By Zephyria 
I thought he might call me to the dark bedroom again, but thankfully, Khalifa was waiting for us in the banquet hall.
After kneeling on the floor, uttering insincere words about the sun god and whatnot, and offering greetings, we sat at opposite ends of the long table. I checked Aegis’s condition before turning my gaze to Khalifa.
Whether he was still hungover or had come straight from drinking, his appearance, which already resembled a drug addict even when he was sober, was even more haggard, making him look like a plague victim with little time left to live.
“I was unusually busy with work today, so I couldn’t attend your wedding.”
My wedding wasn’t today but yesterday, but I simply laughed it off because nitpicking over trivial matters could endanger my life.
“Your Majesty remembering is more than I could ever ask for.”
“I want to give you a gift. Is there anything you want?”
As I was about to utter more insincere words in response to Khalifa’s question, his eyes widened slightly. Then, as if something had occurred to him, he opened his mouth.
“I should give you sturdy toys.”
Toys all of a sudden? What toys is he talking about?
I recalled that Khalifa had recently mistaken my age. Wondering if that was the case again, I remained silent without asking, and Khalifa continued with a smile.
“I heard that the toys in the Harem are all broken.”
“……”
“How many are left now?”
“……”
Belatedly realizing what Khalifa meant by “toys,” my eyes widened involuntarily. It wasn’t just because he was referring to dead people as broken toys, but more so because I couldn’t help but be surprised that he knew about this.
I thought he was just drinking and doing drugs all day, but it seems he’s aware of what’s happening in the castle after all. Mahir wouldn’t have told him this, so there was a high probability that Khalifa had someone in my castle.
“Seven… or eight, perhaps.”
As I muttered to myself, Khalifa smiled again.
“Well, I suppose you can’t remember such things one by one.”
“I apologize.”
As I lowered my gaze and wore a truly apologetic expression, Khalifa leaned back in his chair.
“Hmm.”
“……”
“Yes, it’s empty, so I’ll have to refill it.”
“……”
At Khalifa’s words, I felt a throbbing in my head. I had even taken the blame for being Khalifa’s child to get those people out, but it seemed all my efforts were in vain.
However, I couldn’t openly refuse a gift that Khalifa was offering directly. If Khalifa became displeased, I might survive, but innocent people might die as a result of his tantrum.
“Your Majesty.”
I couldn’t accept all those people again either. So, the best way was to reject his offer as pleasantly as possible without offending Khalifa.
“There is something I want.”
“Hmm?”
I couldn’t refuse the gift he was offering, so I had no choice but to ask for something else. If he knew what was happening in the Harem, Khalifa couldn’t possibly be unaware that I had taken in the child who was stabbed to death that day.
“Do you perhaps remember the child who was with me the day you told me to get married?”
“The child who was with you?”
Even though he clearly knew, Khalifa feigned ignorance. Then, with a brazen face, he opened his mouth.
“You mean that young girl?”
“It’s a boy.”
“Ah, yes. I remember now. The child I scolded for being noisy when I told him to keep his mouth shut.”
Was he that young? I had just ordered someone to bring him, so I didn’t get a good look at him. I only remembered that he had short black hair.
“Actually, that child is in my castle.”
“Hmm.”
“Could you perhaps give him to me?”
It was fortunate that his injuries were severe, requiring time for treatment. If his injuries had been minor and he had been sent out of the Harem, I wouldn’t have been able to get him back.
“Why?”
Khalifa asked me with a bored expression, resting his chin on his hand. I hadn’t thought of a reason, so it was difficult to speak. But if I continued to remain silent, Khalifa would undoubtedly become suspicious.
As I hesitated, Khalifa suddenly smiled.
“Come to think of it, this isn’t something you should be saying with your new bride beside you.”
“……”
“……”
I glanced at Aegis. I had forgotten that Aegis was there because I was so worried about Khalifa finding out about what happened in the Harem.
He probably already thinks I’m a perverted degenerate, and now it seems there’s no turning back.
“You’re fond of that young boy?”
“……”
Ah, shit…
“Your tastes are quite refined.”
“Yes…”
I had no choice but to answer through gritted teeth. Aegis sat quietly, looking down, as if he couldn’t hear anything.
“In that case, I have no reason to refuse. I’ll give you the child and replenish the toys in the Harem.”
“Your Majesty, I prefer having one valuable and good toy over having many common ones.”
I don’t even know what I’m saying anymore. I can’t take back what I’ve already said, and since it’s come to this, there’s nothing I can do.
“Really? But I’d be too disappointed to give you just that one child.”
“No, Your Majesty. I truly have nothing more to ask for, just for you to care so much. Thank you so much, Your Majesty.”
I tried to end the conversation quickly, fearing that Khalifa might change his mind. Fortunately, Khalifa nodded, and I was able to breathe a sigh of relief.
“Come to think of it, I heard there was a commotion today.”
“Yes?”
“I heard that the son of Duke Amir left Talim covered in blood. Did you perhaps do that?”
“……”
I wondered why Khalifa had suddenly called me, and it seems this is the main point. It hasn’t even been half a day, and he already knows.
“Or did your rain do that?”
Khalifa’s gaze landed on Aegis. Cold sweat ran down my back, but I had no choice but to smile with an expression of ignorance.
“Aegis? As you can see, my rain is such a weak and delicate person…”
“Cough.”
“M-Me… I… I did it.”
And with the sudden sound of a small cough, I stammered. My heart was racing like crazy, and my pupils were shaking as if there was an earthquake.
Aegis, looking as frail as anyone could, raised a slender hand to cover his mouth and lowered his head.
“Even so, you beat him like a dog in front of the lower servants?”
“……”
I have no idea how much this man knows. Realizing that there was no point in hiding it any longer, I composed myself and opened my mouth.
“Perhaps the Gongja is young and doesn’t know the imperial etiquette. He was using vulgar language in front of me, so I was taken aback and acted rashly. I was short-sighted. I apologize.”
“If he insulted royalty, you should have killed him on the spot. Why did you let him live?”
It’s true that the Gongja did something wrong, but if you ask me if he did something wrong enough to die on the spot, the answer is no. I just beat him up a bit, so I wish he would just let it go, but Khalifa has no middle ground.
“He dared to insult royalty without knowing his place, so he deserves to die. Immediately…”
“Y-Your Majesty.”
As I opened my mouth in panic, Khalifa’s face turned cold.
“Why? Do you like that child too?”
“……”
“Shall I give you the Duke’s child as a gift as well?”
“……”
I could instinctively tell that things had gone very wrong.
“Anyone who insults royalty is to be executed immediately, regardless of the reason. Kyle, did that bastard insult you?”
A murderous intent began to flow from Khalifa’s rotten, dead fish eyes. I clenched my fists tightly and had no choice but to retract my words.
“I overreacted.”
“He didn’t insult royalty?”
“Yes.”
At my short answer, Khalifa’s gaze landed on Aegis.
“Then he must be punished.”
I had a bad feeling. I was the one who did wrong, so why is he saying such things while looking at Aegis? Ignoring the goosebumps rising on my arms, I said urgently.
“I was the one who did wrong, so I will gladly accept any punishment.”
“No, the punishment will be received by your rain, not you.”
“Your Majesty, I was the one who did wrong, so why…”
As always, my premonitions were never wrong.
“You did wrong, but I can’t very well cut off your arm, can I?”
Cut off my arm? Is this bastard really crazy?
As I turned pale, Khalifa smiled.
“You may not know this, but the blood of something other than humans is mixed in the bodies of Calderians. They may be docile now, but who knows how they’ll change when they become adults. So, it’s best to take precautions before any trouble arises.”
Then why did you marry me off to such a person? If you knew, why did you do it? And now you’re going to cut off his arm? And now Aegis is mine, so who is he to talk about cutting off his arm or whatever?
A fiery rage exploded inside me, but the last bit of reason I had held me back.
“If we cut off his arms and legs so he can’t use his strength, you’ll be relieved too. I was wondering what to do anyway, but it’s fortunate that I have an excuse now.”
“……”
Only then did I realize why Khalifa had called me. Aegis was the target from the very beginning.
My head went ice cold. Khalifa was the kind of person who would really do it if he said he would. Moreover, cutting off the limbs of a princess who came as a hostage to him wasn’t a difficult task at all.
Even if the kingdom protested, even if a war broke out because of it, Khalifa wouldn’t even bat an eye.
“Someone.”
At Khalifa’s soft voice, the door opened and an elderly Servant approached.
“Bring a sword.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“A fancy one. We still have to show some respect.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
I watched silently as the Servant turned and left, then I jumped up from my seat. I could feel Khalifa looking at me with a puzzled expression.
“What’s wrong?”
It was a puzzled voice, but there was a hint of displeasure mixed in. I couldn’t afford to think about not offending Khalifa any further.
“Your Majesty.”
“Kyle, if you’re thinking of asking me not to do it, you shouldn’t bother.”
Khalifa preempted me as if he had guessed what I was going to say. But I couldn’t back down with just this. It was true that Aegis had a bad personality and a bad habit of using his hands, but I couldn’t just stand by and watch his limbs being cut off.
“But wouldn’t it be strange if his limbs were cut off?”
I opened my mouth with a troubled expression. Then Khalifa tilted his head.
“Strange?”
“If he doesn’t have limbs, he’ll look strange… and he won’t be pretty.”
At my words, Khalifa turned his gaze to Aegis. Then he looked back at me and nodded in agreement.
“That’s true. Then how about just cutting his tendons?”
Khalifa suggested a compromise as if he was doing me a favor, but I didn’t like this either.
“Then he won’t even be able to hold a glass in his own hands. What would we use him for?”
“But we can’t just leave him like this.”
So why did you force a well-off child to marry me in the first place? This is absurd, really.
I was tempted to be sarcastic, but I couldn’t. I pretended to be seriously contemplating, then clapped my hands and said, “Ah!”
“How about casting Sealing Magic?”
“Sealing?”
“Isn’t there a magic that’s used to confine royalty who have committed crimes? It’s a simple magic, so I can do it too.”
At my words, Khalifa’s eyes narrowed. I opened my mouth before Khalifa could say anything.
“It’s a simple magic, but it requires the other person’s consent. And if they consent, they can’t undo the seal on their own no matter what happens, so you don’t have to worry about anything else.”
“I know that too. But can’t the person who cast the magic undo it?”
“That’s true, but… would I dare to do that without Your Majesty’s permission?”
“……”
I laughed as I spoke, but Khalifa’s expression was skeptical. A moment of silence passed, and with a small knock, the Servant brought a sword adorned with all sorts of jewels. The Emperor took the sword and looked at me for a moment as he pondered, then opened his mouth.
“There’s no need for you to go to such trouble. There are many Wizards who can cast Sealing Magic.”
“But…”
“Enough.”
Khalifa raised his hand as if to say he was done. Then he handed the jeweled sword back to the Servant and told him to summon a Wizard. I opened my mouth again before the Servant could reply.
“Your Majesty, I don’t like my things being touched by other people.”
“……”
Khalifa frowned and looked at me.
“If anyone can touch it, then it’s no longer of any value to me.”
“Then why did you take the child I was holding?”
“…Isn’t Your Majesty not just anyone?”
Ah, ah… Ah, shit.
I felt like I was going crazy. How long do I have to keep doing this? Am I making the right expressions? Is my voice trembling? Am I standing up straight?
I felt like I was going to die. I wanted to see Mahir. I couldn’t bear it any longer, I wanted to get out of here right now.
“……”
“……”
A long and awkward silence flowed. Khalifa rested his chin on his hand and just stared at me with eyes that I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. I wanted to avoid his gaze, but I couldn’t because I was afraid he would find out that I was lying.
As more time passed, Khalifa said in a slightly subdued voice.
“Since you hate it so much, then do it that way.”
“Thank you.”
“But do it in front of me. Now.”
At those words, I nodded and looked at Aegis with a tired face. Even after listening to this ridiculous conversation, Aegis’s expression was no different from when he had entered this place.
He must be cursing the Actans as shameless trash on the inside. But now I had nothing to say even if I heard those words. Really, even if I had ten mouths…
“Aegis.”
As I reached out my hand, Aegis, who had been still, raised his gaze and looked at me. My face was reflected in his clear, shining eyes. But perhaps because my eyeballs were dry, the focus wasn’t quite right, so I couldn’t see exactly what my expression was like.
I had somehow managed to persuade Khalifa, but the problem was whether Aegis would follow my lead. If Aegis were to say he didn’t want to here, everything would be for naught…
But contrary to my worries, Aegis slowly placed his hand on top of mine. Just like when we entered Sa Dillin a little while ago.
“……”
“……”
I looked at Aegis silently, then turned my gaze away. I couldn’t bear to look him in the eye.
Until the Sealing Magic was completed and a brand that coiled around his slender arm like a snake was engraved, I couldn’t look at Aegis even once.