I Became the Master of the Empress - Chapter 273



277

231, 5th Street.

There stands a shabby wooden building.

All the surrounding buildings are also dilapidated wooden structures, but the striking sign is impressive.

[Witch’s Shop]

A red sign with yellow lettering, surrounded by the silhouette of a fairy.

It seems to indicate that this shop is not wholesome.

How strange? There’s a shop like this?

I wondered if the shop owner might be a vessel like me.

I must brace myself before entering.

I opened the store door and stepped inside.

“Welcome, please come in. We’re open!”

A blonde woman with a golden crown-like hairstyle greeted me as she looked at me.

“Ah… there…?”

Upon entering the store, I was shocked to see a row of whips and colorful dildos on display.

“What are you looking for?”

The blonde woman, who was speaking with a bright and cheerful tone, was surrounded by the decorated items, which were utterly repulsive.

Her innocent and pure face was in stark contrast to the enormous dildo behind her.

“That’s…?”

What was I supposed to say?

The blonde woman was pure and quite beautiful.

I couldn’t understand why she would sell such things…

She looked at me with a puzzled expression, full of question marks on her face.

“Ah? Are you here for your wife? I can recommend a few things.”

I hadn’t said a word, but she pulled out something from behind the counter.

What’s this?

It was too big to be called a dildo.

From noble mtl dot com

And as I looked at the irregularly shaped objects protruding from various places, I felt a strong sense of unease.

“This is for my friend. It’s really good.”

“Really? Friend?”

Could she be a lesbian?

“No, it’s just a product I need to sell, so I might as well try it out.”

I felt a sense of discomfort at her words.

“Ah? You don’t like this kind of thing, do you? Then, just a moment, please. How about this?”

She pulled out a long candle.

“What is this?”

It looked familiar, like something I’d seen in an old adult film…

As I looked at her with a skeptical expression, she burst out laughing.

“This is a special kind of candle. When you light it, the wax will melt and you’ll feel a subtle pain and pleasure together.”

“Ah… okay…”

I understand why people criticize this shop.

Here, any s*xual relations outside of breeding are considered immoral.

But selling something like this… it’s no wonder the reputation is poor.

However… shutting it down would be a bit difficult.

According to imperial law, there is the authority to close businesses that harm public morals… but from a very modern perspective, this is nothing…

“By the way, customer. It seems like you’ve magically changed your hair color. May I ask why?”

“Oh, that’s…”

It seems she has noticed the magic I used to conceal my identity.

“It’s okay. Even if you reveal your identity, our shop is frequented by famous doctors and their wives. Hehe…”

Seeing the woman speak as if she knows everything, I felt a bit awkward.

Wouldn’t it be surprising to learn that a saint has come to such a shady shop?

I sighed as I looked at the woman gazing at me with sparkling eyes.

“There’s nothing good that will come from you knowing my true identity.”

Her expression shifted to one of disappointment.

“But… I’m curious?”

To think she would sell such things with such an innocent face…

I was reminded once again how vast and bizarre the world is.

“Yes… but what are those?”

Small rings and gemstone rings displayed in glass, resembling jewels.

“Oh, these are made by a famous trainer from Vairen City. These days, they require a lot of effort, so I don’t use them much.”

She took out three small rings laid on velvet and a large ruby ring from the glass case.

“A trainer?”

“Yes, a trainer.”

Isn’t that a profession that would only appear in adult novels?

“Is… is that really a legitimate profession?”

The witch nodded at my question.

“Yes, because slavery is legal in Vairen City.”

Vairen City… a city that dominates the empire’s maritime trade.

Thus, a lot of autonomy is guaranteed, but…

“I didn’t expect there to still be slaves.”

—

Indeed, as far as I know, slavery is illegal across the entire continent.

“Yes, it’s only legal in Vairen. If you purchase there, the imperial law respects private property, so they cannot seize the property of Vairen citizens.”

Ah? I think I understand roughly what that means.

“Anyway, this is…”

Is it my imagination, or does her expression seem sinister?

***

Theodora’s day was nearly over.

Yet she was not feeling well.

The reason being…

Her husband had vanished from the palace.

“Uncle William? How did he disappear from the palace?”

The stern-faced knight standing before the empress.

He cautiously opened his mouth, looking troubled.

“We are currently dispatching knights to search in every direction, but…”

It had been just over a month since he took over the palace security.

During that time, he had never allowed mistakes, and now he had made one for the first time.

The fact that the second-highest-ranking duke in the empire had vanished from the palace without any explanation was a significant failure for him, who also held the position of head of royal security.

Regardless, Theodora couldn’t help but sigh.

She had a rough idea of where Debian might have gone.

‘If he’s been gone this long, it’s obvious; he must have gone out on another secret mission.’

Considering that Debian hadn’t gone on a secret mission for quite some time, she thought he might have gone out to relieve some stress, and she let out a sigh.

“Haah…”

However, William, sitting on pins and needles, took her sigh heavily.

‘Duke… just you wait…’

In principle, even if William gritted his teeth inwardly, there was nothing he could do to harm Debian.

After all, he was the emperor’s beloved husband and the head of the duke’s office responsible for the empire’s internal affairs; how could the head of security seek revenge on him?

“Just try coming back this time…”

For her, Debian’s safety was always a concern.

She thought he was healthy, but he was surprisingly frail, and there were far too many who sought his life.

‘But to go out of the palace so calmly without any security…’

She felt a sense of unease and anxiety.

What if Débiant were to meet an untimely end?

After taking control of the intelligence department, she had become acutely aware of how many nobles harbored grudges against Débiant.

Theodora gazed out at the palace garden.

At that moment, her husband, dressed in tattered clothes, caught her eye.

“They say even a tiger comes when you speak of it…”

Worried that he might be attacked by hostile forces, she finally breathed a sigh of relief, as if grateful.

And then…

– Beep! We have found His Grace the Duke!

With the sound of a horn, the Golden Knights surrounded her husband.

Watching Débiant being dragged along with his arms held by the knights, his legs limp, she shook her head in disbelief.

A little while later…

– Why are you doing this? I can walk on my own!

– It is Sir William’s command. The moment you meet His Grace, you are to be taken to His Majesty’s office.

– Is this what you call taking me? You’re dragging me against my will!

Listening to the argument between him and the knight, a natural smile crept onto her lips without her even realizing it.

‘Still, it’s nice to see him different from before.’

– Knock, knock.

“Come in.”

***

She returned to the palace through a secret passage.

But will it be alright?

I had unknowingly splurged on a few things after being swayed by the witch named Lisandra.

They were quite expensive, but… how could I resist this artifact?

Having seen countless women writhing in ecstasy in those old videos, I couldn’t pass this up.

There’s nothing like this with such diverse functions in modern times.

Honestly, I want to try it out on Theodora as soon as possible, but I doubt she’ll easily give her permission.

What should I do? I’ve already spent a fortune on it.

If I can’t use this, I think I’ll be really sad.

At that moment.

“Beep! We’ve found His Grace the Duke!”

A knight pointing at me while blowing a whistle from somewhere.

“Uh? You found me?”

I say this, but

dozens of knights surround me.

“His Majesty the Emperor and Lord William are worried about Your Grace the Duke. We will escort you.”

As they say this, the knights grab my arms.

I apologize to them with a sorry expression.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t expect everyone to be looking for me. I’ll go on my own.”

“That’s not possible. Lord William specifically ordered us to ‘bring’ Your Grace.”

As they lift my arms to drag me away, I express my annoyance.

“Why are you doing this? I said I’d go on my own!”

“It’s Lord William’s command. The moment you are seen, you are to be taken to His Majesty’s office.”

“Is this what you call bringing me? You’re just dragging me!”

I protest, but I’m pulled along by the knights to the Emperor’s office.

-Knock, knock!

-Yes, come in.

The door opens with Theodora’s voice.

“You went out again, didn’t you?”

Seeing her brows furrowed, I smile awkwardly.

“Well, you see…”

“How long has it been since your eye surgery, and you’re already wandering around? Don’t you have any awareness of your position? And…”

Thus begins her scolding.

She seems quite angry, so I listen in silence, but…

“If something happens to you, I…”

Now Theodora’s eyes are glistening.

I gently approach and hug her.

“Sorry, were you worried?”

Theodora nods slightly in my embrace.

I stroke her hair.

“Next time I go out, I’ll let you know. So don’t cry.”

As I glanced at Theodora, who remained silent in my arms, I signaled to William and the knights, prompting William to leave the office with a stern expression.

“Don’t worry, I may look like this, but I’m a bit strong.”

I patted her back to comfort her, but she spoke with a face full of tears, looking quite fierce.

“Come on, you can’t even beat your own knights, can you?”

“Well… if I can defeat the Golden Knight, then I’m not just any ordinary person, right?”

The Golden Knights are the strongest here.

No matter how powerful the Giant Brigade is, they can’t compete with the Golden Knights.

“Hmph.”

As she turned her head away in a huff, I embraced her from behind.

“I was wrong. Next time, I’ll definitely let you know before I go out.”

She gently caressed my hand.

“Yes, and when you go on a secret mission, you must take a knight with you. Got it?”

I nodded at her words.