108 – Episode 107
It’s not as easy as I thought.
I thought it was a young lion and almost got ruined.
“He’s such a shady guy on the inside.”
If you can’t find the answer to the question you asked yourself, you probably tried to reveal that His Majesty Ioanes took Epirus and Egypt.
We clearly know that the great nobles who felt betrayed are planning to turn their arrows on His Majesty Ioanes rather than the Archduke himself.
So, His Majesty Ioanes did not easily agree to the tax reform plan.
Although he had no choice but to agree due to the attempted assassination of the emperor…
If the Archduke betrays at the end, he has no choice but to face the worst situation.
First, the Grand Duke will amend the bill.
It is enough to gain time like that.
In the meantime, we will build up a huge military force.
We are already negotiating with both the Empire and the Babylonian Empire’s sizable mercenary groups.
Soon… Once your contract with them ends, all your thoughts and plans will become pieces of paper.
I will turn your plans back to nothing.
I’m already looking forward to seeing you, who arrogantly act as if you’re already the winner, get shocked and embarrassed.
Time… When I get just a little more time, you will beg me to save you.
They are the empress and great nobles, and we will no longer pay attention to what they think.
When the time comes.
I grind my teeth, thinking about Debian, who took me hostage all the way here.
“Inevitably… You will fall.”
***
A considerable amount of time has passed since Theodora’s flashy event ended that day.
In the meantime, I avoided meeting her as much as possible.
When I slept, I mostly slept in the study room.
Thanks to you, I know that the rumor spread that Theodora and I had a fight in the imperial palace, but honestly, I am very satisfied with this situation where we are separated.
At least I don’t have to worry about being eaten.
Of course, we are not just playing around here.
I put a lot of thought into the tax reform plan.
If a civil war breaks out, the arrow could be turned on Ioanes, but the risk must be managed.
What if things don’t go as I intended?
Or what if things go as intended, but too much national power is consumed?
If the war is prolonged or the administrative network collapses, it will become difficult to manage the empire.
Furthermore, not only do I have to deal with Ioanes, but I also have to deal with demon worshippers.
I have no intention of prolonging the war and creating space for them to flourish.
“Whoa… What should I do? Should tax reform be postponed until later?”
If a civil war breaks out and becomes prolonged, it will be difficult to stop the resurrection of the devil.
“Even now, I don’t know where he might do something dirty… Sigh… It’s complicated.”
So, after much deliberation, I am thinking of putting tax reform on hold for the time being.
I think I will have to hold Epirus and Ezip in my hands to achieve at least tax reform.
After that, one way would be to eliminate all the demon worshipers and then start a civil war to solidify their power.
Of course, when I think about the people of the empire dying, my mind becomes more complicated.
There is no choice but to use food to keep the great nobles in check…
Besides that, there are other things to pay attention to.
If you think about Theodora, who was so blatantly flirting the other day, you might assume that he will try to sleep with her again someday.
“Things are really messed up.”
I think while tearing my hair with my fingers.
How can something like this never happen?
If I work this hard, shouldn’t there be some sort of reward?
Honestly, I am trying my best to save this place by myself.
There is no one to help.
Is it because I committed a lot of sins in my past life? I don’t think you did anything particularly bad?
When I think such complicated thoughts.
-Knock knock!
[His Majesty the Emperor has arrived.]
I answer the guard’s words calmly.
“Take them inside.”
-Squeak.
Theodora comes in through the door, holding a paper bag in one hand.
“Huh? “What is that?”
Hearing my words, Theodora strides over and places a large box on my desk.
“Huh? “Isn’t this a mondicque?”
Theodora nods her head at my words.
“That’s right. “It’s your gift.”
“A gift?”
After hearing Theodora’s puzzled words, we opened the box…
I see a familiar fountain pen.
“This… This?”
It looks very similar to the fountain pen I received as a gift from my mother.
I gently open the cap and take a look.
Familiar nib shape.
The Ryan family pattern and texture engraved on the gold nib…
But it is not the same fountain pen.
The fountain pen I used was originally for children.
From Noble mtl dot com
“The former Grand Duchess asked me to make it for you as she requested. Fortunately, since it is made to order, there is still an order form left…”
With those words, I quietly turn the tip of the fountain pen.
Calm your excited mind with the feeling of the piston gently rotating, then dip the pen tip into the ink and lock the piston.
“The one you originally used was originally for children, so I made it the size of an adult male.”
And without saying anything… I write on the paper.
-Sreuk… Sreuk…
[Debian Ryan.]
“Ah…”
I get goosebumps because it feels almost similar to the fountain pen I have been using for a long time.
That can’t be possible, right?
If you use a fountain pen for a long time, the nib wears out and gives you a unique writing feeling, which is surprisingly similar to the writing feeling of the fountain pen I have been using for 10 years.
“I put the tip of your fountain pen nib here on purpose. How does it feel?”
What do you think…? Should I say that?
Any person is bound to become attached to an item that has been used for more than ten years.
From the time I first studied letters when I was young, to the time I graduated from the military academy and ran a major study center in Roman…
It can be said that he is my companion.
So I have no choice but to be happy.
“Thank you so much. “Theodora.”
It may be a calm tone of voice, but I won’t be able to hide my happiness and joy within it.
When the fountain pen breaks. How disappointed were you?
It is an item that brings together good memories, bad and difficult memories.
She smiles when she sees my expression.
“hehehe, I see you like it. “It feels good.”
“I can’t help but like it. “This is what my mother bought me.”
To be honest, I didn’t know that this fountain pen was custom-made.
So I thought I could find a similar fountain pen. The last time I went to a department store, there wasn’t a fountain pen that suited my needs, but I bought it in a hurry because I needed to use it right away.
As I look at the fountain pen, I reminisce about the moments I had with this friend.
“Now that I think about it. “I don’t know much about you yet.”
Theodora came next to me before I knew it.
“What color do you like?”
I suddenly answer her question without thinking.
“Blue.”
“Why?”
“I have no idea? “Would you say it feels a bit comfortable just looking at it?”
Theodora nods her head at my words.
“Then what is your favorite food?”
My favorite food is Korean food, but there is no Korean food here… I say with a wry smile.
“I don’t have anything to hide.”
“Then… Um…”
What else are you trying to ask? Favorite artist or music?
How about anything? She gave me such a big gift.
But she asks back with a puzzled look on her face.
“Why don’t you ask me these things?”
I answer with a twinge in my heart.
“That’s it… Because you know?”
Theodora speaks as if she is surprised by my words.
“Hey lie!”
“Is it true?”
She asks my words with a suspicious look in her eyes.
“Then what is my favorite color?”
At those words, she briefly searches through the original work in her head and speaks.
“Red.”
“Then what is my favorite food?”
“Tiamat’s nipple.”
This is a dessert named after the goddess Tiamat, the younger sister of the local god El.
Nipples may seem like an obscene food, but because they are sweet chocolate, they are quite popular here.
But he asked with a look of surprise at what I said.
“Huh? How did you know?”
I answer her words with a shrug.
“I told you. I love you, I love you “It doesn’t make sense that I don’t know what you like and what you don’t like.”
Just look at the original work carefully to find out.
How ridiculous is it to say that we know everything because we love each other in the first place?
To put it bluntly, I know everything about other heroines besides Theodora, what they like and dislike, and even their s*xual feelings.
Then, I am no different from the rare playboy who loves all four people.
And to begin with, I am not as lecherous a person as the hero Seojun Lee.
One-on-one relationships between men and women are best.
I don’t feel the need to have multiple women.
But my words seemed different to Theodora… Her face blushed profusely.
“Well… I see. I did not know.”
Huh? What do you not know?
It’s just lip service to make Theodora feel better. It’s strange to see her face blushing so much.
“What?”
He spoke hesitantly, his face turning red at my words.
“Well… I… Thought you didn’t know. Thank you… For giving me so much love…”
I am a little embarrassed by her appearance.
No, not long ago, she was wearing s*xy underwear and openly seducing him…
Is she now blushing over trivial things like a country girl?
I think that being a woman is a very difficult thing.
“Hmm… And because I’m not angry. “Starting today, we will sleep in the newlywed room.”
Huh…? She started to feel afraid that if she made a mistake, she would get eaten, but then a fact came into her mind.
Now that I think about it, Theodora’s menstrual period started yesterday, right?
Healthy women menstruate once a month.
Well, it’s not that I know her menstrual cycle because I’m a pervert… Should I say that I naturally find out since we live together?
Anyway, she probably won’t seduce me during her period.
I reply, nodding her head.
“Yes, I will go to the bedroom and sleep today.”
Theodora nods her head at my words and soon leaves her room with a red face.