Chapter 10
. That Order, Please Take It Back
Pitch black darkness.
Those who could not confirm each other’s presence gathered in a secret meeting.
—It seems you’ve succeeded in shaking the Emperor’s power. We’ve confirmed that the drug works even on that monster.
As a sinister, metallic voice opened the conversation, another responded.
—But didn’t that cause the Emperor’s match to appear?
Even they didn’t know how many people were present.
Yet another new voice joined in.
—We shouldn’t see it as purely bad news. If we can find and eliminate the Emperor’s match in this opportunity…
A moment of silent delight swept through them.
That monster. The awakened being who had somehow received the impossible SSS-rank.
If only that one person could be eliminated, the Empire would crumble helplessly.
And that was exactly what they sought — their ultimate goal.
—We need to find them first.
—We’ve already planted a rat at the Emperor’s side.
—Using the mages would be best. Wouldn’t it also be useful to plant a seed of doubt in the Emperor’s mind about Duke Ariel?
Fortunately, mages and awakened ones were practically enemies.
Just drop a single clue and they’d tear each other apart like cats and dogs.
A representative among them raised a hand. The noisy voices quickly quieted.
—The one hiding in secret, the Emperor’s match. If we’re to find them, we must use the gates. And luckily, we seem to have a perfect bait that can move both factions.
At that smooth suggestion, every participant in the meeting wore a fleeting, wicked smile.
* * *
Breathe in. Exhale.
Again. Breathe in. Exhale.
“I must not lose control here.”
From what I’d figured out so far, if my mental state wavers, the system interface appears and takes control of my body to protect the character “Hilaria.”
But I couldn’t rely on just that. There was no way I could overcome what was to come with mere willpower.
Still, that face…
“Terrifying. Is that how someone looks at their half-bonded match?”
Reclining in a lavish chair, legs crossed elegantly, the Emperor looked down at me.
His beautiful face aside, the aura emanating from him was sheer terror.
“I want to run away.”
My fear of the Emperor clearly came from the memory of my death.
“I was never a welcome guide, so I’ve endured a lot… but I’ve never been this scared.”
I wiped the cold sweat from my palms and forced my facial muscles to relax, trying to appear calm.
I imagined Hilaria — the woman I’d mimicked endlessly until now.
The woman who didn’t flinch under the Emperor’s gaze.
A mage who remained composed even in front of an SSS-rank esper whose presence could freeze the air.
“I can do this. I must — to survive!”
That was the person I had to play.
“What is it that Your Majesty summoned me for, despite my busy schedule?”
Even my sarcastic tone was perfect, I thought.
Because I could clearly see the Emperor’s eyebrow twitch in annoyance.
He leisurely stroked his chin, scanning me from head to toe.
Each sweep of his gaze made me swallow hard, but I didn’t show it.
That calm exterior — a complete fake.
Right now, he was burning inside.
Half out of his mind, frankly.
“He’s just barely holding it together.”
I had always been a skilled guide, and now I was even upgraded to S-rank.
And that power I had touched and soothed just days ago was now raging inside him, ready to explode.
Begging to be saved. Screaming in pain.
“You play it well, Duke. Do you really not know why I summoned you?”
I marveled internally.
“He’s truly a monster.”
You’d never guess from the outside that he was enduring body-tearing agony.
“Unless Your Majesty blesses me with your noble words, how could I possibly guess your inner thoughts?”
“Am I mistaken? Your words sound more irritating than usual.”
“And Your Majesty’s tone sounds even more clueless than usual.”
Crack. I could feel invisible sparks flying.
Honestly, my knees were shaking, and I was secretly pinching my palm to endure it!
“Something very important happened to me a few days ago. Surely you already know.”
“I said I don’t. Believing the world revolves around Your Majesty? Well, I’d say that’s rather shameful, wouldn’t you?”
“……”
His aura turned even more vicious.
“Am I… doing well?”
Just as I began to feel unsure, the Emperor’s lips twisted ominously.
Those perfectly shaped lips stood out clearly.
And all I could think about was how much they had tormented me a few days ago.
“What the hell am I thinking?”
As I blinked to shake off the thought, the Emperor raised a hand from the armrest and rested it against his chin.
“I almost lost control.”
I know. I know all too well.
“There were traitors who tried to trigger my rampage. They administered that drug. Of course… You have no part in this, do you, Duke?”
My lips trembled.
Yes, it was reasonable to suspect Duke Ariel, a political rival.
But from my perspective — being groped and… guided by that man — this was an incredibly unfair accusation.
“As I said, I have no idea what you mean, Your Majesty. That night, I was, as always, working late, swamped with paperwork.”
“You sent Luia back first, didn’t you?”
The Emperor’s narrowing eyes resembled a predator’s.
“As if you knew something would happen. Is that your foresight, or did you truly know?”
I wanted to crash through the window and disappear.
“Terrifying. Utterly terrifying.”
“Your unstable power—how could I possibly predict if it would go out of control? I don’t know if you’ll believe me, but I had nothing to do with it.”
“Yes, that’s how it should be. But Duke, considering our… hostile relationship, it’s hard to take only your word for it.”
“So what, then?”
No way… he wouldn’t—
I wanted to avoid his piercing gaze.
I truly did.
The more I looked into those eyes, the more vivid the memories of that day became—memories only I retained.
That day, the Emperor said:
“But you don’t seem curious, Duke. About how I survived the rampage.”
“……”
“It’s as if… you already know the answer.”
“Damn this ghost of a man!”
Now my heart was pounding so loudly it could burst.
If it escalated any further, the system would take over again.
“No. It’s fine. He doesn’t know. He has no idea I’m that guide.”
When I had secretly guided him in his madness a few days ago, I discovered something.
The reflection in the mirror.
More precisely, the color of my eyes had changed.
One of the physical descriptions being circulated among the Emperor’s knights included golden eyes.
My usual eye color was red — completely different!
“So this isn’t him testing if I’m the one from that night. If he’s suspicious, it’s in another direction.”
Because I’m a mage.
“My loyal knights are searching for the one who calmed my rampage. And… they’ve found nothing. Do you know what that means, Duke?”
Cold sweat streamed down my face.
The amusement in his curling smile crushed my heart.
“They’re beginning to suspect… that my match might be a mage.”
I nearly cursed aloud.
“If it turns out later that my match is a mage, the head of the mages—namely you—will be accused of hiding them and mocking me.”
This was pressure. No, this was blackmail.
“So before it comes to that, Duke, it would be best if you act first.”
“…Act how?”
I let out a slow breath and met his gaze head-on, even though I wanted to look away.
“What is it that Your Majesty wants from me?”
The Emperor smiled darkly, like a cat toying with a trapped mouse.
“Find them.”
“……”
His good looks made it even more horrifying.
“Find my match, Duke. You, personally. That’s the only way to prove your innocence.”
It felt like my soul left my body.
Just erasing the evidence and running wouldn’t be enough, and now I had to personally deliver my own tail to that monster of a man.
What a load of crap.
