Chapter 6

Translator & Editor: Lea & Aki

The Emperor nodded his head, not very interested in the matter. He moved on to what he wanted to say.

“It’s a good thing that you’re quick-witted. But I have a question.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“My illness, no one could cure it. The pills also don’t work on me. Even the High Priests couldn’t do anything. I also sent a few men to inquire into Golddina, the well-known magical kingdom, but they couldn’t find the right person. But how did you become a slave……?”

Celestia should have seen this coming…..

‘Come to think of it, there was no other person like me who could invalidate mana.’

‘He needs someone like me because the pills do not work on his body. But when it comes to ordinary cases, my abilities are actually useless. If they were useful, I wouldn’t have been on the streets, erasing tattoos.’

No one would do such a reckless job of engraving magic enchantments on their bodies at the risk of their life in order to acquire such useless abilities. Even more so if they were smart enough to learn magic.

She was smart too, but the access to proper education was one of the limitations in a life of poverty. When she engraved the magic enchants on her body, she did not know how many side-effects it could cause as she was still immature before she came to her senses.

She would not do it again even if someone told her. She could not risk her life anymore. Because if she died, she would not be able to express how much she had suffered.

She laughed bitterly.

“Are you wondering about how I can cure it, Your Majesty?”

The Emperor’s glowing red eyes narrowed at her.

‘Now I get it. That face…he’s not in a good mood. He’s not laughing either.’

But the most important one to her now was her brother. She did not know when the Emperor would be bringing him.

“Are you trying to redress my question now?”

It seemed like her heart was trembling at the way he was looking at her. Perhaps, this was his murderous look…..?

But she pretended to stay calm. The law said people always won if they kept their backs straight.

“Yes, if you’re curious, Your Majesty, then please bring him first.”

The Emperor laughed, twisting his lips. Celestia stared at him, as if dumbfounded.

“The only thing that has changed in you is your appearance. I see, you still haven’t given up on your strong will.”

“Your Majesty, I have already promised you that I would help you with the treatment anytime. And I’m not good at making stories either.”

The Emperor stared at her with a wry look. He should not have tried to know about her body’s abilities for no reason.

Only then did she realize that she was wearing only a robe. When she was a child, no one in the alley used to care about whether she was naked or not. Even when she became a teenager, she did not have to wear an undergarment often…..

But the Emperor’s look said he did not care about it.

“Fine then, if that is what you want. Write down your brother’s name and address, and hand it over to the Head of the township. He’ll take care of it.”

She could not believe he was going to transfer the work to the head of the town. It seemed impossible for her to find people in the back alleys, but it was not much of a big deal to this Emperor. It was the first time in her life when she started respecting him.

He suddenly took off his coat, as if he was finished with whatever he wanted to say. She had grown up watching shirtless men and children around her. But now, she was a bit surprised. However, the burn marks that were widely spread over his nicely toned body were shocking. The mark had also spread over his shoulders to his chest. It could be understood that his back was tingling.

Only then did she understand why he was in such a bad mood all along.

So, it was not just on the back of his hand. She could even sense more of the magical energy.

“…..Ah, I’m afraid you couldn’t sleep through many nights, Your Majesty.”

It must have been very painful for him, but he nodded his head in a nonchalant way.

‘Just how long did he suffer through this?’

If somebody said it was natural to use or learn magic, this person would have been the perfect example…..

She slowly rose from her seat and reached out to touch his back. He groaned, as if feeling the pain, even though it was only slightly touched.

His skin turned red everywhere she touched. He groaned again. She did not say it would be easy.

In Serek’s case, a competent like Celestia was always right next to him, so she was able to respond to him immediately. But in the case of the Emperor, there was no one who could nullify the negative effect of the magic that accumulated all over his body all this time.

It was a little too much to talk about it, but she spoke with the utmost dignity.

“I’m afraid you will die at this rate, Your Majesty.”

He was silent. But she could tell, without even looking at his expression, that he was squinting his eyes, thinking that she was dumb.

“It was you who assured me that I could get treated. Now if you’re going to tell me it’s difficult, you’re going to have to make a fool of yourself…..”

“No, I’m not. It’s just that your muscles will get damaged if you stretch them out….. No, I have no choice but to heal them in reverse order like I did before. Your Majesty, you said the pills didn’t work, but still you were using mana…..”

While grumbling, the Emperor raised his left hand, as if to shut her mouth because she was being too rude. But fortunately, instead of complaining, he pointed to one of the reddish wounds on his body. It was above his right shoulder.

“Maybe here. These are the marks that occured when we recently suppressed a small rebellion.”

“What kind of magic was it?”

“But do you have to touch it to cure it?”

The conversation was exactly the same as before. Answering the question with a question.

‘Answer me first! It’ll be easy to heal them if I know the details about your magic, you hopeless bastard!’

But she could not do anything, but to answer him politely.

“Yes, I must touch it.”

“So contact is a medium…..Fine, go on.”

When she put her palm on his shoulder, it felt like it was burning. His firm shoulder muscles were well shaped, but it was so full of sharp burn marks, making it seem as if he was not even attended by any maid properly.

She did not know what magic made her feel like she was trapped in a maze. She focused her mind on her hand that was slightly touching his skin and tried to reverse the magic. As she gently rubbed on his shoulder, she could see the mark fading slowly.

When the wound on his shoulder seemed quite healed, he gave a long sigh.

“It was worthwhile, wasn’t it?”

She fiddled with his shoulders. Her hands was still looking after his wound, but he did not seem to care much. Well, there was nothing wrong with it. Basically, he bought a treatment service because it just happened to be a human being.

“….It really is effective. The pain hasn’t been this relieved before, even by the painkillers.”

To be honest, admiration was also an amazing aspect of the Emperor. She was a little excited that her ability could be helpful to a great person.

“It would be better if I heal all the marks at once….but I think it will be a bit more burdensome for the both of us. I didn’t know there was a lot to do.”

“Hmm…..”

“I will make sure you have a good sleep tonight, Your Majesty.”

“What should I do? If contact is necessary, should I sleep, hugging you?”

‘What the hell is he talking about?!’

If he was trying to make a dirty joke, like some crazy old man in the back streets in Golddina, she would have been annoyed by the fact that it was for saving his life.

But this Emperor had a rather poor taste. In order to relieve the pain, he would have to leave his own golden bed and sleep at a rundown place.

Moreover, it was unlikely that there would be no effect at all. She was like a living magical vessel. Even if she lost her consciousness, it would still have some effect.

She pinched her own cheek while she was blankly staring.

‘No, I have to keep my head straight. If he keeps talking nonsense, I might have to give up the happiness of sleeping alone in a cosy straw bed.’

She quickly changed the subject.

“I will be taking care of you as a whole, Your Majesty. There is a slight odor in the muscles….. But now I’m only going to put out the pain…. So, please call me after you are done with your day tomorrow.”

“Good.”

“It would be easier if I knew what kind of magic it was.”

“You’re asking that persistently.”

“….Ah, sorry.”

“No, I think you’re better than others. I’m satisfied with the best purchase that I’ve made recently.”

She was the best item in the Emperor’s shopping basket. Everything else besides her, must have been extremely expensive. So it must have been a huge compliment, but it sounded like a curse.

‘Oh, I miss the days when I was a free citizen.’

It took about 20 minutes to heal his back. There was not much improvement on the surface, but it was enough for the Emperor to feel better.

After gently sweeping down with her palm to the bottom of his back, near his tailbone, she withdrew. She could not continue because her brain and body were exhausted.

The Emperor stood up in silence. He took a deep breath, straightening his shoulders and turned towards her.

“Now I feel relaxed. When will I be completely cured if you treat me every day with this momentum?”

“….Your Majesty, I think the best cure for you is to stop using mana….”

The Emperor sighed.

“That’ll be impossible for me.”

“How come?”

“You really don’t seem to know anything about the Empire.”

“How would I know? When I came to my senses, I found myself being sold as a slave.”

“Hmm, that’s true. I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

No matter how bad she felt, and considering the fact that she was talking back to him, the Emperor didn’t seem to care much. She did not know that he would be this flop…..

As soon as he opened the door, the guards clung right to him.

Left alone, she laid down on the bed. She felt like she was falling down as she was very tired. But, she couldn’t just fall asleep easily. She would have to give the address of her younger brother to him, and…..

The heat from the burning wound, which she had touched with her fingertips, seemed to continue to be felt. No matter how envious someone was, the Emperor was living a life on a continent where no one lower than him could command him.

It was stupid of her to bring up the subject of slavery. But now that she thought about it, he seemed to wear only a long-sleeved robe to cover up his wounds.

‘Ah, I can’t sleep at all. I really can’t.’

But, by the time she repeated the thought of not being able to sleep for the 10th time, she was tired and fell asleep.