I Stole The Duke - Chapter 95

“It is an honor to greet the Sun of the Empire.”

Olive forced his stiff body to move, extending a hand.

“Hahaha! It is I who should be honored. To meet the Tower Master in my lifetime is a true delight.”

The Emperor clasped Olive’s awkwardly outstretched hand in both of his and laughed heartily. A master opportunist, the Emperor wouldn’t miss a chance to politicize the mystique of the Tower.

“I’ve heard the plague has not spread for two days thanks to the Tower’s efforts. Hahaha! I was genuinely impressed by your swift and decisive response.”

The Emperor’s loud voice made sure the entire hall heard the Tower’s contributions. Of course, it had been his own order to seal off the districts and dispatch mages promptly.

“You are the true heroes of Wespa. Everyone, let us give these heroes the applause they deserve!”

Clap. Clap. Clap.

No sooner had the Emperor finished speaking than applause erupted from every direction.

“……”

The three mages had done all the work, and yet Olive—his hand still trapped in the Emperor’s grip—found himself receiving a round of applause from the nobility.

‘…The Duke?’

Looking around nervously, Olive spotted the Duke and Duchess of Ascher returning from their garden walk, reentering the banquet hall.

“Oh! Is that not Duke Ascher? Come closer.”

The Emperor had also noticed their entrance.

“We greet the Sun of the Empire.”

“We greet the Sun of the Empire.”

Michalis and Eliana stepped forward and bowed to the Emperor.

“……”

Since the Emperor was still holding his hand, Olive found himself standing awkwardly at the Emperor’s side, directly receiving the greetings of the Duke and Duchess.

‘So in the end… I’m just another dog of the Emperor.’

A strange pleasure stirred inside him. Though the Tower Master stood outside the political hierarchy, the Duke—regardless of power—was still beneath the Emperor. That delicious taste of power spread through Olive’s body like lightning.

“I heard the Duchess was attacked by assassins. Were you terribly shaken?”

“I regret having caused concern for the Sun of the Empire.”

“Thanks to Your Majesty’s permission, we were able to wipe out not just the assassins, but those behind them as well. We remain deeply grateful for your mercy and support.”

“Indeed… It was no small feat to uproot an illegal assassin guild within Wespa. The Duke deserves much credit.”

Though the Emperor praised him, his feelings toward Michalis were complicated.

‘A rebellion trial would have served better than a local war. I could’ve taken my time dealing with the Count’s family.’

While it was satisfying to see Count Espensen’s influence broken, the fact that Duke Ascher had gained so much power in the process bothered the Emperor deeply.

‘Damn that woman, Freya. She had to target the Duchess…’

Had it not been for the assassination attempt, the Emperor could’ve charged the Espensen family with treason, seized all their assets, and absorbed them into the imperial treasury. But now, thanks to the sanctioned territorial war, all of Espensen’s vast estates had ended up under House Ascher.

‘At this rate, I’ll have to find a way to keep Duke Ascher in check.’

Having caught his prey, the Emperor’s mindset shifted. The once-useful hunting dog was beginning to look too strong—and perhaps too dangerous.

“Both of you are crucial to the Empire. Have you been properly introduced to each other?”

Only then did the Emperor release Olive’s hand and glance between Michalis and Olive.

“Yes, we have.”

“That’s correct.”

Their short, stiff answers reflected the tension between them.

“Then since we’re all gathered, why don’t we share a drink together?”

“With all due respect, Your Majesty, my wife is feeling unwell. I was planning to leave early.”

Michalis used the devoted husband excuse to decline. He had no intention of sitting at the same table as the mysterious Tower Master.

“I also cannot leave the Tower unattended for long. I was about to return myself.”

Olive, having never drunk alcohol and still fretting about formal etiquette, wanted nothing more than to escape the Emperor’s side as soon as possible.

“Well, now…”

Rejected by both men, the Emperor clicked his tongue and let out an awkward laugh.

“I have been discourteous due to my poor health. I humbly beg the Sun of the Empire for understanding…”

Eliana stepped in to rescue her husband from the awkwardness. She, too, wanted to get away from the Tower Master’s gaze as quickly as possible.

“Ahem. After all you’ve been through, rest is what you need. You may return early.”

“We are ever grateful for Your Majesty’s grace.”

“We are ever grateful for Your Majesty’s grace.”

With the Emperor’s permission, the Duke and Duchess respectfully excused themselves and left.

“……”

‘So… they’re just leaving like that? Haa… When will I see her again?’

Olive stared blankly at Eliana’s back as she walked away.

‘I want her.’

The more he saw her, the more he desired her. There was something irresistibly captivating about that quiet, subtle beauty—not blinding or flashy, but steady and serene. He wanted to hold it in his hands.

‘Yes… I want her.’

If he had no power, it would be impossible. But from the Tower Master’s seat, it didn’t seem so far out of reach.

‘Hmm? What’s this?’

The Emperor happened to glance sideways and caught something unexpected. With all his years of political experience, he didn’t miss the glint of possessiveness lingering in the Tower Master’s eyes.

“Ahem… I thought House Ascher and the Tower had a particularly close alliance. But now, it doesn’t quite look that way. Is something wrong?”

“There’s nothing going on.”

Olive found the Emperor’s overly friendly tone uncomfortable.

‘Ugh, how do I end this conversation and leave?’

“The Ascher family’s current naval strength—wasn’t that thanks to the Tower’s magical support?”

The Emperor subtly offered him a lead.

“……”

And with that hint, Olive remembered something useful—a clue that might allow him to bother that arrogant Duke.

“Ah, you didn’t know because you’ve only recently taken the position?”

The Magic Tower was such a closed-off institution that the only ones who even knew the Tower Master had changed were the Emperor and Duke Ascher.

“That’s right. I’ve only just taken office, and there’s still much to organize… so I should return.”

Olive, catching the hint in the Emperor’s words, quickly seized the opportunity to excuse himself.

‘This isn’t the place to be wasting time.’

He needed to get back to the Tower as soon as possible—and figure out a way to torment the Duke of Ascher.

“As you wish.”

An overly wild hunting dog seemed like it had just been tamed. The Emperor felt satisfied, like he’d wiped his nose without using a hand.

‘Now then… what did the Tower Master even look like again?’

Soon after, both the Tower Master’s face and presence faded from the Emperor’s memory.

Meanwhile…

“Are you heading back? We’ll escort you.”

As Eliana and Michalis neared the banquet hall’s entrance, their escort knights—Cedric, Speaker, and Sir Ista—approached from a distance.

“Sir Roswell Speaker. Have you been drinking?”

Michalis narrowed his eyes as the smell of alcohol wafted strongly from Speaker.

“No, Your Grace. There was… a bit of an incident.”

Though he had managed to dry off after being drenched in champagne, the smell still lingered.

“I see…”

Speaker’s expression was utterly miserable. Michalis refrained from scolding him further, worried that another harsh word might send him straight into the floor.

‘Something happened, didn’t it?’

Eliana tilted her head, looking over the three. Speaker smelled like he’d crawled out of a wine vat, and Cedric looked utterly drained, like an ox dragged back from the slaughterhouse.

“Sir Ista. Tell the knights they’re free to enjoy the banquet, and may return at their leisure.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Michalis gave the order to the one who looked the most composed. This was the final banquet of the social season, and the knights had worked hard. They deserved a moment of rest.

“I’ll go prepare the carriage.”

Just as Speaker stepped away to ready the carriage—

“Your Grace, leaving already?”

A voice called out—Sir Iadis, who had been buried in the crowd all evening, rushed over.

“Sir Iadis, what have you been doing this whole time?”

Eliana’s mouth fell open as she looked at him.

“Yes, my lady. I’ve conducted twelve briefings on the Aquaverus-class hunting ship and three briefings on the process of cannon procurement and repair request submissions.”

“Ha… Sir Iadis.”

Eliana let out a deep sigh. So he’d actually spent the entire evening working.

‘Seriously? He didn’t notice any of those looks?’

The final sparks of interest from noble ladies hoping to find a match this social season were clear as day.

“Hahaha! I get the feeling we’ll be very busy once we return to Flencia.”

Iadis laughed, completely unaware of the piercing stares of noble ladies raining down on his back like arrows.

“Dear…”

Eliana gave Michalis a pleading look.

“Hm?”

“Could you please do something about your adjutant?”

“Well done tonight, Sir Iadis.”

Rather than catching the hint, Michalis tilted his head at her whisper and simply praised the man.

‘That’s not what I meant, you clueless man!’

Eliana had thought he’d improved a bit lately, but it seemed even the Duke lacked a single romantic bone in his body. To her, the Duke and his adjutant were a perfect match in that regard.

“Michal, may I give Sir Iadis an order?”

Unable to watch any longer, Eliana stepped in. At this rate, Iadis would end the year as a bachelor yet again.

“You may.”

“Sir Iadis, from this moment on, you will introduce yourself, then dance—at least ten times. You are not allowed to leave until you’ve completed all ten!”

Wasting that face was an insult to the world.

“…Excuse me?”

Iadis, who had been looking forward to leaving with his lord after finishing work, stared at her, mouth agape like he’d been struck by lightning.

“Well? Get to it.”

“Yes, my lady!”

Caught off guard, Iadis snapped to attention and turned around.

“Ah… Is there anyone who would like a briefing about me?”

“Kyaa!”

“Oh my!”

Led by the noble ladies who preferred a serious and reliable type, the crowd swarmed around him like sheep to a shepherd.

“My name is Iadis Concerto. I’m the eldest son of the Concerto Viscount family, twenty-six years old. I serve in the Southern Navy, in the office of the Deputy Commander—and I am the senior aide to Duke Ascher. Any questions?”

His clear, refined voice and precise pronunciation quickly charmed every lady’s ears.

“You, the young lady with red hair who raised her hand first—you may ask the first question.”

“Um… do you have a lover or fiancée?”

“Currently, I do not.”

“Kyaa! Oh, my goodness!”

The thing they were most curious about had been revealed, and chaos erupted.

“The carriage is ready.”

“Let’s go, Riana.”

“All right.”

Eliana, watching Iadis’s back with satisfaction, turned away without regret. Tomorrow, they would return to Flencia at last. Their time in Wespa had come to an end.

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