196. The Emperor’s Benefactor (2)
Emperor Leonhard.
He looked at the window where brilliant sunlight was pouring in.
A magnificent stadium.
A lot of spectators gathered there.
They looked very excited about who would be the best sword of the Empire this year.
「Rosanna rarely participated in any events of the empire.」
The emperor turned his head and looked at his man.
Me with black hair and thin eyes.
「But I didn’t bother to attend this competition. And, you were the first outsider to approach.”
His giant finger pointed at me.
As if God had taken over humans.
「Why do you think that child is interested in you?」
I didn’t reply for a moment.
Then, I took a deep breath and looked at the emperor.
「Rosanna was a difficult person to deal with even in her home country of Epina. Because she has a strange talent that combines magic and witchcraft.”
Indeed.
The shadow that attacked me was not a black magic that used lifespan.
If that were the case, Rosanna in her early 40s would not have been as beautiful as she was in her 20s.
「The only ones who could handle that child were men who were Sword Masters or higher and had strong vitality. That’s why it was sent to me.”
The emperor stared at my heart.
It looks more solid than before.
He frowned at the appearance as if someone had touched it with his own hand.
「However, I haven’t had any contact with that child for several years.」
Leonhardt’s mood became solemn, as if he thought Rosanna had touched my well-established Aura.
Blue eyes flashed in the dark shadows of his eyes.
「Then there is only one Grand Master left in the empire….」
The look in his eyes as he looks at the strengthened auror.
I swallowed deeply.
「Did Rosanna try to tempt you?」
Temptation.
After hearing that, I looked dumbfounded for a moment.
Then, I rolled my black pupils around and organized my thoughts.
‘Was it temptation…? ?’
It was clearly attacked with numerous shadow weapons.
I was interrogated and asked about my identity.
‘Why did it feel like temptation…? ?’
I closed my eyes tightly as the beauty of the sensual form appeared in my mind.
A black dot drawn in a mother’s warm embrace.
I was quite disturbed because that kept coming to mind.
‘It seems right…’ ?’
The moment I narrowed my eyes in understanding without realizing it.
When he saw the emperor’s grim face, he quickly closed his eyes again.
‘Let’s come to our senses…’ .’
I imagined Leah’s voluptuous skin, Irina’s neat eyes, and Lydia’s cute gestures.
From Miya’s friendly teardrop to Christina’s words about leaving to find freedom.
“Whoa…” .”
I was finally able to calm down after thinking about the images of noble women.
“No.”
The black eyes flashed.
My pupils, exposed to sunlight, turned golden.
“I was not tempted, but interrogated and attacked.”
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Rather, I was attacked.
Only after hearing those words did the emperor’s frown begin to straighten.
“As I said before, I am helping the princesses. “I’m teaching the vice-captains, who are their best forces.”
「Yes, Richard definitely has the qualities of a leader that I have never seen before.」
The emperor and I all looked out the window together.
And then, I looked at Leah sitting in the VIP seat and Richard guarding her by her side.
「In the past, I was just a beast obsessed with what others thought of me.」
“I’ve finally become a person. In the past, it was really-.”
Richard has a determined look in his eyes even though he is receiving praise from everyone.
He doesn’t even comb his hair with pomade, and just steadfastly stays by Leah’s side.
「Leopold is all good, but the education of his children is too strict.」
“That’s right. “By nature, the more you care about someone, the more you sympathize with them, and you should treat them harshly only when necessary.”
I chuckled as I looked at Richard, who had changed his mind.
Then, the moment I made eye contact with the emperor.
「I heard that you and Richard are the same age….」
Every time he saw me, he asked me with a curious look in his eyes.
「If you look closely, it feels like you are looking at someone the same age as Leopold.」
Furthermore, he rose to the rank of Grand Master by cutting down numerous sword masters from other countries during the war of conquest.
I can’t believe I reached that level at just 21 years old.
The emperor smiled as he looked at this extraordinary day in many ways.
「Even with such personality and skills, I don’t want to serve the country….」
He picked up the teacup on the desk.
And like Leah, he offered a plate and drank gracefully.
「Isn’t this a bit too much in front of the head of the country?」
The emperor shows off his disappointment.
I seemed to be curious whether I had chosen to rest for the sake of the individual rather than the nation, or whether I had other plans.
「I hope Rosanna is not the reason for my dislike.」
“I can assure you that I have no relationship with Her Majesty the Empress.”
I answered firmly to reassure him.
Then, the emperor also revealed his honest feelings.
「The reason I questioned Rosanna was not simply because I was jealous of you.」
“I know. “Your Majesty is not the type of person to do that.”
The emperor grinned.
However, for some reason, I felt an eerie murderousness in his eyes.
Like in the past, when Leah was glaring at Christina.
「To let you know how dangerous she is.」
The emperor placed his hand on his chest.
And he pointed to the clouded Grand Auror and said.
「I didn’t know in the past, but I found out after waking up from the coma. “How much Rosanna tried to kill me.”
A large amount of poison accumulated in the body.
He was so weakened that it was difficult for him to survive as a Grand Auror.
The fact that he attacked me during the lunch box incident was something close to a miracle.
「If Irina hadn’t told me, I probably would have continued to ingest the poison even after I woke up.」
‘Irina told me…’ ?’
She also knew about Rosanna’s plan….
That’s why he was so obsessed with forming his own knights and becoming stronger.
Of course, these days there is more focus on ‘other things’.
“Even though you know that, why do you continue to leave Her Highness alone…? ?”
When I asked carefully, this time the emperor was silent.
He gave Rosanna a sad look, as if he felt sorry for her.
「That’s…. “I can’t tell you yet.”
It was the first time.
The emperor commanding the empire hesitates to answer.
「Anyway, as long as the empire remains healthy, that’s it. “It seems like you don’t want to get involved, so I won’t tell you.”
Leonhardt put down his teacup.
And then, he quietly slipped out a word.
「Well, what if I promise to protect the empire even now?」
I was completely shocked by his words that seemed to be talking to himself.
I think I know who Leah inherited her speaking skills from.
“Hmm….”
I listened to him and lowered my head for a moment.
It is polite to respond directly to the emperor’s suggestions or requests.
However, I was given the right to be troubled in front of him.
「Once you have been captured, Rosanna will come to you like her shadow.」
When I heard his words, I thought of a woman I met a little while ago.
A sensual queen who looks exactly like Leia.
「He will try to get her on his side or kill her.」
The emperor quietly closed his eyes.
And, it seemed like he was imagining her in his head.
In fact, he tried not to sleep with Rosanna often.
Because I wanted to protect her carefully because she is 20 years younger than me.
However, 20-year-old Rosanna approached him….
She was an unrivaled conquering king, and she was such a great woman that she captivated him.
I conceived Leon right after that first night.
After recovering, I also got Leah.
If their relationship hadn’t fallen out, she might have had numerous children.
「At the end of the war of conquest, the royal shaman I met in the enemy country also said this. “Rosanna is a woman of heaven.”
He said that the golden lioness nestled under the pomegranate tree was Rosanna.
She was also told that since she was also the image of the chief lion, she should get along well with him.
It is said that this division was created when the two leaders had a falling out.
「If you incur her wrath like that, it won’t do you any good either.」
She was Rosanna, whom even the palace sorcerer said was a great woman.
I caught her eye and she asked me to make a decision.
「So, become the Imperial Guardian Sword and come out to the sunny area.」
“….”
After listening to his earnest words, I was alone in my thoughts.
In the meantime, the emperor stood up from his seat as if he were considerate.
After that, he turned his back and looked at the window in silence.
「Only then can I officially protect you.」
A huge crowd filled the stands.
He gazed pitifully at the people he had to take care of.
Looking at him like that, I swallowed deeply.
And, I answered with determination.
“I understand.”
When I answered readily, the emperor glanced at me.
「Is it true…? ?」
“Yes, I also have a condition.”
I got up from my seat.
And then, I knelt before him and made a firm request.
“I will not retire. Instead, I will continue to work as a defense engineer and do my best in what I do.”
He said he would not be the empire’s flagship hero, but rather the best reserve force that would step up only when necessary.
The emperor seemed to be satisfied with those words and nodded.
「That’s enough.」
Leonhard returned to the sofa with a generous expression.
Afterwards, he sat down with me and asked.
「Then, let’s listen to your request this time.」
“Yes, I…” .”
I looked at the emperor with eyes full of determination.
And, he said.
“Please make my wish come true just once, whenever I wish.”
Wish.
The emperor hesitated to answer for a moment at that ambiguous reward.
「Wish… ?」
“Yes, it only needs to be done once.”
After hearing my vague request, the emperor smoothed his thick chin for a moment.
Then, he quickly sighed and nodded his head.
「Of course. However, it would not be acceptable to make a request as absurd as asking for the empire.”
“Yes, the Empire is not the ‘level’ you ask for.”
I looked at him and smiled.
With long eyes like a fox.
「I will tell you now that I have received an agreement to remain in the empire.」
The emperor began speaking in a somewhat relaxed voice.
He told me why he had an affair with Rosanna.
「Rosanna was the only princess of the Principality of Epina. “She was the daughter of Epina, a great sorceress.”
Efina was originally a mercenary country and also had powerful wizards.
Thanks to this, Rosanna, who was the king’s daughter, also inherited her strong magical powers.
「Thanks to the influence of her mother, who was a shaman, she learned witchcraft and magic at the same time. And, by combining the two, she developed a powerful magic that had never been seen before.”
The emperor said, clenching one of his fists.
「That child’s unrivaled magic became famous within the mercenary nation of Epina. Originally, that place decided the next throne through power.”
“Rosanna, who developed her own powers, must have been of great standing to Her Highness.”
「That’s right. So her brothers became wary of Rosanna as her position grew stronger.”
The emperor looked at his own portrait hanging in the center of the state room.
The appearance of a magnificent hero.
「However, Rosanna loved those brothers. So he wanted to get married himself and make it clear that he was not interested in the throne.”
“So, you have come to see Your Highness.”
Leonhard nodded his head silently.
「Okay. “I just thought that was the case.”
The emperor sighed deeply, as if there were other things going on.
Then, the auror in his heart stirred.
「Then one day, I found myself in the middle of a war with the southern cities that had rebelled and attacked. In the process, we requested support from Epina.”
Leonhard covered his forehead as if he regretted that request.
「Because the situation is urgent, the number of requests for support has become more frequent, and Epina is starting to feel the burden.」
This is information I already heard from Leah.
I nodded my head in response.
「The pressure gradually turned into suspicion, and they eventually decided to eliminate the person who was eating away at their national power.」
The emperor looked at the picture of Rosanna painted next to his own portrait.
「When I die, Rosanna, the first empress, and her newborn son, Leon, will naturally inherit the throne. Then, Epina will be able to easily take control of my empire.”
In the first place, they did not send Rosanna’s marriage simply to get rid of her.
As it was born as a country at war, it had the ambition to devour other countries.
「I was only able to find out that fact through a snitch.」
Informer.
As the emperor said those words, he looked at Mo Xian.
“No way…” .”
I followed the emperor’s gaze and stared at the old prime minister.
Then, he made a bitter expression.
“I couldn’t help it, Bale.”
Mosian was actually a talented person who came from Epina along with Rosanna.
He reported this fact to protect the empress.
「After finding out the truth, I was just looking for an opportunity to punish Epina.」
The emperor approached Rosanna’s portrait.
And then he touched her picture with his fingers.
「But that night, Rosanna came to me while I was sleeping.」
Leonhardt swallowed deeply.
「And then, he raised the dagger towards my neck. “As if I had received an order.”
The emperor tightly closed his eyes, perhaps remembering that time.
「If he attacked me, I was planning to kill him right away.」
Even after learning that Rosanna had tried to kill him, the emperor did not immediately fight back.
I wanted to ask the reason.
But, at that moment.
「But somehow, Rosanna couldn’t kill me.」
I realized this after seeing the emperor’s answer and expression.
「Her eyes were sparkling like crazy as she looked down at me.」
The two loved each other.
To the extent that they cannot be killed even after receiving orders from their home country.
「In the end, the child hid the dagger and hugged me. “He cried like that and fell asleep.”
The emperor’s voice was trembling softly.
「The next day, I gave Rosanna some sleeping pills and sent her to the outskirts for a while.」
Leonhardt seemed to have lost his energy and sat down in his chair.
「And then, when they invaded Epina and punished and arrested everyone.」
Afterwards, he finally revealed the reason why he incurred Rosanna’s hatred.
「They must have wanted to shock me until the end, so they started talking about Rosanna being involved as well.」
The emperor knew this, of course.
However, this was a problem in a different sense.
「At that time, the empire was filled with anger toward Epina. Everyone was sensitive because it was a time of war.」
Everyone was busy killing and interrogating Epinine on sight.
Like a witch hunt.
「In such a situation, if it turns out that Rosanna also tried to kill me….」
The emperor thought of the young woman who hugged him without being able to kill him.
Then, he noticed that her eyes began to twinkle as well.
「What happened to that child?」
Even though she rejected him because he loved her, she will be executed.
「I had no choice but to get rid of them all before they made a fuss.」
Leonhardt, who knew this, tightly closed his eyes.
“….”
It was an understandable reason.
However, did he really have to kill them all?
I stared at the emperor who had made an extreme choice.
And then, I asked him.
“But was it really necessary to incur the hatred of Her Majesty the Empress, whom she loved by killing everyone…?”
When the emperor heard me, the corners of his mouth lowered.
And he said with a sad expression, as if he couldn’t help it.
「No matter how hard you try, there are some things in this world that cannot be undone.」