“Thank you.”
I-jun drew a deep breath and spoke again.
“But I do not want to.”
Guien, who had just raised his glass to his lips, froze. His gaze swung back to I-jun, eyes narrowing in displeasure.
Determined not to be cowed, I-jun clenched his fist.
“So I will take my leave now.”
Leaving the table before the Emperor had finished eating could easily end with his head rolling.
Even so, I-jun didn’t bother worrying about consequences. This was only a dream; once he woke, everything would scatter like foam. There was nothing to fear.
Guien stared incredulously as I-jun scraped back his chair and stood.
Yet when I-jun all but fled the dining room, the Emperor neither called him back nor tried to stop him. He merely sipped the wine left before him.
Only the chief chamberlain, waiting at the entrance, watched the Emperor’s expression with anxious care, knowing his sovereign would not let matters rest.
“Chamberlain.”
Sure enough, Guien finished his meal, wiped his mouth and hands with a napkin, and called.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I am going out.”
There was no need to ask where; the destination was obvious.
“I shall attend you.”
“Argh!”
Eyes snapping open, I-jun screamed and clutched his hair.
“It’s still here!”
Storming back from the Palace, he’d shut himself in his room. Even when his sister Julia asked if he was ill, if something had happened, if he would at least show his face, he ignored her.
All he wanted was to lie down, close his eyes, and fall asleep quickly. Perhaps it worked, for drowsiness crept over him as the sky outside reddened.
Half-fading consciousness brought a small smile: when he next opened his eyes, he would be back in reality and the Emperor would be gone forever.
It was a delusion.
When awareness returned, nothing had changed.
He slapped his cheeks and even rolled off the bed in hopes of waking, but only his whole body ached; reality stubbornly refused to shift.
By then he had to accept the fact he had avoided: he was not dreaming. He had possessed a webtoon character, and that character was the villainous uke destined to die.
“Aaaaagh!”
I-jun who was now, undeniably, Lev, thrashed all four limbs in wild despair.
The quilt that had been neatly covering him flew into the air and flopped to the floor, but his fit of rage did not end.
“Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!”
“Lev! What’s wrong?”
Julia’s urgent voice came from beyond the door. Panting, Lev abruptly sat up.
“I’m ruined.”
He had been sure this was a dream. He was absolutely convinced. He had behaved rudely to the Emperor and run without a backward glance, yet this was no dream!
Any moment the Emperor might come, seize him by the collar, and drag him away.
I was crazy. Why did I do that?
Regret surged.
“No time to sit here.”
Perhaps the Emperor would not come all the way, but if he stayed in this tiny domain they could meet at any moment.
How long would the Emperor remain? Maybe not all summer, but Lev needed at least a month’s head start otherwise…
He jumped from the bed, yanked on the shirt and trousers he’d tossed aside, and dashed to the dresser. One pull opened a drawer and inside lay a flat box.
Without hesitation he lifted the lid: silver coins of varying weights lay jumbled together. It was his profits from selling juice. He swept every coin into a pouch.
The Emperor had mocked him, asking if he knew prices, as though laughing at a clueless lord’s son.
Far from it. Lev’s keenest sense in life was the cost of things; one had to know prices to spend money right. Living alone, it was the first wisdom he learned.
The pouch now held enough silver to live three months frugally. It was plenty for escape.
It pricked his conscience to leave the family he’d just gained.
“First I have to live.”
Yes. Survival first.
If this was truly a possession inside the webtoon, he couldn’t stay.
If he died for nothing, to whom could he protest the injustice?
He had to run far away.
He even considered taking a ship from the port and leaving the country entirely. Beyond the sea, it was said, lived foreigners with different faiths, faces, and customs; perhaps that was the land of his dreams. Either way, to preserve his life, he had to depart.
Packing quickly, Lev stepped into the hall. Julia, seeing the bundle on his back, asked where he was going.
“Something’s come up.”
“What sort of thing at this late hour? It’s dangerous. Go in daylight. Or rather, Lev…”
“Hmm?”
Striding toward the exit, Lev looked back. Julia hesitated, unsure whether to speak, then shook her head. With few candles, the corridor was dim. Lev missed the mix of worry and fear in her eyes.
“I’m going.”
He tilted his head, said farewell, yet couldn’t quite say he would return. He might never come back. Instead, he took several silver coins from his pouch.
“What’s this?”
“Living expenses.”
It hadn’t been long, yet this was family he thought he’d never have. Shabby though it was, he wanted to give something.
“Living expenses? This much?”
For a noble to call that much, their household’s state was painfully clear.
Bitterly smiling, Lev pressed the coins into Julia’s hands and turned away.
The way out passed the lord’s chamber. Apparently asleep, his father did not appear though the corridor was noisy. It was perhaps for the best. Lev hurried down the stairs and threw open the great doors.
“Finally coming out, are you?”
“Yaaah!”
Stepping outside, Lev recoiled several paces. A tall shadow stood in the yard, golden eyes gleaming even in darkness.
Lev recognized him instantly.
“The Emper—”
“—Your Majesty.”
He hastily corrected himself. Fortunately, the Emperor seemed not to notice or care. He merely unfolded his arms and came closer.
“So you did understand my words. You packed all your luggage. Good. We leave at once.”
“Pardon?”
Lev, bewildered, saw the Emperor’s gaze fixed on his bundle and realized there was a misunderstanding.
“Your Majesty, that is—”
He tried to explain, but Julia, flustered behind him, grabbed his arm and shook her head. Lev remembered her earlier hesitation. She had tried to warn him the Emperor was already here.
Sighing inwardly, he gently removed her hand.
“Julia, go back inside.”
She looked at him with anxious eyes then nodded once and withdrew.
Lev took a deep breath and met the Emperor’s stare.
“I will not go with Your Majesty.”
Firm words yet the Emperor did not so much as lift an eyebrow.
“For insulting me, I will slaughter your entire family. You, I will make my slave.”
The threat was chilling. Lev’s grip on the bundle tightened.
“If you dislike that outcome, accept the reward I offered and become my consort.”
“Why… Why go to such lengths for someone who refuses?”
It was hard to see this as merely the pull of the original story. If only the Emperor would plainly state why he needed him.
The Emperor was not kind.
“I said it already: you are exactly what I need.”
That was all.
Lev bit his lip, glaring. If only he could run right now.
But his family’s lives were hostage. He wasn’t heartless enough to abandon them.
Must he really go along?
Ahead lay death, execution for attempting to kill the main uke beloved by the Emperor.
What do I do…?
After long anguish, Lev raised his eyes.
Under the night sky, the Emperor’s golden eyes were fierce.
It was like facing a beast. Lev swallowed dryness and spoke calmly.
“I have a request.”
“A request?”
“Yes.”
Guien tilted his head for him to continue.
“Make the term last only until the end of this year.”
That was Lev’s decision: if he must become consort, set a limit.
“End of the year?”
The Emperor looked for an explanation.
Lev had one: in the original, the villainous uke did not see the New Year. He failed to assassinate the protagonist at the Harvest Festival, his crimes were exposed, and he was executed at midnight as the year ended.
So Lev wanted out before then. He could hardly tell the Emperor that.
“Yes. If Your Majesty agrees… I will comply.”
He wanted the contract finished before that day.
Since the Emperor would fall in love with a new Empress anyway, Lev planned to keep silent in the palace, endure until year-end, then depart.
Guien studied the determined request.
“Until the end of the year…”
Truly audacious. From their first meeting, he had been unpredictable.
With a curious gaze, Guien stared at Lev.
“Very well. Have it your way. Anything else?”
Huh? Can I ask more?
The Emperor agreed so easily and even invited additional demands. It felt suspicious.
Lev glanced at him.
Actually, the next request sounded absurd even to himself, but since the Emperor offered…
Cautiously, he opened his mouth.
“Something else… I’ll tell you on the road.”
It was awkward to say here with people around. Thankfully, the Emperor nodded easily and turned away, as though the matter were settled.
Outside the manor waited a coach drawn by six horses grand and ornate, clearly fit for an Emperor. The door stood open. The chief chamberlain waited nearby.
“Your Majesty.”
The chamberlain bowed deeply. Guien merely inclined his head and boarded.
Lev stared, unsure: was he to ride in the Emperor’s carriage? Walk instead?
“What are you doing? Get in.”
The Emperor’s voice came from within. Lev edged forward, stealing a glance at the chamberlain, who ignored him entirely.
The interior was even more splendid: spacious, lavishly lit, half-filled by a sofa soft as a bed, multiple silk-covered blankets and cushions. Shelves and drawers held snacks, and a teapot likely filled with hot tea.
“So, what is it you want?”
Lev, thinking he could ride for days in such comfort, snapped his head up at the voice.
The Emperor sat with one leg crossed, looking his way. Lev recalled what he had to say.
Ah, what he wanted…
“Please spare my life.”
“Spare what?”
The Emperor lifted an eyebrow, displeased.
What—why? All I’m asking is to keep my life! It’s only during the contract term, not forever!
Lev grumbled inwardly. Guien gave a brief laugh.
“Why? Planning to sin already?”
“No! Of course not. It’s just… there’s always a slim chance. If you could guarantee it only for the contract period.”
He couldn’t say it was because he knew his grim future.
He wished the Emperor would just accept but Guien only stared. The longer the silence, the more anxious Lev grew.
“Will you grant my request?”
Unable to endure, Lev asked again.
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