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Chapter : 26
Even Extras Can Refuse the Death Route (26)
“Your Majesty, did you call for me?”
As soon as Iate arrived at the palace, he was summoned to Emperor Graham’s office.
Graham, who had been looking over some documents, removed his glasses and stood up when he heard Iate’s voice.
“Sit down.”
The two of them faced each other across a small table.
After a long, silent moment, Graham was the first to speak.
“So, how did it go?”
“It’s still pending.”
A faint crease appeared on Graham’s usually expressionless forehead.
“I sent you to persuade them, and this is what you bring me.”
“……”
“You really can’t do anything right, can you?”
“Then why don’t you do it yourself? Why leave it to me?”
“……What?”
Unlike Iate’s calm demeanor, Graham’s face twisted angrily.
“Isn’t that so? Why entrust it to someone like me if you don’t trust me?”
Graham let out a bitter laugh, as if speechless.
“The Crown Prince of the Empire, and you’re saying that now?”
“Is there even a clause that can persuade them?”
“What?!”
Graham shouted, his face turning bright red.
Normally, Iate would have lowered his head and apologized with a blank expression.
But now, as he voiced his own opinion, Graham was taken aback.
“Wasn’t it designed from the start to fail?”
Iate let out a bitter smile mixed with a sigh.
Then, he studied Graham’s expression, almost testing him.
When he saw the slight hesitation and the trembling in Graham’s pupils, Iate felt certain.
“You thought I wouldn’t notice, didn’t you?”
Graham looked at Iate, who was laughing hollowly, with a confused gaze.
Then, he quickly composed himself and clicked his tongue in irritation.
“Stop making such ridiculous excuses. Do you really want to dress up your own incompetence like that?”
“Hah.”
Perhaps it was better to hear that it was intentional, rather than feeling helpless.
Compared to a crown prince plagued by madness, the Tenant family seemed more reliable.
That was why he had allowed Leela to handle everything.
“If you can’t do it, send someone else. You’re still useless.”
Graham, looking at Iate with disdain, got up from his seat.
In that moment, Graham’s words and gaze shattered something that had been wavering in Iate’s heart.
This man, his father, had abandoned him mentally ever since the madness appeared.
It was something he had tried to ignore.
Even the fact that the Tenant family was gradually encroaching on his territory.
Perhaps he thought that if Iate realized it, he would collapse on his own.
But now, facing it directly,
Iate felt as if a suffocating weight had lifted, like a breath of fresh air.
He inhaled deeply.
“Do as you wish.”
“……What?”
Iate slowly rose from his seat.
Then he met Graham’s gaze directly.
“Whether you intended it or not, I don’t care.”
“Iate.”
Graham ground his teeth and glared at him with a murderous look.
“Have you truly gone mad? Even I have limits to tolerating arrogance.”
Iate thought to himself:
All those words he had heard countless times before—was that what had been holding him back?
He had always thought he was inadequate and unworthy.
He had believed that feeling came from within himself.
But today, he could finally realize it clearly.
“From now on, I will act of my own will, by myself.”
The weak version of himself had been stopped by someone else’s implanted thoughts.
Iate left the room, ignoring Graham, who seemed about to say something.
“Your Majesty, are you all right?”
Taron, who was guarding the door, noticed the sudden dark expression on Iate’s face.
Iate walked silently for a while before finally speaking.
“……I’m not all right, but…”
He clenched his slightly trembling fists.
“But I don’t feel bad either.”
His eyes sparkled as he said this.
Facing the things he had avoided using his madness as a shield wasn’t easy.
The emotions that had been dormant were now boiling up—it was proof of that.
But Iate felt more alive than he had since the madness began.
Reviving the part of himself he thought had died was surprisingly enjoyable.
“That’s good.”
Taron felt a mix of emotions seeing Iate like this.
The excitement of potential change, the joy of seeing Iate regain his vitality,
And a strange sense of unease.
“For today, perhaps you should rest. You look very tired.”
Iate paused for a moment at Taron’s words.
Then he curled his lips into a smirk.
“No, there’s still work to be done.”
“Excuse me? Why?”
I asked the confectioner, eyes wide.
“It’s always like that. After meeting His Majesty, you’ll probably rest well until tomorrow.”
I had planned to bring the design and honey lemon as soon as Iate returned.
This was sudden, like a bolt from the blue.
“C-couldn’t I at least ask? Visit Taron or something…”
“There’s no need to rush. You can see him tomorrow.”
“But…”
“You’ve worked hard these past few days, so go home and rest today.”
The confectioner’s firm words left me no room to argue.
Yes, it was true there was no urgent need.
But my position didn’t allow that.
This episode had been going on for quite some time already.
In an endless story, I just wanted to do one more thing.
“…Yes…”
The confectioner patted my shoulder with a tired hand and walked away.
I held the design in my hands and stared at it.
‘Guess I have to wait until tomorrow…’
Better than barging in and being turned away like last time.
Anyway, I could see him tomorrow—just one more day.
“…Huh?”
Just as I was leaving the kitchen to return to my room, a familiar figure approached from afar.
“Hello.”
It was none other than Taron, smiling gently.
“Hello… what brings you here?”
I was briefly taken aback by the unexpected visitor.
Then a thought struck me: maybe this was my chance.
I could ask Taron if it was possible to see Iate.
“T-Taron.”
“Ireneia.”
As I called his name, Taron called mine.
He looked at me, momentarily dazed, then smiled.
“You should speak first.”
“No, no. You speak first.”
“It’s fine. Please, go ahead.”
“Well, um…”
I hesitated, feeling embarrassed. I felt like I had been obsessing over Iate lately.
But now that I had started, I had to speak.
“May I… meet His Majesty?”
“……Heh.”
Taron looked surprised at my hesitant request.
Then he chuckled softly.
“That works out well.”
“Pardon?”
“His Majesty also wishes to speak with you, Ireneia.”
I almost thought I misheard.
Iate was looking for me first?
“R-Really?”
“Yes. I came to tell you that.”
I was confused, but it was welcome news.
“If it’s fine now, shall we go together?”
“Yes, let’s! Ah, wait a moment.”
I hurried to grab the honey lemon.
“What’s that?”
Taron asked, looking at the honey lemon in my hand.
“It’s honey lemon. I want to give it to His Majesty.”
“I see.”
Taron didn’t ask any further.
As we walked silently, approaching Iate’s office, Taron suddenly stopped.
“Ireneia, what kind of person do you think His Majesty is?”
He asked seriously, stopping in his tracks.
“Um, should I be honest?”
“That’s your choice, but I would appreciate it.”
Taron was trustworthy. He had stayed by Iate’s side even until the moment he was thought dead.
My worry wasn’t that Taron had bad intentions.
It was how to express my feelings.
I feared they might be misunderstood as romantic.
“I think he’s a good person. He seems cold, but he’s warm inside and loves the Empire more than anyone else.”
Taron nodded silently, listening.
“So I want His Majesty to be happy, in any way possible.”
Lately, I felt like I was broadcasting this sentiment everywhere.
Well, that didn’t matter.
“I see.”
Seeing Taron nod with a slight smile, I hastily added:
“Of course! I don’t mean it romantically or anything like that.”
“Eh?”
Taron’s eyes widened at my words.
I realized my words sounded strange, almost as if I were guilty of some crime.
“It’s just… people keep saying weird things around me…”
Taron hadn’t thought anything, yet I blurted it out, feeling foolish.
Feeling embarrassed, I fiddled with the glass bottle in my hand.
“I understand, no misunderstanding. Don’t worry, Ireneia.”
“Ahaha…”
Taron seemed mature in many ways.
I calmed my flushed face and continued walking with him.
“Things could still change.”
“Eh?”
“Nothing… ah, we’re almost there…”
As I asked Taron, he suddenly stopped talking.
I followed his gaze in surprise.
‘…Leela?’
Leela stood there, head bowed.
Her hands tightly clutched her skirts, trembling.
What could have happened?
“Are you all right, Princess?”
Taron approached. Leela flinched slightly.
Then slowly lifted her head; tears filled her eyes.
“……Taron.”
At the mention of Taron’s name, tears fell to the ground.
What on earth was happening?
I froze, unable to approach, standing dumbly.
The knights guarding the door seemed equally confused.
“What happened?”
“……Nothing, I should go back now.”
Leela hesitated, then wiped her tears with delicate fingers.
Taron watched her with concern.
He spoke to a nearby knight:
“Escort the princess back.”
“Yes, sir.”
The knight approached, masking his own surprise, and helped Leela.
“Princess, please be careful.”
“Thank you, Taron.”
Leela smiled gently through her wet eyes.
She walked past Taron toward me with the knight.
As she raised her hand to her tear-streaked cheek, our eyes met.
“……!”
Her gaze pierced me like a razor in an instant.
