Chapter 19 - 19

A promise between his father, the late Emperor, and his mother, the Countess who was Altsbeit's heir. First child as Imperial heir, second child as Altsbeit's heir.

It was a promise made between Altsbeit and the Imperial Family.

Therefore, Charlize, who became Altsbeit's heir, cannot become an Imperial.

Unless she abandons Altsbeit herself.

'But I'm not the real Charlize.'

I have no loyalty to Altsbeit.

Nevertheless, this condition is ridiculous to accept.

Ridiculous, really. I'm borrowing money to avoid breaking up with my fiance, but what happens to the engagement if I change my family registry?

"Let me ask you one thing. If I become an Imperial, what are you trying to make me do?"

"I haven't thought about it."

After a moment of thought, Roxidian spoke firmly.

"Ah, first, break up with that disagreeable guy. A new husband, I'll find you a much better one-."

"I'll refuse."

At my firm refusal, Roxidian frowned deeply.

"What's so good about that rotten guy that you're still chasing after him?"

"I'm sorry, but whether I chase after a rotten guy or a snowman, you haven't helped me at all, have you?"

"Why would I help? I don't like him."

In the book, did the tyrant dislike Askin?

He's the type to be easily hated because he's upright.

In the book, the two clashed only after Charlize's death, so I don't know. Seems he must have gone against the tyrant's mood.

I was about to give up on borrowing money from this brother, thinking it was hopeless.

"Well. Fine. If you don't like that condition, how about this? This is the last one."

A lifeline suddenly dropped before my eyes.

"...What is it?"

Instead of grabbing it, I looked with suspicious eyes.

"News of your return from your trip has spread throughout the capital. You'll soon be invited to various places. Ah, have you already been invited?"

"So?"

I recalled the tyrants' gathering and tilted my head.

Suspicion crept into my eyes. What ridiculous condition this time?

"At every event you attend from now on, cause a bigger scene than you used to. Cause mayhem."

The first condition was surprising, but not as much as this new one.

What's his scheme with this condition?

"Of course, you were probably going to do as you pleased now that you're back, but I mean to increase the scale."

Thinking calmly, this isn't a very difficult condition.

Aren't I just acting a bit bigger than what Charlize used to do?

At a crossroads between breaking up now and dying immediately, or enduring for a year, a bit of acting isn't difficult.

But why?

"What's your scheme?"

"There is none?"

"...Really?"

I gripped the necklace tightly.

I don't know how this action looked, but for a moment, surprise crossed Roxidian's expression.

Hmm? I didn't intend to use it, did it look like a threat?

The tyrant explained with a slightly relaxed expression.

"You need to become more infamous. That way, my crazy actions will be buried."

"Huh?"

"Take today's incident. No matter how much I silence people... rumors leak."

Roxidian gestured around the space. He wasn't wrong.

It cannot be hidden forever. Still, the condition he presented was absurd.

Anyway, I also can't let it be discovered that I'm not Charlize.

'I was thinking of improving Charlize's reputation inconspicuously...'

I was going to try to clean it up, thinking I'd die young from karma at this rate!

If this continues, should I give up on my reputation? I mentally crunched the numbers.

The winner was accepting this brother's condition.

First, I need the money. That way, my lie won't be discovered, I can prevent the immediate breakup, and I won't die.

"Fine, I'll accept."

Then the tyrant broke into a mischievous smile.

"Good."

Somehow, that smile looked like a hidden scheme, giving me an uneasy feeling like walking into a tiger's den.

* * *

Charlize left.

Just as she appeared, Noah personally moved her back to her room at the Altsbeit residence.

"I am truly sorry for my rudeness when we left."

As he left, Noah politely apologized for his rudeness.

He thought that given Charlize's personality, she might even slap him, but he was willing to accept it.

However, Charlize just shrugged with an expressionless face.

"Forget it."

Noah was surprised and looked at her.

"You brought me for your brother's sake. Your brother is lucky to have a loyal vassal like you."

Their eyes met for a moment.

Charlize was so beautiful that the praise 'a gift from God' wouldn't be enough. However, it was overshadowed by her wickedness.

"...Still, I apologize for my rudeness."

"I said it's fine."

Suddenly, Charlize smiled faintly.

"If you really feel sorry, help me out next time."

Watching Charlize's long eyes curve, Noah slowly lowered his gaze.

For just a moment, it felt like this Countess in his arms had clutched his heart, giving him a chill.

Enough that he almost promised to help her with anything.

Noah had never seen Charlize smile an ordinary smile.

The smile, stripped of the wickedness she wore like air, flustered him.

After sending Charlize back, Noah returned to his master, Roxidian.

Roxidian was lounging in a chair in his neatly arranged office, lost in thought.

For some reason, a satisfied smile, like a successful hunter, hung on his fierce, handsome face.

"Your Majesty."

"Have you come?"

Roxidian answered without looking.

Even though he already knew Noah had arrived, his voice was calm.

"Why did you make such a proposal to the Countess?"

Noah asked what he had been curious about since the conference room.

He hesitated, but his curiosity and wonder overcame his hesitation.

"Huh, what's this. Why are you asking about someone else's business?"

"...Is she not Your Majesty's family?"

Noah said this, but he thought it wasn't really a suitable answer.

Because until just two weeks ago, he was one of those who was relieved that Charlize was not in the capital.

"My aide asks for an answer, but you talk nonsense."

"..."

"Well, she is my family. Who is my family?"

"..."

"What, are you coveting her?"

Roxidian's tone was frivolous and even vulgar for an emperor, but his voice and face carried undeniable majesty and pressure.

Noah slowly raised his gaze.

Roxidian examined Noah's face closely, then grinned his usual mischievous grin.

"She is pretty, isn't she."

"..."

"Well, she's my little sister."

Affection was evident in his light voice.

Soon, Roxidian's smiling eyes turned sharp like a predator.

"I can't leave her in the filthy hands of Altsbeit forever."

Thud. Roxidian tapped the armrest.

Although he has the title of tyrant due to his uncontrollable madness, Roxidian was in fact a very wise and intelligent emperor.

"You remember the incident that caused her to be temporarily expelled from the country last time, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Altsbeit tried to discard her once because of that incident."

His lovely, stupid little sister seems to think her maternal grandfather cherishes her endlessly.

But Roxidian knew very well how greedy and inhuman his maternal grandfather was.

"I'll be watching. If she commits even greater villainy and atrocities here, the Duke will eventually give up on her. He'll discard her. To a place where she's useful."

Roxidian was greatly mistaken. In the situation where Charlize came to borrow money, he thought the Duke of Altsbeit's patience was wearing thin.

If he had known where Charlize actually used the money, the situation might have been different, but he didn't know.

"She will commit a major crime beyond repair."

"Then, when the Countess causes that incident, what do you intend to do?"

"I'll have to pick her up. She's my little sister, after all."

Roxidian rested his face on his hand and smiled mischievously and languidly.

"At any rate, I should look forward to the day my foolish little sister regains the Imperial family name."

Roxidian stopped smiling and slightly frowned.

"And get rid of that rotten Lemut guy while I'm at it."

Watching this, Noah sighed softly.

"The Duke of Lemut has done nothing wrong. Your Majesty is just annoyed because the Duke doesn't accept the Countess, isn't he?"

"No?! I just don't like him. He doesn't suit my stupid little sister."

"Yes. Yes."

Roxidian's frown deepened.

"Can't she just stop chasing after that rotten Lemut bastard? What's so great about him that he keeps rejecting her? So annoying."