ETHTKE chapter 48

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“Should I… tell him?”

The closer I got to the Crown Prince’s palace, the deeper I fell into the dilemma of whether I should tell Baek Yigang what I had just heard.

It was true that this unexpected problem had suddenly popped up, but it could also be an opportunity.

To be precise, a shortcut.

If Baek Yigang marries the Arthe Princess and assuming no scandal of him being a dark Wizard arises, he’ll become Emperor no matter what.

No matter what schemes Piel might come up with, he wouldn’t be able to fight against a royal marriage.

Such is the power of a political union between nations.

However, if Baek Yigang doesn’t marry, it would be hard to say “he will definitely become Emperor.” All he could do is give it his best shot.

But still… something about all this feels strange.

I’ve never imagined Baek Yigang getting married.

In fact, this wasn’t something that even happened in the original story, so it makes sense I’d never thought about it.

That’s why it’s hard to imagine, and even thinking about it feels off.

As I reached the palace, a familiar figure appeared in my sight.

But instead of the welcoming face I had expected, they looked quite displeased as they approached me.

“Ah, it’s Asel.”

Well, I did sneak away and then return as if nothing had happened, so I guess he wouldn’t be too happy with me.

It seems the shadows had already found me.

That’s probably why Asel was waiting for me outside.

I guess he’s angry.

What should I say to calm him down this time?

“Lord Cheong Dowoon.”

Asel approached with his usual composed voice.

“Ah, sorry, sorry. I had some business to take care of…”

“You must come with me immediately. There’s an urgent matter, so please hurry.”

I was preparing to smooth things over with my usual glib words, but Asel stopped me with an unusually hurried expression.

He glanced around nervously as if on guard, then carefully led me ahead.

What… what’s going on?

Did something happen in the short time I was gone?

I wanted to ask what was happening, but Asel seemed too anxious for me to do so.

Without knowing the details, I followed him in silence, and we arrived at Baek Yigang’s office.

“Please wait here for a moment.”

I nodded at Asel’s words, and he immediately left the office.

“Huh? No one’s here?”

I assumed he would have brought me to where Baek Yigang was, but the office was empty and quiet.

Soon after, I heard footsteps approaching the office.

Turning around, I saw Baek Yigang, Philip, and Asel entering with weary expressions.

“Baek Yigang?”

“You came at just the right time.”

Instead of being angry at me, Baek Yigang, looking exhausted, collapsed onto the sofa in the middle of the room.

“Wait, hold on. What’s that noise outside?”

I was about to ask what was going on when I heard a strange sound coming from outside.

As I listened carefully, it sounded like a woman screaming… or maybe a man shouting. What kind of commotion is this?

“Your Highness, it would be best to stay here for the time being. All external matters have been concluded, so there’s no need to worry.”

“Very well.”

Baek Yigang nodded without hesitation at Philip’s words.

“What’s going on?”

“Lord Cheong Dowoon, is there any magic that can block out noise?”

“Uh, yeah, there is.”

“Please use it. I’d like to stop hearing that sound.”

Just as Baek Yigang finished speaking, the scream of a woman echoed loudly through the room.

Wait… what’s going on here? It can’t be some end-of-the-world zombie situation, right?

For the sake of our eardrums, I cast the sound-blocking magic, and the room quickly returned to its usual tranquility.

“My head’s killing me.”

Clearly exhausted, Baek Yigang rubbed his temples in frustration.

When he shot a look at Philip, demanding an explanation, Philip hesitantly began to speak.

“Well… as Lord Cheong Dowoon may already know, His Highness doesn’t often engage in public activities. He usually focuses on his work and avoids social gatherings.”

I was already familiar with this.

If it weren’t for today’s festival, Baek Yigang would never have uttered those cringey words in front of the empire’s citizens or the nobility.

“And so?”

“That has become a problem. Since His Highness isn’t currently seeing anyone…”

“And because of that?”

Philip paused, glancing at Baek Yigang for approval.

When Baek Yigang remained silent, Philip continued.

“Noblewomen and daughters of nobles have stArthed pursuing His Highness.”

“Huh? So those screams are…?”

“Yes, those are young noblewomen cheering for His Highness. Or nobles requesting an audience to discuss marriage proposals.”

Unbelievable.

This would never have happened in the original story.

I knew Baek Yigang’s image had improved recently, but I didn’t expect to experience it firsthand like this!

“Wow, you’re quite popular. Amazing.”

“Quiet. Where have you been all this time?”

Baek Yigang, who had finally calmed down a bit, glared at me fiercely.

Well, it’s probably his first time experiencing something like this too.

It’s not every day he’s faced with enemies charging in to kill him, but rather with women charging in asking him to date them…

“I had some things to take care of.”

Of course, I couldn’t exactly say I went to meet the Third Prince.

Unless the Shadows spilled the beans, I didn’t want to say it myself.

I didn’t really have a good excuse for it right now, anyway.

“I can overlook you shaking off Asel, but even the Shadows? That’s a bit much.”

“…But I found something good. Well, I’m not sure if it’s good.”

Even after saying I found something worthwhile, Baek Yigang’s eyes were still devoid of any life.

Seeing his plain expression, I couldn’t help but let out a deep sigh.

This rock of a man is really getting married? What nonsense…

Well, I guess I might as well say it. He’ll find out soon enough anyway, so it’s probably fine.

I went ahead and explained the meeting I’d attended earlier.

They had discussed the marriage between the princess of the Arthe Empire and him.

How would Baek Yigang react?

Would he get annoyed?

Or maybe, in his usual dismissive way, he’d say it’s nonsense and brush it off.

To my surprise, Baek Yigang had no reaction.

Even Philip and Asel didn’t seem particularly surprised.

Looking at their calm expressions made me feel like the odd one out.

Why aren’t they reacting?

I mean, this guy, who’s barely even human, is getting married!

“Why isn’t anyone surprised?”

“Well, it’s actually been brought up a few times before. But each time, it fell through.”

“Huh?”

After hearing Philip’s explanation, I understood their lukewarm reactions.

But then Philip let out a small sigh.

“Still, considering they hurriedly held a meeting without His Highness in the middle of the founding festival…”

Philip glanced cautiously at Baek Yigang before trailing off slowly.

“It seems this time, His Majesty might actually be serious about pushing it through…”

Having uttered the rest, Philip pressed himself against the wall as if he was afraid sparks might fly.

“It doesn’t matter. My stance remains the same. No matter who it is, I have no intention of getting married.”

Baek Yigang decisively cut off any possibility.

Seeing that gave me an odd sense of relief.

…Wait, no. I shouldn’t be relieved. If he doesn’t marry, his path to becoming emperor becomes less certain.

Still, I couldn’t quite bring myself to tell him to get married.

In the silence, Baek Yigang was the first to speak again.

“Is there any way to stop this marriage? Or… in the future you know of, do I end up getting married?”

In the original story, Piel was also against marriage.

But in the end, he did it. Se couldn’t go against the emperor’s wishes.

This time, it’s just a change of players, but the result will probably be the same.

The marriage is going to happen no matter what, since it’s one of the major events in this novel.

Even if the process is different, like how we caught the rebel forces, the result is the same—like lightning striking from the sky, the statue’s head gets cut off.

So this time, too…

As I silently nodded, Baek Yigang’s eyes hardened coldly.

“Your Highness, it’s time for dinner. Since the Imperial City is still open, you should head out through the back gate.”

When Philip mentioned the next schedule, conscious of the people outside, Baek Yigang turned his gaze to me.

“If you want, you can come too.”

Come along to dinner?

Normally, I’d have jumped at the chance, but for some reason, I had a bad feeling about it today.

“Who’s going to be there?”

“The Emperor, the Second Prince, and the Third Prince, who returned today.”

“Mmm, have fun. I’ll wait here quietly.”

As soon as Baek Yigang finished speaking, I sank into the sofa and gave him a bright smile as I saw him off.

Eating a meal with that group?

I’d definitely get indigestion. No doubt about it.

Seeing me quickly back out, Baek Yigang chuckled softly.

“Well, I wasn’t planning on taking you anyway. I can’t pluck out their eyes for staring.”

…Uh, doesn’t that sound a little strange?

Why would you need to pluck out their eyes?

“Anna, make sure Cheong Dowoon gets his meal.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Before leaving, Baek Yigang called for Anna, instructing her to look after me.

With that, he quickly left, and naturally, Philip and Asel followed closely behind.

He always says my words are pointless, yet it’s Baek Yigang who’s always the most unnecessarily concerned about me.

Does he think I can’t even manage to feed myself like a child?

Though, maybe he doesn’t realize it himself…

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