I Will Fulfill the Role of the Villain

Chapter 93

The servant’s expression was one of polite confusion, as though asking why Luke found this surprising. However, Luke was genuinely flustered. The term "young duke" could only mean Theo, and the idea that Theo had personally issued such an order left him dumbfounded.

Luke hesitated, unsure of how to respond, when Gwen appeared, climbing the stairs with his usual poised demeanor. Noticing Luke standing awkwardly at the door, Gwen gave a courteous bow before approaching with a curious expression.

“Is something the matter, sir?”

“Uh... I think I can handle getting ready on my own...” Luke mumbled, gesturing vaguely toward the servant.

Gwen immediately understood the situation, noting the awkward standoff between Luke and the servant. His lips curled into a soft smile.

“The young duke specifically gave these instructions. It would mean a great deal to us if you would allow us to assist you,” Gwen said smoothly, bowing slightly. The servant beside him also lowered his head in deference.

Luke’s expression twitched awkwardly. By now, any lingering drowsiness had long since vanished. Assist me with what, exactly? he thought, unable to grasp the necessity of this arrangement.

“That guy... I mean, Theo, what exactly did he say?” Luke asked, his tone half-annoyed and half-resigned. He couldn’t fathom what Theo might have said to create such an embarrassing situation.

Gwen merely smiled, a knowing glint in his eyes.

This morning, Gwen had started his day much earlier than usual. The reason was simple: the master of the estate had returned the night before. Upon waking, Gwen had assisted Theo in preparing for an urgent meeting at the Imperial Palace.

Right before Theo left the estate, he had stopped Gwen and spoken to him.

“Gwen, I have a request regarding Luke. He’s not a morning person, so please pay special attention to him. He might trip on the stairs or hurt himself. Considering his injured hand, it would be best to assign a dedicated attendant to assist him.”@@@@

Having known Theo since his youth, Gwen was well-acquainted with his taciturn and reserved nature. Yet that morning, Theo had been uncharacteristically verbose, repeating his request several times. Even the other servants had been taken aback by the sight.

What truly shocked Gwen, however, was what Theo said next.

“If it weren’t for my summons to the Imperial Palace, I would have done it myself. I’m sorry, but I’ll have to rely on you.”

Hearing this, Gwen—who had served the Redrick ducal family for decades and rarely let his expression slip—had been so startled that he stammered. The idea of Theo personally tending to Luke was enough to render even someone as composed as Gwen momentarily speechless.

“The young duke is very concerned about you,” Gwen said finally, choosing to summarize Theo’s words in a way that conveyed the sentiment without revealing every detail.

Luke sighed deeply, rubbing his face with both hands as if to ward off the mortification creeping up on him.

“Um... may I assist you now?” the servant asked tentatively, still waiting for permission.

“Do whatever you want...” Luke mumbled in a voice barely louder than a whisper. Then, as if utterly defeated, he trudged toward the stairs. The servant quickly followed, keeping a close but respectful distance.

Watching Luke’s retreating figure, Gwen noted the faint blush on the tips of his ears, a subtle but telling sign. With a pleased smile, Gwen turned away, leaving Luke to deal with his predicament.

***

Twelyn Imperial Palace.

Theo entered through the golden gates, going through several rounds of identity and purpose verification by the palace knights, before finally setting foot on the grounds of the main palace.

“No need. We’ve only just arrived ourselves,” the Minister of Justice replied, his solemn voice echoing through the chamber.

“The Emperor has just left his office and will be here shortly,” the Chancellor added.

“Yes, Your Grace,” Theo responded, taking his designated seat.

As he sat, the Minister of Foreign Affairs shot him a disapproving glance.

“So, Supreme Commander, I hear you urgently requested this meeting,” the minister began, his tone laced with annoyance. “I lost sleep over it, you know. You refused to explain anything in advance, saying you’d only speak once everyone was present.”

“It’s not a matter suitable for written reports. This is a serious issue,” Theo replied calmly.

“It had better be. His Majesty has postponed urgent matters to attend this meeting.”

The minister snorted and turned his head away. Theo silently observed him, reminded of the Imperial Army’s elder council—another group that constantly regarded him with suspicion and hostility. If he remembered correctly, Gabe had mentioned that this minister was quite close to them.

“Rest assured, Your Grace,” Theo said with a measured smile. “The matter at hand is more than worthy of your concern.”

The minister’s expression twisted sourly, but Theo chose not to escalate further.

Although Theo was the youngest in the room and the least experienced in state affairs, he was still the head of the Empire’s military—a position increasingly influential within the Heiner Empire.

“The Emperor is entering.”

At the announcement from an aide, everyone in the chamber rose to their feet. The door on the far side of the room, reserved exclusively for the Emperor’s use, opened, and the Emperor entered at a deliberate pace.

“We greet Your Majesty,” the ministers and Theo said in unison, bowing deeply.

“My apologies for keeping you waiting. Please, be seated,” said Emperor Cedric Roelad as he took his place at the head of the table.

Once everyone was seated, the Emperor addressed Theo with a curious smile.

“Commander Redrick, it seems you’ve been through a lot since I last saw you. Is the work proving too demanding?”

“It is not. Even if it were, it is my duty to persevere,” Theo replied, his tone respectful yet firm.

Cedric chuckled warmly. “Good. Let us proceed quickly, as I know we are all busy.”

The Emperor gestured for Theo to begin.

“First, I must apologize for requesting this meeting on such short notice. During a recent inspection of the western Calum branch, I uncovered evidence of a threat to the Heiner Empire,” Theo began, his voice steady and deliberate.

The chamber immediately buzzed with murmurs.

“Go on,” the Emperor urged, his tone sharpening.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Theo said, meeting the gaze of each minister in turn.

“It appears that the Welharun Empire is engaging in actions that violate our peace treaty.”