PLQYM | Chapter 28

Ha, living in this world sure puts you in such dirty and unfair situations sometimes.

Moving people around as you please—“Go here, go there.” Just because you’re the Emperor, does that make it okay?

Oh, right. Of course it does. You’re the Emperor of the Empire, the most powerful person in the land. Who am I to say anything to someone like that?

But now you want me around you all the time too? Seriously?

Wow, unbelievable. Is there some law stating that the Emperor’s personal aide and acting Chief of Staff must always be glued to him?

So, is being Emperor everything? Everything, huh?!

Lucian gritted his teeth, barely suppressing the complaints bubbling up to the tip of his tongue. It was a good thing he still had some rationality left, or he might have accidentally said something to the Emperor’s face.

The result, however, was a deepening wrinkle etched between his brows.

“Ah, Sir Lucian.”

As Lucian busily grumbled inwardly while packing his things, Nils Bowman walked into the aide’s office and greeted him.

“Where are you headed?”

Nils, looking a bit puzzled, then let out a short exclamation as if something had just clicked.

“Oh, right. His Majesty appointed you as acting Chief of Staff, didn’t he?”

He nodded, seemingly only now fully comprehending the situation, as if it suddenly made perfect sense to him. And to top it off, he added another comment.

“Congratulations, Sir Lucian.”

“…What?”

Lucian, who had been roughly gathering his belongings, froze in place.

When he raised his head, he saw Nils looking at him with a bright, almost teasing smile.

‘What’s this? Is he mocking me?’

Still frowning, Lucian stared back at Nils, who responded in a cheerful tone.

“Well, you’re the Emperor’s personal aide and the acting Chief of Staff. It’s practically guaranteed you’ll rise to greater heights now.”

His tone was sincere, even congratulatory, as he nodded as if everything was perfectly reasonable.

Lucian could barely believe his ears.

“Well, considering how capable you are, Sir Lucian, it’s only natural, isn’t it…?”

“‘Capable,’ huh. Do you really think that’s how I got this position?”

This time, a mocking voice cut through Nils’s words, loud enough for Lucian to hear clearly.

Turning his head, Lucian spotted a group of people standing not too far away.

“Tsk. Figures.”

Lucian clicked his tongue. He had a pretty good idea of who was behind the comment.

It was Franz Klan, a senior aide a year ahead of Lucian.

Franz was the second son of Marquis Klan, who had entered the imperial palace with his father’s full support. If Lucian hadn’t been chosen by the Emperor directly, Franz likely would have taken this position.

Noticing Lucian’s sharp gaze directed at him, Franz’s expression soured.

“Who knows if he really got that position with his skills?”

“Exactly. For all we know, he could’ve used his body. With a slender waist and such a pretty face, even men might be tempted.”

“Wow, are you saying he traded his body because he didn’t have the ability? What is he, a male courtesan? Ha!”

Laughter erupted from the group.

Lucian clenched his well-defined jaw, but he didn’t flinch. He merely glared at them sharply.

As Lucian’s piercing gaze remained fixed on them, Franz and his cronies stopped pretending to whisper among themselves and began taunting him openly.

“Look who it is! Sir Lucian, who became acting Chief of Staff in less than a year at the palace. Truly a rising star!”

“To be favored by His Majesty… How envious we are.”

Favored?

At that particular word, Lucian’s lips twisted into a smirk.

“Oh my, Sir Lucian, why are you looking at us like that?”

“Indeed. Is there something on your mind, Sir Lucian?”

“Well, ordinarily, how could someone like him rise so quickly? Doesn’t seem very ethical.”

“…”

Lucian remained silent, simply staring at them. The group cackled as if they had won.

“Am I wrong? Isn’t it obvious?”

“Exactly. Look at the way he’s glaring—it’s like we hit the mark.”

“Hahaha, I know, right?”

They laughed together like children at the academy. Watching their antics made Lucian sigh.

‘Do they think His Majesty is someone to be trifled with? No wonder they’ll never gain his favor.’

It wasn’t that they were incompetent; after all, they had been selected to work closely with the Emperor, which spoke to their abilities. But that was it.

The Emperor, Heraith Yorun Kellenhan, was not a man to be taken lightly.

He never employed anyone who didn’t meet his high standards—whatever those standards were. Sadly, morality didn’t seem to factor into them.

“What exactly did Sir Lucian do to earn His Majesty’s favor? Please, teach us your methods.”

“Right? I’d love to know the secret too.”

“Oh, be careful. The method might be rather… indecent.”

As one of them made an obscene hand gesture, the others burst into laughter.

Those bastards!

Lucian couldn’t hold back any longer. His body moved forward in anger, but then—

“…Favor, huh. Must be nice.”

The voice was unmistakably dripping with envy.

It was Nils Bowman.

His words, spoken amidst the commotion, cut through the noise and landed squarely in everyone’s ears.

Lucian looked at Nils, dumbfounded. So did the others.

Unlike everyone else, Nils wore a genuinely bright expression, smiling as if he meant every word.

“To be favored by His Majesty… Isn’t that great? I wish I could experience that too.”

“…Nils.”

Lucian called out to him in a low voice.

“Do you even know what you’re saying right now?”

“Of course! Everyone desires His Majesty’s favor, don’t they? Even Sir Franz must be envious, hence all this fuss.”

Nils’s words were shockingly earnest, devoid of sarcasm. He murmured with obvious longing, “I want that favor too.”

The stunned expressions on Franz’s group were priceless.

Now, they looked like nothing more than petulant children jealous of Lucian’s achievements.

“Haha!”

Lucian couldn’t help but laugh.

Watching Nils speak so innocently made Lucian feel ridiculous for having been so upset.

Yes, being favored is nice.

Being directly appreciated by the Emperor—the highest authority in the Empire—what’s not to like?

Of course, those fools wouldn’t understand the workload that came with it.

Lucian, his voice more relaxed now, addressed the group.

“If you’re so curious about His Majesty’s favor, feel free to ask him yourselves. I’ll let him know there are plenty of eager volunteers. He’ll be thrilled.”

He smiled coldly, relishing the way their faces darkened with anger.

“And instead of gossiping, why don’t you try working harder to meet His Majesty’s standards?”

With that, Lucian turned his back on them, ignoring their grumbles and threats.

“Wow! Is this a dream? To think I’d get to eat food like this here!”

Nils exclaimed in awe as he admired the lavish dishes on display.

The newly opened “Dinner Hall,” a pet project of the Emperor, was a welfare initiative for palace staff. It featured the finest delicacies of the Pranas Empire and was essentially a grand cafeteria.

“His Majesty really wasn’t joking when he said we’d never have to worry about food again,” Nils remarked, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear.

“It’s amazing this actually worked.”

“…It really is,” Lucian replied with a faint smile.

Well, if nothing else, at least they wouldn’t starve while drowning in work.