IYAMD: Episode 30

“Your Majesty, I have brought the Archduke.”

At Serez’s words, Marsilia slowly turned around. Jaha was standing expressionlessly near the balcony door, his face shrouded in shadow by the backlight from the hall.

Then, the faces of Serez and the Archduke appeared nearby. When their gazes met, the Archduke qapproached Marsilia.

“Shall we continue from where the conversation left off? You said you’d support the knights for the upcoming subjugation?” The Duke replied, standing side by side with Marsilia while gazing towards the garden.

“Given the imperial guards number, I assume you can’t bring too many. I hear the Minotaurs are coming in hordes…” The Duke spoke calmly, without any pretense. “Of course, I don’t mean to disregard Your Majesty’s power or the knights.”

Marsilia pretended to pause in thought at the Archduke’s offer of sending 200 additional knights, though it was an offer he had no choice but to accept.

The Archduke’s words were accurate. The Crimson knights had already been reduced by General Des taking a third of them, and the Black Knights had to remain to defend the palace. Moreover, Darren was planning to stay at the palace as well.

It was unthinkable to let the Empire’s two Sword Masters die if things went awry.

Marsilia couldn’t tell Darren to lead the knights either, since his own divine power was their greatest strength. Having regular soldiers would likely cause more trouble than help, so he had reduced the numbers—200 Crimson knights and 100 Black Knights.

Considering that the Minotaur horde was expected to number around 50, it was honestly not enough for an all-out battle. And with the rift likely still open, Marsilia felt even more uncertain about how the battles would unfold.

Thus, even if the Archduke knights were likely coming to backstab here, he couldn’t refuse.

It would be better to take at least half of them than leave them fully behind to potentially have the entire knight order storm the palace.

“I’m worried that you won’t send them without conditions. What is it you want in exchange for the knights?” The Archduke turned his body.

Marsilia noticed his gaze and half-turned his body towards him.

“After all, I am a member of the Arhen royal family. Is it not the duty of royalty to act in such situations?”

His answer was perfect, as if prepared in advance. Marsilia suppressed the urge to laugh at him and smiled gently.

“It’s good to know that you understand your duties as a royal. I had thought you had forgotten about them until now.”

The Archduke’s brows twitched as if about to make a remark, hecsmiled wryly.

“That’s impossible. I’ve never forgotten I’m from the Arhen royal family.”

“I wish you had contacted me a bit earlier. Since we’re leaving tomorrow, you’ll have to join us midway. Serez, go with the Archduke and arrange where to meet.

The Archduke smiled and bowed before he casually made his exit. After he left, Marsilia sighed and turned his gaze back to the garden.

“Sable.”

Even though he called out from afar, Jaha didn’t respond. However, he felt him taking a step closer.

“Jaha.”

Marsilia turned around and extended his hand.

“Would you refuse if I asked you to hold my hand?”

Jaha remained still, and Marsilia withdrew his hand, leaning towards him.

Marsilia whispered softly as his face neared his.

“Then what if I kissed you?”

His gaze had kept drifting to Jaha’s lips since earlier. The anticipation of an act he had never tried before made his body tense.

He wondered if just once would be enough.

Marsilia was curious about both his reaction and if the longing he felt would be satisfied.

‘No.’

Understanding the man’s muttering, Marsilia gently cupped his cheek.

“Shall we?”

Seeing his brow furrow slightly, Marsilia swallowed nervously.

As he pressed his lips to his temple, Jaha twisted his body. Realizing he wanted to escape, Marsilia tightened his grip on his cheek.

Marsilia leaned down and whispered, “I don’t understand your words.”

Marsilia pressed his lips to his plump ones. When his lips gently brushed against his, his heart raced as if it might explode.

But just as quickly, he backed away to avoid the murderous intent flying toward him, barely dodging a punch from Jaha.

Marsilia nearly shouted at what he had done, but seeing Jaha’s face made his smile instead.

His neck had turned bright red, looking like a perfectly ripe apple. It seemed as though if he took a bite, sweet and sour juice would pour out.

Jaha, still covering his lips with his forearm, trembled in confusion, his head spinning as he couldn’t understand what had just happened.

Feeling his face heating up, he wanted to hit Marsilia, who was smiling like an idiot. His fist shook uncontrollably.

‘ I told you I didn’t want to!’

When Jaha protested, Marsilia, with a brazen smile, shrugged his shoulders.

“I don’t understand you, Jaha.”

Hearing his response, Jaha swiftly kicked him in the shin, making the man groan.

Instead of grabbing his own shin, he placed both hands on Jaha’s shoulder. Gritting his teeth in pain, he raised his head, his blonde hair falling neatly but now slightly messy.

As Marsilia let go of him, she murmured quietly, “In the Western continent, this is considered as a greeting, Jaha.”

I knew there was a greeting where one’s cheeks touch. But to press lips together, what a liar. I had traveled across the Western Continent for more than two years, yet I had never seen such a greeting or even heard of it.

‘Lecher.’

‘Go dobthat with a woman.’

With a displeased expression, Jaha pulled away from him and opened the door leading to the banquet hall. When I pulled aside the curtain, which I didn’t know when it was set up, Ashton was waiting and gave a smile.

“I will have you escorted to the bedchamber.”

‘Can I leave?’ He turned to look at the man following him.

“Go rest first. We have to wake up early tomorrow.” Jaha glared at the man, who responded calmly, and followed the attendant Ashton called.

In the brief moment as I exited the banquet hall, I heard people whispering.

“It seems His Majesty is completely smitten. How come there hasn’t been a scandal until now? Looks like he has such a taste.”

“Exactly. There are so many eyes on him, what is he thinking?”

Jaha sighed quietly, hearing the gossip from a distance. The Emperor’s position isn’t always a good thing. Knowing that the Emperor can hear, they whisper on purpose like that.

Jaha couldn’t help but feel sorry for the man left behind. Though his actions were not something to forgive, he seemed to be quite lonely.

But it wasn’t something he needed to care about, so he pretended not to hear and quickly left the banquet hall.

As Jaha walked through the courtyard toward the bedchambers, he realized the attendant in front had stopped and raised his head.

It seemed Serez and the Archduke finished their conversation and were heading back to the banquet hall.

“Are you already leaving?”

The Archduke asked, walking ahead of Serez.

“Yes, he has received permission to leave early due to tomorrow’s departure.” The Duke ignored the answer of the attendant and turned to ask Jaha again.

“Are you the new adjutant? What is your name?”

This time, Serez stepped forward and answered.

“It’s Sable Dandelion, Your Grace.” The Archduke couldn’t hide his displeasure and looked back at Serez.

“Cat got his tongue? Why is everyone so eager to answer for him?”

“Unfortunately, he was unable to speak due to an accident when he was young.”

Serez replied calmly and bowed his head, while the Archduke gave Jaha a suspicious glance.

“It seems His Majesty is trying to cover the sky with his hands. Using such a ridiculous name and speaking like that.”

“What do you mean by that, Your Grace?”

Serez asked with a bright smile, looking up at the Archduke. Jaha met his piercing gaze indifferently.

For some reason, he didn’t want to look away. Though he didn’t know what the Archduke wanted to find out, he wasn’t afraid and didn’t wish to look away.

The Archduke gave him a snake-like glance and snorted before walking away.

“Such a ridiculous thing.”

His muttered words stuck in Jaha’s ears. Serez followed behind the Archduke sending a discreet glance at Jaha and gesturing for him to go back.

“Shall we go?”

Jaha, after they disappeared into the darkness of the garden, followed the attendant once more.

The Archduke earlier, and the Archduke now, seemed like two completely different people.

While he never thought the suave persona he showed in front of Marsilia was his true self, the real him seemed more savage and greedy than he had imagined.

Recalling the his eyes, which seemed even more arrogant than the Emperor’s, Jaha couldn’t help but turn his head back toward the banquet hall.

He was bothered by the man he had left behind. Among the people who filled the vast banquet hall, how many would actually be on his side?

Maybe Ashton and Serez? Perhaps the knights who were going with him would be on his side as well.

Jaha let out a small sigh and began walking again toward the Emperor’s bedchamber.

It was a night where he could not understand why his steps felt so heavy.