A private meeting.

Since Dylan’s accession, the emperor has only allowed a private meeting for one person until now.

Charlize Ronan.

‘Your Majesty.’

Shadow, who was hiding in the shadow, bowed his head.

Because he doesn’t know when he’ll be assassinated, a private meeting is a momentous task that he won’t allow unless it’s a very close loyal subject.

However, Dylan did not blame Kahu for his rudeness. He knows that feeling in that look.

‘Are you on guard?’

He was wary, afraid of Dylan.

‘You have a good sense.’

But Dylan didn’t readily give permission. He drank wine leisurely with Kahu standing.

Kahu waits without saying a word.

A dignified position that Kahu wouldn’t dare to speak without Dylan’s permission. He just wanted to make him realize the difference.

The wine was bitter. There is no sign of intoxication. Dylan emptied his glass.

The attendant accepted the glass politely.

“Okay.”

After a while, Dylan said.

Kahu swallowed his saliva. Dylan continued.

“If it’s the young duke, he’s reliable.”

Dylan bobbed his head in recognition of his approval. As the emperor went on the road, everyone bowed their heads and stepped aside.

Kahu clenched his fists. For now, he followed Dylan politely.

There was a separate resting room for the emperor at the Imperial Palace ballroom.

“Everyone, get out. I’ll have a private talk with the young duke.”

Dylan ordered Shadow, who was catching up to escort him.

Shadow glanced at Kahu, but the Emperor’s order could not be disobeyed.

The sharp Shadow’s eyes passed Kahu.

“Yes my lord.”

Shadow stepped back calmly.

The door was closed as it was.

They didn’t get along well enough to smile face to face. Dylan stood by the window.

Dylan’s body was reflected and shone in the clear glass window. A suit well wrapped around the body muscles. As Dylan unbuttoned the cufflinks, the blue veins on his wrist were revealed.

The dark sky outside the window was full of stars.

“Why did you ask for a private meeting?”

Asked Dylan.

Already weighed down by Dylan’s sense of pressure, Kahu’s tone was softened.

“Yes, Your Majesty the Emperor.”

As Kahu looked at Dylan’s back, he almost bit his lips inadvertently. He acted impulsively thinking that Charlize was taken away earlier.

Indeed, having a private meeting with the Emperor, he remembered how cruel and crazy Dylan was before his return.

A genius of the century who was so thorough that no one knew Dylan’s true colors.

“First of all, I wanted to say thank you.”

Kahu tried quite hard not to stutter.

“For trusting me to the point that you gave me the commander of the 1st Knights of the Imperial Family. Wouldn’t it be a favor to repay for the rest of my life? It’s the honor of my family.”

Kahu’s words sounded smoother than he thought.

Dylan replied formally.

“No one complained about personnel appointments because of your excellent skills. It’s your merit rather than my grace.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Dylan waited for Kahu to continue.

Kahu controlled his trembling heart.

“And Your Majesty, my main point is..”

Kahu looked up determinedly.

“As the grandmaster stayed in my mansion, she showed a lot of unexpected things.”

Kahu continued.

“If I could. Of course, I would follow the grandmaster’s opinion. I thought it would be okay to proceed as she and the people wanted.”

“…Proceed?”

Dylan copied Kahu’s words. The intelligent emperor’s head clearly grasped the intent but refused to interpret it.

Kahu answered clearly.

“Yes. It’s time for me and the grandmaster.”

“Time…”

“It’s time to get married, isn’t it?”Kahu trembled inside but didn’t show it at all on the outside.

In the office. He thought while looking at the paper that had been blackened with the fallen ink.

Why Dylan is following Charlize’s will.

On the day of the rebellion, he remembered Dylan, who acted cute only to Charlize as if a beast rubbed his cheek.

‘His Majesty’s wrath.’

Kahu knew better that he should never touch it.

However, it was worth it if you shake it up and take a peek inside it.

‘Why did this man who lived a peaceful life before returning appeared?’

The ink that fell to the paper that had been blackened eventually ruined his desk.

What has already permeated murky has not been erased.

Kahu didn’t really want to marry Charlize or express his opinion unilaterally.

Just provocation.

He thought it would be nice if the target was Charlize if he did it with someone.

Dylan opened his mouth.

“Is there any permission from Master?”

“…There wasn’t.”

Dylan smiled faintly. The Emperor’s side face is revealed in an instant.

However, no restlessness or gaps were revealed.

Kahu bit his lips.

“Master’s marriage is up to her. Did you come up with the story without even knowing the basics, an area where even me couldn’t carelessly get involved?”

In the story that made sense, Kahu said nothing.

“The other reason I asked Your Majesty for a private meeting is…”

Kahu actually wanted to ask Dylan’s feelings for Charlize, but he didn’t dare to bring it up.

Because there is nothing more rude than asking for selfishness to the royal family, who is the natural ruler. It has already crossed the line enough.

So Kahu changed his words.

“I got the information that the remnants of the traitors still seem to remain…”

Kahu swallowed his saliva.

“At a ball celebrating the complete sweep, I decided that it wasn’t time to speak publicly, so I unavoidably asked for a conversation with Your Majesty alone.”

“Is that so?”

Dylan tilted his head sideways.

Kahu nervously reported.

“I think the priority is to check whether the information is true or not. I’m secretly trying to contact my informant. And if it turns out to be true, I will inform the grandmaster and support her with all my might.”

So he might have to work with Charlize again.

Dylan smiled strangely, but it was just a moment. The emperor turned around.

Kahu looked defenseless and made eye contact with Dylan. Even though Dylan was younger than Kahu, he stood with dignity regardless of his age.

Kahu bowed his head.

“The young duke’s loyalty to the Empire always makes me happy.”

“I’m grateful, Your Majesty.”

“However.”

Dylan pulled out his sword from the sheath with an indifferent face.

“How about being careful?”

Shiiiiiing.

Dylan shines in the moonlight, as if trying to make sure that the sword wasn’t scratched. Shakes. Between the perfection that was solid and never cracked, the man’s passion was revealed for a moment.

Kahu flinched with his head bowed and trembled in his back.

“…I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I was so stupid that I couldn’t properly grasp Your Majesty’s sincerity.”

“What a shame.”

“What are you telling me to be careful about?”

Dylan was silent for a long time.

In the prolonged silence, Kahu raised his head. Dylan kept his gaze fixed on his sword.

“…”

‘They look alike.’

Kahu thought for a moment.

In the mansion under the moonlight, he resembled Charlize, who was wiping her sword.

They say that if you’re together for a long time, you’ll look alike.

Is it a sign that they have shared their time for so long that Kahu can’t dream of it? In Dylan, Charlize’s influence was read.

‘He was raised by the grandmaster who was uniquely changed after the return. A tyrant.’

Kahu was nervous.

Dylan slowly stared at Kahu. The impeccably handsome emperor’s appearance is like a sculpture.“The duty of the low people is.”

“…”

“Even if I don’t explain it at length, you’re going to read the minds of your superiors on your own.”

“…”

“That’s what my Master taught me.”

Dylan stopped talking languidly. Kahu was somehow weighed down by Dylan’s sword and unable to move.

Realizing that Dylan’s change was influenced by Charlize, Kahu was just hardened.

“I think you chose the wrong subject to test. Don’t you think?”

Kahu’s heart was beating hard.

He might have crossed the line. Shadow was also watching, so he even thought he was going to die here.

Nevertheless, there was an outcome. Charlize is important to Dylan as well.

Dylan looked at Kahu again.

“Attention comes with a price, young duke.”

A whispering voice as if revealing an important secret. Kahu unconsciously suppressed his own body, wanting to lie down in front of Dylan.

Cold sweat began to fill his hands.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“You don’t have to experience how you’re going to pay the price.”

The emperor was elegant and noble. It was a word that could be interpreted in many ways.

He saw Dylan trying to beat around the bush because it’s Charlize’s teaching. Kahu somehow managed to grasp the emperor’s sincerity.

This is perhaps too visible, the Emperor’s advice to be careful.

Or.

‘Stop being seen by Master.’

It would be a man-to-man warning. That’s the price, maybe.

‘Just like I took Madame Cole all of a sudden.’

Out of sight, the Emperor’s hand will stretch out.

Dylan stretched out his sword as if he were checking the blade. Coincidentally, the edge of the sword was towards Kahu’s weakness.

Kahu held his breath. His backbone stiffened coldly, and his spines were covered with goosebumps.

‘This is not what’s really scary.’

The emperor’s invisible hand is more terrifying than the sword in front of his eyes. Not knowing what to do. No one knows until they’re about to be beaten.

As he saw the empire before the return, he didn’t want to turn Dylan into an enemy.

“I hope you’ll have a better conversation next time.”

Rather than telling him to be careful about the next conversation, it sounded like it would be possible to have a private meeting only when he lives.

Contrary to the soft tone, the blade was still hung and was not withdrawn.

“…Yes.”

I understand, Your Majesty. Kahu replied like a habit.

“Your Majesty’s precious words. I’ll never forget it and keep it in my mind.”

He lowered his gaze, hiding his true intention as if he were conforming. But did he see-through?

Dylan approached, dragging his sword to the floor. The sound of the iron scratching the marble floor sounded very dangerous.

“Young duke.”

Kahu bowed his head suddenly.

“If you’re going to steal ‘My Sword’. You’d better throw it away.”

Dylan said, pointing the handle at Kahu as if he was handing him a sword.

Kahu didn’t understand what he meant, but he felt quite terrified.

‘His sword?’

It’s common for the emperor to give a sword to a loyal knight, but somehow Kahu desperately avoided his gaze, not receiving Dylan’s sword.

Dylan’s face that reflected on the blade looks very indifferent, but… He looked cruel. Indeed, worthy of that of the tyrant.

In an instant, the side of Dylan, which he had always been hiding as a sweet and kind disciple, was revealed.

Dylan advised in a gentle tone.

“There are areas in the world that you can’t see.”

It was like a question and answer.

‘Area that I can’t see?’

But just in case. Let’s assume it may be related to before the return. Kahu couldn’t move.

He got goosebumps all over his body.

When Kahu didn’t answer, Dylan slowly put a sword into the sheath.

The emperor walked past Kahu casually, leaving the room first.

“…”

‘Just now.’

What was it?

Although he looked at Kahu.

He didn’t notice it.

Later, Kahu, who had endured it, burst out of breath.

***