My Childhood Friends Are Trying To Kill Me

***

“What did you just say?”

“What? I called you honey.”

“Why?” Griffith asked, and Kalix shrugged and replied.

“It’s the first husband’s privilege. Do you have any complaints?”

Romeo sighed openly as he saw the two arguing. He thought it would be better to just leave it. In the meantime, Lelia looked nervous as if she couldn’t hear anything. She couldn’t think of anything else because she was afraid that Emperor Perseus and her mother would run into each other.

“Lelia, don’t worry too much.” Romeo wrapped his arm around her shoulder and patted her gently. Lelia bit her lips and nodded.

***

Superion Castle was full of tension.

The emperor and his knights rushed in out of nowhere, and there was a strange atmosphere. Duke Superion did not want to allow him into the castle, but there was nothing he could do. No matter if he was a lord of the land, Perseus was an emperor. He had no right to refuse.

In addition, he was in more of a predicament since he was asked to treat their injured knights. Some of the injured indicated their condition was not serious, but their wounds were urgent. He asked if there was a battle on the way, but the knights did not answer.

Main Hall…

The expressions of both Emperor Perseus and the Duke of Superion were dark.

‘How long has it been since we reunited…?’

The duke was disheartened. Officially, it was the first time since Emperor Perseus’ returned. To be honest, Duke Superion hated him. He thought Perseus was an incompetent man who couldn’t protect his daughter.

“You don’t look well.”

However, seeing his always handsome face appear shaded and haggard, his compassion rose without realizing it. However, it did not mean that he wanted to send his daughter back who had returned alive. That can never happen.

“…”

Duke Superion hid the tension by covering his face. Emperor Perseus did not yet know that Elizabeth had returned alive. Fortunately, Elizabeth was currently out with Atias. After hearing the news of Emperor Perseus coming, the Duke sent her straight away.

“Tell Atias not to return to the castle for a few days, but to go to Zenon’s mansion and stay. It must be conveyed. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Duke.”

It was just in case. The Duke hid his anxiety and looked at the haggard emperor.

“I’m glad your face looks good, Duke Superion. I’m glad the duchess is healthy, too.”

“… Yes, Your Majesty. But what brings you here?”

When he brought up the question, the emperor’s expression darkened.

“Lelia…”

“…”

“I heard that the temple is trying to make the child successful. Did you hear that?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“It doesn’t make sense. What do they mean she’s a saint? She’s…”

“…”

Perseus could not easily connect his words. His eyes were blurred with guilt. Just mentioning the child’s name in front of the duke felt like he was committing a great sin.

“I don’t want to force her to stay in the Imperial Castle, but the neutral zone is…”

Perseus muttered without energy. He didn’t want to send her back to the neutral zone. He couldn’t believe they sent Lelia to the place where the dead Lydios forced her to go. Lelia said that her happiest memory was when she lived here. He couldn’t do that to her.

“We can’t let the temple persuade the child.”

“…”

“Did she want this?” Emperor Perseus raised his head and asked. Duke Superion looked bitter. He replied slowly. “Lelia is also worried about that. I’m going to follow all of her decisions.”

“But the priests…”

“No one has the right to stop the child’s decision.”

“…”

“Your Majesty, me included. The same goes for anyone.”

Perseus shut his mouth at the duke’s cold words. His eyes shook. In fact, since the moment he stepped into the Superion Castle, he couldn’t think of anything. It was the place where Elizabeth was born and raised. It was the first place he met her and fell in love at first sight.

“Lelia hasn’t decided yet either, so let’s not worry.”

“…”

At the Duke’s recommendation, Emperor Perseus eventually nodded. But he didn’t want to spend the night in this castle. Recently, his madness comes every night.

After meeting a doctor, the frequency decreased a little and the duration as well, but it did not completely disappear. No one should know that his knights struggle with the emperor’s madness every night.

If he could, he would like to stay here for a few days and retrace his memories with Elizabeth, but he couldn’t. Even if his wife is dead, he can’t wave a knife in front of her father. Emperor Perseus said he would come back tomorrow.

“Why aren’t you staying in the castle?” Duke Superion was visibly surprised and embarrassed by the emperor’s words that he would not stay in the castle.

“… There’s a situation. I’ve got accommodation outside the castle, so you don’t have to worry.”

“But…”

Duke Superion soon nodded at the firm emperor’s attitude. Then, he hurriedly found an aide and gave an order. It was to find out where Atias and Elizabeth were right now. Of course, he expected the emperor to stay in the castle. That’s why he stopped Elizabeth from staying in the castle…

Duke Superion detained the emperor just in case, asking him to eat. In the end, the emperor could not refuse. He decided to drink tea until dinner was ready and waited in the drawing room. Perseus wandered around looking inside the palace.

Lelia, who escaped from the Imperial Castle, would have grown up here. He was curious about what Lelia was like in those days since he didn’t know. Of course, it would have been better if she grew up next to him. Yet, there was nothing that could be reversed even if he regretted it.

***

“Lelia!”

“Uncle.” Returning to the territory, Lelia held her uncle’s hand. How nervous he was. Uncle Karius’ hands were as cold as ice. “Mother… What about her?”

“She is outside with Atias.”

“That’s a relief. What about the emperor?”

“In the drawing room… By the way, are you okay? You don’t look so good.”

Karius swept Lelia’s hair as if worried. Lelia smiled awkwardly.

“I think my uncle’s condition is worse than mine. Are you okay?”

“… There’s nothing I wouldn’t be okay with.”

But her uncle’s complexion seemed as if he could collapse at any moment.

“I’ll go to the drawing room.”

“Are you going to be okay?”

Lelia nodded to reassure her uncle. She had a determined attitude. She had no intention of seeing Emperor Perseus again, but now that this has happened, she couldn’t help it. She was going to speak firmly. Don’t come to this place again. Don’t care whether she is fine or not.

Three people followed Lelia, who was hurrying to the drawing room. Suddenly, Lelia turned her head. Three big men were looking at her. When she saw the three following her, she suddenly felt funny and reassured.

“Lelia, don’t worry. The emperor will stop you from going.” Romeo, who thought she was anxious, firmly said. Griffith still looked very mixed up as if his feelings had not subsided. And Kalix was…

“Hey, you are married now, so your husband is your guardian. The emperor is not your guardian, so you don’t have to worry. I’ll go in together with you and tell him.”

“…”

[When did I get married…?]

Lelia had no strength to refute, so she just turned around. After telling her friends to wait at the door, she knocked and went into the drawing room.

“…”

Emperor Perseus stood by the window and looked at the sky as darkness approached. Lelia walked slowly, and Emperor Perseus belatedly discovered her. His body stiffened as if time had stopped.

“I thought you were in the temple… you weren’t.”

“Why are you here?”

The emperor tried to smile at Lelia’s hard tone.

“… I’m here to persuade Duke Superion so that you can’t be a saint, but I can’t believe I’m meeting you. It’s good luck.”

“…”

Lelia was sick of it. The last conversation they had was still clear. The same would be true of the emperor, but he can shamelessly say it’s good luck.

“Is it up to you whether it’ll be successful?”

“Do I have to answer?”

“I’m asking as an emperor. At least, you are not a part of the neutral zone yet, but a member of my empire.”

… Ha. Lelia sighed while laughing and said, “You don’t deserve to ask whether I’m prosperous or a slave to another country. Are you still having a hard time accepting that?”

“Yes, it’s hard.”

“I’m not curious about your Majesty’s situation. Even if we face each other like this, we only hurt each other. So, again…”

“Do you feel the same way?”

Lelia paused. The emperor’s expression was distorted.

“…”

“Do you get hurt like me?”

“Does it hurt so much that you feel like your heart is tearing?”

Perseus looked thrilled at first glance. He wasn’t annoyed. They don’t have any misunderstanding. Emperor Perseus turned his head to say something.

He seemed to wipe away tears as he turned to the window. Lelia sighed. It was time for her to speak clearly again, but at that moment, the air in the room froze. It was noticeable that Emperor Perseus’ back was stiff.

“…”

What made him suddenly stop? Lelia looked at him with a frown. He didn’t say anything, but the atmosphere abruptly…

It was then. The emperor, who had been standing firm a moment ago, swept right past her and opened the door to the drawing room. Like someone who had discovered something.

“…”

Lelia immediately ran to the window at the thought of the moment. From afar, she saw her mother approaching the building with her aunt.

***