I Became the Master of the Empress - Chapter 281



285

Quite some time has passed since my return.

About a week has gone by, and today is the day the night market opens.

“I’ve already told Sir William in advance.”

Theodora, who has transformed into a blonde with a magic ring on her finger.

“But you look good as a blonde, don’t you?”

She gently caresses my hair.

Maybe it’s because I’ve always lived with black hair, but this look feels rather awkward.

“Really? I actually feel a bit strange.”

I said as I looked in the mirror.

“Is that so? How about me? Do I look strange?”

I smiled at the blonde woman standing next to me.

“Not at all, I think it suits you even better than me.”

Is her face just that unfairly beautiful?

Her previous black hair suited her well, but this radiant golden blonde looks great too.

“Hehe, thank you.”

With that, we linked arms and headed to the carriage.

It was a rough carriage, different from the splendid imperial carriage or my own private carriage.

“Did you buy this separately?”

“No? This is the carriage used by the attendants when there’s work outside the palace.”

“Oh, really?”

Four tall men standing beside the carriage.

“We greet Your Majesty and His Highness the Grand Duke.”

They bow to us.

“Thank you for your efforts on today’s inspection.”

As Theodora said this, the man who seemed to be their leader nodded.

“Is there any doubt? The four of us will provide close protection, and twenty Golden Knights will be nearby in civilian clothes for security. Additionally, to prevent any unfortunate incidents, I have issued a 24-hour standby order to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Capital Guard, so please rest assured.”

Hearing this, I gazed at Theodora in silence.

She seemed unprepared for such a situation and cleared her throat.

“Um, doesn’t this seem a bit excessive? It’s just an inspection, and having so many people working so hard because of it…”

Just as Theodora was about to say something, the knight…

– Thud!

Kneeled down forcefully.

“Your Majesty! If anything were to happen to your precious self, it would be a tremendous calamity for the Empire, and it would leave a deep wound for me, the citizens, and even Duke William. Please allow this!”

– Thud!

“Please take heed!”

Knights striking their bare knees against the hard stone floor without any protection…

They too seemed awkward, following their superior’s lead.

What should we do?

As I looked at Theodora with this thought in mind, her face turned troubled.

What do we do?

Her expression seemed to say.

I gave her a small nod.

There’s no helping it today. Next time, let’s go out just the two of us.

“First, I understand. Everyone, please rise.”

At Theodora’s words, the knights stood up and said,

“Thank you deeply, Your Majesty.”

– Creak.

As the knight opened the carriage door, she and I climbed inside.

“If you do this again next time, I’ll sneak out by myself.”

The nature of my secret outings is more about my desire to have fun than about observing the citizens of the Empire.

But if so many people are struggling just so I can have fun, I feel like I won’t be able to enjoy myself properly.

“Next time, I’ll have a word with Sir William.”

That stubborn old man will surely listen well.

I thought this to myself but kept a smile on my face.

***

After getting out of the carriage, I looked around Roman.

“So, where are we going today?”

“First, let’s grab a bite nearby, and then maybe check out the witch’s shop?”

-Smack

Theodora slapped my chest with her palm.

“Ouch! Why did you hit me?”

And she stared at me with a fierce look.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“I’m sorry…”

Ever since I promised my mother-in-law that I would have a child soon, I had my ring taken away by Theodora.

Honestly, she pretended not to like it even though she did…

“But it wouldn’t be so bad to take a look around, right?”

“Why would I go to a place that sells such bizarre items?”

From noble mtl dot com

While she herself reads SM novels.

“But according to your mother-in-law, you like to play with whips or candles, right?”

At my words, her eyes widened in surprise.

“I’ve never done that?! Seriously, Mom… why do you say such unnecessary things?”

Seeing her all flustered reminded me of the handcuffs I found under the bed last time.

“What about those handcuffs under the bed?”

“Uh?! Look over there! They’re marching!”

Watching Theodora change the subject like that made me chuckle.

Well, I’ll let it slide this time.

She walks with me through the streets, taking in the cityscape.

The scenery hasn’t changed much since the last time we were out.

But it’s truly nice to see smiles on people’s faces.

“Let’s go eat.”

She nods slightly, then makes a surprised expression.

“Dear, I heard a Francesco-style restaurant has opened in Roman. Let’s check it out.”

“What?”

The Grand Duchy of Francesco isn’t known for particularly good food.

Most of the dishes are centered around pork.

From ham and sausages to the very different Korean-style jokbal.

I have a feeling Theodora won’t like it.

“Isn’t it not really your taste? Are you sure it’s okay?”

She nods softly.

“You always know so much about Roman food and culture, right? In comparison, I don’t know much about yours.”

I can’t help but smile.

“Didn’t you say the beer looked dirty last time? Actually, beer is part of the Grand Duchy’s cuisine.”

A culture that fundamentally forms a faction against the empire isn’t the mainstream culture of the empire.

After all, it’s the culture of the conquered.

“Th-That’s…”

She recalls the time she called the beer dirty.

Her face turns red.

“I’m sorry… Did that hurt you back then?”

I shake my head at her words.

“No, not at all.”

After all, my identity is closer to being Korean; I don’t think of myself as Francescoan.

“Let’s just go check it out. The new restaurant, I mean.”

As we head toward the restaurant, I notice a large crowd lining up in front of the place, and I feel a sense of bewilderment.

“Dear? It seems to be quite popular, doesn’t it?”

I think, observing the throngs of people visible from near the restaurant.

Has the culture of the empire changed in the meantime?

The empire revolves entirely around the cultures of Roman and Nicaea.

But why are there so many people?

“What should we do?”

She looked worried as she surveyed the massive crowd.

If we’re not careful, we might not even get to eat.

Just as I was about to head elsewhere,

a familiar man rushed into the shop, flustered.

“Isn’t that… your guard?”

The man in civilian clothes was clearly the knight assigned to escort me and Theodora today.

“Looks like it. But why did he go in there?”

“I have no idea.”

I was puzzled by this sudden, unexpected behavior.

A moment later, a man in a white chef’s uniform burst out, sweating profusely as he scanned the surroundings.

And soon after, the golden knight in civilian clothes followed him out.

When he gestured toward us, the chef rushed over with a flustered expression and bowed his head.

“Y-Your Excellency! Please, come inside quickly.”

– What’s going on? That chef?

– Seriously, with such a long line, is someone being favored while others are being discriminated against?

I could hear the whispers insulting the chef, but there was an unmistakable sense of anxiety in his eyes.

“Theo… I mean, dear, let’s go.”

I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and turned my body, speaking just loud enough for Theodora to hear.

“Should we run away?”

She nodded slightly at my words.

It seemed Theodora was a bit shaken by what had just happened.

“But how do we escape?”

She whispered softly.

For a moment, I fell into thought.

Should we take a commercial carriage?

As a secret agent, drawing attention would be risky.

If we were to be chased down the main road, people would surely look at us strangely.

“I know this way a bit, you see?”

With that, he waves his hand toward the empty carriage.

Then, a carriage comes to a stop in front of us.

“Where to?”

“Please take me to 231, 5th Avenue. Oh, and I’ll pay generously, so please take 3rd Avenue and go as fast as you can.”

Heading to 231 on 5th Avenue, taking 3rd Avenue means the route will zigzag once.

“As you command. Giddy up!”

With that, the driver cracks the whip on the horses.

As the carriage begins to move due to his actions…

—Ah?!

—What should we do, Captain?

The knights, seemingly caught off guard, flounder in confusion.

“But… aren’t we being a bit too much?”

Seeing Theodora looking at us with pity as we fidgeted, I shrugged my shoulders.

“If we make it, you’ll at least get a bonus.”

At my words, she pulled her gaze from the window and looked at me.

“I suppose that’s true. But still…”

As she spoke, Theodora approached me.

She whispered in my ear.

“You won’t tell the Ministry of the Interior, will you?”

The thought that the Ministry might mobilize the capital’s guards crossed my mind, but…

“Come on, no way! They wouldn’t go that far, would they?”

I brushed it off nonchalantly.

“Seems likely, doesn’t it? But where are we going?”

Huh? I just said whatever came to mind.

Thinking of a place to evade pursuit, I chose a shop I had visited not long ago.

If I go there… they’ll probably kill me, right?

Feeling like we might have slipped away from the chase, I spoke to the driver.

“Do you happen to know a good restaurant nearby? We forgot to have dinner.”

“Hmm… there’s an Egyptian restaurant around here. Have you been there?”

Egyptian food?

Having never tried it before, I looked at Theodora, and she nodded slightly.

“Please go there.”

“I will do as you command. Here!”

– Clap clap