Chapter 77

But still.

As I chewed on the insides of my mouth while racking my mind, I heard the man’s low voice again.

“Who knows? If everything works out, I might even grant you compensation.”

“….C-compensation?”

Wait, was my voice a little too loud right now?

When I showed a more violent reaction than I ever had up until now, swallowing hard, his red eyes narrowed behind his swept-up hair.

“Don’t be so surprised. It’s just compensation. And you choose what that’ll be. If possible….”

“I’ll do it.”

“…..”

“I’ll do it. I think I can do very well.”

I nodded my head two or three times, trying to look trustworthy.

Maybe because he found my abrupt change in attitude absurd, Rashid’s sigh became extremely low. Though he closed his mouth firmly, even as he’d seemed about to say something more, he didn’t berate me or tell me I couldn’t.

“You really….”

“….I will do my best.”

Yes. I know. I know how I probably look.

I followed him as he gave me one look and headed out the door, a silly smile completely devoid of pride naturally forming on my lips.

What in the world.

The air that filled my chest now couldn’t be any more different from when I hadd first come into this place.

‘That’s right. If Lania can do it, what’s there that I can’t.’

He’s compensating me!

To put it harshly, since my life had been indebted to the Emperor, I would have to roll on the ground if he told me to. I’d even gone as far as to come here thinking of doing chores for him, even as a Duchess.

Those who stuck with their pride and aloofly insisting they wouldn’t do it if they died was something heroines did.

If someone like I did it, asking to be killed would actually kill me if things went wrong, the route of dying a dog’s death. Since he was someone who wouldn’t let you go until his own anger was satisfied, he wouldn’t stop ordering me just because I said no. If I could get even a single thing from this, then that was my best shot.

‘Please show me the capacity of the Emperor!’

At this unexpected profit, walking by the lakeside felt like I was taking step after step on top of clouds—I was that excited.

I was already done calculating what I’d ask from him. Which means, I needed to know how much he was calculating now.

“Then what should I begin preparing for?”

“What?”

“We need to show people. Of course, it’s just trickery, but if we want to be seen that way, then we need to at least look the part.”

Before he could change his mind, I stressed my proactive attitude as we walked by the lake. My mind whirred busily now that I knew that I wouldn’t have to begin pulling grass or begging for my life any time soon.

“For example, you might be pushing for public work to be done in collaboration with the Northern Lands, or maybe you’re about to open an event here, or you’re planning to inspect every territory or strategic point for the military. Those seem fine to me. What do you think, Your Majesty?”

“……That’s…..”

That was a pretty slow reaction speed, coming from him. I looked up at him.

I’ll do well.

Though my hair was flying in the lake wind, I didn’t care about that and pulled all my energy into focusing only on him.

“Please tell me. I need to know something so that I can match my act to yours.”

“About that.”

“Of course, Your Majesty would have a plan thought-up already.”

“……Of course.”

His response, which was a scowl that was just like him to do, was slow this time, too.

But thank goodness he wasn’t getting angry at me.

I quietly tucked my fluttering hair behind my ear and lifted the soles of my feet.

“If you could tell me beforehand….”

“For now…… Come tomorrow.”

“Mm.”

My feet, which had risen just like how my chest had puffed up in expectation, slowly fell back onto the ground.