Don't Be Kind Rashly (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 5
Send me as a diplomat to a country ruled by the Demon King and crawling with monsters?
All I’ve ever done is be a knight, but I couldn’t properly demonstrate my skills in magic or swordsmanship, so I just got pointed at and mocked until I finally quit.
I can’t even cast the simplest spell. I ran straight toward becoming a knight, yet now I can’t even be one. Lu has become a complete shut-in.
The Emperor, who had cherished her ever since she was a promising genius at the academy before receiving her knighthood, never once looked back at her the moment she lost her talent.
But now, after four years, he suddenly sends word for me to go serve as a diplomat in an extremely dangerous country—did he really expect me to say, “Oh, thank you so much!” and go? Who does he think I am, a dog? Did he think I’d wag my tail happily just because he tossed me aside and then called me back?
“Hey, Rustica.”
“Go tell them I’m dead. Say I drowned in a barrel of liquor and died suddenly. Damn it.”
Given how furious I already am and how quickly I’m downing one sip, then another, I might genuinely plunge headfirst into that liquor barrel today.
“Think about your age. You were the academy’s top graduate—it’s such a waste! Can’t you see this as a good opportunity to build a new career?”
“What? Hey, Aldwin Rochester. Does this look like a good opportunity to you?”
Rustica Jenus, newly appointed as a diplomat, jabbed a finger at the imperial decree.
“It’s telling me to go die. It’s telling someone who can’t even face monsters to go die.”
“They’re not completely unreasonable. True, we’ve been in a state of war all this time, but now they say they’re willing to talk.”
Aldwin sighed, trying his best to persuade Lu.
“I volunteered too. I said I’d go with you.”
“What, you crazy fool?”
Lu’s voice rose, and her face turned to shock.
“You need protection yourself now.”
“Why would you go beyond the Wall!”
It was absurd—here was a man born noble to the bone, already inheriting a viscountcy and poised to inherit his father’s earldom if he just stayed put, yet all he did was smile gently.
“I really need to write my will before going. Understand? Even if they picked someone like me—someone with no family and no regrets—they’d still hate being sent to that place.”
Since her late teens, right before receiving her knighthood, Lu had been driven to the front of the Wall, surviving by fighting like a demon while drenched in monster fluids.
Only after proving herself an exceptional knight in that way did she finally receive her knighthood and graduate from the academy.
The academy using frontline combat at the Wall as a graduation exam—what a wretched institution the Imperial Academy was. Having fought since she was so young, she knew all too well just how terrifying and horrifying monsters truly were.
A country filled with those dreadful, fearsome creatures? Just imagining it sent chills down her spine.
“No, it’s not quite that bad. His Majesty holds you in very high regard, Rustica.”
At that point, Lu gave up on talking to Aldwin.
In him, she saw her former self—the fanatical devotee who blindly worshipped, respected, and obeyed the Emperor without question.
In the Calleta Empire, anyone who opposed the Emperor’s will or doubted him instantly became a traitor. That was simply how things were.
The empire of Carlos Arthur Ingram—the land ruled for over four hundred years by Carlos Arthur Ingram, a god in human form.
The Emperor was a supreme archmage who had transcended mortal limits and the founder of Calleta. The empire was still ruled by its founding ancestor.
‘If he’s so mighty, why never once thought of crossing the Wall himself?’
Lu scoffed inwardly, recalling once more the exact moment she lost all her talent—right after she’d petitioned the Emperor that they must cross the Wall.
“He already knew you were here. He’s been waiting for you to return.”
In other words, there was nowhere she could run from the Emperor, and she dared not defy his will. Knowing exactly how things would unfold no matter how much she disliked it, Lu drank more.
The Emperor had deliberately sent Aldwin Rochester—the perfect choice to relentlessly chase her down, preach blind faith in the Emperor, and bring her back.
And because Lu felt she owed Aldwin, at least somewhat.
“Besides, Rustica, didn’t you always want more than anything to go beyond the Wall? Isn’t this the perfect chance to rescue those who were dragged in there?”
The Emperor of the Calleta Empire was exceedingly cunning.
Dying in this cabin or dying beyond the Wall—it’s all the same. The idea of crossing the Wall sounded incredibly tempting, but even if it were a lie, Lu had nothing left in her life anyway.
She knew she had no choice but to go. Knowing it made her resentful all the more.
“His Imperial Majesty truly cares for you deeply, Rustica.”
That line especially grated on her.
“If you say that one more time, I’ll kick you out and sit right back down here. Shut your mouth from now on.”
As soon as Aldwin quickly closed his lips, Lu finally began packing up her home. Well, calling it a “home” was generous. She’d always kept her belongings minimal, ready to leave at any moment, and deliberately avoided accumulating more possessions.
The only issue was the extra provisions she’d bought because of Hayden. But that was easily solved—she could just share them with neighbors along with some herbs.
Packing went very quickly. With Aldwin’s help, the cabin emptied in no time.
“Will you come back?”
Aldwin asked.
“If I can.”
Though the chances were nearly nonexistent, Lu absentmindedly touched the well-worn doorknob one last time.
“This is my home.”
“Wherever you live is your home.”
She glanced briefly at Aldwin before turning her gaze back to the doorknob.
Defying the decree of the Emperor—who was both a supreme archmage and the empire’s divine founder—was probably just a waste of time.
Who knew who might come after Aldwin Rochester? Maybe Lu would be dragged back to the Calleta Empire by force.
Considering everything, making a decision, packing up her modest cabin, and informing her neighbors had taken far longer than expected.
Thus, the sun was already sinking low on the horizon.
“Let’s go.”
If the sun was setting at the western edge of Momentum, then dawn must be breaking over Katat, the capital of the Calleta Empire.
Arriving at daybreak, when few people were about, suited Lu just fine. Nothing was more bothersome than unwanted attention.
Even taking the fastest route would normally take over three months, but Aldwin Rochester possessed a special teleportation magic stone gifted by the Emperor himself.
It allowed both of them to travel instantly from Momentum straight to the Katat Imperial Palace.
‘His Majesty has given us something extremely valuable. In other words, the situation must be that urgent.’
Urgent enough to push someone like Rustica Jenus—reasonably intelligent, once loyal, yet easily expendable—into the new empire beyond the Wall.
She pulled her hood up and grasped Aldwin’s arm. The world brightened sharply before flickering out again. In an instant, space shifted, and unfamiliar air stirred her hood.
“Lord Rochester.”
“Well done.”
May the gods bless His Mighty Imperial Majesty!
Anyone who came to the Katat Imperial Palace would, overwhelmed by its awe-inspiring grandeur, unconsciously find themselves praising the Emperor.
Aldwin Rochester, who worked here regularly, merely nodded to the knights guarding the gate, but Lu, returning to Katat after four years, glanced around once—then turned abruptly and gasped in shock.
“Is that incredible or what?”
“…Did they just punch a hole through it?”
“Punched a hole” was far too weak a phrase to describe the scene. The colossal wall stretching beyond Katat’s city gates across the barren plain wasn’t merely breached.
This immense barrier, spanning from the north all the way to the warm east, had been utterly impassable and insurmountable—a brutal frontline in itself.
Yet now, right in that sky-high, towering wall, a pair of massive doors had appeared. And they stood wide open toward the empire, as if inviting its citizens to step inside.
It was a provocation.
“Did they really just punch a hole through it?”
Lu, utterly flabbergasted, pointed at the enormous gate with her thumb raised. At that scale, ten carriages could pass through side by side with ease.
“That’s precisely why His Majesty chose you for this emergency, Lu. It’s an honor.”
Lu bit back the retort that this “honor” was so ridiculous even a passing dog would laugh, took one last look at the gate in the Wall, and turned away.
Katat was crawling with the Emperor’s fanatical devotees. She’d have to watch her words here.
“Let’s go. His Majesty is waiting.”
The faint light of dawn was already rising over Katat, and the grand, majestic palace stood ready for another day, its gaze fixed firmly on the Wall.
The palace’s vertically imposing atmosphere felt ominous. Familiar ministers hurried back and forth in the distance, and the palace guards stood tense and alert everywhere.
Well, given that a gate had just opened in the Wall like that, it was only natural.
‘I’d have fainted too.’
Of course, after fainting once, he’d probably decided this was an opportunity.
How many knights had been dragged inside by monsters during battle? Ah, but of course—the Emperor had chosen her precisely because she thought this way. Dressed far too shabbily for the grand audience hall, Lu kept thinking about the land beyond the Wall.
“This way.”
“I know.”
Aldwin guided her kindly, as he would a noble young lady, but Lu replied curtly.
She’d come and gone from this place as casually as eating a meal. They were now heading toward the audience hall. The guards on duty today, assigned to watch the hall’s entrance, kept their eyes fixed straight ahead without sparing the two a glance.
Though no one announced their arrival, the door engraved with the empire’s sacred emblem silently swung wide open, and the captain of the guard in white uniform stepped out.
“Lord Rochester. Lady Jenus. Please come in.”
Lu and Aldwin hurriedly followed the captain inside. Behind them, the heavy door firmly closed once more.
The audience hall had an exceptionally high ceiling, its dark walls lined with banners hanging from every pillar.
Brilliant light poured through the enormous window behind the throne at the very top, flooding the entire hall and vividly displaying the Emperor’s majesty.
“Your Majesty.”
The captain bowed deeply before the steps leading to the throne, then stepped aside. Aldwin followed suit, bowing respectfully to the noble figure seated upon the throne.
Behind him, Lu slowly walked in, thinking the hall was ridiculously vast and inefficient, removed her hood, and gave a brief nod. She wasn’t a knight, so she didn’t offer the same formal bow.
“You’ve returned sooner than expected.”
Carlos Arthur Ingram, Emperor of the Calleta Empire, looked nothing like an ordinary human to anyone who saw him.
His pale hair shifted subtly in hue with every glint of light, and his piercing eyes were a near-white emerald. His beauty was extraordinary, and though four centuries had passed since his ascension, he showed no sign of aging.
Lu kept her gaze politely lowered. His looks could shake anyone’s heart—but seeing how calm she remained, perhaps it was because she’d already met Hayden.
‘He really was too handsome.’
“Seeing your face brings me joy. It’s been a long time, Lady Jenus?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I hope you have been in good health.”
She replied appropriately while glancing around.
Present in the audience hall were the captain of the guard, the commander of the Imperial Knights, Aldwin Rochester, and the Chancellor—the Emperor’s right hand.
Diplomats were exceedingly rare in the Calleta Empire. The empire had never needed diplomacy before—but now it did.
“You’ve heard the situation from Lord Rochester, I presume.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The commander of the Imperial Knights observed Rustica Jenus, whose youthful appearance had completely vanished.
Her posture remained straight, suggesting she hadn’t neglected her training, and though she’d supposedly lost all her money gambling, her eyes were clear. Now in her mid-twenties, her baby fat was gone, and her expression was calm.
Was it really safe to send this person as-is to the ‘Perseita Empire’ beyond the Wall?
“It’s unprecedented, so naturally it’s unsettling, but peace through diplomacy is better than war. It avoids unnecessary losses and spares more young lives.”
Could those words really come from someone who’d waged only attritional battles near the Wall for hundreds of years without ever attempting to break through?
From someone who never even considered retrieving the thousands of imperial citizens dragged beyond the Wall?! At twenty-one, she’d wanted to kill him; at twenty-five, she no longer had the energy. The Emperor had always been this way, and she knew she could never kill him.
“I know better than anyone how much Lady Jenus values peace. But we know nothing of the nation that has been our enemy all this time. Thus, the diplomat’s mission is of utmost importance.”
A sigh escaped her, though she didn’t let it show openly.
Carlos Arthur Ingram, the Emperor, still understood her perfectly.
He knew exactly what she valued and precisely how she’d act once thrown beyond that Wall—that’s why he spoke this way. No matter how far she ran, she remained within the Emperor’s grasp.
“Go retrieve our kidnapped citizens and learn the enemy’s strength.”
Only now did he mention the kidnapped citizens. How shameless.
But the Emperor could be as shameless as he pleased—he was Calleta’s god.
The diplomat he dispatched was, in essence, an official spy. She’d have to wage a covert intelligence war beneath the surface. The other side would surely know that too.
“You must find out how monsters are created.”
Lu stayed silent. More than anything, she wanted to understand the purpose behind the monsters constantly invading the empire, but those present here simply dismissed it, saying it was obvious why disgusting vermin would attack a mighty empire.
“You’ll reside in their capital and send regular reports.”
“Will they be sending a diplomat as well?”
Lu asked her first question.
“So they say. Preparations to receive them are underway. You must depart today.”
The Emperor nodded, adding an even harsher condition.
“How much support can you provide?”
She asked with the earnestness and resolve of a soldier prepared for anything.
“Your salary won’t be lacking. I can promise you that much.”
Those around him chuckled at the joke, but Lu didn’t smile. It meant he offered nothing else.
It was uncertain whether Calleta’s currency would even be accepted there. She’d probably have to convert everything to gold. He was squeezing her dry, calculating every last bit of value.
“I will do my best.”
Right then and there, Rustica Jenus altered the course of her life.
Once beyond the Wall, she’d look for a quiet place to retire. What good was being a diplomat anyway? If things went sour, she could always change her nationality.
The Emperor quietly watched Lu, whose loyalty had dwindled to almost nothing. His emerald eyes flickered briefly, unnoticed by anyone.
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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I’m not sure where Lu gets the patience to deal with Hayden. He’s like a bulldozer. He seems convinced he’s helping her yet he doesn’t consider her opinions throughout it all.