Chapter 43 – A Guest’s Scheduled Visit

“Ahhhh!!!”

Unable to contain his rising anger, Erun began to tear the newspaper into pieces. He shredded the newspaper as if it was Kaien and Gloria he was tearing apart. The nobles watched Erun with weary expressions, but at the same time, as they looked at the pieces of newspaper scattered in the air they felt like running away. They thought the line was straight since the engagement, but suddenly it bent and went astray.

After shredding the paper, Erun spoke to them with a scorching glare.

“Since this is the case, the marriage will be postponed. No matter how powerful the Ludenberg household is, the wedding won’t be held in such a short time.”

“Then what will you tell Her Majesty?” As Erun barely managed to regain reasoning, a brave soul asked.

The emperor’s heart had already turned from Erun and was directed to Kaien. Ignorant citizens were busy cheering for the romance of the century. And some feudal Lords, who had remained neutral throughout their life, began to approach Kaien.

‘That’s right, Gloria. The power is focused on that bastard, not you.’ An evil smile was drawn on Erun’s lips. It was a much more beneficial bond for Kaien than it could be for an emperor who couldn’t even read state treaties. This was because whoever married Gloria would most likely become regent. That was exactly what Erun was aiming for.

Erun’s eyes, which had sunk like pebbles in a muddy swamp, shifted to the window. What he could see through the window was the Imperial Palace in the distance. A spire of the imperial palace, which seemed to have been sprinkled with sapphire powder, caught his eye. He fixed his gaze on the tower and said to the idiots standing in front of him.

“We must drive public opinion toward the duke trying to seize the emperor’s power. Citizens with nothing but breadcrumbs in their heads will be agitated.”

“Naturally, Your Grace.”

At Erun’s contemptuous words, a nobleman replied hastily. As if facing a difficult situation, cold sweat ran down his spine.

Annoyed, the marquis waved his hand and commanded them to leave.

Tak-

The door closed, and Erun was the only one left in the room. He rubbed the back of his stiff neck. He closed his eyes and cleared his throat then squinted at the ceiling. Staring at the old-fashioned roof, he spoke quietly.

“You can’t take it away like this. Do you know how much my mother and I sacrificed for this?”

He swept the back of his throbbing head. Even after several years, the late marchioness’ hands and the sound of her mad laughter were vivid.

“You are no different from me, my poor son!”

Erun shut his eyes tightly as if he could still hear his mother’s laughter filled with the joy of finding kinship. It was painful. Until he turned eighteen, he was like any other young lord. Swearing allegiance to the Imperial Family and Empire, to be of service to the emperor and his people, he reviewed materials until his nose bled. He even used his own funds to help the poor.

His world completely collapsed on the day his mother died. Erun inherited the karma of a terrible evil deed and blood, just as she had said, a hidden desire that had remained in the corner of his dark heart bloomed fully.

“Now there is no turning back.” A tired, weak voice came from his lips. With his back to the sunlight, Erun’s face turned very dark.

It was Gloria who desperately reached out and held him amidst the endless hell. To survive, he grabbed Gloria and reached out to seize power.

“I’ll definitely get rid of them all. Kaien Ludenberg, and Gloria Blake Vierant.”

His eyes were filled with obsession.

* * *

The feud between Gloria and Erun spread like fire day by day.

In response to Gloria’s threatening letter, some newspaper directors showed their support for Kaien, and the response became positive.

The notice of Erun’s hand slap, when he grabbed and shook his fiancé, was flavored and enriched before spreading everywhere. Known to value his reputation seriously, the marquis would have used his power right away, but for some reason, no explanation was given, and Erun’s reputation began to decline little by little.

Upon hearing this news, those who had wanted to curry Erun’s favor hurriedly summoned their children to doll up and paint portraits.

Contrary to such a noisy situation, the Rituana Kingdom, which had a friendly relationship with the Erant Empire, moved quietly. The Duke of the Bayern household was the King’s half-brother and had upgraded from Count to Duke after his great achievements, and he also summoned his son and instructed him to go to the Erant Empire.

“Are you saying that I should go to the Empire in this situation? Do you want to dress me up and sell me as concubine as the other noble Lords?”

Leon Von Bayern was busy with the affairs regarding the Duke’s title he would soon inherit, so clicked his tongue. The breaking of the emperor’s compromise of the Erant empire had already been spread and it was well known. The long-awaited marriage with the Marquis was practically shattered shortly before marriage. Rumors had spread that the emperor would marry the duke, but some people wouldn’t let this opportunity pass by when Erun had been pushed out of the emperor’s favor.

Far from being angry at his son’s rude tone, Duke Bayern smiled gently. Even as a middle-aged man, that one smile would make any woman’s heart flutter, but Leon wouldn’t fall for it.

‘Every time you smile like that, I feel my arms rolling up.’

Despite being in front of his father, Leon didn’t even try to hide his disgust. It was because that smile had already set a precedent in his life to the point of sickening.

“If it weren’t for your father’s face, my fate wouldn’t have been like this…” The words he often heard from his mother when he was young were engraved in his heart and hit him when he grew older.

Seeing his son openly expressing his revulsion, the duke spoke,

“If you had the capability, I would have pushed you for concubine. Of course, seeing your temperament, it’s absolutely impossible.”

“If you know, why did you call me?”

‘You know every little thing!’

Leon glared and growled at the duke who was watching his work.

Gloria Blake Vierant, 23rd Emperor of the Erant Empire. Since Leon had only seen her in portraits, he had no interest in who she dated after breaking her engagement.

Duke Bayern clicked his tongue at his son’s energy, which was more ferocious than usual. At that, Leon felt the corners of his lips twitch.

‘Seeing that pathetic expression on his face really makes me angry!’

Duke Bayern put down his pen and said,

“There are already two factions fighting within the Empire, and Rituana has decided to support the other side, not Marquis Lebossi’s.”

“Then why are you sending me? Send a diplomat!”

“I am sending you to help make the marriage between the Emperor and Duke Ludenberg a success. Ever since you were a kid, you’ve been incredibly good at that kind of thing. Because of your petty tricks, I’m living like this now.”

“Are you kidding me?”

At the duke’s words, Leon’s face turned white. The orange eyes that resembled his father’s were shaking relentlessly.

Seeing his son in great shock, the duke spoke in a serious tone.

“The marquis is practically finished. But if the duke’s power is pushed back, the emperor will eventually marry the marquis, and… we should prevent it in advance, don’t you think?”

“So that’s why you’re telling me to act as a dating carrier pigeon now?”

“That’s right.”

“Father!”

At his father’s reply, Leon slammed the desk and shouted. The roar made a nearby aide flinch.

Leon stared at the duke with fierce, burning eyes. As if the sight was pleasant, the duke leaned into his chair and smiled.

‘This damn father. You cunning f*cking father!’

Leon trembled, trying to suppress his anger. Bayern’s eldest son knew far too well that even if he got angrier than this, his father wouldn’t care. Leon narrowed his eyes toward the Duke of Bayern, who despite his middle age still had a deadly smile.

‘If I keep up like this, I’ll be the one losing.’

Leon closed his eyes and took a deep breath trying to calm the urge to jump at his father.

Then, the duke resumed the work he had paused as if that was all there was to say.

Seeing his father waving his hand and dismissing him, Leon raised the corner of his mouth. His lips were trembling from the force he was applying. Nevertheless, Leon smiled.

Seeing such behavior, the duke raised one eyebrow.

‘What is that brat trying to say right now with such a twisted smile?’

His appearance was very similar to his own, but his short temper was very similar to his mother’s. Because of his remarriage, Leon and the current Duchess didn’t share a drop of blood. However, somehow their temper was frighteningly the same, making the duke feel truly uneasy.

Under his father’s sharp gaze, Leon spoke, forcing each word out.

“I, who have never been in a relationship, will heed my father’s order to play the dating carrier pigeon role. However, I don’t know how my mother will see this.”

“The marquis and those who will try to place him in the place of the emperor will attack Her Majesty. So from now on, we must block them as much as possible.”

As he expected. His father’s attitude changed whenever his mother was named.

Leon meekly nodded at his father’s words, who spoke of the country with a stern face. He wanted to leave the office after reaching his goal, but the duke didn’t give him a single glance. The duke’s son spoke to himself loudly as if wanting his father to hear.

“Aaah. How upset would mother be if she heard the news that I had just returned home and now I’m told to leave? Geez.”

Tak-

At Leon’s artless question, the duke’s pen fell on top of the documents. The ink splattered, spoiling the paperwork, but he didn’t care.

He had a hunch. His son will speak exaggeratedly to his mother, and his wife, believing she will never see her son again, will definitely point a ‘knife’ at him. The paling duke stopped his son from leaving and said,

“…Go and interact with the Duke of Ludenberg, build friendship, and come back. The Bayerns and the Ludenbergs have a close relationship, so I would like you to send my regards as well.”

Seeing his father troubled while sweeping his forehead, Leon felt refreshed. Still, Leon planned to run to the duchess. His mother was the only one who could control that arrogant father of his.

‘You should prepare.’

Leon sneakily stuck his tongue out before leaving, and Bang! he slammed the door shut. The duke lamented that his son had a very similar temper to his wife and commanded the aide next to him.

“I have a lot of work to do today, so let her know that I will be late.”

The duke’s voice sounded stiff. And his aide, far from showing loyalty to his Lord’s solemn intent to hide his grim expression, spoke to him without hiding his expression as if saying he didn’t have a chance.

“You’ll be in more trouble if you arrive late, Your Grace.”

“. . .”

The duke silently accepted his aide’s sincere advice. The assistant had worked with him for a long time and already knew the ranks in the duke’s family. The Duke seemed at the top, but in reality, the Duchess was at the top.

At his words, the duke helplessly lifted the pen and continued the work he had stopped.

And as everyone expected, the Duke of Bayern faced the wrath of the Duchess as soon as he finished his work.