Chapter 172. Now, it’s time for a counterattack2021.09.25.
Oscar’s birthday banquet continued past midnight. I slipped over to the edge and took the drink Aidan handed me.
‘It’s late, but I’m glad I arrived.’
Who knew it would arrive just in time for midnight? State affairs were always unexpected, and many procedures were required for the emperor to be away. Officially, of course. Unofficially, they often went out of the castle, but unfortunately, Oscar’s birthday banquet was an official event. asked Oscar, who escorted me to the corner.
“So, are you done with being busy?”
“of course. What do you see me as?”
“My beloved brother?”
Hmm. Somehow, as the days went by, I narrowed my eyes as I watched Oscar continue to talk nonstop.
“Oscar. I think I am becoming more and more like my father.”
“…swear word?”
“Are you reaching your father?”
“Of course it is an infinite honor. To say that I am becoming like my father is natural since I am the son.”
I giggled at Oscar’s quick change of attitude. It looked like he was afraid of his father getting angry. I handed the treasured box to Oscar.
“It is a gift. open it.”
“You must be busy, when did you prepare this again?”
Oscar opened the box with a somewhat surprised face. In it was a rare masterpiece that I had no choice but to be late today.
“…camera?”
The banquet hall, which had been crowded at Oscar’s words, fell silent for an instant. People’s attention was focused on one place. The box in Oscar’s hand.
“camera…!”
“Did you hear? It’s a camera!”
“Isn’t the camera the one that appeared in the newspaper?”
“They say they take pictures, but is that true?!”
It was a new magic tool that had been featured in an article because the confidential business plan was leaked. However, since it was in the development stage, only rumors abounded, and the product was yet to be released. The one I gave to Oscar must be the first camera ever produced. It looked different from the camera in my previous life, but the function was the same, so I named it Camera. I remembered that Oscar, who was looking at the business plan, said, ‘If there is such a thing, there is something I really want to leave as a picture’, so I hurried to develop it as much as possible. However, in the end it was a little too late.
“Oscar said he wanted one before.”
“Yes… it’s long. Are you late because of this?”
“huh. I have some paperwork left to do. It will go on sale tomorrow. I just took what Casey said he would take.”
“Yeah…”
Oscar stared at the camera. I wondered if I didn’t like it, so I looked at it nervously, and Oscar smiled and put the lid on.
“Thanks Mabel.”
“You don’t like it? Then I’ll give you another present.”
“It can’t be.”
Oscar carefully closed the box. I was a little relieved that I didn’t hate it.
“So what did Oscar want to do?”
“Take a picture?”
“Well, so… I decided to express leaving a picture as ‘taking’ it. I call that picture ‘photography’.”
To my words, Oscar responded with a light smile.
“That’s a secret.”
“huh? kill it Just let me know.”
“No Mabel.”
It was when I was arguing with Mane Oscar. Two people walked towards us. It was Enrique and Emily.
“Enrique!”
“Meet Your Majesty the Emperor.”
“long time no see. how have you been doing?”
Since I was busy with work and Enrique’s mission was not in the imperial castle, our movements rarely overlapped. So it wasn’t an official event like this, so I didn’t have much to meet. Enrique, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time, seemed to have grown one hand taller and had broader shoulders than the one he had met a few months earlier. The angelic face still remained, but the little Enrique of old was gone. I looked up at Enrique, who was about the same height as Aidan, and said in a blunt voice.
“What is Enrique? Did you grow taller then?”
“…I apologize, Your Majesty.”
Enrique bowed his head with a dark expression as if he was really sorry. Then I, who was joking, became garbage.
“No Enrique. Even if it grows big, pierce through the clouds.”
“I will follow Your Majesty’s orders.”
I was taken aback by Enrique’s serious reply.
‘What do you mean to follow?’
Seeing my agitation, Enrique smiled brightly.
“It’s a joke.”
Emily, who had been silently watching our conversation while enthralled by Enrique’s great joke, interjected with a broad smile.
“After going to subjugation, I must have been colored by military-style gags. I will crack down, Your Majesty.”
“I only trust Prince Javier.”
“It is also the duty of the head of the family to manage the members of the family.”
Enrique, who had become a boring soldier in our serious conversation, smiled shyly. Emily, who was looking at me and Enrique in turn, grinned.
“Still, Your Majesty, hasn’t my older brother become very cool? No matter how hard you train, your muscles are not normal. Look at this arm here. Be firm.”
“No, wait. Emily… Emily…”
Emily suddenly began to appeal to Enrique’s muscles. Enrique, who had suddenly been fidgeting with his arm muscles, blushed and lowered his head. It was a very interesting subject because it was a muscle. Emily’s hand went elsewhere.
“But the only thing better than the arm muscles are the upper body muscles, Your Majesty. Especially this pectoralis major muscle-!”
“your majesty.”
It was Aidan who intervened during the conversation. When I turned my head and saw Aidan, he carried the glass in my hand with his usual insensitive face.
“Your drink has spilled.”
“Thanks Aidan.”
when did you spill it? I squeezed my empty hand tightly, but it didn’t feel sticky. As I tilted my head, I heard Emily murmur, ‘It’s quite…’. When I looked back, Enrique’s position had changed. As if he didn’t want to have his muscles messed with anymore, he stuck right next to Oscar. Emily grumbled disgruntledly.
“If anyone sees it, they’ll think I’m eating my older brother. I am very sorry, Your Majesty.”
“Prince Javier would do well to stop teasing Enrique.”
When I said something, Emily shrugged and gave up bragging about her muscles.
“all right.”
Enrique, whom I hadn’t seen in such a long time, said good-bye.
“It’s nice to see your face and talk like this. Even though I wanted to see you often, I was sad because the conditions weren’t available. I hope to see you often.”
“Me too, Your Majesty.”
Enrique continued with a smile as bright as a flower.
“So I requested a change of position.”
position change? If somehow Enrique’s eyes seem to be looking at Aidan behind me, is it my imagination?
‘what…?’
Somehow, it seemed as if an unspoken conversation had come and gone.
***
Early dawn a few days later. At a time when Mabel hadn’t woken up yet, Esteban, as always, was in the office ahead of time and reducing work as much as possible. Gustav crept up and secretly whispered to Esteban.
“Lungs haaa-.”
“Don’t call me that strange. It’s creepy.”
“your majesty.”
“Isn’t that too hard?”
It must have been four years ago that Esteban had promised Gustav not to abuse power, but the abuse of power within the company was still going on. Without the Emperor’s knowledge, of course. Esteban asked Gustaf in annoyance.
“So why did you call me so secretly?”
“Today, it is pouring as usual.”
Although there was no subject, Esteban understood easily.
“…I don’t even get tired of it.”
Taking advantage of the absence of Mabel, they moved secretly. It was a mild spring day in May, with a warm southern breeze blowing, but the fireplace in the office was burning well. It was a familiar landscape. Esteban glared at the burning proposals while wiping the sweat. There was no end to the marriage proposals, not just one or two. Due to Esteban’s trembling check, there were no crazy people in Korea who would send marriage proposals to Mabel. However, Esteban was overlooking other possibilities. Esteban, who first read the diplomatic letter that arrived one day, realized that it was a marriage proposal masquerading as diplomacy and was indignant. From that point on, proposals for marriage arrived from all over the world. Every time that happened, the fireplace in the office lit up and burned roaringly regardless of the season. Esteban gnashed his teeth and tossed the marriage proposal into the flames.
“Wicked bastards. I dare not even know the subject, my daughter…”
“My daughter?”
“You’re looking after my daughter.”
Esteban, who answered inadvertently, turned his head away. Mabel was leaning against the doorway, arms crossed, looking at him with meaningful eyes.
“…Mabel.”
“You were the father too? The one who burned my husband candidates.”
“A husband candidate!”
Sparks flew in Esteban’s eyes. Jumping up, Esteban immediately approached Mabel, lowered her body, and carefully grasped her round shoulders. Then he spoke softly.
“Mabel. Remember. all men are trash It is something that should be extinct.”
“Then what about Dad? My dad is also biologically male.”
Esteban, who was taken aback for a moment, soon put on a shameless expression.
“Dad is good trash, Mabel.”
“…”
Mabel was at a loss for words at the absurd logic. They said that the scariest person is not a stupid person, but a fool with convictions, and that seemed to be the case. Esteban’s new request continued.
“marriage? You can’t do that. Hwang Kwon? already strong The successor… you just have to set it up when Oscar gets married someday.”
“That’s not allowed. You should also listen to Dr. Oscar.”
“hmm. Come to think of it, Oscar was strangely not interested in the opposite sex.”
Esteban, who was lost in thought for a moment, shook his head and returned to the main topic.
“Anyway, no marriage. Besides, didn’t you already promise this father? I’m not getting married.”
Mabel thoughtfully recalled the past.
‘I’ve said that about five years ago when I was talking about my mission as a seed of God.’
It was a promise he intended to skip, but Esteban believed Mabel’s words. Mabel asked with a wicked smile.
“Then what about love?”
“…!”
Esteban made an expression full of despair. Like a people who lost their country.
“Mabel…!”
‘Dad is going to cry.’
That sounds like fun too, but Mabel held back and calmed Esteban because she didn’t want to become an unfilial child.
“Okay Dad. pop.”
“I didn’t cry.”
“Your eyes are red?”
“…”
“I don’t have time to date anyway. Daddy knows!”
“Dating is what you do even if you don’t have the time.”
“Ohh. Did you love your mother like that?”
Cock. Esteban, who had been stabbed to the point, cleared his throat and looked away.
“What. Daddy, are you ashamed?”
“I can’t use Mabel if I make fun of adults.”
“I’m also an adult after my coming-of-age ceremony next year, so what?”
“Even if you have a coming-of-age ceremony, you will always be a baby to your dad, Mabel.”
No matter how old a child is, he always looked like a baby in the eyes of his parents. It was the same with Oscar and Mabel. No matter how much time passes, his child will forever be a baby. Worrying about it. Mabel ended up raising both hands and feet at her father’s affectionate gaze.
“Eh. okay. I’ll turn a blind eye to the burning of marriage proposals until now.”
“Really?”
“But not in the future.”
Then Esteban quickly became sullen. It broke my heart at the thought of the damn marriage proposal falling into Mabel’s hands.
“Still, it’s a diplomatic letter, so you have to reply.”
“hmm.”
“Okay Dad?”
“Don’t try.”
Mabel and Esteban sat face-to-face after finding out the story of the fireplace burning hot at dawn.
“So Mabel. What is your reason for coming to the office so early?”
“I received an unusual report.”
A lot has happened in the last 4 years. Aside from the domestic situation, the situation abroad has completely changed. The Devlin Empire completely cut off exchanges with other countries. 4th year. Border surveillance was also strict, and people who were not citizens were not allowed to enter. News came that a recent change had occurred in the Devlin Empire.
“What if it’s an unusual report?”
“It is said that a black barrier has been created throughout the laboratory building where Veron is staying.”
It was information received from Evil, a secret agency directly under the Emperor. Although the identity of the black barrier has not yet been revealed, it was noteworthy because it was an accident in the Devlin Empire that had been silent all along. Esteban nodded with a serious face.
“Looks like he’s up to some trick.”
“are you okay. Because Ermano won’t be left alone.”
Four years was short, but it was also a longer time than I thought. The enemy started to move, so it was time for us to move too. Mabel smiled confidently.
‘It’s time for a counterattack.’
