By Zephyria 
Thanks to Elian’s efforts, the country began to quickly regain stability.
He widely publicized the alliance with Radion, preemptively blocking the possibility of war, and also subtly leaked the contract made with Princess Yurvel.
Even if it was just a rumor, the talk of Grand Duke Elian Eshton making some kind of contract with the First Princess of Yurvel, a weapons exporting nation, proved useful to both countries.
This was because rumors about Grand Duke Esiton were famous even in foreign countries, and the Kingdom of Arpen could also create an opportunity to leap higher if the princess became empress.
With all these facts combined, the delegation from Spandia had no choice but to return without even setting foot inside the castle. Uncertainty is what makes people hesitate.
If the alliance was certain, they could prepare accordingly, and if not, they could act accordingly.
However, since it was merely a rumor, it had the effect of preventing decisive action.
‘Still, the most effective rumor must have been that the Fern Knights would be staying in the capital for a while.’
Radion did not show himself directly in Spandia to exert pressure. He merely spread the rumor that he would be staying in Arpen for a while, like a solid shield.
Of course, feeling that this alone was not enough, the Fern Knights and the Arpen Knights held a friendly match. This widely publicized their presence to many.
Even Spandia would not dare to declare war on a place where a legion composed solely of Sword Masters was milling about.
‘In this interval, I must reorganize the country and strengthen its national power.’
Only then could he ensure that war would not break out solely through the country’s own strength.
It would cost astronomical sums of money, but it didn’t matter. It was not a big problem for Elian.
He quickly fulfilled the contract with the princess and moved on to the next stage. Having decided on weapon imports, the only thing left was to distribute them effectively.
The only problem was that the sheer volume meant paperwork was piling up.
That wasn’t all. He also had to handle consultations and paperwork regarding the diplomatic issues arising from the alliance with Radion, making him feel like he needed ten bodies.
“Haaaaa…”
Elian closed his hollow eyes and slammed his head onto the desk.
A dull ache followed, but he welcomed it as it helped ward off sleep.
Fatigue clung to him like a thick, sticky substance, tormenting him. But he couldn’t rest even for a moment.
Partly because he was busy, but also because whenever he had free time, Kirendis’s words kept echoing in his mind.
—You are truly… cruel.
As he closed his eyes, Kirendis’s pained face appeared.
He thought he had finally found the right path after wandering lost, but it felt like he had arrived only to find another dead end.
When he was wandering, he didn’t know where he was going, but now he felt like he was blocked by a high wall, unable to move an inch.
Perhaps that was why he threw himself into his work even more. He handled it with frantic concentration, and even now, he was trying desperately not to think about it.
“Didn’t go well, did it?”
“If you know, don’t ask.”
Lac, who had surely come to stir up trouble, chuckled and seemed pleased. Elian, cornered, was apparently a curious sight.
“It’s truly a wonder to live long enough. To think there are answers your Archduke’s mind can’t find.”
“……”
Come to think of it, this was the first time. Being this cornered. He had never failed to solve a problem he wanted to solve before.
“But when will you fulfill the promised reward? You couldn’t find the answer, but that doesn’t mean my contribution disappears.”
Lac was definitely here to provoke him. Elian looked up and glared at him fiercely.
His already cold face, now etched with deep fatigue, looked even more menacing. But Lac laughed, finding even that amusing.
‘Sigh. Worrying about it will only give me a bigger headache.’
Elian pressed his throbbing temples. Lac then stood up and said,
“When you have a problem that won’t resolve, it’s a good idea to seek advice from those around you instead of bearing it alone. Who knows? Maybe someone can give you a clear answer like I can.”
“……”
“Or perhaps you’d like me to lend a hand?”
“Please, just leave.”
With a voice full of irritation, Lac burst into laughter once more and exited the study. His light footsteps grated on Elian’s nerves.
Nevertheless, Elian couldn’t help but ponder Lac’s words.
Hadn’t he already made things this bad by trying to shoulder everything and worry alone?
He didn’t think Lac, whose brain seemed filled only with muscles, would have the answer, so he fell into quiet contemplation.
‘Who could give good advice in this regard?’
Lion?
He was the most comfortable person to talk to, but it felt a bit awkward to consult him about his uncle’s romantic troubles.
Valterias?
He wasn’t human, so he doubted he could get proper advice from him.
Lucion, Gren, Cecilia, Haron.
They passed the test of knowing both Kirendis and Elian, but they didn’t yet know about Kirendis’s relationship.
To seek advice, he would have to reveal that first, but he was hesitant because of their image as subordinates. Even if he revealed it, it was uncertain whether he could truly confide in them.
‘Realizing a flaw doesn’t mean you can fix it overnight.’
If that was the case, there was only one answer left.
‘Jade.’
But he quickly shook his head and dismissed the idea. Jade was the only person Elian had been able to confide in until now, but this time, it was absolutely out of the question.
‘It hasn’t been that long.’
It was a feeling he had harbored for a long time. It wasn’t something that could be erased in an instant. Given his personality, it might take even longer.
To seek advice from such a person.
‘No, no.’
Elian, disregarding his pride, considered going to Lion.
‘Right. Is this the time to be concerned about pride?’
A lot of time had already passed under the guise of needing to work. Even as he pondered, he was likely drifting further away from Kirendis.
“Alright. I’ve decided!”
“Lord Elian, may I come in…”
“……”
“……”
Standing up abruptly with his fist clenched, which was unlike him, was his undoing.
Elian froze. His awkwardly raised right hand felt incredibly embarrassing.
“…Please.”
“Ah, welcome. Jade. What is it?”
Elian hid his flustered feelings and offered him a seat. He had entrusted too many tasks to Jade.
Besides the external affairs concerning the Imperial Guard, Jade handled most of Elian’s personal tasks.
Not to mention the merchant guilds, he also held important positions related to the information guild Phantom and Solid Bank.
‘Come to think of it, I’ve entrusted too much work to Jade. If I try to reduce it now… he’ll misunderstand, won’t he?’
Since there was no longer a need to struggle alone, he could now delegate to others.
However, the timing was not right, so he planned to consult Jade’s wishes later and proceed slowly.
In any case, now was the time for active communication with Jade.
Thus, Elian continued the conversation, focusing as much as possible on work-related matters.
“Then, we will proceed with this matter as follows.”
“Yes. I will deliver it without fail.”
After finishing the conversation, Jade straightened his back and met Elian’s eyes.
The embarrassment had long since vanished, but for some reason, it was difficult to meet his gaze.
Perhaps it was because he knew the meaning behind that look. Jade always endured and endured, only looking at him like this when he absolutely couldn’t take it anymore.
“You can go now…”
“Lord Elian.”
Before Elian could say anything, Jade spoke first.
“Work is important, but you must rest. Please get at least a little sleep.”
“Mmm… I’m sleeping in between.”
“You know that kind of lie won’t work on me, don’t you?”
“……”
Elian avoided his gaze like a guilty person. Jade, though not talkative, was firm when he did speak, making it difficult to ignore him.
He had regretted not being able to show weakness after overworking himself and collapsing for days on end more than once.
He had regretted it so many times, unable to show any signs of illness due to too many enemies in the Imperial Palace.
After experiencing such things a few times, he began to accept his advice and take breaks, no matter how busy he was.
‘But this time is a little different…’
It wasn’t that he wasn’t resting, but that he couldn’t.
His eyes felt like they would close and he’d fall asleep, but he couldn’t sleep, and even though he was tired, he couldn’t rest.
That was Elian’s current state.
“If you have many worries, I will listen. When the burden is too heavy, it becomes lighter just by sharing it.”
Jade likely already knew why Elian was acting this way. He was one of those who saw and experienced everything happening in the Imperial Palace.
He hadn’t intervened until now because he was Elian’s man. Unconditional trust. A heart that would follow Elian in any situation.
With that alone, he had silently stayed by Elian’s side.
But seeing his body visibly deteriorating, he must have decided he couldn’t just watch.
‘Is it… okay?’
He wanted to confide in him. As Jade said, it might feel a little lighter after confiding. But… was it really alright?
‘How could I…’
Elian shook his head. No matter what, it was too much to ask of Jade.
The moment he made that decision, Jade, who seemed to read Elian’s mind, said, “I am alright now. So you can confide in me.”
Elian’s eyes widened.
His muttering voice contained a mixture of sincerity and falsehood. The statement “I am alright” was a lie, but the statement “you can confide in me” was the truth.
How could he be alright?
But as time had passed, he seemed to have become a little better. The desire to help Elian was a truth without a single falsehood.
Jade had always stood by Elian’s side, so he could be trusted. Most of what he said was true, so Elian smiled faintly and said, “There’s no one like you. What do you mean by always listening without expecting any reward?”
It was a light reprimand for him, who had consistently stayed by his side and listened to his stories since they first met.
However, the person in question seemed to welcome even this, closing his eyes with a gentle smile and saying, “The reward was already received long ago, on the day I first met you, Lord Elian.”
Therefore, there was no need to feel sorry or hesitate; he should be treated as before.
It seemed he had to be treated as if nothing had happened, rather than constantly avoiding him out of guilt.
‘If that’s the case, then treating him that way is the path for Jade’s sake.’
Elian knew this was another one of Jade’s considerations, but he decided to accept it.
It might sting a little now, but there would surely come a day when it would become dull with time.
“I’ve shown you many pathetic sides of myself over the years, so there’s nothing new about it now.”
“At first, you just rambled one-sidedly.”
“And later, you interrogated me like you do now.”
Elian lightly exchanged conversation and recounted the events that had transpired.
The story of dreaming of the future.
The story of making wrong choices because of it.
The story of realizing his foolishness and correcting things one by one.
And… the story of revealing the truth to Kirendis.
Jade listened silently without interruption.
“I don’t know where I went wrong. I feel so lost, like my path is completely blocked. What if I go back and find another dead end? My mind is just complicated in many ways.”
These were his honest feelings. Feelings he had never confided before. His weakest point.
Elian confided it to his most trusted knight.
Speaking like this, his heart felt a little lighter. Even though nothing had been resolved.
“Thank you, Jade. For listening to such a pathetic story. As you said, I feel a bit better after confiding. That’s probably why I used to cling to you and complain.”
At first, it was an attempt to appeal that he wasn’t inherently bad, even if he walked the path of an antagonist. It was because he wanted to keep Jade by his side.
But at some point, he had started to pour out his true feelings.
He was the only one on his side in the suffocating Imperial Palace.
“I am glad that even someone like me can be of help.”
“You are always the best. I’m still receiving help from you.”
Elian glanced at the piles of documents.
Without him, he wouldn’t be where he was today, and most of what he had accomplished was possible because Jade was by his side.
“I am merely doing what I must.”
“That’s what’s so great about it. Look at Lac. He can’t do anything but physical labor, right?”
Elian made a playful joke, and Jade let out a small laugh. Seeing that he didn’t refute it, he seemed to acknowledge Lac’s incompetence as well.
“Lord Elian.”
“Yes?”
Jade called him softly.
He paused for a moment as if he had something important to say, then spoke slowly.
“For the first and last time… may I offer my opinion on this worry?”
First and last.
He was always the one listening, not the one speaking. This was because he was a knight who had pledged loyalty to Elian.
He was someone who would listen and obey silently, no matter what was said. That was Jade.
But this time was different. He looked at Elian with a wistful yet warm expression.
Elian knew that this was the first step Jade had to take forward.
“From now on, it’s okay to offer your opinion without asking. You have the right to do so.”
With sincere words, Elian conveyed his sincerity as well. Then Jade replied with a brighter expression.
“You said you felt lost? And that you were worried about taking the wrong path again.”
“Huh? Yes. I did.”
“Speaking as someone who has watched you for a long time, those words are not like you, Lord Elian.”
“Not like me…?”
Elian tilted his head. Jade then continued slowly.
“You are always the one who walks ahead. You feel lost? You worry about taking the wrong path again? If it were the past, you would never have had such worries.”
His words were true. Such worries only arose concerning Kirendis.
Jade seemed to want to point this out.
“Then the answer is simple. Act as you always have. Instead of retracing your steps, break through head-on. If the path is blocked, you simply smash through it by any means necessary, don’t you? And if that wall is too solid to break through, there must be a solution somewhere. And you, Lord Elian, have always found it. Haven’t you?”
Elian could not say a word. His quiet words were filled with the trust and faith they had built together.
The days when, no matter what hardship befell him, he would find a solution, even if he clutched his head in anguish.
When he thought that far, a hollow laugh escaped him.
‘I’m such a fool.’
He had been pointed out by Lac once, yet he had forgotten again.
The fact that he was ‘Elian Eshton’.
“Yes. That’s right.”
His head felt clear once more. Elian smiled with a relaxed expression.
Seeing his expression, Jade stood up as if his task was complete.
“Thank you, Jade. For always… believing in me.”
“That is also what I must do.”
It was still a Jade-like answer, so Elian chuckled.
‘Right. I can’t just stand around feeling lost. I have to do something.’
Energized, Elian decided he needed to recover his condition first. He felt he could sleep a little now after confiding in Jade and gaining strength.
“And…”
He thought he had finished speaking, but it seemed there was more.
Jade paused for a moment, then continued in a calm voice.
“Sometimes, things cannot be conveyed unless they are spoken.”
“Huh?”
It was an abrupt piece of advice.
Elian tilted his head, but with the following words, he understood the intention behind them.
“Just as I conveyed my feelings… to you.”
Ah…
Elian stared blankly at Jade. Seeing his rather amusing expression, Jade smiled faintly and bowed his head.
“Then, I shall take my leave.”
“Oh? Uh…”
Elian stood still for a very brief moment, staring into space. After Jade left, silence gradually filled the study where he was left alone.
After some time had passed, it was Elian’s single remark that broke the long silence.
“I should have… confessed first.”
Perhaps it was something too obvious. Elian had never once told Kirendis that he loved him.
He had even thrown out cruel words, saying he never loved him, when they had gone down the wrong path.
To put it simply, the worst of the worst.
Trash among trash.
‘Kirendis might be thinking that I don’t love him.’
If that were the case, Kirendis’s reaction would be understandable.
What importance would it hold if the other party didn’t love him, and therefore he didn’t have to enter into a marriage of alliance?
‘No, even so, how could he not know?’
Nevertheless, Elian couldn’t accept it. He had a history of saying cruel things, but wasn’t there an unavoidable circumstance back then!
Now that the truth had been revealed, shouldn’t the misunderstanding have been cleared up naturally?
‘No. I didn’t say it was a misunderstanding, so he might not know. Let’s not shift the blame.’
As Jade had said, there were things that wouldn’t be conveyed unless spoken.
Hadn’t Elian himself become a fool whenever Kirendis was involved?
If even he, whose mind worked so well, was like that, how much more so would Kirendis be?
‘His heart… is delicate.’
Was it only his heart? Kirendis was never able to feel certain. He was always anxious and impatient.
It had gotten better after they had shared their bodies, and that seemed to be because he thought their hearts had fully connected.
‘And I denied that.’
Elian cursed his past self. Still, he had found a reason, so all that was left was to act.
What he had to do now was to convey his feelings to Kirendis.
To say he liked him, to say he loved him, and to correct the misunderstanding.
‘This time, I must be truly honest… and say everything.’
He had to bring out all the feelings he had hidden out of embarrassment and convey them. Otherwise, Kirendis would surely not believe him. He had to approach this very carefully.
‘I was truly a fool.’
If I hadn’t hurt him with words I didn’t mean, things wouldn’t have become this difficult.
‘But it’s too late to regret it now.’
Elian got up from his seat. After resting, his mind was working sharply again.
After confiding in Jade, he had gained confidence. More precisely, it was courage.
He summoned people to the Imperial Palace, and those who had heard the news gathered in one place.
“Uncle!”
“You’ve arrived.”
“Lord Elian!”
“Welcome!”
“Long, long time…”
It was Lion, Lucian, Gren, Cecilia, and Haron.
Seeing their faces, he wondered if this was the right thing to do. But he resolved to steel his heart. He couldn’t let the courage he had gained go to waste.
“Ahem. The reason I’ve gathered you all here is…”
Elian began awkwardly. They were curious as to why he had gathered so many people.
“Well…”
However, his lips didn’t move as easily as he thought. Right. Would a person change 180 degrees just because they gained a little courage?
This gathering was made precisely because he doubted whether he could speak honestly and sincerely here.
If it was this difficult to say such things to others, how could he confess to the person himself!
He doubted if he could even open his mouth properly.
In that sense, this gathering would serve as an excellent rehearsal.
Elian took a deep breath and spoke slowly.
“The reason I’ve gathered you all here is because I wanted to ask how to convey my true feelings… effectively.”
Done!
Elian cheered inwardly, maintaining a poker face. He felt he had taken a step forward just by finally speaking.
But…
“True feelings?”
“If it’s true feelings…”
“What kind of…”
…
Elian had no choice but to fall silent for a moment. His meaning was not being conveyed at all.
Thinking about it, it was understandable. Without knowing the context, it was natural that they wouldn’t know the reason for such a remark.
Only Lion, who understood what was being said, suppressed a laugh.
‘Damn it.’
He felt like he was undermining his own dignity as an uncle. But there was no turning back now.
Elian mustered his courage once more and said,
“Kirendis and I had a misunderstanding. We are not on good terms. So, I want to resolve the misunderstanding. To be precise, I want to convey my feelings.”
Surely… they would understand by now?
He looked at the three people with hope. But they drew an unexpected conclusion.
“So, you want to apologize?!”
“And you’re wondering how to deliver a sincere apology effectively.”
“Lord Elian, leave it to me!”
The three began to chatter excitedly, as if they had finally found the answer.
A sense of awkwardness swept through Elian’s mind.
While they were all sincere, he felt he shouldn’t accept their advice as is.
The conversation was likely to head in the wrong direction. So, he tried to correct it quickly.
“It’s not that, it’s a confession…”
“Confession?”
“Confession?”
“Confession?”
But the three still tilted their heads. Looking at their innocent faces, he couldn’t find any connection.
‘This is unbelievable. How can they be so dense?’
Elian despaired. But he couldn’t give up like this. The same reaction could occur if he said the same thing to Kirendis.
So, he had to speak more clearly.
“So, a confession is…”
But his face turned bright red, and he couldn’t utter the words. His throat felt completely blocked.
At that moment, Lion stepped forward.
“Everyone, don’t overcomplicate it as if it’s Uncle’s problem. How else would the word ‘confession’ be used in an ordinary situation?”
“Ordinary…”
“Situation…?”
“Ah… then…!”
The three’s eyes widened, as if they had finally realized something.
Gren’s mouth hung open, Cecilia blinked in surprise with her hand over her mouth. And Haron…
“Lord Elian, do you like Kirendis?!”
“……”
He shouted with a pure face. Because he leaned in so close, his embarrassment and awkwardness doubled, and the surrounding sounds blurred.
It was Cecilia who stopped him.
“Kirendis? Call him Duke.”
“Ah, right. Duke Kirendis.”
Even with the title of Duke added after his name, it was far from proper etiquette. But since Haron was someone who lived with a screw loose, everyone just let it slide.
“Haron is right. So, everyone, please give me serious advice. As you all know, I’m very weak in these matters.”
This much was already significant growth. He had directly spoken his weakness and admitted it.
In the past, it would have been unimaginable. He had always had to be strong, an individual with no weaknesses.
Since everyone present knew that well, they seemed quite pleased.
Not only was Elian opening up his heart, but he was also revealing his weakest point.
“Hahaha! If it’s about that, then I’m your expert! When it comes to sincerity, it’s Gren! When it comes to confession, it’s Gren!”
“What nonsense are you spouting so loudly? There’s no need to listen to the words of someone who always gets rejected. I’m always on the receiving end of sincere confessions, so I can help.”
“I’ll help diligently too!”
The excited three began to chatter noisily. The reception room, which had suddenly become lively, was filled with warmth.
The people here did not laugh when he spoke his truth, and they embraced him warmly when he spoke of his weaknesses.
The atmosphere of the Imperial Palace, so different from the past, was palpable.
“Hmm. You all don’t know. You all seem to have forgotten that I am Kirendis’s close friend?”
Lucian spoke confidently amidst the noise. He too seemed quite pleased with Elian’s non-confession, acting uncharacteristically excited.
Lion, who already knew the whole situation, was the same.
“After all, wouldn’t I be the most helpful, having listened to Kirendis’s heart for so long? Even if the meaning was different, we often had long conversations as an admirer who liked Uncle.”
As Lion said this with a bright smile, everyone’s eyes widened. Whatever they were surprised by, their faces showed considerable shock.
“No, then…”
“Kirendis feels the same way?!”
“Cecilia. Just now, you told me to call him Duke…”
“Is that important right now?”
“If the two of them feel the same…”
“Then why…”
“Are you having these worries?”
Four pairs of eyes turned towards Elian.
“……”
Their gazes were so persistent that he averted his eyes for a moment. But if he didn’t answer, the conversation wouldn’t continue.
That meant he wouldn’t be able to get advice from those who knew Kirendis better than anyone.
“Well, that’s because…”
Elian shouted, closing his eyes tightly, thinking, ‘Whatever happens, happens.’
“I’m… shy!”
“……”
“……”
“……”
“……”
A long silence ensued.
Their faces showed they had never expected such words to come from the mouth of Archduke Elian Eshton, known as the Iron Blood Archduke.
Only Lion, his family and confidant, smiled and began to sort out the situation on Elian’s behalf.
“Well, instead of just standing here, shouldn’t we quickly gather our opinions for our shy Uncle? That way, Uncle will be less embarrassed.”
Of course, Lion wasn’t necessarily on Elian’s side.
Still, his heart felt lighter after confiding everything. In the luxurious reception room of the Imperial Palace, a meeting was held under the embarrassing theme of ‘Lord Elian’s Confession Grand Operation.’
Everyone laughed and casually offered opinions, but their hearts were sincere in wishing him well.
“When it comes to a confession, of course, it’s a large bouquet and a ring. If you present the bouquet and then put on the ring while saying ‘I love you,’ it’s a hundred percent, sure to win them over.”
The first speaker was Cecilia. She boasted confidently. But Gren immediately refuted her words.
“What sincerity is melted into that? Lord Elian wants to speak his true feelings. Lord Elian, instead, go to a quiet and atmospheric place and confess calmly. That is the best. I know a fantastic place where one’s true feelings come pouring out under the influence of the atmosphere, so let’s go there.”
“No, what are you even talking about? You can only feel sincerity with a gift. Lord Elian, you must prepare the most expensive ring in the world. Nothing conveys sincerity like that.”
“What? How can you feel sincerity with material things? Lord Elian, it’s all about the atmosphere, the atmosphere!”
The two who shouted began to fight fiercely, insisting their opinions were correct.
Both were so confident that it was impossible to know which statement was right.
“You’re all pathetic. Nobles must convey their sincerity like nobles.”
At that moment, Lucian, the representative of the nobles, spoke.
“Lord Elian, it must be a letter. You are asking for help because conveying your true feelings is difficult, so you should do it by letter, shouldn’t you?”
“Oh!”
Elian’s eyes lit up, as a letter certainly seemed like a good idea.
Lucian puffed out his chest with a smug look. Then, the other two gnawed on their fingernails as if resentful.
“Then I’ll deliver the letter! I can approach and deliver it more quietly than anyone else.”
“Then shall I offer suggestions on what to write?”
Haron and Lion spoke in succession.
His heart felt much lighter, as they offered to help with the most difficult task of writing and delivering the letter. He felt that he might be able to convey his feelings safely this way.
‘Wait.’
At that moment, a thought flashed through his mind.
‘If it becomes like this, can I say this is my true feeling?’
Receiving advice on the method was one thing, but if he received help with writing and delivering the letter, what was the point?
There was a risk that it might not be considered a genuine expression of his feelings.
“Haa…”
Elian let out a long sigh. It was back to square one.
Various other ideas were exchanged afterward, but the conclusion was one.
‘I… have to do it myself.’
Rather, after the conversation, it became clearer. He realized he couldn’t use shyness as an excuse.
Still, he decided to accept some of the advice given by those who had earnestly offered their opinions.
It was the gift.
‘Elire Jewelry.’
It was the largest jewelry store in the capital, owned by Elian.
After securing a certain amount of money, the first thing he established was this jewelry store, because nothing sold as well as luxury goods.
It was also useful because he could occasionally extort nobles and sell items at exorbitant prices.
‘I don’t have much interest in jewelry, but…’
He chose this place nonetheless because Cecilia had strongly insisted that a confession absolutely required an expensive ring.
Elian also felt a bit embarrassed to just hand over a letter, so he decided to give a gift along with it.
“Welcome… Archduke! Welcome.”
A man who was about to greet him normally recognized Elian and rushed over.
“It is an honor to see you like this. The item you requested is here.”
He was led by the man to a vault inaccessible to just anyone. An extremely expensive jewel had been prepared for today.
‘The expenditure is large, but this much should be fine…’
His financial situation was tight due to the contract with the princess, but it was still manageable. As emphasized repeatedly, money… could always be earned.
In fact, there were many sources of income. Where else would money come from? Using the two allied nations and the newly acquired territory, he could sweep it all up at any time.
‘This is also an investment for that time.’
If this single jewel could move Kirendis’s heart, it was a bargain. Then his mind would be at ease, and when his mind was at ease, he could spend even more money without restraint.
—Click.
As the vault door opened, the man handed over an exquisite box.
“Please inspect it.”
He took it and opened the box, revealing a beautiful bracelet.
“Ah…”
Elian let out a small gasp and examined the bracelet closely.
A red gem and a blue gem were set on a simple platinum chain, sparkling beautifully.
With the gems, symbolizing the two of them, set side-by-side, the item felt a little more special.
He liked it much more than he had expected. As he confirmed its appearance, the man offered another identical box.
“Please inspect this one as well.”
“No. It’s fine. Since the design is the same, there’s no need to check. I appreciate you rushing, as time was short.”
“Not at all. It is an honor to be of assistance to Lord Elian.”
The man’s face showed emotion at Elian’s words, then he smiled gently and maintained his etiquette.
Accepting an item of immense value without inspection was a sign of great trust, which made him even more so.
“Please be careful on your way.”
“I will visit again.”
Thus, Elian, with the gift for Kirendis in his arms, got into the carriage. With the gift prepared, all that was left was to deliver it.
“Should I… wear mine?”
Elian carefully opened one of the boxes and took out a bracelet.
A couple’s bracelet of the same design. Cecilia had said it had to be a ring, but Elian couldn’t bring himself to do it.
‘It’s too… direct.’
A ring was too embarrassing. He wondered what use embarrassment was now, but this was Elian’s limit.
“It’s pretty… isn’t it.”
Looking at the bracelet that fit his wrist perfectly, his heart felt warm. He longed to convey his feelings and have the same one adorned on his wrist.
A letter written with all his heart. An expensive gift.
Elian began to linger around Kirendis to deliver them.
However, opportunities rarely arose. There were always people surrounding him.
Just imagining handing it over made his heart race, but doing it in a place with many eyes watching?
It was impossible.
“Haa… it’s not easy.”
It seemed he had made the right choice to substitute it with a letter after all. If he couldn’t even deliver an item, how could he convey his feelings?
Nevertheless, the lack of even an opportunity was frustrating. He wondered if Kirendis was deliberately avoiding creating situations where they would be alone.
“It’s not ‘perhaps,’ it’s entirely possible.”
Elian observed Kirendis closely. Then, he soon reached a conclusion.
‘He’s really avoiding me, isn’t he?’
Kirendis was always surrounded by people. But usually, there were moments when he was alone, even briefly.
It was suspicious, so I observed him closely and saw him accepting people in a way that prevented them from leaving his side.
Nodding and accepting even unnecessary conversations was proof of that. Then, when Elian gave up, he finally boarded the carriage leaving the palace.
It seemed to be because the only time he was left alone was when he boarded the carriage.
‘What… should I do?’
Sighs escaped him one after another, but Elian couldn’t give up. He had to force his way in.
‘Should I try getting Valterias’s help?’
He thought maybe Kirendis would meet him if he stormed onto the balcony like last time, but he quietly shook his head.
That too was impossible without Kirendis’s will to meet him. He could simply choose not to open the window.
“I’m ruined…”
Elian despaired. Since he didn’t have the confidence to express himself verbally, he wrote a letter and prepared a gift.
This was also a compromise, so he wanted to deliver the gift himself. But since he wouldn’t even meet him, he couldn’t even try.
“Shall I help?”
The voice of the person he wanted to encounter the least was heard.
When he turned his head, he saw Lac’s annoying face.
“Help with what? I don’t need it, so get lost.”
If anyone, it was definitely not Lac. He felt that even things that could be resolved would get tangled up if he accepted his help.
Moreover, Lac was not someone who acted without gaining something. For him, that gain was amusement.
In other words, helping Elian meant it was fun, and the resulting outcome meant it would be anything but fun.
“Aren’t you in a difficult situation because Duke Lipen won’t meet you? I’ll help you. I can definitely make him meet you.”
“…”
It was highly suspicious, but he was confident. Although Lac was frivolous in his conduct, he was not a liar.
That made him ponder even more. The suspiciously tempting offer was too appealing. The more time passed, the more difficult it became for him.
Elian shifted his gaze to his target.
Kirendis was, as usual, chatting with nobles.
“He’s doing that deliberately to avoid you. You’ll never meet him without my help,” Lac whispered like a devil beside him.
“Timing is so important between lovers. If you delay any longer, it might be irreversible.”
Those words were valid. He couldn’t wait any longer. He had to convey it to Kirendis before it was too late.
“Alright.”
“Oh!”
“But.”
Elian turned his head and looked at Lac. He had agreed, but there were things he had to clarify.
“Don’t call me by my name. Address me respectfully as ‘Your Highness’.”
He quickly stopped Lac, who was trying to speak casually. He was already climbing over him by calling him ‘Your Highness, Your Highness,’ and if he let him get any more comfortable, there would be no end to it.
Even if he complained about being hurt, it was a part he absolutely could not allow.
“Alright, alright. Your Highness. Happy now?”
Of course, Lac was completely unfazed. He was the type who didn’t care about titles.
Perhaps it was because he knew that, that he hadn’t driven Lac away until now.
“Then, I’m doing it now?”
“What on earth are you planning to do…”
Before he could finish his sentence, Lac pushed Elian against the wall.
“Ugh. You’re doing this now…”
His back, which had hit the wall, cried out with a dull pain. The moment he tried to protest what he was doing, his aura spread out with a whoosh.
He raised his head in surprise. Lac was grinning with delight, pinning him against the wall.
“…”
“…”
Elian knew this face. It was the face he made when he was having fun teasing Kirendis in the past.
‘Wait a minute.’
Elian, whose thoughts had reached that point, turned his head.
The Sword Master deliberately made his presence known, as if saying, ‘I am here.’ Although ordinary people might not have noticed due to the distance, Kirendis was different.
As he was also a Sword Master, he would have clearly felt it.
“…”
“…”
Their gazes met.
Neither Elian nor Kirendis said a word. Since they were far apart, it was natural that they couldn’t converse, but it felt as if they were deliberately not speaking.
It felt as if they were in the same space, searching each other out. Their hot gazes burned as if to consume everything.
But the atmosphere quickly reversed and sank into gloom. Then, as emotions vanished, he saw Kirendis avert his gaze.
It felt like… giving up on everything.
“Uh, uh…”
Kirendis was seen muttering something and turning his back.
Elian was flustered. If he left like this…
“Chase him. You might be able to meet him now?”
“Damn it.”
As expected, he shouldn’t have trusted him. He should have trusted someone he could trust, not Lac.
Regret washed over him, but the water had already been spilled.
Elian threw Lac aside and ran with all his might. The remaining nobles were bewildered by his undignified running, but he didn’t care.
He just looked ahead. His only thought was to catch Kirendis as quickly as possible.
‘If I catch him… what should I say?’
One word. He had to explain the entire situation in just one word.
Elian’s heart pounded.
‘Think. Think of it.’
Had he ever felt this anxious in his life? Had he ever been this uneasy?
Thanks to running with all his might, Elian managed to make Kirendis turn around. Perhaps Kirendis had let himself be caught.
Believing so, he uttered the one word that could explain everything.
“I love you.”
“I never loved you.”
The shock he felt upon hearing those words was indescribable. Elian’s warm smile. His eyes. His body heat.
He couldn’t believe that all of it was a lie. But that’s what he said. He had never loved him and it was merely simple curiosity.
His chest felt like it would burst. It felt like it was being torn to shreds. The more he thought about it, the more intense it became, but he couldn’t stop.
He couldn’t stand by and watch Elian be sold off like that to protect the country.
‘Right. Elian is Elian.’
After agonizing for a long time, his mind cooled down and became clear.
He had watched him for a long time. He had always kept an eye on him whenever he heard news of him.
He had heard about him from Lion and even discussed what kind of person he was.
When he finally met him after a long wait, he realized he was an even more wonderful and lovely person than he had imagined.
‘It couldn’t have been genuine.’
Kirendis chose to believe what he had seen and experienced. The anxiety that it might have been genuine lingered, but he thought preventing him from leaving was the priority for now.
So, he devised an absurd plan. Lion expressed concern, asking if that was the only way, but he sided with him.
It was possible because he had no intention of dragging out the alliance marriage until the end.
The Princess wanted various variables to arise after the announcement of the alliance marriage. Through that, she hoped to secure a definite opportunity for the throne.
Kirendis felt the same. He was satisfied as long as the war could be safely overcome, so he joined hands with her.
If he received weapons support from Yurvel, he could fight and win against Spandia. He thought it would be a profitable deal if that happened.
‘That’s what I thought…’
The situation changed overnight.
They formed an alliance with Radion, and Elian made some kind of contract with Yurvel’s Princess.
A pact.
Elian said he had made the pact by putting his heart on the line for it.
Why would he go out of his way to say such a thing?
‘Because he loves me…?’
Kirendis thought it wasn’t the case. Elian’s feelings were mere fondness.
A small pity and fondness that arose from the moment he saved the child suffering in the arena.
That was all.
“I’m sorry. My thoughts were too short-sighted. I saw a future where you would die. So, I thought I had to stop the war first. That’s why I was impatient… and so…”
Elian was a kind person. A kind and gentle person. Elian was the type of person who could perform such gentle actions with just a little fondness and pity. Once, that was salvation, but not now.
“You are truly… cruel.”
He just wanted to walk together.
He wanted to be the one who protected, not the one who was protected.
He wanted to comfort him when he was struggling, and cry with him when he was sad.
But Elian always made decisions alone and moved forward alone. He didn’t want help.
What he wanted was not someone to walk with him. It was someone to chase closely behind him. If so…
‘I cannot be by his side.’
His feelings were not to that extent. Even if it were a lie, he could follow his back, but he didn’t want to.
Looking at him would make him greedy. That would be troublesome for Elian.
That’s why, even knowing he was lingering around, he did nothing. Instead, he was wary and avoided him.
Because even a small crack would make him feel like he would be utterly shaken. He felt like he would retract his decision and seek an easier path.
Even though he knew it was the path to hell.
However, he realized that all those thoughts were in vain.
The moment he witnessed Elian and Lac together in a strange pose, a burning heat surged within him.
If just seeing such a sight made him feel this way, could he possibly be alright? Could he live a proper life? Would there ever be a day when this feeling would calm down?
‘No.’
Such a day would never come. Kirendis realized that there was still lingering attachment in his heart.
If he couldn’t walk together, if he couldn’t follow his back, he had to go somewhere he couldn’t see.
He shouldn’t be loitering where his eyes could reach, but should be in a place no one could find.
‘It wouldn’t be bad to go down to the territory and settle down while I’m at it.’
His heart wouldn’t feel better just because he was out of sight. But he could avoid making Elian troubled.
Kirendis thought that was enough. He thought he had to do that.
‘But why does my heart ache so much?’
He kept thinking as he took a step forward, not even knowing where he was going.
It was truly the end now. He repeated to himself that he must not meet Elian anymore, nor see him from afar. Although it was incredibly painful and sad, he kept engraving it in his heart.
After repeating it for a long time, he felt a warm touch and was turned around.
“I love you.”
Words that sounded like an illusion were heard.
“I love you.”
Elian’s face flushed crimson.
He had blurted it out without thinking, in his haste. The impact was hitting him too hard.
His heart began to pound like crazy. Blood rushed to his face, making it impossible to hold the box properly.
But he had to say it. Kirendis was still looking down at him with an expression of disbelief.
“So… what just happened was Lac playing a prank. He said he’d make sure you met me because you seemed to be avoiding me…”
Having said this much, Elian realized his mistake and quickly corrected himself.
“That doesn’t mean my feelings are a prank. I wanted to tell you for a long time, but I was too embarrassed. I should have said this first…”
Blaming himself for being foolish, he conveyed it clearly. He took Kirendis’s hand, who was still standing there blankly, and met his eyes to express his feelings.
“I love you, Kirendis. Everything I said before was a lie. I like you more than anyone else, and I cherish you.”
“…”
“I’m sorry I’m saying this so late. Even though saying this now won’t erase the hurt you’ve experienced…”
“…”
“But… will you give me a chance, just once?”
He had said it.
Finally, he had condensed and delivered the contents of his letter. Having written it down once, he could convey it with certainty.
But Kirendis still had no answer. He just stared down at Elian blankly.
‘Why isn’t he saying anything?’
Elian nervously bit his lip. Then he remembered the gift in his arms.
“Ah, right.”
He took out the box and opened the lid. A beautiful bracelet was revealed inside the luxurious velvet box.
“This… a gift of reconciliation…”
Kirendis’s gaze turned to the bracelet. He saw a bracelet of the same design on Elian’s wrist, which he had raised to hand over the box.
Only then did Elian quickly change the name of the gift.
“It’s… a couple’s bracelet.”
His voice was barely audible, but the sensitive Sword Master must have heard it.
Kirendis, with an unreadable expression, picked up the bracelet and asked, “Is this… only for me?”
Elian was flustered but managed to answer.
“Uh… yes. It’s for you and me only.”
“If I receive this, will Elian become the same as me?”
“Huh?”
He couldn’t understand the meaning behind the question. What did he mean by becoming the same?
The answer to that question was given by the person himself.
“I don’t want to be someone who chases after Elian. I want to walk beside him as an equal. I want to protect, not be protected. I want to comfort him when he’s struggling, and cry with him when he’s sad.”
Ah…
Elian let out a small sigh and looked at Kirendis. Only then could he understand what this man was thinking.
What he wanted was to be together. Not to sacrifice alone in the name of love, but to always be together.
That’s why he couldn’t accept it even after hearing the truth. Because that statement, too, was something Elian had concluded on his own.
“Can you… do that?”
He couldn’t believe he was only realizing this important fact now. How foolish could he possibly be?
Elian sincerely apologized to Kirendis, who still couldn’t believe him even after receiving his confession of love.
“I’m sorry.”
Kirendis’s eyes, which had shown sadness as if he had misunderstood something, began to change to surprise and joy as the words continued.
“While I said I loved you, I didn’t realize anything important. But from now on, I will change. I will be with you in any situation. Let’s walk together, discussing things. Let’s comfort each other when it’s hard, and cry together when we’re sad.”
“…”
“However, there’s one thing I won’t concede. My resolve to protect you.”
“…”
“But you protect me too. Wouldn’t that be enough?”
Elian smiled faintly as he faced Kirendis. At that moment, tears began to well up in his eyes and drip down.
“Huh?”
Elian’s eyes widened. They weren’t tears of sadness. He could feel the joy within them.
However, the effect of the tears was so strong that he didn’t know what to do.
“Wait, wait. Did I say something wrong? Tell me, and I’ll change it. No, I’ll correct it. I don’t know what you’re thinking, but it’s because I’m clumsy, so let’s resolve it through conversation. Okay?”
Seeing Elian suggest resolving things through conversation, Kirendis felt genuine relief.
It was different from the past. Elian was facing his feelings head-on. He had said he would accept him and walk with him.
He wondered if this was also a lie, as he was good at lying, but his movements and voice, trying to make up for his clumsiness, were not false.
They were filled with Elian’s sincerity.
‘Elian… loves me.’
He didn’t know if the feelings were the same yet. His own feelings might be too large, creating a difference.
But if they walked together, they would meet. If he waited a little and Elian ran a little faster, they could meet again and walk looking in the same direction.
Kirendis thought that was enough.
“I love you. I love you, Elian. I truly… truly love you very much.”
The man confessing with clear tears dripping down was truly beautiful. Elian forgot his embarrassment and just stared blankly.
Then, suddenly, he noticed that Kirendis still harbored some anxiety. Even after saying this, he still hadn’t realized it.
Elian smiled softly, approached him, and said,
“You fool. I love you more than you think. If you can’t believe me, I’ll keep telling you. We have plenty of time.”
Elian took Kirendis’s hand and pulled him closer. A beautiful face was cast over him. Tears were still dripping, but the anxiety seemed to have somewhat subsided.
It wasn’t perfect yet, but it was fine. No, it didn’t need to be perfect. Hardships and trials could come at any time.
So, rather than obsessing over perfection, he chose to walk forward, holding hands. As long as they were connected, they could talk anytime, and if that built up, they could overcome any hardship that came their way.
That would be enough.
‘Ah…’
My vision turned white, and one future unfolded. It was a future where the two of them lived happily. Fragmentary scenes flashed by quickly, etched into my mind.
Within it was the future Elian had so longed for.
A free future he would build with Kirendis.
A future more certain than any other.
Etching that future deeply, I opened my eyes.
“I love you, Elian.”
Kirendis confessed, his gaze full of affection. As if etching the emotions within it, he too conveyed his feelings.
With a clear voice filled with certainty, more than ever before.
Hoping this time, it would reach him completely.
“I love you, Kirendis.”
Epilogue
Having successfully confessed and cleared up the misunderstanding, Elian could finally work with a lighter heart.
If he had known his heart would feel this light, he should have spoken up sooner. He wondered what kind of hardship he had endured by delaying it out of mere embarrassment.
If he had spoken honestly from the beginning, wouldn’t he have avoided all this?
It was the same for Kirendis, who had agonized endlessly, and for Elian, who hadn’t slept a wink out of worry.
‘Well… it was resolved well in the end, though.’
Elian picked up the pace with his lightened heart. As his worries vanished, the abilities he possessed from the start began to manifest.
With systematic and swift work processing, he soon got the Imperial Palace back on track. The Imperial Palace and the capital regained peace, and people’s hearts found a sense of ease.
But Elian didn’t stop.
He had to engage in full-scale exchange with Radion and impart diplomatic skills, and he had to pay close attention to world affairs to help the Princess of Yurvel.
On top of that, he was still immersed in work, striving to replenish the funds that had been lost this time by managing the merchant guilds.
Given the circumstances, it was perhaps natural that Kirendis began to express his dissatisfaction.
“Even if you’re busy, how long are you going to neglect your lover like this?”
Elian, who had been diligently wielding his pen, was startled and looked up.
Across from him, a face with a chin propped on his hand smiled languidly. Despite the mouth that had voiced his complaint, his eyes were dripping with honey. It was clearly felt that even though he was disappointed, he was happy just looking at him.
“When did you get here?”
“10 minutes ago?”
Had he been watching him like this for 10 minutes?
Elian blushed, feeling awkward. Thinking of him watching him like that for 10 minutes made him feel inexplicably shy.
“What are you thinking about that’s making you blush? Thinking about me?”
Kirendis had become even more brazen since Elian’s confession of love. This question was merely a preparatory step to utter his next words, rather than to hear an answer.
“I was thinking about Elian too. At first, I was mesmerized by how cool you looked working, thinking your focused eyes were so beautiful, and then I thought your eyelashes were so long. Then I wondered how your nose could be so perfectly straight, and then your tightly closed lips looked so red and soft that I ended up thinking I wanted to kiss you. But you were working, so I held back and waited. I did well, didn’t I?”
Elian burst into laughter at the barrage of affection spoken without a breath. Though he never got used to hearing such words, the happy look on Kirendis’s face when he spoke them was pleasant to see.
“Yes. You did well. Let’s go for a short walk after I finish this.”
“Oh? Really?”
“As you said, I think I’ve been neglecting my lover too much.”
As Elian repeated Kirendis’s words and smiled again, Kirendis’s face softened.
“That sounds nice to hear.”
“What does?”
“You calling me your lover, Elian.”
“You find joy in the strangest things.”
Unlike Kirendis, who was overflowing with affection for everything, Elian was more reserved. Because of that, seeing him so happy over such a simple remark made Elian feel inexplicably apologetic.
He stood up, thinking he should try his best in his words and actions from now on.
“I heard they just renovated the garden. Shall we go there?”
“Yes. I like anywhere.”
And so, the two headed towards the garden. The Imperial Palace, now with newfound leisure, had begun renovations, starting with the garden.
He had heard that Lion had paid particular attention to the Imperial Palace garden, as it was directly linked to the Emperor’s dignity.
He was looking forward to it, as he hadn’t been able to visit once due to being so busy.
“Have you been?”
“Not yet. His Majesty specifically told me to make sure to see it together with you.”
“Lion?”
As he asked, tilting his head, Kirendis nodded and continued.
“He said I’d know the reason when I saw it.”
“Is that so? He must have put a lot of thought into it.”
As they walked and talked, they soon arrived at the garden.
As if to prove the special attention paid to it, the garden was beautifully decorated with a cozy atmosphere, reflecting Lion’s taste.
“It’s a garden befitting Lion.”
“It’s a garden befitting His Majesty.”
It was a place where his gentle and warm disposition was keenly felt.
A place filled with the will to create a nation as warm as this in the future.
“Hmm…”
But that was all. For something that was said to have received special attention, it was rather ordinary.
Given his personality, he must have created something surprising, so Elian couldn’t help but tilt his head.
“Oh?”
Just then, in the distance, he saw a place different from the garden they had seen so far. As he slowly walked towards it, an unexpected scene unfolded.
“This is…”
Before his eyes, a vast expanse of white and blue Tirha flowers stretched out.
The sight, which colored the ground in white and blue, was magnificent. With every gust of wind, it seemed to ripple like waves, and under the sunlight, it gave the illusion of water droplets shattering.
It wasn’t a flower typically planted in such large quantities, so a scene he had never witnessed before unfolded.
More than anything…
“It’s a place that reminds me of Elian.”
Yes. Anyone could see that this place was made with Elian in mind.
Wasn’t it a landscape that evoked his silver hair and blue eyes, his symbols?
Lion was conveying to everyone through this space. Just how much he favored Elian.
“I’ve been outplayed.”
Elian chuckled softly and scanned his surroundings.
To think he would reveal his thoughts and intentions to everyone in such a manner.
It truly showed how much thought and care had gone into it, as was said.
“I can feel His Majesty’s will to never let you go.”
“You’re incorrigible, really.”
Shaking his head, he walked through the flower field. This place was throwing a message at Elian, who had been contemplating how he could step down from politics.
At the same time, it was a warning to the nobles who were fiercely wary of Elian’s influence.
Because to get to Lion, one had to pass through here.
Therefore, he couldn’t help but think about it. About Lion’s affection for Elian.
It seemed Lion was preparing to resolve future problems one by one, starting now. Showing things this way was faster and more accurate than speaking a hundred words.
“I like it. Just being here feels like I’m with Elian. Of course, not as much as the real thing.”
The smiling face as he said this was refreshing. It felt like a perfect match with the cool background spread out behind him. It felt like confirming with his own eyes that he and Kirendis were a good match.
“It’s not bad.”
As he smiled, hiding his true feelings, Kirendis also smiled along. He knew that was Elian’s way of expressing his emotions.
“Let’s go, Elian. Let’s rest over there.”
A resting area had been created in the center of the garden. As Kirendis pulled him towards it, Elian followed with a helpless smile.
As they gradually closed the distance, they realized there was someone else in the garden.
“Is that…”
The other person was none other than Lion and Jade.
This was the Emperor’s garden, and it wasn’t strange for Jade, who led the Imperial Guard, to be there.
However, seeing them sitting side-by-side, engrossed in something, rather than guarding, was not a common sight.
“What are they doing?”
There was a suspicious aura. Lion was clapping his hands next to Jade, looking delighted.
“…Shouldn’t we just leave them be?”
Kirendis suggested in an awkward tone.
At that moment, Elian sensed that they were hiding something.
‘What is it?’
As he narrowed his eyes to look, Kirendis subtly avoided his gaze.
“Is there a need for that? It wouldn’t be polite to leave without greeting His Majesty if we’ve seen him. Let’s go.”
Elian walked forward without hesitation. The two didn’t notice Elian approaching.
While Lion was close to being a commoner, it was truly unexpected that even Jade, a Sword Master, didn’t notice.
‘What on earth are they doing…’
Elian, who looked down to see what they were doing, was taken aback.
“Perfect, Sir Rustas. You have such skillful hands.”
“Not at all. His Majesty can do this much as well.”
“No, I can’t attach them this neatly. And look. The proportion of Uncle’s photo placed inside. It’s perfect! How can you attach it in such a perfect spot? It further emphasizes Uncle’s beautiful and dignified appearance.”
Elian was speechless as he looked at the object Lion held up high.
It was a book. Inside, along with Elian’s photos, were densely packed tiny writings.
Judging by its thickness, it wasn’t just one or two pages.
“…”
Yes.
What they were doing was clipping newspaper and magazine articles featuring Elian.
It was enough to infer just by looking at the mess of papers spread out on the table.
While he was engrossed in work, there were countless articles he didn’t know about.
“What are you doing here?”
“U-Uncle?”
Elian asked in bewilderment, and Lion hastily closed the book. He seemed to want to hide it, but it couldn’t be completely concealed due to the scattered items on the table.
“Ah!”
Realizing this, Lion fumbled and threw himself onto the table. It was a mistake made while trying to quickly cover the evidence.
“…”
“…”
What was the point of covering it now when he had already seen it all?
Lion’s face turned bright red as he realized that fact. He seemed embarrassed even to himself.
“Hahaha… U-Uncle, how did you get here…”
Lion laughed awkwardly, trying to salvage the situation. Elian found it odd why he was so flustered.
Even if he was flustered, it was an action Lion would plausibly take.
It was one thing to be doing it with Jade, but no one there was unaware of how much he admired and respected Elian.
Perhaps he was embarrassed that the Emperor himself was scrapbooking, but this wasn’t a place where he needed to maintain his dignity. There was no reason to hide it.
Yet, to act like this…
‘There’s something going on.’
Elian’s eyes gleamed as he snatched the object Lion was desperately trying to hide and held it up high.
“Aah! No, my treasure!”
Lion reached out to snatch it back, but Elian quickly retreated, dodging him.
“What on earth is making you so flustered?”
Thinking it was just a collection of his photos, he opened the book.
However, it wasn’t just photos inside. Along with the photos were densely packed tiny writings.
[Photo of Uncle’s first debut in high society. What to do? So cute.]
[Photo of Uncle during his political debut. He looks nervous, but that’s also so cool. I have to work hard too.]
[Photo of Uncle in his Knights Order commander uniform. No one else could pull off a uniform like Uncle. So cool, dignified, and beautiful. As expected of Uncle.]
[Uncle’s declaration ceremony. Serious Uncle is also so cool.]
[Uncle wielding a sword with charisma. He looks dangerous, but I love Uncle with a sword.]
[Uncle concentrating hard. Even his working posture is cool.]
[Photo of Uncle smiling. To think I’d be able to put a photo like this in my scrapbook. I’m glad I became Emperor.]
“…”
Elian didn’t know what to say. Seeing the writings, which could easily be considered a diary, he understood why Lion had tried so desperately to hide it.
Moreover…
“You shouldn’t write ‘I’m glad I became Emperor’ with something like this. What if someone sees?”
Elian tapped the book on Lion’s head and admonished him. Lion then chuckled sheepishly and said, “No one sees it. Who would dare touch the Emperor’s belongings?”
“I did.”
“Uncle is an exception.”
“Jade touched it too, not just me.”
“Sir Rustas is a comrade, so it’s fine.”
“Comrade?”
“A comrade who recognizes Uncle’s coolness! Until now, it was Kirendis, but now you’re busy. So I was disappointed. But Sir Rustas offered to help?! And Sir Rustas is a master at decorating scrapbooks. Is it because he’s a Sword Master? Not only that, but I also communicate well with Sir Rustas. He knows a lot of behind-the-scenes stories about Uncle that I couldn’t hear before, so it’s so enjoyable…”
Lion’s voice, which had been on a rampage, suddenly stopped. It was because he had gotten too excited and blurted out things he shouldn’t have.
Elian, who had heard it all, understood why the two had become close so quickly.
Lion, who wanted to know and collect everything about Elian. Jade, who knew all of Elian’s actions.
It was because of those two that they had become friends so quickly.
“Behind-the-scenes stories? What might those be? Hmm?”
As Elian smiled chillingly, Lion frantically covered his mouth. Jade quickly got up from his seat and extricated himself.
“I have training, so I must be going.”
“L-Sir Rustas?!”
“From now on, my training will be too busy to offer assistance. I apologize, Your Majesty.”
“W-what is that…”
Lion tried to grab him belatedly, but Jade had already disappeared into a speck.
“You traitor!”
A voice filled with resentment echoed. However, there was no one to help him.
“This is confiscated for now.”
“What?! What do you mean!”
“If you’ve become Emperor, you should work. What are you doing doing things like this? And even calling the captain of the Imperial Guard.”
“I’m just doing my work and doing this during my free time.”
“Still, no. It’s a punishment for being audacious.”
“Wh-what?!”
“If you have questions for me, you should ask me directly. Why ask someone else? From now on, I’ll keep you company, so ask me.”
“Ah…”
Lion, finally understanding Elian’s true intentions, stared blankly. Elian patted his head and said, “From now on, we can have tea time, so that’s fine. Understand?”
“Yes!”
Lion’s face brightened instantly. Kirendis also smiled gently, watching the two.
Thus, the three of them had a light tea time in the garden that reminded them of Elian. The first topic was the story of how Lion came to create this garden.
“There are political reasons, but I wanted to create a scrapbook while reading articles about Uncle in a space that reminds me of him. It was a kind of fantasy.”
“You have such strange fantasies.”
Elian couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurd and cute reason. But Lion, perhaps thinking it was mockery, retorted defensively.
“It’s a very important matter to me. This is how I relieve stress. It’s my stress relief method, so don’t tell me no.”
“Okay. I understand. I won’t say anything, so do as much as you want.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“You promise?”
“I said I understand. Do it all you want, to your heart’s content.”
There was no reason to stop him. It was an undignified stress relief method for an Emperor, but as he said, who would dare touch the Emperor’s belongings?
As for security, it was fine as long as Jade accompanied him like this, and Elian didn’t particularly dislike seeing Lion happily collecting his photos.
‘Rather, it’s cute.’
Seeing him hug it like a treasure was good, like a boy his age.
But perhaps he had thought about it too lightly?
At some point, articles about Elian began to increase.
At first, it was about his actions.
Articles about the exchange with Radion, which needed to be widely publicized, and about Elian successfully leading it.
Following that, numerous articles of varying importance began to be reported. Since he was involved in so many things, the volume was considerable.
Even before this, there were many articles about Elian’s political actions, so it wasn’t unusual. However, there was one difference from before.
“The content is too… positive?”
That’s right.
Previously, most of the evaluations of Elian’s actions in the newspapers were negative. Some of it was intentionally guided, but much of it spread maliciously due to his conflict with Marius.
But now that Elian wasn’t involved in the articles, and there was no one who needed negative press as much as during Marius’s time, the content had changed 180 degrees.
They were praising all his actions. They were extolling him as great.
If it had stopped there, it would have been awkward but passable, but then he discovered an article that was extremely suspicious.
In the past, Elian’s name and photo would not have appeared even a single character in a place like this.
And what’s more…
<1st Place. Lion Arpen>
<2nd Place. Kirendis Riphen>
<3rd Place. Elian Eshton>
A staggering 3rd place.
“3rd place? I’m 3rd?”
It wasn’t because the rank was low. It was because it was too high.
To have set a record of 3rd place in a survey conducted entirely by citizen votes, it was baffling what was happening.
This vote, which determines the top bachelor candidate, was one of the most popular polls. To the extent that ranking here was considered a measure of popularity.
‘Me, 3rd place in a place like that?’
No matter how many positive articles were being published, this was strange. People’s perceptions didn’t change that quickly.
It reeked of the Duke. While manipulating the votes would be difficult, it was entirely possible to deliberately guide them to turn out this way.
‘Right. These kinds of articles and my photo have been appearing too much lately. Strangely so.’
Things that had previously been dismissed with a thought like, ‘It’s excessive, but he’s busy with many tasks, so it can’t be helped,’ quickly flashed through his mind.
Could it really not be helped? Was someone deliberately orchestrating these articles?
It wasn’t malicious, so why would someone spend money to do such a thing? Still, there was one person he suspected.
‘Lion.’
Elian headed towards Lion’s office. He had told him to do as he pleased, and it felt like Lion was having a grand time causing trouble.
‘I shouldn’t have said that.’
He had let it slide because the sight of him clipping articles and rejoicing over small things was cute, but he hadn’t expected him to directly create articles to fulfill his own desires.
“Haa…”
Even if the articles were based on facts, publishing such biased pieces could cause problems someday. While being criticized was commonplace for Elian, it was different for Lion, the Emperor.
He was someone who should always walk a shining path.
Elian didn’t want to create even the slightest possibility of people turning their backs on him. He wanted Lion to always shine from a high place.
Therefore, he had to stop it. For Lion, Elian’s reputation improving would bring no benefit.
‘But he’ll try to hide it thoroughly. He’s been caught once before.’
Elian stopped walking. Bursting in without a plan would be useless if they just denied it. Therefore, he had to catch them in the act.
‘Phantom… can they find out?’
Information about the Emperor himself. It might be difficult given Lion’s recent focus on security.
‘What to do.’
But Elian’s dilemma was resolved too easily.
“Really, you must not say it was me. Understand, Grand Duke? If you say I told you, you’ll be scolded by His Majesty.”
It was Lac. Revealing the Emperor’s information to the Grand Duke, Elian, was treason, but neither of them took it seriously.
The reason was that the content wasn’t significant enough to be considered treason, and Lion knew perfectly well that Lac could leak information to someone.
If so, there was only one truth. Something Elian was allowed to know.
It was clear that there was even a hidden desire for him to discover it.
‘What on earth is he up to?’
Elian felt like something bigger was happening than he had imagined.
And that premonition became reality.
“This article was a great success. My uncle’s popularity has greatly increased with the content published this time.”
Late at night, in the Emperor’s office.
Voices plotting together could be heard from within.
“I acknowledge that, but I believe we should take down the article quickly. Look at the title. It’s not just a popularity poll, but the top bachelor candidate. And Elian is 3rd place! While increased popularity is welcome, it’s not with content like this. I cannot permit it.”
“What are you talking about, Kirendis? This kind of thing always sells the best. We’re not actually getting married, it’s just a ranking.”
“Right. And look. Your rank is higher than Elian’s. Lion, who is 1st place, has the largest photo.”
“That’s right. We need to work harder until Elian-nim takes 1st place.”
“What are you talking about? Lion-nim should naturally be 1st place.”
“Lucian. Why are you here? If you keep saying things that go against the purpose of this meeting, you should leave.”
“Yes. You don’t have to overexert yourself because of me.”
“No, Lion-nim. I must have been crazy for a moment. Now, let’s regain our strength and plan to make Elian-nim 1st place, shall we?”
“Alright, let’s go!”
“To make Elian-nim 1st place!”
“To make Elian-nim 1st place!”
“To make Elian-nim 1st place!”
“To make Elian 1st place!”
“To make Uncle 1st place!”
…
Elian stood at the door, speechless. Their voices echoed so loudly they reverberated down the corridor.
It was clear they were doing this for fun, as if it didn’t matter if he heard.
‘I thought it was just Lion…’
The Rebel Army, which was Elian’s fan club, had all gathered. It was indeed a combination and content that Lac would find amusing to join.
‘This is driving me crazy.’
He wondered if he should just let it be. They were deliberately orchestrating positive articles, but the playful atmosphere suggested it wouldn’t cause major problems.
‘Right. It’s about time my image changed too. It’s just happening a little sooner, isn’t it? What’s wrong with that?’
He seemed to have been overly sensitive. Even if his image improved, there would be no problem as long as he acted properly.
If he wasn’t aiming for the throne, but showed loyalty as Lion’s faithful subject, Lion’s throne would remain secure.
“Well then, shall we plan the next step?”
Lion’s cheerful voice was heard from inside. He looked so happy, it felt wrong to take away his joy. This was likely his only hobby and his companions in his bleak Imperial Palace life.
‘It would be easier to converse if we had the same goal.’
Lion was the Emperor. This meant that most people he would meet in the future would likely be intimidated by him.
It would be difficult to meet people who could chat about trivial matters like these individuals, even now.
Even they wouldn’t be shouting and enjoying themselves like this without the topic of ‘Elian.’
That was the status of ‘Emperor’ that Lion held.
‘Right. This matter can just be overlooked…’
Just then. Elian, who intended to quietly bury the matter, heard a voice he couldn’t ignore.
“The next plan is also very good.”
“Isn’t it? If we keep building on this, someday there will be a day when it’s okay to hand over the throne to Uncle.”
“Of course. Our rebellion has not ended yet.”
“That’s right. If we proceed step by step, we will achieve it.”
“Let’s do our best!”
“For Elian-nim’s re…”
—CRASH!
“Rebellion for what?!”
Elian burst through the door, shouting. Everyone looked at him with startled faces.
“What kind of absurd nonsense are you talking about? Can’t you stop this immediately?!”
No matter how much of a joke it was, there were jokes that could be made and jokes that couldn’t.
Seeing the Emperor, in the Imperial Palace no less, plotting a nonsensical rebellion, Elian’s heart pounded.
The Emperor plotting a rebellion to make someone else Emperor. What kind of absurdity was this…
‘Is it… not possible?’
Elian paused for a moment. Lion was the Emperor. The Emperor’s word was law. It had to be obeyed without question.
For such an Emperor to step down from the throne and hand it over to someone else, was it truly…
‘Not possible…?’
Elian stood there in a daze, having gained a strange realization. But he quickly shook his head and put on a stern face.
‘Not possible? Are you crazy? Of course, it’s not possible!’
Elian glared at the troublemakers with sharp eyes. However, the problem was that they had witnessed his momentary lapse in resolve.
They were not the type to miss such an opportunity.
“But this is why we rebelled.”
Starting with Lion, the Rebel Army began to spout nonsensical words.
“That’s right. Elian-nim, you must understand too.”
“No matter what, you cannot stop us.”
“We are pitiful servants who follow Lion-nim. We can only follow silently.”
“Right. Lion-nim’s words are always right, so we have no choice but to follow.”
Ah. Why were they all like this?
Even Lucian, who was practically his closest confidant, seemed to have been swayed by Lion and was not guiding them down the right path.
His head throbbed.
‘Still, Kirendis must be different. He knows me best, perhaps he’s just going along to keep an eye on things.’
He looked at Kirendis with a sliver of hope. But…
“I’m sorry, Elian. These people are simple-minded, they won’t listen to you no matter what you say. So…”
“…”
“You should give up.”
Sigh.
His bright smile looked so relieved.
Elian recalled the day he first met them. On that day too, they had gathered and chattered, making him awkward as they tried to make him king.
When Lion declared he wanted to make Lion king, he had been a little uneasy, but thought it would be fine.
At the time, Lion had said, ‘I consider my words and Elian’s words to be the same,’ not that he would hand over the throne.
So why was this happening again?
“Then, shall we start the meeting again?”
Lion said cheerfully.
“Why are you planning a rebellion plan that the person involved doesn’t approve of? Don’t start!”
“Then, the next agenda is…”
“I said don’t start?!”
“This time…”
“Hey!”
“How about this?”
“Can’t you hear me?!”
A large hand wrapped around Elian’s waist as he fumed. At this touch, his heated emotions instantly calmed down.
As expected, no one understood him as well as Kirendis…
“Give up.”
A lovely voice pierced his ear. The voice, full of laughter, seemed to brainwash him.
“Everyone here is captivated by you.”
Those words were deeply etched in his heart. Although he was bewildered, absurd, and still felt he had to stop them, the words allowed him to view the situation from a slightly more objective perspective.
“Ah…”
Elian let out a small exclamation and looked at them. Lion was laughing and chatting more joyfully than ever. The others were the same.
These were all people living diligently in quite high positions. People living with the pressure appropriate to their respective roles.
Yet here, they were conversing and chatting like ordinary people.
‘I see.’
Elian gained an understanding. Why hadn’t he realized something so obvious?
They had no genuine intention of rebelling. Rather than trying to make Elian Emperor, it seemed like they were just playing a role.
It was Lion’s first meeting, based on affection. They were simply playing joyfully, as they did back then.
‘I was the only one who took it seriously…’
It was disheartening and absurd. He realized that he was still bound by the future where he died.
Even though he knew that the future is made, and that the probability of reaching the future he desired was higher with the power to see the truth.
“How is it? I’m right, aren’t I?”
Kirendis smiled softly and took his hand. He felt the warm temperature, and the warmth seeped into his heart.
The warmth Kirendis brought and the affection these people showed filled Elian’s heart.
‘Right. If it’s just planning, then…’
Wouldn’t it be okay?
These people, despite their words, were not the kind to do something Elian wouldn’t want.
It was funny that he knew this but hadn’t realized it. From now on, he felt he could face them properly.
Their affection, that is.
“From now on, don’t do it without my knowledge. Report to me and then do it. I won’t stop you completely.”
Smiling as if he had no choice, Elian spoke, and Lion looked up with a brightened face.
“Really?!”
“Yes.”
“You promise?”
“I said so. Do you want me to say it twice?”
“Wow!”
“Yay!”
“We did it!”
“Success!”
“We brought Elian-nim in!”
Cheers erupted from all around. Loud laughter filled the air.
Elian quietly took in the scene, tightening his grip on the hand he held.
Then Kirendis quietly called his name.
“Elian.”
“Hm?”
As he turned his head, his gaze met Kirendis’s gentle red eyes. Kirendis smiled, his eyes sparkling, and said, “But you know, right?”
“Know what?”
“That out of everyone here, I love you the most.”
How could a person be so cute and lovely?
Elian burst into laughter and replied with a face that looked more at ease than ever before.
“Of course.”
Kirendis, momentarily lost in his smile, whispered softly,
“I love you.”
His voice, so small it was barely audible, made Elian’s face turn bright red.
The onlookers, noticing this, quickly shouted.
“Whoa! What’s this? What did you two do?”
“Don’t just date, participate actively in the meeting.”
“Elian-nim, you’re blushing too, don’t just stand there, come closer.”
“Elian-nim. Tomato.”
Ah. Damn it.
It felt even more embarrassing because they knew about the relationship between the two. Kirendis playfully asked him, “What’s the answer?”
Did he really have to hear it now?
Kirendis felt annoying. But he felt like he could answer now. He wanted to crack the facade of his seemingly carefree face.
Ah, whatever.
— Peck.*
Elian stood on tiptoe and lightly kissed Kirendis’s lips.
“Is this answer enough?”
Kirendis, who hadn’t expected this, froze like a statue. Finding it amusing, Elian burst into laughter again.
“Huh? What was that just now? Kirendis is acting strange?”
“This, this, seeing the atmosphere, the angle is clear.”
“Angle? What angle?”
Whether they understood or not, everyone chattered and called out to the two. It didn’t feel bad. Rather, it was amusing.
“Stop being so noisy and start quickly. You said you were having a meeting?”
A rebellion meeting plotted by the Emperor in the Imperial Palace.
It felt like he had stepped into a strange gathering, but it was okay.
He was no longer alone, and there was someone who would walk with him, holding his hand.
“Don’t just stand there frozen, come quickly, Kirendis.”
Elian pulled him along and smiled. Kirendis, drawn in as if mesmerized by his smile, replied with a laugh as if he couldn’t resist, “Yes. I’m coming.”
In their clasped hands was warmth, and on their faces, a warm smile.