LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 27
Worried that someone from the Count’s household might overhear, Liv hurriedly glanced around. She had learned from Emmett that insulting the Emperor could be punishable.
“I will thoroughly bring down the Emperor and make him suffer! Join me in this!”
“M-Me?”
“Think it over carefully!”
While Liv stole a glance at Emmett, Hayden leapt down to the ground and instantly vanished from sight.
Emmett simply glared at the spot where Hayden had disappeared, a vexed expression on his face.
“I will ensure such an incident doesn’t happen again, Liv…”
“It’s not your fault, Emmett.”
After saying that, Liv cautiously addressed Emmett:
“I have no intention of following Hayden’s words. So…”
Just as Liv was about to assert that she absolutely harbored no disrespectful thoughts towards the Emperor, Emmett spoke with a firm voice:
“Miss Liv, it’s alright.”
“Huh?”
“You can do whatever you wish, and I have no right to stop you.”
“Huh?”
“Even if you wished to bring down His Majesty the Emperor, I wouldn’t interfere. No, I would assist you in whatever you do, Miss Liv.”
Those words left Liv utterly perplexed.
-Yes, you must maintain proper decorum before His Majesty. You must not speak first, meet his gaze, or raise your voice.
-…Miss Liv must have been unaware that we have certain obligations. Despite any physical suffering, it is our duty to remain loyal to His Majesty.
-Miss Liv, that is a question challenging His Majesty’s authority. You must never ask such questions in front of others.
Liv was well aware of Emmett’s immense loyalty to the Emperor. She also knew the Emperor was an existence she could never dare defy, stationed at the highest realm. Yet Emmett was now speaking of the Emperor with a casual indifference – it was truly strange.
“But… you shouldn’t say that.”
Liv continued in a bewildered tone.
“His Majesty the Emperor is a great and formidable being… You must not utter ill words against him.”
Even now, upon hearing the word ‘Emperor’, the gods were raging with furious outbursts like:
Once I regain my power, I shall surely punish that insolent one.
I will kill him.
I pass judgment! Death! Death! Death!
However, Liv also knew the laws of the human world differed from those of the gods. Even if the gods clinging to her despised the Emperor, as someone living in the human world, Liv couldn’t openly display hostility towards the imperial family.
When Liv relayed this to Emmett, he wore a pained expression and said:
“Miss Liv, please forget everything I have said.”
“Huh?”
“His Majesty the Emperor now holds no value whatsoever for me. I no longer have any reason to remain loyal to him.”
To Liv, who still seemed unable to comprehend, he emphasized once more:
“You alone are now my absolute value, Liv.”
* * *
“That’s what happened.”
“Good heavens!”
Upon encountering Liv in the hallway and hearing about the incident between Hayden and Emmett, Hildegard’s face registered shock.
“Infiltrating an unmarried noblewoman’s room is utterly unacceptable! I must instruct them to increase security.”
“Um…”
“But more than anything, the strangest part is…”
Hildegard glanced around before lowering her voice.
“I can’t understand Duke Lartman’s behavior at all. Why am I the only one who feels this way? For him to suddenly become someone consumed by ardent love, isn’t that truly strange?”
Even after hearing that, Liv only shrugged lightly, leaving Hildegard increasingly exasperated.
“Well, I suppose you’ve had a bond with him from the start, so it could be understandable. But I can’t comprehend Duke Lartman’s abandonment of His Majesty. His loyalty to His Majesty was renowned.”
“That’s true.”
Emmett’s devotion to the Emperor had been so profound that he was even nicknamed ‘The Emperor’s Loyal Hound’. Some even speculated the Lartman family had become vassals of the imperial Steinberg family.
“Duke Lartman regarded His Majesty almost like a father figure.”
“I see.”
“Sister, do you know why Duke Lartman was so loyal to His Majesty?”
At those words, Liv searched her memories. According to what Emmett had told her…
“Because His Majesty revealed the culprit behind his parents’ deaths.”
“Correct.”
Hildegard nodded and provided further details.
“Moreover, to further solidify Duke Lartman’s position, His Majesty summoned him to the capital and held a ceremony to confer his Dukedom. It signified His Majesty’s trust in Duke Lartman as a retainer.”
“I see…”
“And His Majesty had him trained in swordsmanship at the palace to hone his martial prowess. It was through such a process that Duke Lartman came to be loyal to His Majesty.”
“Emmett must have appreciated him a great deal.”
The more Liv heard, the more she found the world truly strange. The ‘Tyrant August’, an utter villain to some, was a benefactor to others.
“So after receiving his Dukedom, Duke Lartman remained in his Ducal lands for a few years. Once he had consolidated control, he judged it time to return to the capital to protect His Majesty.”
“Protect His Majesty from what?”
“There were still those who didn’t pledge loyalty to His Majesty, you see.”
Hildegard answered matter-of-factly.
“You know His Majesty ushered in a new dynasty, right?”
“Hm? Yes.”
Recalling what she had heard from Emmett, Liv nodded.
Originally, the Gracia family had ruled the Holy Hilysid Empire, but after the Gracia family’s demise, the Steinberg family, selected through deliberations by the Five Noble Houses, came to power.
“Naturally, there were issues of legitimacy. The Gracia family was truly beloved by all in the Empire.”
“I see…”
“The Steinberg family had merely been vassals of the Gracia family, but suddenly became rulers. There was bound to be dissent.”
No matter how she looked at it, humans tended to cling stubbornly to meaningless things. In the end, all humans were equal under the gods – yet they fought over who would become king, an utterly trivial power that would become worthless if they lost their lives.
“Also, the Gracia family was renowned for being favored by the chief deity of the Faith of the Radiant. Now that I think about it, you may not be aware of that, Sister…”
Hildegard shrugged.
“Just as I am merely a ‘Saintess’ meant to protect you, that family may have been similar – not truly beloved, but rather…”
Hildegard knew the gods’ love for Liv was unparalleled. Whenever she looked at Liv, all the myths from the scriptures she had studied paled in insignificance.
After hearing Hildegard’s explanation, Liv found Emmett’s lukewarm attitude towards the Emperor strange, just as Hildegard had said. Emmett seemed like someone who valued gratitude and wouldn’t simply discard it on a whim due to infatuation.
“Anyway, I’m truly the only one feeling vexed! Why is everyone else so calm about this?”
As Hildegard grumbled, Liv could only blink awkwardly. Since Liv showed no intention of elaborating on the events between them despite Hildegard’s venting, the latter eventually heaved a sigh. Then, as if struck by a thought, she clapped her hands and spoke:
“Ah, talking about the Gracia family made me recall something!”
“What is it?”
“It’s about the Schulze family.”
“Hayden Schulze?”
Liv’s eyes widened. Come to think of it, she had heard his family was annihilated by the Emperor but never received a detailed explanation, so she was curious as well.
“Yes, I think I know why the Schulze family was annihilated. No one would give me the details since they all just shushed me… But originally, the Schulze family were vassals of the Gracia family.”
“Really?”
“The Schulze and Wolfe families – these two protected the Gracia family.”
The name ‘Wolfe’ was familiar. Hayden Schulze had disguised himself as a member of that family to attend the gathering, and Liv had heard it mentioned before as well.
“So that’s why Hayden Schulze could disguise himself as Wolfe.”
“Yes, since they were fellow vassals, the Wolfe family must have aided Hayden Schulze. Anyway, when the dynasty changed, the previous dynasty’s vassals were likely deemed undesirable. So the Schulze family’s annihilation is undoubtable.”
“Then how did the Wolfe family survive?”
“Well, I don’t know about that… Perhaps the Schulze family more actively opposed the Steinberg family’s ascension? Or unlike the Wolfe, the Schulze had more threatening means at their disposal.”
“Is that so?”
Liv blinked. Well, truthfully, she had little interest in such matters. While she had some curiosity about Hayden Schulze himself, it was his person that intrigued her, not his background.
“In any case, Sister, it would be best to refrain from going out for the time being. We may encounter Hayden Schulze again at any moment.”
“Um…”
Liv glanced at Hildegard before speaking up.
“But I’ve made plans to visit Emmett’s home tomorrow.”
“Well, if it’s unavoidable…”
Aware of Liv’s love for Emmett, Hildegard didn’t wish to dampen her joy over the appointment with the Duke. Yet an uneasy feeling caused her to scratch her head. Somehow, she sensed something unfortunate looming.