Chapter 129
The completely suspicious Attendant left behind the Wanjeonwanjeon suspicious piece of evidence and address before leaving.
Pastel turned pale.
"His Imperial Majesty the Emperor! His Imperial Majesty the Emperor! I didn't take the fall and stab the Supreme Dignitary!"
I'm just an innocent girl who came to explain about one gold coin, knowing absolutely nothing about the Royalist Faction or the Noble Faction!
Uwaaah!
Why is there such a misunderstanding about meee!
She ran around the Hospital Room in a panic.
"Lord Demon! This is a big deal! A completely big deal! Offending the mood of a Person in Power over a specific issue and openly joining an opposing force are on entirely different levels!"
As a Person in Power, I can actively sympathize with His Imperial Majesty's feelings!
If it were Her Excellency Pastel, a friend betraying her once would end with her on the verge of tears, but a friend joining an opposing force in earnest would make her turn expressionless.
Expressionless!
Uwaaah!
That's something that can't happen in Pastel's lifeee!
“Calm down for now. Situation Assessment is best done sitting down.”
The Demon was bewildered by Pastel running around frantically.
"Calm! Calm! Not calm!"
Pastel just kept running around. Her Pink Hair fluttered.
"What do I do! What do I do!"
A massive crisis had come to Her Excellency Pastel, who had been living kindly without Self-interest in the Frontier!
Danger signals were flashing wildly.
It wasn't that she sensed the danger signals as the brave Pastel who had never felt an ounce of fear in her life. Fear flashed through her as Her Excellency Pastel.
Poor Her Excellency Pastel, who had no support base and no human assets in the Central Political Circles.
Even if the Emperor had an inferior Faction, the moment she antagonized him without preparation, she would be crushed by his political power. Since the Kraft Family was originally part of the Royalist Faction, she was essentially a Traitor for now. Aside from this issue, it was easy to see that the Emperor would prepare another political scheme to make an example of her.
Her Excellency Pastel, whose support base was on the Frontier Sky Island, would be helpless against the political schemes unfolding in the Imperial Capital!
She had been staying kindly on the Sky Island, but an arrest warrant on charges of treason could suddenly fly in from the Imperial Capital.
Whether she joined the powerful Noble Faction or whatever, that wasn't important. Since the Kraft Family was originally part of the Royalist Faction, they weren't tightly connected to the inside of the Noble Faction either. The leadership of the Noble Faction could make a political deal with the Emperor and Stealthily offer Her Excellency Pastel as the price.
The Noble Faction would benefit by sacrificing a kid who wasn't even originally part of the Noble Faction and getting what they wanted.
His Imperial Majesty the Emperor would benefit by easily disposing of a Traitor and establishing his dignity.
And it would be nearly impossible for Her Excellency Pastel to constantly monitor such schemes since she was on the Sky Island, far from the Capital.
Pastel grabbed her head and screamed.
"Uwaaang!"
An incident that could really, really happen!
Scary!
Deep Schemes and Far-reaching Plans and Far-reaching Plans of the Central Political Circles are too scary!
There must be tons of political schemers that innocent, innocent Pastel can't handle! The political schemes they've already prepared must be strangling my neck right nooow!
So, so!
What if this pepper shaker the Noble Faction handed me is actually a fake?!
Since this is the Imperial Capital, they had plenty of time and the foundation to perfectly replicate the pepper shaker while Pastel was unconscious.
Then they could have handed the replica to Pastel to reassure her, while the Noble Faction kept the real piece of evidence in their possession.
If they did this, they could pull out the evidence pepper shaker later when needed and threaten innocent Pastel that they would raise the self-fabrication charges again. Or they could hand the evidence over to the Emperor and make a political deal.
Gasp.
Come to think of it, that really seems like what they would do!
A basic political scheme that Her Excellency Pastel would have naturally done if she were the Leader of the Noble Faction!
Since the Kraft Family was originally part of the Royalist Faction and notorious for betrayal, it was only right to secure at least one weakness for management purposes!
"Uwaaaang!"
Pastel trembled as she checked the pepper shaker.
It looked exactly the same as the one she usually carried around. But thinking about the dark abyss of the Central Political Circles, she couldn't feel relieved at all.
They must have replicated it so perfectly that even I can't tell!
No way! No way!
These people are too scary!
Facing the brink of political death, her instinct for power sparked into action. Countless ideas popped up and were eliminated one by one.
Her Pink Eyes sparkled.
"Hah! That's it!"
Instead of the bad Noble Faction that only secures the weaknesses of kind Pastel, how about leaning on the Royalist Faction?
Pastel used Pointing a Finger at the Lord Demon.
"Kraft is originally part of the Royalist Faction, right!"
“Traditionally, they are the Royalist Faction.”
"Yes! The Royalist Faction!"
Pastel's face changed to the expression of a Loyal Subject.
"Actually, I've respected His Imperial Majesty the Emperor since I was young! There's no way someone like me couldn't be in the Royalist Faction!"
Although the Family had completely collapsed and its political assets had evaporated, the Kraft Family was still an orthodox Royalist Faction with history and tradition. If she joined the Royalist Faction, she would be able to receive support along with sympathy votes.
His Imperial Majesty the Emperor would be uncomfortable, but because of that, he wouldn't be able to treat the Kraft Family poorly. Casting out a Loyal Subject Family that had stubbornly returned to the Royalist Faction despite being betrayed, without even a justifiable reason like threatening the throne, would truly be an act of political suicide.
Gasp.
To think I came up with such an idea!
I'm completely smart!
The Demon's expression turned peculiar.
“That guy isn't worth your respect.”
"What did you say?!"
Pastel used Pointing a Finger at the Demon.
"How can you say such a thing in front of a Loyal Subject of the great His Imperial Majesty the Emperor! I can't just stand by! Hiyah!"
Pastel ran over and tapped the chest of the Demon's suit. The Demon was dumbfounded.
“Since when were you a Loyal Subject? Objectively speaking, you have even less respect for the Imperial Family than the Noble Faction. You're not like a Noble at all.”
"Such an insult! I can't forgive you! Yah! Yah!"
Her Playful Punch and Punching drummed against the Demon's chest. The Demon proceeded To Shake One's Head, then collected the parfait spoon.
“You must still be hungry, so I'll bring you something to eat. Even if you aren't in pain, lie down on the hospital bed for now. If you collapsed, it's best to rest.”
"Yees!"
The Demon left.
Pastel obediently lay down on the hospital bed.
And then, having listened to the Lord Demon's words by lying down once, she got up and walked around the Hospital Room.
She crossed her arms and put on a Serious Expression.
"There will be no problem if His Imperial Majesty the Emperor covers up the self-fabrication charges in exchange for me rejoining the Royalist Faction despite being betrayed and establishing the Imperial Authority!"
The genuine pepper shaker isn't scary!
Yeah, yeah!
I'm completely smart!
A knock sounded from the door.
"Ah! Lord Demon, already?"
When she opened the door, an unfamiliar blond man stood there, accompanied by a Guard Knight. The man's golden eyes performed Observation and To Scan on Pastel for a brief moment.
Eek.
"Who are you?"
The man gave a gentle smile.
"You look fine? I was worried because I heard you collapsed while I was too busy with work to attend the banquet."
Pastel looked blank.
He was too busy with work to attend?
Surely not, surely not!
The blond hair and golden eyes caught her sight.
Anyone could tell he was from the Imperial Family!
And with a youthful face but roughly in his thirties, around her parents' generation, he must be the Emperor!
His Imperial Majesty the Emperor!
Uwaaah!
Suddenly coming face-to-face with the Highest Authority, Pastel trembled. Her Pink Eyes went round, and she froze like a small animal.
"U-Usual respect! I mean, I respect! Yes!"
Uwaaah!
What am I sayinggg!
"Hmm?"
The Emperor looked puzzled, then laughed.
"Thank you. But may I come in? It's a bit awkward to just stand here like this."
"Ah! Yes! Yes!"
Pastel hurriedly stepped away from the doorway.
The Emperor stationed his Guard Knight in the Corridor and came in. His golden eyes performed To Scan on the Hospital Room before stopping on Pastel.
The Emperor marveled.
"You really look like Blossom. I didn't expect it to be to this extent."
Ah, Mom?
Not knowing how to react, Pastel fidgeted, touching the hair at the side of her head.
Thank you?
Thanks?
The Emperor's hand reached out. He lifted Pastel's chin and performed Observation on her face.
Ehh?
His golden eyes calmly met her gaze.
Uh-oh.
Isn't this the situation I was afraid offf.
Pastel shrank back.
The Emperor didn't mind and examined her appearance before marveling.
"If only I were ten years younger."
His hand pulled away with a regretful voice.
Pastel hurriedly took a step back. Her Pink Eyes trembled.
Eeeh.
I lack power.
The Emperor looked at her with a gaze of Observation, then smiled brightly.
"Marquis Pastel? On my way here, I heard talk that it was a self-fabrication? What do you think?"
Gasp.
Pastel choked at the direct question that didn't even give her time to adjust.
"That's, that's. I mean, I mean."
The plans she had prepared flew away from her mind with a *whoosh~* due to the difference in the pressure of power.
Gasp.
I feel like I've returned to being an idiot.
"Maybe not the personality, but you really do look alike."
The Emperor nodded to himself, then clasped his hands behind his back and strolled around the spacious Hospital Room. A wistful gaze traced the past.
"Blossom was misunderstood a lot too. She struggled with the Family's notoriety and tried hard to clear up the misunderstandings, but it didn't go well."
Ehh?
What does that mean?
The Emperor fell into thought, then met her gaze and smiled softly.
"As a Close friend, it must be my duty to lighten the burden of her Child."
Then he gave a Wink and added.
"Though I will have to hear the exact situation explained by Demonius."
A normal person!
A nooormal person!
Pastel's cheeks flushed red. She clenched both her fists tightly.
"Wow! Wow! Wow! I! I!"
She barely calmed her excited breathing and shouted.
"You're the first person to look at me properly upon our first meeting!"
To immediately recognize such a kind and innocent Pastel!
An achievement not even the Lord Demon could manage!
Pastel was so moved that she looked slightly on the verge of tears. Moisture filled her Pink Eyes.
"Is that so? That's good."
The Emperor smiled gently.
"Welcome to a nest where neither doubt nor worry is needed."
His arms spread wide.
"Yees!"
Pastel ran over and threw herself into his embrace. His reliable arms were incredibly cozy.
The Emperor laughed joyfully and clapped his hands. Ladies-in-waiting carrying dishes entered the Hospital Room. In an instant, a small buffet was prepared.
"I prepared this thinking you probably couldn't eat properly, would you like some?"
Gasp.
How does he know me so well?
She took out her pepper shaker.
"I'll eat!"
I feel so healed!
Long live His Imperial Majesty the Emperor!
He's the best Adult in my life!
*Meanwhile.*
The Demon was in the Kitchen he had borrowed after asking for permission, in the middle of making an apple pie that Pastel would end up not eating because she'd be too full.
Apple slices were carefully placed one by one on top of the pie dough.
“I don't know if one pie will be enough. But then again, she can't overeat with a body that just fainted. Hmm.”