This BL Novel Is Ruined Now - Chapter 221
Chapter 221
Translator: Yonnee
—
“You’ve worked hard.”
At Enoch’s weighty words, Reina bowed respectfully.
Though the emperor had become more approachable, he was not as casual as Grand Duke Benedict. And unlike Benedict, he was a person who valued formality.
“Your Majesty’s praise is too generous.”
After the exchange of formalities, the emperor gestured to the chair across from him. Reina sat down without refusal and began her formal report.
“Fortunately, before leaving the Dwarven Principality, I’ve reached an agreement with the Tusa clan.”
“Indeed. Instead, the association’s name was decided to be ‘Resa’ rather than ‘Lorei’.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“And what about Lehman Karr and Jeremy Venzen’s participation?”
“They seemed pleased, thinking it would be a good cover.”
“They seem to have no attachment to the Principality.”
“It appears the revolution was also caused by the Principality’s old system being a hindrance to the development of their clan.”
Hearing Reina’s summary, the emperor sipped his tea with grace.
“So, what are your plans moving forward?”
Dropping the teacup, she sparkled at the calmly dropped question.
“Your Majesty, I was thinking of taking a six-month sabbatical.”
“A sabbatical?”
“Yes. I need to scout for matters related to ‘Resa’, and I cannot appear publicly right now.”
“That makes sense.”
“So, I was thinking of pretending to be ill from the excessive use of divine power, confined to the Palace of the Thirteenth Moon.”
At her clever and audacious plan, the usually stern emperor chuckled.
“As Benedict says, you are quite spirited.”
“Does it show?”
“One look at your bright eyes and it’s clear.”
Enoch’s assessment was accurate. Reina was more rational and livelier than ever.
“How do you plan to travel?”
“With Ethan—”
But before Reina’s answer could fully form, a firm voice interjected.
“Ethan is currently not in a position to move, so it is denied.”
“…Pardon?”
“If both of you take leave at the same time, it will surely raise suspicions. Besides, Ethan has already used up all his leave for even the coming year.”
That’s true but… where there’s a needle, there’s a thread, and where there’s a thread, there’s a needle…
‘Especially after being separated during my dispatch to the Dwarven Principality…’
This throws a wrench in her plans. So, she began to concoct ‘reasons to take Ethan with her’.
“However, that would mean I have to move secretly—”
“We’ll provide an artifact capable of instant teleportation.”
“…But instant teleportation artifacts are very rare and expensive—”
“Cheaper than having the reform fail.”
“……”
As Reina faltered, unable to retort, the emperor firmly reinforced his point.
“Keep in mind that Ethan, having used up all his leave for the next year, will be excluded from all your plans, Director Reina.”
“……”
This was trouble. It’s uncertain if Ethan will stay quiet upon hearing this news.
* * *
“…So. You’re leaving. Alone.”
A voice as low as the darkness seemed to constrict the surroundings. Reina flinched at his reaction, which was more violent than expected.
She knew he wouldn’t take it well, but… Ethan had been neglecting contact like a distracted person for the past week, so she hadn’t expected such a strong rejection.
Caught off guard, Reina stared silently at her lover.
‘Something’s… off.’
The anxiety hidden in those black eyes.
How could she not recognize it?
But she had to sort out the situation, so she barely managed to part her frozen lips.
“It’s just that, what I mean is… Ethan… It’s not that I’ll leave you forever…”
“Reina.”
Cutting her off mid-sentence, he reached out towards her alabaster cheek.
“I will not let you go.”
“……”
From the moment she mentioned ‘going on a pilgrimage to other regions alone for about half a year’, he had lost his rationality.
“No, what I mean is… I’m not saying I’m going to leave you.”
“But you’re talking about leaving me for half a year.”
At his extreme response, she ultimately lost her words and clenched her mouth shut.
‘Really, why is this happening?’
What on earth happened in just a moment? It’s like he’s lost all sense of context…
However, whether Reina was troubled or not, the other party continued to pour out his obsessive words.
“You should have tried to leave far earlier. Or shouldn’t have tried at all.”
“……”
It’s been a while. Ethan, this unpredictable bouncy ball…
‘What on earth happened…?’
Surely, when she first returned to the empire from the Duchy, Ethan’s obsession wasn’t this severe.
For him to suddenly act like a jealous husband was strange.
“E…Ethan. Let’s talk firs—”
She tried to calm him down first. However, Ethan gnashed his teeth, his eyes narrowing.
“That friend of yours who keeps meddling… Those followers that keep being a nuisance in the name of your ‘protection’… And even those bastards who pretend to cooperate yet look at you with such dirty eyes…”
After uttering those last words, he slowly opened and closed his eyes, then pressed down on her lower lip with the tip of his thumb.
“I spared them all, as you asked.”
…What? ‘Spared them all’?
Reina blinked in confusion.
This sudden turn of events was confusing enough, but what was this alarming statement…?
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