Chapter 27

The emperor was bowing to his secretary. That in itself was a feat, regardless of how little his head lowered.

“Rosaline, it’s uncomfortable.”

“Your Majesty, don’t move… Alright, it’s done.” She swept back the locks of hair that had fallen in front of his face.

He shivered, but Rosaline continued her ministrations. Her fingers gently ran through his lustrous golden hair.

Although the situation was a little awkward and inappropriate, they made a beautiful pair.

Rosaline had placed the crown perfectly. She pulled away and the knights pretended they hadn’t been looking. The court ladies sighed, disappointed.

“Rosaline, it’s really uncomfortable.”

“Your Majesty, hang in there. You have to wear it properly to the meeting with the nobles.”

The majority of the staff and visitors of the palace had already accepted Cahir’s casual, informal style, but that wasn’t the case for the aristocratic council. They wanted him to always be neatly dressed and thoroughly courteous.

Cahir knew that, but their demands went into one ear and out of the other. It wasn’t that he couldn’t do it because of ignorance, as he had been educated on etiquette and manners since birth. He simply hated doing it because he thought it was annoying and unnecessarily complex.

“Alright,” he replied, sounding like a child reluctant to run errands but had to do it anyway. He stood tall with the crown on his head, embodying the grace and dignity of the empire itself.

Rosaline’s chest swelled with pride as she looked at his broad back.

‘This well-raised tyrant is even better than ten sons.’

***

The meeting with the aristocrats went as smoothly as a sail in fair winds. Rosaline had advised them to read the material beforehand so that the main agenda would not be delayed by trivial questions.

Abandoning their pride, the older nobles also joined the meeting. Their perspectives were narrow, but they maintained a respectable attitude.

It was thanks to Cahir that the lazy nobles changed this much. His fiery passion and contempt for inefficiency spilled over to them without exception.

Rosaline recalled the first few meetings she had attended as a secretary.

The emperor stormed in with a thin sheaf of papers in his hands. She had only just begun working at the palace, and could not contain his anger.

These details weren’t in the novel, but based on what she had read before, Rosaline already predicted Cahir’s behavior and tried to calm him down. However, just like any other beginner, she was clumsy.

“Who made this rubbish?” He threw the report onto the table. The papers scattered.

“Your Majesty, what are you doing?” It was Duke Pasita, the only one who treated him like a human being.

“Duke Pasita? Did you compile the aristocrats’ budget for the second half of last year? The numbers are all wrong. I don’t know how you people have been working all this time. Do I have to supervise in person? Do you think I’m free enough to do that?”

Contrary to how he kicked the door earlier, his voice was very low and calm, which was even scarier.

“Get Derek and Rosaline to work on the budget. Let’s cancel today’s meeting.”

And then at the next meeting, the aristocrats’ budget was halved. Their agendas were repeatedly rejected. No, they weren’t even allowed on the table. Cahir didn’t even bother looking at the materials the nobles prepared.

In time, he said, “We don’t need a meaningless parliament that doesn’t work and doesn’t function properly.”

The nobles lost their face. This was a declaration of war.

Cahir was a war hero, and his credibility was increasing little by little as he handled the empire skillfully six months after he ascended the throne. He drove out the opposition with a frightening spirit and filled the palace with his people.

His insane drive and cunning resulted in a complete victory against the aristocrats.

And so, unwilling to fight anymore, they changed.

They worked, shunned the lazy nobles, and Parliament finally began to function as it should have been.

‘I thought you would get mad at me too…’

***

“The site of the Temple of Berlios has been determined to be Pretzel Street.”

“Alright, let’s do that,” Cahir concluded, but no one stood up.

He was about to be the first when Duke Pasita stood, seemingly bearing all the nobles’ determination.

“What is it?” He sat back down.

“Your Majesty, your grace and virtue bring peace to the empire, but that only extends to our borders. It’s important to strengthen the status of the imperial family and…”

“Cut to the chase, Duke Pasita.”

The duke shut his mouth. Numerous eyes boring into the back of his head urged him to speak.

“The empress’ seat has been vacant for too long. The people of the empire wish for a warm and benevolent empress. The stability of the imperial family is the stability of the empire.”

Cahir didn’t respond at all.

A heavy silence weighed on the conference room.

He slowly scanned the aristocrats one by one. They avoided his gaze, but it was obvious what they wanted of him.

“Everyone wants me to get married?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Cahir looked up at Rosaline next to him. “Rosaline, do you want me to get married too? Do you think an empress is necessary?”

She couldn’t answer easily. Ever since the clamors for his marriage started, she’d been… torn.

The empress’ seat really had been vacant for a long time. The aristocrats were worried about Cahir. They wanted a solid and stable imperial family that suited their needs.

So far, Cahir was the only one in his bloodline. The empress dowager was not his biological mother and he had a half-brother. His position had always been precarious. Having an empress meant having a resolute supporter.

It seemed that he couldn’t put it off any longer. Many things could go wrong if he refused to marry soon.

She wanted stability too, but why couldn’t she answer right away?

Jealousy, of course.

Rosaline’s eyes shook. It was obvious that Ella would be selected, as far as the original story went. It was disgusting…

‘Oh no, I have to stop now. I’m afraid my affection for Cahir will ruin everything.’

Everyone was looking at her expectantly.

“I also think it’s time for the empress’ seat to be occupied,” she said. As she bowed, the pink diamond necklace sparkled in the light.

Cahir stared at it. “I see. You think my marriage is necessary too. It’s all about power anyway. They’re asking for an alliance.” He laughed bitterly. “If that’s your opinion, then so be it. Prepare the selection.”

Hostility surrounded his body as he stood. Only after Rosaline and Derek followed him out did the nobles finally breathe.

“Finally, permission has been granted! Do you have anyone in mind? I must immediately determine which of the noble daughters are worthy of the imperial family’s status,” said Count Sugugy, thinking of his own pretty child.

“Count Sugugy, His Majesty wants this to be a fair selection,” condemned Duke Pasita. He knew of the other man’s shallow, frivolous ideas.

Many nobles wanted to be the emperor’s family-in-law, to be near all that power.

Duke Pasita was the one who told Cahir to get married, but he wanted to take it back due to how the situation escalated.

‘Please, for the empire. For the well-being of the imperial family. I beg of you, Eteusis.’

***

It was late at night. Rosaline removed the crown from Cahir’s head, excited to go back to her quarters and draw a hot bath. She wanted to soak in the bathtub after this horrendously busy day.

“Rosaline, I have a question.”

“Yes, Your Majesty, go ahead.” She carefully placed the crown on its shelf.

After the meeting, he had been curt and perfunctory in his speech.

“Will my marriage be a normal one?”

“What?” Rosaline didn’t grasp his intentions.

Cahir looked at her. It was pleasant to see her wide eyes move around as she tried to figure him out.

“Literally what I sad. Will my marriage be normal?”

“Well, it likely won’t be. You’re the sun of the empire, and your marriage will be grand, as befitting the welcoming of the empire’s moon. It can’t be normal.”

His eyes seemed dark, a little bit lonely. “I see. But the marriage of nobles isn’t normal either, right?”

“It doesn’t compare, Your Majesty. You are the sun of the empire, the master of light and swords. The ruler and guide of the continent…”

Cahir looked unhappy, so Rosaline rambled on some more. He listened to her quietly. He normally would have interrupted her, saying that she was saying obvious things.

“…Your Majesty?”

“Let’s stop talking about my marriage. How about your desired ‘normal’ life? What do you want to do?”

‘He hasn’t forgotten.;

Rosaline scratched her nose. “Well, nothing much. Like other ladies, I want to have tea parties and attend banquets, learn embroidery and give handkerchiefs to the one we’re dating. Get married, have children…”

Cahir raised one hand to interrupt. “Wait, Rosaline. What? What are you going to do with someone?” One of his eyebrows raised sharply.