“Look here, Lord Rickizen. Shouldn’t you have given me at least a hint? What’s all this sudden talk about a princess!”

“That’s how it turned out.”

Rickizen sat on the sofa with his arms crossed, indifferent to the Marquis’s agitation.

“No, you should have given me advance notice about something like this! I couldn’t say anything because I was so taken aback!”

The Marquis frowned fully, recalling how he had become mute at the Emperor’s questioning glance about how to respond. He was too shocked to decide what to say, and in that gap, the Duke had completely captured the Emperor’s attention.

“What could I do? It was the king’s order. With the civil war keeping him too preoccupied to focus on this distant matter, his priority is to marry off the princess first.”

“You still haven’t suppressed the rebels? Surely the king isn’t being replaced?”

When Bishrom asked in shock, Rickizen’s face turned cold.

“Watch your words, Marquis. Do you think we would fall to such rebels?”

As Rickizen’s expression hardened, the long scar on his cheek became more prominent.

“Haha… I’m just worried about everything.”

The Marquis changed the subject with his usual seemingly good-natured expression.

Unlike the other envoys who only looked at documents, Rickizen was a former field commander who had jumped into battle himself. He wasn’t the type to be swayed by mere smooth talk, so his mood had to be matched appropriately.

The Marquis subtly mentioned his own merit.

“Still, it’s thanks to me that the war ended quickly so you could suppress the rebellion, right?”

The Marquis had been secretly communicating with the Allied Nations since three years ago. Furthermore, he didn’t hesitate to secretly export imperial weapons.

The reason these actions had gone undetected until now was that no one dared suspect him, the Emperor’s closest aide.

In truth, from Bishrom’s perspective, a prolonged war wouldn’t have been a problem.

He could simply profit by leaking appropriate information. With a military power difference of 5 times, mere prolongation of the war wouldn’t disadvantage the country.

Even if the empire were to fall, he could simply cross over to the kingdom and secure a position there.

Then when Verseum also ran into trouble, he orchestrated things at the opportune time to frighten and persuade the Emperor to end the war.

“So you made quite a profit, didn’t you, Marquis? You’re still making it even now.”

“Ahem. Well… I was just responding to the courtesy shown.”

“Don’t worry. We’ve almost suppressed them completely, and once we finish rooting out the remnants, it won’t even take a few months for reorganization.”

Even after the war ended, the Marquis continued to transfer weapons to them and they frequently exchanged information. That’s why it hurt that they hadn’t informed him of such crucial information.

“Still, we’re in the same boat so to speak, shouldn’t you have told me in advance so I could prepare?”

“Marquis, do you truly not understand the king’s intentions? Or are you just pretending not to?”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“Did you think we wouldn’t hear about you spouting that starting another war wouldn’t even be a problem?”

Oh no. The Marquis barely controlled his startled expression. For even words spoken inside the palace to have reached them already meant there must be Verseum spies in the palace besides himself.

The Marquis lowered his eyes almost sycophantically.

“That was… because the nobles were complaining so much about losing the war, I was just taking a strong stance saying it wouldn’t really be a problem, for peace’s sake. As if I’d be crazy enough to suggest starting another war.”

“You’d better be careful if you’re harboring other intentions even now. Don’t underestimate our Verseum.”

“W-When have I ever disrespected your country!”

He’s true to his reputation as someone who only knew fighting. The Marquis placed his hand on Rickizen’s shoulder to soothe him as his demeanor had suddenly turned ominous.

“No need to make a fuss, it’s the king’s order. Marquis, just make sure to persuade your Emperor well.”

“That… I’ll speak to him well. His Majesty trusts my words after all.”

The Marquis patted Rickizen’s shoulder as he showed his displeasure, smiling with curved eyes as if saying to just trust him.

Having already somewhat lost favor, opposing the princess now would clearly raise more suspicion.

“King Berus dislikes waiting, so he hopes for a quick decision.”

The secret meeting ended like that. As soon as Rickizen disappeared through the door, the Marquis ground his teeth.

“Tch. An uncouth knight putting on such airs.”

Not even knowing why he was still alive and well. The Marquis muttered sullenly and fell into deep thought as he recalled the fruitless conversation.

His head was complicated by one plan going awry.

* * *

Flora became a bit sullen.

If she had resolved things quickly instead of dragging it out, she wouldn’t have gotten scolded. She thought this as she entered the banquet hall following the Duke.

Heriot glanced at her and clicked his tongue with an expression that seemed to say ‘typical’ before turning away.

Though the Duke maintained an expressionless face, judging by his demeanor, he was definitely angry. Flora could now roughly judge whether he was in a good or bad mood just by looking at his expression.

Was he angry because she caused a commotion?

Was he angry because she carried a sword?

He seemed to know that man, was he angry because of that?

Among her endless worries, it was hard to know which was correct. If not those, perhaps he was dissatisfied with bringing me here from the start?

Walking absentmindedly, Flora stopped as her forehead bumped into something solid. The Duke turned to look at Flora who had bumped her head against his back, wearing an expression that seemed to have so much to say, and nodded toward a corner of the hall.

“Stay quietly in that spot and we’ll move to the reception room when His Majesty calls.”

“…Me too?”

When Flora asked with round eyes, the Duke nodded.

However, he offered no further explanation and immediately sat down crossing his legs, calling a servant to bring up a glass of wine. Watching the Duke silently drink his wine, Flora folded her hands neatly.

Beside her, Heriot muttered as if he had been waiting to say something.

“I knew this would happen. You’re lucky His Grace appeared, otherwise you would have been dragged away by the imperial guards right away.”

Flora’s shoulders slumped even lower. She was just confused about why her master had brought her here.

Claude glanced at her deflated state and took an elegant sip of wine before speaking.

“You’re here because the Emperor called for you.”

“Why… me?”

Flora tilted her head as if she didn’t understand.

“That’s what I’d like to know… Why didn’t you tell me you’d met the Emperor?”

Flora was left speechless at his questioning tone. She had no memory of meeting such an exalted person.

Flora was about to part her hesitating lips. Just then, a resounding announcement rang out.

“His Imperial Majesty Max Yehemd Lezentra!”

As the Emperor entered wearing a gleaming imperial crown, every noble in the hall bowed their heads. No one could question the Emperor who appeared much later than the scheduled banquet time.

Watching this scene, Claude inwardly clicked his tongue.

‘I was wondering where he went… it seems he changed clothes in that time.’

Right after the meeting ended, the Emperor had suddenly said he would stop by the imperial palace, apparently to change his outfit.

He had chosen something incredibly splendid earlier too, saying he wanted to show imperial dignity, but now he appeared in full ceremonial dress practically plastered with gold as if all the gold in the world had been used on it.

Flora quickly bowed following the Duke who gave a slight bow.

“I thank you all for celebrating my birthday like this.”

The Emperor seated on the imperial throne slowly began. It was time for the nobles to offer their congratulations in turn at this long-awaited formal occasion.

Claude, head of the ducal family and imperial meritorious subject, approached the Emperor first.

“Oh, Duke Heinst. I am pleased you came right away for my birthday. I hope you enjoy your time here.”

The Emperor maintained a solemn expression and sometimes even failed to control his expression, grinning at the nobles’ continuing congratulations that followed.

However, he didn’t seem to be paying much attention to them. Throughout receiving the greetings, he looked around the wide hall distractedly.

Then suddenly, the Emperor’s gaze stopped on Claude who had returned to his seat. Though it soon moved on.

Claude saw the Emperor’s gaze fix on Flora who was standing right beside him.

The Emperor showed a somewhat unexpected expression at her appearance dressed like any noble lady, but soon looked at Flora for a long while with eyes that held even a hint of enchantment.

That somewhat unpleasant gaze lingered on Flora for quite some time.

Claude, being a man, immediately recognized it was an unpleasant gaze more resembling that of a man in heat rather than interest in a warrior.

At that moment, the Emperor grinned and whispered something to the servant beside him. The servant who had bowed respectfully walked straight toward Claude and quietly said,

“His Majesty commands your presence in the reception room in half an hour.”

Was he going to reprimand him for having Flora wear a dress?

“I’ll make sure not to be late.”

As Claude responded immediately, having expected to be called separately, the servant bowed deeply.

“My apologies, but His Majesty requested Lady Flora, not Your Grace.”

Claude’s dark eyebrows shot up as he had naturally assumed they would be called together.

He asked again in a chilling voice.

“You’re certain he said only Flora?”

“Yes, that was his command. He said Your Grace may fully enjoy the banquet and leave early if you wish.”

Claude’s expression rapidly turned cold at this completely unexpected situation.

<end of Volume 1. to be continued in the next volume>