I’m in Trouble Because The Emperor Thinks My Time is Limited - Chapter 72

“How exactly are you handling things?!”

With a sharp crash, the teacup shattered, and fragments scattered across the floor.

One of the shards grazed a delicate cheek, leaving a mark, but no one paid it any attention. The injured party, too, smiled with languid, cat-like eyes. Mikel sneered at the person venting their anger in front of him.

Naturally, that sneer only agitated Lexus further.

“You’re laughing? You’re laughing when you know the state of things right now?!”

“Calm down. There are still plenty of opportunities.”

“Opportunities? Half of the noble faction has been wiped out because of this! And you’re still talking about opportunities?”

Lexus’s rage had a single cause.

Sionel Ulysses Woodburgh. He had just realized that he had been played like a pawn in the emperor’s hands without even knowing it.

“Ricador has been discovered.”

It started a week ago.

Baron Ricador, who had been recruiting private soldiers for rebellion, was exposed, and the factions aiding him, including those of Huche and Fridella, were uprooted.

Those left behind attempted to cut their losses to survive, but that, too, proved futile.

The very next day, the emperor’s right hand, the chancellor, launched an assault on the western territories.

The justification? Tax evasion.

But that was merely a pretext.

Under the guise of a tax investigation, Cassius Areta overturned Morvan and eventually uncovered a hidden underground sanctuary.

That sanctuary had been a secret haven where those previously captured by the emperor had been smuggled and hidden away.

But somehow, the emperor knew and discovered that location as well.

“We’ve been deceived. The emperor let them escape on purpose, just to find this sanctuary.”

The emperor had already known everything and had been simply waiting.

“A pitiful last stand.”

During the last imperial council, the emperor had passed by Lexus and uttered those words.

Hearing that nearly drove Lexus mad.

The emperor had known everything from the start, even his intentions.

“Damn it!”

-Thud!

Unable to contain his rage, he slammed his fist on the table, his hand trembling.

Watching him, Mikel’s jade-green eyes reflected boredom, though he skillfully masked it.

“I will become emperor.”

Greed stained his frenzied face. His expression resembled a ravenous beast more than a ruler.

A fool, ignorant of his limits, stuffing himself until he burst.

Mikel hid his laughter behind a fan.

How foolish.

“Mikel Cerveyra.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“The plan has changed. Kill Lindel Bodebachne first.”

Closing his fan, Mikel tilted his head.

He had expected Lexus to target the emperor directly, but an unexpected name came up first.

“I want to see the despair on that bastard’s face. Bring me her head first.”

Lexus smoothed his disheveled hair as he spoke, his venomous gaze urging Mikel to respond.

Mikel nodded. “As you wish.”

“I can’t wait to see his expression when I throw her head at his feet.”

Lexus’s twisted smile was malicious.

Mikel relished moments like this. The blind cruelty of fools gave him a thrill.

“Don’t forget the ancestral pact. Giadel has already paid the price, so you must grant my wish.”

“I understand.”

“You should leave now, my lord.”

Right on cue, Lexus’s subordinate entered the room, opening the door.

The subordinate’s lack of reaction to the chaotic state of the room suggested he was accustomed to such scenes. Mikel, too, glanced at him, offering a delicate smile in return for the greeting nod.

The subordinate’s face turned red at Mikel’s overwhelming beauty, far surpassing human standards.

“Take care.”

It was amusing to see someone fail to recognize the true wolf in front of them, chasing an unattainable tree instead.

Once Lexus left, Mikel surveyed the wrecked room without much interest.

Though alone, he spoke as if addressing someone.

“We should hurry. He’s already getting restless, so we need to deal with this before it becomes more troublesome.”

“That’s why I told you to hurry.”

The reply came from the bookshelf. It should have been strange to hear a voice in an empty room, but Mikel looked toward a specific spot without surprise.

A doll with vivid yellow eyes that seemed alive was perched there.

“But the palace barrier was stronger than we expected. That was troublesome.”

Despite his words, Mikel smiled slyly, as if amused.

As if expecting a reply, he tilted his head and grinned.

“Fine, I’ll go.”

The voice came from the doll atop the bookshelf.

The doll’s creaking head turned, its bright yellow eyes staring directly at Mikel.

“I’m counting on you, Muros.”

“You’re always so evasive.”

Mikel covered his smiling lips with his fan at the gentle chiding.

“Weren’t you waiting for me to ask?”

The doll’s gleaming yellow eyes flashed once more, then lost their light.

Its head drooped.

Simultaneously, in a distant, eerie room, a woman with the same voice as the doll whispered.

“…Yes, I’ve been waiting. For those words.”

The woman smiled beautifully, yet the scent of death lingered around her.

***

I didn’t need to seek out Laroche.

In the dead of night, while everyone else slept, she came to me.

“What if Sionel had been here? I told you I’d come to you.”

Laroche stood on the terrace, illuminated by the faint glow of the moon, silently watching me.

As though the terrace’s edge were an impassable boundary, she couldn’t bring herself closer.

I spoke playfully, as if teasing her.

“Leaving your friend behind to come all the way here? You missed me that much?”

“Why are you trying to forgive me?”

Her question came simultaneously.

Her face, devoid of expression, was steadier than when I had seen her in the prison. There was no warmth in her gaze anymore.

“I never said I forgave you.”

I hadn’t forgiven Laroche. I simply hadn’t been angry.

“How could I forgive you? Just thinking about the red powder you gave me makes me shudder even in my sleep.”

I shook my head as though imagining it made me sick. Laroche’s expressionless face faltered. Her pale face contorted slightly, and I smiled.

“Now you’re finally acting like yourself.”

“I can’t understand you.”

“When did you ever understand me? You’ve always said I was the strangest person you’ve ever met.”

Oh, I shouldn’t call myself a person anymore, should I?

At my muttered words, Laroche bit her lip.

“Aren’t you afraid of dying?”

Emotion finally seeped into her dry tone. However, her chosen topic wasn’t pleasant for me.

“Your heart stopping wasn’t because of the contract. It’s because your condition is getting worse.”

So it was true. I’d suspected as much since I’d first heard about the curse.

I had thought lying in a near-death state might have been a way to save me, but that wasn’t realistic.

“If I had told you that when we first met, maybe things wouldn’t have come to this.”

I hesitated briefly.

“We could have started treatment earlier. The progression of the curse might have slowed.”

“So?”

“Even though I knew about your curse when we made the contract, I kept quiet. I didn’t want you to neglect unsealing my power. That was all I cared about.”

“Stop talking in circles. If you have something to say, say it. What do you want?”

I wiped the playful expression from my face.

My voice came out cold.

“Once the seal is broken, I’ll give you my reverse scale.”[1]

The sudden statement made me frown. Despite my reaction, Laroche continued.

“The reverse scale is a dragon’s greatest weakness. Normally, it’s only given to their partner as a promise never to betray them. I’ll give mine to you.”

“What are you trying to promise by giving me that?”

“After I’ve finished my revenge, I’ll give you my heart.”

I felt my blood run cold. Her offer didn’t sound emotional at all.

“What are you saying?”

“Eat my heart.”

“…Are you insane?”

The harsh words escaped me before I could stop them.

I hoped it was a bad joke, but Laroche’s face was utterly serious.

“If a half-blood like you eats my heart, you can become a true dragon. The curse placed by human sorcerers only affects ‘humans’ with dragon blood. If you become a full dragon, the curse will naturally disappear.”

“……”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t give you my heart immediately after breaking the seal. I have to take revenge on those who sealed me. But I promise, after that, I’ll give you my heart.”

Her pale face, filled with resolve, faced me.

I held my breath, overwhelmed by the feeling that I might do something reckless if I didn’t.

“You want me to eat your heart….”

Laroche hurriedly added, as if sensing my reaction. “Don’t forget. I lied to you. I betrayed you.”

“Is this why you came here alone, leaving your friend behind? Because he would stop you?”

Her gaze wavered. My guess seemed accurate as she hesitated before pleading.

“…Don’t tell Tumel anything. He’ll surely oppose it.”

“Of course, he would. He cares for you too much to agree to this madness.”

Laroche flinched at my cold words. Her eyes quivered as they met mine.

I stepped onto the terrace where she stood. Though she hesitated, I continued.

“I wondered what you’ve been thinking so hard about. And this is it? Dying in my place? This is the solution you’ve found?”

“There’s no other way. I’ve heard the humans’ words. Even the priests of Lute couldn’t heal you. Not even Estelle could. The only way left is—!”

I grabbed Laroche by the collar and pulled her toward me, cutting her off.

Looking straight into her trembling pink eyes, I spat out each word with simmering anger.

“Cut the nonsense. I’m not eating your heart, no matter what.”

“My only reason for living is revenge. Once I’ve finished that, it doesn’t matter what happens to me. Don’t concern yourself with it.”

“So, you’ll die after your revenge? Then why bother with revenge at all?”

Laroche’s gaze shifted.

Though her eyes glared fiercely, I tightened my grip and didn’t back down.

“Tell me. Why seek revenge if you’re going to die anyway?”

“I’ll tear them apart. I’ll kill them in the most painful, cruel way possible. That’s the only reason I’ve survived this long.”

Laroche grabbed my wrist as I held her collar, answering firmly.

Her wavering gaze steadied.

She spoke with unmistakable conviction, her eyes filled with pure hatred.

“I swear on my reverse scale. Once my revenge is complete, I’ll give you my heart. Then you can live.”

Her words, filled with hope, left me feeling nothing but deep despair.

[1] 역린 (逆鱗) literally means the “reverse scale” and refers to a specific part of a dragon in mythology. According to Chinese and Korean folklore, the reverse scale is a single scale on a dragon’s throat that grows in the opposite direction of the others. Touching this scale would enrage the dragon, as it is considered extremely sensitive and a source of its wrath.