The Obsession of the Tyrant Sub-Male Lead is Unnecessary

Episode 8

Carlos was extremely busy.

Barely having emptied the royal palace for a day, upon his return, he was greeted by a desk piled high with documents awaiting him.

The journey from the Waterfall to Clarence’s palace wasn’t far, but in the empire, the busiest person was always the emperor. And the more comfortable the emperor, the more the people suffered.

Carlos briefly closed his eyes and immediately got up at dawn. He processed documents related to tax collection sent by dispatched inspectors from numerous territories. Later, he meticulously read through materials regarding matters to be discussed with the ministers at the upcoming court meeting.

The attendant, who had been listening to the clock ticking nearby, cautiously informed him, “Your Majesty, there is a lunch scheduled with Grand Duke Portrey.”

“I understand.”

Taking his eyes off the documents for a moment, Carlos closed his tired eyes and then opened them.

‘He mentioned something about discussing troop replenishment in the border regions.’

It might be called lunch, but it was undoubtedly an extension of state affairs. However, Carlos thought it was fortunate.

If he could save time by hurrying through work during mealtime, wouldn’t it give him more time to prepare for her?

Carlos recalled her bright hair shining like honey and her young, leaf-green eyes.

Unintentionally, a smile crept onto his lips.

“His Majesty is smiling!”

The steward, who was replacing a broken pen with a new one, startled.

The emperor, who had been focused on handling sensitive issues one after another, even tensing up at the sight of a single word, suddenly smiling at the mention of a lunch appointment with the Grand Duke.

They had been somewhat hostile since childhood, but no matter how much he thought about it, it seemed strange.

“Indeed, His Majesty seems a bit unusual lately. Suddenly attending victory celebrations and leaving the palace vacant for a day.”

Still, seeing his diligence, it was unlikely that there was any problem. The steward silently tidied up the desk.

“Jess.”

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

“Arrange for repairs to be made to the palace soon.”

“When you say thepalace,’ which palace are you referring to?”

“The Empress’s Palace.”

“Yes? The, the Empress’s Palace?”

Forgetting his position in front of the emperor, the steward’s mouth fell open. Carlos furrowed his brow as if asking what the problem was.

“Is there a problem?”

“N-no, Your Majesty, there’s no problem.”

Fearing that he might have offended him, the steward quickly closed his mouth.

“However, Your Majesty, how shall we go about repairing the Empress’s Palace?”

“First, repair it to the standard befitting my companion. Ever since Her Majesty passed away, the Empress’s Palace has been neglected.”

“Oh, yes… repair it to the standard befitting a companion…”

He wanted to ask who this person was, but he didn’t dare. The steward simply nodded.

“And one more thing. Dig a deep lake in the garden.”

Carlos added as he put down his pen, “It would be even better if it could draw water from the North Sea.”

“I, I will do so.”

Although he had ordered ‘repairs,’ it seemed like it would be a bigger construction project than he had thought. The steward hurriedly left the study.

Once he was gone, Carlos got up from his seat, draped his cloak over himself, and headed for the lunch venue.

As much as he wanted to ride back to Waterfall right away, he couldn’t do that for her.

“Verona Rozil Clarence.”

He silently called out her name with the title of empress added in the middle and his surname appended. His heart swelled with pride.

The emperor entered the dining room with a smile.

“…Your Majesty.”

Grand Duke Osmond, who casually swept his blue hair back, hesitated before greeting the emperor, taken aback by the strangely sweet smile on his lips.

‘What’s this?’

Even though Grand Duke Osmond had known the emperor for twenty years, he had never seen him smile like that before. Moreover, he had never smiled like that in front of him. Grand Duke Osmond reconsidered whether the news he brought would be something the emperor would be pleased to hear.

“Please, have a seat.”

Fortunately, Carlos suppressed the smile after sitting down. Setting aside his surprise, Grand Duke Osmond followed the emperor’s lead.

Shortly after, simple dishes began to be placed on the long dining table. They were all carefully prepared, with fresh vegetables, freshly baked bread, and expertly seasoned fish dishes, but neither of them had any interest in them.

“I have delivered what you mentioned before, but it proved to be impractical. Several suggestions have come to me. It seems that replenishing the troops would be the best option.”

“Let it be so.”

“Pardon?”

Grand Duke Osmond blinked as if unsure if what he had just heard was true. Carlos furrowed his brow.

“Did you not hear? I said I agreed just now.”

“I… I heard you perfectly.”

Even though he got the answer he wanted, something didn’t sit right with him. The emperor was clearly not someone who would easily cooperate in such a manner.

Hadn’t they clashed over trivial matters due to pride since childhood? Moreover, this issue was not a simple matter from their childhood.

He had thought that permission would be granted at some point, but the timing was the problem.

When would the emperor bend his pride, and if he did, what would he demand from him? Osmond thought it was a more serious issue.

But he agreed before even finishing the main course?

‘There’s something.’

But he couldn’t pry into what it was that the emperor was up to. He was a Grand Duke, after all.

“Oh, by the way, Your Majesty.”

So Grand Duke Osmond brought up a topic that could scratch Carlos’s nerves.

“You haven’t been to the Grand Duke’s Manor lately, have you?”

“What?”

“Now that this issue is resolved, Your Majesty seems to have some leisure.”

Carlos, who was absentmindedly skewering the fish dish with his fork, raised an eyebrow and questioned, “What does my leisure have to do with visiting your home?”

“It has a significant relevance,” the Grand Duke replied with a smile.

“Olivia wishes to meet Your Majesty.”

Carlos’s face stiffened slightly. Osmond sensed a strange superiority.

Despite being the Grand Duke’s son, Osmond preferred receiving greater treatment than being a prince.

One of the reasons for this was that both he and Carlos were evenly matched in all fields, be it academics, martial arts, or horseback riding, igniting his competitive spirit.

But things changed after the emperor’s death. However it may be, Carlos was the crown prince. He won. Carlos became the emperor, seizing everything. Despite knowing that what he had been given was an excessive grace, Osmond felt inferior.

However, Olivia appeared, and their relationship was reversed once again.

Osmond, who had spent more time with Carlos than his own parents, instinctively understood when Carlos, who had never shown interest in women before, seemed to waver upon seeing Olivia.

If he could snatch away the first woman Carlos showed interest in, he could regain the upper hand.

In her green eyes, he could see despair and the beginning of an obsession towards himself. Just imagining it made Osmond feel thrilled.

So, he tried to touch the heart of the woman who had only felt gratitude towards him. Fortunately, the woman, who seemed to be drowning in despair, seemed to give him her heart.

And as planned, she managed to attract Carlos’s attention. At the same time, she seemed to start assessing both herself and Carlos with confusion.

‘How absurd. How dare a petty noble like her weigh the position of the Duchess of the Grand Duke’s Manor against that of the Empress.’

Thinking of a pretty, but utterly clueless woman, Olivia Merelton, Osmond chuckled to himself.

For Osmond, Olivia was nothing more than a feather toy to attract the attention of a cat. Still, that feather toy was quite useful.

“She is about to graduate from the academy soon. So, I sent her on a trip to the outskirts. She asked me to inquire about Your Majesty since it’s been a while since she last saw you.”

“….”

Osmond glanced at Carlos discreetly. If it had been before, Carlos might have shown signs of hesitation, but strangely, there was no reaction this time.

“She asked me if she could bake a pie to treat Your Majesty.”

“Are you telling me to go eat pie right now?”

“Of course not.”

With a raised eyebrow, Carlos looked at him as if asking where he was going with this. Osmond said eagerly, “She found something very rare on her journey.”

“Something rare?”

“Yes.”

Osmond hesitated for a moment before blurting out, “She found a mermaid.”

At that moment, Carlos’s face froze coldly. But Osmond, oblivious to his change, continued.

“Apparently, it’s a mermaid with a golden tail. I haven’t seen it myself yet. Whenever you have the time, please drop by and enjoy it together…”

Before finishing his sentence, Carlos abruptly stood up. The sound of the chair scraping against the marble floor echoed loudly. Startled, Osmond stood up following him.

“Your Majesty?”

“That mermaid is at your house? How can there be a golden mermaid at your house?”

“I told you. Olivia found it and brought it here.”

Now Carlos’s face was not just cold but menacingly so. He seemed to be barely containing his anger. With quick strides, Carlos left the dining room.

“Your Majesty? Your Majesty!”

Though Osmond called after him from behind, Carlos didn’t seem to hear his voice.

“Found? Brought here?”

Anger surged through him.

Carlos immediately summoned a black horse without even bothering to saddle it. The guards of the palace were astonished as they opened the gates.

Carlos rode like a man possessed towards the Grand Duke’s Manor.

“Oh my! Who is this?”

The steward of the Grand Duke’s Manor, recognizing the emperor from afar, greeted him nervously.

“Your Majesty, what brings you here so suddenly… Have you come to see me, Your Majesty?”

Handing over the reins of the black horse to the stable keeper who had rushed out, Carlos gasped for breath and said, “Where is she?”

“Pardon?”

“I asked where she is!”

As everyone froze at the outburst mixed with anger, Olivia, with her silvery hair cascading down her shoulders, appeared.

“Oh, Your Majesty!”

Her amethyst eyes showed a mix of surprise and joy. Carlos approached her.

“I didn’t expect you to come so quickly. Your Majesty said he would send word, but he asked not to expect too much… Oh!”

“If it’s you, you should know. Tell me now. Where did you put the mermaid?”

Carlos pushed his face close to hers and asked quickly.

Her usually calm emerald eyes were swirling. Olivia, with clear signs of anger in her eyes, shrank back in fear.

“Um… I, I put her… in the garden. In the lake.”

“What?”

He was stunned. How dare she put her in the lake?

Though he wanted to destroy everything, the most important thing was her.

Carlos rushed Olivia to the garden.

The garden of the Grand Duke’s Manor was vast. But as there was only one lake, it was easy to find.

In the center of the garden, there was a huge cage-like structure made of ivory.

And inside it, she was lying with her wrists bound, her hair disheveled, and her eyes closed.

Carlos drew his sword from the belt of a knight who had followed him.

“Your Majesty!”

The Grand Duke’s retainer was shocked, thinking he might kill the mermaid. But Carlos ignored him.

Carlos cut the leather straps in one stroke. Then he opened the door of the cage and caught the collapsing body. Her skin felt as cold as ice in his hands.

“Umm…”

Her lips parted slightly. Her eyelids trembled slightly, and her emerald eyes met his. Transparent tears welled up in her eyes. Light shimmered from her golden tail, and her lower body transformed into legs.

Feeling his heart sink, Carlos wrapped her body in his cloak.

“Verona.”

Carlos called her tenderly.

“Why are you here? I told you to wait quietly.”

“Ugh…”

“It’s okay now.”

Holding her tightly to his chest, he whispered.

“I’m here.”