The Strongest Man’s Fake Wife Wants to Live Chapter 42

Was it simply too extravagant, to the point that it looked somewhat cheap?

In any case, it was difficult to look at it with a favorable eye.

Pesha was still staring out at the scenery with narrowed eyes and an unimpressed expression when the carriage gradually slowed and came to a stop somewhere.

When she heard a knock, the maid opened the door, revealing Owen standing outside and waiting for her to get down.

Perhaps because the place was unfamiliar. Rather than looking overwhelmed by the place or the prospect of meeting the Emperor, Owen looked so calm that she was especially glad to see him.

‘The Emperor’s intentions are obvious, so I’m a little worried… But Owen is incredibly strong. If I stick close to him when things get bad, I won’t die.’

She felt reassured as she took the hand he held out and stepped onto the ground.

Seeing this, a court attendant politely led them onward.

“His Majesty is waiting in the audience chamber. I will escort you this way.”

Along the walls of the Imperial Palace hung weapons symbolizing the nation’s military power, such as shields and swords, as well as portraits of the ancient kings of the empire lined up in rows.

When they reached the audience chamber, two Imperial Guards withdrew the spears they had crossed in front of the entrance, and the doors opened.

At the far end of the line of marble pillars stood a central staircase, and atop it sat the Emperor on his throne.

The last time Pesha had seen the Emperor was at the party where the order for her marriage had been issued.

Although he had claimed that he was arranging a marriage between a national hero and a precious noble lady, he hadn’t even attended the wedding himself.

The Emperor sitting in the enormous chair still looked like a handsome young man with a genial appearance.

His youthful appearance was so unbelievable for a man well over sixty that it was almost eerie. Even when Pesha had been six or seven years old, he had possessed that same face, and yet more than a decade later, not a single wrinkle had appeared.

“Count Namoi.”

The Emperor raised a hand and beckoned Owen forward.

“You must have had a difficult journey.”

Owen stood before the Emperor and bowed his head.

“Thank you for inviting me.”

“Of course. We couldn’t possibly leave Count Namoi out of such an important national event.”

The Emperor’s gaze slowly shifted to the side.

Pesha lightly bit the inside of her lip and greeted him.

“And the Countess.”

This was the first time she had formally spoken with him since the party where she had pleaded not to marry Count Namoi and had been rejected, so she couldn’t help feeling nervous.

“I hear you are the driving force behind the new jewelry business being distributed by Duke Pontroy. I hear that despite your young age, you are remarkably capable.”

“Oh, no.”

“I did a fine job arranging your marriage, didn’t I? Count Namoi is practically indebted to me. Isn’t that right?”

The Emperor looked down at Owen for a moment.

A generous smile was plastered around his lips, but his eyes did not smile in the slightest, making it obvious how much he disliked Owen.

“Count Namoi, the reason I summoned you is simple. I want to show the ignorant masses and our enemies, who still fail to understand reality, your unwavering loyalty and overwhelming military might.”

His voice was gentle, but there was something strange about his tone.

“That way, we can establish the hierarchy and discipline of the nation as well, can’t we?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Everyone seems to do nothing but praise Owen Namoi, yet they seem to have forgotten who your master truly is. Don’t you think? They act as though they’ve forgotten that I was the one who took in a lowly, filthy stray dog.”

Even in the original story, the Emperor could not tolerate anyone who posed even the slightest threat to his authority.

If that person happened to be a hero beloved by the people, he was the kind of man who would kill even his most loyal subject.

To the Emperor, Owen had long been a major threat and an eyesore.

He didn’t even bother hiding his true feelings, often openly belittling or humiliating Owen even in public places like this.

Those layers upon layers of contempt and mistreatment were what ultimately created the tragic hero who, despite saving the nation, belonged neither among the commoners nor the aristocracy.

When Owen showed no particular reaction, the Emperor forced a look of sympathy and regret onto his face.

“That is precisely why this military parade is so important. If we show the people through this event that your formidable power is perfectly controlled within my grasp, I believe they will finally understand reality. That there is nothing in this land that does not belong to me.”

It was almost laughable hearing such words from the very man who had incited the nobles’ fear and opposition toward Owen.

“You possess far too great a talent to waste your life managing some rural territory in the east while remaining merely a count. I know very well that you have wanted to climb higher.”

“……”

There was something deeply unsettling about the Emperor’s very expression, ‘perfectly controlled.’

What would happen if Owen could not be perfectly controlled?

The Emperor, who had already planted traitors within Owen’s knight order, intended to stage a breakdown of that control and frame Owen for treason.

Now that the war was over and peace had arrived, he simply didn’t want to keep a razor-sharp weapon in his house anymore.

‘He’s not just cowardly and selfish. He’s downright petty.’

Pesha stole a glance at Owen standing beside her.

He neither denied nor affirmed the Emperor’s words, simply listening to the Emperor’s nonsense.

That was somewhat surprising.

She had expected Owen to say that he had no interest in climbing the ranks.

But apparently, he had wanted to rise even higher…

‘If even the Emperor says it like that, does Owen really have quite a strong desire for status?’

It wasn’t entirely incomprehensible.

That was also why Owen’s adjutant, Jane Penrose, acted as though he wanted to devour her whenever he saw her.

Rebecca had told her that the man was bitter because the marriage had blocked his lord’s path to advancement.

Back then, Pesha had merely grumbled about how Jane was making a bigger fuss than the person actually involved, but if the person involved himself felt the same way, then things were different.

‘Come to think of it, if Owen didn’t desperately want it, there wouldn’t be any reason for the people around him to keep bringing it up.’

How frustrating and unfair would it be to lose the dukedom you had desperately desired and then be forced into marriage on top of that?

But strangely enough, Owen had never once shown any sign of that in front of Pesha.

Perhaps even if their marriage had been forced upon him against his will, he was at least showing her the basic courtesy due to his wife.

Meanwhile, the Emperor began spouting something else.

“Next time, you should become a duke, just as the people wish. Hmm? That’s how much I cherish you.”

It was obvious that he was trying to toy with Owen, dangling the promise of a good position just out of reach.

“If this Founding Day celebration ends successfully, I will spare no support for House Namoi, so make thorough preparations for the military parade. Well, after spending more than a decade roaming the battlefields, I suppose you should know how to handle it yourself.”

Owen, who had been silently listening to the Emperor’s cajoling, finally replied,

“I understand what you are saying. However, if I am to make thorough preparations, I think I should first recover from the journey.”

“So you do get tired after all?”

“My wife isn’t accustomed to traveling. She hasn’t looked well since earlier, so I would like her to rest.”

My complexion?

Pesha flinched when the gazes of both men suddenly turned toward her.

‘Did they notice my face was sour because I was listening to all that bullshit?’