I Didn't Want to Become the Emperor of This World

Chapter 158

Deureuk—.

Olivia put the perfume she was about to spray back into the drawer under the mirror.

Then, she opened the door.

Outside the room was Elly, who had interrupted—or rather, stopped her.

“What is it? I’m still working.”

“Ah… I’m sorry, unni. I just wanted to consult you about something—”

“I said I’m working. ‘Head Maid-nim’.”

Elly remembered that Olivia had told her not to call her familiarly during work hours.

So, she was about to formally change her address to ‘Olivia-nim,’ but there was something a little strange.

‘She sounds colder than usual for some reason…? And she’s wearing makeup, which she doesn’t usually do.’

“Yes, Olivia-nim. I apologize.”

“It’s fine. The reason you came?”

Olivia opened the door a little wider and let Elly into the room.

Since Elly also held the rather high position of Head Maid, she couldn’t have a conversation with her standing outside the room.

Elly sat on the sofa opposite Olivia and said hesitantly.

“Well… I came because I’m worried about His Majesty.”

“You’re worried about His Majesty? …Could it be that His Majesty is unwell?”

Leonardo's health was an important issue for Olivia as well, no, to be precise, it was the most important issue for Olivia.

As such, Olivia's voice couldn't help but tremble slightly.

“No, that’s not it. It’s just… the war is about to start, right? From what His Majesty has said, it will be in full swing in about half a year.”

“Yes.”

“I’m worried that His Majesty might get hurt in that war. I’ve heard the knights say that although His Majesty is a great knight, no one knows what might happen in a war…”

So that was it.

‘Should I call her naive, or pathetic. To worry about the King after taking someone else’s words at face value.’

—Though Olivia thought so, she herself had been worried just 5 minutes ago that Leonardo might die on the battlefield.

She had even used that as a pretext to try to satisfy her own selfish desires.

‘…I’m the same. In fact, I’m worse. I tried to soothe my desires with it, instead of purely worrying about His Majesty like Elly.’

“So, what did you want to consult me about? You didn’t just come to say you’re worried about His Majesty, did you.”

“Ah, yes. Well… I don’t know whether I should tell His Majesty about such worries or not. That it’s dangerous for the King to go to the battlefield himself, so how about leaving it to the other knights and waiting in a safe place… something like that.”

“Is that all that is on your mind, Head Maid-nim? That you wish for His Majesty not to go to war because you’re worried—is that it?”

“…”

Elly couldn't speak.

Because that wasn't all that was on her mind.

‘Of course. Because Elly, like me…’

“As you may know, Head Maid-nim, I also have feelings for His Majesty. Just like you.”

“…Yes.”

“To consult me about such a thing, to borrow a childish expression, is ‘seeking help from a rival in love.’ Do you think I would help you?”

Olivia's voice grew even colder. That was understandable, as it felt as if Elly was ignoring her.

It felt as if she was being regarded as if to say—you are not a hindrance in the slightest in winning the King's heart.

‘Is she foolishly pure, or just clueless. Or is she actually very skilled in scheming.’

While Olivia was thinking such thoughts.

As if to give an answer, Elly replied to Olivia with a pure yet sheepish smile.

“Hehe… even so.”

“…”

“Olivia-unni, you’re much smarter than me. To the point where even His Majesty is always impressed. That’s why I asked. I thought maybe you would know what His Majesty wants from me… so.”

“D-Did His Majesty say that? That I’m competent?”

“Yes. Every time he looked at Olivia-unni’s reports, he was impressed. He doesn’t smile often, but he did then.”

The man she admired called her competent.

To Olivia, that touched her heart more than any other compliment. At a compliment that might have been nothing special, Olivia's heart melted frighteningly fast.

Hmm—.

Clearing her throat, Olivia, who barely maintained her expression, replied to Elly.

“You said you were debating whether to tell His Majesty you’re worried or not, right? You can’t say it because you’re afraid it will be a burden to His Majesty.”

“Yeees…”

“Be honest.”

“Pardon?”

“I said, be honest. Purely about what's on your mind, Head Maid-nim. That’s probably what His Majesty wants. For someone whose mind is already complicated with various matters, a person who speaks as foolishly and purely as you will be more helpful.”

At Olivia's words, Elly's expression brightened.

Conversely, Olivia's expression, the one who had said it, grew cold.

‘…Right, it would be better for Elly to be by his side than a woman like me who makes all sorts of calculations. My place is right here. A competent official who alleviates His Majesty's worries, just that.’

It was a gloomy thought, but Olivia concluded it that way. Deciding it was a reasonable thought.

But to that Olivia, Elly spoke again with a bright smile.

“I wish you would come to His Majesty's side more often, unni.”

“…Pardon?”

“I think it would be better for a smart person like you, unni, to help His Majesty by his side, rather than a fool like me who knows nothing. Then you could take care of things in advance before His Majesty even has to worry about them.”

She was already doing that. Checking Leonardo's intentions was just something Olivia shouldn't handle on her own.

To not even know that as the Head Maid, she was truly a fool.

But anyway, at Elly's words, Olivia's heart lightened again.

‘Geez… she’s an impossible girl to hate.’

“Even if you don't say it, Head Maid, I am already helping His Majesty like that, and I will continue to serve him in that way. If you have nothing more to say, please leave. I am still on duty.”

Afraid that if she talked more with Elly, she might say something nice to her rival in love.

Out of such a trivial concern, Olivia deliberately spoke coldly to Elly.

If someone else had heard it, Olivia's tone might have sounded rather rude, perhaps even insulting.

But Elly was different. She was a master at reading a person's atmosphere. That was also an important ability of a Head Maid.

Elly smiled slightly, gave Olivia a silent bow, and headed for the door. Before leaving, she said one thing to Olivia.

“Still, I’ll try my best to refrain from telling His Majesty that I’m worried. I want to be someone who relieves His Majesty's burdens, like you, unni. Not someone who adds to them.”

Click—.

Elly closed the door and left.

For a moment, Olivia looked at where Elly had been and let out a hollow laugh.

“I can't beat her.”

‘Perhaps a pure woman like Elly is more suitable for His Majesty than a scheming woman like me…’

***

There is a saying, 'Time flies like an arrow.'

It's a saying I've felt keenly since coming to this world.

‘Today is finally the day we march out.’

According to Peralta's plan, the war in earnest will begin in two weeks. But the departure is today. We have to march out in advance and take our positions on the battlefield.

As an aside, twenty of the 42 Gryphon Knight Order members were sent to the southern fortress of the Monster Mountains.

So now, only twenty-two members of the Gryphon Knight Order remain in the royal capital.

‘I didn’t send any to the northern fortress because the elves have their own gryphons there.’

According to Peralta's report, the northern part of the Monster Mountains is guarded by the elves, so there shouldn't be much difficulty in defending it.

He said it's because elven magic, especially Elvandor's magic, is specialized for defending small fortresses.

‘I heard an explanation about that magic, but I didn't quite understand it. He said they can defend the fortress with tree vines.’

The giants in the southern part of the Monster Mountains are said to be specialized in sieges rather than defense.

The giants' strength is their overwhelming physical power that comes from their large bodies, which is more advantageous for sieges than for defense.

‘That's why I sent Jereuth and some of the Gryphon Knight Order to the south. Along with Chomsky's Madan.’

The number of Madans sent to the southern fortress of the Monster Mountains was 6,000.

Exactly half of the amount produced so far.

The other half of the Madans will be used for the defense of the royal capital. In the… surely intense defensive battle that will take place after luring the monster army into the traps of the Ness Plains.

Hoo—.

‘Just thinking about it makes me nervous.’

Through arduous training so far, I had become skilled enough to be acknowledged by Jereuth.

But in reality, I had virtually no actual combat experience. The only time I had personally cut down a monster was a long time ago, when I killed an orc in the ‘Minotaur's Dungeon.’

‘Still… let's fight with dignity. With confidence. I won't die in this war.’

That's right. I won't die. So I have to fight with all my might, more than any other knight or soldier.

Also, I must not leave any knight or soldier behind me. If I do, I will be consumed by trauma. It was written so in the <Future Diary>.

‘To fight on the battlefield without sparing myself more than anyone else… and to be the last one remaining on the battlefield. That is what I must do. The role of bait is secondary.’

Finishing my thoughts.

I looked at myself in the mirror.

It had been a really long time since I had been fully armored like this, with my helmet tucked under my arm.

I looked quite the part. On the outside, I looked like a man without any fear.

And in the remaining part of the mirror, I could see Elly watching me from behind.

‘She looks like she has something to say, but she’s silent.’

Elly, looking at me with a complex and subtle gaze.

For a long time, she had been moving her lips as if to say something, but when our eyes met, she would look away.

‘It’s about time, I should get going. Everyone must be waiting for me at the training ground.’

I picked up the sword that was leaning against the wall and went to the door.

It was then.

Tak—.

Elly, with her head bowed low, grabbed my arm. Her small hands couldn't properly grasp my thick, armored arm, and I could feel them trembling.

—I'm not actually sure if that's the reason Elly was trembling.—

“…Your Majesty. I wasn't going to say it… but I must.”

Elly barely managed to make a sound.

“Your Majesty. Does… does the King really have to go to the battlefield himself? Wouldn't it be alright if Your Majesty didn't go?”

“…”

“No… I wish you wouldn't go. I wish you would wait on the throne, trusting in your loyal knights and brave soldiers.”

Ah, so this is what she wanted to say, why she was watching me like that earlier.

“Elly. Are you worried I’ll die?”

“…”

“Are you worried?”

“…Yes, I am worried. That Your Majesty will fall in battle.”

I see.

‘Worry.’

Before I came to this world, I hadn't been worried about by someone very often. My parents passed away early, and I didn't have much contact with my relatives.

But in this world, I received such feelings a lot.

The knights and soldiers were worried about me overdoing it.

The officials at first feared me like a monster, but from a certain point, they began to respect and care for me.

Though there were still quite a few officials who were just afraid of me.

‘The people of the kingdom worried about me too.’

Although I hadn't heard their words directly, I had ears, so I heard the rumors.

That the people of the kingdom were worried. That if the King died in the war, or disappeared for some reason, this kingdom would go back to the way it was—that kind of worry.

‘Above all, Elly always truly worried about me. Whether I had eaten, whether I was sleeping properly, whether I had gotten hurt during training.’

I had always thought I was grateful to Elly for that.

I was also grateful that whenever I said 「“Thank you.”」 in a passing tone, she would take it to heart and be happy.

So this time, I intend to properly express my gratitude.

I won't die in this war anyway, but still.

“Thank you. For worrying about me.”

“…Then?!”

Elly's eyes widened and she looked up at me. At some point, I had grown much taller than Elly, so now I was looking down at her.

Elly seemed to think that I had changed my mind about not going to the battlefield.

“But Elly, I can't stay in the royal castle and wait for the results safely and comfortably. I've already promised everyone. That I would fight alongside the soldiers not as a king, but as a single soldier.”

“…”

“Besides, if we lose this war, this kingdom is finished. I am finished too. So for my own sake, I have to go to this war and fight with all my might.”

I had said pretty much all I had to say.

I placed my hand on Elly's head and lightly stroked it. I don't know if it's okay to stroke an adult woman's head… but Elly always felt like a much younger sister to me.

Puk—.

Elly bowed her head again. I passed by her and headed for the door.

I grabbed the doorknob and pulled it down—.

“…Your Majesty.”

I heard Elly's voice, gritting her teeth and holding back tears.

“If so, please just make sure you don't die.”

“…”

“Because there are so many people who look only to you… who hope only in you, Your Majesty. There have been many until now, and there will be even more in the future.”

This was also a very grateful thing to say.

So before I left, I turned only my head to look at Elly, smiled brightly, and said.

“Don't worry, I will never die.”

Because— Chapters fırst released on novel✦fire.net

“I am the King of this kingdom.”

***

Seeing the King emerge from the room.

Hagen and Yoanna, who were supposed to escort the King to the training ground, bowed their heads. They were both wearing helmets, so their faces could not be seen.

“Your Majesty.”

“Your Majesty.”

The two greeted almost simultaneously.

Leonardo passed them and said.

“Let's go.”

The cape symbolizing the King flapped vigorously.

As if without a hint of hesitation, in step with the King's footsteps.