🔊 TTS Settings
#11. Make That Woman Yours
“What on earth is going on here?”
Kares frowned deeply.
The three boys quickly bowed their heads.
They looked to be about ten to thirteen years old, wearing nothing but their undergarments.
“Aren’t you attendants of His Highness the Crown Prince?”
“Y-yes, Lord Kares.”
“Then why are you causing such a ruckus in the sacred palace?”
“His Highness suddenly stripped us of our clothes and started hitting us with a wooden sword!”
The youngest boy, unable to hold back his grievance, burst into tears again.
Kares rubbed his forehead, as though he had expected this.
“You should have served him well enough to prevent such disgraceful incidents.”
“But Lord Kares, you know, don’t you? His Highness always takes his anger out on us. Sob, sob.”
“It is your duty to ease His Highness’s moods. For the honor of your families, endure and do better.”
These boys weren’t ordinary attendants. They were noble-born children, hoping to one day become close aides to the future emperor.
Second or third sons, who wouldn’t inherit titles, often sought their future this way.
They must all be children raised in good households… but isn’t this child abuse? Violence by power and hierarchy?
Either way, the crown prince was no ordinary brat.
Calling him a brat was far too generous.
The fact that no one had stopped his rampages until now was shocking.
“Kares. What happened to the previous tutor?”
“They resigned due to health reasons.”
“They didn’t run away, you mean?”
Kares averted his gaze.
The boys hurried to tattle.
“The last teacher didn’t last even a month! His Highness stuffed a dead rat into their cushion!”
“He poured scalding tea on their hand once!”
“He stabbed their lips with a silver spoon! The teacher feared His Highness until the very day they left.”
Kares sharply scolded the boys.
“You brats! Have you forgotten your oath of secrecy? Keep babbling and I’ll thrash you and throw you out!”
I glared at him with a sigh.
I had thought Kares, who had once knelt before my magical power, was using his wisdom for my sake.
But to think he’d roped me into one of the most unwanted jobs imaginable.
“Kares. Don’t you have anything to say for yourself?”
“You’ll be paid the empire’s highest salary. Clothing allowance, dignity stipend, vacation pay—all provided.”
“Did you forget who I am? I’m Elizabeth Amster, the richest woman in the capital!”
“Ahem. Subject tutors will be handled separately. All you need do, Lady Elizabeth, is manage his daily life.”
“That’s the hardest part! So hard no one else is willing to do it.”
I wasn’t a noble, nor did I have a good reputation—yet they appointed me as the crown prince’s tutor.
And there was no objection from the noble assembly.
I had thought that odd, but of course—it was because I was the one fated to suffer what their sons had endured.
“You want me to swallow this garbage? Forget it! I’m out!”
A sharp cry rang out, followed by the sound of something shattering.
The heavy oak door burst open.
From the crown prince’s chamber came the head chef holding a golden platter, followed by frantic maids.
I let out a bitter laugh at the ruined dishes.
“Why is there a footprint on the steak? And ink instead of dressing on the salad?”
“Perhaps His Highness’s picky eating has worsened.”
“This looks like picky eating to you?”
“His Highness is still young… and he grew up lonely.”
“So you spoiled him under that excuse. That’s neglect, nothing else!”
Kares fell silent for a moment before defending the crown prince.
“Food can always be made again.”
“I’ll report this to His Majesty! He needs discipline!”
“You cannot.”
“And why not?”
“His Majesty does not wish to hear of it.”
“What?”
“His Majesty has decreed that all matters concerning the crown prince fall to the tutor alone.”
A crown prince who acted like a thug, and an emperor who didn’t even care about his son!
With a father like that, of course the boy would grow twisted.
Just as I was about to explode in frustration, Kares knocked politely.
“Your Highness, it is the Minister of the Interior.”
“Go away.”
“A new tutor has arrived. Please meet them.”
“Tell them if they value their life, they’d better flee at once.”
The voice that came back was cold, a mirror of his father’s.
Kares turned to me with a bitter expression.
“Please, I beg you, Lady Elizabeth. Only you can do this. You’re the only one we can trust with His Highness.”
“No matter who he is, I won’t allow this! I’ll strip away that rotten attitude of his, mark my words! Did you expect me to say that?”
“…Didn’t you?”
“Heh. What a foolish dream you’ve had.”
Disappointment shadowed Kares’s face.
I ignored it, patting his shoulder.
“I’ll be going. Getting involved with someone who clearly doesn’t want me around is not my style.”
“Lady Elizabeth!”
“Do what you will with His Majesty’s precious son.”
The night was starless and moonless.
Under heavy clouds, a north wind blew.
Though spring was near, the palace was steeped in bleak darkness.
The enormous marble fountain, the manicured lawn, the perfectly trimmed trees—none could dispel the ominous shadows.
Nikolai dismissed the attendants and guards carrying lanterns.
There was a reason he had to walk alone.
“What is it you want?”
He wasn’t talking to himself.
The Goddess’s Wolf had been waiting for Nikolai to speak first.
『Let’s go to the harem, Niki.』
“You prefer women reeking of perfume?”
『Wouldn’t the fragrant one be even better?』
“Elisabeth is not the empress.”
『But she is yours, isn’t she?』
“She is not mine.”
『Don’t try to fool a friend who’s been with you for six years, Niki.』
“Don’t call me that, Wolf.”
Nikolai spat the words like venom.
But the wolf only chuckled darkly.
『Be honest. You want her—more than I do.』
“Shut your mouth and do your duty.”
『And you must do yours. Don’t forget to feed me.』
“…”
『You think I enjoy sniffing around? I want fresh scents, too.』
“…”
『But what can we do? This is what I am. And you—you’re bound to coexist with me.』
The wolf was the only being Nikolai couldn’t control.
To a starving wolf, an emperor’s authority meant nothing.
『A warning, perhaps? That woman’s sweet scent can numb your senses. It may hinder your search for the Deathblossom.』
“Keep your warnings to yourself, Wolf.”
Barely mastering his rage, Nikolai changed the subject.
“The temple sent word. Ominous movements have been detected in the south.”
『Doesn’t look good. A disease that only strikes young women? Strange. Plague spirits aren’t usually so precise.』
“Either way, we must find and isolate it quickly.”
『Once rumors spread that the Deathblossom has returned, the nobles will be the first to flee—unaware they’ll spread it everywhere. Those who cannot flee will huddle together, wailing and begging their god. Pathetic foolishness.』
When the Deathblossom had first appeared, healers and apothecaries were powerless.
The people fought fear in their own ways.
Herbal remedies, faith—none of it worked.
The plague spread like wildfire.
And when some denied the danger, its outbreak became unstoppable.
Nikolai could not allow that bitter past to repeat.
“We must hurry. The south. The border of the Inted Isles.”
『Niki. You’d use me without feeding me? Go to the harem at once.』
“…”
『Why hesitate? I only breathe in their scent.』
“Remember this. Nothing beyond that will ever be allowed.”
『Doesn’t matter to me. But don’t you pity the women waiting for your touch?』
“Today, your stench is overwhelming.”
『Then take something fragrant. If it isn’t yours—make it yours.』
“I am not a beast like you.”
Sometimes that truth was unbearably painful.
Reason and restraint felt like shackles binding his very limbs.
Especially when he was with Elisabeth.
Was it madness, that sometimes he wished he could just be a beast?
『No joy in living, no purpose for life. You’re pitiable, Niki—worse than a dog on a leash.』
“Silence, Wolf.”
『I’m starving. I don’t even know what I might do.』
“…We’re here.”
『Good. I can already smell it.』
Dragging long, dark shadows, Nikolai stepped into the harem.
As long as the Deathblossom existed, and the Goddess’s Wolf remained, his duty would never end.
What were the guards even doing? They couldn’t even block a hole in the hedge.
I sighed, looking toward the rustling holly bush.
“…Sigh. You again?”
The boy crawled out of the hole, pouting.
As usual, his cocky tone never changed.
“What a rude woman. Don’t you know you’re supposed to greet people first?”
“Mind your own manners. Stop bothering me.”
I didn’t lift my eyes from the book.
I wanted to finish reading the History of the Empire’s Founding before lunch.
The boy paced the garden like a restless pup before snapping,
“Hey, woman. Aren’t you the Emperor’s mistress?”
“Keep your nose out of my business. I don’t care about yours either.”
“How was last night? Did His Majesty enjoy himself?”
“This little brat—what won’t you say?”
I couldn’t help but frown.
The boy looked satisfied to have gotten a reaction.
“You’re nothing more than a toy, I bet. His Majesty would never truly like a woman like you.”
My temples throbbed.
I had no intention of indulging this insolent child.
But simply pinching his cheek seemed far too mild.
“You’re a pitiful child.”
I murmured with a blank expression.
The boy, who had been putting on airs, scowled.
“I know your type well. Weak kids who pretend to be strong, mimicking adult speech.”
“I’m weak? Pitiful?”
“Of course. You have no friends, no family to care for you.”
“!”
“You think you’re special, but you’re not. You’re just a lonely, twisted child who can’t handle being alone. You pick fights just to beg for attention.”
Maybe I had hit too close to home.
The boy’s pale green eyes flipped wide open.
It was harsh, perhaps—but truth always hurts.
And he needed to know.
The world didn’t revolve around him. One day he’d have to stand alone with nothing to lean on.
And then, what he’d need wasn’t stubbornness or arrogance—but the courage to admit his own weakness.
“‘I’m lonely, look at me, love me.’ Enough whining already.”
“I never said that!”
“If you were honest, you might get some sympathy. But you don’t even have the courage for that. Why? Because no one would listen anyway.”
“Don’t make baseless assumptions!”
“You’ve noticed it yourself, haven’t you? The more you cling, the more people despise you. But you don’t know any other way—you’ve never been taught.”
“!”
“That’s why I say you’re pitiful and weak.”
At that, a tear fell from the boy’s large eyes.
“H-how dare you…”
Unable to contain himself, he cried freely.
Up close, he was just a very small child.
His trembling shoulders looked barely two spans wide.
“Who are you to lecture me?”
“I hate meddling in other people’s lives too. You should’ve thought before spouting insults.”
“Shut up! What do you know?!”
The boy scrubbed furiously at his tears with his sleeve.
Crying in front of me must have wounded his pride.
His hands bore scars no one had cared for.
He had probably survived until now only by lashing out with violence and sharp words.
Maybe he cried himself to sleep every night. I used to, too.
There are abandoned children in every world.
If you didn’t act tough, you were ignored. If you didn’t attack first, you were trampled.
But that didn’t excuse his cruelty.
Loneliness didn’t grant anyone the right to hurt others.
I knelt, meeting his eyes.
The midday sun glinted off fine shoes that didn’t match his filthy servant’s uniform.
“I know one thing about you. You’re Crown Prince Franz.”
