I was bewildered.
Why was he still so loyal? Did Noah not realize what kind of monster Loxdian was? He’d run to me for help the second the Emperor started losing it.
"What's with those looks?" Loxdian barked, breaking the silence.
"...No, it’s nothing. I just... I thought I saw a glimmer of humanity for a second," I muttered.
Loxdian laughed—a cold, mocking sound. He closed his eyes for a moment before looking back at me. "Don't count on it. There’s no such thing as family happiness here."
'Is he insulting me? His own sister?' I stared at him, my expression unreadable. But then, a thought occurred to me.
We were siblings, weren't we? And he was the Emperor. The man literally sat on a throne of gold.
'...He must be loaded.'
I raised my head, my eyes narrowing. "There’s one thing I want to ask you."
"What? Speak."
"Do you have a lot of money?"
"..."
His beautiful face twisted into a frown, as if he couldn't quite process the absurdity of the question. To be honest, after seeing Askin’s face, I didn't think I’d ever be impressed by another handsome man again, but Loxdian was an exception. He was handsome in a raw, rough way—a stark contrast to Askin’s divine, sculpted beauty.
"I came all this way and stopped your madness, didn't I?" I asked.
"And?"
"And so, you should pay me for my services."
It was the perfect setup. Tyrant = infinite money. I gave him a bright, opportunistic smile.
"That’s not even funny," he spat.
"What? Why not?"
"If anything, I should be charging *you* for the embarrassment you caused me in front of my staff."
I was dumbfounded. 'Embarrassment? You were the one trying to kill them!' "What are you talking about? Who saw you?"
"He did." Loxdian pointed a finger at Noah.
Noah, suddenly finding himself the center of attention, looked incredibly uncomfortable.
"He saw you last time! What are you so embarrassed about now?" I demanded.
"It’s humiliating! That’s what it is!"
"That’s ridiculous! It’s like saving a drowning person and having them complain that their clothes got wet!"
My voice rose in anger, and the tyrant glared at me. I flinched, the memory of his sword pointed at his subordinate still fresh in my mind.
"Fine. If that’s how you feel, don't ask for my help next time," he declared.
I bit my tongue. I couldn't let this opportunity slip away. Raising money on my own was proving to be nearly impossible. I tried a different angle, insisting that he was being petty for refusing to compensate me for saving his favorite knight.
But it was like talking to a brick wall. 'He’s not a tyrant because he’s violent; he’s a tyrant because he’s impossible to communicate with!'
Noah looked at me with an apologetic expression. I finally gave up on the "service fee" and decided to be direct.
'He doesn't seem to hate me, at least not the way Askin does.'
"Fine. I’ll give up on being paid. But can I ask you for a favor instead?"
For the first time, Loxdian looked curious. "What?"
"Lend me some money."
He hesitated, his brow furrowing as he processed the request. He tilted his head like a confused predator. "Money? Why are you asking me? Go get it from your rich grandfather."
"...Isn't he your grandfather too?"
Loxdian gave me a cold, bitter smile. "I don't have a maternal grandfather."
"..."
"I don't need a man who would stab his own grandson in the back the second it served him."
His voice was flat and determined. I realized I’d hit a nerve. 'I knew the relationship between the Emperor and the Duke of Altsbeit was bad, but this is worse than I thought.'
Even though they were blood relatives, Loxdian clearly viewed the Duke as the head of a rival faction rather than family.
"Why? Did you cause another disaster? Did Altsbeit finally cut you off?" He looked at me with a mix of pity and annoyance. "I’m not giving you money just so you can spend it on something useless."
"What am I, a child?"
"It’s obvious you’re just looking for more luxury. I’m not a fool, Charlize."
"I’ve never borrowed money from you before, so how do you know what I’ll do with it?"
"The last time Altsbeit cut you off, you seduced a high priest, extorted his money, and fled. Do you remember the mess the Imperial Family had to clean up after that?"
"..."
'Okay, that’s actually really embarrassing. I didn't do it, but still...'
I kept my mouth shut. He was stubborn. I had fulfilled my purpose of calming him down, and I wanted to just leave, but then I remembered my grandfather’s threat.
*"I’ll send you to the Child family instead."*
If I couldn't come up with the money to show my grandfather, I was as good as dead. Loxdian was the only lifeline I had left.
"What if I give you collateral?" I grabbed the necklace around my neck. "I'll give you this as security. Just lend me the money."
Loxdian’s expression hardened. The playful, mocking glint in his eyes vanished. He looked at me with a sudden, sharp intensity, as if he’d finally realized something was seriously wrong.
"Did you kill someone?"
"What? No!"
"Look, even if you did, Altsbeit can cover up a few murders. You don't need to come to me for that."
"I didn't kill anyone!" I shook the necklace in my hand. "Will you lend me the money or not? I need it."
"..."
I pulled the necklace off and held it out to him. He stared at it for a long moment before nodding.
"Noah. Take it."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Noah took the necklace with a serious expression, whispering a keyword under his breath. But as expected, nothing happened. Only Charlize could use the necklace’s power. Loxdian didn't seem surprised; he’d expected as much.
I took the necklace back from Noah.
"Why give it back? Even if Noah can't use it, you could just scream that your brother has it if I get out of hand," I said.
"And how would I use it if I’m already lost to the madness? Reason doesn't exist in that state."
"Then let Noah keep it. He’s your assistant."
"...You’d leave something this valuable with someone else? Even after seeing that only you can use it? Are you actually stupid?"
"Why are you being so mean?"
"You need to do your job. I’m always one step away from losing it."
I was speechless. I hadn't expected such a practical, almost weary response from him. He looked... tired. But then he went back to mocking me, calling my request stupid.
"Don't you know you shouldn't do business with family?" he asked, brushing his hair back.
I hesitated. The way he said "family" was strange. He’d just disowned our grandfather, yet he was including me in the term.
"You’re one to talk," I muttered. I decided to drop the act and bowed my head deeply. "Please. I really need the money."
If I let Askin break the engagement, it was suicide. I didn't regret helping the flood victims, but I wasn't ready to die for it.
"Please. Lend it to me."
"...What do you need it for?"
"It's a secret." I didn't want to explain the debt-trap to him; he’d probably find a way to make it even more complicated. "Just tell me if you'll do it."
"No, it's fine." Loxdian was silent for a long moment. "I'll lend it to you."
I looked up, a glimmer of hope in my chest.
"However, there are conditions."
"...What conditions?"
I knew it wouldn't be easy. But I was desperate. Loxdian held up his fingers, a fierce, sharp smile spreading across his face.
"Leave Altsbeit. Join the Imperial Family."
"...What?"
I blinked, completely blindsided.