My Past Life is Riddled With Many Sins - Chapter 31
Eliminating Skyler and having a new person become the Dean so he could infiltrate the academy in disguise wasn’t a bad plan. The problem was that Skyler wasn’t easy to deal with. Sending assassins would only result in him piling up mountains of bodies, while Skyler would remain unharmed, cheerfully surviving.
It was not for nothing that he was called the Empress’ Mad Gardener or the Crazy Eyes Blade of the Empress. However, if he really set his mind to it, there was nothing he couldn’t eliminate….
“There’s no reason for me to shoulder the risk alone.”
Why should he deal with explosives personally? Even the most skilled technicians could suffer permanent injuries or, in the worst case, lose their lives if they’re unlucky. If he took the lead and something went wrong, it would only benefit the others. If he was out of the picture, the other side wouldn’t mourn but rejoice at the reduction of a competitor. If Skyler and he were to eliminate each other, the others would be overjoyed.
“I can’t let that happen.”
He reached for a cigar, then hesitated and pulled back. He almost indulged it out of habit. Since learning of his reincarnation, he had started taking better care of himself, quitting cigars being one of those changes. It’s bad for the skin, and he couldn’t afford to mar his beauty.
“Her Majesty prefers pretty things.”
Setting the cigar aside, he removed his half-mask and took out a facial pack from a drawer. After applying it, he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, but soon a knock on the door interrupted him.
“Later.”
He replied, moving his mouth as little as possible to keep the pack in place. Yet, the situation wasn’t in his favor.
“It’s an urgent matter, Master.”
With a sigh of displeasure, he removed the pack, donned the half-mask again, and permitted the entry.
* * *
Yekarna was leisurely enjoying the afternoon sunlight in the garden. Accompanied by an observant fox. As she petted his well-maintained soft, ash-grey hair, he seemed pleased, awkwardly nuzzling his face into her hand, unbecoming of his large stature.
When she pressed him to stop, he slyly licked her fingers with a mischievous tongue.
“Stay still, Lennon. I’m trying to gather my thoughts.”
“How can you expect restraint from a beast?”
“That tongue of yours seems more human than animal. I have allowed you to stay not as a person, but as a pet.”
Indeed, Yekarna needed some solitude, hence she had left Skyler, who had come all the way up to the capital, and retreated to the garden.
Yet, this fox-like man managed to cleverly secure a spot by her side by claiming he wasn’t a person but a pet who wished to accompany her.
Skyler would jump out of his skin if he knew, but what can one do? It’s the way of the world for the sly to gain advantage.
Yekarna wasn’t entirely displeased with Lennon’s cunning nature. In fact, she rather enjoyed it. However, acting deceitfully after being kept as a pet was a different issue. She had no need for a pet that deceives its master.
As she harshly brushed him off and wiped her hand with a handkerchief, Lennon buried his face in the folds of her cloak and whispered.
“I understand, Your Majesty. I won’t be greedy, so please, touch me again.”
Hearing his deflated tone, Yekarna’s heart softened slightly, despite knowing it was all a calculated act.
Lennon knew too well how to exploit the fact that Yekarna was soft on him. Such a sly fox he was. Sighing briefly, Yekarna once again petted Lennon’s head. Well, what can she do? Being knowingly deceived and going along with it is part of life.
Lennon was sitting quietly at her feet, a posture unbefitting a Marquis and chancellor of a nation. But since no unauthorized person could enter the garden, there was no one to see.
“Isn’t that uncomfortable for you?”
“I’m pleased to receive Your Majesty’s affection.”
“Don’t give me such a roundabout answer.”
“Is this much really a bother? As you well know, despite my pretty appearance, my body is not.”
Lennon, with a slight tease in his tone as if she was worried about everything, asked again.
“Does that resolve your concerns, Your Majesty?”
“No, it’s an endless issue.”
“May I know what it is?”
“It’s about the underworld. No matter how many times I try to eradicate it, it never goes as planned. It revives no matter how much it’s trampled on. If it’s something that cannot be eradicated, perhaps it would be better to keep it under control and manage it, but that would require infiltrating a smart agent into the underworld… Would you sacrifice yourself for me?”
“Perhaps someone more skilled in martial arts than me, like Margrave Linzmeyer, would be a better fit?”
“If Skyler goes, who will protect the northern border?”
“And if I go, who will handle the administrative work? And who will flirt with you like this?”
“That’s a good point.”
Yekarna smiled as she petted the downcast Lennon’s face. The joke ends there. She had no intention of sending her competent chancellor away.
She got up without hesitation.
“Are you satisfied with stepping into the garden?”
She asked Lennon who quickly followed behind her. She didn’t have eyes on her back but she knew he hesitated.
“…Yes.”
“I would have shown it to you soon anyway, without you having to play the role of a pet.”
Unauthorized people couldn’t enter the Emperor’s garden.
Until now, only six people, including her lover, the Grand Duke, three concubines, and the official consort Skyler. Today made it seven.
“Let’s go flower viewing when I have some free time.”
After a brief silence, he responded with a voice filled with suppressed emotion.
“I will eagerly, eagerly await that day, Your Majesty.”
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