I Became the Father of a Degenerate Emperor

Episode 11. Different Dreams

Episode 11. Different Dreams

A solitary cell in a dungeon illuminated by a torch.

Even with my eyes closed, I could clearly feel the flickering of the flames.

When I came back to my senses, I could only hear the voices of Max and the empress, and I deliberately didn’t open my eyes.

It was because he was afraid that Max would try to strangle him again.

My back and spine were very stiff, and certainly the cold floor of the dungeon seemed to be a punishment in itself.

Even so, the head and neck were in a very cozy state, because something warm and soft was firmly supporting them.

Since I closed my eyes, my senses in other places gradually began to become more sensitive.

This was especially true of the sense of smell, and a sweet scent that tickled the tip of the nose and an enchanting body odor that made one’s nerves stand out suddenly.

From my experience, it must have belonged to the empress.

Perhaps I was lying on the empress’ leg.

Sug-

Before long, her soft hands gently brushed through her hair, repeating itself.

He was gently stroking my hair.

It was a light touch like a breeze.

What seemed to be only that much seemed to calmly convey consolation while dissolving the lump in the heart.

Then suddenly I heard Max’s voice and the cozy feeling ran away.

“By the way, Estill. Do you really believe this bastard?”

“I believe.”

It was a firm answer without hesitation.

“It might all be the work of this guy, right? Even though I was confined, I didn’t close my ears.”

“Most of what you hear is probably true. I also went through countless hardships because of Lux. But that way you can know better. The current Lux has definitely changed.”

Listening to the conversation between the two, I only measured the timing to open my eyes.

However, as with human affairs, opportunities do not come very often.

The murderous intent in Max’s voice was still threatening me.

“If that’s what that bastard is after? Maybe you’re just pretending to change, right? Besides, that cold expression and voice are absolutely not Lux’s.”

The suspicion coiled in his heart continued to flick his tongue, fueling his murderous intent.

However, the empress retorted in a voice full of conviction.

“It was an addiction for five years. He has even been controlled and manipulated by demons. Do you think Lux really wanted those things? Was the Lux you knew like that? How great was the agony of forcing yourself to do something you didn’t want to do? I can’t even imagine the pain If you go through something like that, everyone’s expression and voice will have no choice but to be like that.”

Perhaps it was difficult to persuade with words, Max quickly tried to change the topic.

“I don’t know, I don’t know, show me the demon’s corpse quickly.”

“I’ll show you when Lux wakes up.”

“Haa…… Estill. Keep this one thing in mind, if there is no demon’s corpse, I really have no choice but to kill Lux. That’s the only way I can prove my friendship with him. I must end it with my own hands before he eats up the Empire. It is also for your children.”

“Max, I promise you. If the demon’s corpse is hit, I won’t complain anymore. Kneel to Lux and swear allegiance once more. Okay?”

“Okay. I will.”

From the content of the conversation, it seemed that if I opened my eyes now, I wouldn’t be strangled by Max again.

I cleared my throat and opened my eyes.

“In vain.”

As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw the empress’ pupils right above me.

It’s beautiful.

I could only think of that one thing.

“Are you awake, Your Majesty?”

The way he speaks has changed 180 degrees from when he was talking to Max.

Kindness crouching in moderation. It felt as if something just like that was flying in its warm breath.

I was stunned for a moment because she didn’t let go of me.

I was barely able to come to my senses and raise my upper body when the empress delivered a firm voice and pressed me down with her arms.

“It must have been a shock. Please lie down a little longer.”

I was even carrying weight.

The strange sense of deja vu was a bonus.

It was also a difficult posture to give strength, and I didn’t hate the current situation either, so I eventually declared surrender.

“Okay.”

As the empress stood upright again, a faint smile seemed to flinch.

“But how did the empress know?”

“Did you forget? A long time ago, eyes and ears were planted all over the imperial palace. One of them informed me.”

Come to think of it, the soldiers accompanying me looked a little suspicious.

Perhaps one of them told the empress about me.

As we kept talking just the two of us, Max said in a very unpleasant tone.

“Esteel, I also have a family. I mean it’s itching to go home. So why don’t you stop salting and go see the corpses of demons? My eyes are sour and I won’t be able to see you anymore.”

I also decided that getting out of here is the first thing to do.

“You’d better leave now.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

When I got up from my seat, Max looked me in the eye and said.

“I still don’t trust you. Still, since I believe in Estill, I’ll be fooled once in a while. However, if there is no demon corpse, then I will crush your head on the spot, so be prepared.”

Even though he said that, Max’s eyes didn’t show the same killing intent as before.

Perhaps the conversation with Estill changed his mind a lot.

•

•

•

Push-

Max finally got down on one knee in front of me and bowed his head.

It was because they identified the body of Camilla Vicious.

Of course, at first I insisted that it was the corpse of a monster, not a demon.

However, when the empress showed her horns that had turned black, he pretended to be invincible and agreed.

Anyway, he swore an oath of allegiance to me as he promised with the empress.

“God, Max Crawford, become the sharpest sword that protects the eyes of the enemy, rain or shine, it will be wielded only for the owner of the six wings, and in the face of the crisis of the empire, the first to jump into the limbs, to be the most courageous I swear with my life in the name of the Lord Oculus that I will crush my enemies.”

Of course, there was still an incomprehensible feeling of awkwardness in his choice.

Actually, even if there were dead bodies of demons, it was not easy to prove that I was really manipulated by demons.

I could have just saved a corpse and pretended that I was manipulated by lies.

But Max didn’t throw up anymore.

It seemed most likely that it was because of his trust in Estill, which he had seen for a long time.

According to what I read in the side story, the two were so close and trusted.

But maybe Max,

The whole time I was imprisoned in the dungeon, I might have been eagerly waiting for this situation to come.

A situation like this dream where the mad emperor comes back to his senses and tries to rectify the broken things.

*

Dalgrak-

A spacious dining table where knives and plates meet to create a pleasant cacophony.

A meal shared with the emperor alone.

It’s been a while.

The fact that there were only the two of them in this large space was causing a silent ripple in Estill’s mind.

When they left the dungeon, the princes had already finished eating, and Estill was very satisfied with that fact.

Remembering the time when there were no children in the past, I blushed for no reason.

Because back then, even if we met eyes, it would burn.

Dalgrak- Dalgrak-

The quality of the steak seemed to be quite tough today. The taste is not good, it must be very old meat.

She was well aware that the food situation in the empire was not good. It was not something she was unaware of that it was also close to impossible to solve.

It seemed certain that if the situation continued like this, the situation of the empire would be devastated out of control.

And at the center of all the blame would be the emperor.

“Haa… ….”

Perhaps it was because I was thinking about something else, but the tough meat felt even tougher.

Estill felt the emperor’s gaze and hurriedly turned her head.

“Give me the plate.”

Even though the Emperor’s expression and voice were cold, Estill felt that he was extremely kind.

Then, her face turned red. Her heart was also beating and pumping excitement through her veins.

A caring attitude to cut the meat for yourself who is having a hard time.

It’s been a long time since I’ve felt it. So while she hesitated, she slowly held out the steak platter.

Although there was no conversation, the breakfast in a comfortable atmosphere continued, and just being able to be together quietly, I was enjoying a sense of happiness and fullness just by that.

By the time she finished her meal, a bright smile appeared on her lips.

But that smile was shattered before long.

It was because the Duke of Bright came in front of them right after they ate.

“Your Majesty, I have something to tell you about Florante’s departure.”

Estill doubted her own ears.

A trip to Florentero?

The Emperor has obviously changed. He was no longer a madman.

So she only knew that he would have canceled such a ridiculous order.

“Did something go wrong?”

Duke Bright looked at E’til and blurted out his words.

“Not like that, but… ….”

The twitching of her eyebrows was as if she wanted Estill to intervene.

Esteel looked at the emperor with burning eyes.

Then he spoke in a cold voice.

“I want to talk with you too.”

So an uncomfortable three-way meeting began.

Esteel was the first to speak as soon as she sat down.

“You can never go out.”

Even though it was only a woman’s body, its momentum was as good as that of a sword master.

It was because she had thoroughly armed her mind to protect her family.

It was a look in her eyes that showed her resolute determination to take even the most extreme action if her opinion was not carried through.

But the emperor was also stubborn.

“I will definitely go out.”

The emperor’s expression and voice were not much different from usual, but his eyes were full of determination that he could never back down.

Duke Bright didn’t say a word, just quietly contemplating.

Ethyl questioned the emperor, shooting her bloody eyes.

“Why? It is self-evident that my father and younger brother will not be able to return alive if I go out on a campaign like this. Why are you forcing me to make meaningless sacrifices?”

“It is not a meaningless sacrifice. And I will go with them too.”

“Then I will lose my father, younger brother and even my husband in one day. And that, too, of my husband, whom I had lost for five years, and which I have finally found.”

“That will never happen.”

“How can you be sure? Isn’t the opponent Barbarus? The number of soldiers is much larger and the combat power of each individual is not formidable. How on earth can you win?”

The emperor gave no answer to that.

And Estill continued as if vomiting her blood.

“If you really want to go, kill me and go. If you leave me, I will kill myself.”

The Emperor was still silent, and Duke Bright looked expectant in his heart.