A Famous Traitor and Treacherous Genius

168 – For My Emperor (2)

Habsberg is thoroughly a meritocracy.

If his abilities are outstanding, he will even recruit those who tried to assassinate him, and if his abilities are insufficient, he will be discarded even if they are of his own blood.

‘Although the latter is a bit meaningless.’

To the Habsburgs, a child is just a talented person.

Since he inherited his blood, he must grow to at least a master level before he can join the Habsburgs.

The reason Astasia is recognized as the only princess is because she has proven her talents in many ways.

In addition, the country seduced me into entering the imperial palace as a single person, so it was natural for the Habsburgs to recognize only Astasia as their child.

From the Habsburg perspective.

‘Can’t you see your surroundings right now, Your Majesty?’

Unable to say anything, I just glanced around briefly.

[What is that guy?]

This gaze is normal.

[Why did His Majesty…]

Also, considering what the Habsburgs have shown in the empire so far – although I haven’t seen it in person – it is impossible for them to open their arms and welcome someone happily.

But.

[I have a son. I am the son. Even if I receive a hug, I should receive it.]

The gaze of the Habsburgs’ numerous sons is always unwelcome.

‘In my previous life, I heard people say that I was the son they secretly gave birth to in the kingdom, but this time it will be even worse than that.’

At that time, we met for the first time at a graduation ceremony and exchanged brief greetings, and after the continent became Habsburg, we often visited Gibraltar.

Even though he did that, he talked about his hidden son, and such rumors spread even though the lineage between the Habsburg Emperor and the Gray Margrave of Gibraltar was obvious to anyone.

Now, that rumor started less than two and a half years before I became an adult.

However.

‘You can’t be defeated easily.’

It all depends on my reaction to give a plausible probability to the sight of Habsburg approaching to embrace in such joy.

“On behalf of the Kingdom of Nostrum, greetings.”

Those who were looking at me with eyes filled with doubts had an expression of ‘if that’s true’ pass through their eyes.

Representative of the Kingdom of Nostrum. Just as the crown prince came alone from the Sirene territory, I actually came alone to the enemy country, although the relationship is said to have improved to some extent.

-Does the Nostrum royal family trust Gibraltar’s eldest son to the point of sending him to the empire alone?

-No. It’s a throw away card. Are you saying your legs are bad? So, even if they become a hostage, I can cut them off without mercy, so I sent them like that.

-I knew something would happen if I sent a princess who could be called the next queen. It is an appropriate appointment.

In fact, the perspective of the ‘reaper’ who risked his life for the Tersian Empire and crossed the canyon.

In the Habsburg Empire’s efforts to create an atmosphere of peace with the kingdom, sending Gibraltar’s eldest son as a representative from Nostrum is of great political help.

This is a political perspective.

Haha! It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. Are you going to be so stiff?”

It was, but that possibility is being shattered in an instant by this crazy emperor.

“It’s been 1 month, 13 days, 10 hours, 37 minutes and 21 seconds.”

“…Yes?”

“I adjusted the time on this watch to plan the day when I will meet you again.”

As soon as they met the Habsburg Emperor, he did not hesitate to say things that would make people lose their minds.

“Do you see this? Date, time, and clock. It’s 00:00 since the last time I said hello to you. Haha.”

“…”

The surroundings began to look strange again.

It’s surprising that he’s doing crazy things that are beyond common sense, and it’s surprising that the emperor is not what he has shown up to now, but is it the eldest son of the Margrave of Gibraltar, who is not someone else but the prince of Nostrum?

“How do I need one?”

“If you give it to me, I will be grateful.”

Now that this atmosphere has become like this, we need to change the topic.

“Oh. I think this is the first time you don’t feel burdened by my gift.”

“Of course I should get a watch like that. That way, when I become separated from the princess, wouldn’t I be able to check how soon it will be before we meet again?”

“Hmm…!”

The reason why the Habsburg Emperor holds Gray Gibraltar in special consideration.

Rather than someone’s perspective imagining an ‘insidious relationship between men’, the possibility shifts to a healthy and political relationship created by inserting a woman in the middle.

“Nice to meet you, princess.”

“Chairman of Gibraltar.”

I immediately turned my attention to the princess, Astasia.

The Emperor was still standing with his arms outstretched, but I bowed deeply beneath his arms and walked directly toward Astasia.

“I’m so glad to see you again.”

“…Yes.”

Officially, it is known that I keep showing signs of being a slouch to Astasia.

The daily life of Orosol Academy is spread throughout the empire in a single day by voyeur reporters, but since it is a place, Astasia rarely acts like that and looks awkward.

“You are so beautiful, princess.”

“Uh, um… “

“I’d like to say hello.”

Following the orthodox etiquette of Nostrum, I knelt in front of the princess on one knee and extended my hand to her.

“Will you please allow me to kiss you, Lady?”

Nostrum’s chivalry is called ‘unlucky’ by the people of the Thersian Empire, especially men –

‘Whatever. I’m from Nostrum.’

He is from Nostrum and a man from Gibraltar. Does it matter where he is?

‘A romanticist who is crazy about love can always be eaten. Especially for women who have dreams in that direction and want to become ladies.’

Every woman wants her own prince on a white horse.

That’s not much different from a man wanting a motherly woman who can feed him, raise him, and share love with him.

Look.

“Uh, um…”

While Astasia hesitated for a moment and looked embarrassed, the reactions of several women who focused their attention in this direction.

-Oh my, my. It’s crazy. What a shameful thing to do in a place with so many people…!

There is a woman who says she is embarrassed, but she is looking forward to what will happen.

-That man is the son of Crimson Gibraltar… He resembles his father, so write. Ha, I’m jealous…

There are people who are truly jealous of receiving a passionate confession of love from a handsome man who inherited the beauty of Crimson Gibraltar.

-You ask me to kiss your hand like that in front of everyone. Is that the Nostrum average…? Ha, if I had been proposed to like that when I was young, I wouldn’t have divorced.

There is also a woman who laments that she got to see with her own eyes the ‘romance of the old world’ that no longer exists in the empire.

Well, everyone’s impressions are bound to be different.

The number of people gathered here is approximately 2,000.

Among them, there are hundreds of people who received seeds from the Habsburg emperor and gave birth to children, and the rest are made up of her sponsors, relatives, associates, or allies.

Since everyone has different interests, some people are uncomfortable with Gray Gibraltar revealing her love for Princess Astasia, while others like it because it is romantic-

-That, how dare you?

That being said, there are also cases where local dogs try to cross Astasia, not knowing how scary the tiger is.

“…Ha, okay.”

Astasia eventually reached out her hand, and I lightly kissed the back of her hand.

Quite a long time.

Silence falls over the banquet hall, until someone clears their throat because they can’t stand the long silence.

Until some of the mesmerized people noticed the smell of a ‘scoop’ and sensed that it was ‘photo time’, so they quickly took the camera out of their pocket and pressed the shoot button.

‘It’s done.’

Click, click, click.

The moment I heard the magic device’s shutter sound three times, I slowly parted my lips from hers and looked up at Astasia.

“Princess Astasia. Please-“

Clap, clap, clap.

“…Tsk.”

And the moment I heard the sound of clapping, I stood up.

“As expected, Gray Gibraltar. “My eyes were not wrong.”

Did he not like the fact that even though he welcomed her with both arms, he ignored it and went straight towards the princess?

Or did he rather like the fact that it was Go Nabal, the emperor, and Go Nabal, the kingdom’s diplomatic representative, who went to kiss the princess ‘hand her her her?

“If I like the princess, I will actively pursue it.”

“Your Majesty…?”

“Thersian and Nostrum. What could be better than this if the bloody history of 500 years was now turned into a beautifully blooming, rosy future?”

Habsburg received a wine glass from a servant and held it high.

“Everyone, raise your glasses.”

Red wine, sparkling red like blood, glimmered in the glass.

“For peace on the continent.”

Ta-da.

“The banquet is over. Enjoy the rest among yourselves.”

Habsberg clinked his glass in the air and poured the wine into his mouth in one go, then dropped the glass on the floor.

Clink.

“Gray Gibraltar.”

The emperor already seemed to have no intention of enjoying the banquet.

“Why don’t you go out to the terrace and get some fresh air?”

“…”

I was dumbfounded.

Wasn’t this banquet a banquet to celebrate the emperor’s accession to the throne?

“Your Majesty.”

I answered immediately.

“I don’t like it.”

“…What?”‘

“If I go to the terrace, I only go with the princess.”

“…”

In a moment.

“…I’ll have some warm somnus tea ready in the living room.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

While one of her attendants was sorting out the broken glass, I held Princess Astasia’s hand and led her to her corridor.

To a quiet terrace that others cannot come to.

* * *

In a moment.

“It’ll be okay here, princess.”

“This is…”

“I came looking for a quiet place. Is this your first time here?”

“Yes. It’s a place I’ve never been to before.”

I brought Astasia to the terrace where no one would take pictures and there was no fear of being bugged, and it was the first time Astasia had seen it.

“Do you know where this place is?”

“I didn’t know about it, but I think it might be a terrace leading from the emperor’s bedroom.”

“…Yes?”

“I thought this room we just entered was the bedroom the Habsburg Emperor would use after his accession to the throne.”

“…”

The fact that she suddenly came to the emperor’s terrace made Astasia think for a moment, but-

“I see. Uhm…”

He just turned pale, and there was no other reaction after that.

“Hey, Chairman of Gibraltar…?”

“Grey.”

“…Grey.”

Astasia held my hand tightly and looked to her left and right.

“This place…Is like a sheet of thin ice. I don’t know if you felt it, but the eyes are directed at Gray…”

“It was never a good thing. I know and understand. The Gibraltar family lineage has been an old enemy for them.”

“…”

“However, the fact that they are favored by the Habsburg emperor right now will be more sensitive to them than the long-standing grudge.”

I pointed to countless white heads striding out into the wide, maze-like garden below the terrace.

“Astacia. Do you know why I came here myself, overcoming others?”

“Didn’t you tell me to go see the Guardian of Gibraltar?”

“No.”

That is a secondary reason.

“It is to make a statement to the entire empire.”

“Profession… ?”

“No one can take over Astasia. If you want to take Astasia, think about having Gray Gibraltar as your enemy.”

“That’s… “

“The princess of the empire is Astasia. If she becomes an emperor in the future, her power will naturally belong to her companion, Gukseo.”

I lightly slit my throat at the termites crawling around the garden below.

“Those bugs are scum who want to take you, Astacia, and inherit the empire.”

“But, they…”

“Yes. Astasia, they are your half-brothers.”

Half brothers?

Such things are not very important to the position of emperor of the continent.

“Aren’t humans capable of doing anything for power?”

I wonder who isn’t a child of the Habsburgs.

“The Habsburg Emperor chose me as your mate. As the most talented, with the best blood. But if I were not there…”

“Wait a minute. Could it be… ?”

“Whatever you thought, you are right.”

A very terrible and terrifying thought.

“Hapsburgs don’t really care about their bloodlines being connected to each other. Rather, they think it’s the next best thing. They believe that breeding seeds with the best ability is the only way to continue excellent bloodlines.”

Habsberg.

“In that sense, it’s really fortunate that the princess and I are not related by blood.”

If necessary, he is a human being who also considers passing on his descendants to his next of kin.