CHAPTER FOUR
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It had been a while since the emperor began drinking alone in his bedroom, so he was starting to get irritated. Where was that goddamned bastard? He was about to call for the grand chamberlain when a voice suddenly called out to him.
"Father, I heard you called for me.”
Smiling, the emperor raised his head. As ordered, his son hadn’t donned his usual helmet. He was glad that Max had listened. Thanks to that, it would be easy to check his reactions.
Wearing a satisfied smile, the emperor pointed to the chair across from him. "Come and sit down, Maximillian.”
Once his son sat down, the emperor poured wine into the golden goblet until it had been filled to the brim.
"Here,” he said.
However, instead of bringing the drink to his mouth, Max picked up some snacks.
"I’m avoiding drinks these days,” he explained.
Taken aback, the emperor asked, "What was that? Why?”
Max smiled. "I haven’t been feeling well.”
His answer didn’t make sense, but the emperor couldn’t argue against it. Instead, he just glared at his son.
You’re choosing not to drink, huh? he thought to himself. It might be difficult to get into your head, then.
His face crumpled once he realized this wasn't going to be as easy as he thought it would be.
Watching his father glower, Max laughed. It was obvious why the emperor, who usually remained distant, had sent him an invitation to drink.
He must have wanted something from him.
Max didn’t know what it was, but he had no intention of simply giving it away. After all, his father was more enemy than family. No matter how kind he pretended to be, Max remembered how the heartless man had left the late empress to die. After his mother had been poisoned, the emperor left her to wither away in her room, citing the excuse that he hadn’t wanted to watch her suffer. Max wanted to behead his abominable father immediately and dedicate him to his mother’s grave, but he couldn’t, so instead of displaying his hostility, he wore a bright smile.
"Regrettably, I must decline your invitation like this,” he said consolingly.
"Don’t worry about it,” the emperor assured him, his tone caring. "If you’re not feeling well, I’ll let the doctor know so that he can send you some medicine.”
"I don’t mind you enjoying the drink, and I’ll stay to keep you company,” Max smiled.
"Good.” The emperor nodded.
Once Max poured the liquor into the goblet, the emperor took the cup and downed it at once.
"I’ve never tasted anything better. It's a shame that you can’t drink with me,” he teased.
Max remained silent, waiting for the emperor to throw his bait.
As expected, his father soon got right to it.
"Maximillian, aren’t you of marriageable age now?”
Max was flabbergasted. The emperor had told him he was still too young to get married just a few days ago. Did his father finally find a powerless family to marry him off to? In the past, Max would have played along with his father’s schemes, but he had no such intention now. The only lady he wanted to be with was Jubelian, so he shrugged and said, "I’m still young—I’ve never thought of anything like marriage.”
He had only reiterated what had been said before, but the emperor’s reaction was still a sight to behold.
"What do you mean?!” he exclaimed. "You’re 22 years old. I should be seeing grandchildren by now.”
"Not too long ago, you told me I was too young for marriage,” Max mocked.
The emperor guffawed. "I was only saying that because you’re my son, the one I hold dearest to my heart. In any case, I want you to settle down, and I’ve found a suitable partner for you.”
Realizing that the emperor was trying his best to dismiss his own words, a corner of Max’s lips quirked up. He saw what the emperor was trying to do. He started speculating on what useless family his father might have had in mind, but then he decided he should listen to what the man had to say first. Whatever it was, Max was prepared to argue.
"So, I was thinking—what do you think of Duke Floyen’s daughter?”
Max almost replied that she was a lovely woman. However, before he could, he caught himself and realized something, his eyes growing wide. Why was the emperor even mentioning her? Max had only danced with Jubelian once and they had never met in public before. In his mind, there shouldn’t have been anything that could have caught the emperor’s eye.
The collar of his shirt was starting to feel tight, suffocating him. He rummaged through his memories. During Beatrice’s coronation ceremony, when he interrupted Jubelian and Fredrich’s conversation…
Damn it!
In the end, did he put her in danger? Max felt his blood begin to boil. It was his mistake. He shouldn’t have acted so rashly.
Quickly collecting himself, he replied with composure. "Well, I don’t even recall what she looks like.”
"Is that so? If I remember correctly, you offered to dance with her during the banquet,” the emperor said. "Wasn’t that because she caught your attention that day?”
Max smirked. "No, I was just looking for an excuse to irritate Duke Elios’ son since he was being an eyesore.”
The emperor frowned slightly. He agreed that, given Maximillian’s nature, it was likely that he would argue with someone he perceived to be a nuisance, but something still felt off.
Forcing a smile, the emperor attempted to entice him further. "Just be honest with me. If you like her, I’ll set up a meeting for you two.”
He had expected Max to immediately agree to the offer, but his son conveyed disgust instead.
"What do you mean?” he asked. "The duke’s daughter is ill-reputed. I would have to have gone mad to be interested in someone like her.”
Furrowing his brow at Max’s cold voice, the emperor studied his son.
"I see. She’s definitely not good enough for you, then. I’ll exclude her from the list of possible candidates for your bride.” Refilling the golden goblet with more amber-colored liquor, he dismissed his son. "It’s getting late. You may leave.”
Max let out a quiet sigh of relief. "Good night, Father.”
His face carefully blank, the emperor remained still in his seat after his son left, staring into his full goblet.
The grand chamberlain soon entered his room, spurring him from his thoughts. "Your Majesty, the spy assigned to the crown princess has sent a report.”
"Ah, yes. What is it?” the emperor asked, remembering the man he had asked to keep watch on Beatrice.
"Her Ladyship has kindled a friendship with Lady Floyen. Mind you, it’s not just an acquaintance. It’s a close relationship.”
Regis’ daughter and Beatrice… The two were close?
The emperor stroked his chin thoughtfully at the unexpected news. He might be able to use this to his advantage in the future, but for now…
Having achieved his goal, the emperor wore a triumphant smile. When he had first asked his son about the lady, there hadn’t been anything out of the ordinary. However, the emperor was quick enough to notice that something was odd about his son’s reaction; although Max was degrading the girl verbally, his eyes were trembling. It was uncharacteristic of someone who had been called a ‘monster’ on the battlefield.
He had hoped it would be true… but he couldn’t believe his son was in love! The emperor burst out into laughter. When the suspicions that he had had in mind had become a certainty, he was overcome with a sense of bliss. He could finally execute all of the plans he had devised.
He turned to the grand chamberlain.
"Catch a wild beast to be released on the day of the hunting competition,” he ordered.
Regis hurried home once he received the message from Derrick’s carrier pigeon. However, it took him a while for him to return. Once he did, the butler greeted him with a smile. "Welcome back, Master.”
"How did the issue with Elios go?”
The butler held out a piece of paper. "Take a look at this, Your Grace.”
Taking the document, Regis perused the writing. A satisfied smile gradually began to spread across his face. Jubelian had resolved it on her own... This reminded him of the time he had asked her about a theory on fief management.
"The three most important elements of an estate? First, the people,” she had stated adamantly. "The lord may change throughout time, but without the people, the land cannot be established.”
"I didn’t do anything to help Her Ladyship, by the way. She did this on her own,” Derrick added.
Regis’ smile grew even more prominent. "Yes. She wouldn’t have a problem without me.”
The statement startled Derrick and he gazed at his master. However, the duke remained expressionless. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, the butler decided that he must have been worrying for no reason and he let out a sigh of relief.
"How are the preparations for Jubelian’s coming-of-age ceremony going?” Regis asked.
"Ah, according to Madam Perez, Lady Jubelian has said she would discuss the concept for the banquet tomorrow morning.”
Regis nodded. "I see.”
With a mischievous smile, Derrick asked, "May I be so bold as to ask what gift you’re preparing for her, Master?”