Unbeknownst to Me, I am Secretly Dating the Emperor - Chapter 33

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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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Chapter 33
“Wouldn’t it be cleaner just to issue a Declaration of War?”
Everett reacted with surprising gravity, as if he’d heard a joke that had catastrophically fallen flat.
Those eyes, which had always burned far hotter than body temperature, seemed to cool by a few degrees.
From those golden eyes came a whisper of thought: ‘Your sense of humor leaves something to be desired.’ I flinched a little.
‘No, I do understand that to people here, it feels something like extinguishing a cigarette in white rice placed on an ancestor’s memorial table.’
After all, throwing a crown into a Furnace to destroy a nation was a performance steeped in history.
‘The people of Bellot, with their fierce pride and stubborn refusal to bend, would have a one hundred percent chance of seeing it as the most insulting provocation imaginable.’
The Empire had won the long war, but victory brought more than just sweet laurels.
‘The Empire has only just turned the tide from the brink of collapse, so there’s nothing to gain from prolonging the war.’
A cornered mouse can be troublesome even for a lion.
I know all that! Just listen for a moment.
‘It’s not complete nonsense.’
I opened my mouth, feeling a little aggrieved.
“But what they could obtain in place of wealth is only honor or something of that spiritual value, right?”
Everett mulled over my words for a few seconds, then nodded readily in agreement.
“Fair point.”
His response wasn’t entirely negative, so I allowed myself a small inward sigh of relief.
“So you take the crown as War Reparation instead, and then return it later using some convenient pretext.”
I explained methodically.
“For example, the Coronation of a Crown Princess with ties to the Empire.”
It was also a historically deep performance for a great power to bestow a crown or other regalia to a lesser nation that was effectively its vassal.
‘If there’s prior discussion, Bellot won’t resist too fiercely even if their pride stings. They know perfectly well they have no other choice.’
If this calculation didn’t add up, Bellot deserved to fall.
Everett’s demeanor grew more serious as he began to grasp my intention.
“It would be better to establish justification from the very moment we replace the reparation with the crown.”
Everett’s eyes brightened as he stroked his chin.
“For instance, make it appear as though the King of Bellot willingly surrenders it for his people’s sake, and then the Empire graciously returns it, refined somewhat, as a gesture of goodwill.”
Bellot was a place where Craftsmanship wasn’t particularly developed, so their crown was rather crude.
If it happened as Everett suggested, it would present as the Empire extending a magnanimous hand, but this approach was politically more refined.
‘It would be a good opportunity to humble the Bellot people’s proud arrogance.’
As the lightly offered idea grew more concrete, my interest kindled.
“I like it.”
As I agreed with eyes alight, Everett’s lips curved into a smile.
“It’s a move that’ll put the King of Bellot in a bind, but it seems sound.”
It was a smile that looked somewhat malicious, as if relishing the misfortune about to befall the foreign king.
Since the blood pressure of another nation’s sovereign wasn’t my concern, I smiled back readily.
“If they’re people who know something is more important than honor, they’ll accept it.”
“They will.”
Though tedious practical work awaited, Everett wore a reasonably satisfied smile.
Then, as if committing the tasks to memory, he murmured to himself.
“Once I return to the Palace, I’ll handle this first.”
But just then, the conversation of someone passing outside the Private Chamber drowned out his words, making them barely audible.
* * *
Quite apart from obtaining a strategy to break the impasse in negotiations with Bellot, Edwin—who had spent the day with Lina until sunset—returned to the Palace late in the evening.
With work piling up from his weekly outings, Kyle trailed after Edwin as he headed straight for the Office.
From the entrance of the Imperial Palace to the Office, Kyle hovered ambiguously and persistently at the edge of Edwin’s vision the entire way.
Like someone throwing silent reproach at a superior who had abandoned work and gone on a date without a word.
“What.”
Finally unable to bear it, Edwin cast an irritated look toward Kyle.
Kyle fielded Edwin’s curt tone with a smile like armor and posed his question.
“Just returned from seeing Lina, have you?”
Today marked the last of the four exhibitions Kyle had arranged.
The knowing inquiry was transparent, but Edwin let it pass with appropriate indifference.
“I have.”
He spoke with deliberate curtness and settled into his chair, pulling documents toward him.
A clear signal to either discuss business or get out.
He’d rather forgo Kyle’s nagging as the closing act to his date with Lina.
But the years shared had made the line between sovereign and subject blur.
Showing no sign of departing, Kyle placed an inkwell and quill before Edwin, launching into proper chastisement.
“The Imperial Guard became quite alarmed when they thought you’d suddenly vanished. They came looking for me.”
Now that I think of it, I had indeed left alone in a hurry as the time to meet Lina approached.
‘Did I really not tell anyone I was leaving?’
Edwin’s gaze wavered slightly under Kyle’s subtle pressure.
From Kyle’s deepening smile, Edwin could surmise the commotion his unannounced departure had caused.
But if he admitted fault too readily here, the lecture would only grow longer.
“You’ve made such a fuss about something routine. If the guards contacted you immediately, it was hardly a problem. You knew where I was going anyway.”
Edwin dismissed the matter and unfolded an appropriate document.
Kyle then exhaled, as if determined to be heard.
His sigh was so forceful it nearly reached his brow, causing Edwin’s eyes to narrow slightly.
Yet Edwin stubbornly pressed on with the documents.
After a brief standoff, it was Kyle who relented.
Only then did Edwin’s gaze settle on Kyle.
“Arrange a meeting with the Crown Princess.”
Kyle’s voice, which had been growing indistinct, became clear again at the mention of business.
“Under what pretext?”
“Reparation Renegotiation, naturally.”
Edwin explained Lina’s proposal to Kyle in response.
The progression from initial confusion to growing interest mirrored his own reaction exactly.
While Kyle sat lost in thought, Edwin smiled softly to himself, remembering how Lina had worked to persuade him.
‘She was adorable.’
Edwin’s brief reverie ended as Kyle opened his mouth.
“It would be the best course, provided Bellot’s resistance doesn’t grow too fierce.”
Finally having made his decision, Kyle endorsed Lina’s proposal.
Edwin’s lips curved upward with satisfaction, as though he himself had received the compliment.
Kyle’s eyes caught Edwin’s smile as he hastily rose to confer with his aides on the details before the night grew late.
Kyle smiled knowingly, as if to say he understood the situation.
“Though I must say, it’s an unusually moderate strategy for you, Your Highness.”
Kyle was thinking that if the Crown Princess provoked Edwin much further, another war might well break out.
It was clearly testing, but Edwin acknowledged it readily.
“It’s Lina’s idea.”
He wanted to boast of Lina’s brilliance.
Merely mentioning ‘Lina’ was enough to soften Edwin’s expression, his mood visibly brightening.
‘I shouldn’t have said that.’
Kyle averted his eyes, regarding his loosened friend and sovereign’s face with a darkened gaze, playing along halfheartedly.
“Lina’s contributions have been remarkable ever since the Camelot Duke matter.”
“You think so too?”
Edwin’s eyes invited him to continue.
The unexpected emotional labor caught Kyle off guard, his mouth twitching slightly.
But since his admiration for Lina’s abilities was genuine, the praise flowed easily.
“It’s almost a shame that such talent remains in a minor post.”
Kyle recalled the personal information on Lina he’d investigated before.
‘Top entrance to the Imperial Academy Department of Administration, top graduate. And I believe she scored first on the civil service exam as well.’
Though she’d been sidelined by the internal politics of the Ministry of Finance, Kyle’s own experience confirmed that Lina’s abilities were genuine.
“If the Blue Hawk had just one more talent like that, my sleep schedule could extend by three hours or so.”
Kyle tucked away the fact that he’d sleep eight hours daily if he gave up running the café, and lodged his complaint.
“I told you to hire more staff.”
Ever since returning to the Imperial City, Edwin had given Kyle the same answer to this recurring grievance.
“It’s not a position where you can just hire anyone off the street.”
Given that it involved both exceptional ability and access to the Empire’s most sensitive secrets, trustworthiness was essential.
‘If such talent existed, I would’ve brought them in immediately.’
Kyle’s mouth twisted slightly when Edwin wasn’t looking.
Then, like a flash, the name just mentioned crossed his mind.
‘Come to think of it, what’s stopping us?’
Watching Edwin’s eyes grow slightly dazed with thoughts of Lina, Kyle asked cautiously.
“Your Highness. If I find someone who meets my standards, may I recruit them?”
“Do as you like.”
And so, with such careless consent, Lina’s departmental transfer was decided.

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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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