Chapter 54
Gold was one of the assets that could replace gold and silver currency.
Among them, gold engraved with the seal of a powerful family was traded at a much higher price than ordinary gold.
Because it meant that the family guaranteed the authenticity of the gold.
This was a very important system, and forging the seal engraved on gold was punishable by extreme punishment.
‘Why is the Imperial seal on it?’
There was no way Kim Beolkkul could have forged the seal.
“It’s even…… black?”
Black seal.
This means that after passing the appraisal of the Imperial Palace, it has never been released to the world.
Gold that has acquired the seal of the Bilotian Imperial Family is subject to meticulous management by the Imperial Family.
It was a concept similar to a ‘check’ on Earth.
Through the integration of magic engineering, it is recorded how the gold bar was moved, who it passed through, and how it was traded.
Isabel bit her nails.
“No way…… Did you steal it from the Imperial treasury?”
Kim Beolkkul nodded.
Kim Beolkkul was intoxicated by his actions.
『The miser, rejoice to your heart’s content.』
And he was looking forward to it. He expected the miser Isabel to be happy.
However, Isabel was so dumbfounded that she couldn’t speak. She understood Kim Beolkkul’s heart, but this method was too wrong.
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Meanwhile, there was someone even more bewildered than Isabel.
“C, crazy……!”
It was none other than the Imperial Chief Warehouse Keeper, Ullone.
He was a 24-year veteran warehouse keeper and the chief manager in charge of the seven treasure warehouses in the Imperial Palace.
“T, t, the gold bars are missing……!”
There were no signs of intrusion.
So either it was completely robbed, or there was a thief inside.
This was a state of emergency. The Imperial treasury had been robbed.
‘If this gets out, I’ll lose my head.’
He couldn’t manipulate the ledger either.
He had lived with pride in his job as a warehouse keeper for 24 years. He also had pride in managing the Imperial treasures.
Therefore, he could not lie.
He eventually went to see the Empress, Serna.
In this situation, the only person he could rely on and seek advice from was the wise Empress Serna.
“Six years ago, the Empress said that she would help me once, so I dare to see you, Your Majesty.”
Ullone, with a trembling heart, confessed everything to Serna.
Even though Serna was respected by everyone in the Imperial Family, even she couldn’t come up with a clear solution.
But at that moment, a knock was heard.
It was none other than Emperor Ron.
Ullone’s body stiffened.
‘D, did you hear my report?’
Sweat poured down like rain.
This incident was the responsibility of the Chief Warehouse Keeper.
The Iron-Blooded Emperor Ron would never let this matter slide easily.
He trembled with fear.
“I heard the gist of it outside.”
“P, please kill me.”
“Should I?”
Ullone’s body stiffened again.
He felt like he was going to lose his mind from the killing intent emanating from Ron.
“If it were according to the rules, I would have punished you severely.”
Ron withdrew his killing intent.
“The Empress promised to help you once, and you believed that promise and sought out the Empress, so I will not hold you responsible. So go back and do your best in the work you are in charge of.”
“Y, Your Majesty……!”
“Get out before I change my mind.”
“Th, thank you. Thank you, Your Majesty! I will do my best in warehouse management from now on to ensure that there are no mistakes.”
Ron nodded, and Ullone ran out of the study as if fleeing.
Meanwhile, Serna smiled.
“You said that on purpose, didn’t you?”
“……”
Ron didn’t answer, but Serna knew his intentions well.
Ron was a man who, once he decided to forgive, held no grudges.
“You knew that Sir Ullone was too scared. If you had spoken softly and gently there, Sir Ullone would probably have cried on the spot. So you said that on purpose. Right?”
“……”
Ron was a gentle lamb only in front of Serna. However, it was a little awkward to actively agree and say ‘yes’.
He was the Iron-Blooded Emperor in front of the people of the Empire, and such warmth didn’t suit him.
At least, that’s what Ron thought.
“You’re cute.”
“That’s a modifier that doesn’t suit the Emperor of Bilotian.”
“Still, cute is cute.”
“I’m not cute.”
“Then what are you?”
“I’m strong.”
“Cute is the strongest.”
Ron’s earlobes turned slightly red.
Realizing that the temperature around his face was rising, Ron quickly moved his mana to lower his body temperature.
He didn’t want to be caught blushing.
But he was already caught.
“I will take care of this case myself, so you don’t have to worry about it, Empress.”
“Really? You’re very busy these days.”
“I have a rough idea who the thief is.”
“Who is it?”
“I’ll tell you when I’m sure.”
Having said that, Ron turned his back.
Serna tilted her head as she watched Ron walk away.
“You seem to be in a good mood? The only time His Majesty is in such a good mood is usually when he has a dinner appointment with Isabel.”
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Ron, walking down the hallway, felt a welcome energy from afar.
Although he couldn’t see it, it was clearly caught by his senses as a trained warrior.
There was only one person in the Imperial Palace who emitted such intense and warm energy.
‘Past this corner.’
His pace quickened slightly.
‘When I turn the next corner, Isabel will be there.’
His pace slowed again, and his expression disappeared.
As if he had never looked forward to meeting Isabel.
“Y, Your Majesty!”
“What are you doing here?”
Isabel’s bangs were a little messy.
Ron approached Isabel and tidied her bangs with his index finger.
Beads of sweat were forming on her forehead, but even that was so cute and lovely.
“Th, that’s……”
“Judging by your appearance, you look like a young boy who was caught stealing by the owner and ran away in a hurry.”
Isabel flinched.
At her transparent reaction, Ron couldn’t help but laugh.
He quickly turned around to hide his laughter.
“Follow me for now.”
Ron led the way.
Because his daughter’s steps were too slow, he had to really pay attention to his own pace as he walked.
‘Is it because she hasn’t mastered footwork? Her gait is terrible. There’s no other way. I have no choice but to walk with her.’
He deliberately put his hand behind his back.
Because Isabel usually held his hand when he walked like this.
But for some reason, she didn’t hold his hand today.
Ron was a little disappointed, but they had already arrived in front of the office.
“Huh? Why did Your Majesty come to the office?”
It was Viaton, the Emperor’s aide. His eyes were full of dark circles.
In fact, the only time he was full of energy was when he was teaching Isabel. Most of the time, he had that kind of face because of severe overtime work.
“Is it strange for the Emperor to come to the Emperor’s office?”
“That’s right, it shouldn’t be strange, but it is.”
Viaton pointed to his eyes.
“See the dark circles?”
“You’re ugly.”
“Can dark circles be ugly?”
“……”
Ron seemed to just want to say he was ugly.
Just as Ron seemed to only say what he wanted to say, Viaton also only said what he wanted to say.
“This is because a certain great person somewhere dumps all the work on me and only focuses on sword training.”
Viaton spotted a girl peeking out from behind the Emperor.
“No, Your Majesty, what’s going on?”
“What are you talking about?”
“As you know, Your Majesty, Her Highness the Princess is someone who exudes a unique lovely, bright, and warm energy. But today, I couldn’t feel it. This must be because she’s intimidated by Your Majesty. She’s so overwhelmed by Your Majesty’s energy that I couldn’t feel Her Highness’s energy! Did you bully Her Highness? Is that it? Did you curse and get angry?”
“If I did?”
“Then it’s betrayal.”
“Openly rebelling?”
Viaton clenched his fists.
He glared at the Emperor and then opened his mouth with a serious face.
“I’ll tell your mother.”
“……”
“You thought that was a little scary, didn’t you?”
Viaton subtly glanced at Isabel.
In fact, the reason he was making silly jokes in a slightly exaggerated tone of voice was because he wanted to relieve Isabel’s tension even a little.
Because Isabel was like a frightened baby sparrow right now.
“I’ll be out for a while because I have something to do.”
After greeting the Emperor, he passed by Isabel. He didn’t forget to smile at Isabel.
Thanks to Viaton’s efforts, Isabel was able to relax a little.
Ron carefully carried Isabel and sat her down on the office chair.
And he sat on the desk and said,
“Now, tell me why you came to me.”
“The reason I came to Your Majesty is……”
Isabel lowered her head.
Robbing the Imperial treasury was a serious crime. Perhaps Kim Beolkkul would be severely punished.
“……so. I’m really sorry. This is my fault for not educating him properly. Please punish me. I brought all the gold bars. I’ll return them.”
To be honest, Isabel was scared.
She had never had a father, so she wasn’t used to this kind of situation.
She thought she would be scolded severely, and that thought grew bigger and bigger, becoming a formless fear.
It was too much for a seven-year-old body to handle.
It was also the fear that she might be hated.
“I did wrong. Please don’t hate me.”
Her body trembled. Her big eyes were filled with tears.
“What are you talking about?”
“I don’t want to be hated.”
“So, I’m asking you what you’re talking about.”
“Th, that…… As I said……”
Ron frowned slightly.
“I prepared that as a gift for you.”
“……Yes?”
“It’s exactly 72 days, 22 hours, 24 minutes, and 15 seconds before your birthday.”
