Chapter 56

Yujis sat in the seat of honor, glanced at the frozen sky, and chuckled.

"You look quite different from when I saw you at last year's summer ball."

"It's an honor that you remember me."

"The sight of a noble lady who was eager to dance with you was quite impressive."

Damn hedonist Therese.

Even if the emperor had money, power, and looks, why didn't you maintain your integrity for Clyde?

I carefully considered my response.

'If it seems like I'm aiming for the position of empress, my favorability will drop.'

In other words, it means my black hearts will increase.

Yujis' bad ending was the annihilation of the Squire family.

'I need to emphasize that I'm not the only one who felt that way.'

"All the noble ladies wanted to dance with Your Majesty. You look like a prince from a fairy tale."

"Prince?"

I was taken aback by Yujis' question.

'Is it really inappropriate to call the emperor a prince? I hope he doesn't think I'm implying that he doesn't look like an emperor.'

I hastily added an explanation.

"Um... When I think of an emperor, I imagine an older man with a long beard... I mean, Your Majesty is too young and handsome... I'm sorry."

"Did you find me attractive because I'm young and handsome?"

Well, that's how it sounds, but it's too blunt.

"Absolutely not in a romantic sense, but out of admiration."

The emperor was a deadly flower.

A beautiful and fragrant flower that lures and then instantly kills those who try to pick it, cruel and merciless.

In a way, he was quite similar to Clyde.

While Clyde was consumed by self-loathing, Yujis believed everyone but himself was wrong.

My desperate attempts to explain and persuade made Yujis' eyebrow arch.

"Your eyes were quite passionate when you looked at me, for someone who claims to have no interest."

"I was born with a bad impression."

"You also have a habit of talking back to me."

Damn. Do you follow Confucianism? A fact I, the developer, didn't even know.

'Just bear it. Life is about those who have and those who don't.'

"I'm sorry..."

"There's no need to apologize. Instead of standing there, why don't you try the refreshments I prepared? I made sure to include all the latest trends, but I'm not sure if they're to your taste."

I was already feeling drained from dealing with the emperor.

I started with the cake in front of me.

Yujis dipped a macaron and took a bite, then threw the fork away.

"Terrible. Can't you do better for a guest who has done so much for the empire?"

The palace attendants, who had been standing by like the air, quickly approached and removed the macaron.

"I'm sorry. I'll bring a new one."

I cautiously took a bite of the cake and quickly chewed and swallowed.

'I feel like I'm going to choke.'

Just as I was about to stop using the fork to avoid Yujis' outburst, he asked,

"Doesn't it suit your taste? You don't seem to be eating much."

"No, no. It's delicious."

I started eating enthusiastically, fearing he might overturn the table, and Yujis muttered indifferently,

"Is it? It doesn't seem to suit my taste. You must have a good palate."

Ding!

[The seat 'Looking for a food streamer' has donated 10,000 coins.]

[Is this telling me to eat or not to eat? It's so frustrating.]

That's exactly what I was thinking.

Yujis, seeing me pretend to eat, suddenly stood up.

"I'll personally show you the Sun Palace, noble lady. After a short walk, the banquet will be ready."

It was an unwelcome offer, but I thought a walk would be better than choking on the cake.

"It's an honor, Your Majesty."

As I stood up, Yujis extended his hand, as if to escort me.

I smiled awkwardly and lightly touched his fingertips.

He grabbed my hand tightly, like a predator about to strangle its prey.

I felt as if I was being bound and couldn't escape.

"You seem to be afraid of me, which is disappointing."

"...That's not true."

We walked down the quiet corridor, leaving the reception room.

It started drizzling, not ideal weather for a walk, but it had its own charm.

As only the sound of our footsteps echoed, Yujis broke the silence.

"I heard there was a disturbance in Valhalla recently. The Duke of Squire seemed quite angry."

"There were misunderstandings, but they were resolved amicably."

Yujis snorted, clearly not believing my smooth answer.

'He threatened to go to war, so it wasn't an amicable resolution.'

"Well, let's say it was. What's important is the reward for your contributions. How about becoming a royal mage immediately? I can provide you with a personal tower and an assistant."

To become a royal mage, I would have to drop out of school.

Neither option was what I wanted, so I carefully declined.

"I'm grateful for the high evaluation of my abilities, but how can someone who hasn't even graduated from Valhalla become a member of the royal family?"

"A refusal, then. It's not a particularly attractive offer for a noble lady of your status. What do you want, then?"

This was clearly a test.

I couldn't ask for something too trivial or too grand.

If I couldn't come up with a well-balanced answer, I didn't know how Yujis would react.

But how could I?

Just then,

Crunch!

The unpleasant sound of a stone being crushed on the marble floor echoed clearly.

"..."

"..."

"..."

A chilling silence followed.

The palace attendant who stepped on the stone turned pale and immediately prostrated himself.

"Please spare me, Your Majesty!"

Yujis pressed his forehead with his large hand.

His hand was trembling, and his forehead was flushed.

This was bad. Yujis' thin patience was about to snap.

The attendant was definitely going to die.

Today, everyone was wearing shoes with cloth soles!

"I have a request, Your Majesty."

I didn't consider myself particularly chivalrous.

But I couldn't stand by and watch someone die right in front of me.

"I want to see the Ice Thorn Helmflower. The royal garden must have this rare flower."

"Ice Thorn Helmflower?"

Yujis frowned, as if he had never heard of it, and turned to the chamberlain.

"Is there such a flower?"

"We have a small garden, Your Majesty."

Yujis looked even more puzzled at the mention of a garden.

The chamberlain continued,

"It's the flower that is always placed in Your Majesty's bedroom."

"Oh, that flower."

The Ice Thorn Helmflower is a magical plant that contains a powerful paralyzing toxin.

If a non-mage touches it with bare hands, they will be paralyzed and die within five minutes, but it was an effective herb for the emperor.

His neuropathy was a hereditary condition, and his senses were extremely sensitive, so the paralyzing effect of the Ice Thorn Helmflower was beneficial.

Yujis looked at me nervously.

"Are you suggesting I look at the flower to calm down?"

If I had meant it that way, it would be a mockery to the emperor.

I firmly denied it.

"No, I noticed that you seemed to have a headache from the sharp sounds. While painkillers would have an immediate effect, frequent use is not good for your health. So, if we go to the garden together, you might experience a similar effect."

"Are you suggesting that a visit to the garden, for the sake of my health, would be a reward for you?"

My answer was without hesitation.

"Yes. If it works, Your Majesty will look favorably upon me. There's no greater reward than that."

Yujis might not believe me, but it was the truth.

He stared at me as if he wanted to strangle me, then closed his eyes tightly.

When he opened them again, his expression was more relaxed.

"Lead the way."

The chamberlain nodded at me in gratitude and quickly led us to the garden.

"I didn't know the royal family still had magical plants. I thought the flowers in the bedroom were brought in from outside."

The moment it was reported that demons were drawn to magical plants, the royal family replaced the garden with ordinary plants.

The chamberlain said,

"Rest assured, they are managed thoroughly to ensure they are not dangerous."

"Yes, it doesn't seem like demons would invade a garden of this size."

Magical plants were not only mysterious in form and color but also excellent for ornamental purposes.

The Ice Thorn Helmflower emitted a mesmerizing light, fitting for a heavenly garden, and the light was even more prominent in the drizzling, overcast weather.

Yujis seemed more pleased than expected, smiling contentedly.

"Hmm. I feel quite calm."

The palace attendants looked relieved by his relaxed response.

They seemed to think the emperor was being unusually lenient today.

But I remained tense.

If he truly felt better, he would have ordered the cloth to be removed from the attendants' shoes.

Yujis elegantly reached out and grabbed the hair of the attendant who had stepped on the stone.

"Ahh!"

The atmosphere instantly froze again.

"I appreciate your effort to soothe me, noble lady. I'll give you a chance."

Yujis said to the attendant with a merciful expression.

"Pick that flower for me, the one that is effective for me."