Is it wrong for me to like seeing the villain suffer [30]
As soon as Martha heard my words, she hastened to send a message to the Emperor.
In it, she claimed that she had a close relationship with one of the doctors who examined him, even though in reality she had only bought his name with money, and that the doctor had gone directly to her for advice.
She explained that the symptoms she heard from His Majesty were very similar to the symptoms of black magic poisoning, so she advised taking rosemary leaves, and attached a few leaves of it to the letter.
After anxious waiting, she received a response a few days later...
“You were right in what you said.”
This is how Martha received me when she summoned me to her office, and as soon as she saw my face, she said so.
On her desk was a piece of correspondence that appeared to come from the Imperial Palace.
“His Majesty reported that his symptoms began to improve since he took an infusion of rosemary leaves.”
I smiled at that time with a meaningful smile: Did you see that I was right?
“If that's true...”
Martha muttered, resting her chin on her palm.
Her eyes sparkled sharply as they stared at me.
“This means that everything you said is also true.”
"Yes!"
“And the way to completely lift the curse is to find the escaped wizard?”
"I don't lie."
I said confidently as I looked at her steadily.
“I told you this out of respect for you, Martha.”
“…Well, I’ll trust you at least temporarily.”
She replied in an indifferent tone.
Then she took something out of her desk drawer and presented it to me.
“This is your share.”
“…….!”
And then there was a check covered with consecutive zeros!
“Martha…?”
“His Majesty has sent three carriages fully loaded with gifts in gratitude for your kindness.”
She said this coldly, clasping her fingers together relaxedly.
“The truth is that the purpose of the matter was not so much money as it was to gain the emperor’s trust, but these side gains are not harmful.”
...If they were imperial gifts, then there is no doubt that they were priceless treasures, so how could it be that three carts were packed with them, and yet their value was so easily diminished!
Indeed, this befits the greatest ambition in the story, Martha Cain, who has great determination and a big heart.
“Anyway, you have succeeded in currying favor with His Majesty, and increased my wealth at the same time… It is only natural that I should return the favor.”
She is as big-hearted as she is ambitious.
'How many zeros, I wonder? One, two, three, four...'
“Yes, I heard from Arkell that thanks to your advice, you successfully completed the mine deal. Let that also count toward your reward.”
The amount is starting to seem really excessive.
“But I have already been paid by Arkle for my consultations...”
The words slipped out of my mouth automatically in front of this astronomical number, and then I immediately regretted that I should have been silent.
"truly?"
Martha tilted her head slightly and said:
“It's okay... there's no time to re-evaluate the price, so keep it as it is.”
'I swear I will remain loyal to you forever, Miss Hero!'
My respect for her is sky-high.
But if you take it without hesitation, it will seem scandalous...
“Oh my God... the first gift from Miss Martha that I have always respected! I will keep it forever without daring to spend it.”
I said this in an affected tone, then carefully hid the check in my chest.
As for her, she just stared at me silently.
“It's over. You can go now.”
She said it coldly and firmly as usual, as she looked back at the papers in front of her.
'She never stops working...'
But after she gained the Emperor's trust, her time came to eliminate the forces rivaling Kaien one by one.
Then the rosemary leaves were only a temporary cure, and it was still necessary to find the location of the fugitive magician to cure the disease from its root.
The work ahead of her is really a lot.
But I did not worry. Martha is known for her diligence and speed, and I should not have wasted her time.
“Then I ask permission to leave.”
I greeted her lightly and was about to leave the office quietly, when she stopped me:
“Just a moment.”
I stopped and turned to her in astonishment, and she was still busy with her papers as she said:
“I want to ask you something.”
"What is it?"
I looked at her, a little worried.
'You still don't trust me yet?'
“You said you respect me, right?”
“Yes, with all my heart.”
I replied coherently.
Martha raised her head, looked at me carefully, and said:
“Then tell me in detail what makes you find me great and worthy of respect.”
“…….”
"Come on, sit down again. These are not just words, but rather a report that I really need. There must be an objective evaluation in order to know my strengths and weaknesses and work to improve them."
“…Ah, yes of course! You are so right!”
Although I was a little shocked and delayed for a moment in responding, I quickly sat down and an innocent smile appeared on my face.
Didn't the moment she asked me to list what was great and deserving of respect about her, that we had already departed from the objectivity of fair evaluation?
But despite my complaining inside, I did not wipe that innocent smile from my face.
“But, Miss Martha...don't you have any business to occupy you now?”
“Yes, I will continue my work. I review the papers and you submit your report.”
It's as if we were in a scene from Han Seokbong's tales. He was cutting the rice while I was writing the calligraphy...!
(He cuts the rice, meaning he does his job, and writes the calligraphy, meaning the speaker does his job at the same time, that is, Lizzie’s job is to give her a report, but at the same time it looks like a conversation)
'Ridiculous, but what's the trick?'
In the end, I am an intruder who lives on her generosity, and I have to submit to any order.
Moreover, I am an expert at flattery and have repeatedly gotten the “best comments” thanks to him, so this is an easy game for me.
“Martha, you radiate incomparable prestige.”
“Hmm, explain more.”
“It is enough for you to sit silently to appear smart and competent. It is true that you are always beautiful, but when you work, you become a miracle of beauty...! I was almost mesmerized by you when I saw you writing papers without hesitation. Your charisma truly suits the head of the Cayenne family.”
“Is that what you say? Well, I've often heard that I handle things well.”
“And even more than that! If they had called out in the empire: Whoever thinks Martha is amazing, let him raise his hand! The empire would have been divided into two halves!”
“Heh, that's just an exaggeration.”
However, the corner of her lips rose against her will.
“I now realize that I really needed to hear an objective evaluation. I really feel like my efficiency at work has improved. Continue.”
And so I continued to pour out a torrent of flattery that had nothing to do with objectivity, until Martha finished the pile of papers in front of her.
“See for yourself, my performance has really increased. I've also been able to check in with myself...it's been a productive time. Please do this again sometimes.”
She said as she stared contentedly at the completed papers.
"gladly!"
Although my head was starting to hurt at the thought of having to prepare materials for future flattery, I felt relieved.
And “sometimes” means at least she won't fire me now, right?
Thank God...it looks like I can hang on to Cayenne for a while longer.
❖ ❖ ❖
This evening, in the dining hall.
Unusually, Martha left her office to share dinner with me, Arkell, and Naran.
This was the first time I saw the three brothers gathered at one table.
'You see...has it been a long time since their last meeting?'
As if to answer my question, Huan, who was standing next to the table, said in a nostalgic tone:
“I think this is the first time our three gentlemen have met at a dining table in about six years.”
'For six whole years they have been in one house and have not sat together?'
They are truly unique brothers in every way.
'But after all these years, aren't they supposed to have conversations? So why are they all... staring at me alone?'
Naran across from me smiled brightly as he fixed his gaze on me.
Martha is at the front of the table, pretending to be indifferent, but I feel her eyes watching me secretly.
'Really… this way they'll give me indigestion.'
However, what distracted me most was kicking the person sitting next to me.
He looked at Martha and Naran with silent eyes, then suddenly he pulled his chair closer to me.
The chair creaked as it was pulled to the floor, and Martha and Naran turned to him with displeased expressions.
“What's that noise?”
“Second Brother, did you swallow the table rules with your soup?”
But Erkel ignored their comments and calmly told me:
“Today is a bit noisy. Don’t worry, ma’am, and eat your food.”
He emphasized the word ma'am, and Martha laughed sarcastically while Al-Naran gritted his teeth as he looked at him angrily.
Naran quickly put a piece of meat on my plate with an angelic smile:
“Lizzy, you must be hungry. Take this.”
So Martha drank a glass of wine and said coldly:
“Really? My affectionate little brother... You have never been kind to your brother and sister, so now you are giving this child a favor?”
Naran replied annoyed:
"What? You want me to do the same to you?"
“No. You’ll spoil my stomach, so don’t you dare.”
“So what exactly do you want...?”
Martha laughed carelessly, and Arkell let out a sarcastic chuckle as he calmly cut into the meat.
Naran's anger flared up and he suddenly stood up, with veins bulging on his forehead:
“Are you making fun of me?!”
“Calm down, little one.”
“But, Sister Martha! How can he get a place next to Lizzy alone—!”
I raised my eyes to him in astonishment, and he looked like someone complaining.
'Is that why he's revolting?'
But before Martha could reply, Arkell preceded her with a sly smile and said:
“That's because Lizzie is my wife.”
“Phew… how disgusting!”
Naran snarled.
“What a miserable scene indeed.”
Martha made her judgment coldly, but Arkell continued to eat reassuredly, with a satisfied expression on his face.
‘……’
While reading Red Moon, I was imagining the scene of the three Cain brothers conversing together...
'As befits the most powerful villains in this world... I thought they would exude overwhelming charisma.'
But in reality, it was nothing but utter chaos.
*****
My translator friends and I opened a special channel to leak novels, chapter announcements, events, and also requests and promotions...and if I disappear, you will find me there.
Here is the channel link. Take a screenshot and go to Google Lens from it:
https://t.me/+OedqgPvPKXoyZDFk