174 Crocodile Tears
It was a new year a few days ago.
The New Year’s gift from Lilitha was a cloak with embroidery on the inside.
It seems that Lilitha embroidered herself, but Levin and her aides who watched it from the side laughed silently. Well, the empress couldn’t have laughed out loud at the hand-embroidered embroidery.
The animal embroidered by Lilitha must have looked like a phoenix, but for some reason it looked like a chicken. If you look closely, you can see bloodstains everywhere.
Others have become proficient as they become adults, but it seems that embroidery is not enough in the end. To be honest, it sucks.
“Don’t laugh too much. This one probably took years to complete.”
At Rudy’s words, Levine gasped slightly as if choked with laughter.
“I heard about it from Tyra, but it was released when I was 15 years old. I was asked to tell Her Majesty how hard the empress had worked. I literally worked hard without sleeping to finish it.”
“…”
By the new year, Lilitha turned 19 years old. Could it be that her embroidery skills haven’t improved at all since she was 15 years old? That sleepwalker, Lilitha, worked hard while not sleeping?
Rudy looked at the embroidery on the cloak and said.
“Even Rilisha knows that her embroidering skills are terrible. When she wears clothes and moves, there are embroideries in places that you can never see.”
“Your Majesty’s understanding is as wide as the sea.”
After Levin said that, he finally grabbed his stomach and started laughing loudly.
“A gift is sincerity. You don’t know such a thing.”
I thought I was laughing too much, so when I said something, the other aides turned their heads. Are you guys laughing at the end too?
This year’s gift from Rudy to Lilitha was a letter with the words ‘I love you’.
Not because Rudy himself wanted to write it, but because Lilitha picked it up and said she wanted it.
Please, please, please, I couldn’t turn away from Lilitha’s letter, earnestly requesting that I want those words. Originally, the best gift is to give the other person what they want.
Enclosed in the letter were four hair ornaments.
Two of them differed only in color and belonged to Lilitha, and the other two belonged to Nadia Gravi and Mari.
It wasn’t expensive enough to give to a country’s empress. It was found in Cania’s shop, and although it was too expensive for commoners to obtain, it was enough for wealthy merchants to purchase.
However, it was an ornament produced in Nadia Gravi’s country of origin. I wished I could hand it to Bhimama with Ririsha’s hand.
I wanted to give one to Taira, but it would be strange for the emperor to present it to a handmaid. It is difficult to buy unnecessary suspicion.
Instead, it seems that Levin quickly got to his heart and bought one.
Soldiers spending New Year’s Eve in a foreign country were provided with decent food for several days.
Now, the territory of the Kingdom of Cania is not much left. Rudi often heard the soldiers talking about being able to return to their homeland this year. I’ve been away from home for too long. You and I, everyone wants to go back now.
While staying in a city for a few days to celebrate the new year, people came from various places.
They are envoys from other countries who have been watching the situation as things develop.
In particular, there were many envoys sent from small countries around Chania. This side was mainly worried that their country would also be affected during the invasion of Cania. In many cases, they bring bribe-like items along with letters.
“Your Majesty, this time it’s a country in the north of Chania. It’s a bit rare. This country brought fish.”
It’s a fish, it’s really rare.
Levin said with a smirk.
“As expected, Your Majesty seems to like fish. His eyes are different from when other items came.”
“It’s good. It’s delicious.”
“Is that so?”
Levin tilted his head.
Levin is a meat lover. Three kinds of fish, no, in this world, it is not always possible to say that there are three kinds of fish. The recipes in the Empire are steamed or boiled rather than baked, which is subtly different from Earth. Even when grilled, most of the sauce came out. good though fish is good
“Besides fish, it came with something strange. It’s hard and, to put it mildly, it feels like tree bark, but I’m not sure. The god of death is said to be eating it, but it looks like he’s going to eat it and die.”
said Levin, furrowing his brows slightly. It doesn’t seem to understand at all.
“They say it’s grass from the sea. They say it’s boiled in water.”
Hey, isn’t that like seaweed or kelp?
Rudy swallowed.
“Take it well. No, I’ll go and see it myself.”
“Your Majesty is interested in strange things as well.”
Levin said with an expression of admiration.
“I’ve prepared dinner tonight. I’ve gathered all the envoys who have come so far.”
“Okay, explain it well in advance so you don’t get too anxious.”
“Of course. Everyone seems to be very worried that the empire will devour their country.”
Rudy laughed bitterly at Levin’s words.
One of the reasons to receive goods sent from each country without returning them is to give people peace of mind. It was a sign to say don’t worry, we’re not trying to invade your country.
It seemed that all the countries around Chania were frightened by the sight of the last envoy from the Kingdom of Crete being chased away in the snow and gradually marching towards that country.
Well, Kania is also a form that Nara took advantage of the turmoil and quietly swallowed it. It was natural for the surrounding small countries to be concerned.
While listening to the report of the captain of the supply unit from the Empire, an aide came to Rudy. The office of Yeongjugwan, which is used as a lodging, is smaller than that of the imperial palace. After breaking through the complicated crowd, the aide came inside and bowed his head.
“Your Majesty, a messenger has come from the Kingdom of Crete.”
My face was automatically furrowed.
“Did you get some good results this time?”
“I don’t think the result is according to His Majesty’s will, but I think it’s better to see it for yourself this time.”
There are weak wrinkles on the aide’s forehead. Rudy got up quietly.
“Where is the Shinigami?”
“I’m waiting outside.”
“let’s go.”
After following the aide and leaving the permanent residence building, there were several carriages standing in front of the main gate.
Rudy paused and opened his eyes slightly wide.
In front of the carriage stood a girl of about ten years old. He was not even wearing a coat in this cold winter. He was wearing only the clothes he would wear for an evening banquet. A dress that exposes the shoulders and arms.
To the left of the child, a man who appeared to be a reaper stood trembling restlessly.
“What is this?”
Rudy asked, but his voice seemed too cold. The messenger of Crete bowed down without saying anything.
The girl trembled and bowed.
“That, that, that, that, grey, that, king, kingdom, 18th, princess.”
My whole body trembled and I couldn’t speak properly. Aren’t they crazy about this harsh winter? What are you doing to your child? Rudy’s eyebrows went up.
From where he got it, Levin put a coat that looked like a child’s on Princess Crete’s shoulders. It seems that the aide who announced the visit of the death god had ordered someone to find a coat for the child in advance.
The aide opened his mouth on behalf of the Shinigami who was trembling like an aspen tree.
“The King of Crete said he would send the 18th princess as a hostage. It seems that he especially chose the one with golden hair and blue-green eyes.”
After hearing that, looking back, it was clear that the princess had a similar appearance. Perhaps with Lilitha.
Rudy’s face became more stern.
Rudy became emperor when Lilitha was 9 years old. It seems that the King of Crete knew the story and sent a princess assumed to be of a similar age and appearance as a hostage.
The little princess was trembling pathetically.
Rudy gritted his teeth at the prospect of being told to take the child inside. Receiving a young princess here means forgiving Crete.
Rudy averted his eyes from the child and glared at the god of death.
“Get him out immediately. Get him out of my sight.”
As I turned and entered the building, I caught a glimpse of the young princess. The princess’s face was the color of mud. If I go back like this, will I be punished severely? My heart felt tight.
‘But I will do more in the future.’
There is no mercy in the Kingdom of Crete. The royal family kills everyone, regardless of gender or age. Even such a young girl was no exception. Even a child of one year old would be killed.
The last time he drove the lion into the snow to see if he could prevent it from happening, but no one seems to notice it in the Kingdom of Crete.
The soldiers drag the Crete envoy lying on the floor and crying. The sound of the little princess crying softly could be heard behind her.
Levin, who was always by Rudy’s side, quietly left.
***
Everything that sinks has a reason. The Kingdom of Crete had signs of something from the time they first hired the Witch of the West to invade the empire.
Levin saw Rudy’s eyes stained with anger and guilt and glanced at the aide.
The aide slightly lowered his gaze.
Permission was dropped.
A smile crept across Levin’s lips.
In this war, all of Rudy’s attendants and aides are Levin’s teachers and superiors.
Levin has some degree of autonomy when it comes to matters within the Empire, but when it comes to matters involving foreign princesses, he cannot do anything without their permission and support. Even if Levin alone is handling things right now, the follow-up needs their help. I couldn’t make a decision on my own.
However, it seems that the hearts of the attendants who saw the emperor’s anger were the same as Levin’s. Consent was obtained plainly.
Seeing the carriage carrying the princess leave the manor house, Levin summoned several spies among the soldiers.
In order to prevent any misfortune, there are spies even among ordinary soldiers. Their mission is to eliminate enemies before they get close to the emperor during war, or to assist the attendant when there is a need to do something secretly like now. Well, most of the time they don’t have to do anything, but who knows what might happen. like right now
Levin and the spies secretly pursued the envoys of the Kingdom of Crete. When the delegation went to a somewhat remote place, they changed their clothes and put on black masks so as not to reveal their identity.
***
Sometimes I feel like I’m caught in a spider’s web. It is as if the space itself is woven with fine spider webs. Even the slightest deviation made me feel extremely frustrated. It feels like I can’t just stay like this. Words can’t express what it is. Except it’s just painful.
Rudy took care of the backlog and gave instructions while hiding such feelings.
Although the aides paid attention, he had no choice but to deal with this stuffy feeling himself. increasingly unable to breathe It felt like my heart was shrinking little by little.
Levin returned about an hour or two before the dinner with the envoys began.
Levin quickly put on the clothes the other aide had prepared. Apply a little balm to your hair to make it shiny, then brush it through.
The room was quiet. There are always a few people nearby, but for some reason no one was there.
Levin, who was tying his hair together behind his back, opened his mouth as if he had suddenly remembered.
“It was reported a little while ago that the envoys from the Kingdom of Crete were attacked by unknown assailants. They say he barely survived.”
“…”
“Besides, strangely enough, they said they took the princess with them. Did they intend to sell it somewhere?”
Levin came in front of Rudy, holding a comb, inspected Rudy’s face, then nodded.
“I did it, but it’s really good. It’s very nice. Each hair has become like a living piece of art.”
That’s what I did, but… I’m alive…
When Rudy sees Levin, he grins. Levin shrugged and muttered to himself.
“I hope that little princess will live well in a faraway land. I think happiness would be if she lived a simple life without a social status.”
Rudy closed his eyes.
The little girl is alive. I will definitely survive in the future.
Had he returned to his home country, he would have died eventually. Rudy himself makes it so. He might end up stabbing a child resembling Lilitha with his own hand.
However, if you leave the country and abandon your identity and run away to another place, that child will continue to live. someday you will be an adult
“…”
It’s just self-satisfaction. These must be crocodile tears. Even if the girl lived, all other children in the royal family would die.
But at Levin’s words, I could barely breathe. Eyes resembling Lilitha will never see Rudy at the moment of death.
‘ah…!’
Rudy finally realized why he was so horrified.
It seems that the King of Crete’s judgment was not completely wrong.
If you end up killing that child, you will probably think of Lilitha at that moment. If so, Rudy would never forget the child’s eyes for the rest of his life.
Levin finished putting Rudy’s clothes on and took a step back.
Rudy put on the Emperor’s face and straightened his back.
Just before leaving the room, he said quietly as if passing by.
“Thank you, Levin.”
“…”
Levin lightly bowed his head.
