Episode 08

Ewarton gave me the right assignments: no military, no diplomacy, just imperial budget and administration.

 

Fortunately, the level of work was moderate. The imperial system is simple, and I’ve been rewarded with Madame marais’s lessons.

 

As I fiddled with the quill, I suddenly remembered Leto. Those glassy blue eyes, to be exact. That gaze, with its mixture of suspicion and curiosity,.

 

“I’m scared.”

 

I shook my head.

 

Outside the window, the sun was setting. There were still a lot of papers left.

 

“How did Leto do all this on his own? The Emperor is the Emperor, after all.

 

I finished one paper and set it aside, then picked up a new one and opened it.

 

“Ah.”

 

He paused at the title.

 

 

 

 

 

“Miracle of the Goddess, Baron Orang.”

 

 

 

 

 

“Miracles of the Goddess… I thought you posted this in the Great Exhibition.

 

This doesn’t look like the paperwork I’m supposed to be looking at. It seemed like a mistake on Euthen’s part.

 

It was then. Yutian entered the room with a servant.

 

“Your Majesty, I have brought you some tea.”

 

“Thank you, Lord Ewarton. I was going to call on you anyway.”

 

“What is the matter?”

 

“I need to discuss some papers.”

 

Ewarton winked at the servant. The servant turned on his heel and walked out. ewarton rushed over and took the papers.

 

“Oh, so this is where it went.”

 

“Sounds like an interesting story, but what happened?”

 

ewarton sighed.

 

“The whole goddess thing, I guess… ah.”

 

He covered his mouth in embarrassment. It seemed to bother him that he’d cursed the goddess before me.

 

“It’s all right; tell me more.”

 

“My apologies, Your Majesty. Well, yesterday at dawn, the image of a goddess emerged from the wall of Baron Orang’s garden. It was an unidentifiable white, shimmering powder, but the warring factions recognized it as a miracle and even gave it the name ‘Snowflake of the Goddess’.”

 

This incident! I saw it in the original. If I remember correctly, it’s a pretty nasty hoax.

 

After the ‘Goddess Snow Flower’ incident. Baron Orang becomes a celebrity. He capitalizes on his fame and makes a fortune in the fur business. Some of the profits are funneled into the High Priest’s military coffers.

 

In other words, it was a scam orchestrated by Baron Orang and the High Priestess.

 

The Goddess Snow Flower is nothing more than stone dust. It’s a white powder made from ground alumstone.

 

When I read the original, I honestly laughed. But now it makes sense.

 

The Great War has long prevented scientific research. Geology and petrology are no exception. Besides, alum is mined mainly by the sea. It is rarely found inland, in the capital and its suburbs.

 

“Should we… let this fraud go on?

 

“Lord Ewarton, do you post a report like this every time a ‘miracle of the goddess’ occurs on the Great War side?”

 

“Yes. Then the imperial court sends a small reward.”

 

“The imperial family’s money—that’s serious.

 

“Anyway, I’ll take these papers with me.”

 

“No, let me take a look at them; they’re rather interesting.”

 

“Oh, okay. Then take a look at it and set it aside. I’ll bring it up to His Imperial Majesty later.”

 

“I’ll do that.”

 

“By the way, Your Majesty, are you done with this?”

 

Ewarton looked at the pile of papers on one side of the desk.

 

“Yes, sir. I’m not sure if I got it right, but I’d like your Lordship to check it out.”

 

“You’re amazing.”

 

ewarton looked at me with admiration. For looking at the paperwork.

 

He walked out with the papers he had processed. I studied the Goddess Snowflake papers closely and hesitantly picked up a quill.

 

I’m a little afraid to interrupt, but I can’t let it go.

 

I can’t give you the answer right away. That would only raise suspicion, so I’ll give him the right hints. Let’s find the answer.

 

 

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

 

 

Late at night. Leto entered his office. His face was tired. But he had long since gotten used to it.

 

“Hello.”

 

Ewarton rose to greet him. Leto nodded once. He looked at the papers on his desk and shook his head.

 

“You seem to have brought fewer papers.”

 

“Not so; Her Majesty has been helping me with my work.”

 

Ewarton gestured to a console on the wall, stacked high with papers that had been approved.

 

“No way.”

 

Leto walked over to the console in disbelief.

 

“This is ridiculous. Ten days with Madame marais are the extent of the Empress’s education.

 

Leto looked at the papers, one by one. The processing was flawless. It could not have been done without skill and delicacy.

 

“Ha.”

 

Leto’s shoulders felt lighter. His burden had been considerable.

 

“Where is the Empress?”

 

“I believe she’s in her office, next door.”

 

“I can’t believe it. She’s got her own office now.”

 

Leto glanced in the direction of the next room and dropped his papers onto the console.

 

“ewarton, you’re off the clock.”

 

“Yes, sir. Your Majesty.”

 

Ewarton quickly gathered his things and left. Leto cautiously opened the seat door. Smoke wafted into the next room, which was always empty.

 

The woman was slumped over her desk, asleep. A woman who asked to be called Livia, to be precise.

 

Leto approached her cautiously; she seemed to be fast asleep. Leto called out to her softly.

 

“Livia.”

 

“…….”

 

“Can I call you that? Livia.”

 

She was a peculiar woman, to say the least. Scared of Leto, she said everything she needed to say. She was perfectly mannered, yet she fell asleep at her desk with no pain.

 

But then something caught Leto’s eye: a bundle of papers tucked away on one side of his desk as if they were special.

 

 

 

 

 

“Miracle of the Goddess—Baron Orang”

 

 

 

 

 

Leto frowned at the word ‘goddess’. It was another obvious scam.

 

“The problem is, it’s hard to prove it’s a hoax.

 

He flipped to the last page. There was a handwritten note in the margin.

 

It was a note from this woman in livia.

 

 

 

 

 

The sand on the beach gives off light. [Maybe some white stones do too.].

 

 

 

 

 

Let me recognize it immediately. It was a hint.

 

A stone might be the source of the goddess’ snow flower. Let’s look for it along the beach.

 

With a click, Leto closed the document. He sat down on one knee and looked at Livia. With a very serious face.

 

“Who the hell is this woman?

 

Leto pressed his finger firmly against her white cheek. It was smooth and soft.

 

Then, at the unfamiliar touch, Livia jerked back.

 

“Mmm…….”

 

Leto stood up quickly and took a step back.

 

“I shouldn’t have touched her. What will she say when she wakes up?

 

Luckily, Livia didn’t wake up. Instead, she mumbled in her sleep as if she were dreaming.

 

“Statins… statin… yeah.”

 

“Statin? That sounds like a guy’s name.

 

“Just statins. Just statins…….”

 

Leto’s eyes slowly widened.

 

“Statin… a boyfriend.”

 

Suddenly, he seemed to have a great realization.

 

 

 

 

 

In a year, I want you to divorce me.

 

 

 

 

 

I don’t know why I didn’t realize it until now. It was obvious with a little thought.

 

“She has a lover. Of course, a woman like this doesn’t have a lover.

 

Leto’s mood sank.

 

Betrayal, disappointment, regret—whatever it was, it was hard to describe. It was something he had never felt before in his life.

 

He chuckled. What is it with this bland mood? It’s not quite right.

 

Leto rested one hand on the desk. He looked down at Livia and muttered.

 

“A wife with a lover… interesting.”

 

He couldn’t bring himself to leave Livia’s side, and the smile on his face slowly faded.

 

“No. It’s not funny at all.

 

Leto admitted. Whatever this mood was, it wasn’t pleasant, that was for sure.

 

 

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

 

 

I had a nightmares. I dreamt that I was working in a laboratory and being abused.

 

I woke up and looked out the window in a daze. The sunny view made me feel better. Yes, I should forget about the dream.

 

I called the maid.

 

“I’m going to the office again today; please get ready.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty. Shall I bring you tea or coffee before your meal?”

 

“Coffee, please, but who brought me to the bedroom yesterday?”

 

I think I slept on my stomach for a while in the chamber, but I don’t remember getting back to my feet. Perhaps the knight had a hard time.

 

The maid glanced at me and opened her mouth.

 

“It’s… His Majesty the Emperor.”

 

“…His Majesty?”

 

“Carried? Not even carried?

 

“Was I that sleepy?”

 

“No, it was more like His Majesty was stirring to wake you up. He gently laid you down and then went out.”

 

“Eh? Eh, I see. You’re out. Get some coffee, please.”

 

“Yes, sir. Your Majesty.”

 

The maid bowed politely and left. I slid off the bed and went to the dressing table. In the mirror, I saw myself blushing bright red.

 

“…Embarrassing.”

 

I couldn’t imagine it. Leto had come all this way with me in his arms.

 

Why would he do that? He wasn’t drunk. He would have gotten up right away if I had woken him.

 

Maybe he slept face-down on his desk. That’s not exactly the way an empress should behave, so why don’t you embarrass yourself?

 

Or maybe it’s an act. He must have had his political reasons.

 

Whatever it was, it was intentional. Maybe he did it because he liked me.

 

I felt a little lighter after organizing my thoughts. After eating and getting ready, I headed to my office.

 

I had just turned the corner in the hallway. There was a group of men gathered in front of the office, and Leto was the first one I saw, standing about a head taller than the others.

 

 

He seemed to be discussing something with his secretaries. He seemed to be discussing something with his secretaries.

 

I thought to myself, “I don’t feel comfortable meeting him today. Maybe I’ll come back later. Leto and I made eye contact.

 

I pretended to be calm and gave him quick eye contact. He only glared at me.

 

“Your Majesty.”

 

“Good afternoon, Your Majesty.”

 

The secretaries noticed me and bowed politely. I smiled at them and said.

 

“Good morning. I see you all have a lot on your minds, so good luck with your work.”

 

I stood in front of the office, eager to get inside. The servant had just pulled the doorknob.

 

“Go, everyone. We’ll talk about the rest later.”

 

Leto waved off the secretaries and motioned to the doorkeeper. The servant scurried away.

 

Leto pushed the door, which was slightly ajar, open. With a click, the door closed.

 

“Do you have something to say?”

 

Instead of answering, he leaned against the door. So I couldn’t even open it. Why is he doing this?

 

“Are you uncomfortable with me attending to imperial business?”

 

“No. It’s not uncomfortable. On the contrary, it’s wonderful.”

 

“Really?”

 

Inwardly, I was pleased. I’m quite vulnerable to this kind of recognition.

 

“Well, then you’ll have to move out of the way of the door so I can continue my great work.”

 

“I know, but I need to talk to you first.”

 

He said it with a cold smile.

 

“I’m not a fan of unfocused people.”