I Won’t Accept Your Regrets

"I thought you were on your way to the Thorn Kingdom. That mercenary captain said your hands were itching before the battle."

Jeremy put down his mug and smiled sarcastically.

"That's what I wanted. Ellie is no longer here, and nothing keeps me here. But when I got ready… I was struck like lightning."

Ellie's words continued to ring in his ears.

Jed already knew what had kept Jeremy from leaving.

Jed and Jeremy didn't really know each other, but they worked together for a long time and got used to each other.

It's been a long time since Jeremy first started working as a mercenary and Jed opened his bar.

The meeting between Jed and Ellie was pure coincidence. But when Ellie decided to do business with Jed, at first it was Jeremy who served them as an intermediary.

And Jeremy was also gathering useful information so that the Phoenix organization could grow faster.

Jeremy brought helpful people to Jed's bar on purpose.

Thus, the Order of the Phoenix took off at a gallop based on the wide availability of information.

Jed sighed softly, looking at Jeremy's pensive face.

If even after so many years he didn’t understand the essence of things, Jed could be branded a complete fool.

With a little attention to detail, he was able to see the way Jeremy's eyes were looking at Ellie.

As far as Jed knew, Jeremy was not the type to greet everyone with a warm look and a smile on his lips.

It's not clear what their backstory was, but Jeremy was truly loyal to Ellie.

What's so good about that?

This was a mystery to Jed, for he had never truly loved anyone.

Once upon a time, Jed really wanted Jeremy and Ellie to get together. But that was before he knew about Ellie's personality. After all, her ex-husband is a real Emperor.

So when Jed heard that Ellie was sailing away, he thought it was even better this way.

If Ellie disappears from sight, Jeremy will immediately throw her out of his head.

But if you look at it right now, it obviously didn't work.

"How is Ellie doing? Any news from the Empire?"

"I wonder why now? Jeremy, why now? I once wanted you to get along with Ellie, but why now?! Ellie, she… Do you know who she was?"

If you think about it, Jeremy couldn't know Ellie's identity.

Although Jeremy's true identity was also unknown, Jed had already found out that he was from the Empire and was a noble.

"If I like someone, it doesn't matter who that person is. And if you look at it like that, the Emperor has already seen the two of us."

He still remembers that meeting a long time ago.

For him, it was not a stumbling block that her ex-husband is the Emperor.

He spent six years with her in the Lund Kingdom. During this time, the feeling for her didn’t disappear, but only deepened.

"What?"

"I'm just saying her past doesn't matter to me."

Jed was curious. But Jeremy just laughed and threw something neutral to him.

"Jed, answer me. How is Ellie doing?"

Duke Croft's plight was the worst problem, but the Emperor was also chasing after it.

"She's doing it. The Emperor has not yet understood anything, although he is looking for an excuse to remove the Duke. So don't think about it… Isn't it easier for you to go your own way?"

"I already told you. I was about to go my own way, but it didn't work. And here I am."

"…What are you up to? Sail to the Empire and challenge the Emperor to a duel over Ellie?"

"Why not?"

Jeremy laughed, and Jed's face winced.

He yelled at Jeremy like crazy.

"Wake up, you fool! The Emperor is still on Ellie's tail. They have been divorced for 6 years, but he won’t calm down. After all, he still loves her. Even the Empress's throne is empty. Are you wondering why? Guess yourself!"

"Yeah. There are too many walls that I have to go through."

"Are you kidding? Do you not understand what I’m saying?"

"Jed, I'm just doing what I can for Ellie."

"Eh… And when are you going?" Jed asked, as if he had already resigned himself. Jeremy replied:

"Tomorrow. The first ship, early in the morning. Will you float? To the Agrita Empire."

"Perhaps…"

"Then I'll see you there."

Jeremy got up from his seat, finishing off all the remaining beer.

"And of course, thanks for the beer."

Jeremy patted Jed on the shoulder while he was still annoyed and annoyed, and left the bar.

"Perhaps something will work out for you."

It was obvious that a storm was coming very soon in the Empire.

Jed sighed, hoping Ellie and Jeremy would stay safe.

* * *

Capital of the Agrita Empire.

The main palace, which contained the entire administration. The next monthly meeting of the nobility continued beyond all limits.

Raymond, sitting in the highest place, glanced coldly at the nobles in front of him.

“Your Majesty, we can no longer postpone the trial of Duke Croft. The losses for the Empire are so great. How long will the guilty go unpunished?”

Then the nobleman shouted to him with a determined face. And of course, the point here was not at all that the nobleman expressed devotion to the common cause.

The nobles were looking for opportunities to take Duke Croft out of the game, and they chose today's meeting as the day of the general battle.

Everyone said the same thing to the Emperor.

Raymond stared insensibly at the nobles repeating the same words like parrots.

Directly under the throne, in the chair of the prime minister, called the Emperor's right hand, sat Marquis Sios.

Having received the last warning, the Marquis no longer visited his office in vain.

Instead, he left the main palace altogether and worked from his estate.

At his suggestion, all the rest of the nobility turned their anger against the Emperor to Duke Croft.

As if the Duke was guilty of all the troubles, who deceived the Emperor on the wrong path.

Stories circulated around the castle about how commoners, losing their temper with anger, brought garbage directly to the gates of the Duke's estate.

This was completely unacceptable for the mores of the nobility. At first, the Emperor wanted to find them all and order them to cut off their brushes. But if you do it right now, when the truth about the Duke has not yet been revealed, it will further undermine the honor of the Duke.

And it was Marquis Sios who played a major role in creating this whole situation.

Raymond gazed silently at the Marquis's face while the latter exchanged glances with the nobles in the hall.

The gloom on the Emperor's face reflected his guilt.

He wanted to surrender to the impulse and just run, free the Duke from imprisonment.

And he wasn’t so worried about Edmund as to save Marquis Sios later.

But the price would be even greater anger from the nobility.

Raymond's dark eyes dropped to Marquis Sios.

Why the hell is Marquis Sios trying to slander the Duke?

Whichever way you look at it, Marquis Sios had no resentment or reason for this.

While he was looking at the Marquis, a new voice rang out:

"It's not just the nobility. The people are dissatisfied with the new taxes. If you continue like this, people will be disappointed with the imperial family."

"What are you talking about, Count Barten?"

Raymond glanced at that red-haired young earl.

Without the support of Marquis Sios, he was neither qualified nor capable of accepting the title of count.

"I just want to say that I am worried with all my heart for the reign of Your Majesty…"

"If you are so concerned about my rule, you better take care of the Barten estate. I heard you had a riot again on tax day. If every noble family does a good job at home, I think the future of the whole Empire will be bright. Or do you disagree?"