LIGHTNOVELSTORY chapter 40
40 – Fait Accompli
The Empress was extremely kind and courteous to me.
She seemed even more polite than when I was her mentor years ago. In fact, she was not as vibrant as a child as she is now.
The empress, in her princess days… was like a person overly sheltered from the world.
A princess, overwhelmed by pressure related to her position, had given up everything and succumbed to resignation. She certainly did not seem like a young child of her age.
That was truly painful to perceive. In fact, during those days, I seemed to harbor a strange hatred of ‘fate’.
Something decided upon birth, without one’s own intentions being considered.
Many children in this world have to give up a lot because of that. No… it must have been the same on Earth too. The only difference was that in this world, I directly witnessed it.
Anyways, during that period, I was not too fixated on accomplishing ‘missions’.
Instead, I wanted to offer this child at least one chance to make her own decisions about her destiny.
So I asked her if she wanted to become the Empress.
She looked blankly at me and said she had no such ideas of wanting to be the empress. It was an eerily calm voice. The kind of voice that only a person who had given up everything could have.
Fortunately, I had a knack for affirming a person’s choice over their preordained destiny.
I rather skillfully managed to drop the child from the political stage. And I restored her to her ‘family.’ Helping her learn chess, taking her to see a puppy, drawing pictures, and assisting with other childlike activities.
The result was quite successful.
One unforeseen fact was, the childlike Empress began to embrace childish dreams.
The young Empress… the Princess commanded me.
-“Teacher. Please make me the Empress.”
The woman, who once, in a resigned voice, asked me not to make her the Empress,
Now in a noticeably vibrant and energetic voice, asked me to make her the Empress.
It was a refreshing moment. If this was her decision, I was ready to respect it. At least I intended to support her choice as much as I could.
Making her the Empress wasn’t a difficult task. Her ‘rivals’ and ‘family’ members were leading themselves to downfall due to excessive competition and mutual suspicion.
All I had to do was give a little push to their downfall.
The delightful times built with the princess and her ‘family’ had become the ‘power’ to bring about their ruin.
It wasn’t a particularly pleasant thing.
Looking back now, I think it was a bit… immature of me. Thankfully, the princess seemed happier than ever, though.
And so, the princess ultimately became the emperor.
Perhaps as an adult, I should have said this to her then.
Even if you don’t become the emperor, you are a truly valuable person. Leaving without having said that was a slight regret.
“Teacher! I’ve finished all my work! hehehe, did I do well?”
“Well done, Your Majesty.”
That’s why I felt a little relieved when I saw the emperor again.
She didn’t seem crushed by the title of emperor. Her attitude wasn’t one of resignation or detachment, as before. Instead, she was brimming with a lively and genuinely human smile.
She shone with the luster of youth.
“Hey, was it supposed to be such a harmonious moment? Rain is being kidnapped right now, you know?”
Sharp poked fun from the side, but I ignored him. His voice was ringing directly in my head, so the emperor couldn’t hear it.
And about the kidnapping… well, the emperor had apologized for being rough, so I guess it’s okay.
After all, when you do this job for a long time, being kidnapped becomes just another part of the routine. Not being tortured, it could be considered a very polite invitation.
“You have no idea how hard I worked in your absence, teacher. I supported the peasants, abolished slavery… Ah! And I added the anti-discrimination law for half-humans, half-animals to the continental code.”
“Well done.”
“…Is that it?”
“Did you do all that thinking of me? Thank you.”
“hehehe, it was nothing~.”
The emperor smiled broadly, twirling a lock of hair with her finger.
For the ruler of an empire, she lacked the expected charisma, but I’m sure in official settings she carried herself with proper dignity.
In my case, it’s natural for her childhood reliance on me to show through. It wasn’t unusual for one’s speech and personality to change depending on the company.
“Teacher… what do you think of me?”
“Your Majesty, do you mean?”
“Yes!”
“I think you’ve grown up splendidly. I’m relieved you’ve matured so magnificently.”
“hehehe, really? Th-th-th-that means… would you… tonight…”
“I understand.”
“…Eua?”
“I shall tell you a fairy tale until you fall asleep, as in the old days.”
“…Yes?”
“Has Rain lost his mind? Wow, how can such a response come out in the middle of that atmosphere? Unbelievable…”
It feels like Sharp has been routinely slandering me these days.
Did I make a mistake?
“…Well, it is a teacher-like answer, that much is true…”
“Your Majesty?”
“Then, then! Lie in bed with me and tell it! I can’t possibly let you sleep on the floor!”
“Understood.”
The Emperor’s bed was not only beautiful but also quite large.
The red and purple fabrics were finished with gold threads, and the wood that formed its body also seemed to be of very high quality. Translucent purple lace surrounded the bed like a tent. And maybe a magic circle had been set up because the bed was as comfortable as 21st-century mattresses.
I set Sharp down under the bed. Still, his grumbling continued to be heard.
I stared blankly at the… well, the lace canopy of the bedroom as I recalled a fairy tale. I modified a Korean folk tale slightly to fit this world and recounted it.
I was reminded of old times while doing this.
My earlier self from Earth in the 21st century, who would gaze at the ceiling and conjure up lines, came to mind.
“Rain. Are you really a man? How can you so calmly share a bed with such a beautiful woman…”
I ignored Sharp’s grumbling.
I was too old to perceive the Emperor as a woman. Especially since I first met the Emperor when she was still a child.
From my perspective, the Emperor felt like a daughter… no, perhaps more like a granddaughter.
Thinking about it, I’ve lived quite a long time in this world. So, I should retire soon. If this were Earth in the 21st century, I would have passed the age of mandatory retirement.
“…And so, the fisherman returned home and lived happily ever after with his family.”
“It makes me think of the old days…”
“Is that so?”
“Yes… To be honest, I was a little skeptical when you said you’d only tell a fairy tale…”
“Really?”
“No, it’s just that it all seemed so silly… But I like it because it brings back the warmth of those times…”
“hehehe, I’m glad.”
“Goodnight, teacher…”
“Have a good night, Your Majesty.”
“Teacher, are you awake?”
“Ah, Your Majesty.”
It felt as if I had sunk deeper into sleep than usual, so deep that I awoke feeling slightly lethargic from oversleeping.
It was almost as if I had ingested a sleeping potion and a love elixir. Though that may just be my imagination.
Could it be that the bed is enchanted to allow for such profound sleep?
Soon the emperor’s maids entered the bedroom. They seemed startled to find me sitting in bed.
Observing their reaction, the emperor watched as they hurriedly bowed their heads and began changing his clothes. I simply closed my eyes and waited patiently.
“It’s okay to look…”
I thought I heard such a voice, but I ignored it.
Not long after, now dressed in his royal uniform, the emperor turned to regard me.
He bid me farewell with a voice tinged with regret.
“Stay here while I attend to my duties! If you need anything, just ask the Captain of the Guards!”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
After the emperor left the bedroom,
I picked up a sharpener. Today, as well, I planned to organize my writings on the Mythical Era in my notebook.
“Sharpener?”
“I didn’t see anything.”
“Huh?”
“It’s too scandalous for a pure sword like me…!”
Why is it acting like this again.
*
The hero formally requested an audience with the emperor.
He was rejected.
He sought an official visit on behalf of the Holy Kingdom to the imperial court.
He was rejected.
Even the central nobility who trafficked between the royal family were all cut off from communication. No information regarding the internal affairs of the imperial court leaked to the outside world.
Upon this, some high nobles who expressed their discontent also changed their tune and fell silent.
Even the empire’s Bishop, who performed the weekly chorale services in the imperial chapel, was denied. The Bishop could not even scale the outer wall and had no choice but to return home.
Something was happening in the Empire.
A few days later, an official decree from the Imperial Court was disseminated throughout the Empire.
It announced the Emperor’s wedding.
It was a matter so obvious, yet there was no mention of the consent of the parties involved.
Those who had been trembling at the various acts of ‘information disruption’ orchestrated by the Emperor now read this proclamation.
Throngs flocked to the capital of the Empire. To celebrate the Emperor’s marriage, to gawk, to plot terror, to disrupt, to revel…
Chaos was brewing on the continent.