Chapter 220
He had to ask this because, in that moment, Johann felt like the world was shutting him out and lying to him.
Of course, this was his problem, and who in this world could stop Herix?
It turned out that the woman wasn’t a noble at all—she was a commoner with no status or any real background. The ministers who had expressed reluctance soon realized that the Emperor wasn’t listening to them and stopped adding their objections.
It could be seen as tyranny, but it was completely different from the typical path of a tyrant.
This was because Herix wasn’t just a mediocre Emperor who had earned his position through half-hearted accomplishments. No, he was an Emperor who seemed almost divine, as if created by god.
Thanks to the way Herix had achieved success without concerning himself with the opinions of others, a ridiculous yet firm trust had been built around him: ‘He’ll manage just fine on his own.’ Because of this, there was no strong opposition when he suddenly declared his marriage.
‘Well, I hadn’t heard a word about succession until now, and the worry was mounting, but I suppose this is for the best.’
After the marriage, Herix settled down quickly. The ominous aura he once carried, his previously taut and nerve-ridden demeanor, melted away like a cat basking in the spring sun.
It was all thanks to the Empress, Ivonne.
However, there was one issue: he had become lazy.
‘Well, not exactly lazy.’
Herix had been excessively perfect in the past. He acted as though he was constantly being chased by time, like someone who had to finish everything before a set deadline. It was enough to leave anyone watching out of breath.
So, it was only natural that after marriage, he began to unwind. In fact, Johann could see that the current Herix seemed far more human than before.
Occasionally, Johann still had that feeling that Herix wasn’t entirely human.
That being said, it wasn’t completely surprising when Herix would sleep in, cuddling Ivonne, or stay in their bedroom even during their honeymoon, unwilling to leave.
Or when he would ask her to say ‘I love you’ in an almost confusing way, because they hadn’t had enough time together. Johann couldn’t exactly understand everything, but it wasn’t too out of place either.
‘Although, it did get a bit bothersome when he became too lazy at times.’
Johann paused in his thoughts about Herix, his hand coming to a stop.
“Your Majesty!”
It seemed like the sound of the pen scratching against the paper had slowed down.
Herix was nowhere to be found.
“Ha…”
The enchanted pen was moving on its own. Of course, since Herix knew all the contents of the documents, he had probably enchanted it to work like this.
But the papers the Emperor signed were not the same as a receipt from a market. They were important documents that needed to be personally checked and reviewed by the Emperor himself.
But now, Herix was…
“Ah, Herix!”
“What’s making you so happy, leaving me behind?”
From earlier, the Empress had been playing with the village children in the palace courtyard, and Herix had come up behind her, playfully pulling her into a hug. Johann listened attentively, his ear caught by the sound of the Empress laughing cheerfully as she playfully scolded her husband.
Ivonne patted her husband’s hand.
“We were playing handkerchief tag. Do you know? We sat in a circle like this… Oh, but Herix, did you finish your work? I don’t see Johann around?”
“Hmm.”
“Don’t tell me you left the pen with magic on it again, did you?”
Her voice had a slightly sharp edge to it.
‘As expected!’
Johann clenched his fist in silent triumph.
The Empress had not let him down. When Herix acted completely out of line, it was always Ivonne who brought balance. While she was the one who had made Herix lax, no one else could control him as effectively as she did.
And so, no one commented on her ambiguous origins or birth.
Despite Herix’s pressure, she was an excellent Empress and the only one who had the Emperor’s reins in her hands.
“Go on, get back to work. Or do you want me to stop playing with the children and lock myself up in the bedroom?”
“With me?”
“Herix.”
Even the teasing remark Herix made was swiftly cut off by Ivonne’s sharp response. Herix pouted and moved a little farther away from her.
“You’re so cold to me.”
“You’re the one making me this way.”
Unable to win a single word, Herix had to return to the office, where Johann was smiling.
“I’ve been waiting.”
Herix returned to the desk piled higher with paperwork than before, like a punishment.
Outside, the sound of children’s laughter echoed as they teased, hearing Ivonne shake her head helplessly.
It was a peaceful afternoon.
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