Chapter 11: What Do You Take Me For!

They said she could charm anyone, and now even me?

The subtle floral scent that emanated whenever she moved also played a part. He was deeply displeased with himself for feeling this way.

How was he any different from other men? She had always been a woman with a sinister aura lingering around her. Even when they passed by each other, her gaze was always icy cold. The same woman who used to look at him with such contemptuous laughter was now appearing completely different.

How many times had she been the subject of gossip because of her issues with men? It was easier to just close his ears and pretend she didn’t exist. Living separately, with her as her own person and him as his own, was enough.

Even if he had threatened to kill her recently, just like Emur, it had become ambiguous to kill her now. If he had intended to kill her from the start, he should have executed them both on the spot to justify it.

If she continued to behave undesirably, he could just kill her, but it would be more beneficial to use this incident as leverage to gain more advantages from the Pellon Kingdom.

After all, Pellon Kingdom was a vassal state, so it was more advantageous to receive more supplies and focus on the Euclo Kingdom rather than creating unnecessary disputes.

Even Bellita should understand this much about the current situation. She wouldn’t think he would kill her now. So, he expected her to act arrogantly, backed by the Pellon Kingdom, as she did before…

Why is she being so obedient?

Ah!

Is it that?

The Mr. Cartan Selection Contest. That must be it. 

Having committed a serious crime, she couldn’t protest even if the budget was cut, so she was using this tactic. Trying to coax him to get more budget.

That’s why he might have been momentarily bewitched. This method might have worked on other men, but it wouldn’t work on him.

What do you take me for!

She concocts all sorts of schemes with that small head of hers.

“It won’t go as you wish.”

Kalik’s voice was as cold and sharp as ice.

Bellita, not understanding why he was saying that, was taken aback and could not respond. She felt hurt by his sudden cold attitude. She was trying so hard, but he didn’t acknowledge it. Though her infamy as the Adulterous Empress Bellita wouldn’t be erased with just this, she couldn’t help but feel disheartened. After all, she was human too, and she felt depressed.

As Kalik abruptly stood up, she awkwardly followed suit. The suddenly uncomfortable atmosphere suffocated her again.

A servant, who had been far away, came running and started rolling up the rug again.

“Throw it away.”

The servant bowed his head and obeyed.

She understood why the Emperor ordered to throw away something that looked so luxurious and new. It was because she had sat on it. Bellita’s face grew darker.

“Tomorrow must be better than today.”

To Belita, Kalik’s words sounded like a threat. A threat that if things were like this tomorrow, something terrible might happen.

She watched Kalik’s coldly retreating back for a while before slowly approaching the maids waiting a short distance away. She gave them a faint smile and walked back to the Empress’s palace with heavy steps.

The maids and servants following her exchanged glances and kept their distance, shocked by the drastic change in the Empress’s behavior. The Empress, who always chattered like a bird, had gone silent. They couldn’t make sense of it and followed her quietly, tense and unsure if she would suddenly flip out again.

***

Neigh~.

While changing clothes for the noble meeting, the Emperor heard a loud horse neigh. It seemed to come from the courtyard outside the window. It sounded similar to his white horse’s neigh, but there was no reason for it to be in the courtyard now. So, he had no reason to pay attention. However, something blurry passed by the window of his third-floor room with a thud.

“Stop for a moment.”

He halted the attendants who were serving him and slowly approached the window. Everyone knew this was the Emperor’s space, yet someone dared to intrude….

The Emperor already knew what it was and who did it as he moved.

There it stood, proudly in the most open courtyard.

Though still not fully visible, it was a horse-like Divine Beast galloping through the air as if to show off

A foal-like creature deliberately made to brush past the window.

Kuro Benoit.

The arrogant brat who targeted the Emperor by manifesting a Divine Beast.

It was a boastful display, even though the horse was far from being a mature one. Divine Beasts manifested by the imperial family are absolutely protected in this country.

He was a strong candidate to become the Emperor. So he couldn’t be killed at will. Under the protection of the Divine Beast, he would live long unless he died of illness.

Of course, there are exceptions for those with stronger sacred beasts. The one who manifests the strongest sacred beast becomes the Emperor if there is more than one candidate.

Usually, the Crown Prince’s Divine Beast was the strongest. It was a natural result since he inherited the Emperor’s blood. It was extremely rare for Divine Beasts to manifest in other members of the imperial family. It had always been that way.

“Your Majesty. Is it normal for a Divine Beast to be that small?”

The advisor, who had served him for a long time, cautiously spoke.

He was right. Divine Beasts are usually several times larger than normal animals. The previous Divine Beast, the black wolf, was large enough to carry ten people. However, the advisor’s words were also meant to comfort him, telling him not to worry too much.

Though faint and small, Kuro had still manifested a Divine Beast, even if it was just a foal. The Emperor, who had not manifested anything, couldn’t say much.

The faint foal Divine Beast running through the vast courtyard sky gradually faded. Finally, the Divine Beast disappeared as if entering its master’s back. Kuro, who had been watching from below, took off his hat and bowed like an actor on stage bowing to the audience.

It was a formal challenge to the Emperor. The Emperor’s eyes narrowed, and his red-tinged pupils became frighteningly clear.

***

“You saw it, right? The Emperor glued to the window.”

“I saw it. Haha. He couldn’t take his eyes off it.”

“His guts must have shriveled.”

The three members of the Horse Brigade continued their unchanging slander of the Emperor.

Kuro, walking beside them, didn’t seem displeased by their words.

“Our Grand Duke’s Divine Beast is improving day by day.”

“Of course. It manifested for much longer than last time.”

“The most important thing is, it even neighed. Doesn’t that mean it’s becoming more perfect?”

“Indeed. That loud sound. It sounded like it was getting closer to perfection.”

“Congratulations, Grand Duke.”

Kuro, enjoying their excessive praise, responded with a slight upward curve of his lips. It was beneficial to act heavy-handedly with them. Acting according to his nature would risk losing their support. He wasn’t foolish enough to commit such a dangerous act. The fool was Kalik, who shamelessly played the role of Emperor, not knowing the danger of his position.

In fact, whenever signs of the Divine Beast appeared, Kuro performed the ritual with all his might, but the result was always a foal-like Divine Beast similar to the last time.

It was immensely disappointing. However, the Divine Beast became clearer and even neighed after running somewhere for a while. With that joy, Kuro ran to the palace courtyard to stage a show for the Emperor. If this continued, he felt like he was already the Emperor.

At that moment, Grand Duke Dein Benoit, the Emperor’s closest aide, and Sir Anton Cedric, the captain of the guards, passed by and stopped to greet him. Anton, of lower rank, and the three Dukes bowed to each other, but Kuro and Dein locked eyes. The tension between them was palpable.

Kuro Benoit.

Dein Benoit.

Half-brothers. Though Kuro didn’t acknowledge it. Kuro’s side pointed fingers at Dein as an illegitimate child and detested even sharing the Benoit name.

Two Grand Dukes from the same family. It was unprecedented in history. Everyone knew it was the Emperor’s scheme.

Their brief encounter had a significant impact on them.

“The two most foolish people in the world just passed by.”

“Are you talking about the fools serving the soon-to-be-deposed Emperor?”

The three members of the Horse Brigade began to chew them out again after watching Dein and Anton’s retreating figures.

“We should serve the real one like us. I feel sorry for those two.”

“The day our Grand Duke becomes Emperor, those two will disappear like dew. It’s too pitiful to watch.”

If they hadn’t been born into a Duke’s family, they would surely have become actors. Their words sounded like lines from a play, and they were addicted to the illusion that they were eloquent.

“Let’s not bother with them and return to praising our Grand Duke.”

“Of course. It’s pitiful that the Emperor can’t manifest a Divine Beast. The position of Emperor is determined by the heavens.”

“Isn’t it already decided? Your Majesty.”

Kuro played along with their flattery.

“Oh. What if someone hears? It’s still too early to call me that.”

It was always pleasant to hear, but he enjoyed the dangerous and thrilling title inwardly.

“Carefully considering, is the Emperor really the late Emperor’s descendant? It’s suspicious since the Divine Beast is causing so much trouble. It should have appeared by now.”

“That’s a dangerous thing to say!”