Chapter 198 – First and Last
In the evening when the moonlight penetrated the window, Theorard looked out the window pensively in the guest room provided by the imperial family.
Matching the clear daytime weather, the night sky was so full of stars that it was almost a shame to see it alone. However, Theorard couldn’t get enough of the starlight’s inspiration.
‘Her Highness the Princess…… No, what is His Majesty the Emperor thinking?’
Looking back on my memories, after all the events related to the coronation were over, Proban sneaked up on the Elf and Esily.
Provan, who noticed the surroundings, quietly whispered in a voice that only Theorad could hear.
—Your Majesty has something else to tell Viscount Theorard. So, I will go to the Viscount’s guest room in the evening, so please don’t go to bed early.
What was Benelia talking about? I thought about it in many ways, but there was nothing I wanted to do. However, when I saw a strange feeling of anxiety making my heart pound, the situation that my intuition foresaw was never good.
‘God of light…….’
Please, I hope there are no stars. Theorard, who had been praying silently with his hands together, caught his breath at the sound of footsteps outside his door.
After waiting for a while, a polite knock sounds. Proban’s voice followed.
“Viscount Theorard. This is Proban. I have come to see you.”
The time has come. Theorard, who thought he would not be able to defeat Benelia, replied calmly.
“I will be leaving soon.”
It was a private place, but it was a way to meet the emperor of the empire, so it was essential to look neat.
Theorard, once again adjusting his dressing and fixing the position of the brooch in the center of his neck, made his way to the door and opened it.
As soon as I left the door, I saw Proban with a friendly smile. When he was expressionless, he was like a strict grandfather, but when he was smiling, he felt friendly.
“Thank you for complying with my request. I was worried that someone would refuse.”
“Don’t talk like that. It’s His Majesty’s order, so how could I refuse it?”
“It is not wrong to say that. Anyway, it’s an honor to see you again. I am Proban, the military minister of the Empire and the general commander of the ‘Steps of Dawn’.”
The name is slightly different from what was introduced during the day. As Theorard was looking at him curiously, Provan smiled.
“His Highness Benelia, since she has ascended to the position of emperor, the post of military secretary has become vacant. So I took his place her. It’s called promotion. Oh, to add, I think it would be more appropriate to say that he is the head of the guard rather than the military commander. The Dawning Steps have now become the personal guards serving His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Is that so. Congratulations on your promotion.”
“Haha. Thank you, but the luxury I enjoyed is like new blood compared to the glory that Viscount Theorard will enjoy.”
“What is that…….”
“If you talk to His Majesty, you will understand. Time is running out, so it would be better to walk and talk.”
As Proban said, it was impossible to delay the time after accepting the emperor’s call. After answering yes, Theorad followed Provan’s guidance and walked down the wide and long corridors of the imperial palace.
The masterpieces and ornaments hanging on the walls are all high-priced items, so the gaze goes to the temple. In addition, it was burdensome because the guards who came and went through the hallway frequently raised a courtesy.
As we were walking while accepting their courtesy, Proban quietly spoke to us.
“What do you think, Viscount Theorard, of His Majesty the Emperor?”
It’s an absurd question. But there was nothing I couldn’t answer.
“He knows righteousness and duty and reads the hearts of the people, so he is definitely a respectable leader. He is also a valiant knight because he does not think of honor as a mere ornament, but he regards it as special. Also, since he is unstoppable in his actions and achieves whatever he thinks, he must be a great ruler.”
There are no loopholes in the words, and it is clear at a glance. It doesn’t have the accent of flattery, so it sounds like you’re expressing your sincerity.
In Proban’s view, Theorard’s answer was indeed an exemplary servant. However, Provan did not want to see Theorad as a servant serving his lord.
“It is a word that is infinitely close to the correct answer. However, I want Viscount Theorard to look at His Majesty the Emperor from a slightly different perspective.”
“How about a different perspective?”
“…… Your Majesty has gone through countless hardships and hardships. He must have grown up experiencing a lot of pain beyond words. That’s why I couldn’t hide my regret whenever I saw Your Majesty.”
Proban remembers. This is the situation when he first saw Benelia after he decided to join the Dawning Steps.
The girl, who was only fifteen years old, was staring at her professional class her from her own office her. At that time, Proban felt as if the world was frozen.
It was because in Benelia’s eyes her, the shyness and innocence that a girl her age her should have had been castrated.
There was only deep disillusionment with the world and incomprehensible rage in her eyes, shining like a rhinoceros, as she went only for her goal her.
“I haven’t seen a single smile from Your Majesty since joining the Dawning Steps. Even when I gave him humor and presented expensive jewelry, he always reacted in a negative way. But His Majesty these days has changed a little.”
Provan looked back at Theorad with a coy smile.
“Now he often smiles and makes fun of himself. Yesterday, after trying on the gold robe to be used for the coronation ceremony, he asked me. I mean, does it fit? Did His Majesty really think about whom to say such a thing?”
Theorard couldn’t answer. It was because I thought it was a question that should not be easily answered no matter what Proban’s intention was.
Proban belatedly noticed the burden Theorard was carrying and let out a clearing of his throat.
“Of course, this is just my personal opinion. I’m just saying this out of desperation and in the hope that the relationship between Viscount Theorard and His Majesty will continue, so please don’t mind.”
“…… All right.”
I feel confused even though I am positive. While Theorard was repeating what he had just heard, Provan, who had arrived at Benelia’s bed before he knew it, knocked on the huge door guarded by his knights.
“Your majesty. This is Shin Proban Otaeplet. Since I brought Viscount Theorard, I dare to ask for an audience.”
As soon as Proban finished speaking, the door opened in both directions. Benelia opened the door using telekinesis.
What I could see through the wide open door was the back of Benelia sitting in her antique chair. On the table beside her was a pair of fine wine and two glasses.
“Viscount Theorard. Please go in.”
Provan pushed him on the back, and Theorard ended up in the Emperor’s bed.
Then, the sound of the door closing behind them was heard, increasing the tension. However, Benelia stood aloof without any reaction.
The wind blows softly through the curtains made of Gyeongra. Benelia, who was admiring the stars from the unobstructed terrace, said without looking back at her.
“I’m sure Jim isn’t an idiot. What is the reason for not posting a greeting?”
Theorard, who finally came to his senses, moved closer and was polite.
“A lowly being dares to insult His Majesty…….”
“It is farm. In any case, you are still stubborn.”
Low laugh. Benelia, giggling with amusement, raised her hand and pointed to the chair next to her.
“Sit down. I have called to speak with you.”
“I will.”
Chairs facing the terrace to enjoy the starlight. Theorard sat there and looked at Benelia’s appearance of her.
Benellia in a simple dress catches her eye her. Considering that she usually wears a uniform, she was a truly unconventional outfit.
She sees her breasts in gentle curves and her thighs exposing the flesh, so she blushes for nothing. Theorard hurriedly averted his gaze and surveyed the view of the sky.
The colorfully embroidered constellations make her eyes ecstatic. As she watched absently, Benelia lazily moved her lips to her.
“Do you know some constellations?”
“I know a little about finding constellations through the Autumn Square, but I’m not very versed in astronomy.”
“Is it. Jim also doesn’t know much about constellations. He didn’t even want to know. The chatter of scholars would be uninteresting and boring. But that is.”
Benelia’s eyes filled with stars sparked a childlike heart.
“As a child, I really liked looking at the stars. Even though the star may disappear, it is not dead. Even though the seasons changed, the years passed, and countless bloody winds blew on this land, the stars existed as stars.”
A star never dies. Benelia realized this when she hid in her attic her to escape the evil behavior of her second brother her, Leonhard.
In her attic her, where the stars were shining, the young Benelia came to yearn for the stars without realizing it. Because she didn’t want to die like that star.
The memory of her days of her, when she earnestly expressed her wish to live with her fern-like hands together, unfolds like a panorama. Benelia, recalling her memories of her, which were no longer nightmares but memories, continued her words slowly.
“I wanted to live. I wanted to survive somehow and contemplate the world. That longing has led me to this place.”
Her father her was imprisoned and her static her was removed. Having executed her her blood relative her Leonhard on the way to exile, she politically isolated everyone in the Esteban family.
It is to write a hand in advance to prevent it from happening with the current regime. Benelia thus centralized her power her and put her empire at her feet her.
Some called this kind of Benelia a pervert. Just because the majority of the people cheer, it cannot be everyone’s opinion.
However, Benelia paid no attention to that fact. Because even if she went back to the past, she would have followed the same train tracks.
It is because she learned from a young age that in order to survive in the imperial family, where schemes and scheming prevail, and in order not to fall victim to the political arena, she has no choice but to trample and crush others.
“The girl who trembled with her fears her and longed for her survival her is now emperor. It must have become a star that loftily shines in the empire just as I had hoped for in my childhood. Still, it seems I’m not satisfied. When survival was solved, my heart started to go to other things.”
A bitter smile forms on Benelia’s face her. Sensing that her mood was unusual, Theo Rad turned her head, and Benelia also turned her head to face Theo Rad. The golden eyes shone brightly in the moonlight.
“I thought about it for a long time. What feelings do I feel for you I had a lot of denial and tried to shake it off. And yet, this uneasy feeling is not going my way.”
Love is like a wick that has started to burn, and even if you want to stop it, you will not be able to stop it.
Benelia’s mind her was not much different either. She had to admit that the fire, which had been far away at first, was now coming too close.
“Theorad Deharm.”
A trembling voice dissipates in the wind. Benelia looked straight into her bewildered Theo Rad’s eyes her, and she spoke her mind her openly.
“I am very strange, it seems that I have fallen in love with you.”
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This is Esily & Elf, drawn by Madou Elf artist, Pyaa!
It looks like you drew Esily dressing the elf-sama in the dressing room before the coronation ceremony!
Thank you so much for the beautiful and pretty picture! It’s a drawing skill that I admire every time.
