I’m in Trouble Because The Emperor Thinks My Time is Limited - Chapter 56

Melaine’s subsequent explanation was shocking. Sionel had been arresting nobles who had committed crimes without any hesitation.

Noble status was inherently special. Unfairly, the law applied to nobles was different from that for commoners. The nobility laws existed more to protect nobles than to punish them. Even if there was strong circumstantial evidence of their crimes, without concrete proof, they could not be arrested or interrogated at will.

Thus, the empire was a place where noble crimes flourished in secret. Of course, since Sionel’s reign, such activities had decreased significantly, but it was impossible to root them out completely. As the vice-captain of the Imperial Guard, I knew that better than anyone.

Yet here he was, Sionel, carrying it out in person.

“Shouldn’t we be preparing for a rebellion right now?”

When I spoke in a very serious tone, Sionel burst into laughter as if he found something amusing.

I glared at him. “Are you seriously insane?! How could you carry out something like this without any consultation? Does the chancellor know? And they didn’t stop you?!”

“Cassius didn’t stop me.”

“They’re all insane! This is driving me mad, really!”

As I pounded my chest in frustration, Sionel grabbed my wrist, saying it would hurt.

“It’s hard enough finding evidence for each one, but if you arbitrarily arrest them, how are you going to handle the aftermath?! The knights will be the ones who suffer!”

I grabbed my hair in despair. I hadn’t expected something like this to happen just because I looked away for a moment. It was clear what the nobles’ reactions would be if they were arrested without evidence. There would be chaos beyond imagination.

Rebellions often started in situations like this. The nobles, who looked out only for their own interests, would never let such a situation slide.

“It’s fine. Except for a few idiots, most are being quiet.”

“They’re all keeping quiet while secretly gathering arms! Planning to replace the emperor!”

Sionel patted my back as if telling me to calm down. His next words were as calm as ever.

“Even Giadel, who covets my position, is being quiet. What courage do the others have to act out?”

“That man is staying still?”

“He has no choice. I have perfect evidence against him; he can’t make a move.”

Evidence? What was he talking about now? I stopped my outburst and waited for Sionel to explain.

He continued patting my back gently. “I just arrested them before time ran out. Afterward, I gathered the evidence and punished them. It made everything quicker. I should’ve done this earlier; it almost feels like a shame it took this long.”

“How did you find the evidence?”

The hand patting my back stopped. When I asked in a dazed voice, Sionel smiled brightly.

“I told you, I know a lot of things.”

His sweet face spoke sinister words in a naive tone.

“I just hesitated. I was scared of the changes. But now I’ve realized: hesitating was foolish.”

Sionel gently took both of my hands. He leaned forward, resting his cheek against the back of my hand. As if telling me not to be angry, his gesture was endearing.

“You care for the weak, so this is fine, isn’t it? And look, they deserve to be gone.”

“Deserve? What are you talking about…?”

“They couldn’t help but harass you.”

“Harass? Are you talking about the marquis?”

“Yes. He was next on the list. If I had known this would happen, I would have dealt with him first.”

Sionel raised his head.

His eyes shone beautifully.

Sometimes, I could feel madness from him. But this time, it was different. He seemed to be merely stating a natural fact, kindly explaining what was obvious from his perspective.

I was at a loss for words, and beside me, Melaine spoke the words I wanted to say.

“Madman.”

Right or wrong, something seemed broken about Sionel at that moment.

“Are you mad at me?”

For the first time, a crack appeared on Sionel’s face when I remained silent.

“Did I do something wrong?”

His smile slowly faded. He looked cold for a moment, but beneath it, there was anxiety and nervousness.

“What do you mean, Duke Giadel is after your position? Do you know something?”

“He wants to be emperor. He always has. He’s very ambitious.”

As I asked something else, Sionel smiled again.

“…You’re saying he’s plotting rebellion. That’s not something to say while smiling.”

“It’s not an issue now. And I can’t deal with him just yet; there’s not enough evidence. We need to wait a bit longer.”

Once again, I was speechless. I had no idea what to do with this person anymore. Was he always like this?

“You don’t have to worry about anything, Lindel.”

“How could I not worry? You just said someone is after your position.”

“That’s not very important.”

His response was resolute. Not only that, but his eyes, unwavering, were solely focused on me.

“What’s important to me is you. Nothing else matters.”

At that moment, Melaine’s voice, intruding without any sense of timing, reached my ears.

“If I were you, I’d run away. This guy’s really strange.”

Unable to agree or disagree, I smiled awkwardly.

Sionel was strange.

***

Even if my mind was in turmoil, time moved without rest.

Unlike the quiet empress’s palace, things outside were still in chaos like a storm. The arrested nobles were swept away like the ebb tide, and the imperial palace—no, the entire empire—seemed shrouded in silence.

People enjoyed the screams of the guilty but were careful with their words and actions lest they offend the emperor.

Amidst this tense atmosphere, someone dear to me finally returned.

Schrein Empester had found the Black Priest and returned to the imperial palace at last.

“Lindel!”

From afar, I saw a weary-looking man running towards me. I, too, could not hide my joy and ran towards him.

Strong arms enveloped me like a father embracing his child. Though he was still unmarried, I couldn’t think of a more fitting description.

“Sorry I’m late. You waited a long time, didn’t you? I’m so sorry.

His voice, asking if I had been very sick, was full of concern.

The faces behind Schrein, visible over his shoulder, also held nothing but affection. They were all people who had endured a long journey for my sake.

Perhaps my life hadn’t been so meaningless; the vivid affection they showed warmed a part of my heart.

“I’m sorry for the trouble I caused.”

“No, why would you say that? Don’t speak like that.”

As we were sharing our touching reunion, Sionel approached us.

Sionel hurried us, saying it was time for the priest to get to work, and his face, usually composed, looked anxious.

With the emperor’s words, the touching reunion ended, and everyone swallowed their tension. From their perspective, I was now facing the most important moment of my life.

Only I remained calm in the tense atmosphere.

‘Finally, this ridiculous misunderstanding will end.’

I walked between Sionel and Schrein, thinking absentmindedly. Behind me, Melaine also followed, his face also stiff.

If I were to say there was nothing wrong amidst such tension, it would certainly be awkward. When the time came, I decided to shamelessly brazen it out. After all, I had never lied about being fine.

The misunderstanding was theirs, so the awkwardness was theirs to bear.

As we walked, I looked up at Sionel, and our eyes met immediately.

“What is it?”

Without answering, Sionel took my hand.

A cold hand.

It felt even colder, as if his body temperature had dropped even further. He gripped my hand tightly, as if he would never let go or to reassure me.

“It’ll be alright, I’ll be fine.”

Just as I reassured him while holding his hand in return, we arrived at the place where the black priest was waiting.

I heard that the priest was waiting for me in a small temple within the imperial palace.

The first thing I noticed was the entirely white figure.

‘How unexpected.’

Long, flowing white hair swayed around her waist, and her robe, along with the delicate dress she wore beneath it, was also pure white.

I had vaguely imagined that the “black priest” would be dressed entirely in black, but the person before me was nothing but white.

While I was silently surprised, the priest turned around.

A short gasp escaped my lips.

“You’ve arrived. I’ve been waiting and waiting to meet you.”

Her melodic voice, as beautiful as a song, combined with her delicate beauty to make the priest appear even more mysterious.

The fair-skinned beauty smiled at me, and the bright smile made the already radiant temple seem even more dazzling.

“My name is Hasina. The first servant of Lute greets the noble ones.”

I couldn’t help but be astonished by the introduction that she was the first servant. In the temple, the first in rank was essentially equivalent to a high priest.

“Is everything prepared?” asked Sionel in a stern voice.

Judging by the dozens of candles lit in the temple, today’s matter was not a mere medical examination.

At each corner stood captains of the Imperial Guard like gatekeepers, and upon making eye contact, they all silently bowed.

After greeting them, the priests who had accompanied us entered the temple one by one. Each seemed to have a specific role, as they knelt in designated spots.

The solemn atmosphere overwhelmed me. It was then that Hasina, the black priest, spoke, “I heard many stories on my way here. Love, respect, sacrifice. Not a single one of them was unimpressive.”

I slowly approached her, and Hasina opened her arms to welcome me.

“Sacrificing oneself for others is a most beautiful act. I prayed that today I could offer you gentle salvation.”

With gestures that felt almost holy, Hasina exuded a different air compared to other priests.

As we neared, Hasina placed her hand over my chest. Though the sudden touch startled me, I gradually relaxed, feeling warmth spread through my skin.

“Do not be afraid. Death is kind to all.”

Hasina closed her eyes. A gentle breeze began to blow around her, and the candles throughout the shrine flickered. A faint glow burst forth from her hand, which was placed over my heart.

Then something amazing happened.

“This is…!”

Cracks began to form on the temple’s walls. The priests and some of the people present started to become agitated. However, Sionel, Schrein, and the captains showed no change in their expressions, waiting only for the result.

Seeing everyone’s reactions, I felt increasingly anxious.

What was this overwhelming presence!

I began to worry whether I could face the truth that would soon be revealed with composure.

Amidst the people’s unease, Hasina leaned her face close to mine. Her lips curved into a soft smile.

“So close…”

“You hid the truth.”

She spoke in a small voice that only I could hear.

I was reflected in her glass-like eyes.

For a moment, the wind stopped. As her beautifully flowing hair settled, all the lights that illuminated the shrine were extinguished.

In the darkness, a small voice whispered to me.

“You made a contract with the dragon, didn’t you?”

My heart sank with a thud.