Price of Management

Halstein calls a knight and gives the order. Later, knights came and pulled out all the chefs in the kitchen and the maids who were carrying the dishes.

I was heartbroken.

It turned out that Emperor Kars was a mortal who killed and ascended to the throne, leaving no survivors. During the civil war, they burned all the prisoners and massacred them.

I was worried that I might kill them all. It's not poisonous. It's just a sleeping pill.

I also felt responsible for what happened because I mentioned it.

I couldn't help but notice what I was about to say to Emperor Kars.

“I did it! ”

One of the maids screamed in horror. Everyone's gaze was directed at her.

Oh my...

She was the cute blonde maid who looked down on me. She put sleeping pills in my food!

The maid sat down, bursting into tears.

“I did it, Your Majesty. I put the pills in! ”

“You're a lone killer.”

The late Halstein has been accused.

The servant nods with a face covered in tears.

“Yes……. ”

The Grand Duke of Halstein looks at Emperor Kars.

“You're not lying. ”

Emperor Kars judged by the look and action of the maid. And then the verdict.

“Kill.”

“Old!”

The knight holding the maid draws her sword.

“Your Majesty……. ”

The maid looks at Emperor Kars, crying in shock.

I've decided to dry. Otherwise, it would have been an act to save Emperor Kars. Using sleeping pills, not poison, means you didn't intend to kill me. I did something I shouldn't have done as a maid working in the Imperial Court, but it's unforgivable. She is a man of few favors, not fear of Emperor Kars.

The knight raises his sword. I thought I'd cut her to pieces in no time.

But it was then.

“Stop.”

An emotionless voice stopped the knight. Everyone's gaze gathers on Emperor Kars.

Emperor Kars stared at the maid.

“What are you thinking? ”

The maid who was bored with the fear of death became a curious face.

“What were you thinking just now?" ”

“Bird, you mean? ”

I don't know what to say, but the servant was embarrassed.

“I don't know why you were looking at me like that and why you did what no one told you to do. Try to understand me.”

I have to.

Even to me, the servant's behavior was unintelligible.

Even though the emperor's loyalty to the emperor was strong, it was not normal for a maid to do this because of a dictatorship.

Therefore, it was no wonder Emperor Kars was so keen to know how others felt.

Hold still.

She works here in the mansion.

This is the palace where Emperor Kars' mother used to take care of him. With such a mother, Emperor Kars also spent his childhood here.

Then…….

I quickly opened my mouth to thoughts.

“Your Majesty, don't you remember who that woman is? ”

“I don't know.”

“It seems to me that she was related to the king in the past. ”

I said, Emperor Kars looked at the maid again.

“Is that true?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. ”

The servant said with tears.

“When I was a child who had just come into the service of dozens of maidens…… When we were weaving grass leaves and making bracelets or necklaces with our friends in the Rose Palace, the King, who was about the same age, came to see it…. ”

“…… why are you so funny? ”

Emperor Kars opened his mouth to see if a childhood memory came to mind. The servant nods.

“Yes, you did. ”

“I remember. I've watched you play a lot since then. ”

“Yes, that's right. ”

“He once gave me a coffin made of flowers. ”

“Yes…. ”

“If I remember correctly, your name is Jesse. ”

“Yes… it's Jesse……! ”

Maid, Jesse cried.

“When I saw that, the Second Queen asked you nicely...... and you were so kind... to her not long ago... Thank you so much...! ”

Jesse burst into tears.

The chefs, servants, and maids who were drawn to the knights also forgot their fears and stole their tears. Everyone remembered Emperor Kars' mother, the Second Queen.

In this aged atmosphere, it was only Emperor Kars who remained expressionless.

The emperor asked me.

“The Marquis of Ligand. ”

“Yes, Your Majesty. ”

“Unexpectedly, this imperial court apologizes for your disrespect. ”

“It's barren.”

“Do you want the punishment of this woman who tried to harm you? ”

“I don't want to. ”

“Good.”

Emperor Kars gave the order.

“Everyone goes back to their posts, and sinners are sentenced to seven days' probation. ”

“Old!”

The knights have sent back all the men who pulled them out. Jesse bows at the feet of Emperor Kars and gives thanks to Yeong-goo.

“Put it away. Dinner's over. ”

After that meal, the central hall was left with Emperor Kars, me, and the Marquis of Halstein.

The hall is static as if a storm had passed.

Emperor Kars said.

“With your favor, the Imperial Man has saved his life, I must repay him. ”

“I'd be grateful for anything. ”

“Then I'll ask. Why are you here? ”

Stupid question.

I answered.

“This is to plead with you to stop the scourge of bloodshed from all people. ”

“Admit it. Just like you saved Jesse's life. ”

“Yes, Your Majesty. ”

“Then I'll ask you one more question. Why do you think I brought you here? ”

“With all due respect, isn't that what you wanted me to do? ”

“That's right."

Emperor Kars smiled distorted.

“But that's a bit lacking. ”

“Yes?”

“You should have been more specific. ”

“ ……. ”

The words of Emperor Kars puzzled my mind.

You keep me here, you start a war in between, and you benefit from it. His goal must have been this.

But not enough?

Does that mean there's something more to it?

Emperor Kars said to me, who was troubled.

“To be precise, I wanted you to vacate the Kingdom of Leaden. ”

“…… Are you referring to King Leaden? ”

“The war began shortly after you entered the Horn Empire. ”

“I expected it.”

“As I planned, the Marquis of Jurden should be attacking the Kingdom of Ledon by now. ”

What, what?

I was embarrassed.

How is that possible?

Duke Meutt must be stopping it. As long as Duke Meutt endures, Kingdom of Leaden is safe. This is because if we don't capture the Temple of Knight blocking the Northern Highway, we won't have a smooth supply line.

While Duke Meutt is gaining time, the Kingdom of Leaden executes a pre-established ‘maneuver', emptying the Kingdom of Leaden and retreating.

I came here because I believe it.

Duke Meutt cannot have already fallen.

“You're unbelievable. ”

“Of course Duke Meutt is alive and well. ”

“… then? ”

“You had a strategy to abandon the Kingdom of Leaden at the beginning of the war, didn't you? Duke Meutt must have withdrawn all troops, supplies, and residents while he was making time. ”

“That's right.”

You knew that.

But I expected this much. He's not the emperor that won't notice.

“I think it's a sensible strategy. The late Juden just passed Duke Meutt and marched straight to Ledon. Before your king withdraws from the Kingdom of Leaden. ”

Such a strategy?!

Ignoring Duke Meutt and marching straight to Lerdon?

This is an outrageous strategy. What are you suggesting we do with the supplies? You want to take King Leaden by surprise and plunder his supplies before he runs out of weapons?

No way.

No matter how many troop cars there are, how easy can a nation's capital be to take down? The Horn Empire will starve first before conquering.

Are there any supply routes other than the northern roads that Temple of Night is blocking?

“You ask a lot of questions, don't you? ”

Emperor Kars looked closely at my face and asked.

“That's right.”

“Be more creative. ”

It was the attitude of Emperor Kars, who seemed to be puzzling.

I even feel like I'm falling into a maze.