-

☾ fifty - seven ☾

As mentioned in the novel, I could see a scary man covered in black armor.

Red blood flowing down the sword he was holding.

I stared at him quietly.

Even if I ran away, this would all just be a game for him.

As soon as he approached me, I closed my eyes.

Enveloping myself to the darkness.

I hoped he'd cut me with a single slice so this could all be over quickly.

But, at that moment, my body shook violently.

"My Lady, are you alright? Why are you sweating so much?"

I let out a sigh of relief as Marilyn stared at me with a worried expression.

'Oh, it was a dream. I'm so glad.'

_

The Emperor's hand shook as he read the letter from the Crown Prince.

'You bitch. You're a procrastinator, and now suddenly you're here? There's no telling when you're coming.'

The letter explained all the reasons for his delay.

However, since the sender was his offending son, even that excuse was annoying.

The Emperor tore up the crumpled letter and thunderstruck it.

"This man has delivered the message. Now send in the other one."

Then the servant, who was outside the door, came into the Oval Office and whispered to the city's chief.

Before long, the man approached the Emperor in a swift move.

"Your Majesty, the Duke of Floyen has arrived."

"Let him come in." The Emperor replied.

The door to the Oval Office opened.

Regis walked towards the Emperor and bowed silently.

"I greet the Sun of the Empire."

"Welcome, Duke of Floyen. Do you know how long Jim has been waiting for you?"

[ note : 'Jim' is how some emperor's refer to themselves when talking to other people ]

Despite the Emperor's act of mockery and sarcasm, Regis responded without agitation.

"I apologize for not being able to see you quickly. God has not been good to my mind and body these days..."

As an excuse for his absence, Regis' face was not different from usual.

One of the Emperor's eyebrows went up and down disapprovingly.

'I don't like it, but now is not the time to play being interested.'

He wanted to use abusive language, but there were still many eyes present.

"I need to speak with the Duke, so everybody out."

"Your Majesty!"

Count Pyrex, the head of the royal guards of the Emperor, asked back, but the Emperor waved his hand as if he was annoyed.

Soon only the Duke and the Emperor remained in the Oval Office.

The Emperor, who was staring at Regis, opened his mouth and revealed his true colors.

"Duke, do you know?"

"What?"

"These days, people have been saying that Lennox Chang Jung-baek has been having an impure heart."

The loser of the South, Lennox Chang Jung-baek, known to Regis, was an outstanding warrior and tactician.

He was also a man of great patriotism towards the empire.

< I ask the Duke of Floyen to keep the system in check. It will give us time until we go north and ask for help. >

He wasn't particularly dissatisfied with the decision.