Chapter 18: How Dare You Write Such a Thing?
There was no choice, after all, the previous five historiographers had never finished their work, having fled upon sensing danger.
Or they tried to cover it up, to polish it with euphemisms…
Their attempts failed, and they fled again.
The historiographer’s office was not filled with the relief of work completed, but rather a heavy atmosphere.
“Lord Brandu, we could actually help embellish some parts, using insinuation…” Chief Historical Advisor Freeman suggested tentatively.
The other historical advisors also looked expectantly at Roger.
They had all grown fond of this new historiographer.
Even though his historical foundation wasn’t that strong.
But he always came up with brilliant ideas, bringing new forms to historical records.
He also gave them the greatest freedom, allowing them to restore the truth to the greatest extent.
It was just that the restored truth made these slow-witted, fearless scholars, who only focused on history itself, a little horrified.
They were frightened by their own work.
If this kind of thing got out, they might survive by acting under orders, but Lord Brandu would definitely be finished.
So everyone gave Roger suggestions, hoping to create a seventh version, and they would find ways to embellish it.
As historians, there were many ways to use euphemisms to prevent the Empress of Eternal Night from directly seeing the deeper meaning behind the words.
This should help Lord Brandu continue in his position.
Because no one could guarantee what kind of person the seventh historiographer would be.
If it were someone sycophantic and flattering, who only wanted to curry favor with the Empress, their work would become boring again.
“That would be pointless,” Roger refused the historical advisors’ request.
These people were too wicked, weren’t they?
They actually wanted him to stay here editing history all the time?
Since yesterday, he hadn’t received any new treasure chests.
The most controversial part of history, from the Maniu City incident to the defeat of the Vabriga Kingdom, had already been completed.
The subsequent work had become tedious, boring, and repetitive, and Roger could feel his interest rapidly declining.
After all, he didn’t genuinely love history; otherwise, he would be a knowledge-based UP master.
It was only digging up the Empress’s dark past that triggered his muscle memory.
Once dug up, the subsequent period of the Empress dominating became the boring act of singing praises, which was also depicted in the game.
He immediately lost his flow state and felt like he was just clocking in for work.
He was now just waiting for the Empress to come and review the results, then get angry and dismiss him as the historiographer.
After confirming the system’s depth, he had many new ways to lie down and was ready to test his limits!
…
…
At the same time.
The Empress of Eternal Night was invited to the Great Library again to review the newly compiled textbooks:
“Excellent, catchy, and lively. It contains the most words within a limited volume. You have all worked hard, esteemed individuals.”
She praised them highly.
Compiling educational materials with the nation’s strength had indeed yielded effective results.
“We have lived up to your expectations.”
Director Rodney, who personally oversaw this matter, responded with gentlemanly restraint.
The Empress of Eternal Night put down the newly compiled textbook and remembered something, asking, “How has our newly appointed historiographer been working recently?”
If that brat Roger was still slacking off, she could reasonably chastise him.
Unexpectedly, this question made Rodney’s expression strange.
“Lord Brandu is working very diligently.”
“Oh? Director Rodney, speak your mind. There’s no need to cover for him.”
“He is indeed very diligent and has received unanimous praise from the historical advisory group, but the current results are a little, well, bold…”
“What do you mean?”
“I dare not speak of it.”
“I pardon you! Speak!”
“Lord Brandu’s attitude towards the Maniu City incident is very direct, excessively in-depth…”
“Silence!”
The Empress of Eternal Night suddenly let out an angry snort.
A resistless storm of Magic Power erupted from her slender body.
The ornate conference room was instantly as desolate as if it had been plundered by bandits.
Director Rodney immediately put up a shield to protect the less powerful advisors.
But a stream of blood also slowly trickled from the face of the veteran Archmage, his complexion pale and his legs unsteady.
His Majesty’s strength had actually improved again; the mere vortex of Magic Power, unleashed by his emotional outburst, had nearly cost him his life…
“I lost my composure. The repair costs and compensation will be covered by the Imperial Palace,”
The Empress of Eternal Night stated indifferently and then teleported away.
“Alas, Dio, what a pity…”
Director Rodney sighed deeply.
Such a fine young man, why did he have to be so reckless?
While Her Majesty’s heart is as vast as the sea, the events of that year were her sore point.
Even the previous historiographers, who tried to soft-pedal it, failed.
And now this Dio, with a large awl, was repeatedly prodding the Empress’s sore spot, trying to see what he could dig out from underneath…
With such a fierce approach, who could possibly protect him?
“I fear even my poor library will suffer…”
Thinking of the Empress of Eternal Night’s reaction just now, Rodney felt a chill down his spine.
…
…
The historiographer’s office.
A surging wave of energy suddenly appeared, putting everyone on guard.
It felt as if a colossal beast of epic proportions was about to raid the material Plane!
Then, they saw the peerlessly elegant figure of the Empress of Eternal Night.
But at this moment, her face was as cold as ice. She ignored the historical advisors kneeling on the floor and walked directly towards Roger:
“Dio, I heard your compilation work has yielded results?”
Roger’s eyes immediately lit up!
He took out a thick stack of manuscript paper and respectfully handed it over: “Reporting to Your Majesty, your subject has overseen the compilation from the Maniu City incident to the meritorious deeds of your great victory over the Vabriga Kingdom!”
“Hmph, let me see!”
The Empress of Eternal Night took it and opened it.
The historical advisors present held their breath, too tense to breathe.
Meritorious deeds?
Lord Brandu really dared to say that. We wrote down everything Your Majesty did, one by one.
The term “meritorious deeds” probably has several layers of quotation marks, doesn’t it?
The greater your expectation of the Empress, the more tragic your ending will likely be!
Unlike his subordinates’ tension and worry, Roger, while appearing respectful, felt more joy in his heart.
[She’s flustered, she’s flustered! Before, her teleportation had no energy leak, but now it’s so imposing. She probably got wind of it from the Director.]
[It seems this is a sure win; I’ll be freed from this office! Thank you, Maniu City! Thank you, Vabriga Kingdom!]
The Empress of Eternal Night no longer bothered to listen to Roger’s inner thoughts, her attention fully fixed on the draft of the tenth volume of “The History of the Azurevine Empire” before her.
The more she read, the uglier her expression became.
Her breathing grew more rapid.
Those bloody nights, which she had almost forgotten, were brought back to memory by lines of flowing, logical, and well-organized text.
Her fourth brother who taught her to use a bow, her elder brother who guided her hand in shooting her first bunny, the one who kidnapped her and intended to use her for a political marriage to appease the crown prince of the Vabriga Kingdom…
The Empire in turmoil, her parents’ bodies not yet cold, her uncle’s manor still hosting extravagant banquets, the dancers so beautiful, discussing spices and teas from the East with his advisors…
The emaciated refugees looked at her, begging the little princess, once known for her kindness, to grant them even a handful of dry grain to survive the long summer…
The dying commoners of the Vabriga Kingdom, their desperate desire to live, were no different from those of the Empire…
Scene after scene of the past, the blemishes that countless civil and military officials had tried hard to conceal for the Empress, were now dug up and recorded in fair and merciless prose!
She suddenly looked up, glaring furiously at Roger.
You don’t understand, you have no idea what I’ve been through, you have no idea I had no choice!
Those ignorant masses won’t understand either, and the enemy will use these things to attack me. I’ve done so much for the Empire, and I still have to bear a bad reputation…
Bang!
Bang!!
Bang!!!
A terrifying storm of Magic Power filled the room, then exploded, affecting a wide area.
One-third of the Great Library collapsed!
Countless people were flung out, gazing blankly at a scene like a natural disaster and the end of the world.
Then, they saw the Empress of Eternal Night floating in mid-air, her golden hair flowing without wind, intricate three-dimensional magic patterns appearing on her snow-white skin.
A power beyond Legend, the Empress of Eternal Night, was unleashing her full strength!
She looked down at Roger like a deity.
“Dio Brandu, how dare you write such a thing? Are you not afraid I will kill you?”
Roger was only injured by the residual wave of her aura, yet blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
He merely wiped it away gently, raised his chin, met the Empress’s deep eyes, which were like a raging tsunami, and said calmly:
“Your Majesty will not dare to kill me, cannot kill me. You will only dismiss me, citing my incompetence.”
He appeared disheveled, like a firefly about to be extinguished by the storm of anger compared to the Empress, who shone like the bright moon.
Yet, he exuded a confidence that no one understood.
The Empress’s reaction and the current situation were exactly as he had predicted.
