The Emperor was dying.
This was a rumor that had recently been quietly circulating among the upper echelons of the imperial capital.
However, if one paid even a little attention, they would find that this rumor was not entirely groundless.
But the moment Li An truly realized this was when the Emperor coughed violently.
“Cough, cough, cough! Li... cough! An... Adolf! Cough, cough!”
That coughing sounded as if he were about to cough up his lungs.
Hearing this noise, even someone suffering from lung disease would probably proactively yield their share of air to the Emperor.
Li An could not help but frown.
“It's... a bit damp here.”
The Emperor's throne was directly above where he knelt.
In other words—
This was exactly the perfect distance for flying spit.
Li An tried his best to tell himself not to care.
After all, being bathed in the Emperor's “grace” was something many dreamed of.
But...
He was still about to lose his grip.
“Could you switch places with me?”
Li An whispered to Sushia next to him.
“Why?”
“I cannot monopolize His Majesty's grace all by myself.”
Sushia looked puzzled.
But once they switched places, she understood instantly.
The young lady's face contorted immediately.
However, facing the Emperor, she did not dare to show it at all.
Li An silently averted his gaze, pretending he saw nothing.
“Cough, cough, cough, cough!”
The Emperor coughed violently again.
The attendant kneeling nearby immediately translated:
“His Majesty says... for you to state your desired reward.”
Seeing the Emperor nod, Li An had to admit.
This translation ability was simply terrifying.
Perhaps even the future Empress Elizabeth could not achieve such a feat.
Li An was just about to speak.
When he suddenly recalled what Kane had said to him before they arrived at the palace.
—If His Majesty asks what you want, absolutely do not answer.
Why?
Kane had explained it like this at the time.
“Think about it.”
“With your achievements, you should have become a minister-level official long ago.”
“Yet why are you still only a sixth-rank official now?”
Li An had replied then:
“Is it not simply because of bad luck?”
Kane had only let out a sigh.
“...”
“There are many close confidants around the Emperor.”
“They have been watching you.”
“For someone like you who has made great contributions to the empire, once they take notice of you, it will be very troublesome.”
Sure enough.
Li An looked at both sides of the Emperor.
Standing there were several officials with gloomy temperaments.
They constantly whispered things into the Emperor's ear.
He did not even need to think to know.
The demagogic abilities of these people had probably reached absolute perfection.
Li An lowered his head.
“I want...”
He was just about to speak.
But someone beat him to it.
“I want to become the Minister.”
Li An froze.
The voice was not his.
It was—
The General Supervisor of the Evaluation Department.
He stepped forward and spoke respectfully:
“Your Majesty, the Evaluation Department was only recently established, and there is currently no official position for Minister.”
“All of Li An's achievements were accomplished under my leadership.”
“Therefore, I believe I am also eligible for a reward.”
He had to admit.
This excuse was exceptionally elegant.
Li An was even somewhat impressed.
Despite having mediocre abilities, the man could sit in the position of General Supervisor.
It was all thanks to this ability to seize opportunities.
However...
This was on the premise.
That his backer had not rotted away.
The Emperor coughed again.
“Cough...”
“Who...”
“Are you?”
The General Supervisor hurriedly knelt down.
“Your humble servant is Caris Solon, Your Majesty.”
“Your servant is responsible for leading the Evaluation Department.”
The confidants beside the Emperor whispered something.
After listening, the Emperor nodded slowly.
Subsequently.
The confidant spoke.
“Kill him.”
“...”
The air froze instantly.
In the next second—
Thud!
Blood splattered.
The head of the General Supervisor of the Evaluation Department rolled directly onto the ground.
The Emperor's guards acted with clean and swift efficiency.
There was not the slightest hesitation.
“To enter the imperial palace without His Majesty's permission and audaciously demand a reward.”
The confidant said coldly:
“His Majesty originally pardoned his crime for the sake of his subordinate's achievements.”
“Unfortunately...”
“He chose death himself.”
“Truly a cheap soul.”
Afterward.
Attendants came in and dragged the corpse away.
The entire process.
Was terrifyingly quiet.
Sushia's face was pale.
She could not utter a single word.
Li An was silent as well.
This was the Emperor of the empire.
Camaron Barba.
The man who held the power of life and death over everyone in the empire.
“Li An Adolf.”
The Emperor spoke.
“You shall...”
“Replace that useless trash.”
“And become the head of the Evaluation Department.”
“From this day forth, you are the Minister of the Evaluation Department.”
“Are you satisfied?”
Everyone's eyes fell upon Li An.
Sushia secretly pinched his waist.
Her eyes seemed to ask:
—What on earth do you want to do?
However, Li An spoke slowly.
“I am not satisfied.”
In an instant.
The air froze.
Everyone looked at him.
Sushia's eyes almost bulged out.
Was this guy insane?
Yet Li An continued to speak:
“To be able to gaze upon Your Majesty is already this servant's greatest honor.”
“To accept an additional reward...”
“This servant absolutely dares not.”
“Therefore, please withdraw the reward, Your Majesty.”
“And even...”
“Please demote my rank.”
“Cough!”
The Emperor coughed abruptly.
Then he slowly stood up.
An expression of deep moved emotion actually appeared in his eyes.
The confidants on the side were all dumbfounded.
Their faces seemed to ask:
—Who is this guy?
“Loyal!”
“A rare...”
“Loyal subject!”
The Emperor said, panting:
“Reward!”
“Reward him with ten thousand gold coins!”
Li An's expression changed drastically.
“Your Majesty! This servant absolutely cannot accept!”
“Reward him with a legendary sword!”
“This servant truly cannot!”
“Reward him with another warhorse!”
“Your Majesty!!!”
Li An's voice echoed through the palace.
In the end.
Li An not only failed to get demoted.
Instead, he was officially appointed as the Minister of the Evaluation Department.
In addition to this.
He had also received a year's worth of gold salary.
A masterpiece sword crafted by a grandmaster.
As well as a royal warhorse.
Right now.
He was slumped on the sofa in the reception room.
Looking completely lifeless.
“I just wanted to be demoted...”
Sushia sat next to him.
She stuffed a pastry into his mouth.
Li An chewed mechanically.
“You really are incredible.”
“Section Chief Li An...”
“No, I suppose I should call you Minister now.”
“Don't tease me.”
“I'm serious.”
Sushia said earnestly:
“How on earth did you do that?”
“Negotiating by taking a step back to advance, right in front of that situation.”
“It was simply amazing.”
She paused.
“Would you like to come be a butler for our family?”
“This is a formal invitation.”
“You know, my family is very rich.”
A butler for Sushia's family.
That was equivalent to an asset manager in the modern world.
If one became the butler of the Senistia ducal family.
They would undoubtedly possess immense power.
It was the concrete manifestation of the saying, “Even a low-ranking officer is powerful if they serve at the Prime Minister's gates.”
Li An thought about it.
“You've been promoted.”
“What?”
“Because of my new authority.”
“To repay you for wanting me to wield more power.”
“You are now an eighth-rank official.”
“Congratulations on your promotion.”
“I will be assigning you more work in the future.”
“...”
“No!!!”
Sushia let out a scream that sounded absolutely nothing like a duke's daughter.
The two who had received accidental promotions.
Slumped onto the sofa just like that.
Waiting for the world to end.
Unfortunately.
The world showed absolutely no sign of ending.
Knock.
The door to the reception room opened.
“Ah.”
“Did I disturb your rest?”
“My apologies.”
“Should I come back later?”
“Your Highness!”
Sushia stood up instantly.
The young lady who, just moments ago, had been muttering “I don't want to work anymore” like a kitten drenched in rain.
Instantly restored her posture as a noble young lady.
The person who had entered.
Was indeed the First Prince of the empire.
Heir to the throne.
Kane Barba.
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
Li An immediately adjusted his posture and knelt on one knee.
“At ease.”
Kane smiled.
“I didn't come as the Crown Prince today.”
“I'm just running an errand for Imperial Father.”
“An errand?”
“Didn't you agree to accept the warhorse Imperial Father offered?”
“I happen to have a horse.”
“I'll give it to you.”
“If you aren't busy, come with me to the stables to have a look.”
Li An was silent for a moment.
Subsequently, he agreed.
The palace garden.
The setting sun cast its rays down.
The three walked slowly forward.
The blooming flowers and meticulously manicured scenery all around made the place feel like a dreamscape.
Kane suddenly asked:
“After meeting Imperial Father.”
“How did you feel?”
Li An answered:
“Being able to meet the Emperor of the empire is an honor for me.”
Kane laughed.
“You hesitated for a long time.”
“In fact...”
“Your hesitation was far more genuine than your answer.”
He stopped walking.
“I will speak plainly.”
“My father...”
“Has already decayed.”
Li An's heart tightened.
This kind of talk.
If heard by anyone else.
Would result in direct decapitation.
“He has closed his eyes now.”
“And plugged his ears.”
“He only wishes to believe flattery and obsequious praise.”
“Your Highness.”
Li An had a headache.
Why was it that the people of this empire.
All loved actively seeking death?
Kane looked at him.
“Do you know why I'm telling you this?”
“I do not.”
“I have observed you for a long time.”
“Li An Adolf.”
“You are highly capable.”
“And...”
“The wind of fortune is blowing at your back.”
Kane said earnestly:
“Are you willing to change this empire with me?”
Li An was just about to answer.
When he suddenly realized.
Sushia was also right next to them.
She gave an awkward smile.
“Your Highness...”
“It's fine if Sushia is here,”
Kane said.
“We grew up together.”
Li An was taken aback for a moment.
If he had known the two might have once been engaged.
He would surely have been even more shocked.
Once he was certain Sushia would not leak the conversation.
Li An said:
“My apologies.”
“Please allow me to refuse.”
Kane was puzzled.
“Why?”
“Because I do not possess such ability.”
Kane could not help but laugh.
“If even you lack the capability.”
“Then who else in this empire has it?”
“Please seek someone else.”
In reality.
Kane was indeed exceptionally outstanding.
He was broad-minded.
Benevolent.
And treated his subordinates well.
Many had even tacitly assumed he would become the next Emperor.
He seemed like...
A golden ticket leading to the future.
However.
Li An knew the future.
One day, Kane would get drunk.
In a sudden burst of wild impulsiveness.
He would ride a horse stark naked.
And end up falling off the horse.
Dying on the spot.
Because of his death.
The succession to the throne would completely shift.
Ultimately.
The Second Princess, Elizabeth, would defeat all competitors.
And become the Empress of the empire.
Moreover, Li An's goal was originally to escape the massive whirlpool of the empire, so there was absolutely no need to accept Kane's invitation.
Fortunately, Kane was a generous person; even after being rejected, he would not harbor any thoughts of silencing Li An.
“Haha.”
Kane laughed.
“It seems I've been rejected.”
“However...”
“I am a very persistent individual.”
“Be prepared.”
Before they knew it.
The three of them arrived at the stables.
Kane patted a fine steed.
“The horses here.”
“Take your pick.”
“Whichever one you like.”
“Just take it.”
Li An looked at the scene before him.
Feeling as though some rich kid in his past life had just opened his luxury car garage.
And said:
“Pick whichever one you want.”
Unfortunately.
Li An had no interest in horses.
Thus, he randomly pointed at one.
“That one over there.”
Kane's expression grew subtle.
Li An was taken aback.
So he switched to another one.
“Then this one?”
Kane still seemed rather unsatisfied.
“...”
Are you gifting me a horse or not?
Li An grumbled in his heart.
Finally.
He looked toward a corner.
Where a thin, frail young colt stood.
“I want that one.”
Kane was startled.
“That one?”
“That foal was rescued from the outside.”
“Its mother is already dead.”
“Why not choose a better one?”
Li An shook his head.
“I think it suits me better.”
“This one will do.”
Kane fell silent.
Then, a smile emerged on his face.
“If this is your choice.”
“Then perhaps...”
“It is destiny.”
After returning home.
Li An looked at the little colt.
Sighing helplessly.
“How am I supposed to raise you...”
However.
Seeing the delicate look of the foal.
He found it a bit cute after all.
Right at that moment.
He suddenly noticed something unusual.
Near the foal's shoulder blade where wings would be.
Something seemed to be growing.
“Feathers?”
A few small, snow-white feathers.
Were sprouting from its body.
Li An froze.
Wait...
Near the end of the empire.
A type of legendary pegasus had once appeared.
And that kind of horse...
Was known as—
“Pegasus.”
“This is way too absurd...”
Li An watched the little foal, who was bowing its head to eat grass.
The foal seemed to sense his gaze.
And tilted its little head.
One person, one horse.
They stared back and forth at each other.
Rate on N.U.
