Chapter 7: 7

“How are you feeling today?”

Mikhail entered from the conference room with a much fresher face.

Did you eat, how are you feeling, what did you do today?

The Emperor’s greetings were largely one of those three.

It’s bewildering, but the Emperor seemed to enjoy it this time. Because he was not the one receiving it.

This is obviously harassment. It must be a new way of torture.

Dayeon thought so. And most maids and servants had the same opinion.

It was his subordinates who suffered more because of his constant rush.

The Emperor was originally famous for his fastidiousness.

“Good.”

“You always answer ‘good’ with a lousy face.”

 

“…”

Then why would you ask?

Are you picking a fight?

That’s what everyone who was listening thought, but no one could reproach. Because he’s a gangster.

In addition, the Emperor was a man who you could not win against even if he were to take off his rank.

If he’s not going to win anyways, it was better to have an excuse for an honorable defeat because of rank.

Although the Emperor’s visits were inconsistent, they usually took place around lunch, but he would stop by briefly before a scheduled meeting. And after finishing all the schedules, he would take a rest.

Why do you nag others while taking a rest here?

Everyone felt the need to question the truth, but the point is that the number of visits were clearly increasing.

At first, he wanted to check with his own eyes on what was regularly happening; he also wanted to interfere with everything.

He would make time to visit once or twice a week, though it’s been a few days since he frequently stopped by together every day, it’s questionable whether he is aware of it or not.

Nevertheless, even the Chamberlain who served the closest to the Emperor, questioned whether the Emperor liked or hated Dayeon.

There is a thin line whether he is doing the job well or tormenting her.

Indeed, he treats her well and looks at her pleasingly when she is eating and not forgetting her meals… But it still seems to bother him because he kept interfering on everything and nagging.

Still, it was true that the Emperor was paying special attention to Dayeon these days.

 

For some time, it has been visible to the naked eye, even the maids of the palace have become much more careful with their attitude towards Dayeon.

The court ladies lived on eggshells.

The Emperor was a bit unusual to the extent that they all felt it these days.

Assuming it was Dayeon’s, the Emperor furtively glanced at the illustration books on the table.

“You read a book.”

“Uh– I did.”

Dayeon scratched her cheek in embarrassment.

Fortunately, when she arrived here, she understood the words and it made sense when she listened, but the writing system is utterly different in characters, so she couldn’t read it.

“It’s for kids.”

He muttered, but he didn’t exactly look like laughing.

Mikhail was a man of high standards, but his rewards, punishments, likes, and dislikes were clear.

When Dayeon said, ‘I think I’m just simply going to breathe today.’ His teeth quivered with disgust.

She said, ‘I was thoughtless yesterday, but today, I’m free of thoughts once again.’ He even made a look of contempt as if he were shocked.

But when she does something, she gives her attention to it no matter how insignificant it is.

Originally at first, he had seen her live like a surplus person*, but now she seemed like she is encouraged to do anything.

Suddenly, the Emperor asked.

“Why don’t you learn how to write?”

Somehow, the Emperor’s words became increasingly informal and friendly, but Dayeon saw him often, so he felt comfortable with himself.

“Do I have to learn how to write?”

That’s that and that’s what’s annoying, thought Mikhail, frustrated by her unenthusiastic response.

“In Altius, unless you’re destitute, you can read and write letters. Parents teach writing at home even before their child enters school. For commoners, taking a test and becoming a low-ranking official is a guaranteed way to success. Though you’re not going to an office, there isn’t any reason why a young child shouldn’t learn.”

The Emperor talks too well.

He always uses the right words to make Dayeon speechless.

And that’s irritating.

Mikhail quickly threw a look of condemnation when Dayeon, who suffers from chronic lethargy, remained silent with an unwilling face.

“I’ve never seen such a lazy person as you.”

There was still a lot to be said about that.

“With all due respect, there were a lot of them where I lived.”

Not only the Emperor, but also the maids, and even the attendants had an unconvinced expression.

Am I just like them?

Dayeon somehow became a little self-conscious.

“That can’t be. Do you mean all the people in the Divine World are also slackers?”

A slacker… Incredible, are you finally done talking?

This time, Dayeon gave an accusing look.

The Emperor still looked incredulous.

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“Are there really a bunch of lazy people in Hergonia?”

When the curious Emperor asked, Dayeon replied.

“There’s a lot of lazy people, and people who don’t work and simply play and eat. Some people don’t leave their room and only live inside. Still of course, there are a lot of people who work hard. …And as I said before, I don’t live in Hergonia.”

At the end of the day, Dayeon corrected herself because the alleged Divine World that the Emperor called was unsettling.

“What’s your point?”

The Emperor retorted indifferently and the Chamberlain who was listening was quite dumbfounded.

… If that’s not the point, then what is?

He bowed his head to conceal his ridiculous expression.

This time again, power is a gangster.

That must’ve been extremely important until a few months ago.

Is that why you’re disappointed?

Dayeon felt strange, but the Emperor changed the subject once again.

“Anyway, it’d be great if you learned how to write. Find someone who can teach her.”

Those last words were not for Dayeon, but for the Chamberlain.

“Consider it done, Your Majesty.”

Find me a doctor instead.

Dayeon carefully suggested the opposite opinion, but it was dismissed immediately.

Rather, the Emperor seemed to like his plan very much.

A different one was added immediately.

“It’d be good if you do some exercise because you don’t really move your body at all.”

“Exercise?”

I haven’t done such thing in my life.

Dayeon asked back with a bitter expression, but the Emperor seemed to be encouraged by his plan.

“You have to move your body and get sunlight frequently to make your body healthy. To have a healthy mind, you must be in a good physical condition. Have you ever learned how to use a sword?”

“Sword? Do women learn swordsmanship?”

I don’t think I’ve seen any female knights around here…

Dayeon wondered, and when asked, the Emperor replied.

“In Altius, women often learn martial arts for self-defense and training. It would be beneficial for you to learn too. You have no use for self-defense in the palace, but sweating is good for a change of pace.”

As if it was a magnificent idea, the Emperor asked, satisfied with what he said.

“Will you join me when I train?”

This time, not Dayeon, but the Chamberlain and the knights were surprised.

There were question marks floating on their faces.

But you don’t have that kind of personality, do you?

Didn’t you hate it when someone interrupts you when you’re training?

What happened to Your Majesty?

The attending knight asked the Chamberlain with a glance.

The Chamberlain pondered, trying to ignore the look.

Still, I know.

“What time do you go training?”

Begrudgingly, Dayeon asked.

“About an hour every day at 5.”

“5 pm, right?”

“There’s no way.”

Are you telling me to get up at 5 in the morning and use some knife?

Dayeon contemplated and opened her mouth. She was serious.

“I apologize.”

“What?”

“All of this has to be a joke, right?”

The Emperor posed a strange expression.

“What are you talking about? You don’t want to learn swordsmanship? Or do you mean the time?”

“Uhm… both?”

The Emperor was also honest.

“I also want to apologize.”

“…”

“But I wasn’t joking about it.”

He grinned several times as if there was something funny.

But Dayeon was not in the mood to laugh.

“I’m sorry. However, I don’t think I can do it for this lifetime.”

When Dayeon apologized very neatly, Mikhail looked disappointed.

The Chamberlain’s gaze who looked at him were ambivalent.

  

*Surplus person: a person has more of a good or service than it actively consumes.

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