My Dream is to Get My Own House - Chapter 121

* * *

The current Emperor made a bold decision.

It was revealed in the <Imperial Chronicle>, directly published from the palace, of all of the former Emperor’s wrongdoings.

[The crime of clandestinely organizing <Red Castle> and causing rebellion within the empire.

The crime of brainwashing young experimental subjects, including Tov, the leader of <Red Castle>, using dark magic.

The crime of killing Delphinium Saboia and Iriña Saboia, successors of the Saboia duchy.

The crime of attempting to kidnap Diana Saboia, a lady of the Saboia family.

When the former Emperor’s crimes were revealed to the world, there were opinions that it damaged the legitimacy of the royal family.

However, the Emperor contributed new writings to the <Imperial Chronicle>.

[Many officials were concerned about the empire’s legitimacy being undermined.

However, it is certainly justified to uproot the rotten roots of the former Emperor.

From now on, the tomb of the former Emperor will be relocated from the royal mausoleum to a sinner’s grave.

Furthermore, the monument that listed the achievements of the former Emperor will be destroyed, and his name will be removed from the records of the royal family.

From now on, the former Emperor will be recorded not as an emperor but as a sinner for generations to come.

Speaking of the misdeeds of the former Emperor is allowed, but uttering his achievements is prohibited.

The unjust laws created by the former Emperor, such as family laws, will be abolished.

According to the <Imperial Chronicle>, the former Emperor had an obsession with appearing as a saint to everyone.

The mistreatment of the Grand Duke of Castilla was due to his belief that the cursed individual would mar his achievements.

Furthermore, the former Emperor was filled with ambition for power and anger towards those who opposed his will.

Hence, he created the <Red Castle> behind the scenes to punish the nobles who attempted to expose his flaws using dark magic.

The foremost target of this was the prestigious Saboia duchy, particularly Duke Saboia.

Especially after kidnapping Lady Diana and imprisoning her, the former Emperor aimed to exploit her abilities to maintain his power.

As the former Emperor’s actions and motivations were laid out one after another, it turned everyone’s perceptions upside down.

However, even more astonishing was the current Emperor’s resolute decisiveness to erase the traces left by the deceased former Emperor and boldly reform the throne.

Yet, the current Emperor was also the son of the former Emperor.

At that moment, some nobles stepped forward with radical claims that the imperial authority should be diminished.

“With so many victims of the <Red Castle> and no justice, should we let the current Emperor, the son of the former Emperor, remain in power?”

“Even the most esteemed Saboia family suffered greatly.”

“Ultimately, isn’t it Lady Diana Saboia, not the current Emperor, who undermined the <Red Castle>? She might be the true pillar of the empire.”

For now, it remained as actions brewing beneath the surface.

However, when subtle movements accumulate, they can become powerful, so they have to be stopped in advance.

The card the Emperor played was straightforward and clear.

It was none other than Diana, the victim of the former Emperor’s actions who had lost her family, and the heroine who had grown to undermine the <Red Castle>.

* * *

I was lounging on the bed of Duke Saboia when a sudden letter arrived from the Emperor.

I folded the letter with a thoughtful expression and spoke to Dylan, who was by my side.

“His Majesty the Emperor has requested that I organize a social gathering with the nobles.”

As he handed me a plate of torn bread and soup, Dylan wore a concerned expression.

“Already a social gathering? You should be resting and recovering.”

“It’s not me who’s covered in cuts and bruises; it’s you, Dylan, who nearly lost an arm and leg.”

“…What does the letter say?”

It was an awkward dodge, but I handed him the letter.

“He’s asked me to organize a social gathering to counteract the corrupt factions trying to influence the former Emperor and the current royal family. There’s even a playful suggestion to crown me as the Emperor.”

“Since you, madam, are the top-ranking hero who defeated the <Red Castle>, if you agree, it could help suppress the corrupt influences significantly. However…”

Dylan hesitated and asked,

“Do you perhaps want to become the Emperor?”

“Emperor? Me? It would be terribly bothersome! No, thank you.”

“I see. That’s a relief. I was thinking about preparing for rebellion… I hesitated a bit.”

“‘No, are you even abandoning family with mixed blood for me?'”

I spoke urgently.

“Of course, I want to assist Your Majesty the Emperor. But before that…”

I hesitated for a moment and then continued speaking.

“…I also want to have a conversation about the Sun Emperor and Dylan’s history.”

“Yes, what kind of conversation do you mean?”

After uttering the word ‘Sun Emperor,’ I observed Dylan’s expression.

Despite mentioning the term ‘Sun Emperor,’ his expression didn’t reveal any emotion.

“Usually, when we experience bad things in our childhood, we don’t want to see them again and want to avoid them.”

“That seems to be the case usually.”

“…Then, is Dylan all right?”

The Sun Emperor left deep scars on many people, including Tov.

However, he had confined and abused Dylan, the Grand Duke Castilla who he thought was his own son and the source of the curse, since childhood.

I can’t know everything, but he must have left hurtful words for sure.

His red eyes stared at me intently.

Before I knew it, he whispered softly.

“I was originally curious about why he abused me.”

“…He wished to become a flawless and perfect existence.”

Dylan replied calmly.

“I see.”

“Is it hurting a lot…?”

“No, it doesn’t matter anymore; that person doesn’t mean anything to me now.”

Is it sincerity, or just empty words to reassure my worries?

In the moment of contemplation, Dylan extended a bowl of soup towards me.

“What’s important to me now is figuring out how to make nutritious meals for my wife. The past isn’t significant.”

…Listening to those words, they seemed genuine.

I hesitated like a mother bird offering food, then cautiously spoke.

“Still, wounds don’t entirely disappear; they leave scars. I’m worried.”

“Then, whenever my scars occasionally show… can’t you just hold me?”

When I looked at him, he lowered his head, seemingly embarrassed.

Those words seemed sincere.

I extended both arms toward him.

“Sure, come here!”

He raised his unskilled hand onto my shoulder and smiled faintly.

“Being by my wife’s side, my life feels complete. And I’m even grateful to the Sun Emperor.”

“Is that so!”

“Because by confining me there, he allowed me to meet my wife.”

Slowly, I withdrew from Dylan’s grip and met his gaze again.

Now, physical affection and even direct confessions of love didn’t feel embarrassing.

But in the face of such sincere emotional confession, I had no defense.

Somehow, I felt embarrassed.

I turned my head, my face reddening.

“Well, then… Now we should start preparing to open the social gathering, right?”

* * *

Lady Diana held her first social event in the capital, attended by a multitude of people.

Seated at the head of the banquet table, Diana raised her glass lightly towards the noble young men and women who filled the long table.

“It seems like I’m meeting many of you for the first time in the salon. Let’s take a light toast before the meal, shall we?”

“Oh, yes!”

“N-nice to meet you for the first time…”

The nobles seated at the table sipped sherry and glanced at Diana.

Diana watched the people with raised eyebrows, and only when everyone had taken a sip did she begin to speak.

“Have you seen the ‘Imperial Chronicles’?”

To throw such a direct question without small talk.

The nobles, who had been anticipating when the topic would be brought up, suddenly brightened.

“It’s surprising that such things happen in the Empire.”

“You must have had a difficult time due to the abdicated Sun Emperor’s actions…”

“It was indeed challenging.”

After a few casual remarks about the former Sun Emperor, one noble from the faction spoke up as if unaware of any subtlety.

“Ah, Lady Diana, you might find meeting His Majesty a bit uncomfortable, I suppose.”

Diana took a sip of wine and replied softly.

“What do you mean?”

Encouraged by her gentle tone, another noble spoke up again.

“It seems that His Majesty the Emperor now regards the former Sun Emperor’s…”

The Grand Duke Castilla openly opposed the former Sun Emperor and brought ruin to the “Red Castle” created by him.

People saw him separately from the former Sun Emperor.

But the current Emperor was different.

He was the beloved firstborn son of the former Sun Emperor and the one who directly inherited the throne from him.

If the legitimacy of the former Sun Emperor were to crumble, the current Emperor would also suffer a blow.

And that moment had arrived.

“The ‘Sun Emperor,’ you say. Isn’t he no longer part of the royal family? He’s in a completely different position from His Majesty the Emperor.”

As Lady Diana drew a firm line, the noble from the faction took a step back with an uneasy expression.

“Oh, no, it’s not that…”

“Listen carefully, everyone. If you challenge the authority of the current Emperor, you’ll encounter quite a few obstacles.”

Just as Diana’s voice rang out clearly, the door to the banquet hall smoothly opened.

As people focused on Diana, the dignified Grand Duke Castilla strode toward the table.

“What conversation were you having?”

He extended his hand towards Lady Diana as if escorting her.

She raised her hand onto his palm and smiled sweetly.

“I simply gave a warning not to challenge the authority of His Majesty the Emperor.”

“……I see.”

The Grand Duke Castilla chuckled coldly.

The nobleman who had casually chatted about the Emperor’s authority flinched.

The dark magic and curses surrounding the Grand Duke Castilla  had been lifted, yet he still remained a fearsome presence.

Diana gazed coldly at the shivering nobleman and spoke up.

“Both the House of Saboia and the House of Castilla pledge allegiance to His Majesty the current Emperor. Let everyone bear this in mind.”

With those words, the situation where individuals sought to undermine the Emperor’s authority by connecting the former and current Emperors could be quelled for the time being.

‘From now on, the Emperor will handle things on his own.’

Ford might be somewhat unreliable, but I trust his ability as an Emperor to handle affairs. There wasn’t much cause for concern.

* * *

After the social event at the salon concluded.

Once again, I found myself confined to the Duke Saboia’s residence.

It was because my grandfather, Duke Saboia, had requested my absolute rest.

“My child, you absolutely need to rest.”

“But I’m perfectly healthy.”

“Unfortunately, the doctor said your body is quite weak.”

“…Did grandfather insist on saying that?”

“Haha, no, my child! This old man is an honorable sorcerer who doesn’t understand coercion!”

“…Well, let’s assume that’s the case. So, when can I get out of bed?”

And right at that moment.

Suddenly, Mung Mungi, who was beside me, raised her face and exclaimed.

“Grandfather was really worried! He thought there might be a baby!”

“There’s no baby. The doctor said there’s no such thing as a phantom pregnancy.”

The terrified Duke Saboia covered his mouth and looked tormented.

“Honestly, I was so tormented by just the imagination that I almost felt nauseous.”

No, not even a phantom pregnancy, but imagining someone else’s pregnancy and making up nonsense.

‘…Is this grandfather for real?’

I decided to stop thinking about it.

“Don’t worry.”

“That’s right, my child. Pregnancy is a risky matter. Just imagining our baby being unwell makes my heart ache…”

Dylan chimed in from the side.

“Same here. It truly is distressing.”

“Exactly! Isn’t that right?”

“Yes.”

Duke Saboia and Dylan exchanged glances and nodded at each other.

I looked at the two with an intrigued expression and squinted my eyes.

“Oh? It seems like you two have gotten closer?”