101 Ways To Tame The Emperor

Chapter 13: Fan Boys

MATTHEW GRINNED. “Do not underestimate the power of love, Your Majesty. Sir Lancelot must have experienced falling in love at first sight with Lady Catherine.”

Love? I’m getting irritated hearing that crap over and over again. I’ve forgotten that Matthew was one heck of a romanticist, too. Unlike me, he believes in all the good things.

I sighed. But if that really was the case, then Lancelot must be among the growing number of Catherine’s fans now. Considering how he got speechless and blushed for the first time in his life after Catherine complimented his good looks a bit, that could be a possibility.

Just how many fan boys are you going to collect, Catherine?

“Looks like that unemployed bum finally realize his dream. If his changes means that I wouldn’t have to be pestered by him again, then just let him be. Just let him dream.”

“This Lady Catherine must really be something. She was able to tame Sir Lancelot on their very first meeting. And she had many people searching for her. Be careful, Your Majesty. You might be the next.”

“That will never happen. I do the taming and not the other way around.” I replied way too quickly which made Matthew doubt even more.

The brat just nodded as if he was just indulging me. “Right. You are the legendary walking iceberg, after all. But if that was the case, then why are you searching for Lady Catherine so fervently?”

“I was just curious about her that’s why I want to see her again. I want to know what she’s up to. What’s wrong with that?”

“And what will you do once you see her again?”

 “I will invite her out to dinner. She was not able to finish her meal back at the tavern. I will make sure that she will finish it this time.”

“That’s all?”

“That’s all… for now.”

Matthew just smiled knowingly. “Some of the nobles who were also present in the tavern six days ago are also searching for Lady Catherine.” He clacked his tongue. “It looks like there are many people vying for her. I wonder if she is truly as amazing as they said. You have so many competitors, Your Majesty.”

“Does it matter? Just let them do whatever they want. They will quit eventually. You know me. There wasn’t any game that I’ve lost.”

“But this is no ordinary game, Your Majesty. And oh, before I forget. Count Peiris’ messenger came this morning. He sent a painting of his third daughter. Count Quentin is a very mysterious old man. I could not really guess his reason for doing this. Maybe he was trying to make it up for his talentless daughter since we both know that she is the least eligible woman for being the Empress? Sending someone like her is a major insult to someone as high as you are, Your Majesty. He deserves a punishment for this.”

“And why would you worry about that? Who cares about who he sends here? We wouldn’t even know if the lady would get to survive the journey here since there are rebels who are against to me having an Empress. They would kill anyone who would help me to stabilize my position. If she is a spy like most women, she wouldn’t die so easily.”

I could not help but laugh at the irony of it. Those rebel fools. I have ruled the Empire for fifteen straight years now. I don’t know what makes people think that I would need a stranger’s help in stabilizing my position. With or without an Empress, I will do just fine.

“She is an illegitimate child, she never went to a University so I’m assuming that she could not read and write well. She lacked the formal training of being a noble lady. Since the Count’s daughter is not that smart, she would not be able to help you in ruling this Empire. I heard that she is treated poorly inside her own manor because of her birth mother. She also looks very timid but surprisingly, she has a very beautiful face. Would you like to see an illustration of her, Your Majesty?”

“There’s no need. I am not interested.”

“Are you sure? But won’t you regret it, Your Majesty? After all, she does resemble the one you are desperately trying to find this past-“Before Matthew could even finish his sentence; I already snatched the envelope away from him and took out the illustration.

It was her indeed. The woman’s eyes in the illustration were lifeless, but the eyes of the one I met at the tavern were fierce and full of life. Her hair was longer there but I could tell that it was her. I found myself smiling for the first time in a week.

Luck was still on my side. I don’t have to rely on the investigators anymore. And I won’t have to wait for two more days. I will finally get to see her again today.

Even if the woman I met at the tavern and Count Peiris’ third daughter had the same name, I would never have guessed that they were the same person. Maybe the investigators I hired thought of the same thing. Considering the rumors about Catherine Peiris, no one would have imagined that she was the one I was interested in. Aside from that, the town where she lived was yet to be searched by the Knights.

Who would have thought that she was the infamous Catherine Peiris? Not everybody knew her face since the Peiris’ never brought her in every gathering as if they were ashamed of her. But people in the same circle knew her life story. It was an open secret. I can’t imagine that someone like that was treated poorly. She was not the type to let things slide.

Now I understand why Count Bradford sent his daughter’s illustration at the last minute. That was because he was hoping that Catherine’s beauty might change my mind and it might make me want to protect her from the enemies lurking in and out of the Castle.

Hmm… So the Count does have a soft spot for his third daughter after all. Well, this is unexpected. Count Quentin was neither my ally nor my enemy. I know that some of the Ministers are scouting him to work with them but he kept refusing.

If I had not seen Catherine at the tavern, I would not have cared. I would have treated her like the rest of the women who were sent to the Castle since this marriage was never my idea. I was just playing along with the Ministers’ schemes and was watching how things would unfold. Even when it came to choosing which family would send their daughter to the Castle, I never took it seriously. I just chose the family using draw lots.

But I can’t just watch this time. Even if Catherine had the means to protect herself, the rebels were on a different level. And there were many of them. They were merciless and were more capable compared to Lancelot’s friends.

Oops. I almost forgot. They were his ex-friends now.

“You said Catherine is timid?” I asked Matthew after a while. “That was the last word I would use to describe her, Matt. She was the same woman who knocked out Doctor Luis and Lancelot’s ex-friends effortlessly. Remember how dizzy the poor doctor was when he arrived here? And no, the rumors about her were a bunch of lies. I saw Catherine myself. There was grace in the way she handled herself in the middle of the wolves. She didn’t become the lamb everybody expected her to be. She became fiercer than the wolves and took their fangs out. In fact, she was graceful even when she was dealing with Lancelot’s ex-friends. And it was so natural as if she’s been doing it for a long time. She is also one hell of a brilliant woman.

“She knows how the laws for the nobles work, how to make things turn in her favor, like the way she tricked Lancelot to agree in order to make a deal with her. I also found out about her conversation with the tavern manager. She was knowledgeable enough about her surroundings. Thinking about it now, it was like the Catherine people talked about and the woman I saw are two different people. But that was impossible, right? Unless she has a twin sister.”

Matthew’s eyes grew larger. “She does not have any, Your Majesty. I have reviewed her background and sent people to check the authenticity of the report. Lady Catherine’s servant mother only gave birth to one girl. So, does this mean that I was right? They are really the same person? I thought they just looked alike. I can’t believe it! She does not look like she can hurt a single fly!”

“I feel the same. I finally found out who she is. You said Catherine’s envoy is coming today, right? If you still don’t believe it, then come with me to meet her. I’m sure there will be rebels on their way. Gather some of our best Knights to follow us outside. We need to ensure her safety.”

I stood up, put on my mask, wore my coat, and took my sword from the rack. It’s been a long time since I felt this lively. I tapped Matthew’s back when I passed by him. “Thanks for this, Matt. This is good news indeed. I won’t raise your salary. But I will give you a bonus.”

“You are acting concern towards an opposite s*x for the very first time, Your Majesty. I’m amazed to discover that you still possess some human traits.”

So my very own right-hand man does not regard me as a human being all these time? I narrowed my eyes when I turned to look at Matthew. If not for the news about Catherine, I would not have let this go. “Do you want the bonus or not?”

He beamed. “I would never say ‘no’ to a bonus. Thank you in advance, Your Majesty.”