53 Reason #25: it would be the beginning to my doom (8) C
Entering the Emperor's box
______________________
Then she held in a deep breath, and she turned towards the emperor's room and knocked.
"Greetings, your majesty. You wanted to see me?"
Ivy immediately bowed as she entered.
"Yes, Ivy. Come stand next to us."
"Us?"
As she raised her head, she saw the Duke sitting next to the emperor at the Emperor's living room, and they were just casually playing chess together and not watching the Prince's battles at all.
"Father? Why is father here? I thought you were supposed to be controlling security around the arena." Ivy said while she raised her concerns seeing that her father was not performing his duties as a duke.
"I've made sure the security around the perimeters has been tightly secured since this morning. Your father needs some rest as well."
The duke said while he tries to focus his attention on the chessboard.
"Please, Ivy, I'm the one who asked your father to accompany me. It's very boring to watch the show by myself. Come, I have something to give you."
When Ivy saw the emperor took out her knitting pouch, she said
"My pouch! So it's here."
"You left in a rush that day, so I took it with me for safekeeping. Since you have been working so hard at it, we wouldn't want it to get lost, do we."
"Thank you, your majesty!" Ivy immediately bowed and kept her head down as she said, "I apologize for troubling you so much, and you even took good care of my things for me. Even after what I've said and done to you, how could I ever repay you this favor."
"Ivy, please do call me, Humphrey when we are alone."
"Uhm, but that wouldn't be appropriate, your Majesty. You are the emperor, and I'm just a humble servant of the empire. I should address you accordingly."
"Well then, as your emperor, I order you to call me Humphrey."
<Urgh... He is Leon's Father, after all...> Ivy thought while she recalled the same thing that happened with the Prince before.
After being continuously pressured by the emperor's gaze, she finally gives in and said
"Ye.Yes. Mr.Humphrey, so what can I do to repay you for all the kindness you have given me?"
"Hmm..." the emperor held his chin. "I've been thinking about that and..."
(Moments later)
"Is this ok? Mr.Humphrey?"
"Ah, yes... Your hands are quite magical, just like what your father said."
"Haha... your words are too kind, Mr.Humphrey."
"Your majesty, please be sure to return my daughter after this. I like my daughter to serve me next."
While they casually laugh and talked, Ivy just thought
<, but I've been massaging both of you for the past half an hour now! How long is this going to take?!>
Previously, the Duke had been boasting in front of the emperor about how his cute daughter gave him shoulder massages when he is tired, and since then, the emperor had always wanted to experience it himself. Therefore, Ivy has been temporarily appointed as the emperor's private masseuse until further notice.
*Hurrahhhhh!!!*
Suddenly the noise from the crowd outside caught her attention, and she asks
"How many contestants has he defeated so far?"
"102"
"102!?"
She was surprised as she had only been informed that only 50 participants were joining the battle.
"I thought there was only 50?! Why were there so many last-minute entries?"
"Probably because they heard the B.Y.O.B you offered. Because the offer was so attractive, many of the noble knights thought they could easily get three strikes at the crown prince and win 100 gold coins."
"Wait, Father! You shouldn't ..."
Ivy jolted when the Duke casually revealed the illegal BYOB business plan in front of the emperor, but the emperor just laughs and said
"Haha. It's fine, Ivy. The duke told me about your BYOB, and thanks to that, I could see the people having a lot more fun cheering for their own houses. We don't usually see such passion from the nobles."
"Yes, his majesty is right. But regardless of the numbers, the event today would end a lot sooner than we think."
"I see," Ivy said, thinking that the situation was not as bad as she thought, "how many contestants are left then?"
"About 985."
While the duke casually answers with a straight face, Ivy, on the other hand, jumps and shouts.
"985?!!!"
From the very moment she heard those figures, she ran out over to the rim and looked out to the arena to see Prince Leon's battles.
When she saw the Prince still standing strong as if he hadn't even broken out a single sweat, she let out a sigh in relief, fearing that she might have made things worst for him.
After that, she immediately called out to her father and said
"Father, we have to ask the rest of the participants to withdraw. Fighting a thousand participants alone is too much for one person."
Then when the Duke walked over to the balcony and looked at the Prince, he just smirked and said
"He's fine. If he can't handle this much, then he is not worthy."
"But father!"
Ivy yelled with deep concerns.
Even though she knows how strong the Prince is, she didn't like the idea of pushing him to the edge and watching him struggle.
Then the emperor came along their side and look down at the ground together. He then asks her,
"Ivy, what is your opinion of the crown prince?"
"Huh? I'm sorry, Mr. Humphrey. I don't quite understand your question."
"Hmm..." the emperor tugged his beard and said, "do you think he is weak?"
"No, never once I've ever thought he is weak."
"So, you think he is strong then?"
"No. I do not think he is strong either."
"Hm?" The emperor raised a brow.
As he could not comprehend her thoughts, she starts to explain and said
"I think he is just a boy.
Even if he is the strongest among them, he can still feel pain when people hurt him.
Even if he is the bravest of all men, he can still fear when he faces the things that scare him.
He is a very strong and brave boy, but he is also a very kind and gentle one.
That is why he is neither weak nor strong. He is both.
Because a man is still a human being, we are all weak and strong at the same time. That is why we are called humans, not gods."
When the Emperor heard her words, he raised his eyebrows, then he chuckled and said,
"Duke, I'm amazed. How did you raise your daughter?"
The Duke places his hands on Ivy's shoulder, and he smiled proudly.
" I can assure you, your highness. My daughter is amazing all on her own. She surprises my wife and me. All the time."
While Ivy did not understand what both of the elder men are talking about, she just raised her request again and ask
"So will you withdraw the other 950 men?"
After she said that, Ivy sternly look at the emperor while she clasped her hands, hoping that they would hear her plea and withdraw the rest of the participants.
When the Emperor saw the concerned look on the girl's face, he called one of his attendants and whispered into his ear.
"Yes, your majesty. I will pass the message to his highness."
The attendant said, then left the room immediately.
Then the emperor turns to her, "This is Leon's battle. So we will let him decide."
Upon hearing the Emperor's words, she turns her gaze to the ground, and after she saw the attendant passing the message to the prince, the prince nodded, and she let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank god, if not, I won't be able to hear the end of this. Since it's my fault for giving Grandpapa the B.Y.O.B plan."
While she thought it was all over, the attendant came back with a message from the Prince.
"His highness has a message for Ms. Ivy."
"For me?"
"Yes, His highness message to Ms.Ivy was <Watch Me>."
After the attendant reads the message, Ivy immediately turns her gaze to the ground again. When she saw him waving at her, she yelled
"Quick, hand me the spyglass."
Once the attendant gave her the spyglass, she quickly uses it and looks at the Prince's face. Then she saw he was trying to say something, and so she tried to read his lips and readout,
"Get. Ready. To. Fall. For. Me"
After he said that, he gave her a smug look while Ivy just yelled
"What?!"
Ivy felt flabbergasted with the Prince's words, so she asks the attendant, "Didn't he order to withdraw all the other contestants?"
And the attendants said, "No, his highness ask all 950 of them to come out to the ground all at once. His highness wishes to face all of them in one go."
"WHAT?!!!!" Ivy yelled. "Why would he do that?! Father, stop him."
When the duke saw how the prince look, he just smirked and said
"Look at his smug face. Just let him be my daughter."
"But. But!" Seeing that there is no hope of pleading at her father, Ivy then turns to the Emperor for hope, but she immediately gave up when she saw the Emperor sipping tea with an unconcern look.
While she sighs, feeling tired from being surrounded by unreliable adults, she then turns back at the Prince and just quietly watch his battle.
