The Tyrant Empress is Obsessed with Me

48 – How to Become a Count with a Cup of Tea

In Greek mythology, there is a ‘golden apple.’

Three goddesses covet the extremely tempting golden apple. Whoever possesses the apple becomes the most beautiful goddess.

Currently, in the empire, Ascal was no different from the golden apple.

And who would become the owner of that golden apple?

It had recently been a hot topic among the empire’s nobles.

Naturally, the crown prince was mentioned the most. Now that the emperor’s loyal followers had disappeared, the noble factions who could challenge the crown prince’s monopoly were left leaderless.

If the crown prince were to gain Ascal too, it would be as if a swift horse sprouted wings.

“Oh! He has removed his badge. Look at that, everyone!”

Count Devar, who had been lying low since losing the pet gem frog that resembled his very soul, reappeared at the official banquet after a long time.

As always, he began commenting on the situation.

The new minister began walking towards the side where the crown prince was.

“Oh… how can this be?”

Viscount Seynan swallowed. Was the crown prince finally going to win over Minister Dever?

As the royal authority grew stronger, the nobles would naturally shrink.

Viscount Seynan missed the days when Duke Sebes was around. Those were the days when they could at least snub their noses a little.

“Your Majesty, please accept my badge.”

“No, the one who received his badge was not the crown prince. It was the emperor himself!”

“Is it possible?”

“Did he lose his mind… cough.”

The nobles began to buzz.

Naturally, the nobles couldn’t understand Ascal’s actions. No matter how much of an emperor he was, he was already frail. A dead authority, so to speak.

As a matter of fact, the ruling power was in the hands of the crown prince.

So, why did Ascal offer his badge to the emperor?

“No way!”

Seinan Jayak couldn’t hold back his excited heart and raised his voice.

“We’ve been overlooking the fact that he has blue blood running through him too!”

Blue blood.

A symbol of those who neither work nor see the sunlight.

Both Count Seves and Count Galtanar had pledged their loyalty to the emperor. Outwardly, at least.

Thanks to their loyalty, they were able to protect the interests of the nobles.

“Is he trying to become the leader of the new nobles?”

“To think he had such ambition!”

“Oh! Ascal Debr! Though you may be merely a baron, you have stirred the hearts of our blue-blooded people!”

The central nobles began to cheer.

Of course, they were mistaken.

The longer the emperor lives, the greater the chance Ascal would have to escape from the empire.

Hearing the prophecy, Ascal went back to the witch and sought a plan.

“There’s a potion here. It’s a very expensive potion with centennial grass. The emperor used to take it every time, but I can’t send it anymore because of an unfortunate incident.”

There had been some kind of trade relationship between Elenia and Count Seves. Now that Count Seves had disappeared, they could no longer deliver the potion to the emperor.

They tried to send the potion through a different route, but the emperor declared he would not take it anymore. It seemed he had lost his will to live.

Elenia picked up the bottle. The iridescent liquid swirled.

“How can I trust that it’s not poison?”

“There’s already a boxful of potions. If you want, you can experiment elsewhere. Shall I take a shot of it here?”

“In fact, I also had a plan. It is a precious fruit I got from Erendel. I only picked up the last one left.”

“This is… the so-called fruit of the gods… how did you get this!”

Elenia was shocked.

“If we have this fruit, the emperor would be invulnerable, wouldn’t he?”

“There’s a problem.”

“What is it?”

“If someone without ‘the spirit of a warrior’ were to eat this fruit, they would explode and die on the spot.”

“Is that true? Then it would be difficult.”

The witch stroked her crystal ball.

“Swear the truth upon this crystal ball.”

“Isn’t that easily breakable?”

“It’s a crystal bead containing the remains of my mother’s ashes.”

“My apologies. The medicine looks heavy, so I’ll have it delivered.”

The next night, little witches on a huge broomstick struggled to carry the box containing the medicine, and Ascal couldn’t help but feel slightly sorry for them.

‘But how do I give this medicine to the emperor?’

Ascal began to think.

How to give the mysterious medicine provided by the witch to the emperor…

What’s the reason for giving it?

To prolong the emperor’s life.

Why prolong the emperor’s life?

To escape from the empire.

But why does the chance of escaping from the empire increase by prolonging the emperor’s life?

“…!”

Ascal had an epiphany.

Without going far, wouldn’t it be unnecessary to escape if the emperor granted him a leave?

From the beginning, there was no need for such a suspicious medicine like this.

If they only obtained the emperor’s unconditional trust, naturally, they would be able to leave the empire!

At that moment, quick-witted.

“Seros!”

At that moment, the gemstone frog Seros jumped up and licked the lid of the bottle containing the medicine.

It was a creature confiscated from Count Dvar and was kept at home because the disposal procedure was unnecessarily complicated and difficult.

It was worth raising as it seemed to follow humans well.

If only it didn’t poop at any time.

“What’s with this color?”

But the color of Seros’s poop was unusual. Unlike its usual color, it glowed with a subtle and radiant violet hue.

And there was a familiar, musty smell.

“…Ruwak coffee!”

Ascal had another epiphany.

Instead of the suspicious medicine from the witch, wouldn’t it be perfectly normal to serve the emperor a cup of the rare tea that he had personally acquired?

Even the sensitive Seros, who was picky about his food, showed no side effects after eating it, which suggested that it wasn’t a dangerous drug.

As the witch said, it must have been a tonic.

After all, if they could make coffee from cat poop, why couldn’t they make tea from the poop of a jewel frog?

If the emperor stopped taking the tonic, then they could make it into tea!

If Askel could gain the emperor’s unconditional trust, he would naturally be able to leave the empire!

From that day on, Askel began to concentrate on making tea from the jewel frog feces.

And a week after Askel pledged loyalty to the emperor and endured trial and error, he finally made the perfect jewel frog tea.

“Your Majesty, the Emperor, it is cold today. Please make sure to wear a thick overcoat.”

“Kuluk, thank you, Askel. Kuluk, you’re the only one who thinks about me. Kuluk.”

“What are you talking about? All the subjects in the empire are only worried about Your Majesty’s well-being.”

Confucianism.

What was its core value?

Respect your superiors and treat them politely.

Askel, whose soul was already deeply ingrained with Confucianism from his past life, naturally treated the emperor with utmost respect.

The emperor could feel Askel’s sincerity.

As one gets older, tears come more easily. The emperor felt the tip of his nose become tingling.

“Kuluk, indeed you are a true loyal subject.”

“Since it is cold today, I have prepared a small tea party for Your Majesty. I hope you will enjoy it.”

“If it’s prepared by you, Kuluk, how could it not be good?”

Finally, the day came.

It was time to present the ‘jewel frog tea,’ which had been approved by many tea experts in the empire and even Shure, who was sensitive to tea, after trying various high-quality teas.

“Kuluk, everyone has been waiting for this old man. Kuluk.”

“Your Majesty, the Emperor!”

“Your Majesty!”

The nobles were already gathered in the reception room of the imperial palace.

Viscount Sennan, Baron Trinio, Count Rudeos, and others.

These were the members of the backroom faction who had lost their influence after being sidelined by the eunuchs when they were once powerful central nobles.

At first, the crown prince was cautious about their gatherings, but eventually, after realizing that they simply drank tea and gossip together, he left them alone in a semi-neglected state.

It was a gathering of ‘has-beens.’ No one could understand why Askel was involved with them.

“Kuluk, everyone sit. Today, Askel has brought a new tea, Kuluk.”

“Oh, I’m looking forward to the tea brought by Minister Debreu.”

From No ble mt L dot c om

Ascal confidently snapped his fingers.

At that moment, a servant entered holding a previously prepared tea set.

It is the finest gemstone frog tea, prepared with refreshments.

“Please have it before the meal.”

The brilliant and beautiful purple tea was poured into each cup. Even for aristocrats who had seen and tasted all kinds of rare things, this was a new experience.

“What is the name of this tea, Minister Debreu?”

“It’s called ‘Crystal Tea.'”

“Such a beautiful name.”

Baron Trinio, who enjoyed gourmet foods, was the first to smell the tea. He was an unofficial connoisseur.

“…Splendid.”

Baron Trinio, who deeply appreciated the scent of tea, took a sip.

“Such a deep flavor… Thanks to Minister Debreu, we are enjoying a treat today.”

“Your Majesty, please try it.”

“Ah, yes.”

Finally, the Emperor raised the Crystal Tea to his lips.

Ascal swallowed his saliva nervously.

It was an anxious moment.

“It’s warm… it makes me feel alive.”

It was a cup that warmed his cold and parched insides.

“How does it taste, Your Majesty?”

“It’s excellent. hahahaha. The best tea I’ve ever had.”

If the Emperor continued to drink this gemstone frog tea with medicinal herbs in the future, his health would noticeably improve…

In such case, the Emperor would not die suddenly due to health issues, and by gaining continuous trust like this, he would become the empire’s top minister.

Then, when it’s time, he’d make his political rivals bite the dust, and resign from his position as minister.

A perfect plan.

“Your Majesty! Your cough has stopped since a while ago.”

“Really?”

“Minister Debreu! Was it this tea that you brought?”

This was completely unexpected.

Such a dramatic effect from just one drink?

The emperor turned his head and stared at Askal.

Askal also stared back at the emperor.

With the present good atmosphere, he wondered if he could execute his pre-planned strategy.

That is, to feign poor health and resign.

Just as Askal was about to fake a rather surprising cough that would astonish the emperor.

“Askal.”

He was cut off.

“Please give the order.”

“It seems I’m relying on you once again. I had a reward for you today, but I guess it won’t be enough.”

“Are you referring to that? hehehe.”

“Congratulations, Minister Devre.”

“…A reward? What do you mean?”

The emperor tapped his desk a few times. As he did, everyone present simultaneously bowed down on one knee with great respect.

“Though I am in this state, I can still give you a small reward.”

“…Wait. Your, Your Majesty.”

In the disturbing atmosphere, Askal stuttered his words.

“Kneel, Askal Devre.”

“Your, Your Majesty!”

“There’s nothing to be moved by. Rather, it’s a bit late.”

In the end, the sight that greeted the kneeling Askal was the emperor placing a sword on his shoulder.

“Askal, in recognition of your unwavering loyalty and outstanding contributions to the empire, I hereby grant you the title of Count of Elindeil.”

If the emperor had his way, he would have liked to give Askal a better piece of land, but with his power usurped at the moment, there were few options to choose from.

The emperor spoke regretfully.

“This position comes with the responsibility to oversee the land of Elindeil and protect its people. Do you swear to fulfill this duty and faithfully serve the empire?”

Askal shed silent tears inside.

“I… swear.”

Askal Devre, no, Askal Elindeil, could not bring himself to say he wanted to resign in that moment.

The official award ceremony was held the next day in great splendor.