Black-Haired Dad Isn’t Something You Reap - Chapter 261

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Epilogue
Side Story 7. The Life of a Seasoned Scoundrel—Attempting It as an Ordinary Person Will End Badly (3)
“The Underworld’s master’s name is… Jacob! That’s right, it was Jacob!”
“What excuse are you planning to use to summon him? Are you throwing a welcome party?”
“No. From what I can tell, that’s exactly the kind of thing he’d hate most.”
I wrote on fine-quality paper that I wished to meet Jacob and had something to request of him, then added that we would welcome him at any time. And finally—
“I’ll tell him I’ll visit every day if he doesn’t come.”
“That’s certainly something he’d despise.”
Hearing Father, who had known the Underworld’s master far longer than I had, affirm this gave me confidence. With this approach, even Jacob, who burrowed beneath the mantle and lived underground, could be drawn out.
“Then Aunt, cast a luck-enhancement spell on it, and Shirley, make an envelope that can withstand three thousand meters underground.”
“Now you’re asking me to do everything under the sun.”
“Is that all my role is? I just cast a spell and make my exit, Pisha?!”
If she felt wronged, she could hold a festival on the stage of Aunt’s palace. I instructed the Jailers to lock Aunt back in the Prison Palace and began preparing for my business trip to Media.
Since I was making the effort to visit Croa first, I intended to do everything possible along the way—parades, welcoming festivals, whatever I could manage.

✦ ✦ ✦
I boarded the airship with the Imperial Chamberlain. The man beside me, unaware of his own future, fed me grapes while saying “Here you are.” Of course, I accepted them delightfully and even praised the man.
Because, after all, he was Kisomalos.
“The grapes taste even better when you feed them to me.”
“Haha, Your Majesty is quite something.”
You have such delicate, beautiful hands. Even though attendants are said to do the rough work, it’s not as though a chamberlain keeps his hands completely dry.
I wonder what intention lay behind sending him. That Marquis Ismenios—that old man is truly inscrutable. When I took the chamberlain’s hand and caressed it gently, he became extremely conscious of the surroundings and tried to pull his hand away from me.
“Your Majesty, if you do this in public, I’ll be embarrassed.”
“What? We’re just holding hands?”
“Wouldn’t it be better to do such things when we’re alone?”
“Ah… yes, well.”
There won’t be a time when we’re alone together anymore anyway. Since he disliked it, I agreed to stop and pulled on an eye mask to take a short nap.
As an Emperor, sleep is never enough, no matter how much I rest.
“Your Majesty, please wake up. Your Majesty.”
“Hmm?”
Have we already arrived in Media? These passenger ships are fast these days—almost like military vessels. Usually, when old military airships are sold off, civilians refurbish and use them.
“Yawn… where’s Croa?”
As I yawned and asked whether my consort had come to greet me, the chamberlain looked apologetic and bowed his head deeply.
“It seems he did not come to greet you. He’s waiting at the Royal Palace, I’m told.”
“Ah, yes. That makes sense.”
After our quarrel, it would look strange if he came to meet me. I said it was fine and descended from the airship, but the chamberlain followed me and said something odd.
“Croa is being too much. He shouldn’t treat Your Majesty with such coldness.”
“What can I do? I was in the wrong.”
“Your Majesty is far too kind. This is troubling.”
Isn’t kindness a good thing? Why is it troubling? And why are you linking your arm with mine? I do like it, though…
“You said holding hands was forbidden, yet you’re linking arms?”
“My apologies. Was I being too forward?”
“Walking with an escort looks better than going alone.”
The moment I permitted the arm-linking, the Imperial Chamberlain beamed with delight, breaking into a broad smile. How amusing—the fellow is rather innocent. Watching him like this, it seems he was merely being used by Ismenios. Should I speak to Croa and request leniency for him? He truly appears to know nothing of what transpired.
Contemplating how to conduct myself henceforth, I participated in the parade alongside the Imperial Chamberlain and made appearances at the city’s festivities. After completing the day’s schedule and heading toward the main gate of the Media Royal Palace, Count German came rushing from a different direction as though to strike my back.
“Good heavens! Your Majesty, Emperor of the neighboring realm! You scoundrel!”
“How dare you!”
You old fool! Regardless of whatever dalliance you’re having with Madam Listo, there are words one does and does not speak to me!
I was about to threaten that though this is another’s land, I could drag him back to my homeland for execution if I so wished, when the robust-faced elder hurled an evening newspaper at me.
“You wretch! I let it slide out of consideration for the Chief Attendant Grandmother, yet you grow more insolent by the day?!”
“I shall accept punishment gladly—please just look at the front page!”
A newspaper? Why? What could possibly— I’ve only been in Media for three hours. Surely there’s no article about me yet.
With that thought, I unfolded the paper, and to my astonishment, my face and the Imperial Chamberlain’s face were plastered across the front page in enormous letters.
“…?”
Emperor Kisomalos and King of Media Show Signs of Estrangement? Yet the Alliance Between Both Nations Remains Steadfast
Upon reading this headline, I let out a shriek.
“Who wrote this article headline?!”
I’ll have them arrested at once and erase three generations of their line! I shouted in fury, but Count German merely slapped his own forehead repeatedly.
“Weren’t you coming to reconcile? Then why did you bring that fellow along!”
“Well, you see, I needed to ask Ismenios something, so I brought him as a witness.”
“Witness or not, Your Majesty is currently banned from entering the palace!”
“What?!”
That cannot be. Even if Croa is sulking and didn’t come to greet me, he wouldn’t lock the doors against me entering my own residence.
I walked briskly toward the main gate to verify this, but no one opened the doors, and neither guards nor the Imperial Guard appeared.
“You there! You there, you fools! Open these gates!”
How embarrassing—leaving an emperor standing here like this!
Now I’m trapped. I cannot enter, yet returning to secure a hotel would be a loss of face.
Of course, an emperor does not wander a foreign land alone. Present here were Emily, security personnel, and Colonel Gurkha, the chief administrator of this Media expedition. As he is closest to Princess Ddangae, he will certainly gossip about my predicament when we return!
“Argh! Aaaargh!”
With no solution in sight and my fury mounting, I could only stamp the ground repeatedly when something familiar came fluttering down from the sky.
“…What is this?”
“Military tents, it appears.”
Colonel Gurkha, standing diagonally from me, spoke. Despite his assassin-like appearance, his manner of speech is quite direct.
“I know that much. But what’s the intention here?”
“Since there’s no room for Your Majesty inside, perhaps they mean for you to pitch a tent outside and sleep there?”
If you keep stating only correct observations, you’ll catch a beating, you know.
“You truly possess no manner of speech other than blunt directness. When I return, I shall report to Princess Ddangae and have your wages reduced!”
“That’s displaced anger.”
“Argh!”
Even after I warned him, he continues! I nearly kicked the colonel’s shin and began gathering up the tent fabric.
“Your Majesty, the Emperor of the neighboring realm—what are you doing?”
“What can I do? I’ve been sleeping outside. I need to set up my quarters here.”
In situations like this, it’s always best to obey without question. If I’ve done something wrong, I simply play dead and keep my head down. That’s the secret to maintaining household peace.
When I shared this wisdom about domestic harmony—lessons I’d learned from Father and the Chief Chamberlain—Count German mocked me by pretending to wipe away tears.
“The burden of being the head of a household, I see.”
“You should sleep here as well before you leave.”
“Why should I?”
“Otherwise, I’ll drag you away and have you executed.”
Did he think I couldn’t do it? I’m the Emperor, after all. I growled that I’d crucify and burn him at the stake in the Kisomalos Imperial Palace, and the Count pretended to be frightened before picking up an iron rod that had fallen away from my side.
“Before I die, you will let me meet Tania, won’t you?”
“Hmph.”
The Chief Chamberlain was right—this man’s words are as slippery as an eel. What does the old woman find so endearing about this cunning old fox? I really don’t understand her taste.
I clicked my tongue in disapproval and ordered the Emilys to purchase additional camping equipment.
“Your Majesty, please give that to me. I shall handle it.”
Now that I think about it, I’d forgotten to deal with this one. The Imperial Chamberlain had been watching carefully ever since I threw the evening newspaper, and it seemed he’d decided to slip away quietly—he was trying to take the tent materials I was holding.
“Colonel Gurkha!”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Treat this man as a hostage from now on. Bind and guard him.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
I’ll have him tied up in plain sight so the guards can keep watch and relay word to Croa.
I sighed and began assembling the military tent with practiced efficiency.
Media and Kisomalos used the same standard specifications for their equipment, so I was able to complete the tent without difficulty.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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