable?”
“Yes. As long as it isn’t that, I am satisfied. Anything more would be overstepping, as the Chief Chamberlain said.”
“Very well. It shall be done.”
Having firmly promised Amelia, Raymond turned to look at Melas.
“I was already contemplating Kyle’s punishment. How about sending him into exile at the frontier?”
At Raymond’s words, Amelia’s complexion visibly brightened.
“Wouldn’t exile be dangerous? He could attempt rebellion.”
“Hmm. That concerns me as well.”
“If that’s the case, don’t worry. I can help.”
The one who interjected was Niyan.
“And how would you help?”
After receiving permission to speak, Niyan began his explanation.
“We can form an Oath of Pledge. By magic, we place a ring around Kyle’s neck. If he commits a forbidden act, he will lose his life.”
“That such a method is possible. What do you think, Chief Chamberlain?”
“It seems like a good method.”
Melas nodded deeply in agreement. Truly, the more one learned of magic’s power, the more mysterious it seemed.
“What I recommend is that it be set to activate if he leaves a designated area.”
“Good. Then the Archmage shall cast the spell, and Kyle will be sent into exile. And Baron Sophe will be sent as Kyle’s overseer.”
Are the male and female leads destined to meet in the end?
It felt as though the entire world was struggling to connect Kyle and Amelia.
On the day the punishment was carried out, Raymond saw Kyle off as he departed. Seeing him for the first time in a while, he looked haggard. The luxury and brilliance he once had as Emperor had mostly faded.
“To even send me off to recuperate—Your Majesty’s grace is astounding.”
Kyle lowered his head as he spoke, whether sincerely or sarcastically unclear. Then, before boarding the carriage, he glanced at me, standing beside Raymond.
“Aileen. Perhaps the one you chose was destined to become Emperor. That is why Raymond became Emperor, and I was dethroned.”
He said it with a faint laugh.
“I envy Raymond, who receives your love. Farewell.”
“Goodbye.”
I bowed to him with the utmost courtesy one last time.
“Did you truly like Aileen?”
However, Raymond’s question halted his steps. Why was he so curious about that?
“Well. I don’t know myself. Perhaps I did. She was quite lovable, like a rabbit.”
“A rabbit? Aileen is a squirrel.”
“Isn’t a squirrel too small? The way she trembled in my arms was just like a rabbit.”
Kyle fell into thought for a moment, recalling something, then smiled contentedly.
Isn’t that a completely dangerous remark?
Sure enough, venom seeped from Raymond’s eyes as he looked at the smiling Kyle. His hand moved to his waist, and with a shing, he drew his sword.
“R–Raymond. Calm down!”
Startled, I grabbed his arm with both hands, even forgetting to address him as Your Majesty. But Raymond had already let go of the reins of his reason.
You said you’d spare him, and you’re drawing a sword over something like this?
“H–Hurry and go!”
Lacking confidence in stopping Raymond for long, I gestured frantically for Kyle to leave. Kyle quickly boarded the carriage and departed.
“Ha. Aileen. You will have to tell me in detail everything Kyle has done to you all this time.”
“…Excuse me?”
So instead of execution, you plan to personally carry it out, is that it?
I glared fiercely at the back of the carriage Kyle rode in. Leaving me with this mess—he truly was the original male lead I disliked to the very end.
Kyle went to Xylophone first, and a few days later Amelia also headed to Xylophone. She needed time to prepare for her new life as well.
Ironically, during the revolution, Kyle had fallen for Amelia.
Amelia was the girl-crush type who fought well, and in the end, the sight of her fighting passionately became the point that made him fall for her. Amelia had only intended to capture him as a hostage. To feel love from someone threatening you—truly a dangerous taste. I had thought Kyle’s preferred type was simply someone with a good figure, but it seemed that wasn’t all.
In the end, the male and female leads came together after all.
Amelia, who had fallen for him a step earlier than Kyle, accepted his feelings.
Later, people were shocked to hear the news that the two had become lovers. The original novel’s male and female leads were destined to meet in the end. It’s just that the timing differed from what I had expected, so there was some hardship.
And Raymond and I took Niyan’s teleport to go see them. When we arrived, the two were just taking a walk along a forest path.
Seeing the male and female leads being lovey-dovey in person was even more ticklish than reading it in the novel. And unexpectedly, Amelia seemed far more bold and proactive.
The scene we happened to spy on was this:
The two were walking along a deserted path when Kyle lowered his head and spoke in a dejected tone.
“I am no longer Emperor…”
“It doesn’t matter. In fact, it’s even better.”
Amelia grabbed Kyle’s arm firmly and pulled him. Kyle, like someone with no strength at all, was dragged along and fell right into her embrace.
“Because now I can do whatever I want with you.”
“A–Amelia.”
It seemed Amelia’s rough remark struck Kyle right in the chest. He blushed in embarrassment, then, as if accepting it, relaxed and closed his eyes.
At the same time, the three of us turned our heads to the side. To witness such an unintended, face-heating scene. In truth, I very much wanted to keep watching, but conscious of Raymond and Niyan, I had no choice but to follow suit. After all, I was someone who had seen the very end of their lovey-dovey scenes in the original novel. Ahem.
Still, it felt quite different from the original novel. Because Kyle had not been this lacking in spirit.
In the original, Kyle believed that the two things he had to boast about were his position as Emperor and his beauty. Of course, his beauty was still outstanding, but having lost his power, half his charm had vanished. Perhaps he had also lost the confidence to actively appeal to his lover.
Let’s take a moment to recall how it was in the original version:
–Politics? I’ll do whatever you say. Do as you please.
–Then may I also do as I please with Your Majesty?
–By all means. Hahaha.
With lines like that, the two would roll around all night.
Anyway, as long as the two seemed satisfied with their current lives, that was enough.
“Is that really possible?”
“Yes. That much is easy.”
When I reacted in surprise, Niyan calmly nodded in reply.
We were talking about how Okhee and Gwangho had brought reinforcements during the wedding revolution. We had succeeded thanks to those two, and while I was saying I was 고민ing what reward to give them, Niyan suggested asking them directly.
“If we could ask directly, that would be great. The problem is that we can’t communicate.”
“We can make them able to speak.”
“How?”
“With magic.”
“That’s possible?”
“I’m Niyan Oliverts. A genius Archmage.”
Niyan proudly thumped his chest. If he had such ability, he could have done it long ago—why mention it only now? Without further delay, I urged him.
“Alright. Do it quickly!”
“First, I’ll ask whether that one agrees.”
He was even respecting animal rights.
While I was admiring that, Niyan briskly approached Okhee. Sitting on the window frame and looking this way, Okhee blinked her large eyes as if she had no idea what was going on.
