707 – Lion and Wolf – 4

There were ten little rings.

Of them, I split one to six, Erich owns seven and eight, and the Deputy Chief of Intelligence owns nine.

And the last tenth little ring went into the hands of Ainter and Shati. What a beautiful ending.

‘Isn’t this kind of trend just a fad?’

I smiled bitterly as I looked at Ainter and Shati sharing the horizontally split rings.

Yes, I understand that half/ji is popular because I give in a hundred times. To be honest, I think the storytelling of ‘a ring where two become one’ is so touching that it touches the heart. It was a natural result, since it was an idea that was made by squeezing in what little intelligence there was to soothe the depressed Mar.

The fourth father-in-law, Count Flambel and the Golden Ball snatched it up? Even that is understandable. No matter how popular it is, it is a legitimate business to invest in as long as it can shake up the imperial social world.

But how many years does that trend last? Normally, fashions related to clothing or jewelry tend to last for just one year.

‘I sprinkled poison on the empire…’

It’s deplorable. An excuse to avoid the immediate crisis, a small seed carelessly sown grew into a giant tree that covered the empire. If this momentum continues for the next few decades—perhaps even until the empire collapses.

The unique culture of the Kpelopen Empire was split in half. I feel like I have committed a crime against future generations.

“Thank you. As expected, it’s neater and more beautiful since my godfather did it himself.”

“Thank you so much, Your Excellency the Count. I will treasure it for the rest of my life.”

Still, when I saw the newlyweds who were truly happy, I couldn’t help but think, ‘This is a crazy trend!’ ‘Fuck it now!’ She couldn’t make the same statement. This trend has already left my hands a long time ago.

“I’m glad you like it. Just like that ring, I hope that you two will live as one forever.”

They smiled as naturally as possible and blessed the future of the newlyweds.

For the prosperity of the Livnoman Imperial Family. For the steadfastness of the Marquis Gurt. For the stability of the empire.

For the happiness of the two people who are the protagonists of this marriage.

After getting married, Ainter and Shati shook hands with each of the guests and exchanged well-wishes and thanks. The true socialization of nobles is in fact just beginning.

“I can spend some time here and then get out.”

“Yes. No one will come this far.”

While the nobles were flocking to the newlyweds, the emperor and I sneaked away and moved to the corner chapel of the temple.

Today’s protagonist is not the emperor, but Ainter. The emperor showed off his presence by sitting in the guest room throughout the wedding, so rumors of discord between the brothers would not be floating around for no reason. Loitering around any longer would actually be stealing the attention of the nobles.

“…I feel like I have finally let go of the burden on my heart.”

Anyway, the emperor entered the chapel, sighed softly, and then slumped down on a chair commonly seen in churches.

It’s a little bit difficult. There is no better place to avoid people’s eyes, but since it is a chapel, there are only long horizontal chairs. Should I just sit on the chair in the back?

“Minister. Just sit next to me. There are only two of us, so why sit separately?”

“How could it be so disrespectful to sit next to Your Majesty?”

“Okay, sit down. If you have authority that can only be gained for the sake of a position, it is as if it has already collapsed.”

After hesitating for a moment, I quietly sat down next to him. If you endure after hearing such words, you are actually insulting the authority of the emperor.

“Minister.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I have many sins against Ainter.”

“It’s a coincidence. That’s what I believe too.”

When I answered the emperor’s complaint calmly, the emperor burst into laughter.

I said it as a joke, but it wasn’t a joke. Immediately after becoming crown prince, the emperor became extremely wary of Ainter, the second prince’s half-brother and descendant of the Marquess of Aesilon. That’s why they sent me to Ainter, who was purging the 2nd Prince faction at the time, and I gave a blatant warning to Ainter, who was only 15 years old.

It’s a shame. It was an inevitable warning considering the turbulent political and social world at the time, but neither I nor the emperor felt overly cautious. Ainter remained silent even during the time when the 2nd prince was acting viciously, and was a neutral force that did not receive any attention from the Marquis of Asilon.

A warning of death was given to a minor who was young, had no influence, and had never committed any trouble. After hearing the warning, Ainter bowed even further and became a ghostly royal family member who existed within the imperial palace but did not exist. It is truly a pity.

“Yes, neither Jim nor the Minister should have done that. He should have prevented Inter from becoming a new focal point, but he should have found a gentler way.”

The emperor muttered bitterly and looked at the mural of the eternal blue sky painted on the wall of the chapel.

“Actually, the reason I had the wedding held at the Temple of the Eternal Blue Sky was because it was embarrassing to hold the wedding in front of Enen, in addition to the issue of influence over the North.”

“It’s a shame. How can Your Majesty be ashamed before God?”

“Enen must have watched Liv Norman’s ugly quarrel, and he knows the heart of the older brother who tried to kill his younger brother his. That’s why I thought sitting in front of the eternal blue sky would help me feel at least a little easier.”

It’s difficult to understand, but I didn’t try to force it.

This is a feeling that only the emperor can feel. If he has not been in the emperor’s position, if he has not lived the same life as the emperor, he should not dare to argue.

“So, were you a little comfortable?”

“Fortunately, a little.”

With those words, the emperor burst into laughter.

Although I said it was only a little, it probably felt like all my worries were thrown away. Didn’t the emperor say just a moment ago that he felt like he had let go of a burden on his heart?

He treated Ainter, an imperial family member in name only, as an imperial family in name and reality, gave him the title of Marquis of Idrafen and some of the property owned by the imperial family, and also allowed frequent contact with the crown princess who would become the next emperor. The emperor, who had been relieving his guilt little by little in his own way, was able to let go of his last burden with this marriage.

Now, Ainter has a friend named Marquis Gurt. Because I have a family to support Ainter. Because a new home called the North has been created.

“If I had been a good brother from the beginning, this wouldn’t have happened.”

“The circumstances that God allowed Your Majesty made it impossible. It’s not Your Majesty’s fault, so don’t worry.”

The Emperor, the son of the Empress, and Ainter, the son of the Empress. Unfortunately, it was close to impossible for the two to get along as good brothers.

I don’t know if the two mothers were opposites, but if the emperor’s mother was the empress, that would have been a problem.

‘The eldest son possessed by the evil spirit of Asilon.’

It’s scary to even think about it. Since he is the legitimate eldest son, there is no justification to oppose the installation of crown prince.

“Minister.”

“Yes, please say so.”

“Now Livnoman… Can shine brightly, right?”

That’s a strange thing to say. The pinnacle of the empire and the continent’s only imperial family is Livnoman. Livnoman shined 300 years ago, and it still shines the same way today.

“Yes, of course.”

However, I did not say that question.

The brilliance that the emperor speaks of does not simply refer to power and honor.

“We will become a more brilliant and warm family than any other family.”

“It’s a happy thing to hear.”

Then the emperor smiled.

He smiled brightly as he looked at the god of the sky.

“You can do well without saying anything, but godfather, please try harder for Livnoman’s sake. “My daughter likes her godfather very much.”

The emperor puts his arm around me and bursts into laughter.

At that moment, I almost screamed asking where he was touching me, but I held back. What I just said was not said as the emperor of an empire, but as the head of a family.

“I will work hard until my life allows it.”

Instead, I also put my arms around the emperor’s body and clasped his shoulders.

What the fuck. You spoke first as the head of the family, not as the emperor. A godfather can’t even rub shoulders with his goddaughter’s biological father?

“Hehe. Let’s look forward to it.”

The emperor seemed to know that he had provided the justification first, so he just smiled and moved on.

The road we have walked is too long for us to now question whether physical contact is rude or disloyal.

***

Ainter and the daughter of the Marquis of Barandiga, who returned to the imperial palace, finished all their schedules with a final greeting to His Majesty the Emperor.

“A couple can only be called a couple if they can trust and rely on each other. So, don’t try to carry your burden alone, and don’t ignore the other person’s hardships.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Ainter and the Lady bowed their heads in response to His Majesty’s advice.

It feels even more complicated because it is the words of His Majesty the Situation and not someone else. I can’t believe someone who has carried the burden alone his entire life would say something like that. It seems like you don’t want your children to repeat your sorrow.

‘Do not ignore the hardships of others…’

And when his mother, who had been harassed by the Empress and the Asilon family, passed away, he seemed to regret his past inability to react indifferently until the last moment.

It was bitter. The fact that that person also has regrets. My mother is His Majesty Sang-tae’s only regret.

“Your Majesty.”

Just when I was thinking about visiting her mother’s tombstone after a long time, the situation looked at me.

“While His Majesty was away, there was a small commotion in the Imperial Palace.”

“In the palace grounds?”

Because it was so unexpected, a rebuttal came out.

The Imperial Palace is already busy thanks to the royal wedding, so will there be further commotion there?

“This old man said he sent a gift from Armain.”

‘Ah.’

I understood it right away. It’s a gift from Prince Lyutis, a close friend of Ainter.

I was a little surprised because it was a gift faster than I expected. The wedding is ahead of schedule, and Prince Lyutis is staying across the border. Even in such adverse conditions, I never thought a gift would be sent on the wedding day.

‘You have a good friend.’

I didn’t have much luck with my family, but I had a lot of luck with my friends.

“I will send the gift to the Marquis of Barandiga.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you for your consideration.”

She gathered her thoughts as she looked at Ah Inter, who bowed her head politely.

If a gift comes from Armain, it will soon come from Juven and the Holy Church. Rather than sending them separately, let’s send them all together.