Chapter 35 - 35

Wow, how did he find such a perfect expression?

Since Grandfather is a bit plump, the nickname 'raccoon' suited him perfectly, especially his double chin line.

...And baldness. Hmm, I don't think he's bald, though.

"Your Majesty, what business do you have with my lovely granddaughter?"

"I came to see my younger sister, not the Duke's granddaughter."

"...Is that so?"

"Do you have any complaints about me seeing my own sibling?"

"How could I possibly."

Whether she's the Duke of Altsbeit's granddaughter or the Emperor's younger sister, in the end, it still points to me.

I could see an invisible, taut string.

"However, please do not say unnecessary things to my beloved granddaughter."

"Unnecessary?"

"Your Majesty knows better than anyone, doesn't he?"

I brought out the villainess item I had taken out for fun, a fan, placed it near my lips, and watched the two men's power struggle with great interest.

Wow, this is a fight over me, actually.

'It's about me, but it's fun!'

It felt like someone else's business.

'If it's unnecessary things... could it be something like what the tyrant brother said to me before? Saying to abandon Altsbeit and become an imperial?'

It's not in Charlize's memories. But perhaps Roxidian might have tested the waters a few times.

And Grandfather might have known that too?

"Ha, affection. Is that the affection that led you, Duke, to engage my sister to such a worm-like guy?"

At the tyrant brother's continued words, I forgot my amusement and stared at him in surprise.

Calling my fiance a worm. No one else would say that but you. I looked at him with that expression.

'...Honestly, I don't like him either, but he's not a worm...'

Roxidian frowned, apparently displeased with my gaze.

But he didn't seem inclined to take back his mockery.

"...The Duke of Lemut is someone who knows his place and doesn't act rashly, unlike some others. Moreover, he has solid inner strength, so I believe he is a sufficient match for my granddaughter."

It was said that the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

The words could be interpreted as 'He suits me just fine? I don't care about your opinion.'

Grandfather wanted to go against the tyrant's mood so much that he even praised my fiance, whom he usually cursed for not liking.

"Ha, solid inner strength? Does a man with such solid inner strength sell himself for money and get engaged?"

"Are you insulting my granddaughter's fiance? Even this old man clearly remembers how the Imperial Family swallowed up the achievements the Duke of Lemut, whom you now mock, made when he was twenty."

"I paid him a very good price. Ah, but I clearly remember how the old men barked, wondering if a mere twenty-year-old brat could enter politics."

"..."

Roxidian frowned as if disgusted.

"And you, Duke. Are you proud of pairing your granddaughter, who cherishes him so much, with a man who would leave as soon as he gets money? That affection of yours is quite shallow indeed. Was that truly a good deed as a maternal grandfather?"

The chilling sarcasm continued in his cold voice.

Since he listed facts dispassionately, without much change in pitch, it probably hit even harder.

I was watching with interest, though.

I was a bit more surprised than that.

'Wow, this brother must hate that grandfather much more than Charlize.'

Was he using a tactic of 'using barbarians to control barbarians'? He was bombing that grandfather while shielding me.

I found it satisfying, so it's fine, but.

"...Consider your words carefully."

Grandfather looked pissed but was holding it in.

Well, say what you will, but Roxidian was an emperor with great personal ability, aside from his madness.

And an emperor with outstanding martial prowess.

'He's not someone who can be openly rebelled against.'

But Grandfather isn't the type to let go of someone who has wounded his pride.

He'll probably do something about it later. Some kind of nasty scheme.

I just hope that doesn't splash back on me.

'No, I mean, my plan to maintain a peaceful engagement.'

Grandfather's gaze landed on me, who was watching peacefully.

Before that, the tyrant's large hand grabbed my shoulder.

"Hey, you go ahead."

"Uh? Uh, where?"

"To my carriage. Now."

I was pushed along as the tyrant shoved me.

I was a bit conscious of Grandfather's gaze, but pushed by the angry tyrant brother's eyes and urgency, I ended up walking out of the building.

Grandfather looked extremely displeased, but when the tyrant mentioned the imperial command, he backed off, though he seemed to try to stop me.

Glancing back subtly, I saw Grandfather's back and the tyrant's unusual expression.

'Hmm, surely they won't have a brawl here.'

* * *

"Your visits have been frequent lately."

As soon as Charlize disappeared, a cold expression fell over the Duke of Altsbeit's face.

It was the same for Roxidian.

Rather, his expression became murderous, as if the expression he had worn in front of Charlize was just a joke, causing the knights near the Duke to tense up automatically.

So fierce was the hostility and energy emanating from Roxidian.

"Would you please stop visiting my granddaughter so often?"

Roxidian sneered.

"Why should I?"

"She is not a member of the Imperial Family. She is the daughter of Altsbeit."

Roxidian paused. Not because he was flustered.

Rather, he was inwardly laughing with amusement.

The Duke's beloved granddaughter, Charlize, whom he trusted so deeply. This Duke would soon cast away his cherished granddaughter with his own hands.

He was originally someone who discarded anything without regret if it was unnecessary.

Even his own daughter.

"She is something belonging to Altsbeit, I said."

People hush it up now, but it was famous long ago that the Duke of Altsbeit had practically sold his daughter to the Imperial Family.

To be precise, his mother, the Countess of Altsbeit, had fallen in love with the Emperor, who was out incognito, mistaking him for a commoner.

When the Duke of Altsbeit found out, he flew into a rage, saying she had fallen for something lowly and insignificant.

Later, when he found out the commoner was the Emperor, the Duke's attitude did a 180-degree turn.

"Go to the Emperor."

He offered his own daughter to the Emperor.

Of course, he even had his daughter impose a calculated condition that one of the children they bore would be given to Altsbeit.

Young Charlize probably didn't know, but Roxidian had heard all of this since he was very young, until his ears were sore.

Despite the Duke of Altsbeit's sharp reaction, Roxidian inwardly chuckled.

'Let's see how long you can keep talking like that.'

He was pleased.

He wondered just how big a disaster his younger sister, the Empire's ruined tyrant and villainess, would cause to get kicked out of this family. He was almost looking forward to it.

"Since you have personally driven away my granddaughter, let me ask. What is the purpose of your personal visit to my residence?"

"Do I have to tell you my purpose for visiting?"

I'm the Emperor, do I have to state my purpose?

At Roxidian's crooked retort, the Duke of Altsbeit clamped his mouth shut.

It was a scene that, no matter how you looked at it, didn't seem like a conversation between a maternal grandfather and his grandson.

"Why did you come, I ask."

As if whimsical, Roxidian suddenly erased his scornful smile and smirked.

"We share blood, after all. I came to give her a dress personally made by the Imperial Family, worried she might show up in a shabby dress at the banquet celebrating the Goddess's blessing."

"...Pardon?"

The Duke of Altsbeit's mustache trembled finely.

He barely suppressed his anger and spoke to Roxidian.

"I already, to my granddaughter..."

"Ah, enough. I'm not really curious."

Roxidian chuckled, looked the Duke of Altsbeit up and down, and walked right past him.

"Let's not see each other again. If possible, you avoid me. I can't be bothered."

The old Duke's shoulders shook violently.

Roxidian's footsteps faded away.

Without turning his head, the Duke of Altsbeit called his aide.

"...Immediately, buy everything that is considered the most expensive and finest in the Empire, ornaments, fabrics, clothes, anything, and give them to Charlize!"

"Yes, y-yes! Understood."

The aide, afraid of the Duke of Altsbeit's wrath, bowed his head until it touched the ground.

Originally, the Duke of Altsbeit had come to scold Charlize for her frequent recent outings.

Because he had told her to live quietly after returning from her trip, but she hadn't followed it at all.

But with Roxidian's interference, the Duke of Altsbeit's purpose vanished.

'What, giving a dress to my granddaughter?'

Don't be ridiculous. I won't give up a single hair of my granddaughter.

The Duke of Altsbeit's purpose had completely changed.

He could not lose to the Imperial Family's financial power.

The Duke's pride, torn open by Roxidian's mockery, was not easily soothed.

No, even if he didn't know anything else, when it came to pride in goods, wealth, and money, Altsbeit was second to none.

He was the very owner of that gold, the Duke of Altsbeit!

"Find out who the Imperial Family's designer is. And make sure that even if they pay more, they can't make the same dress as the one given to Charlize again. If anyone disobeys... you may kill them."

"...Yes, I will keep that in mind, Your Excellency."

Meanwhile, Roxidian stopped walking and subtly glanced back at the Duke of Altsbeit at the end of the hallway.

As he expected, his maternal grandfather was completely furious, kicking up a storm.

Just as expected.

'You are nothing but a greedy, annoying pig who only knows money.'

Roxidian smiled contentedly like a well-fed beast.