21 - Never Let Go of a Black-Haired Dad

Chapter 21. Don't Go Around Calling Yourself a Maniac Unless You're Going to Date a Hundred Lovers (9)

Translator: Note

Episode 21

"It's, it's Head Maid Listo!"

Madam Listo's sudden appearance and shout stopped Choco and Beomgol in their tracks. Feeling relieved that someone had come to mediate, I ran to the Head Maid, sobbing, and she picked me up, wiping away my tears.

"Your Highness is still young! It's only natural to be surprised!"

That's right, Head Maid! Tell them more!

I was totally surprised!

As I cried even harder, feeling wronged, Madam Listo made Beomgol and Choco kneel and spoke in an angry voice.

"Ende, that's always been your problem since you were young! You don't realize how extraordinary you are! How many people have been hurt by your insensitivity...!"

Huh? Since I was young?

"Head Maid, have you met Lorowi when he was young?"

I asked, sniffling, and the Head Maid avoided my gaze. Then, she put a cookie in my mouth and sat me on a chair. She also found the problematic book.

"You've been doing nonsense again with that useless book!"

Madam Listo grabbed the emotional development book from the table and threw it at Beomgol's head. Beomgol, not even trying to dodge, was hit on the head with the book and defended himself in a serious tone.

"It's a misunderstanding, Head Maid. It's a book written by a credible author."

"Then why is Her Highness crying?"

"Um..."

"..."

"I wonder?"

As if this wasn't the first time, the Head Maid skillfully kicked Beomgol.

Hmm... those two seem really close.

"Are you two, what are you?"

"We are nothing. More importantly, did you tell Her Highness about the coronation schedule, Your Majesty?"

"No."

"What have you been doing all this time, taking time out of your busy schedule to meet Her Highness?"

"Playing house."

"I should have killed you back then."

"Insolent."

"Then execute me."

"Bisha told me not to kill you."

"It's the first time I've ever known Your Majesty to listen to others."

"I've grown up and matured too."

"As if that mouth could say anything right."

Head Maid, you're really going all out in private. Making the Emperor kneel and ordering tea for the maids is something even my aunt wouldn't do. Amazing.

I quietly ate my cookie, taking time to reconsider the power structure of this imperial family.

"The schedule is tight, but the dispatch of envoys from Astiages was already planned. We must execute Helbatro today, hold the coronation tomorrow, and welcome the envoys. Her Highness must also be present, of course."

"Noooo, I won't."

"We have no choice if we want to give legitimacy to that rootless Emperor. Isn't it Her Highness who called the historians to write a biased record, worrying about this?"

"Little ones, no politics."

"Is that so? By the way, I heard that Hisperon is coming as the envoy from Astiages."

"...Mep?"

Hisperon? Did she just say Hisperon? That young hero Hisperon?

The one who went to the battlefield at the young age of fourteen and won his first victory, who not only suppressed the eastern rebellion at fifteen but also advanced eastward, expanding the territory, that young hero?

The one who, despite not receiving recognition from Astiages's castle and imperial family due to his mother being of low birth, remained loyal to the country and tragically died on the battlefield at the tender age of twenty?

"Hoo-up! Dae-bak! Hisperon! Hoo-oo... Really? That Hisperon?"

"Yes. The one Her Highness likes so much, the one who only knows war and is of low birth."

"Not of low birth! Hisperon is a young hero!"

"Yes, yes, whatever you say."

Wait. I'm five years old, so how old is Hisperon? Fifteen, sixteen?

Anyway, that young hero is alive now!

Crazy... Oh my god! The day I get to see Hisperon in person has come!

"You should have told me sooner!"

"Calm down. That lowborn is coming in two days."

"Not lowborn!"

This Head Maid is driving me crazy!

Hisperon isn't someone who cares about status! Do you think just anyone can lead a completely disadvantaged force and return alive using a series of schemes on his first campaign?

That's not something a human can do! You have to be completely possessed to do that!

The Head Maid doesn't know anything and is just running her mouth!

But I couldn't just swear at her. If an envoy came from another country, the Head Maid would be in charge of adjusting the schedule.

She's called the Head Maid because the idiot thought it was too hard to pronounce her real title, but Madam Listo's official title was 'Head of the Imperial Palace Personnel Department and Management Supervisor.'

The movements of everyone residing in the Imperial Palace were under the Head Maid's control. Since envoys from other countries would stay at the guesthouse in the outer palace, the Head Maid would naturally manage their schedule.

So, I had no choice but to beg the Head Maid to arrange a time for me to meet the young hero.

"Please, please let me meet him! It's my lifelong wish!"

"If you don't skip class and study hard from now on, I'll arrange a meeting for you."

"That and this are! Separate!"

"Then there's nothing I can do if you can't meet him."

"Hoo-oong! Please! Please let me see him! Head Maid, you're the prettiest Head Maid I know! Your wrinkles are pretty too! And your temper isn't that bad compared to my mom! Cheer up!"

"You're really bad at giving compliments. You can't be a great emperor if you can't tell a good lie."

"I'm not going to be emperor!"

I don't have to take on that responsibility. I just need to restore Kisomallos to the upper god status, and then I'll live the rest of my life in leisure!

'As if I'd ever get an IV drip again to do politics!'

As I grabbed the Head Maid's skirt and stomped my feet, begging her to let me meet Hisperon, the Head Maid rubbed her head as if she had a headache.

That's when Beomgol raised his hand while kneeling.

"Wait. I also have experience going to war at fifteen. Why don't you respect me instead of that guy?"

"Didn't Your Majesty lose that battle and get captured, and the late Emperor had to pay a huge sum to get you back?"

"The result isn't important. The process is important. I fought valiantly."

"If Helbatro's mother hadn't erased the records, you'd still be ridiculed as the mountaineer Ende."

"A kid can make mistakes."

"Don't talk to me. I don't want to talk to you."

The Head Maid shuddered as if she was really fed up with Beomgol and informed me that she would let me meet Hisperon after the coronation and welcoming the envoys went smoothly.

Since it wasn't a definite promise, I could only curse.

"Ugly Head Maid!"

"That's right. An old, nasty, ugly, smelly old Head Maid."

Madam Listo, who didn't care when I cursed, grabbed the book she had thrown earlier and beat the bear-sized man as soon as Beomgol opened his mouth.

The Head Maid, who said she never wanted to see him again and shuddered, warned me to stay in the Princess Palace because there would be a lot of bad rumors due to the idiot's execution.

"No. I'm going to watch too."

"...You vicious girl."

Ah, why do you keep calling me a vicious girl!

I don't know what kind of sweet memories you have with that idiot, but he's been a consistent piece of trash to me from birth to death! Don't say anything unless you've been in my shoes!

As I retorted, Beomgol took my side and picked me up.

"That's right, Head Maid. Don't say anything unless you've been friends with someone like that for money."

"Isn't it because you say such useless things that Helbatro went astray!"

What, Beomgol? Have you ever been friends with my dad for money?

More than that, did that idiot even have friends? Friends that I don't have? Unbelievable!

"No way. That idiot had friends."

"It was something I did for money. Everything in this world can be done with money."

"No. I don't care about money or anything, I'd rather die."

"Well, I didn't have a choice back then either. If I could have avoided meeting him for the rest of my life, I would have."

"That's right."

"Of course."

Perhaps because we were cursing Helbatro, whom she had raised herself, the Head Maid flipped the table and stormed out.

Beomgol and I felt a little sorry after seeing her sad back. So, after a moment of reflection, we made plans to meet at the execution site.

✦ ✦ ✦

Helbatro Mayuna Kisomallos had a gag in his mouth. It was said to prevent him from screaming, but he probably wouldn't feel any pain.

At Madam Listo's earnest request, he had already been injected with a lethal dose of anesthetic, and he had also swallowed the hallucinogens he usually took.

My father would see shimmering illusions as if he were dreaming, even if fire was lit under his feet, and he would leave this world.

The invited guests would be the ones who remembered the fear and coldness as they watched Helbatro die.

Thanks to his name being Kisomallos, Helbatro was not publicly executed. The people gathered here as if attending a funeral were those who had remained silent when the throne was taken away and when Beomgol had occupied the Imperial Palace.

Since the coronation was tomorrow anyway, they had to come to the Imperial Palace, and calling them a day early to show them the execution was a kind of example.

The Emperor said that he was now the Emperor and to do as he pleased, but Beomgol had come up with a truly heinous plan.

He had personally shown them what kind of person had taken the throne, so the nobles and other dignitaries would have a lot to worry about in their future conduct.

"Haa..."

Wow, he's burning well.

It was a gruesome sight, but I didn't feel like turning away. I didn't feel any pity either. I just thought that someone who was going to die anyway had left a little early.

We only had dirty memories between us, so I felt relieved that we would never meet again.

I watched the execution until the end and then headed back to the Princess Palace.

My aunt and the Head Maid made useless suggestions about sleeping together, but I bravely refused and slept alone under the covers.