I Became the Master of the Empress

218 – 222

The prime minister’s bill passed without his veto.

Strange. Too strange.

The influence of the intelligence agency he created on the political scene is significant.

But his behavior of willingly giving it up is hard for me to believe.

Of course, there was a plan to bring the intelligence agency under my influence.

Too easy.

I didn’t think it would be this easy.

No, I didn’t even expect this bill to pass in the first place.

It was supposed to be for gathering evidence and justifying actions in preparation for when his influence waned.

Now that it has passed, I’m left frowning.

And to think he even handed over the military affairs department.

The military affairs department maintains, commands, and supervises the imperial soldiers across the empire.

In an emergency, it means having the authority to mobilize the troops.

Including the Golden Knights, moving the imperial soldiers means that in the worst-case scenario, the Grand Duchy could be attacked.

“There must be some other motive.”

There are several strange points in his actions.

His dislike for having children, his surrendering of power, and the thorough control of the intelligence agency.

And even the fact that a woman named Sena must assist him.

“What could all these mean?”

I ponder deeply.

It’s been over two years since I’ve known him.

In that time, he’s shown a ghost-like cold rationality and at times, an exasperatingly dense demeanor.

At first, his actions were strange, but as time passed, I realized why he behaved that way.

Therefore, there must be valid reasons for those four things.

“What could it be?”

The reason he doesn’t want a child.

The reason he’s reducing his own power.

And the reason he’s strictly controlling the intelligence department.

The reason Senara, that woman, said she must help him.

For now, the child and power are too complex to understand immediately.

Controlling the intelligence department suggests he’s plotting something.

And then there’s Senara, that woman.

Her involvement likely ties to this scheme.

What is it? What is he planning?

And another mystery: why he doesn’t want a child or to reduce his power remains unclear.

Why doesn’t he want a child?

Or is it not that he doesn’t want a child, but he dislikes marital relations?

That doesn’t seem right.

Sometimes, when we touch, his lower body reacts violently.

It’s astonishing how big and hard it is, and how he manages to endure.

And another question about reducing power, it’s hard to grasp his true intentions.

“Anyway, a storm is definitely coming.”

He, the intelligence department, and Senara, that woman, are entangled in some plot.

And in his style, it will be radical and groundbreaking, bringing significant change to the empire.

It will be beneficial for the empire, but it will also provoke much opposition.

But for now, I just don’t know what it is.

“Haah… I really can’t figure it out.”

Today, more than ever, I’m curious about what’s on his mind.

***

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Locust.”

I extend my hand for a handshake, greeting the handsome man with jade-colored hair.

“Are you the Grand Duke leading the empire? It’s nice to meet you.”

He clasps my hand in return.

By now, the intelligence agents observing the conference room must be sketching Locust’s face.

“Please, take a seat.”

As I invite him to the tent’s chair, Locust takes his place.

“Indeed. I express my gratitude on behalf of the Demon King for arranging such a meeting.”

I wave my hand as I speak to him.

“Not at all. It is I who am eternally grateful to you, my country, and for the immortality you have granted me.”

As I express my utmost thanks, Locust nods in acknowledgment.

“It’s a pleasure to meet like this.”

Huh? But why hasn’t he reverted to his true form?

I had clearly requested Locust to return to his demon form for the meeting.

We’re ostensibly in the same boat, so I insisted we show our true selves, a point I strongly pressed, and both Locust and Amon agreed easily, as if it were nothing.

To them, it may be trivial, but to me, it’s crucial.

I asked for this to ensure accurate identification after killing Locust…

“But, Lord Locust, aren’t you going to revert to your true form?”

As I say this, men wearing masks I’ve seen before at the inn’s explosion incident step forward.

“How dare a human seek to gaze upon His Noble Form?”

“Impudence!”

What are they talking about, these madmen!

It’s the first time I’ve heard such nonsense about the demon form being noble.

The sudden breaking of the day’s agreement makes me quite nervous.

Was I lured here as bait, or was the plan always to eliminate me from the start?

Though I’m confused by the thought, I manage to smile and say,

“But weren’t we supposed to enter into a blood pact today? If you break the promise now, it would be hard for us to trust the blood pact made by the demons.”

At my words, Locust smiles.

“You are right. We demons take our promises seriously.”

As he finishes speaking… the man with the jade-colored hair begins to transform.

A face like a giant grasshopper, with a long body and abdomen.

Multiple arms and two legs.

And with a bizarre stench, threatening antennae to boot.

Is this… the true form of a demon?

It’s repulsive and horrifying, no doubt.

The fear I feel at the grotesque sight, like a mix of human and grasshopper.

It’s okay. I can handle this.

At worst, death is all there is.

No matter how bizarre the Locust appears, I can overcome it.

It’s just the way it looks, that’s all.

Over and over, I tell myself internally that it’s nothing, just a loathsome appearance.

I try to calm my heart as I look at that detestable, grotesque face.

The black eyes of the grasshopper gaze at me.

-Are you afraid of my true form?

It wasn’t a sound that I understood, but something that seemed to speak directly to my heart, leaving me momentarily speechless.

Is this a demon?

But I answer in the most natural voice I can muster.

“Not at all.”

-Hu hu. I find you to my liking.

“Thank you for that. Come now, please enter.”

With that, I call the Locust into the tent and seat it.

-Seta, bring the blood contract.

At the Locust’s command, a man pulls out a paper from his bosom.

The blood contract I’ve seen ad nauseam during experiments.

I scrutinize the contents written within.

It’s exactly as agreed.

Having confirmed this, I gesture to Taris behind me, who brings the prepared dagger.

I grasp the handle of the dagger and draw it.

-Swish.

The blade flashes coldly.

“All I need to do is stain the contract with blood, right?”

Though I already know how to seal the deal, I feign ignorance and ask.

This part is the keyword for the contract.

Probably, the owner of the blood prepared by the nearby intelligence will agree to the contract.

-Indeed.

Hearing Locust’s words, I silently count to five in my head.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

Then, with a dagger, I gently slice the artificial skin, and blood naturally begins to flow.

“Then, I shall stamp it.”

Saying so, I stamp the blood on the contract and exchange contracts with Locust.

A red stain of blood on one side.

Next to it, I confirm Locust’s name and stamp my own name with blood.

Soon, a blue light envelops both contracts…

The light slowly fades away.

-It’s done.

Locust’s voice echoes as I breathe a sigh of relief inside.

I was nervous about potential problems, but it seems the contract has been successfully sealed.

-Well then, we shall meet again once the Papal sanction is lifted.

With those words, Locust and the demon worshippers rise from their seats.

“I have prepared a banquet. Would you care to join?”

At my words, Locust gestures a refusal.

-No, I wish for you to return swiftly and hand over the Papacy and the Emperor to us.

I respond with a smile.

“Worry not. I have already devised a plan. The moment I return, I will frame the Papacy, arrest the Pope, and prepare for its dissolution.”

Indeed, at this very moment, our conversation is being relayed to the Papacy by the intelligence.

Locust looks at me with eyes full of satisfaction.

Even though he

-Hmm, you’re quite the skilled one. Have you no desire to become my son-in-law?

Caught off guard by the sudden mention of son-in-law, I feel bewildered.

Wouldn’t it be a torment just to face her if she looked like a grasshopper?

“What? All of a sudden?”

At my words, Locust nods his head.

-Although you’re human, you seem to have remarkable abilities. We appreciate people with outstanding talents like yours. My daughter is very beautiful, so she would not lack as your partner.

“That is…”

I’m momentarily lost in thought due to the abrupt proposal.

-Aren’t you also soon to be widowed?

“Your Grace, important matters have yet to be concluded. It would be no issue to discuss such matters once everything is settled.”

“That’s right. It seems like a conversation we could have after the Demon King’s descent.”

At the words of Beta and Theta, Locust nods again.

-Yes, you speak the truth. Let’s discuss this again in Roma next time.

With that, I turn around and watch Locust and the demon worshippers exit the tent, dumbfounded.

Who decided on a son-in-law?

I have not the slightest desire to have such a grasshopper of a man as my father-in-law.

“Finally, one important task is completed. Taris, bring Councilman Alexander and Olivia.”

The long-prepared task has gone well, easing the tension in my body, but today’s work is not yet finished.

Alexander and Olivia…

I wonder what they desire?

With that thought, I order my subordinates to tidy up the tent before they arrive.