I Became the Master of the Empress

50 – Episode 50

Seeing the two people making eye contact, I feel joy in my heart and continue.

“Okay. “What is your name?”

The waiter responds to my words by scratching his cheek with his finger.

“Uh… My name is Lucius. But what about talent?”

I nod and say to Lucius, who can’t understand the situation.

“Okay. Lucius, you are a talented person of this empire.”

First of all, a man who will save me from this difficult situation and who will likely become a key player in discovering talent for the empire in the future.

Looking at the blank expressions on Theodora and Lucius’ faces, I hastily express my thoughts.

If Theodora finds fault, it may become difficult to deal with it later.

You can’t give yourself time to think. I have to hold on to this atmosphere and express my opinion.

“You said you were a third year student at the empire’s proud academy, right? In addition, didn’t you express your opinion a little while ago that you were anxious about the current situation because your power was weak, and that King Ioannes would try to swallow up the empire?”

Lucius, who caught a glimpse of me and Theodora at my words, closed his eyes tightly and spoke.

“That… I was foolish and made a mistake.”

I shake my head and say those words.

“No. “That is an accurate point.”

If my power were actually strong, Ioanes would have stayed still.

Ioanes did not dare to raise his teeth against the late emperor, who had great power.

He is an extremely realistic person.

That is, considering the current situation. Since the leader of the imperial faction is stronger than the leader of the anti-emperor faction, which was all ruined, and because he has the support of the most nobles in the empire, he can attempt to usurp the empire.

Theodora opens her eyes wide in surprise, as if she didn’t know I would say this.

It’s like I’m talking about something I said a while ago.

You probably think he had the same thoughts as me, right?

“If I or Theodora had as much support and power as the late Emperor, Ioanes would never have thought of showing his teeth. But we are not like that.”

“Debian…”

Ignoring Theodora’s words, who looked saddened by my words, I continue.

“Just as you said, the empire will definitely be engulfed in civil war.”

In fact, I have no intention of keeping the secret promise that I and Ioanes made.

A civil war will probably break out from here.

If you hand over Joey, Ioanes will definitely try to usurp the empire.

And personally, I feel very sorry for her cute and lovely sister-in-law for marrying Ioannes’ son, who is much older than her.

“I salute your insight and skill in predicting that. So, aren’t you interested in working at the Grand Duke’s Office?”

Lucius looks puzzled at my words.

“Uh… Me? “I’m just a third-year student at the academy?”

I nod my head at those words.

Even if you are only a third year student at the academy, you can be considered competent.

Of course, it would be better if you graduate and have a degree, but since talented people with advanced education are rare here, there are quite a few cases where people get jobs at large companies in their second or third year.

“Even though you are a student, aren’t you a high-class talent in your own right? “As long as you agree, I will appoint you as my assistant by my own authority.”

Lucius rolled his eyes at my words, lost in thought, and then turned to Theodora and asked a question.

“But Your Majesty, what are those hand gestures?”

“Huh? What hand gesture?”

At Lucius’s puzzled words, I turned my head and looked at Theodora. She says with a slightly pitiful look on her face as she plays it off.

“My… What kind of hand gesture did I make?”

“Didn’t you clearly frown and make a gesture of scratching your neck with the blade of your hand?”

I don’t know what it is, but it doesn’t seem to fit the conversation, so I’ll speak for Theodora.

“Hmm… I guess Theodora played a trick on her. Anyway, what do you think? “He is paid a handsome salary, and since he is my assistant, he must have a lot of authority and power.”

Of course, you will have to work overtime every day.

I speak calmly, trying to hide my joy at having rescued a new slave…

“Can I discuss this with my family and then answer?”

I nod and say those words.

“Of course it is possible. “Take your time and think.”

As I say that, I take out a fountain pen and a small notebook from my pocket and write a temporary invitation to enter the study room.

-Jiik!

“Here, take it.”

When I handed over the torn invitation, Lucius spoke with a puzzled expression.

“Is this…?”

“It’s an invitation to the Grand Duke. If you present this, the guards will not stop you when you enter the imperial palace and the Grand Duchy.”

I say this while looking at Lucius, who looks deeply moved by my words.

“Then, let’s finish eating now.”

***

-Clatter…

A carriage heading to the imperial palace.

There is silence inside.

“But how did you find out about it?”

-Finch.

Theodora’s shoulders, who were looking out the window, twitch at my words.

“That’s…”

As we wait calmly for her, unable to speak, she soon begins to speak.

“I was followed. “I sneak out of the palace in two weeks.”

As I look at her back, I am lost in thought.

In her original work, she had a strong obsession with her own possessions.

Therefore, when she entered the warrior’s harem on her own, it gave readers a refreshing shock.

The scene where the haughty and obsessive princess goes crazy for revenge and gives her body to the hero who created her harem was a bit erotic.

“Whew… I see.”

After my words, no words are exchanged between us.

“But… You… Did you really stay out all night because of that man?”

I gently turn her head and see her staring into my eyes, nodding her head.

“Yes. However?”

Actually, I just stay out, eat delicious food in Roman, listen to the music of bards, and go see performances.

Then, I met an academy student by chance and found out that it was more useful than I thought, so I just came up with a temporary solution.

But if I tell it like it is, Theodora will be angry for being dealt with today, so she has to hide it as much as possible.

“Chi… Lie.”

But Theodora shakes her head and says,

“I am not a fool. A moment ago, that man clearly saw you for the first time. And if you just listen to the conversation a little while ago, anyone will know that it was the first time you two saw each other today.”

Oops… I didn’t pay attention to that part because I thought I had to escape the situation somehow.

“That… That…”

Theodora shakes her head and says at my words.

“I don’t know why she’s leaving the palace, but at least I know it’s not because of another woman. “Maybe she’s going out because she wants to look around the outside of the imperial palace like Joey, right?”

Joy has been rumored for a long time that she likes to go out of the palace.

I smile bitterly at those words.

She said, “I thought she got over it just fine.”

When I think about it now, it’s so clumsy.

“That’s why I didn’t question you earlier because you had respect, but I vaguely understand.”

I nod my head and say those words.

“That’s right. “I felt frustrated because I was working so hard inside the imperial palace, so I went out to the night market every time it was open to hide away.”

Why lie when you’re caught anyway?

Then Theodora gently blushes her head and opens her mouth and then closes it again.

Do you want to say something?

I look at her as she hesitates for something and wait for her to speak.

“Then next time, I’ll go with you.”

“What?”

Her unexpected words.

“Next time we go out, let’s go together.”

I nod my head at those words.

“Then.”

It would be more fun to go out together than to go out alone anyway. I think she might be frustrated with having to stay in the imperial palace under the pretext of being her bodyguard.

As I spoke with that thought in mind, Theodora smiled brightly.

A dazzlingly beautiful smile.

“Did you promise?”

I nod my head at those words.

“Okay, how about going out together? “Should we take Joy with us at this point?”

-Party!

Theodora seems to be offended by something I said, raising her eyes and hitting my chest.

“You call that a horse?”

“Huh? “Wouldn’t Joey want to go too?”

She said she used to go around Roman often. I think you will like it.

Guardian… Well… Wouldn’t it work out somehow if he disguised himself?

When I think like that. Theodora says with her sigh.

“You usually seem like a genius, but at times like this, you look like a complete idiot.”

I am puzzled by that statement, so I ask.

“Huh? What is it?”

Theodora turns her head and speaks in annoyance at my words.

“Hmph, that’s it.”

I smile softly when I see her looking upset for something.

It’s kinda… Cute.

But what Lucius said flashes through my mind.

-Didn’t you make a gesture of frowning and scratching your neck with the blade of your hand?

“Oh, right, but what did Lucius say earlier? “What are the gestures?”

At my words, Theodora looks at me with her salty eyes.

“Do you want to ask that at this timing?”

I speak with a shy smile at her slightly sharp words.

“No… Just? “You’re curious, right?”

“That’s it. “I did it because I felt sorry for an innocent student who didn’t know anything about you and was trying to go to hell on his own feet.”

I say that with a chuckle.

“Kk…Kk what is that?”

Theodora shakes her head and says at my words.

“But are you really going to hire that person?”

I say that with a smile.

“Of course. And if there are talented students in the academy, they will be recruited. “At this point, it might be a good idea to start a scholarship project later when you have some free time.”

For students in difficult circumstances, there is nothing more precious than a scholarship.

I think that if we give out a lot of scholarships, it will appeal to poor but capable students and make it easier for them to get hired in the future.

hehehe… If you can get so many slaves for the empire, scholarships are cheap.

Theodora’s face turns slightly pale at my words.

“You… Are truly the devil…”

***

After finishing work, Lucius lays down on his bed.

“Ha… Archduke…”

Lucius gently stands up, spreads his arms, and smiles brightly.

“hehehe… It’s a job, a job!”

After graduating from the Academy, others take the mid-level civil service exam to become a mid-level civil servant, but Lucius feels proud that the Archduke himself offered him an aide position.

“hehehe… If I tell my family tomorrow, they’ll be surprised, right?”

If I had to name the most powerful place in the empire right now, I would say the Grand Duke.

So, Lucius stands up and looks at the invitation he left on the desk, lost in thought.

-That talented person is a waiter in this room and a third year student at the academy. Hmm… But what is your name?

-Yes. Lucius, you are a talented person of this empire.

Lucius is drunk with thoughts.

He was moved by the words of the Grand Duke, who looked at him and told him that he was a talented person.

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Lucius is thrilled, thinking that he has met a master who recognizes him.

“hehehe… As expected, I was a talented person.”

Lucius was deeply moved by the archduke’s firm eyes and words.

‘Should I go right away tomorrow? No, if you want to raise my price, it’s right to take time.’

He told the Archduke that he would think about it, but Lucius had no intention of turning down this offer.

Working at the Ministry of Education is a top-level civil servant with a huge salary and authority.

Furthermore, he is not an ordinary employee, but an aide to the Archduke.

A smile appears on Lucius’ face as he realizes that this is probably a position that can project enormous influence over the empire.

Lucius, who has been using technical terminology to manipulate him, ponders what he should do if he receives a large salary from the archduke.

‘If things go well this time, I’ll buy a house and marry a girl from a prestigious family…’

Lucius is already envisioning a rosy future.

At that moment, I remembered the emperor a moment ago with a contemplative look on his face, slightly raising his hand and waving it next to his neck…

‘Well, is there anything wrong?’

And a month later, Lucius is said to have shed tears and regretted having accepted the archduke’s offer.