I’m in Trouble Because The Emperor Thinks My Time is Limited - Chapter 63

“So, this was all part of the mission?”

“Of course. Did you really think I was plotting treason with that guy?”

Alita grumbled, telling me to speak sense. Fortunately, what I had witnessed was not real. The reason Alita had disguised himself for an infiltration mission was because he was, in fact, on an actual mission.

Investigating Lexus Giadel.

Under Sionel’s orders, Alita was working as a double agent.

“Honestly, it’s absurd. Do you think I’d consider something like that unless I had a death wish? Especially against His Majesty?”

The look of disbelief was unbearable. But I couldn’t argue against it. Even I wouldn’t dream of rebelling against Sionel. It would be no different from putting my neck on the chopping block.

“If it were anyone else, maybe. But doing something that foolish against His Majesty? Only idiots would dare.”

“…Right.”

“But how could you misunderstand me? After all this time watching me, how could you think that?!”

Alita’s eyes drooped, genuinely looking hurt. I quickly changed the subject.

“I didn’t know. But suddenly you’re a double agent?”

It meant that Sionel already knew about Lexus’s potential treason, which was why Alita had been assigned to him. Normally, Sionel would have already dealt with Lexus.

Sionel was the type of person who always showed results in inexplicable ways, using methods no one could understand. But the fact that he was merely keeping Lexus in check was incomprehensible.

“They say there are people helping Giadel. His Majesty’s target is actually them.”

“…Other than the aristocratic faction?”

“Yes. It doesn’t seem to be the empire’s nobles, though.”

“So, Giadel has allied himself with a foreign power?”

“It’s still just a suspicion, but right now, it’s the most likely scenario. That’s why His Majesty gave me these orders.”

There was an unknown force aiding Lexus Giadel. That was what Sionel was wary of.

According to Alita, Schrein was also aware of this. Since returning to the palace, Schrein had been unusually absent, and now I understood why—he had been busy.

But if this was true, it made things even stranger.

“Giadel is keeping his mouth shut about it, so we haven’t figured anything out yet.”

“Then how did Sionel know?”

“I have no idea. Since when did we understand His Majesty’s deep intentions?”

We exchanged bitter looks.

‘How does he always know such things?’

The mere thought of Sionel’s presence became even more intimidating.

While I was lost in thought, I noticed Alita’s gaze sharpen once again. I’d hoped to let things slide, but Alita held grudges longer than I’d expected.

“In the middle of all this, you doubted me.”

“…I said I’m sorry.”

“You were the one accused of treason first, deputy captain.”

“What?”

I stared at Alita, confused, and he snorted. “Word is out. They say you were caught gathering 127 private soldiers.”

“Wait, where did that specific number even come from?”

“I don’t know. It’s just something the guys were gossiping about.”

I grabbed my head, feeling a headache coming on. I had momentarily forgotten where I was headed amidst the sudden situation, but the extra rumor I heard made my blood pressure spike.

“You really didn’t know?”

“Know what?”

“That I was on a mission.”

“Did you forget that I was suspended? I haven’t heard anything related to any missions.”

“Then why did you so openly follow me?”

What on earth was he talking about now? I raised an eyebrow at Alita.

Alita, for his part, looked at me with equal confusion.

“You openly followed me like you were announcing your presence. I thought you were making sure I was doing my job properly, so I pushed Giadel even harder.”

I’d thought it strange that he was provoking Lexus excessively. It seemed he had done it for my sake.

But, sorry to say, I had never done such a thing.

“…I was trying to follow you in secret.”

“Come on, you were so obvious.”

Despite all my efforts to stay hidden, Alita had instantly picked up on my presence. As the former deputy captain of the imperial guard, stealth was supposed to be my specialty. Being accused of being so obvious stung my pride.

‘Maybe I’ve been out of practice for too long.’

Still, there was no way I could admit that to Alita. I had to protect my dignity as the former deputy captain!

“Well, you see…”

“No way…”

Alita’s eyes turned sharp.

“Did you openly follow me to kill me as punishment for my supposed treason? Wow, that’s terrifying!”

He widened the distance between us, rubbing his arm as if chilled. His exaggerated reaction was ridiculous.

“Regardless, that’s too much! We have history together, don’t we?”

“……”

I debated between my wounded pride and my immediate irritation.

“Hey, where are you going?”

“To see Sionel.”

In the end, I chose to stand up. Now that I knew what I’d seen wasn’t betrayal, it was time to extinguish my pressing concerns. I also planned to ask about this situation while I was at it.

After crouching for just a short while, my legs were already numb. Between being spotted so easily and my declining stamina, it seemed I’d indeed been resting too much lately.

“I’m leaving.”

I turned to leave without hesitation, but Alita suddenly grabbed me with urgency.

“Deputy Captain.”

The flippant demeanor was gone, replaced by an uncharacteristically serious tone.

“What is it?”

“I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“…How much do you trust His Majesty?”

He ignored my response and instead threw a strange question at me. I frowned slightly, and he twisted his lips into a grin. It was a habit of Alita’s when talking seriously.

“His Majesty is a frightening person.”

I turned back to face Alita. His eyes held a serious intensity as he looked at me.

“What’s this all about now?”

There had to be a reason for him to bring this up.

Among the captains, Alita’s behavior was the most carefree, but he was also the smartest. If Alita was bringing this up, it wasn’t without cause.

“As a ruler, His Majesty is flawless. But sometimes, he frightens me. Sometimes.”

Alita took a deep breath, looking around cautiously. Despite knowing there was no one else around, he whispered carefully.

“Sometimes, I think His Majesty might not be human.”

His expression was blank as he watched my reaction. I stared back, lost in thought.

Sionel Ulysses Woodburgh. My beloved emperor.

At such a young age, he had secured the most powerful reign in history.

I wasn’t sure what Sionel had been up to lately, but from the look in Alita’s eyes, I could tell something had happened.

“Always be careful around His Majesty.”

“……”

“I feel uneasy whenever I see the two of you together.”

How should I respond to that?

Looking down, I saw crushed grass beneath my feet. Its broken shape somehow reminded me of Sionel.

Alita was warning me. To be wary of Sionel. I had no idea what he had seen to make him say this.

With a stiff expression, I called his name, but Alita’s demeanor suddenly changed.

“Alita, I—”

“And that concludes today’s piece of advice!”

“…What?”

My tension broke down in sheer bewilderment.

“What do you mean, ‘that’s it’?”

“Three minutes of serious talk a day is more than enough! My advice ends here. Now, go on your way.”

“…Are you kidding me right now?”

Even as I glared daggers at him, Alita giggled like a young boy.

“This lunatic…”

I meant to think it, but it came out aloud. And I didn’t regret it at all. This guy was truly out of his mind.

My theory that there wasn’t a single sane person among the titled individuals in the imperial palace only gained more support today.

“Don’t be too angry. I meant what I said.”

“And I mean this—you are not sane.”

“Not at all?”

Despite his disguised appearance, Alita Uwen’s characteristic sly grin was unmistakable.

“Anyway, the warning about being careful around His Majesty wasn’t a joke. Something feels off lately.”

“Thanks for the advice, really. But what can I do now? There’s too much at stake for me to pull back.”

I gritted my teeth as I spoke, and Alita laughed carelessly again.

“Oh well! In that case, I wish you luck!”

Maybe the reason I was always exhausted was because I had subordinates like him. Of the four captains, Cryan was the only one remotely normal.

I silently vowed to make sure Alita was part of my bleak future. I wasn’t going down alone.

“I feel like I lost years of my life just now because of your supposed serious talk.”

“Don’t say that. There’d be a line of people out for my blood if something happened to you.”

“I wish.”

“I’m not kidding. If His Majesty finds out, well—”

Suddenly, Alita stopped mid-sentence.

“Deputy Captain?”

“What is it?”

He called out to me, but then fell silent. I turned to see his inexplicable expression. His face, usually filled with mischief, was now struck with shock.

But this time, I wasn’t falling for it.

“What’s this act about now? What are you trying to say?”

“N-no, it’s just… your… your nose—”

Alita stammered, mumbling something, but I didn’t catch it. Instead, I noticed something strange.

“What’s with you? Why are you shaking?”

“I’m not shaking!”

Then who was shaking him?

When I asked, puzzled by Alita swaying side to side, he yelled in a distressed voice. But then, Alita’s figure blurred, like an afterimage.

“Huh?”

Just as I realized something was wrong, an unfamiliar sensation hit just under my nose.

I wiped my upper lip with the back of my hand, and it came away stained with red. It was a familiar sight, but one I hadn’t experienced in a long time.

“A nosebleed?”

I stared blankly, then felt Alita urgently grab me.

It wasn’t him who was swaying—it was me.

With his panicked shouting fading in the background, I felt my consciousness slip away.

It had been a long time since I’d last fainted.