Became a tyrant of defense games - Episode 184
◈ 184. [Side Story] What you want
The innermost room of the grand banquet hall.
As Serenade cautiously entered the room, the Emperor was waiting alone in his chair..
Serenade was nervous, but did not hesitate and showed her respect properly. He got down on his knees and bowed his head..
“Long live your Majesty, the great Emperor. A lowly god worships the Supreme.”
She was a mess, barefoot and covered in blood and dirt, but the emperor didn't care..
“The Countess of Wintersilver. This is my first time seeing it in person..”
Serenade quietly bowed her head at the emperor's words..
Even on the day Ash and Serenade got engaged, the emperor was not present..
The reason was that official duties were busy, but Serenade couldn't tell if that was really the only reason..
Thus, although she was the emperor's fiancée for 10 years, Serenade never met the emperor in person. This was my first time.
“Let’s be blunt and get to the point first..”
The emperor asked slowly, rubbing his chin..
“I heard that your superiors have decided to provide various assistance to the imperial family. Is it true??”
“It's true. At our top…….”
Serenade tried to tell the four fronts what items the merchants could provide, but the emperor waved his hand and blocked them..
“Since I already heard it from Ash, there is no need to repeat the details. That's something you can gradually control..”
“…….”
“What I want to ask you is about the price you will receive for it..”
Serenade's eyes opened wide..
“cost… … What do you mean??”
“Aren't you a merchant? Instead of providing a product, you should receive a price..”
The emperor grinned..
“what do you hope for?”
“…….”
“In return for your devotion to the empire and the royal family, what do you hope to gain??”
Serenade stammered and lowered her head..
“The girl…….”
“Your father, the Earl of Wintersilver, was always correct in his calculations..”
The Emperor continued without smiling..
“They received compensation equal to the amount of product they provided. So I liked him. He was a trustworthy business partner..”
“…….”
“But I went too far with my last deal. I made a mistake in counting.”
last transaction.
Insolently, the Wintersilver family requested to be in-laws with the imperial family..
The emperor clearly defined it as an overindulgence and a mistake..
“So, Countess. I hope you don't make the same mistake as your father. To calculate accurately.”
“…….”
“Now, answer me. In return for your devotion to the empire and the royal family, what do you hope to gain??”
Serenade's bowed head fell even lower..
Serenade knew. It was because of his father's excessive greed that the family was now on the verge of extinction..
Also, Serenade knew. Here he himself has to answer. What should he ask the emperor for?.
‘You shouldn't expect anything.’
I will dedicate everything I have to the empire and the imperial family, and I will become the emperor's faithful dog and do as I am told. I will not indulge in any vain greed from now on..
so… … Please save my life.
That is the correct answer. I know it well.
So, you have to say.
I have to say it-
- Get what you want. master.
Elise's voice flashed through my mind..
Serenade blinked her silver eyes blankly..
what you want?
That's what you want, that's it…….
- I promise, sister..
At that moment, the scenery of my childhood suddenly covered my eyes..
The boy that day smiled like an angel.
Memories of those young days that grab hold of one's heart at any time and never let go..
‘iced coffee.’
Serenade gritted her teeth..
Know. this is overindulgence.
You are making a mistake in counting. And with this mistake, I might die.
however-
“……The girl wants only one thing.”
If you can't get the one thing you want in your life.
How is it different from dying??
Clenching her fists, straightening her eyes, Serenade raised her head..
And said to the man who rules half the world.
“Please do not break off the engagement between His Highness Prince Ash and the girl..”
“……?”
The emperor quietly blinked his eyes..
Clichés continued to flow from Serenade’s mouth..
Even if it's cliché, it's with unmistakable sincerity..
“I will make him happy for the rest of his life.”
***
After a moment of silence, the emperor spoke..
“Countess.”
“yes.”
“Do you know that there is low blood in your family??”
Serenade lowered her eyes..
“I know.”
“Do you also know that your grandfather was a slave from a different race??”
“……I know.”
“okay. There's no way you wouldn't know. I would have to remind myself every time I look in the mirror every morning..”
Serenade kept her mouth shut..
The light blue hair she inherited from her grandfather and father..
The blood of the mermaid race, a different race that lived in the eastern sea, flowed in Serenade..
Her beautiful hair was the color of a mermaid, and was like the telltale brand of a slave..
“It would be extraordinary enough for a person of different races to ascend to the throne of this country. Now you dare to have an in-law relationship with the imperial family..”
“…….”
“She is truly a sassy woman..”
Serenade's request was ultimately the same as her father's..
Marriage to Ash.
Even though the emperor clearly defined it as an overindulgence and a mistake, he arrogantly demanded it again..
“Why does Genga keep asking for a marriage with Ash??”
The emperor looked more bewildered than angry..
“Is it because it is the family's long-cherished wish to gain royal blood and shed the yoke of being born into heaven??”
“no.”
“If so, is it because they want to further revive the family and the upper class by becoming in-laws of the imperial family??”
“no.”
“So what kind of calculations and tricks are at the foundation? Be honest with Jim..”
Serenade answered truthfully..
“Because I love you.”
“……?”
“Because I have loved him all my life..”
That was the end of the reason.
The emperor, who was so dumbfounded that he just blinked his eyes, soon slapped his knees and burst into laughter..
“Ahahahaha! Did you say Yeonmo or Yeonmo?!”
“…….”
“You put yourself and your family's lives in danger just because of your young and immature feelings! It's foolish, truly foolish.!”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Serenade spoke quietly..
“Thanks to those young and immature emotions, His Royal Highness Prince Ash was able to be born..”
“…….”
The emperor kept his mouth shut and glared at the serenade..
Because of soft hair.
Even though the emperor put himself in a political corner, he reluctantly welcomed the Second Empress Dustia..
This was because the emperor loved Dustia, a former war slave. Her emperor was a fool who burned himself with feelings of love..
And as a result of that love, Ash was born..
“The girl is a merchant, Your Majesty. Calculate, calculate, weigh interests, and weigh pros and cons..”
“…….”
“But the girl knows. The world doesn't just work that way. Even outside of calculations, calculations, and understanding gains and losses, countless things bloom..”
A faint smile crossed Serenade's haggard lips..
“And that it is beautiful. I know it well.”
“…….”
The Emperor continued to remain silent..
Serenade knelt in front of him and slowly bowed her head..
“Our Winter Silver upper division will renovate and contribute to the imperial family. So, Your Majesty.”
“…….”
“The engagement between His Royal Highness Prince Ash and me... … Please do not destroy.”
The serenade prayed to the emperor with all five body forces..
“That's all a lowly girl wants.”
There was a long silence..
In the silence, the Emperor sat motionless in his chair, and Serenade also lay motionless on the floor..
And, finally.
“You're young. Little children.”
A bitter smile appeared on the emperor's lips..
“Foolish, bold, foolish... … Youth.”
“…….”
“It reminds me of Dustia..”
The emperor suddenly remembered the woman he loved..
“was a beautiful person.”
Although he grew up as a slave and had an unsightly appearance,.
He was a kind and warm person. Enough to make him fall in love with the ruler of the empire..
Serenade, who spent her childhood at Dustia's villa, nodded and agreed..
“You were more beautiful than anyone else in this world..”
“…….”
The emperor shook his head slightly and waved his hand..
“The continuation of the Winter Silver upper division is permitted. The Wintersilver family will continue to lead the upper tier and do its best to help and contribute to the affairs of the imperial family and the empire as promised..”
Serenade immediately put her forehead to the ground and closed her eyes..
“I am devastated, Your Majesty..”
“However.”
Serenade's eyes widened at the emperor's next words..
“We cannot guarantee a marriage with Ash..”
“……!”
The emperor chuckled as he watched Serenade's body stiffen..
“Isn’t that your young people’s job to take care of?.”
“yes……?”
“Even if you don't like each other and can't live together, lovers break up the next day. Besides, isn't Ash the biggest playboy in the empire??”
The emperor rubbed his forehead as if he had a headache..
“This is the guy who kicked the princess of the Aryan Kingdom and also tarnished the face of her father who announced his engagement. Plus what? Independent route? Huh... … . I thought she might have grown up a little, but she's a forever unruly brat..”
“…….”
“If you truly love that bastard, you're going to have a hard time in the future..”
The emperor waved his hand..
“I'll give it back to you, my troublemaker youngest son..”
There was a mischievous smile on the ruler's face..
“Be prepared to be kicked and embrace it.”
***
When the serenade came out, the grand banquet hall was a mess..
A delegation from the Northern Kingdom was seen leaving the grand banquet hall..
Larque and Fernandez were seen standing next to the envoys and trying to console them..
Serenade blinked her eyes without knowing what was happening, but a voice came from next to her..
“Well done?”
When Serenade looked in that direction, she saw Ash sprawled out on a pile of broken chairs. Surprised Serenade stuttered and asked.
“What happened to you??”
“Well, various things… … There were things I had to take responsibility for.…….”
Ash groaned and got up. The stylish tailcoat was covered in dust and wood chips..
“So, it worked out well with Abama Ma.?”
“Ah yes! Everything worked out well! You promised to keep our business going..”
Ash blew his whistle..
“good job. You did it right..”
“It's all thanks to you. really… … Thank you so much, sir..”
“We did it together.”
Ash smiled warmly. Serenade swallowed dry saliva..
“And, as for the relationship between me and you, I... … therefore…….”
The engagement wasn't broken off.
We're still promised to get married.
So, from now on, please, I want to be a real lover..
There were many words swirling inside, but they did not come out as voices. The serenade hesitated for a long time..
“serenade.”
Then Ash reached out and squeezed Serenade's hand. Serenade took a breath..
Ash grinned as if he knew what Serenade was thinking. Serenade lowered her red face, unable to face each other..
And Ash said.
“Let's break off the engagement.”
“…….”
Serenade's shoulders stiffened..
After frozen for a moment, unable to understand what this man was saying, Serenade carefully asked back:.
“……yes?”
But you didn't hear wrong.
Ash didn't bother to speak one more time in a clear voice with good vocalization..
“Let's break off our engagement..”
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