Tamed Monster - Chapter 98

The same man who turned down a fortune at the black market suddenly seemed tempted by the idea of a treasure mine offered by the Emperor. The Emperor nodded as if to say, “Sure.”

Resting his chin on his hand in a lazy posture that completely defied court etiquette, no one in the audience hall dared to tell him to sit up properly.

“Hm, that’ll do for me.”

“What do you mean, ‘that’ll do’? So, do you want it or not?”

“I don’t need any jewel mines or anything like that. What I mean, Your Majesty, is that you must really like me, if you’d offer something like that.”

A moment of silence passed, and then the Emperor let out a sigh, finally finding his words.

“‘Like’… isn’t exactly the word I’d use. But I do trust you one hundred percent now. Is that what you wanted to hear?”

Myers had never had an interest in men. He was only fond of women. He liked to torment and use boys in a very different way, but he’d never once seen a man as the object of his s****l desire.

So to say he ‘liked’ a man—even if just as a figure of speech—made him uncomfortable, no matter who it was.

Lancart grinned broadly and answered.

“Yes. If Your Majesty trusts me, that’s all I need. There’s nothing more I want from you.”

By now, it wasn’t hard for him to put on this kind of serious front. He’d picked up plenty of lines just by being forced to listen to his traveling companions during their journey through the swamp.

He’d paid close attention, preparing for the day he’d have to face the Emperor, and it was paying off now. The Emperor seemed pleased and let out a satisfied “Hmm.”

“Good. Grand Duke Alexander, go home and get some rest. You look terrible. I’d let you use the palace baths, but I can already imagine the maids having a hard time cleaning up after you. Better to go home and clean up there.”

The Emperor wasn’t a generous man—neither about small matters nor the great affairs that could decide the fate of the country. In fact, he was ruining the nation, not saving it, even if he was convinced otherwise. The deepening conflict with monsters was mostly his fault.

As Lancart turned to go, a gentle voice called out to Sylvia.

“Ah. The Madam could probably use some rest, right? You look exhausted. Would you like to stay in one of the guest rooms for a while?”

It was the perfect opportunity—the exact chance Sylvia had been waiting for. She could send her husband home first, tidy herself up in the guest room, and then arrange a private meeting with the Emperor to tell him what had happened in the swamp.

She was just about to accept when—

“My wife needs to bathe with me. We’ll be going now.”

Lancart grabbed her wrist—right in front of the Emperor—and practically dragged her out, ignoring the Emperor’s chuckle behind them as Lancart swept her out of the palace, practically carrying her.

* * *

What had offended him? For some reason, her monster husband was sulking all the way home.

It struck Sylvia how oddly human his expressions could be, even knowing he was a monster.

How could a creature that claimed to be three hundred years old look so boyishly petulant? She caught herself staring at him, and suddenly, the monster—who had been gazing out the window—spoke up.

“Stop staring. You’ll burn a hole through my cheek.”

Startled, she looked away, only for him to turn and glare at her for that, too.

“…”

“…What? Why are you staring at the wall?”

She was only staring at the wall because he told her not to look at him! Sylvia glanced down at the bluish bruise on her wrist, stung by his rough grip, and looked at him with resentment.

“Did you really have to drag me out like that? In front of everyone?”

It hadn’t just been the Emperor in the audience hall; there were attendants, scribes, and knights—at least a dozen people. She’d been yanked out like a doll for all of them to see, instead of just being asked politely to leave.

“That’s because I could see right through you. You were planning to tell the Emperor something, weren’t you?”

“…Tell him what?”

“Anything. Anything that would get me in trouble. It was obvious. How could I not stop you? And besides, I really didn’t like the way that bastard was looking at you.”

He called the Emperor ‘that bastard’ without hesitation. Now she understood why he spoke so brazenly: to a monster, the Emperor was more of an enemy than someone to be respected.

Even so, as long as he was playing the role of Duke Alexander, and her husband, she knew she needed to be careful—one slip of the tongue could cost her life, too. Even if there was no one to eavesdrop in the carriage, Sylvia quickly covered his mouth.

‘Shh!’

She gave him a pleading look to keep quiet, and as her warm palm pressed against his lips in the cramped carriage, the monster was suddenly and unexpectedly aroused.

Instantly, his gaze changed.