◈ 184. [Side Story] What you want
The innermost room of the large banquet hall.
As the serenade cautiously entered, the emperor was waiting alone in a chair.
The serenade was nervous, but they showed their example properly without being flustered. He knelt down and bowed his head.
“Long live the great emperor. A lowly god comes to know the supreme.”
She was a mess, barefoot and covered in blood and dirt, but the Emperor didn’t care.
“The Lady of the Countess of Wintersilver. It’s the first time I’ve seen it in person.”
At the Emperor’s words, Serenade quietly lowered her head.
Even on the day Ash and Serenade got engaged, the emperor did not attend.
The reason was that he was busy with his official duties, but it was not known as a serenade if that was really the only reason.
So, although she was the fiancée of the prince for 10 years, Serenade never met the emperor directly. This was the first time.
“Let’s cut it out and talk about the main topic.”
The emperor asked slowly, brushing his chin.
“I heard that your company has decided to help the imperial family in many ways. Is it true?”
“It is true. At our top… … .”
Serenade tried to tell the four fronts what the upper house could offer, but the emperor waved his hand to stop it.
“I’ve already heard from Ash, so there’s no need to recite the details again. That’s something that needs to be adjusted gradually.”
“… .”
“What Jim wants to ask is about the price you will receive for it.”
Serenade’s eyes widened.
“cost… Are you talking?”
“Aren’t you a merchant? You should get a price instead of offering a product.”
The emperor chuckled.
“What do you want?”
“… .”
“What do you want to get in exchange for your dedication to the Empire and the Imperial Family?”
Serenade stuttered and lowered her head.
“The girl… .”
“Your biological father, the Earl of Wintersilver, was always accurate.”
The emperor continued without a smile.
“I received the price as much as the product provided like a knife. so i liked him He was a reliable trading partner.”
“… .”
“But I overextended myself on the last deal. I made a mistake in counting.”
last transaction.
Arrogantly, the Wintersilver family demanded that they become in-laws with the imperial family.
The emperor clearly defined it as an overkill and a mistake.
“So, the Countess’s daughter. I hope you don’t make the same mistakes as your father. Make sure you count accurately.”
“… .”
“Now answer me. What do you want in return for your dedication to the Empire and the Imperial Family?”
The head of the bowed serenade fell further down.
Serenade knew. That the family now faced with the crisis of extinction was because of the father’s greed at that time.
I also knew the serenade. How to answer yourself here. What to ask of the emperor.
‘You shouldn’t wish for anything.’
I will dedicate everything in the caravan to the empire and the imperial family, and I will become the emperor’s faithful dog and do whatever he tells me. I promise that I will not pursue any vain greed in the future.
so… I ask you to preserve my life.
that is the correct answer I know.
so i have to say
I have to say-
– Get what you want. master.
Elise’s voice flashed through my mind.
Serenade blankly blinked her silver eyes.
What do you want?
That’s what you want… … .
– I promise you, sister.
At that moment, the landscape of my childhood covered the distant landscape in front of my eyes.
The boy of that day who smiled like an angel.
Memories of those young days that held onto your heart at any time and never let go.
‘iced coffee.’
Serenade gritted it.
Know. this is overkill
He is making a mistake in counting. And because of this mistake, he may die.
But-
“… A girl only wants one thing.”
If you can’t get your hands on the one thing you want in your life.
What is the difference between dying and dying?
Clenched fists, eyes wide open, Serenade raised her head.
And said to the man who ruled half of the world.
“Please do not break the engagement between Prince Ash and the girl.”
“… ?”
The emperor quietly blinked.
A clichéd expression came out of the serenade’s mouth.
Even if it’s clichéd, with unmistakable sincerity.
“I will make him happy for the rest of his life.”
***
After a moment of silence, the emperor opened his mouth.
“The Countess’s daughter.”
“yes.”
“Do you know that your family contains low blood?”
Serenade lowered her eyes.
“I know.”
“Did you know that your grandfather was a slave from a different race?”
“… I know.”
“okay. can’t you not know I would have had to think about it every morning when I looked in the mirror.”
Serenade kept her mouth shut.
Light blue aqua-colored hair she inherited from her grandfather and father.
The blood of the mermaids, a heterogeneous tribe that lived in the eastern sea, flowed in Serenade.
Her beautiful hair color was that of a mermaid, and it was like the brand of a slave that could not be hidden.
“It would be shocking enough to be born with a mixture of blood from different races and become the count of this country. Now, how dare you try to make in-laws with the imperial family?”
“… .”
“You are indeed a cheeky woman.”
Serenade’s demands were, after all, the same as his father’s.
Married to Ash.
Clearly, it was an overzealous and blunder, and the emperor had arrogantly requested it again.
“Why do you keep asking me to marry Ash?”
The emperor looked puzzled rather than angry.
“Is it because it is the long-cherished wish of the family to get off the yoke of being born in heaven by acquiring the blood of the imperial family?”
“no.”
“If you do, is it because you want to become an in-law with the imperial family and further revive the family and the guild?”
“no.”
“Then, what kind of calculations and tricks are there underlying it? Be honest with Jim.”
Serenade answered honestly.
“Because I love you.”
“… ?”
“Because I have admired him all my life.”
The reason was that it ended.
The emperor, who blinked silently because of the absurdity, eventually hit his knees and laughed out loud.
“Ahahahahahaha! Did you say love love love love!”
“… .”
“To put yourself and your family’s life at risk just because of such childish and immature feelings! Foolish indeed foolish!”
“Oh, Your Majesty.”
Serenade said quietly.
“Thanks to those young and immature feelings, His Highness Prince Ash was able to be born.”
“… .”
The emperor shut his mouth and glared at the serenade.
because of longing.
Although the emperor pushed himself into a political predicament, he finally welcomed the second Empress Dustia.
It was because the emperor loved Dustia, a former war slave. The emperor was a fool who burned himself with feelings of admiration.
And as a result of that love affair, Ash was born.
“The girl is a merchant, Your Majesty. Calculates, calculates, weighs interests, weighs gains and losses.”
“… .”
“But the girl knows. That the world doesn’t just go that way. That a myriad of things bloom outside of calculations, calculations, gains and losses of interest.”
A hazy smile crossed the corners of the serenade’s haggard lips.
“And that it is beautiful. I am well aware of it.”
“… .”
The Emperor continued to be silent.
Serenade knelt in front of him and slowly lowered her head.
“We, the Winter Silver Merchant, will contribute to the imperial family by renovating itself. So, Your Majesty.”
“… .”
“The engagement between Prince Ash and I… … Please do not destroy it.”
The serenade prayed to the emperor with five body movements.
“That is all a lowly girl wants.”
A long silence passed.
In the depressing silence, the emperor sat motionless in his chair, and the serenade also lay motionless on the floor.
And finally.
“You are young. little children.”
A bitter smile crept across the emperor’s lips.
“Stupid, daring, stupid… You are young.”
“… .”
“It reminds me of Dustia.”
The emperor suddenly remembered the woman he loved.
“He was a beautiful person.”
He grew up rough as a slave, but his appearance was ugly.
He was a kind and warm person. Enough to make the ruler of the empire fall in love.
Serenade, who spent their childhood together in Dustia’s villa, agreed with a nod of their heads.
“You were more beautiful than anyone in the world.”
“… .”
The emperor shook his head slightly and waved his hand.
“I approve of the continuation of the Winter Silver Merchant. The Wintersilver family will continue to lead the upper ranks and, as promised, do their best to help and contribute to the affairs of the imperial family and the empire.”
Serenade immediately pressed her forehead to the ground and closed her eyes.
“The castle is ruined, Your Majesty.”
“However.”
Serenade’s eyes widened at the emperor’s words that followed.
“We cannot guarantee an engagement with Ash.”
“… !”
Watching the serenade hardening his body, the emperor laughed.
“Isn’t that something you young people have to do on their own?”
“yes… ?”
“It’s a couple that breaks up the next day, even if they both die and can’t live together. Besides, isn’t Ash the best playboy in the empire?”
The emperor rubbed his forehead as if he was in pain.
“This is a guy who kicks the princess of the Aryan Kingdom and puts disgrace on the face of this father who announced the engagement. Besides what? reader line? Huh true… … . I thought I’d grown up a little, but I’m a child who will always be selfish.”
“… .”
“If you truly love that stupid guy, you will have to suffer a little.”
The emperor waved his hand.
“I’ll give it back to you, my mischievous youngest son.”
A mischievous smile hung over the ruler’s face.
“Be prepared to kick it and hug it.”
***
When the serenade came out, the banquet hall was cluttered.
The delegation from the Northern Kingdom was seen leaving the great banquet hall in a huff.
Lark and Fernandez stood next to the envoys, appeasing them.
Serenade blinked, not knowing why, but a voice came from the side.
“Did you solve it well?”
Serenade looked over and saw Ash lying sprawled on a pile of smashed chairs. Surprised serenade stuttered and asked.
“What happened?”
“What various… I had some responsibilities… … .”
Ash groaned and stood up. The fancy tailcoat was covered in dust and wood chips.
“So did things go well with Obama?”
“Ah yes! All worked out great! You promised to keep our guild alive.”
Ash blew a whistle.
“good job. You did it right.”
“It’s all thanks to you, Mr. really… Thank you very much, sir.”
“We did it together.”
Ash smiled warmly. Serenade swallowed dry saliva.
“And the relationship between me and Nanggun-nim also gave that permission… therefore… .”
that the engagement was not broken.
We are still engaged to be married.
So, from now on, I want to be a real lover.
There were many words swirling inside, but no voice came out. The serenade was delayed for a long time.
“serenade.”
Then Ash reached out and squeezed Serenade’s hand. Serenade held her breath.
Ash smiled as if he knew what Serenade was thinking.
And Ash said.
“Let’s break off our marriage.”
“… .”
Serenade’s shoulders stiffened.
For a while, he didn’t understand what the man was saying, so he froze, then asked Serenade carefully.
“… yes?”
But I didn’t hear it wrong.
Ash spoke again in a clear, unnecessarily good voice.
“Let’s break off our engagement.”
