Chapter 136 (1/2)

Chapter 136: Chapter 136

Looking at me trying to choose my words carefully, he said, tapping the table, “Just stay with me and help me with handling small and large things. Don’t feel insulted because I tell you to do things reserved for the attendants. I just want to have someone with me I can trust.”

“Oh, how can I feel insulted? I’m okay, Your Majesty. By the way, don’t you need a doctor?”

“I don’t want to make a fuss. If my condition gets worse, let me call the doctor.”

“…I believe you have made a promise. ”

I felt it would be better to call the doctor now. Although he didn’t treat me as kindly as he did before I came back from the past, I was distressed to see his health deteriorating day by day.

I felt heartbroken all the more because I knew he was caring for me especially even now, and that he didn’t have much time left for survival.

“… Your Majesty.”

“Why?”

“Please be strong and stay healthy. Your Majesty is the parent of all the people in the empire.”

“Thank you.”

Looking at me with a gentle smile, he lifted the teacup. I looked at the lion’s crest engraved on the silver teacup and quietly put it to my mouth.

Even though the emperor came down to the summer palace for a break, he continued to hold cabinet meetings throughout the day without stepping back from day-to-day duties. As the entire empire suffered from severe drought, he had to help the crown prince who was struggling to tackle it alone in the capital.

It had already been three days since I accompanied the emperor who attended the political meeting. I thought there would be a strong opposition to my presence at the meeting, but surprisingly nobody objected. Perhaps many of the nobles who came with the emperor were pro-emperor faction members.

“Please have tea, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you.”

His strained blue eyes wiggled gently.

While enjoying the flavor of delicate lavender, I pondered over the political meetings for the past three days. I thought the emperor would bring up the agenda of Jiun, but he didn’t, to my surprise. Instead, topics such as drought and the measures to deal with the worsening public sentiment were mainly discussed.

‘Oh, yeah, they also discussed the outbreaks of arson in the capital at the meeting.’

According to what I heard at the political meeting, there were a series of arson incidents in the capital these days. Somebody set a fire to the mansions in the nobles’ district, but they couldn’t catch the culprit, no matter how hard they tried.

Arson accidents and the bad public opinion about the imperial family put the emperor and the crown prince in a very difficult situation. I was worried that somebody dissatisfied with the imperial family and the nobles might have set fire to their houses, but the emperor reacted calmly. When he was briefed about it, he skipped to the next agenda.

‘Does he think the drought is more important now? Otherwise, is there any conspiracy that I don’t know?’

While I was lost in thought under the shade of a tree, the emperor, who was pondering over something, suddenly said, “What a headache! Drought is extreme at the moment. I hear there are rumors among the people that drought happened because of God’s anger.”

“Since ancient times, they have called floods, drought, and earthquakes natural disasters. As the faith of the people in the empire is deep, I think they can rightly think so. Have you heard anything particular from the temple?”

He sighed deeply and said, “As they are only interested in power, I don’t expect they are thinking of any measures to ally the people’s concerns. I haven’t even heard that they received God’s prophecy on this.”

“I heard that the crown prince has taken all the measures he can, and the lords of each province are in close contact with each other, taking care of the sick and distributing water. Rumors are only fleeting. As everyone is doing their best to overcome the crisis, the agitated general public will soon calm down. So, please don’t worry too much. Your health isn’t good, Your Majesty.”

While listening to me silently, he turned to me with a warm smile.

His gaze like that was unusual because I hadn’t noticed it after I returned from my previous life.

I suddenly became curious about it. Why is he acting like that?

“In every aspect I think the crown of the empress suits you rather than the position of marquis.”

“… ”

“You think I’m really persistent in my demands, right? But I am saying this as a ruler who has to use the right person for the right job.”