“Harkan… you bastard…!”
A sound like a beast's growl burst from Kirian's mouth. In that instant, the physical space of the study warped.
Kuuuuu—!
From the Emperor's whole body, dark-blue mana surged up as if exploding. That mana had already crossed the line of what a human could handle. At the same time, that mana became a keen sword-energy and stretched out in all directions.
Clang—! Clang!
The sound of invisible blades slashing through the air could be heard. The study's magically treated glass windows screamed and cracked like spiderwebs, and the sturdy desk was sliced apart like tofu the instant the mana's pulse touched it.
“Y-Your Majesty…”
Kael, who'd followed in, sucked in a breath and stepped back. His skin stung. He felt fear at confronting a murderous intent that seemed it would slice even the dust drifting in the air.
It couldn't be explained with the word "anger."
“Die.”
Kirian slowly shifted his steps. With each step he took, the marble floor cracked open and scattered into powder. It wasn't physical weight but the pressure of existence itself crushing the space.
“The price for threatening my Empress and driving him into that state isn't enough even with your life.”
Vmmm—
Kirian stretched his right hand into the air. Then the mana in the atmosphere was forcibly dragged in and condensed in his grip. From the pulse alone radiating from the blade, the surrounding objects were being pushed away.
“…!”
He was called the Beast of the North, but in this moment Harkan couldn't move a single finger. The overwhelming mana paralyzed his whole body, and the keenness of the sword-energy aimed at his neck planted an instinctive fear.
Is this… Your Majesty's true power?
A future in which his neck was separated from his torso was vividly drawn out. Resist? This was not something he could oppose.
“Make your excuses when you get to hell.”
The mana sword in Kirian's hand was brought slashing down without mercy. A rending sound, as if space itself were tearing, rang out.
Swish—!!
“…Wai—t.”
It was then. Luan's hand, hanging limp in Kirian's arms, rose with effort and gripped Kirian's robe tight.
“St… op.”
A faint voice mixed with irritation. What stopped the Emperor was only that voice and a small gesture of the hand.
Halt.
Just before reaching Harkan's neck, the sword stopped as if by a lie. From the shallow cut it had made, a single drop of red blood trickled down. Had it been a moment later, Harkan's neck would have been rolling on the floor.
“Empress?”
Without withdrawing the sword, but withdrawing the murderous intent, Kirian looked down at Luan in his arms. Luan forced his blurry eyes open and glared at Kirian. A face gone pale. But those pale-violet eyes alone still held clear reason—no, reluctance.
“Don't… kill him.”
“What? You're shielding that man now? He's the one who threatened you!”
“No. He didn't threaten me… his voice was just loud…”
Luan breathed raggedly and grimaced. The mana Kirian was radiating seemed to make his head ring even more.
“Sir Harkan… is innocent. The ones who embezzled are the men beneath him, and the Commander just… has a stupidly loud voice, that's all.” “To carry murderous intent and shout before the Empress is high treason!”
“…Give him a chance.”
Luan clutched his dizzy head and pointed a finger at Harkan.
“What's the point of killing him? It's a bother to clean up the corpse. Keep him alive and make him clean up his own crap before he goes.”
It was the doctrine of one worn down by work. When the guy who caused the mess quits, the people left behind suffer. Keeping him alive to clean up was the truly proper reeducation and efficient personnel management.
“Sir Harkan. Can you hear me?”
“…Your Majesty.”
Harkan raised his head with trembling eyes. Before the absolute being who'd tried to kill him, the Empress—even while dying, or so it appeared—was defending him and opening a path to live.
“Go, round up the ones who embezzled, and accept the cut. And the lost money… fill it back in, even if you have to empty your own private funds.”
“Your Majesty…!”
“That's your job. In place of your life… I'll take the results later. So please, just go. Because the noise.”
At Luan's words, Harkan bit his lip and planted his forehead on the floor.
Thud.
A heavy reverberation filled the study. Harkan's shoulders trembled faintly.
“…I'll engrave it in my heart. Until the day my life ends, I'll become Your Majesty the Empress's dog and repay this kindness.”
There was no clamor. But that weighty oath was heavier than any cry. As of today, the Beast of the North was dead. From now on he would become the Empress's dog.
Of course, it wasn't what Luan had wanted.
“…Ha.”
Kirian was so dumbfounded that no words came out. Dispersing the mana sword in his grip, he heaved a sigh.
On the verge of collapse and he works in the middle of it? What in the world is inside this person's head?
“Call the royal physician at once! What are you standing there blankly for!”
Kirian shouted toward Kael. Kael, startled, went to run for the door.
“Don't call him!!”
Luan shouted with all his strength. Because of it, dizziness washed over him again and his body swayed.
“Ugh…”
“Damn it! You can't even stand! Call him right now, I said!”
“I said no…”
Luan tugged at Kirian's sleeve. If the royal physician comes now, it'll be a problem. Explaining my constitution… is a bother.
“This isn't an illness.”
“What?”
“It's anemia. I'm just… dizzy because I'm hungry.”
“…”
For a moment, silence flowed through the study.
The gazes of the three men fixed on Luan's pale face. A forehead damp with cold sweat, faintly trembling hands, lips without a trace of blood.
“Are you mocking me right now?”
Kirian's voice trembled.
“By anyone's measure you're a critical patient, and you say it's because you're hungry. Do you think that makes sense?”
“I have a bit of low blood sugar to begin with. I've been working since morning on an empty stomach, and Sir Harkan's voice startled me, so my sugar just dropped, that's all.”
Luan met his eyes brazenly. It was an absurd lie. A forced setup that even a third-rate novelist wouldn't write. But Luan's gaze was so very earnest. It held a powerful will of just believe me already, because I'm tired.
“If I rest a bit and eat something sweet, I'll be fine. So don't make a fuss.”
Kirian was lost for words. He was so dumbfounded he couldn't even get angry.
But the expression of Kael, watching the sight, wasn't simply that of surprise. In his head, the memory from the greenhouse two days ago was replaying.
Her Majesty the Empress, spilling dark crimson blood. And the sight of him wiping the corner of his mouth as if nothing had happened.
Kael clenched his fist. His nails dug into his flesh.
It's not because he's hungry. His body is wrecked beyond repair, so he can't get food down. His organs are damaged to the point of vomiting blood, and if he forces food down, there'll be another incident… so he's starved himself. And yet, for fear Your Majesty might worry, he covers it up as mere hunger…!
The corners of Kael's eyes reddened. It wasn't simple emotion but the wretched self-reproach of a knight who hadn't been able to protect.
Harkan, too, couldn't lift his head.
Her Majesty the Empress, for fear I might feel guilt, is shielding that grave shock as mere hunger.
“…Your Majesty.”
Kael bowed his head with a trembling voice.
“I'll… prepare it at once. The softest, and most nourishing things you can eat, only those…”
His throat choked and he couldn't continue. Luan looked at them with a blank expression.
…What's everybody thinking, as a group?
The misunderstanding had ballooned out of control, but he hadn't even the energy to bother explaining. Luan slumped and leaned against Kirian again.
“…I'm dizzy. Move me to the bed, please. And candy… some candy…”
“…Ha.”
Kirian heaved a deep sigh and scooped Luan up. A princess carry. A familiar posture.
“Harkan.”
Kirian commanded, looking down coldly.
“It's the Empress's order. Go back at once and round up the rats inside the knights' order. And until you bring me those results, don't even think of treading on the Empress's shadow.”
“I'll engrave it in my heart! I'll accomplish it on my life and honor!”
Harkan answered so forcefully the floor rang.
“Kael, clear the way.”
“Yes! Your Majesty!”
Kael swiftly and crisply opened the door and cleared the attendants from the corridor. His gaze was downright grim.
Kirian carried Luan and strode down the corridor. The light weight held in his arms stabbed at his chest.
I know it's a lie. That it wasn't simple hunger, that the body had reached its limit. But right now he couldn't break that stubbornness.
“…Foolish thing.”
Kirian whispered low.
“If I say I'm hungry, then I'm hungry.”
Luan buried his face in Kirian's chest and mumbled.
“…Right. Let's say you're hungry.”
Kirian smiled bitterly and held him tighter. He simply vowed. Whatever the agony the man was trying to hide, he'd mobilize everything in the imperial palace and cure it without fail.
And… for now, he'd have to feed him the most expensive, most delicious thing in the world.
“…But, Your Majesty. I'm getting motion sick. Please go a bit slower.”
“Endure it. We're almost there.”
The whole way, Kael watched the retreating backs of the two bickering with a sad yet resolute gaze.
