Chapter 90
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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Chapter 90
The Emperor seemed somewhat flustered.
"I don't give gifts to men."
"Pardon?"
"...That is to say."
"So you frequently give gifts to women, then...is that what you're saying?"
"Absolutely not."
Tendons tensed in the Emperor's hand resting on the table. He wrapped his clenched fist with his other hand.
"I hold the Lockhart Family and the Schultz Family in particular regard. Since both families have been blessed with daughters of noble birth, I merely wished to express my consideration for the heads of these houses through gifts."
"I understand the Schultz Family has no daughters."
"Precisely why this gift is for you alone, Adeline."
I listened to the Emperor's explanation and found it reasonable.
"The image of a sovereign who looks after the families of his close associates."
I could accept that.
A superior who cares for one's family touches the heart in ways that inspire loyalty.
'There were rumors that he was the type to reward achievements as thoroughly as he demanded rigorous work. The Emperor's words ring true.'
When my brother returned from his grueling training, I'd witnessed how generously the Emperor compensated him.
I decided to accept his kindness with gratitude.
Refusing too adamantly would have been discourteous to him, after all.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I'm truly grateful."
As if released from tension, the Emperor carefully leaned his posture back against the chair.
In the past, I might have misunderstood it as "Does he perhaps have feelings for me?!" but now that I understood the Emperor's circumstances, I did not.
The Emperor, who had been gazing at me intently, let out a brief, awkward cough.
The Emperor had a better temperament than I'd thought.
When I was preoccupied with the original story, I hadn't noticed—hadn't even seen it—but the Emperor's nature was not disagreeable.
Rather, the trash in this situation was none other than.
...Me?
"Please open it."
"Of course!"
I immediately opened the gift box.
"Oh? What is this...?"
The gift inside was unexpected.
A sculpture that shimmered like an opal but was the size of a fist, shaped like a coin.
"What is this?"
"I was the victor of the hunting festival."
The hunting festival where the Emperor and I had vanished together. The Emperor had already caught an astonishing number of prey before the monsters appeared.
The Emperor, who boasted a record no one could surpass, claimed victory.
"Did you know that Marcus Lockhart, the father of Miss Enya Lockhart, was the hunting festival's most decorated champion?"
"Yes, I've heard about it."
"I happened to hear that after Marcus Lockhart won the last hunting festival he participated in, he proposed to the current Duchess Lockhart."
"That's right. He did."
"Though you didn't experience that romantic moment yourself, you are the fruit of the love that blossomed from it."
I gazed quietly at the Emperor's gift.
"Since it is your birthday, I wanted to give you a gift of deep meaning. Your existence is a great blessing to the Duke and Duchess Lockhart, and the day you were born is worthy of celebration."
"...."
"I wanted you to know once more that you are precious to many people."
Ting—
I....
I couldn't offer any response.
'This is serious.'
The Emperor is far too kind.
I'd never heard such tender words from anyone. This was the first time I'd encountered someone whose heart was not merely good, but genuinely beautiful.
Perhaps Dale? Apart from Dale, I'd never met anyone so gentle. A wave of remorse bubbled up from the depths of my heart.
"If you dislike it, you're welcome to refuse."
"No, I love it very much."
"I'm relieved."
For a moment, the Emperor didn't look like an emperor at all.
He appeared like a sage of virtue.
"I will never sell it, not even by accident, and keep it safely displayed in my room's cabinet. Thank you so much, Your Majesty."
"Is that so?"
His voice grew noticeably brighter.
"It is my honor, Miss Lockhart."
Prick—
The sting of my own conscience.
'Have I misunderstood the Emperor all this time...?'
But how long can I keep relying on the original story?
I'm not living like my original self, so naturally the Emperor would be different too.
Whoooosh....
I blurred away the original Emperor's actions from my mind.
I'll use the original story only for emergencies and crises.
* * *
The first aid kit enhanced with proper hygiene proved remarkably effective.
"Welcome, Miss Adeline."
I entered the office with Getty's escort.
"It's wonderful that you visit so frequently these days."
Getty mentioned he would bring milk tea for Miss Adeline before leaving the office.
The atmosphere seemed brighter than during my previous visits. The number of aides stationed before the office also appeared to have increased.
"Miss Adeline."
"Good to see you, Your Majesty."
By now, I had grown accustomed to The Emperor's mask.
The Emperor and I met frequently to discuss business matters.
We spoke strictly about work, though occasionally we ventured into other conversations.
"Don't you go on dates with that person?"
"It's difficult."
Somehow, The Emperor had begun seeking my romantic counsel, and somehow, I found myself listening.
"Well, as Your Majesty, you must have many attendants following you around."
Each time he went on a date, there must have been countless aides and knights secretly trailing behind him.
Yet it was remarkable how The Emperor managed to meet a woman without a single rumor spreading.
"You're worried that her feelings might fade because you can't meet often?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"Are there many men around her?"
The Emperor folded his arms and fell into contemplation.
"Fortunately, she has discerning taste."
"Then you can rest easier. Where in this Empire would you find a more worthy husband than Your Majesty?"
"...."
"It's objectively true. And if that were a problem, you would have parted ways already. This wouldn't be your first time facing such circumstances, would it? Your Majesty is a busy man, after all."
"Do you truly believe that, Miss Adeline?"
"Yes. So I think you can relax a bit and focus on your duties."
Not long ago, I wouldn't have thought so. But now, things were different.
After meeting The Emperor several times, my perspective had shifted considerably. He was quite a good man.
A good man—the kind the aides had been subtly indoctrinating me about under the guise of their escort duties.
And a safe man, unrelated to me. That was what mattered most.
"Then I shall endeavor earnestly."
"Yes. I'll cheer you on."
I reviewed the documents. The Emperor and I had matters to discuss regarding state business.
"Has the medical clinic issue been resolved?"
"Obtaining consent from each lord is expected to face significant obstacles."
The Emperor answered with skepticism.
What we were planning was a project to establish public health infrastructure.
For a long time, powerful painkillers had circulated widely, and people had grown dependent on them.
Though the painkillers disappeared when Hexagon lost its power, the mindset of people who relied on painkillers for everything—colds, injuries, fractures—remained unchanged.
For minor illnesses, people simply endure them without seeking treatment at all.
There are few privately operated medical clinics, and even those are scattered sparsely, making access difficult.
Just as my Aunt's Husband had done.
"Is there significant resistance?"
"Not quite resistance."
Of course not. No nobleman would openly oppose The Emperor's will.
Nearly all of them had died a few years before he ascended to the throne.
"They say they will not establish medical clinics for commoners."
"As expected."
"Only four fiefdoms have agreed, including Grunvalt."
"That's far too few."
"Of the remaining four, three are in the Northern Territory—regions with particularly harsh terrain and barren lands."
Most of the Northern Territory consists of vast expanses of land.
It comprises three fiefdoms in total, meaning the entire Northern Region has unanimously agreed.
The Empire's geography features high mountain ranges in most of the north and parts of the south, with the rest being largely plains.
By geographical standards, it is extraordinarily peaceful and prosperous.
"Poor people go hungry and are easily exposed to illness, yet treatment remains difficult for them. Meanwhile, the nobility won't even feel the impact."
"...."
"They have resident physicians to treat them when they fall ill and possess the wealth to pay. The territory's people will only be seen as sources of taxation and tools for conscription when needed."
"Your words are correct, my lady."
I leaned back in my chair.
I hadn't expected widespread agreement, but I never imagined it would be this meager.
"However, there may be a way."
"Do you have a plan?"
An illness that only the chosen few can enjoy.
There is one rather interesting piece of news circulating lately.
"If you wait a little longer, you'll understand."
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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