Black-Haired Dad Isn’t Something You Reap - Chapter 262

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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 8. The Coercion of Love—A Technique Not Recommended for Ordinary Folk
“Kha! It’s been ages since I’ve had a drink under the stars!”
I decided to join the Kisomalos delegation for a campfire and share some drinks. The Emilys and I had weathered countless trials together, and the security personnel were all conscripted from the military, so they were accustomed to barracks life. Between gazing at the stars and catching glimpses of the Imperial Chamberlain hanging from a pole, then more stars and more glimpses of the Consort Palace attendants, my heart grew heavy—yet the alcohol flowed smoothly nonetheless.
“Private Elvin! I consider it an honor to meet with you, Emily, and I shall perform a verse of ‘Emily’!”
“Ooh!”
Cheers and applause erupted from Emily and throughout the barracks. This was a song my father had composed long ago, with lyrics I had written. It described the devoted maidservant Emily, praying for the safe return of the Princess from the battlefield.
“Oh, Emily, song of Emily, carry my greetings beyond the heavens to the Princess!”
I’m delighted. I absolutely love the “Oh, Emily” part. It’s embarrassing to praise my own father, but he truly has an exceptional gift for melody.
The delegation members, warmed by drink, grew enthusiastic and began retrieving instruments to accompany the song. With music added to the melody, the festive spirit only intensified.
“Where is Lira? Lira! Jim knows how to play the lyre!”
Hehe, since we’re already at this point, we might as well enjoy ourselves together. I played the lyre—which Choco had taught me—with a pleasant twang, joining in the merriment with the soldiers. Count German, witnessing me at leisure for the first time, whispered to Colonel Gurkha, speaking ill of me.
“Given the circumstances, isn’t His Majesty being rather frivolous?”
“This is His Majesty during peacetime.”
“He plays like this even in ordinary times?”
“During ordinary times, I suspect he engages in far more entertaining pursuits.”
“Pardon?”
“By peacetime, I mean wartime.”
“…Pardon?”
What can one do? I cannot very well bring an opera troupe to a military campaign. Besides, throughout history, those who sought entertainment on the battlefield met unfortunate ends. It is the Emperor’s duty to conclude such conflicts as swiftly as possible.
“Hmm…”
With the alcohol taking effect and the night growing deep, I played the lyre in a melancholic reverie.
I, at this very moment… I, right now…
“I cannot be doing this!”
Seized by sudden resolve, I gripped the lyre tightly and rose to my feet, prompting both Emily and Colonel Gurkha to regard me with disapproval.
“Oh dear, His Majesty is about to do something he’ll regret again.”
“What time is it?”
“It’s precisely two in the morning, sir.”
“Is knocking on doors at two in the morning a science?”
So there was someone else attempting something at two in the morning besides me! If I’m not alone, then I have nothing to fear!
Emboldened, I clamped the lyre between my teeth and scaled the city wall with swift parkour movements. This is the fruit of over a decade of training under Teacher Lee!
“Intruder!”
“No, it’s not an intruder!”
“It’s Emperor Kisomalos!”
“What?!”
The guards and sentries were in absolute chaos. As I bounded across the walls and rooftops toward the Main Palace, sirens wailed and searchlights blazed to life. I mustn’t turn my head. If I do, the light will blind me and I’ll cry out in agony.
Weeeeeeeng!
“There! An intruder!”
“It’s a state guest! Don’t shoot!”
“Then what are we supposed to do?!”
Do not do anything! I shall take full responsibility!
I laughed with a hearty guffaw and leaped from the spire, using my cloak as a parachute to slow my descent. As I landed on the ground with a tremendous impact, the earth cratered beneath me with a deep boom, and screams erupted among the guards. They must have thought I had plummeted to my death.
“I am unharmed!”
“Please, just stop!”
“I shall seek an audience with His Majesty! Please, I beg you, stop this!”
“I refuse!”
At two in the morning with alcohol coursing through my veins, His Majesty does not stop for red lights, you see. I scrambled up the wall once more and landed on the veranda of the palace where my beloved Croa awaited. The commotion must have roused him, for I heard the soft rustle of curtains before the veranda door swung open.
“What on earth are you doing!”
“Croa! I have come!”
“You reek of alcohol!”
Hold me. We have not seen each other in so long. As I thrust my face forward to embrace Croa, he forcibly separated himself from me, complaining about the smell.
“Ah, why not! Let me hold what is mine!”
“Why would I belong to Pisha!”
“Why is Croa not mine!”
You have been mine ever since I captured you from Loruruje Fortress! You have never been anything but mine! I launched into a lengthy declaration, but somehow I grew melancholy and began to sniffle.
“You’re mine, damn it, I came home and you won’t even open the door for me.”
“That’s because Pisha keeps gallivanting around with strange men.”
“How could I possibly be involved with him like that!”
As I repeated this excuse for the third time and burst into tears, Croa awkwardly searched for a handkerchief.
“How could a servant and master possibly be together! Waaaah! You’re so cruel! I can’t trust you! Boo-hoo! Wahhhhh!”
“No, it’s just that I saw in the newspaper—you two were even linking arms.”
“He linked his arm first! I couldn’t embarrass a colleague at work! Waaaaaah!”
I wailed as though I might vomit, and eventually I did retch and vomit onto the floor. After that, my memory becomes hazy.

✦ ✦ ✦
“Oh, my head…”
My skull felt like it might split open. I vaguely remembered drinking and throwing up, yet my mouth tasted oddly fresh—Croa must have had Emily wash me up while I was unconscious.
“Croa, Croa…”
I fumbled around the bedside, cradling my head, but found no trace of him. The lingering alcohol made me melancholy, and I was about to cry when, mercifully, Croa opened the bedroom door and entered.
“You’re awake.”
“Yeah… my head hurts…”
“You made quite a spectacle of yourself.”
“Yeah… I suppose I did…”
Before he could launch into a lecture, couldn’t he just give me some medicine? I was about to ask when Croa’s curiosity got the better of him.
“Why did you bring that man here anyway? If you meant to mock me, he was hanging from a pole… and they said he was being held hostage?”
“Why would I mock you?”
His behavior seemed so suspicious that I’d planned to have him face off with Ismenios and interrogate him. As I laid out this plan, Croa’s lips twitched slightly.
“Interrogate… interrogate him?”
“Yeah. He keeps showing up oddly. I don’t want to suspect him just because Ismenios picked him, but still.”
I need to ask that old man what his real intentions are. That’s why I abandoned my balancing act between you and Nanakda and came running to you instead.
As I laid out everything that had happened, Croa’s lips continued to twitch until they finally curved upward.
“Hmm, I see. So you came to me first.”
“I’m going to have a headache worrying about what that bastard will demand later.”
My hangover was already killing me, and now this anxiety made it worse. As I whimpered and rolled across the bed, Croa supported my back and helped me up, then summoned an attendant.
“I’ve already brought the medicine. I also prepared some candy—swallow it completely after taking the medicine.”
“Strawberry flavored?”
“Yes. Strawberry flavored.”
Fine then, I’ll take it.
I downed a bowl of hangover cure and popped the candy into my mouth. This is genuine Kisomalos strawberry candy with real fruit juice. Delicious.
“The Marquis has already entered the palace, so we can summon him shortly. Please change into the prepared clothes.”
“Got it!”
Thank goodness! My head might be splitting, but Croa’s mood has improved. It was worth making a fool of myself for once. As Teacher Lee always says, everyone needs to master parkour to survive in this world. Long live Teacher Lee.
I prayed the medicine would work quickly and changed clothes with Emily’s assistance. Since this was a private meeting with the Marquis, there was no need to be formal. In a comfortable tunic, trousers, and a purple robe draped over my shoulders, I waited for Ismenios in the reception room.
The old man entered looking like he’d committed a capital crime, and my anger dissipated before it could even kindle. It’s a real problem that I’m weak to elderly people because the Chief Chamberlain raised me.
“I sincerely apologize. Those young men under my command…”
“Young men?”
Grandfather explained: the radical faction of the Pro-Royal Faction consisted mostly of young people, and they had proposed this scheme from the beginning—to send a substitute man as tribute to maintain relations with Kisomalos while allowing His Majesty to establish himself in Media and govern the nation.
“We want to maintain our ties with Kisomalos, and we hoped His Majesty would settle in Media and manage state affairs, so we suggested sending a substitute man as tribute…”
“Well, those bold fools.”
“I told them it wouldn’t work…”
But you couldn’t stop them in the end, could you? Grandfather’s intentions aside, this incident nearly fractured relations between the Emperor and the Consort Palace, so he can’t escape responsibility. And those young men who devised this scheme—I’ll make sure they pay with their lives.
When I emphasized this, Grandfather stammered that one of his potential successors was also involved and asked me to show mercy just this once. Ugh, Grandfather, what’s done is done, and what’s infuriating is infuriating—what can I do about it?
“Since I maintain relations with Havilland, I should be able to arrange some breathing room for him. Please, if only for that reason…”
“Huh? Havilland?”
Why is Havilland appearing here now? When I expressed my confusion, Grandfather assumed I hadn’t heard the news yet and instructed an Attendant to bring the morning newspaper.
Ugh… I got blindsided by the evening edition yesterday and really didn’t want to check the news.
“The Cult Leader of the Golden Temple has become the majority shareholder of Havilland.”
“…What?”
“They’ve also monopolized the distribution rights for Northwind Stone.”
“…Huh?”
“Do you understand what this means?”
“Huh…”
If this were, say, retaliation for me lifting my heavy rear and rushing to Croa first…?
Kisomalos won’t be able to use air conditioning all summer.
The next chapter will return once all problems are resolved.

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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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