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It felt like my head was about to explode from ‘wrath’. It had been a while since I was this angry.

Wendy is a character who shares life and death with me. In other words, Luna had touched my reverse scale.

I even had the thought of twisting Luna’s neck and killing her. But I had to hold back. Even if it was just to prevent all my efforts so far from going down the drain.

“……”

Luna, who had been directly hit by my ‘wrath’, stood frozen in place. However, unlike other characters, she didn’t faint or tremble in fear. Instead, she stiffly raised her head and looked up at me.

Indeed, the Emperor was the Emperor. In the midst of my suffocating ‘wrath’, she gritted her teeth and held her ground. She was confronting me with nothing but hatred. But…

“…I could also cut your neck, as the Emperor.”

I struggled to suppress my boiling ‘wrath’ and spoke.

“I can purge all those who oppose me. Moreover, I could even bring down this Empire.”

Without avoiding Luna’s gaze, which was glaring at me as if to kill, her hatred was met with my ‘pride’.

“It’s all easy for me. Luna Meikhael.”

Just like Tristan in the original story, I could eliminate her without dirtying my hands.

“There is such a convenient method, but the reason I don’t do it is simply because it’s a waste of time.”

With less than a year left, the players will soon turn this world into a wasteland. Engaging in a full-scale war with the Imperial Family before that would be a waste of time. The reason I requested a private meeting was to secure the Emperor’s cooperation.

I came here to show a friendly appearance. But if things turn out like this, I have no choice but to issue a clear warning.

“With the appearance of the Hero, there’s no room for battle. But if you intend to kill the Hero just to provoke me…”

*Crunch.*

I stomped on her mask that had fallen to the ground.

“I will undoubtedly make you the most wretched being in this world.”

“……”

The shattered fragments of the mask scattered around. They glinted sharply under the moonlight streaming through the window.

I withdrew my ‘wrath’. Then, I coldly shot a glance at Luna, who had barely caught her breath.

“I had high regard for your abilities.”

“…What did you say?”

In the original story, Luna was the Emperor who protected the Empire without yielding to the pressure of the powerful Ruelberta Family.

She restored the Imperial authority to some extent after it had fallen to the bottom due to William, and sharpened the blade of revenge against Ruelberta.

Even if she hadn’t been killed by Tristan, her role in the original story would have undoubtedly been much more significant.

“Since you became Emperor, the Empire has steadily grown. Not as much as during its peak, but compared to the previous Emperor, Maxim-”

“Shut your mouth.”

Though her complexion had been pale from my ‘wrath’ earlier, Luna’s eyes now gleamed with even more venom.

“How dare you… Do not utter my father’s name… *Cough*.”

“…What I want to say is that you are an excellent Emperor. The fact that the Empire can see glimpses of its former glory is solely due to your abilities.”

At my words, Luna sneered.

“Ha… That’s amusing. Did you think I would be pleased to hear such words from you?”

“Whether you like it or not is none of my business. I’m not a fool who caters to your whims.”

“Arrogant… How dare you, a mere subject, speak to me like that?”

“It’s too early by ten years to treat me as a subject.”

“What? Then why did you join the Seven Stars? There’s no place for someone like you.”

“Speak clearly. I joined the Seven Stars. As proof, the members of the Seven Stars have accepted me as one of their own.”

“…Fine. I’ll acknowledge that. Then what about your title? You have no intention of becoming my subject, yet you hold the title of Count?”

“I simply hold it because it sounds good.”

“What? What kind of lunatic…”

Unable to refute my words any further, Luna glared at me resentfully. I decided to use her hatred from now on.

“Then let’s get to the point. My request is simple. Prepare for the impending war. The current Imperial Army would be helpless against it.”

“…Are you saying to increase the number of Imperial troops?”

“Numbers are important, but improve the quality. There are too many ragtag soldiers.”

“Are you underestimating my army too much?”

“Two weeks.”

I declared quietly.

“In two weeks, Aslan can annihilate the Imperial Army.”

“Bluster…”

“How many times a year does the Imperial Army experience war?”

“What?”

“Aslan spends most of the year on the front lines exterminating monstrous beasts. They are the most battle-hardened army in this country. The Imperial Army, lacking in practical experience, is no match.”

Yes. The two-week period is by no means bluster. I coldly warned Luna.

“You seem to be underestimating my private soldiers. If it’s just soldiers, even my bodyguard knight alone can handle them. She has already been recognized for her exceptional combat prowess within Aslan. Numbers are meaningless against her.”

If Helga had been here, she would have been grinning from ear to ear at my praise. It’s a bit disappointing not to see her smug expression, but there’s nothing I can do about it.

“……Hmph.”

Luna still seemed dissatisfied. Although she was reluctantly listening to me now, I couldn’t guarantee that she would obediently follow. In that case, there was only one way left.

I opened my mouth.

“I know the cause of your hatred. I won’t tell you to hide it.”

Just like Blanshe, Luna’s hatred is justified. She was born with a personality driven by hatred towards Ruelberta.

“But this is only the case when your hatred is directed at me. If it’s directed at others around you, our cooperation will be as if it never happened.”

“Cooperation? Count… Are you saying that? You, the despicable Ruelberta…!”

“What I want to say is that this is strictly a matter between you and me.”

Luna’s words had a point. Trusting the object of one’s hatred is never easy. That’s why I decided to make a proposal. A proposal she could never refuse.

“You want to kill me, right? Then wouldn’t you want to kill me with your own hands?”

“What…?”

“Once a week.”

I spoke calmly.

“I’ll give you a chance to kill me.”

At my words, Luna’s red eyes gleamed dangerously.

“A chance to kill, you say…?”

“Yes. Play a game with me once a week. You can freely choose the game. If you beat me even once, I’ll die by your hand.”

“……Hmm.”

Luna’s eyebrow twitched. No matter how you look at it, it’s strange. I had set up a situation entirely in her favor. It’s as if I’m desperate to die by her hand.

“Are you underestimating me? Or are you spouting words you can’t keep?”

“Believe it or not, it’s your choice. But I’m a man who keeps his promises.”

“……”

The bait had been cast. Now, all that was left was to wait for her to bite. After a moment of thought, Luna asked.

“…What if I demand a game that’s unfavorable to you?”

“There’s no game unfavorable to me. I never lose.”

As I said, I was confident I could win any game. Otherwise, there would be no reason to make such a proposal.

At my shameless attitude, Luna muttered in disbelief.

“What kind of lunatic is this…?”

“Why? Don’t you have the confidence to beat me?”

“You…”

“If not…”

I approached Luna. I grabbed her hand.

“…?!”

“Can’t you cut my neck with these slender arms?”

“Don’t touch me with those filthy hands!”

Luna forcefully shook off my hand. Unlike Lucy, Luna has a cleanliness obsession. Although I had grabbed her hand through her glove, she glared at me with extreme disgust, just like before.

“If you lay a single hand on my body, you will die with me.”

“That’s amusing. I won’t kill you. Nor do I intend to drive you from the throne. However…”

I smiled mockingly.

“I will have you.”

“…What, what did you say? Have me?”

“Yes.”

Within me, ‘pride’ and ‘greed’ stirred.

“Possessing someone as excellent as you would also be a pleasure. If you never beat me in a game, then be prepared.”

“You, you arrogant…!”

Luna’s face flushed red with humiliation.

“So, will you play the game to take my life?”

“Fine! Let’s do it. I don’t shy away from challenges!”

She took the bait. Watching the fuming Luna, I nodded inwardly with satisfaction.

“Your confident demeanor is good to see. I’ll be looking forward to the day you kill me.”

“Ha… I don’t want to see your face anymore. Get out of my sight immediately.”

“I was going to do that anyway.”

Luna waved her hand as if tired. As I turned to leave, I suddenly remembered something I had forgotten.

“By the way… Where’s the commendation you were going to bestow upon me?”

“…!”

At my words, Luna’s expression stiffened. Judging by her reaction, it seems there isn’t one. She probably never intended to give it in the first place…

“So, there isn’t one?”

“…There is.”

Luna clicked her tongue and spoke. After some deliberation, she stood up and spoke in a solemn voice.

“I, Luna Meikhael, acknowledge Tristan Ruelberta’s contributions and recognize him as one of my Seven Stars.”

I thought she was going to do something, but it was just words. Feeling absurd, I was about to leave when Luna’s voice stopped me.

“Hey. Take this.”

A piece of black cloth fell in front of me. It was her glove.

“It’s my gift. If you throw it away, it’s a capital offense.”

“……”

Probably due to her cleanliness obsession, she wears and discards gloves daily. Essentially, she gave me trash under the guise of a gift.

I picked up her glove from the floor. Watching me, Luna sneered.

“Keuk keuk… Take it and treasure it.”

“It’s damp.”

“What…?”

I held up the glove and spoke.

“You must sweat a lot.”

“You, you! Don’t speak nonsense…!”

“Even the Emperor of the Empire isn’t much different. Seeing how nervous you were.”

“You, you…! You…!”

As if I had hit a nerve, Luna trembled with her hand covering her face. It was the first time I had seen such an expression from her. A mix of embarrassment and humiliation. It was oddly endearing, fitting her age.

“I’ll treasure this as you said.”

“Throw it away! Throw that filthy thing away immediately!”

Before opening the door to leave the audience chamber, I spoke to the enraged Emperor. With the face of a true villain.

“My life is too precious to refuse.”

 

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