<Wasn’t This a Strategy Game? Chapter 142>

A soft, bulky outer garment was placed over Eden’s shoulders in a quiet voice.

Startled, she turned around and spotted Asmun standing just a step behind her.

“Your Highness.”

After wrapping the garment around Eden, Asmun skillfully fell into step beside her, indicating he wanted to take a walk together.

Eden hurriedly followed him, her voice tinged with confusion.

“If you’re getting ready for the coronation tomorrow, you should go to bed early.”

“I see the Saint won’t be attending the coronation, huh?”

Ugh. Eden was at a loss for words at that irritating response, sealing her lips. Asmun chuckled at her reaction.

“I just can’t seem to sleep.”

Eden deeply agreed; Asmun wouldn’t be able to sleep at all.

She wondered what the coronation meant to him; it must have been a wish deeper and longer than hers.

“It feels surreal for this day to come, really.”

As Eden sighed, feeling her tension ease, Asmun smiled as if in agreement.

“You’ve worked hard all this time.”

Asmun stared at her without a reply. Noticing his gaze, Eden darted her eyes around.

It was a habitual instinct to check if someone was watching their secret meeting, but she soon remembered that she no longer had to be so cautious.

Being cautious indicated a lack of power, and now Asmun was about to become the most powerful person in the Empire.

‘An Emperor. Asmun is going to be an Emperor!’

With her heart racing, Eden decided to ask him something she had been curious about for a long time.

“I have a question.”

Asmun raised an eyebrow lightly, signaling her that it was okay to ask.

“What will you do once you become the Emperor?”

It was a light question like small talk, but Asmun’s eyes darkened significantly at that.

Eden interpreted his hesitation to answer as surprise at her sudden question and playfully added, “I mean, you must have thought about it for a long time, right? Like the reason you wanted to become an Emperor. Oh, I must get to that position!”

Asmun stared intently at her as she chirped away like a little sparrow.

The reasons for wanting to become an Emperor.

At first, well, at first, he thought that foolish and petty people like Kiris and Patriar didn’t deserve such a noble position.

After growing a bit older, his heart became filled to the brim with anger and a cold desire for revenge that he couldn’t bear anymore.

He had only thought of climbing to the position they desired so he could repay the pain they caused him. He hadn’t thought beyond that.

But now, Asmun had developed a wish of his own.

So, his wish was to make this Empire, where Eden lived,……

“I will make it a better place.”

His calm and quiet voice resonated softly in the empty garden.

“A place where the Saint belongs.”

His deep and beautiful red eyes were focused solely on one woman.

“I want to make it a better place than anywhere else.”

Eden gazed at Asmun, who was giving such a serious answer, in astonishment. This was an answer she had never expected.

‘A place where I belong…….’

Wanting to make it a better place.

She surely hadn’t hoped for such an answer, yet the emotions that began to wash over her were beyond her control.

At the same time, a deep-seated anxiety that she had pressed down inside her rose to the surface.

She could no longer be the reason for Asmun. She couldn’t affect his life any longer……

But Asmun continued to gaze at Eden, whispering.

“I won’t let my heart waver even for a moment because it’s too wonderful.”

There was something chilling about the end of his softly spoken words.

As if a glint of red secrecy lingered in his intense gaze upon her, but Eden was unable to scrutinize that light further. Asmun tilted his head and pressed his lips against hers.

With a soft, ticklish sound, as a delicate, smooth skin touched her lips, Eden instinctively shut her eyes tight.

Asmun, gripping Eden’s waist, wrapped her in an embrace, eagerly exploring her mouth.

Even though she knew she shouldn’t be accepting this kiss, Eden couldn’t push him away. Even if she tried, it would be futile.

The kiss continued, as if he would never let her go, and only when Eden was nearly out of breath did his reluctant lips part.

Asmun remained holding her waist, deeply gazing into her eyes.

“……I will definitely make it just like that, so watch me.”

It felt like a confession and yet a vague warning. Eden stared at him, speechless.

Next to him, a heart-stopping notification popped up.

After a long night, the day for Asmun to become the Emperor finally arrived.

Since the coronation was traditionally held at the Great Temple, Eden rose early, cleaned herself up, and prepared for the ceremony.

With news of a new Emperor’s birth circulating, the front of the Great Temple was packed with a crowd, tightly pressed together, even though they couldn’t witness the event.

“Saint! Bless the Saint!”

“Bless the new Emperor!”

They all sang praises for the Saint and the new Emperor, filled with anticipation for the new era that was about to unfold.

Not even the shock given by Sereman could halt the hope of the Empire’s citizens today.

Eden prepared for the coronation, listening to the shouts flowing into the temple.

Meanwhile, she couldn’t shake off the information about Asmun that had come out yesterday. Asmun’s profile had undergone significant changes.

Thanks to becoming the Emperor showered with citizens’ praises, several stats had increased, and……

‘Possessiveness 100%……’

What more could happen? A cold sweat ran down Eden’s back.

As she was lost in thought, someone quietly approached her from behind. It was Ibthan.

“Chancellor.”

Ibthan commanded the servant holding the crown to place it on the table and then leave. The spacious and quiet room was left with just Eden and Ibthan.

“This is the crown that the Saint will place on the new Emperor. When the ceremony begins, Priest Roman will chant a blessing through Hamun’s voice, and then His Highness Asmun will be declared the 9th Emperor of Hesmoro. You can place the crown at that time.”

Eden watched Ibthan, who explained the order of the coronation.

He had managed the affairs while maintaining his ground even when the Emperor collapsed, and at the same time prepared the coronation.

Without Ibthan, such a rapid coronation would have been impossible.

“Thank you, Chancellor.”

When Eden unexpectedly expressed her gratitude, Ibthan lifted his head to look at her.

Eden knew that since the incident in the underground prison, Ibthan had been cooperating with Asmun all along.

“Thank you for believing in His Highness Asmun.”

At her words, Ibthan gazed fixedly at Eden. When she felt slightly embarrassed by his gaze, he finally spoke.

“What I trust is the Saint.”

It was a calm and decisive statement. Eden widened her eyes in surprise.

“The only one I want to gain trust from is the Saint.”

“……”

“And the only one I want to impress is the Saint.”

With those words, Ibthan seemed to finish his explanation, folding the route guide and putting it away.

Eden was momentarily stunned, unable to respond easily to such a surprising confession. Just then, a notification sound rang out, presenting a new window she had never expected in this place.

Ding.

Eden’s eyes grew impossibly wide.

If she had seen Ibthan’s new characteristic while drinking water, she would have spat it all over his face in astonishment.

Luckily, Eden wasn’t drinking water, so she merely covered her mouth with a strange sound of surprise.

“Are you alright?”

Ibthan quickly approached her, examining her.

Eden looked into his green eyes, filled with an unmistakable concern.

“There’s no need to be nervous. The Saint will do well.”

“……”

Ibthan interpreted Eden’s unease as stress about the coronation, and his gaze was warmer and kinder than ever. Just like when he had entered her memories in the underground storehouse.

‘Devoted when he falls in love…….’

Eden felt a tingle of confusion at that characteristic.

At this point, Eden was almost ready to declare something.

Hamun, this crazy god must have been flippantly writing things down because he never thought anyone would raise Ibthan’s affection level to 90!

The infuriating wave symbol at the end was proof of it.

‘Why is love even coming up all of a sudden!’

Just like the previous night’s information about Asmun suggested. If you reach 100% affection level, your possessiveness also reaches 100%?

Seriously, what kind of game announces a warning about this right after you reach that level?

Remembering that moment last night, the chilling red eyes that had been watching her sent a shiver down Eden’s spine.

‘What happens when possessiveness reaches 100%?’

Eden tried hard not to visualize a horrific scenario, shaking her head.

‘No, that can’t be it.’

While she already knew that Asmun was a character with intense possessiveness, surely he wouldn’t have promised to send her to Hagen’ti’s castle if his possessiveness level increased to such an alarming rate.

So the setting values were just that—settings. Just like the 90% chance of Asmun becoming a tyrant.

While Eden wandered through this vast confusion, Ibthan, who had been watching her with worried eyes, finally spoke up, somewhat awkwardly.

“If there’s anything I can help you with, please tell me.”

“……”

“You would help me with that, right?”

Eden was taken aback, gazing at him with a blank stare, hearing words she never would have expected from him. It was incredibly difficult to believe that anxiety flickered in his eyes.

Ibthan was now afraid she might refuse him…… What on earth had she done? Her head felt dazed.

“……I’ll do that.”

After roughly swallowing the shock, Eden finally replied. Only then did his anxiety vanish, and a relieved smile appeared on his face, as if that was all she wished for.