Chapter 17

17. Becoming a Good Lover

The Emperor's procession leaving the desert border was truly enormous.

Thump!

A large Magical Creature, Luca-Boss, covered with thick fur rugs to withstand the cold of the Nix Empire, moved its heavy steps.

Luca-Bosses, inhabiting the southern desert, were Magical Creatures with large ears, long trunk-like noses, and fearsome fangs. Unlike their massive size, they were quite docile and easy to tame.

However, being easy to tame among Magical Creatures didn't mean Luca-Bosses were on the same level as horses or camels.

Wealth to provide fresh food, and martial prowess strong enough for the Luca-Boss to acknowledge as its master.

Taming and riding a Magical Creature was proof of both.

Therefore, the Emperor of the Quan Desert Empire and his family always rode Luca-Bosses.

The only exception was Meriem.

"He came back alive again, didn't he?"

"Not even a scratch, this time."

"He's still ominous. It's a great relief that the prophecy came down. We can legally get rid of him from this country."

"That's right. What good is the Spirit King's blessing? Not a single drop of rain falls even when the river dries up."

"No, rather, the reason the water in Diawan dried up is because..."

After traveling for a full day, the procession decided to camp at the border.

The members of the Imperial family rested comfortably inside the tents, but as always, Meriem was the exception.

There was no one to set up a tent for him, and in the first place, no tent was provided.

His treatment was no different from that of an ordinary soldier.

Not expecting anything, Meriem took a seat farthest from the bonfire and silently sharpened the blade of his kukri. Pretending not to hear the whispers behind his back.

He had never cared about such gossip before, but even more so now.

Because he was on his way to be abandoned.

"Stay still."

Angered by being blamed for the river drying up, the water droplets surged and leaped like flames.

Meriem quietly cautioned the water droplets and finished what he was doing.

In fact, he couldn't say he didn't understand the soldiers' anger or contempt.

The Spirit King Eldaim, whom he had contracted with around the age of five, certainly possessed great power.

The problem was himself.

Eldaim was pouring all his power into suppressing the energy of the sun raging within him. That was why he couldn't bring rain.

If Eldaim relaxed his grip even slightly, the scorching power would crunch him up and turn him to ashes.

-Meriem. Are you going to let those ignorant fools talk like that?

"It doesn't matter."

-How great your power is. And they don't even know it. Those with eyes like pinholes!

"I said it's okay."

Meriem's conversation with the Spirit King only appeared as if he was talking to himself. This further worsened the perception of him.

The fact that he returned alive no matter where the Emperor sent him was considered not because he was a strong warrior, but because he was ominously lucky.

It was a very unreasonable perception, but it couldn't be helped.

Because it was the Emperor and his Queen who created such public opinion.

"Meriem. His Majesty is looking for you."

It was then.

At the sound of the Emperor calling, Meriem rose without delay.

Despite the various noises coming from inside the tent, there was no change in expression on Meriem's face.

There was no need to say that being called and left standing outside like this was a great insult. But Meriem was not humiliated.

He just had to not see and not hear.

Since he would soon be able to leave this country anyway.

'Even if the Nix Empire is like hell, can it compare to this place? That prophecy is a salvation to me.'

Meriem smiled bitterly inwardly and briefly looked up at the sky.

A golden moon hung between the tall branches of the trees.

It looked similar to the hair color of the one who had healed him, the only person he 'wanted to meet again,' and the stiff corners of his mouth softened without him realizing it.

"Hoo, you've come."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty, my foot. Just call me Big Brother."

Having finished what he was doing, the Emperor revealed himself as the entrance to the tent opened.

The Desert Emperor, Kalik Quan.

The late Emperor had fifteen children, and Kalik was the second among them.

When the Imperial Palace burned down and his brothers were tied up and beheaded, Meriem was able to survive by contracting with the Spirit King.

A wall of water rose firmly around him, drowning everyone who approached.

Kalik, after trying a few more times, gave up and spared only Meriem, and he became the Emperor's one and only brother.

A brother he wanted to get rid of from before his eyes, someday.

"You have received a prophecy and are going to the enemy country, but you must not forget your duty. I will send a contact every quarter, so extract and deliver all information about the enemy country's Imperial family."

"Yes."

"You didn't bring any information this time, but I found out separately that the Empress of that country is very promiscuous. Become a good lover. Then you might be able to obtain top-secret information. It means that our desert nation could unify the entire world."

"...Yes."

Standing with his hands behind his back like a subordinate rather than a brother, Meriem did not object to the Emperor's words and simply said he understood.

Having been directly affected by the Emperor of Nix, he wanted to tell him that unifying the continent was a futile dream, but there was no need to provoke anger by saying unnecessary things.

But at the words to become the Empress's lover, he could only clench his hidden fist.

He had no intention of becoming a plaything for a woman he didn't even know.

No, he was sick of women.

As Meriem's thighs thickened and he grew taller, more and more girls revealed their feelings for him.

Among them were daughters of noble families, who came to Meriem and openly made statements that they would 'save him.'

They were saying that he should come to their family since he was not being treated well in the Imperial Palace.

If he refused, they should have understood and gone back, but they persistently harassed him because their pride was hurt.

If daughters from noble families acted like that, then daughters from wealthy merchant classes openly tried to fondle his body.

When he reached the age to be recognized as a warrior, there was even someone who brought a box filled with gold and told him to strip in front of them.

As that number exceeded one, two, three, or four, Meriem now shuddered at the thought of women.

"You must be tired, so go and rest. I should spend more time with Bi."

"Have a peaceful night."

"It will be a passionate night."

Kalik laughed heartily and disappeared back into the tent.

After standing still for a moment to calm his mind, Meriem hurriedly turned away when he heard a sound like kissing.

'Damn it.'

Why was this coming to mind?

In an instant, what happened in the Nix Empire filled his head.

The woman who was sleeping defenselessly, breathing softly. The abundant golden hair that flowed down to her waist. Long eyelashes and plump lips.

She looked so fragile, so noble that he couldn't even touch her with a finger.

Her skin was so soft.

"Ugh."

When he remembered even kissing her forehead as a reward for treatment, Meriem stopped abruptly and roughly rubbed his lips.

He might be able to meet her again if he went to Nix.

Then he should properly thank her.

'Yes, I'm trying to meet her again to say thank you.'

That's all.

Meriem gritted his teeth, thinking so.

His body was stiff, making it difficult to move.

'Why did I have to learn about kindness…'

He didn't know what kindness was, what affection was.

But now he knows vaguely.

The memory of her carefully wiping his forehead every time his consciousness returned still dominated Meriem's mind.

Whether she was a skilled doctor or not, she flawlessly stitched up his serious wounds and healed all the other wounds.

Every single one was a kindness he had never received in his life.

'Besides, even with Eldaim's power, I sometimes felt like I was going to die from the heat, but since that day, the flames feel somewhat lessened.'

To be precise, it felt like she had taken away some of the flames that were burning inside him.

It was an absurd expression, but that's how it felt anyway.

'I gave her the bracelet that was my mother's keepsake, so I'll meet her again someday.'

Even if he becomes the Empress's pet, he will be given the freedom to find her.

Feeling strangely hot, Meriem swept his forehead back.

As he crossed the desert, a cool current was blowing in from somewhere.

* * *

'I have too few allies within the Imperial Palace.'

Meanwhile, at that moment, in the Nix Imperial Palace.

I was heading somewhere with Derek.

'The courtiers have somewhat come over to my side, but the knights haven't yet.'

Anything could happen at such a grand banquet, so the knights had to stand guard.

But when I sent a letter expressing my intention to request manpower, the answer that came back was not very satisfactory.

Of course, it was polite, but that was all.

No enthusiasm could be found in the letter.

'The public opinion is still not good because I haven't shown results, so that's understandable… but they're being excessively uncooperative.'

There were a total of three knight orders belonging to the Nix Empire's Imperial Palace.

The <Imperial Guard> directly under the Emperor.

The Crusade <Crusade>.

The Imperial Knights <Valkyrie>.

Among these, I first sent a letter to the Imperial Guard, whose skills were certain, but a very lukewarm answer came back.

I couldn't set up the Crusade as banquet guards either, because the Crusade were not basically in the Imperial Palace.

They were out all over the Empire dealing with Magical Creatures.

'The reason why the Imperial Guard doesn't want to help me is obvious.'

It's because of Helene.

'I didn't know the Imperial Guard was so deeply in love with Helene.'