I've Become the Villanous Emperor of a Novel
- Thread starter GaganH
- Start date
- #69
Read Manhwa up to Chapter 147 + reading all the comments here:
Clarification/Confirmation
1. Yulia really ended up with all three of them: Eusto, Count Bernis, Felix
2. Yulia is the original Yulia who had been sent to another world after life 2.
3. Pretty weird but I guess Gaiana was the one who were all that playgirl and tyrant in life 2. I am not actually sure if she just 'ordered' Yulia's body but it came to as if she's the one doing it lol, she said she possessed Yulia's body and became reckless in those two years before Eusto killed her.
4. The three + Auris maid + Healer girl noticed that the Emperor was acting strange (like a different person) but did not comment on it. Maybe the novel would expound on it. This is the reason why Eusto only surrendered when he saw Yulia's Aura during the fight/spar or whatever that's called.
5. Gaiana overheard some knights talking about Yulia and Felix taking the brunt of the curse instead of her. She was really sad and regretful but she was determined to 'correct' it. She was really grateful and so to Yulia and the other sho taught her beyond the shadow of her father's control. She used her ancient power to control a magician from the mage tower and then do something so that the one who will turn back into the beginning as a child would be her and not the two.
So I guess that's gonna be filled up but Gaiana became the new Emperor after Yulia based on Nopey's spoiler.
Not sure if correct time labels beyond life 1 but basically.
*Life 1: Yulia and the other were victorious against King of Eton. During his execution, he used his ancient power to rewind time.
*Life 2: He came back but noticed that Yulia's body remembered and quickened the pace of her conquest. He tempted Gaiana to blacken the image of Yulia so that it would overpower the image of "Villainess" of Gaiana as the Daughter of Eton who manipulated several. This is when she possessed Yulia and became reckless. This is I'm not sure if she's the one who controlled the body herself and committed those things with her newfound freedom or if she only ordered the body what to do. Eusto and the other coup d'etat, Eusto killed her. Eton used ancient power to rewind time.
*Life 3: Gaiana became remorseful and tried to make amends. She sent the soul of Yulia to another world. She dropped hints there and here to the other side so that she could take revenge against her father.
Clarification/Confirmation
1. Yulia really ended up with all three of them: Eusto, Count Bernis, Felix
2. Yulia is the original Yulia who had been sent to another world after life 2.
3. Pretty weird but I guess Gaiana was the one who were all that playgirl and tyrant in life 2. I am not actually sure if she just 'ordered' Yulia's body but it came to as if she's the one doing it lol, she said she possessed Yulia's body and became reckless in those two years before Eusto killed her.
4. The three + Auris maid + Healer girl noticed that the Emperor was acting strange (like a different person) but did not comment on it. Maybe the novel would expound on it. This is the reason why Eusto only surrendered when he saw Yulia's Aura during the fight/spar or whatever that's called.
5. Gaiana overheard some knights talking about Yulia and Felix taking the brunt of the curse instead of her. She was really sad and regretful but she was determined to 'correct' it. She was really grateful and so to Yulia and the other sho taught her beyond the shadow of her father's control. She used her ancient power to control a magician from the mage tower and then do something so that the one who will turn back into the beginning as a child would be her and not the two.
So I guess that's gonna be filled up but Gaiana became the new Emperor after Yulia based on Nopey's spoiler.
Not sure if correct time labels beyond life 1 but basically.
*Life 1: Yulia and the other were victorious against King of Eton. During his execution, he used his ancient power to rewind time.
*Life 2: He came back but noticed that Yulia's body remembered and quickened the pace of her conquest. He tempted Gaiana to blacken the image of Yulia so that it would overpower the image of "Villainess" of Gaiana as the Daughter of Eton who manipulated several. This is when she possessed Yulia and became reckless. This is I'm not sure if she's the one who controlled the body herself and committed those things with her newfound freedom or if she only ordered the body what to do. Eusto and the other coup d'etat, Eusto killed her. Eton used ancient power to rewind time.
*Life 3: Gaiana became remorseful and tried to make amends. She sent the soul of Yulia to another world. She dropped hints there and here to the other side so that she could take revenge against her father.
- #70
Okey, I'm now half way throw chapter 4 vol 1 (so slow lol) and I got some Eusto Moment
So basically, chapter4 is about Eusto, Felix accompanied Yulia to some Baron land to look into the some heavy debt matter mentioned in a petition, it seemed nobles men there were doing illegal usury and the commoners were suffering.
The Lord there was Baron who's tied close to some Count, the Count himself was tied to Duke Executed Manager-face. Yulia planned to pretend she was her old self in the two tyranny years, she didn't want to alert the corrupt Baron, so she acted prodigally, she did a good job and the Baron thought she's stupid, and because the capital was so far away the Baron ended up thinking the rumor about emperor regaining sanity was false. So in order to gain favor of a stupid, arrogant, but at the same time very powerful woman, he resorted to the same way as the executed Duke, and Yulia found a legion of beautiful men in her chamber the night she arrived, to make things worse, Eusto was right beside her at that time.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Because the text I'm going to paste is so long, I'll just MTL it first and fix the sentences that fail to make sense(with my miserable English)
'Haah, it's really tiring.'
As Yulia headed to her room, she thought that playing(acting) a prodigal emperor wasn't something everyone can master. Moreover, she had recently refrained from drinking because only bad memories come to mind when drinking alcohol.(But in order to outtrick the Baron she had no choice but to drink with him.)
'It was delicious, at least.'
The wine was definitely delicious, but the company was the worst. His(the Baron's) flattering was so greasy that Yulia felt very sick, the whole thing was not was good to the viscera health.
“Are you okay, Your Majesty?”
Felix, who was following her, looked at her worriedly. Yulia nodded to him, suggesting she's okay. It was necessary to pretend to be the prodigal emperor, so Yulia made a "shhhh" gesture to Felix so that the maid would not notice.
Before going to her bedroom, the maid led them first to the room of Felix and Eusto. Felix was reluctant, but obediently entered the room, while Eusto politely refused.
“I must stand by her Majesty's side.”
The maid nodded without further words. But strangely, she wore a sign of sympathy for Eusto on her face. The reason became rather apparent when Julia opened the door to see what's prepared for her.
“We've been waiting for you, Your Majesty.”
Men dressed in indecent clothes welcomed her with dutiful bowing in her room. In an instant, both Julia and Yousto hardened in shock.
Yulia was the first to wake up.
'That's right, so this is it.'
In the novel, this is how Yulia was always described during her tyrant days, this is what Duke Fez used to prepare for her.
//"For the unmarried emperor, Duke Fez used to offer up handsome men as a proof of loyalty."//
The sentence that wasn't quite wanted came to her mind. However, this was no longer a mere sentence from a novel. It was a vivid reality. Yulia tried her best to make her face look like that of a prodigal emperor in front of the half-naked hot men.
It was unexpectedly challenging. In addition, these men also seemed to be ashamed of the situation which was most likely the first time in their lives.
'I don't hate seeing handsome men acting shy, though.'
This situation itself was not welcome at all. Although she managed to keep a casual face, she's still perfectly flustered inside.
'What do I do?'
Julia only planned to pretend to be prodigal, she really had no intention of playing real prodigality. In addition, the back of her head tingled. That must have been Eusto's gaze, Yulia could only smile when she noticed it.
Then Eusto opened his mouth.
“Your Majesty, if your people know what you're doing now...”
The desire to flee haunted her. If only she can be forcefully dragged away by Eusto like this, it'd be easy to avoid the whole situation.
'No, if I do that, the rumor that I'm at odd with Eusto will become unconvincing.'
Julia tried not to forget her purpose. No matter how easier it might seem to flee as she wished, she couldn't risk messing things up just for a pinch of her own comfort.
Yulia said to him irritatedly, just like how she acted at dinner.
“My people, my people! How long would I have to listen to that word!”
As she turned back and looked at him, he shew a look of shock and confusion.
'No, isn't this a performance?! Haven't we decided to do that!’
Julia suddenly felt victimized. Besides, it wouldn't be Eusto's first time to see her like this, although in the past it wasn't actually herself.
Yulia sighed exaggeratedly, as if she wanted to wake him up.
“Eusto, when have you been in a position to interfere with my affairs?”
“… sire."
“Don’t disturb my night!”
Julia slammed the door while feeling deeply sorry for him.
Eusto looked at the tightly closed door for a long time. Even though he knew it was all role-playing, it was strangely more bitter than what he felt in the past two years.
To be honest, it was the biggest crisis in her life. Julia pondered, looking at the men in front of her, they all had innocent eyes.
'I never intend to touch them.'
When she thought about it, it's only natural for them to have chosen men who were innocent in both mind and body as they would be presented to the emperor. Duke Fez and Baron Scheta, who picked people with such standard and offer them up, really deserved to be crushed.
'It can't be helped.'
She saw what Baron Scheta had prepared her a room capable to make a "great night." A long candle was shining brightly. And next to it was a very familiar bottle of wine.
'whiskey… … .’
Yulia immediately came up with a solution to this plight.
'I decided the moment I became Yulia that I would never pour any more whiskey into my mouth.'
Because of that darn manager, she thought she had drank all the whiskey she would drink for my life like crazy.
'It can't be helped because I'm stuck in this situation.'
By the way, Baron Scheta was also an 'amazing' person. What is his intention of putting high alcoholicity liquid in her room after they'd already drunk that much at dinner?
'Isn't this meant to destroy me from inside?'
Yulia pondered for a moment, as to whether it would be okay to accuse the Baron for attempting to murder the emperor. But in this situation it was not very important. The reason she felt rejected was for another reason. It was because she's about to break one of the values she had been keeping since long ago.
'There was a principle that I have been practicing for nearly 8 years as an employee... … .’
She lamented her loss.
'Even though I was strict as a superior, I've never ever forced others to drink!'
She thought that using one's position to force alcohol is the doing of a scumbag. Julia candidly admitted to herself.
'Yes, now I'm trash.'
Though she felt she'd better be a trash, make the men drink and put them into sleep, than actually touch their innocent bodies.
Julia approached the basket of large ices and look up to the these hot men. She felt sorry on seeing them followed her closely like they're leaded by a teacher. Yulia wrapped her swordsmanship aura around her hand, taking care not to forget keeping her expression casual.
“Don’t you think having fun in a splendid room is not enough to spend a night like this?”
“… … .”
The young men looked like they didn't know what to say. Julia came to understand how terrifying she was in their eyes.
'I was also worried about how to deal with the my boss' lame joke when I was a newbie.'
People all live in similar laws. Julia laughed generously and spoke to them.
“Also, how can I let you enjoy the glory of touching the emperor's body so easily?”
Julia thought those were really funny words to say by her own mouth. Still, it was obvious that the prodigal Yulia in people's imagination would say so without hesitation.
“So you'll play a game with me.”
“Game..you mean?”
One of the handsome men opened his mouth. At one glance, she could see a lot of tensions on his face. It was almost a pitiful expression.
“I'm not asking you to do anything difficult.”
Julia said so and put five glasses on the table side by side.
“I will give a big reward to the one who wins me on drinking.”
They weren't very happy with that idea.
'Thank God! Everyone seems to be weak in alcohol.'
Then, no matter how little she's to drank, she could always win. She decided to behave even more like trash and do one more awful thing here. One of the ways to drink whiskey was 'On the Rocks'.
She shreds the ice with her swordsmanship-aura-wrapped hands. There was a tool next to her, but it was much faster this way. The men seemed to be more bothered when they saw her breaking the hard ice smoothly.
'I did't mean to scare them.'
Yulia put the largest piece of ice in her own cup. It was large enough to fit the name 'On The Rocks'. And then she put rather small pieces into the glasses of others.
'This is already not proper to be called 'On The Rocks anymore', it's more like 'On The Stone'... … .’
If she had to give up her conscience, then so be it. Yulia poured alcohol into glasses, pretending to be unaware of those depressed faces surrounded her. Of course, again this time, she filled her own cup stingily and the others' cups full.
'I think I'll behave just like my manager.'
She was sick of the fact that she'd become the same as that man. Still, Yulia said leisurely to them without breaking her composure.
“Well, let’s start with the first cup.”
"Haaah… … .”
Julia sighed deeply. She gently covered the men's bodies spread over the floor with a blanket. It was really embarrassing because their clothes didn't function properly.
Fortunately, them almost fell unconscious on the first round of the game.
'It was definitely a terrible doing.'
She was going to tell Baron Schetta that she's highly pleased with his offering. If she tell him that the men haven't served her properly, they will be doomed.
'Um, I'll have to find out why those who can't even drink properly have been picked.'
For some reason, she thought that this'd have something ho do with the petition sent by the local residents of Scheta.
'Thanks to this matter, I can no longer sleep.'
When she left dinner, she felt sleepy because she was a little drunk. However, in a truly unexpected situation, her sleepiness fled in a flash. In addition, it was unlikely that she would fall asleep in the room where all these men were drunk and unconscious.
'Besides, Eusto... … .’
It was a role-playing, but Eusto's expression clenched her heart. Yulia silently inspected outside. She sensed that Eusto was guarding her room alone, he must have sent all the maids away.
Yulia once more checked the condition of those sleeping on the floor and carefully opened the door. Eusto, who was leaned against the wall, looked at Eusto surprisedly.
"sire."
It was a rare reaction from him. Usually, he was a person who reacted quickly even if someone suddenly popped out from behind.
“Are you tired?”
“I'm not, sire.”
“Then, I want to take a walk for a while.”
Yulia said to him, as if she's asking him to follow.
“I will follow you.”
"Okay."
They escaped the castle to avoid the eyes of others. Are the guards short of budget, they didn't seem to be properly organized? They were able to get out easily even though they weren't trying hard to be careful.
'I didn't plan to be here, but the scenery is really pretty.'
It felt like being embraced by the nature. She thought she would have built a castle here to enjoy this view.
The chilly night breeze passed like a whip. While the sound of footsteps continued, Eusto slowly opened his mouth.
“If only I have followed your Majesty and acted prodigal by your side...”
“If you did that, no one would be convinced by our performance.”
As Yulia responded lightly, Eusto closed his mouth. He knew she was right.
'… he's cute.'
His expression's just like that. He's one head taller than Yulia, and his body's bigger too. However, his jealousy, which failed to be hidden and was written on his face intactly, was cute.
'He's acting it out so obviously, how did Yulia not notice?'
Of course, she only knew the contents of a novel, she didn't even know he could be like this.
Yulia replied with a small smile.
“Eusto, I hope you don’t worry too much.”
"sire."
“I actually did nothing more than putting them to sleep.”
"that...I know it."
He seemed to have been keeping an eye on what'd happened in the room. It could be saw as an imprudent act, but rather, it was negligence to not do so in the first place. But of course, her safety was not the only reason he bothered to do that.
“Then why was you surprised when I opened the door?”
“… … .”
“Eusto?”
Yulia stopped her pace and looked back at him.
Moonlight beautifully showered down on him. His black hair looked like it was about to melt away in the darkness.
He hesitated and stepped up to Yulia.
“I thought your Majesty was asleep.”
"Is it?"
Yulia tried to turn back to her walk, it really wasn't a big deal. However, Eusto carefully grabbed Yulia's fingertips. Yulia observed him for a moment, trying to calm herself down from surprise.
'I didn't know he would turn me around like this.'
She never thought that Eusto would be so cute and unsophisticated.
She felt his solid touch with her fingertips, and her heart was strangely fluttering.
Eusto took one breath and opened his mouth silently.
“…It's actually not like that.”
He, who is usually trustworthy, seemed inept now and she felt her heart tickled.
“Did you just admit you'd told me a lie?”
Yulia asked jokingly, making fun of him. Eusto did not nod or shake his head at the words.
“Please give me orders.”
“Uh?”
“I hate it when your Majesty has to do things you don't want to do.”
His cute jealousy face was nowhere now. He said to her in a solemn voice as if he's doing a pledge.
“Your Majesty may only command. I will do anything for you.”
Yulia stared at him.
'Anything… he said. Those are very dangerous words.'
She felt worried about him somehow even though Eusto is a grown-up adult.
“Isn't it too thoughtless to say that?”
“Your Majesty, I.”
Eusto reacted as if he wanted to retort.
"I Know your didn't say that without your resolution.”
“Then your Majesty may just use me.”
Yulia looked at him with a soft smile. Standing on a ramp, now was the rare chance where she could look down at him. Underneath the moon, his expression was clearly visible.
There was a shadow following Eusto's clear face line. He was far more elegant than any of the handsome men offered to her by Baron Scheta. And unlike people who followed her blindly, Eusto stood beside her of his own will.
That is why Yulia wanted to take a step back when he tried to approach. After all, she wasn't the true Yulia he wanted.
But that's also why she wanted to live up to the perfect emperor that he saw in the Empire he dreamed of, the emperor designed by original Yulia, more than anyone else. It seemed easier than being a prodigal emperor after all.
'It's a bit sad that even now my life has to cling to work. This is simply just my fate.'
Yulia said what Eusto wanted to hear in a whispering voice, she also said it to alert herself:
“Your words are so sweet, I wonder how easier it would be if only I were to get intoxicated by them.”
The shade on Eusto's face became even deeper. Julia realized that he understood what she meant. There was a mixture of disappointment and pleasure in his expression.
“But I have my duty as an emperor. How can I only think about making myself comfortable when I'm in the highest position?”
Yulia blew away the remaining drunkenness with the words spit in the cold wind.
Eusto clenched his fist. On the one hand, this was exactly the line he wanted to get from her.
'Her Majesty really came back.'
On the other hand, the wall between them seemed to be thicker than in the past two years. He didn't dare to confess his heart, nor had he ever dreamed of getting any respond. He just wanted to be by her side. But his heart was on fire. It wasn't some feeling that can be easily given up just because he'd admonished himself.
'Why are you getting greedy? For the past 2 years, you thought it would be enough just to get her back.'
Eusto repressed his heart. He couldn't even count how many times he suppressed it. He couldn't even know where it started.
He answered her like a faithful servant this time, it was his duty to follow what Julia wished.
“… Yes, Your Majesty.”
Julia smiled at his answer.
“That doesn't mean I'm going to let you relax.”
Yulia said so when she turned around and started climbing the ramp again. The hazy moonlight flooded into their eyes.
'I think I know why Yulia trusted Eusto so much.'
She saw it again and again in the novel. The scene where Eusto suppressed his desperate love, and prioritized loyalty. However, the feelings she got as a reader were completely different as she's now experiencing it herself.
He compressed all his feelings and crashed on Yulia. He felt he'd bother her if he let out any affections other than loyalty.
‘But it's exactly because of that, those emotions of him just struck me so hard.’
It was like experiencing what she used to understand only in her head.
'It feels complicated. Not very good... … .’
So basically, chapter4 is about Eusto, Felix accompanied Yulia to some Baron land to look into the some heavy debt matter mentioned in a petition, it seemed nobles men there were doing illegal usury and the commoners were suffering.
The Lord there was Baron who's tied close to some Count, the Count himself was tied to Duke Executed Manager-face. Yulia planned to pretend she was her old self in the two tyranny years, she didn't want to alert the corrupt Baron, so she acted prodigally, she did a good job and the Baron thought she's stupid, and because the capital was so far away the Baron ended up thinking the rumor about emperor regaining sanity was false. So in order to gain favor of a stupid, arrogant, but at the same time very powerful woman, he resorted to the same way as the executed Duke, and Yulia found a legion of beautiful men in her chamber the night she arrived, to make things worse, Eusto was right beside her at that time.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Because the text I'm going to paste is so long, I'll just MTL it first and fix the sentences that fail to make sense(with my miserable English)
'Haah, it's really tiring.'
As Yulia headed to her room, she thought that playing(acting) a prodigal emperor wasn't something everyone can master. Moreover, she had recently refrained from drinking because only bad memories come to mind when drinking alcohol.(But in order to outtrick the Baron she had no choice but to drink with him.)
'It was delicious, at least.'
The wine was definitely delicious, but the company was the worst. His(the Baron's) flattering was so greasy that Yulia felt very sick, the whole thing was not was good to the viscera health.
“Are you okay, Your Majesty?”
Felix, who was following her, looked at her worriedly. Yulia nodded to him, suggesting she's okay. It was necessary to pretend to be the prodigal emperor, so Yulia made a "shhhh" gesture to Felix so that the maid would not notice.
Before going to her bedroom, the maid led them first to the room of Felix and Eusto. Felix was reluctant, but obediently entered the room, while Eusto politely refused.
“I must stand by her Majesty's side.”
The maid nodded without further words. But strangely, she wore a sign of sympathy for Eusto on her face. The reason became rather apparent when Julia opened the door to see what's prepared for her.
“We've been waiting for you, Your Majesty.”
Men dressed in indecent clothes welcomed her with dutiful bowing in her room. In an instant, both Julia and Yousto hardened in shock.
Yulia was the first to wake up.
'That's right, so this is it.'
In the novel, this is how Yulia was always described during her tyrant days, this is what Duke Fez used to prepare for her.
//"For the unmarried emperor, Duke Fez used to offer up handsome men as a proof of loyalty."//
The sentence that wasn't quite wanted came to her mind. However, this was no longer a mere sentence from a novel. It was a vivid reality. Yulia tried her best to make her face look like that of a prodigal emperor in front of the half-naked hot men.
It was unexpectedly challenging. In addition, these men also seemed to be ashamed of the situation which was most likely the first time in their lives.
'I don't hate seeing handsome men acting shy, though.'
This situation itself was not welcome at all. Although she managed to keep a casual face, she's still perfectly flustered inside.
'What do I do?'
Julia only planned to pretend to be prodigal, she really had no intention of playing real prodigality. In addition, the back of her head tingled. That must have been Eusto's gaze, Yulia could only smile when she noticed it.
Then Eusto opened his mouth.
“Your Majesty, if your people know what you're doing now...”
The desire to flee haunted her. If only she can be forcefully dragged away by Eusto like this, it'd be easy to avoid the whole situation.
'No, if I do that, the rumor that I'm at odd with Eusto will become unconvincing.'
Julia tried not to forget her purpose. No matter how easier it might seem to flee as she wished, she couldn't risk messing things up just for a pinch of her own comfort.
Yulia said to him irritatedly, just like how she acted at dinner.
“My people, my people! How long would I have to listen to that word!”
As she turned back and looked at him, he shew a look of shock and confusion.
'No, isn't this a performance?! Haven't we decided to do that!’
Julia suddenly felt victimized. Besides, it wouldn't be Eusto's first time to see her like this, although in the past it wasn't actually herself.
Yulia sighed exaggeratedly, as if she wanted to wake him up.
“Eusto, when have you been in a position to interfere with my affairs?”
“… sire."
“Don’t disturb my night!”
Julia slammed the door while feeling deeply sorry for him.
Eusto looked at the tightly closed door for a long time. Even though he knew it was all role-playing, it was strangely more bitter than what he felt in the past two years.
To be honest, it was the biggest crisis in her life. Julia pondered, looking at the men in front of her, they all had innocent eyes.
'I never intend to touch them.'
When she thought about it, it's only natural for them to have chosen men who were innocent in both mind and body as they would be presented to the emperor. Duke Fez and Baron Scheta, who picked people with such standard and offer them up, really deserved to be crushed.
'It can't be helped.'
She saw what Baron Scheta had prepared her a room capable to make a "great night." A long candle was shining brightly. And next to it was a very familiar bottle of wine.
'whiskey… … .’
Yulia immediately came up with a solution to this plight.
'I decided the moment I became Yulia that I would never pour any more whiskey into my mouth.'
Because of that darn manager, she thought she had drank all the whiskey she would drink for my life like crazy.
'It can't be helped because I'm stuck in this situation.'
By the way, Baron Scheta was also an 'amazing' person. What is his intention of putting high alcoholicity liquid in her room after they'd already drunk that much at dinner?
'Isn't this meant to destroy me from inside?'
Yulia pondered for a moment, as to whether it would be okay to accuse the Baron for attempting to murder the emperor. But in this situation it was not very important. The reason she felt rejected was for another reason. It was because she's about to break one of the values she had been keeping since long ago.
'There was a principle that I have been practicing for nearly 8 years as an employee... … .’
She lamented her loss.
'Even though I was strict as a superior, I've never ever forced others to drink!'
She thought that using one's position to force alcohol is the doing of a scumbag. Julia candidly admitted to herself.
'Yes, now I'm trash.'
Though she felt she'd better be a trash, make the men drink and put them into sleep, than actually touch their innocent bodies.
Julia approached the basket of large ices and look up to the these hot men. She felt sorry on seeing them followed her closely like they're leaded by a teacher. Yulia wrapped her swordsmanship aura around her hand, taking care not to forget keeping her expression casual.
“Don’t you think having fun in a splendid room is not enough to spend a night like this?”
“… … .”
The young men looked like they didn't know what to say. Julia came to understand how terrifying she was in their eyes.
'I was also worried about how to deal with the my boss' lame joke when I was a newbie.'
People all live in similar laws. Julia laughed generously and spoke to them.
“Also, how can I let you enjoy the glory of touching the emperor's body so easily?”
Julia thought those were really funny words to say by her own mouth. Still, it was obvious that the prodigal Yulia in people's imagination would say so without hesitation.
“So you'll play a game with me.”
“Game..you mean?”
One of the handsome men opened his mouth. At one glance, she could see a lot of tensions on his face. It was almost a pitiful expression.
“I'm not asking you to do anything difficult.”
Julia said so and put five glasses on the table side by side.
“I will give a big reward to the one who wins me on drinking.”
They weren't very happy with that idea.
'Thank God! Everyone seems to be weak in alcohol.'
Then, no matter how little she's to drank, she could always win. She decided to behave even more like trash and do one more awful thing here. One of the ways to drink whiskey was 'On the Rocks'.
She shreds the ice with her swordsmanship-aura-wrapped hands. There was a tool next to her, but it was much faster this way. The men seemed to be more bothered when they saw her breaking the hard ice smoothly.
'I did't mean to scare them.'
Yulia put the largest piece of ice in her own cup. It was large enough to fit the name 'On The Rocks'. And then she put rather small pieces into the glasses of others.
'This is already not proper to be called 'On The Rocks anymore', it's more like 'On The Stone'... … .’
If she had to give up her conscience, then so be it. Yulia poured alcohol into glasses, pretending to be unaware of those depressed faces surrounded her. Of course, again this time, she filled her own cup stingily and the others' cups full.
'I think I'll behave just like my manager.'
She was sick of the fact that she'd become the same as that man. Still, Yulia said leisurely to them without breaking her composure.
“Well, let’s start with the first cup.”
"Haaah… … .”
Julia sighed deeply. She gently covered the men's bodies spread over the floor with a blanket. It was really embarrassing because their clothes didn't function properly.
Fortunately, them almost fell unconscious on the first round of the game.
'It was definitely a terrible doing.'
She was going to tell Baron Schetta that she's highly pleased with his offering. If she tell him that the men haven't served her properly, they will be doomed.
'Um, I'll have to find out why those who can't even drink properly have been picked.'
For some reason, she thought that this'd have something ho do with the petition sent by the local residents of Scheta.
'Thanks to this matter, I can no longer sleep.'
When she left dinner, she felt sleepy because she was a little drunk. However, in a truly unexpected situation, her sleepiness fled in a flash. In addition, it was unlikely that she would fall asleep in the room where all these men were drunk and unconscious.
'Besides, Eusto... … .’
It was a role-playing, but Eusto's expression clenched her heart. Yulia silently inspected outside. She sensed that Eusto was guarding her room alone, he must have sent all the maids away.
Yulia once more checked the condition of those sleeping on the floor and carefully opened the door. Eusto, who was leaned against the wall, looked at Eusto surprisedly.
"sire."
It was a rare reaction from him. Usually, he was a person who reacted quickly even if someone suddenly popped out from behind.
“Are you tired?”
“I'm not, sire.”
“Then, I want to take a walk for a while.”
Yulia said to him, as if she's asking him to follow.
“I will follow you.”
"Okay."
They escaped the castle to avoid the eyes of others. Are the guards short of budget, they didn't seem to be properly organized? They were able to get out easily even though they weren't trying hard to be careful.
'I didn't plan to be here, but the scenery is really pretty.'
It felt like being embraced by the nature. She thought she would have built a castle here to enjoy this view.
The chilly night breeze passed like a whip. While the sound of footsteps continued, Eusto slowly opened his mouth.
“If only I have followed your Majesty and acted prodigal by your side...”
“If you did that, no one would be convinced by our performance.”
As Yulia responded lightly, Eusto closed his mouth. He knew she was right.
'… he's cute.'
His expression's just like that. He's one head taller than Yulia, and his body's bigger too. However, his jealousy, which failed to be hidden and was written on his face intactly, was cute.
'He's acting it out so obviously, how did Yulia not notice?'
Of course, she only knew the contents of a novel, she didn't even know he could be like this.
Yulia replied with a small smile.
“Eusto, I hope you don’t worry too much.”
"sire."
“I actually did nothing more than putting them to sleep.”
"that...I know it."
He seemed to have been keeping an eye on what'd happened in the room. It could be saw as an imprudent act, but rather, it was negligence to not do so in the first place. But of course, her safety was not the only reason he bothered to do that.
“Then why was you surprised when I opened the door?”
“… … .”
“Eusto?”
Yulia stopped her pace and looked back at him.
Moonlight beautifully showered down on him. His black hair looked like it was about to melt away in the darkness.
He hesitated and stepped up to Yulia.
“I thought your Majesty was asleep.”
"Is it?"
Yulia tried to turn back to her walk, it really wasn't a big deal. However, Eusto carefully grabbed Yulia's fingertips. Yulia observed him for a moment, trying to calm herself down from surprise.
'I didn't know he would turn me around like this.'
She never thought that Eusto would be so cute and unsophisticated.
She felt his solid touch with her fingertips, and her heart was strangely fluttering.
Eusto took one breath and opened his mouth silently.
“…It's actually not like that.”
He, who is usually trustworthy, seemed inept now and she felt her heart tickled.
“Did you just admit you'd told me a lie?”
Yulia asked jokingly, making fun of him. Eusto did not nod or shake his head at the words.
“Please give me orders.”
“Uh?”
“I hate it when your Majesty has to do things you don't want to do.”
His cute jealousy face was nowhere now. He said to her in a solemn voice as if he's doing a pledge.
“Your Majesty may only command. I will do anything for you.”
Yulia stared at him.
'Anything… he said. Those are very dangerous words.'
She felt worried about him somehow even though Eusto is a grown-up adult.
“Isn't it too thoughtless to say that?”
“Your Majesty, I.”
Eusto reacted as if he wanted to retort.
"I Know your didn't say that without your resolution.”
“Then your Majesty may just use me.”
Yulia looked at him with a soft smile. Standing on a ramp, now was the rare chance where she could look down at him. Underneath the moon, his expression was clearly visible.
There was a shadow following Eusto's clear face line. He was far more elegant than any of the handsome men offered to her by Baron Scheta. And unlike people who followed her blindly, Eusto stood beside her of his own will.
That is why Yulia wanted to take a step back when he tried to approach. After all, she wasn't the true Yulia he wanted.
But that's also why she wanted to live up to the perfect emperor that he saw in the Empire he dreamed of, the emperor designed by original Yulia, more than anyone else. It seemed easier than being a prodigal emperor after all.
'It's a bit sad that even now my life has to cling to work. This is simply just my fate.'
Yulia said what Eusto wanted to hear in a whispering voice, she also said it to alert herself:
“Your words are so sweet, I wonder how easier it would be if only I were to get intoxicated by them.”
The shade on Eusto's face became even deeper. Julia realized that he understood what she meant. There was a mixture of disappointment and pleasure in his expression.
“But I have my duty as an emperor. How can I only think about making myself comfortable when I'm in the highest position?”
Yulia blew away the remaining drunkenness with the words spit in the cold wind.
Eusto clenched his fist. On the one hand, this was exactly the line he wanted to get from her.
'Her Majesty really came back.'
On the other hand, the wall between them seemed to be thicker than in the past two years. He didn't dare to confess his heart, nor had he ever dreamed of getting any respond. He just wanted to be by her side. But his heart was on fire. It wasn't some feeling that can be easily given up just because he'd admonished himself.
'Why are you getting greedy? For the past 2 years, you thought it would be enough just to get her back.'
Eusto repressed his heart. He couldn't even count how many times he suppressed it. He couldn't even know where it started.
He answered her like a faithful servant this time, it was his duty to follow what Julia wished.
“… Yes, Your Majesty.”
Julia smiled at his answer.
“That doesn't mean I'm going to let you relax.”
Yulia said so when she turned around and started climbing the ramp again. The hazy moonlight flooded into their eyes.
'I think I know why Yulia trusted Eusto so much.'
She saw it again and again in the novel. The scene where Eusto suppressed his desperate love, and prioritized loyalty. However, the feelings she got as a reader were completely different as she's now experiencing it herself.
He compressed all his feelings and crashed on Yulia. He felt he'd bother her if he let out any affections other than loyalty.
‘But it's exactly because of that, those emotions of him just struck me so hard.’
It was like experiencing what she used to understand only in her head.
'It feels complicated. Not very good... … .’
