Chapter 46 - Harvest Festival (9)

Translator: Kimmy

Editor: Sasha_00

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“Uh, Karl is that busy?”

Eva’s eyes widened

But he said he wasn’t! 

Brigitta smiled as she watched Eva panic and shook her hands.

“Well, it should be fine. He chooses to be busy when he doesn’t have to. Something like work addiction.”

“Ah, work addiction? I see, Karl is hardworking.”

“Hardworking. Hm. Yes.”

Hardworking. 

It was just the right word to describe him. 

He was so responsible, faithful, and kind that no one would think he is an emperor. 

A faint smile graced Brigitta’s lips.

She also knew that he preferred books over swords and staying indoors over going outdoors.

He avoided conflict in most situations and even during bloody times in war, he hurt enemies but he tried not to kill anyone unless the Chancellor insisted for him to. 

He was too soft to be an emperor. 

Eva nervously asked. 

“I hope we didn’t invite him when he already has a lot of things to do. He should have said something if he was that busy.”

“Oh, no, no. He’s going to love it. I doubt Karl has ever been to a night market before.”

Surprised, Eva looked up so fast that her glasses slanted. 

She fixed her glasses again and asked.

“Really? Not even once? Even when he lives here?”

“You’ve met Karl, Eva. It’s not easy for him to go out by himself.”

Actually, it’s because he’s the emperor but anyway–

As soon as Eva heard that, her eyes were full of pity.

Ah, what a poor guy!

The night market that opened during the Harvest festival was full of various sorts of entertainment and food. 

Even the high nobles disguised themselves and joined in on the fun. 

But he! Has never been to it! When he lives in the capital! In the palace! 

There are so many things to do and enjoy!

I even wrote about it in my books!

Eva made a sad face like she just found the most pitiful person in the world.

“He shouldn’t do that. He should have some fun. Resting in between work increases efficiency too.”

It came from her experience of procrastinating just before the deadline. 

It was her rule of, the closer the deadline, the better the ideas and quality.

If her editor knew about this, she would scowl. 

Eva placed her hands on her waist and sighed. 

“Bri, let’s show him everything tonight! How pitiful, really. He is working all the time this year and even during the Harvest festival! Does he not even have shifts? He should make full use of his breaks!”

When Eva worked as a maid for the baron, she had to meticulously plan to take a break during the Harvest festival.

She even had to have psychological wars with her closest friends just for a half-day shift! 

That was what a holiday is supposed to mean to a working person. It was like a thing that everyone wanted. 

Now I see why. No wonder he only asked for a handshake when I asked him what he wanted. 

Seems like Karl is naturally naive and an honest, working man.

“Oh my, I don’t think even the emperor his Majesty would be that addicted to work! Don’t you think?”

Brigitta suddenly looked down at the floor. 

Bri?

Eva concernedly approached Brigitta to find out what was going on but Brigitta grabbed a pillow nearby and buried her face on it and trembled. 

“Bri? Are you having a headache? Is your hangover here after all? Should I make you some more honey tea?”

“Pfffhkkt”

“Bri?!!”

Brigitta squeezed the ends of the pillow as she struggled to breathe.

Oh, yes. Even the emperor, his majesty is that addicted to work. He is finally taking a day off for you! For the first time too!

Brigitta didn’t know why this was this funny. 

Eva stood in front of her feeling uneasy while Brigitta stuffed her face and tried to stop her laughter. 

She took a deep breath and lifted her flushed face. Brigitta’s gorgeous smile almost made Eva’s jaw drop. 

“Eva.”

“Y, yes?”

Eva shut her eyes and replied to avoid getting blinded by her dazzling smile.

It was a smile too blinding to face. 

“Don’t you want to plan the perfect day off for a poor, work addict?”

And while the two women planned the most perfect night market trip, there was another type of plan being made in the Chancellor’s residence.

*.·:·.☽✧    ✦    ✧☾.·:·.*

“Are those old men all mad? Do they think we are still in a time period 500 years ago? Kiiidnaaap?”

Karlos’s intimidating aura started filling the room in an overwhelming amount.

He noticed Glenn stepping 10 feet away from him and calmed himself to minimize the intimidating aura.

“According to his grace Duke Gardelli—”

Glenn was still standing 10 feet away from him.

That meant there were still more things for him to talk about that could possibly anger the emperor. 

Knowing that, an obvious frown formed on Karlos’s face. 

Perhaps it was a good thing that he had skipped the morning meeting. If he didn’t, the whole thing would appear as if the emperor was threatening the old ministers.  

Karlos pressed on his temples and tried to divert his thoughts. 

But Glenn would never allow that to happen. 

The Chancellor noticed the emperor was trying to escape reality and hurriedly flipped through the file and continued. 

“They have reported that there are not only Cartulians. Lesans make up the majority followed by Holkans, illegally immigrated Eastern people, and even people from Leonhargue.”

“Leonhargue? How did they disappear? They don’t even have gates there.”

“That would require more investigation. We would need to hire a person that speaks the Leonhargue language beforehand.”

“Ah…. What a troublesome case.”

Glenn shrugged at Karlos who’s brows were now fully furrowed. 

Glenn was thinking that this wasn’t the worst case. Since he was considering the worst-case scenario. 

“Fortunately, there were no casualties in the mine yet. If there were any, it would have been chaotic.”

“If someone did die there would be no Harvest festival or…”

Karlos rubbed his face aggressively. 

The old fossils of the West really messed up this time. 

Mine slaves?

It has been 20 years since slavery has been abolished in the empire. It was even abolished during the reign of the previous emperor because of Duke Aragon’s plea.

But these madmen of the West decided to go for a practice from back in the days and use the gates to commit mass kidnapping to enslave people. 

The emperor felt like he was about to go insane. 

Everything else was manageable but he was concerned about the recent international affairs that would begin not far from now.

Especially when the Western continent Central Union international meeting was soon to occur. 

On top of that, Leonhargue?

It was even located more north from the Siraq principality. 

It was a desert land that had no connection to Lesa in any way but how did they manage to even kidnap people from there?

And why from so many diverse countries?

He couldn’t understand the Western nobles a single bit. He didn’t want to understand how these madmen thought either.

“We must discuss this with the… Foreign affairs department first.”

“Ah, this is not that important but Marquis Villiore fainted this morning. He fell backward so it’s going to take at least a week for him to recover.”

“I expected that…”

It wasn’t a surprise that a man so stressed over his son’s debutante would faint. 

Karlos considered giving Marquis a handkerchief and beat his head repeatedly on the desk. 

“Stop damaging my property and listen to what I have more to say.”

“I didn’t break anything yet!”

“Duke Gardelli his grace brought the crown prince basta–Diiiiego.”

“Did you just ignore me? Anyway, do you still despise the crown prince? He’s just a kid? He’s like 13 years younger than you. I mean, hold on, why did you send Max with him? Are you planning on burying him somewhere?”

Maximilien and Diego, that doesn’t feel so good. 

I hope they don’t really bury Diego. Should I go after them?

Glenn looked at the emperor’s concerned face— even though to other people, it looked like Karlos didn’t move a single muscle— and smiled like the devil. He even shook his head despicably as if the emperor didn’t just ask him what he had actually planned on doing to the crown prince.

“I could never. I just sent him to check up on the Cartulians. Well, he could be a teeeeeeny bit maltreated by the Duke though.”

I knew it, these devils. 

*.·:·.☽✧    ✦    ✧☾.·:·.*

“Hey, you are running too slow~ Ah, I don’t think you’ll make it out alive. Ah, what a shame.”

A voice that resembled the emperor’s resonated in the mine.

Diego clenched his jaw and ran for his life. 

Damn it! That crazy duke! That maniac! That lunatic! That devil that came straight from the deepest hell!

Behind Diego, who was screaming spiteful words about Duke Gardelli in his mind, the mine was collapsing. 

And just before the mine came rumbling down, he barely escaped by a life-risking slide. 

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TL/N: Sorry for the late update~!