The Emperor’s Candy

Pop, pop.

Emperor Electro had a fondness for candy.

Before ending his day, he would often finish reviewing state affairs while popping a sweet candy or two into his mouth.

Bain, who would sit at the Emperor’s feet listening to that repetitive sound, would narrow his eyes and lean his cheek against the old Emperor’s knees.

Clink, followed by the pop of a candy breaking. The crackle of the hearth fire. Electro’s hands moved busily, and Bain listened to the rustle of turning parchment pages as if savoring a fine melody, slowly closing his eyes.

All those harmonies were sounds Bain had heard and cherished since childhood.

Then, suddenly opening his eyes again, Bain would look up at the Emperor, who was seriously reviewing state documents, and unconsciously swallow, licking his lips.

Ah, I’m hungry.

What in the world is this brat thinking?

Bain would sometimes pull such absurd stunts in the past whenever he wanted praise from Electro. Each time, Electro, like the benevolent master he was, would pat Bain’s head and offer his compliments.

When Merwell didn’t budge an inch, Bain extended the hand holding the candy and shook it, as if asking why he wasn’t taking it. When that still failed, he lightly tapped Merwell’s shoulder with his fingertip.

Hmm, should I take this or not?

Merwell narrowed his eyes and stared at Bain, who was holding out his hand and tilting his head slightly. His face was so pale that Merwell wanted to ask if he had even been sleeping properly lately.

As he watched the candy clinking in Bain’s palm, his mouth watered, but Electro hesitated for a brief moment.

“…Why are you giving me this?”

Merwell barely swallowed the words that had almost burst out of him—What the hell are you giving me this for?—and composed his expression naturally.

The Bain before him looked so fragile he seemed about to collapse at any moment. But Electro knew all too well that even this helpless, fragile atmosphere was all an act.

Bain’s mouth twitched slightly, but he only looked down at the candy in his hand. Seeing him bow his head in silence, Electro, who had always been weak when it came to Bain, thought the boy seemed deflated. He reached out and took the candy anyway.

And, entirely out of habit, he popped open the middle of the candy wrapper with his fingers and slid the sweet directly into his mouth.

At that exact action, Bain’s eyes curved into a brilliant smile.

“…You.”

Bain’s voice was exceptionally low. Merwell froze with the candy still melting on his tongue. Bain’s sparkling blue eyes bloomed into a smile as he opened his mouth. In that instant, it felt as if hundreds of sharp, predatory teeth were bared, lunging toward Merwell.

“You eat candy in a unique way.”

Honorifics.

The Bain that Electro knew never used respectful speech with anyone else. The only person in the entire Empire he elevated his language for was a single individual: none other than Emperor Electro Chaman himself.

Electro rolled the melting candy in his mouth, chewed it, and stared blankly at the torn candy wrapper left in his hand.

Opening the candy wrapper directly from the middle was Electro’s signature way of eating sweets. It was a habit he had picked up from sitting in his rocking chair by the fireplace with Bain at his knees, secretly slipping a sweet into his mouth while reviewing long documents.

Bain, who had been standing listlessly with his long black hair flowing, looked Merwell up and down several times and smiled again. It was the same pure, beautiful smile he had always reserved for Electro.

Bain seemed satisfied after confirming Merwell’s chewing, and stepped back a couple of paces.

“Hmm…”

Merwell clicked his tongue, stroking his chin as he watched Bain’s retreating figure disappear down the hall. He felt a very pressing need to be far more careful in the future.

“…Does His Grace like you?” Eddie suddenly wore an incredibly serious expression.

“Don’t talk nonsense and come help me,” Merwell retorted.

Eddie had been unable to shake off his shock for the past several days. It was a massive blow to his worldview that his fearsome Lord was paying so much attention to such a crazy person.

It had already been a week since Grand Duke Berlowen’s abnormal behavior began. He was still constantly prowling around Merwell, persistently tracking him and leaving behind specific, highly customized gifts that Electro had adored in his lifetime.

For example, the luxurious fur muffler Merwell had just received was something Electro had enjoyed wearing whenever he was alone, as he couldn’t wear it in public due to imperial decorum. The tea leaves he had received a few days prior were dried flower petals cured with honey, producing a sweet taste when brewed.

It was heavily looked down upon among the high nobility as a sweet beverage fit only for toddlers, but Electro had secretly procured and brewed it in private. Since it was a secret even from his primary attendants, he couldn’t order it to be made, so the task of preparing it had naturally fallen solely to Bain.

…How much does he actually know?

The blizzard had officially started, and the weather had become brutally cold. Even inside the inhabited castle, the drafty corridors were almost as freezing as the outdoors.

Eddie looked around and then glanced at Merwell’s reaction. Jex had once confided that despite his rough, imposing appearance, Eddie believed in destined love and possessed a remarkably pure heart.

Even more surprising was that Eddie had a massive crush on Chelen. Although Electro supported their potential romance, to be honest, the chances of it working out were less than one percent.

Both were from fallen noble families, but Chelen had a highly free-spirited, independent nature. Moreover, she had once laughed and told Merwell that she absolutely despised burly-looking knights.

“The blizzard is already raging. Sir Daniel was tearing his hair out because the final supply wagons haven’t arrived yet,” Eddie said, staring out the frost-covered window.

Following his gaze, the white snow was swirling fiercely outside. This blizzard was expected to last about three months, meaning the Grand Duke’s castle on the high mountain peak would be completely isolated from the outside world during that time.

“I have a bad feeling about this. I hope this winter passes without incident.”

“Don’t say such ominous things.”

Eddie, as if getting goosebumps, rubbed his arms and glanced at Merwell. Even though he kept telling himself he shouldn’t get involved, his protective instincts kicked in, and he couldn’t just leave Merwell alone. He cleared his throat.

“It could get dangerous like last time… If you want, I could stand guard for you instead.”

It seemed Eddie was still deeply concerned about the incident where Merwell had almost suffered a terrible fate at Evilun’s hands.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m more than capable of protecting myself.”

“…It is truly useless to worry about this bastard.” Eddie pouted sulkily, feeling embarrassed.

Merwell laughed heartily, thoroughly enjoying his “grandchild’s” cute antics.

Eddie looked highly uncomfortable receiving such a warm, benevolent smile from a twenty-two-year-old, but Merwell, entirely unperturbed, naturally put another sweet into his mouth. It was the candy he had received from Bain earlier. He popped open the middle of the wrapper, slid it into his mouth, and laughed heartily again.

“Eddie, unlike your rugged face, your heart is truly gentle and beautiful.”

“…”

“Isn’t it beautiful? Now hurry up, or we’ll freeze to death just standing here talking.” Eddie grumbled, quickening his pace to escape his own confusion over how used to this treatment he had become.

There were six bathhouses in the castle. Three were allocated for the knights, two for the servants, and the final one was reserved for Grand Duke Berlowen Blanchard alone.

Luckily, there was no shortage of clean water thanks to the melting snow, so Electro was able to enjoy his bath in a leisurely, relaxed manner.

“Oh, it’s hot but refreshing.”

“…”

Eddie recalled his own elderly grandfather, who would pour hot bathwater over his shoulders and mutter that it was hot but refreshing. Merwell was damnably using the exact same tone and cadence.

Ignoring Eddie’s profound confusion, Merwell looked down at his current body and clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction.

“Aish… I used to have such a splendid and massive thing.”

“…Jex. Call a doctor. I think this guy’s brain is deteriorating further,” Eddie said in a truly grave tone.

But Electro, unlike those reacting with concern around him, was inwardly admiring his own quick adaptability, metaphorically clapping his hands.

The supreme Emperor used to soak in a luxurious marble bathtub carved entirely of gold and adorned with rare jewels while enjoying his deep contemplation. Who could have ever predicted that he would now be huddling together with naked, rowdy men in such a shabby, drafty stone bathhouse?

Well, it’s possible because it’s me.

Merwell felt so exceptionally good that he began to hum a tune. Of all things, it was a traditional folk song that old grandfathers sang, titled ‘Good Even If I Die.’ Eddie seriously considered writing a desperate letter to his family as soon as the blizzard finally cleared.

After finishing his bath and roughly drying his damp hair, Merwell stood up. Though he doubted anyone would dare intrude into the Grand Duke’s castle, as a standard protocol, the knights took turns patrolling the interior of the castle once a day.

Tonight, Merwell and four other comrades were assigned to the patrol shift. Liam spread out a detailed map of the castle interior and spoke. Eddie had warned that Liam was one of those who strongly disliked Merwell, but Electro didn’t really pay it any mind.

“I’ll take the basement, Merwell will take the west warehouse, Campbell will take the first and second floors, and the remaining two will handle the rest of the wings. We’ll make three rounds, each lasting an hour. If anything suspicious happens, pull this cord to send up a signal flare.” He even explained the details with surprising clarity. “Merwell, you just need to stand guard in the west warehouse for the full three hours.”

Oh-ho, Electro nodded. This was his first time actually standing guard on a patrol. Back in his past life, the imperial palace was heavily fortified by vast legions of elite knights and soldiers, and his private imperial bedroom had never been left unattended by his hunting dog, Berlowen Blanchard.

This is also quite a novel memory.

Liam seemed to want to say something more, but after casting a lingering glance at Merwell’s relaxed face, he quietly turned and left.