No matter how vast the Imperial Palace is, its size isn’t infinite.
“I’ll guide you.”
After arriving at the grand entrance of the enormous castle, a servant personally escorted us.
Thus, we reached a spacious room.
“You can wait here.”
Nodding in response to the servant’s words, I threw myself into the large chair at the head of the table and surveyed my surroundings.
All I saw were golden walls and pillars.
Seriously, what were they trying to flaunt? There was even a massive lion statue as decoration.
But…
“Hmm… It’s flashy.”
That was where my appreciation ended. Flashy, at best.
Maybe it was because my standards had been raised while touring Camilla’s castle and the Academy…
To be more honest, it felt like a space filled with vanity, which simply wasn’t my taste.
In fact, I much preferred Camilla’s castle, simple and understated.
“Hmm.”
I nodded.
As I swung my legs impatiently, waiting for the Emperor, Nameless tilted his head at me.
“Master, are you troubled about something?”
“…Troubled?”
“Yes, you seem deep in thought.”
“Hmm…”
I pondered why he suddenly asked that but couldn’t come up with anything.
Was my expression that bad?
Shaking my head at Nameless’s concern, I replied.
“I’m not troubled…”
“Is that so?”
Right, I’m not troubled.
Rather, I’m full of other thoughts.
Ah, could that be considered a trouble?
Anyway, all I’m thinking about is wanting to resolve this situation and return home, to the little hut where Nameless and I used to stay.
And it makes sense.
Having come to the palace, I had informed Anna that I would resign as a guest lecturer at the Academy.
– Of course, she looked a bit disappointed at my words but eventually nodded.
Other than that, all I had to do was eradicate the bugs in Nameless’s body, but Elia and Bell said they also couldn’t find a solution.
For someone like me, who is as dimwitted as a slug, the only way I could think of to heal Nameless was to rest comfortably in a place with fresh air.
And that place was the hut where we used to stay, where I could treat Nameless without worrying about prying eyes.
Well, if that doesn’t work, I might as well go visit Lili.
Now that it’s been confirmed that the sword cane is indeed a sheath, she might know something being the one who informed me about it.
…Tsk, it’s so annoying she’s not coming to see me.
Of course, I had my suspicions.
This is the capital of the Empire. As a demon race, it wouldn’t have been easy for Lili to come interfere.
Hmm, but thinking about it, she used to come when the Hero and the Saint were around…
Oh well, she must have her reasons.
As I pondered these thoughts, I sighed deeply, feeling a headache start.
… I just want to go back quickly.
To do that, I need to resolve the situation in front of me first.
I’m just hoping the Emperor comes soon.
*
“Your Majesty! There’s still plenty of work left, where are you going…?”
Ignoring the servant trailing behind him, Duke kept moving forward.
“…”
“Your Majesty!”
He didn’t have time to waste on trivial matters.
Why?
Because, more than anyone else, an important guest was waiting for him.
A woman who could potentially become the future Empress of the Empire.
But to keep her waiting for such trivial matters?
“That’s ridiculous.”
It shouldn’t be like this.
The Duke analyzed her based on the information he had from William.
If he kept her waiting using work as an excuse, just to maintain his dignity as an Emperor, it would likely make her dislike him even more, and he’d gain nothing from it.
Just think about it for a moment.
After all, he had invited her here, only for her to turn him down once, right?
Definitely showing no interest in authority, she was likely a woman who, like Camilla, was somewhat liberated.
So, keeping someone like her waiting would be one of the worst choices he could make that would harm the Empire’s splendid future.
While hurrying his steps, the Duke recalled Cheon Ha-rang’s appearance with a smile creeping onto his lips.
Incredibly young-looking for a professor, wise enough to teach someone in Camilla’s stead, and had the strength to fend off an attack single-handedly.
He couldn’t let this chance slip by.
If he missed this opportunity, he might regret it for the rest of his life.
To maximize the chances of success, he had to forget he was the Emperor and rather show respect toward her.
It meant he needed to take a lower stance.
With that determination, the Duke ignored the servants trying to stop him and opened the door to the room where Cheon Ha-rang was waiting.
“Have you been waiting long?”
With a grin, the Duke looked around and began searching for the woman known only by hearsay, Cheon Ha-rang.
Soon, his gaze landed on a young woman with brown hair and round eyes.
Oh…
The Duke stroked his chin, admiring her appearance.
Though with drooping eyes and a hunched posture that could make her look slightly gloomy, her beauty transformed that into a decadent charm.
But…
For someone said to look exotic, she seemed unmistakably, clearly like a citizen of the Empire.
Moreover, didn’t someone say she looked young?
Sure, she was quite young for a professor, but maybe not to the point where William was overreacting.
But…
“That’s actually good.”
There’s nothing wrong with that.
Had she truly looked exotic, it would have been a hassle to welcome her as the Empress due to bloodline issues.
And although she looked somewhat different from the stories heard, William’s words were indeed spot on—she did look young for a professor and was particularly beautiful.
Nodding with a slight smile, the Duke moved slowly toward her.
“I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“…”
The lack of response made the Duke narrow his eyes.
‘Is she really going to act like this?’
It seemed Cheon Ha-rang was even sharper than he had anticipated.
To gauge him like this was unexpected.
But he was an Emperor who had ruled over others and seen various human types for years.
He wouldn’t fall for such shallow tactics.
Still smiling, the Duke cleared his throat lightly, loosened his throat, and walked slowly toward her.
“Professor Cheon Ha-rang? I’d like to discuss the matter of rescuing the Crown Prince.”
Without small talk, he directly launched into the main topic.
As he celebrated his own wisdom, the Duke’s eyebrows furrowed at her subsequent words.
“…Me?”
And then.
Cheon Ha-rang, or rather Bell, tilted her head at the Emperor suddenly pointing at her.
“Not me…”
Bell was utterly uncomfortable in this situation, having to come out just to guide.
Why was this Emperor mistaking her for someone else, of all people—Cheon Ha-rang?
Of course, she didn’t mind being compared to Cheon Ha-rang.
Rather, she was terrified that Cheon Ha-rang might get upset, fearing the aftermath.
Bell almost looked like she was about to cry.
And like Bell, two others were also uncomfortable in this situation.
“Did you mistake my Master for someone else…?”
Nameless looked tense with a furrowed brow.
“…I am Cheon Ha-rang.”
Cheon Ha-rang scratched her head awkwardly.
Upon hearing that, the Duke doubted his ears.
…Was this not the person?
No, now was not the time for such thoughts.
To regain his composure, the Duke shook his head and quickly spun his thoughts around.
Having mistaken someone who had saved the Crown Prince for another person, her mood must have soured significantly.
As he pondered how to remedy this, the Duke turned his attention to the voice coming from the table.
“…”
And it contorted oddly.
…That girl is a professor?
While he had heard from his subordinates that she appeared young, still…
The Duke rubbed his forehead and slowly shifted his gaze from Cheon Ha-rang’s head to her feet.
She didn’t even reach average height, her petite frame matched with a youthful appearance.
She certainly was beautiful, but…
‘William, this is no different from Camilla.’
The same went for Camilla.
As recalling the reason he hadn’t held feelings for Camilla, the Duke felt a throbbing pain in his head.
Seeing Cheon Ha-rang pouting her lips and looking at him with a sulky expression only intensified his headache.
This girl seemed almost dull compared to Camilla.
…Is she really a professor?
A thought crossed his mind: ‘Could she really be trying to play tricks against an Emperor like him?’
Feeling a slight disappointment, the Duke took a seat in the chair opposite Cheon Ha-rang, who was seated at the head.
…But he had to speak with her.
After all, she did something deserving of reward.
“…”
Sure, she looked a bit dimwitted, but the aura she emitted was genuine.
With a deep sigh, the Duke opened his mouth.
“I’m sorry, it seems I made a mistake.”
The conversation had begun.
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