The Response to my Drunken Proposal was Surprisingly Good

✦ Chapter 113 – Wedding Night(?) (7) ✦

「Translator – Creator」

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The conversation between the Emperor and Ezekiel resumed.

“Would double the amount of gold be sufficient?”

“No, thank you.”

“Perhaps triple?”

“I’m not interested in it, Your Majesty”

Verd was the master of the Imperial family, holding the title of Emperor. No matter how essential Ezekiel was as the key to his plans, he couldn’t just be led around by him.

He swirled the wine in his chalice, his expression unreadable.

Ezekiel seemed to have come with a firm resolution, and the Emperor decided to be just as serious.

“Don’t mistake the audience chamber for a pawnshop. There are limits to the treasures I can give out immediately. If you fix the amount of gold coins, I can gradually provide them”

“I want Sun Elixir.”

“?”

“I want the Sun Elixir. That’s all I want.”

The Emperor stared at him, speechless.

The audacity to ask for the Sun Elixir so casually. It was a treasure so rare that even he, the Emperor, could only obtain a few drops each month.

But what surprised him even more

‘Has he finally grasped his own worth?’

The Emperor had a vague idea of Ezekiel’s worth internally. It was significant that Ezekiel knew his exact worth.

Moreover, he had no choice but to give it to him.

Ezekiel’s blue eyes shone with determination, his entire demeanor reflecting an unwavering resolve to obtain it.

“Listen Ezekiel”

The Emperor sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“I’ve already given all my remaining Sun Elixir to the 1st Princess. I have none left to give.”

“I know.”

“Hmm?”

“I know how precious the Sun Elixir is. Even for Your Majesty, it must be difficult to acquire.”

“Indeed. Your understanding is correct.”

“But I have something in mind.”

“What do you have in mind?”

Then Ezekiel answered confidently.

“Give me one drop per month. That way, you’ll be giving me a total of two drops. That’s reasonable, isn’t it?”

Ezekiel’s voice was firm, confident.

“I believe it is a very simple solution.”

Simple indeed. Extremely simple.

Would I not have thought of that?

It wasn’t something the Emperor was unaware of either.

“Upstarts easily forget the value of gold. You’re the same, Ezekiel. Have you already forgotten the value of Sun Elixir after experiencing it just once?” ℞

“I understand its worth. But I am valuable too.”

“Hmm.”

That was true. He wasn’t wrong.

Nevertheless, the Emperor shook his head. Beyond the value, he was worried about the precedent it would set for Ezekiel.

“Let go of your attachment to the Sun Elixir. It’s no exaggeration to say it’s the most precious thing in the world. Yet, you keep asking for it every time you do something? That’s not happening.”

And he meant every word.

The Sun Elixir, a sacred liquid promising immortality. It was without a doubt the most valuable treasure in existence.

“Then I have no choice,” Ezekiel said as he started taking a step toward the door.

“That childish tantrum won’t work a second time,” the Emperor muttered, picking up an apple and examining it.

Seeing Ezekiel, who had been like a doll, showing such unexpected behavior was strange, but he had adapted to it by now. In the end, wasn’t it the Emperor who held sway over this continent?

There was no reason to lose his composure.

“Planning to write a will and just die? Leaving a huge wound for the princesses to bear, isn’t that an utterly irresponsible act? So full of selfishness.”

“I’m not going to the Ministry of Scholars,” Ezekiel said, stopping at the door.

The Emperor tilted his head slightly.

“Then where are you headed?”

“I plan to wander the world, frequenting places that are hard to track. I was a vagabond from the beginning anyway.”

“Why the sudden talk of wandering?”

“I’m living on borrowed time. If they witness my death, it would shock the princesses greatly. It’d be better to disappear without a trace and meet a lonely end.”

The Emperor’s grip tightened around the apple; his knuckles turning white.

“Disappear without a trace?”

“Yes. You called me selfish but this would be the least selfish thing I could do for them. It’s better to believe I’m missing than to watch me die.”

The Emperor took a slow, deep breath.

‘This insolent’

For Ezekiel to disappear now?

It would be a disaster. A huge loss for the Imperial Family.

Why had he agreed to those five conditions in the first place?

The Emperor had strongly opposed the marriage, but the five princesses had eagerly accepted Ezekiel’s proposal. He couldn’t withstand their overwhelming approval; this meant they had opened their hearts to Ezekiel, and if he disappeared, they would surely go astray.

‘All that effort raising those girls’

If the Imperial family was a grand mansion on the continent, the five princesses were its pillars. Whether those pillars remained standing depended on Ezekiel.

“Consider the matter concerning the First Princess a failure. I will live simply for the rest of my days.”

“

“Yes?”

“I commanded you to wait.”

The Emperor sighed, resignation in his voice.

If he disappeared, not only would a great talent be lost, but there would also be the issue of the princesses beginning to investigate why Ezekiel had vanished.

His daughters wouldn’t simply blame the Emperor; they would drop everything and search the entire continent for him. They might even resort to unconventional methods

It would be a colossal waste of time and resources.

“Very well. You will receive two drops.”

“Hmm?”

Ezekiel tilted his head, his expression unreadable.

“Why only two drops?”

“What?”

“Your Majesty I believe three drops is a more appropriate number.”

“Didn’t you mention two drops yourself?”

“Upon reflection, it seems right to receive a greater quantity. I’m obtaining a diluted version through the First Princess.”

“Actually three drops is still not enough. With my health failing and the next expedition to prepare for, five drops are necessary.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Three drops Take it or leave it.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

*Crack!*

The apple in the Emperor’s hand couldn’t withstand the pressure and burst. Under normal circumstances, instead of an apple, it should have been Ezekiel’s head. What could this mean?

‘To think I’d end up treating him like a son-in-law’

The Emperor was fundamentally indifferent to almost everything.

When he discovered Ezekiel in the Palace of Penance, he felt nothing more than having dredged up the most sophisticated puppet weapon; like a part that would eventually be replaced. That was all.

However, Ezekiel was changing many things.

He changed himself, transformed the princesses, and now, perhaps, he even had an influence on the Emperor.

The Emperor glanced down at his own robes, a thoughtful expression on his face.

‘Am I truly being affected? Me?’

It was unprecedented. A truly novel experience.

But there was no turning back now.

“Illaref show yourself.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The audience chamber rippled like a mirage, and a tall man appeared. It was Ilaref, who quietly performed the role of the Emperor’s silent shadow.

“Prepare a contract. It should state that over the course of three months, a total of three drops of Sun Elixir will be delivered.”

“Three drops? You’re granting as many as three drops?”

“Do not harbor any questions.”

“My apologies. I will heed your command.”

Illaref vanished as quickly as he’d appeared, and Ezekiel nodded his satisfaction evident.

“I’m grateful for your generosity, Your Majesty.”

“Who would have thought your cunning would run so deep.”

As humans acquire honor and power, they tend to maintain their dignity. Eventually, dignity becomes a shackle, and they avoid actions that could damage it.

But Eekiel, who had nothing to lose and was living on borrowed time, was rather formidable with his confidence.

“The Sun Elixir will undoubtedly lengthen your life, but prepare to work tirelessly.”

“With the Sun Elixir I’m ready for anything.”

“Hmm.”

The Emperor slowly sipped from the chalice.

‘Indeed, three drops seem quite a bargain.’

Attempts were made to create another weapon like Ezekiel after him, but a masterpiece on par with him never emerged again on the continent; the Sun Elixir was undeniably precious but so was Ezekiel’s potential. A longer lifespan would ensure years of service. It was a worthwhile investment.

‘Perhaps this isn’t such a bad deal’

As he pondered this, Illaref reappeared.

“Your Majesty, the contract has been prepared.”

“Well done.”

“In addition, here is the elixir you promised earlier.”

The Emperor’s hand, which was playing with the apple, momentarily paused.

‘Elixir? Especially those on the third floor of the Imperial Treasury?’

Illaref had chosen the finest elixirs from his vast collection. Should he commend him for his efficiency or reprimand him for his extravagance?

“I see no need to bestow the elixirs as well since the Sun Elixir is already promised. Return them.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

Before the Emperor could finish his words, Ezekiel snatched the elixirs from Illaref’s grip.

Gulp, gulp─

He downed them all in one go without a word as if he were a thirsty traveler gulping down water.

“I feel invigorated. Thank you.”

“Right.”

The Emperor now just wanted to send Ezekiel away.

His robes fluttered in the air, gesturing for Ezekiel to leave the audience chamber.

“Having received the contract, go. Let’s not see each other for a while.”

The grand stone doors of the audience chamber opened.

“Looking back, it wasn’t such a bad deal. However, there is one thing you must remember. Along with the extended lifespan, bear the responsibility heavily.”

“Yes.”

“Strive diligently to fulfill the five conditions, and think deeply of the princesses. Disappear, you say? There’s no place on the continent where my gaze doesn’t reach. I’m indulging your whims just for today.”

“I understand.”

But…

Even though the doors were open, Ezekiel didn’t move.

“But, there is just one more thing I ask of you, Your Majesty”

“?”

He held up the princess’s time check.

“After receiving elixirs and the Sun Elixir, you still want something else?”

“I’d like four more of these checks.”

Poof!

The Emperor snapped his fingers, and four more checks appeared, fluttering down onto Ezekiel’s outstretched hand.

Ezekiel was curious about such a swift affirmation.

“You’re not even going to ask why, Your Majesty?”

“No.”

“Hmm?”

Ezekiel took this as good news.

Having originally had only one note, which was a headache, having five meant one could be used for each princess, right? Things would be much easier.

The Emperor as if reading his mind chuckled softly.

“Ezekiel your naivete is endearing. You believe that if you use one note per person, there would be no issue.”

“Yes, thanks to Your Majesty, it has become possible.”

“You know so little of a woman’s heart.”

The Emperor began to smile faintly.

Ezekiel, who had so far only reaped great benefits since visiting the audience chamber, felt a sudden sense of unease.

“What do you mean?”

“When one check becomes five, a woman’s heart expects all five to be used for herself. It won’t go as you expect.”

“Hmm?”

“Now, whether you’re wrung out to death or cut into pieces and thrown away, deal with it yourself. It’s your karma.”

In haste, Ezekiel extended the four notes back.

“Your Majesty, let’s pretend these never existed.”

“Get lost.”

*Boom─!*

With a resounding noise, the audience chamber doors shut.

And Ezekiel dazedly looked at the five notes in his hand.

Oh.

Hmm?

While everything had been going so well, it seemed he had made a mistake at the end.

And a colossal one at that.

єη∂ σƒ

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