Translator: Kimmy

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How could he be so numb with all his family dead except his married step sister and cousin?

The Marquis was worried not as a servant but as someone who lived more than him.

“His Majesty should wed soon too……”

So, Marquis Villiore wished the Emperor would find himself an Empress as soon as possible.

He believed a man should have a foxy wife and rabbit-like children to truly be stable.

If the current Emperor had a wife, perhaps he would be more willing to remain in the position.

It wasn’t that the Emperor was not taking responsibility now, but to the Marquis, the Emperor looked like someone who was willing to leave the position anytime if he had the chance.

On top of that, he knew that the Emperor talked about how he didn’t want to work whenever the Chancellor was not present.

“Yes, well. that’s true……”

He was speaking to himself but Count Maron replied to it.

The Count genuinely wished the Emperor would wed soon and have his wife give birth to many children.

Then, perhaps, he would have fewer nightmares of the Duke becoming the Emperor.

Anyone would be a better Emperor than the Duke; it was what the people of the Empire believed.

“But, he doesn’t seem interested. Perhaps he is attracted to men…….”

“You prick, that is presumptuous. I am going to tell the Chancellor.”

“You muscle monster! As if you don’t gossip!”

“But that person you are gossiping about is the Emperor!”

The two Counts started fighting again, now without keeping court manners and Marquis Villiore sighed.

What Count Pillbourne said was right.

The Emperor seemed to hate women since he frowned and left whenever a woman was present. He never showed interest either.

Ah, except for Lord Emmerich.

But she was an exception to him because the Emperor treated her like a younger sister rather than as a woman.

“I hope he at least marries a commoner.”

“Hey, Marquis. Aren’t we lowering the standard too much?”

“You prick, I am going to tell the Chancellor you said that.”

“You again!”

Marquis Villiore sipped on his tea and spectated the two Counts’ argument.

It was never boring.

“How peaceful.”

He chuckled.

*.·:·.☽✧    ✦    ✧☾.·:·.*

Eric was tearing up because of the Commander who barged in this morning and took the shirt he was going to wear.

When that happened, he was only wearing his underwear and Bri didn’t care about that at all. Only his sensitivity that he inherited from his father reacted, and he felt victimized.

He could hear his mother scolding him and spanking him for being too sensitive.

Eric held back his tears and pulled out another shirt.

‘I was going to wear that today.’

The shirt he was holding wasn’t that bad either but he still felt bad.

And for the second time, someone barged into his door.

“Hey, Eric!”

“Ah! You scared me! What, Amber?”

‘Why is everyone opening the door without knocking?’

Eric, who always respectfully knocked 3 times before asking to enter, was saddened.

But this time he was all dressed.

If he wasn’t, that pompous woman would have teased him all day.

The scarlet-haired woman that barged in was Amber, a daughter of a noble that was uncommon in the Knighthood.

However, no one knew she was a daughter of a noble family before she said so because of her frankness–or rascality.

“I heard Commander Emmerich visited you this morning? How was it? Good?”

“What are you saying….She did come but she only took my shirt….”

“Wow, she saw you naked!”

“No!

“Did His Majesty come?”

Amber stared at Eric with sparkling eyes.

Eric sighed and answered.

“Don’t you think His Majesty is too busy for that?”

She was the knight that aimed for his shirt.

She was a freakishly devoted woman who tried to strip the Emperor more than try to win him the past 3 days.

The Emperor didn’t seem to notice but there were many knights that got chills after realizing that.

What was scarier was that she wasn’t the only one who aimed for his shirt.

Eric was genuinely impressed at the women of the 2nd Order of Knights’ audacity.

“You couldn’t even look at his face properly…”

“Just looking at his body is a win!”

“There are lots of muscles near you. Just go to the training courts. There’s many for you to admire.”

“Looking at the body is nice too but it’s only perfect when the face is handsome. You wouldn’t understand.”

“I don’t want to understand…..”

When she grumbled, Eric was saddened despite the good weather.

‘Oh, mighty Lesa. Please let her be quiet. And please stop her aiming for His Majesty’s body. I’m terrified.”

He felt like he was asking for a miracle to happen but he still prayed to God believing it is better than not praying at all.

*.·:·.☽✧    ✦    ✧☾.·:·.*

Karlos missed the tranquility of his office.

Well, he was still happy that he met the author but she kept holding his hand. The times he held a woman’s hand his whole 32 years could fit in 5 fingers. He just wanted to hide under a blanket and sniff books.

The shyness overpowered the joy.

The ministers would have not believed their eyes if they saw him twisting around from the embarrassment.

“You work at the palace! Woah, that’s amazing E! Ah, Karl?”

“Yes….No, just call me whatever you like….please.”

“Then Karl!”

Eva was so harmless and adorable emitting the ‘I-am-so-happy-right-now’ aura.

But Karlos was still frozen not knowing how to react to her just like how she was a few moments ago.

He couldn’t even ask Brigitta for help

Because she became a total bystander watching them with awe while eating cookies.

In this whole wide nation, no one was on his side.

He became suddenly saddened by that.

“You met Bri after a long time?”

“Ah, yes.”

“That must be nice~ a hometown friend. I want that. Aren’t there many things to talk about when you meet a hometown friend? I love that.”

“Not really.”

“Woah. Is it because you guys are that close? I don’t have many friends so I love that kind of relationship. The only relationships I have left are from work. And I don’t have occasions to go to and make friends. I’m too busy too.”

“I…..see.”

Karlos only answered in a few words but the conversation flew well.

Brigitta looked at Eva in awe at her talkativeness.

She was confused with Eva’s change.

‘I never saw her like that. Wasn’t she always quiet and timid? If she was just a little more cheerful usually, she would have many people around her.’

It was also funny how the Emperor who usually complained so much froze up like that.

He who always said something back to the Chancellor’s scoldings disappeared.

He was exactly like a shy squire, looking up at the ceiling and not knowing how to behave after squeezing out one word.

He did try to speak but his mouth kept closing shut and that amused Brigitta so she avoided his signals for help on purpose.

She thought being disrespectful to him again would not make a big difference after all the other things she already did.

She was unconcerned.

Eva suddenly clapped her hands during her talks.

It seemed to be her habit to clap when she had a sudden idea.

“It’s already lunch! Karl, what would you like to eat?”

“I, I, it’s fine. I, uh, it’s enough for today. Uh. I already got the signature. Staying in a woman’s house for too long… It’s a bit.”

Karlos admired his determination to get her signature in between such chaos.

“It’s just lunch time, what do you mean it’s been too long?! Ah, do you have other plans?”

“N, no I don’t….”

Karlos twitched fingers awkwardly.

Brigitta decided to give a helping hand.

Of course, to Eva.

“Let’s have lunch, Karl. It’s better than eating out right now.”

She had no intention to end this rare sight fast.

She smiled intriguingly and looked at them.

Though it definitely was weaker than usual, the Emperor’s intimidating aura was still there.

But Eva seemed too excited to notice that as she didn’t seem to care about it at all.

A big and scary-looking man that keeps getting surprised by a small lady.

What a sight. It was perfect for some fun during the holiday.

“I’ll cook so it’s fine.”

“Hehe, I am quite bad at cooking so….”

“B, but you are a good writer so it’s fine?”

The Emperor defended Eva with his weirdly executed words.

And at his awkward effort to cheer her up, she burst into laughter.

It was a pure laughter that even Brigitta turned back surprised.

“Ah, I’m sorry. That was so funny. You really are like what I imagined you would be from your letters, Karl!”

Karlos stared at her absent-mindedly.

She couldn’t have felt his 2-meter body and intimidating face from the letters.

But it didn’t really matter. Since she seemed to be having fun.

“I shopped a lot of groceries yesterday so it will be good. It will take some time though.”

“Ah, if so, I should just, uh.”

“If you keep rejecting I will be really sad, Karl.”

Karlos finally nodded.

Eva’s words ultimately changed his mind.

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