Protagonist! Please Stay Away from Me!
Chapter 57: The First Faction Meeting

Chapter 57: The First Faction Meeting

Sharon’s POV—

The Emperorical Faction will be having its first meeting today. I decided this after Leon not-so-subtly pointed out that I haven’t presided... ok, I haven’t conducted a single meeting of my faction.

[I am shocked that you haven’t noticed it yet. I thought you created this faction just for this show. No that I ever doubted you.]

’Yeah? But I think, you are ’doubting’ me, aren’t you?’

[No! Haha... why will I? You are my host, my one and only host~]

’Don’t talk to me with that tone. It’s sending me goosebumps.’

[Whoa! I am only telling you the truth. You should totally believe me. I am always in support of you.]

’Oh~ I am surprised that your invisible mouth is uttering these words. But if you are saying this... then you should have no problem of me calling you by a name. You know, you deserve that name.’

[What name? Tell me! I knew it! I knew it very well that you would finally realise my value. I am very happy!!]

’Trashy system.’

I pissed all over its overly imagined thoughts.

’System?’

It seems that it is going to ignore me again. Suddenly, Leon’s highly enthusiastic voice pulled me out of my mental conversation.

"Your Majesty, it’s time," said Leon. Our first meeting is going to be held in the throne room. For this, Leon had forced me to change into my emperor’s uniform since this morning. He wanted me to fully ready for this meeting.

Sighing, I looked at Leon and said, "Let’s go."

◆◇◆◇◆

I adjusted my crown again. I am adjusting it again and again. Argh! I wanted to throw it off my head but... I can’t. My secretary is giving me discreet glares as if he can sense my thoughts. Should I sit with them? Nah! I am the emperor. I can’t sit with them. But sitting at a higher slope and looking down to see them, is making my crown to repeatedly slip off my head.

"Darling? Are you bored?" asked Kaerin.

"Your Majesty, are you?" asked another familiar voice.

Holding the crown with one hand and rubbing my face with another, I hissed, "Why are two even here?"

"I am your personal knight."

"I am your personal maid."

They answered simultaneously and then glared at each other. Are they going to fight here? With a resigned tone, I murmured, "Don’t fight here." Thankfully, they didn’t fight. They just sneered and turned away from each other.

Marquis Hamilton raised his hand. "Yes, Marquis Hamilton? Do you want to ask something?" He nodded his head.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Then go on and ask," I said, allowing him to ask me his question.

"Are we here to discuss on the budget that you have prepared?" he asked.

"No, we... are not going to discuss it today," I refused.

"Then, are we here to help you in making the budget?" Count Varilon asked me.

"No," I refused again, shaking my head in denial. Duke Rinkshel tried to open his mouth but one glare from me made him to snap his mouth shut.

I yelled, "Can you stop your useless speculations? I have already completed making the budget. All it needs is to get presented in front of all the factions. Don’t tell me that you think I am going to present the budget to you all first?"

Duke Rinkshel scratched his head and said, "Sorry, Your Majesty. We are not doubting your ability! We are just curious."

I scoffed, "Curious about what?"

Baron Xavwer answered, "About... this meeting’s agenda. What’s this meeting about? Not that I am sad about our first meeting! I am just adding it that’s all."

Meeting’s agenda? About that... I don’t know. I averted my gaze from them. How would I know the meeting’s agenda? Wait... didn’t the memorandum had a clause that said every meeting would have an agenda? Fuck! This is all Leon’s fault.

I glared at Leon. He quickly averted his eyes and looked at the ceiling as if it was the most important thing in the world. That bastard! I began tapping my right foot on the floor.

What-to-do? What-to-do? An idea clicked my mind. I clasped my hands with a delighted expression. I said, "Well, as you said Baron Xavwer... today is our first meeting and I called all of you to inaugurate it. Y-yes, we are here to celebrate. Let’s celebrate!"

"Is that so?" Count Varilon asked. Her tone was full of scepticism.

"Yes!" I nodded frantically.

Duke Rinkshel said, "If you say so..."

"Your Majesty, you lied very awkwardly. It doesn’t seem very convincing," whispered Maria.

"Darling~ You need to improve your lying department," muttered Kaerin, with a low voice.

I ignored their words and concentrated on stabilising my smiling face. "If you keep talking like this, then I will have to take a drastic step," I muttered under my breath, which was inaudible for everyone except my two intended targets. They flinched and paled drastically.

I snapped my fingers and two maids walked towards me. "Set up some dining tables with the help of knights in this room. Bring out all the dishes that has been prepared for today. Also, prepare some of our palace’s signature dishes."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

They said in unison. They bowed and left to perform their assigned tasks.

Within an hour, dining tables were set up in the room. They were decorated with the dishes on top of them. The whole throne room was drowned by their collective aroma. As the ’inauguration’ lunch finished, all the members left, leaving me with the three idiots.

I yelled, "Why did you tell me to have this meeting? Leon, it was pointless!"

Leon shrugged and said, "Maybe the next meeting will have some point. We should be optimistic, Your Majesty."

I snorted, "Argh, just go Leon. We will talk tomorrow." Leon bowed and went away. Now, it’s time to deal with the other two.

I turned towards them. Glaring, I said, "You two are not gonna enter my room today. That’s your punishment."

"But darling—"

"No."

"Your Majesty—"

"No. It’s final. Bye then." With these departing words, I instantly ran from that place as they chased behind me, uttering a series of ’sorry’ and ’I won’t do that again.’