161 – Audience with the Emperor
Time passes quickly and it is the day we leave for the imperial palace.
I woke up early in the morning and packed the icebox with food for the members to eat for three days.
“… It’s like a mother bird.”
Still, there is nothing we can do.
Danya, Elena, and Lina, who have been wallowing with all their might these days, are likely to starve and wallow if we don’t do something like this.
“I want to roll around too.”
Maybe it’s because I’ve been absorbing energy from Danya from time to time recently, but I also want to just sit around doing nothing with all my might.
… I swallowed the bad thought.
It is right to go for the reward promised by Asteria and to resolve the scenario.
If you’re lucky, this scenario can be resolved on its own.
“Of course I can’t be lucky.”
So I have to go, what should I do?
— I’ll be back in 3 days, so everyone eat well.
【Chapter 3: Attempt to Assassinate the Emperor】 has a shorter duration than other scenarios.
A short story line that lasts for about 3 days.
It is a sufficient period of time to be comforted.
So I started procrastinating and getting ready.
“Let’s start with clothes first.”
There is no need to worry about ‘what to wear?’
It is said that clothes that reveal one’s identity are the most polite in front of the emperor.
So what I will wear is the ceremonial uniform of the Liechten Academy.
— You have to insert your fingers and fold the hem of your shirt once like this. Yes. Great. At this level, the fit is okay and it might look a little cool… Huh? I didn’t say anything!
As I dressed, remembering Sylvia’s advice, I thought, ‘Well, isn’t it okay for me to be like this?’ A thought occurred to me.
This is a common misconception in front of a well-lit bathroom mirror.
After combing my hair and putting in a few items, preparations were soon completed.
“Let’s go now.”
Please don’t let Daenggang get hit.
◆
We immediately crossed over to the portal customs office in the capital.
The princess paid all customs fees, but at first glance, it seems that the royal family receives a 90% discount for up to two accompanying guests.
I envy the royal family.
However, there are definitely some inconveniences as a member of the royal family.
“There is a portal clearance office in the imperial palace, but you can’t use it. You have to get approval from the emperor.”
There is a portal in the house, but it is said that only those who have important business with the emperor can use it. The prince and princess are no exception. Should we say that there is clear discrimination even between people of the same bloodline?
As if to make the emperor feel uncomfortable, one must use a carriage from the customs clearance office to the imperial palace.
— Clatter, rattle, rattle.
“Here it comes… A carriage so big that it’s almost worth the tax.”
It was twice as large and luxurious as the princess-only carriage she had ridden in the north.
The imperial family’s seal engraved in gold leaf on the side.
The pure white horses pulling the carriage were decorated with gorgeous gold decorations.
While I was amazed by its size and splendor, I sympathized with Sylvia’s words.
‘It’s a waste of money.’
Isn’t it enough for a carriage to just move?
From Noble mtl dot com
— This extremely ordinary thought changed completely as soon as I sat down.
“… Wow. What kind of ride is this?”
Comfort that gently wraps around your body.
All the tension in my body was relieved, as if I was being held in the warm arms of someone.
Furthermore, I don’t feel any of the rattle that is characteristic of a carriage.
Without realizing it, I almost asked how much this carriage would cost.
“I guess it’s about 2 billion kroner per unit?”
For a moment, I had to wonder if I had said my thoughts out loud. I don’t think so.
“Ian’s thoughts can be seen on her face.”
Sylvia grinned.
Surprisingly, it was the princess who responded to that laughter.
“Huh. You’re not going to appeal to the main woman that Ian is yours right now, are you, Sylvia?”
“Oh my. Is that possible? Will I ever have a fight with the princess I just met?”
I was embarrassed by the suddenly heated atmosphere.
Silvia and the princess… Did they know each other?
No, rather you, Sylvia. Is she a good match for the princess? Even if you are the daughter of a prestigious family, it is not easy to argue with the princess.
I became more curious about the background of the two.
“Sylvia, you still seem to be very intelligent. Thanks to you, it seems like her breasts haven’t grown yet. I envy her because the edges of her clothes look good.”
“Hmm. It looks like the princess still gets all of her nutrients through her breasts. It’s so cool that she’ll stand out no matter what she wears.”
“I was praising you.”
“Oh my. That’s a compliment too. The princess’s children won’t have to worry about her breast milk running out. She will be able to pump out as many as the princess has.”
“Oh, that’s right. Thank you for the compliment. A woman’s power comes from the size of her breasts. If your breast milk runs out, tell me.”
“Yes?”
“I will share what belongs to her to her children.”
Tingling, thrilling.
With the feeling of an electric current flowing, I unconsciously moved to the corner near the window.
The carriage was passing through an ordinary alley.
“… Ah, the scenery is nice.”
I muttered that, but it wasn’t such a beautiful sight.
I just needed something to talk about.
Fortunately, the argument between the two quickly subsided.
… No.
Before we knew it, it had turned into a strategic discussion.
“I heard that you took control of the North this time.”
“The intelligence power of Laurent’s upper division has become formidable, hasn’t it?”
“This much is natural. So are you planning to attack the second prince now?”
“That’s right. As long as the Grand Duke of the North is gone, he is a toothless tiger.”
“That’s a good thing for me. Emilia, she’s also on the second prince’s side.”
“Do you think you’re still not on good terms with Emilia Raymond?”
“I don’t think I’ll ever get along well with that snarky woman. In fact, the first princess…”
Stories about the political power structure of the imperial family. If I were to summarize their conversation with the information I knew, it was as follows.
– The forces of the 1st princess: Orthodox nobles + Holy Constantine (groups within the Deusian empire)
– The 2nd Prince’s forces: Northern Grand Duke (X) + upper and bourgeois forces centered on the Raymond family
– The Third Princess’s Forces: Northern (new) + I
As expected, Asteria with I, Ian Black Angus is the power structure that stands out by far.
Are we okay like this?
Asteria asked Sylvia.
“Silvia, aren’t you planning on joining my side too?”
“You know. Laurent’s upper management does not officially support any force.”
“Officially.”
“That’s right.”
A quite meaningful exchange of glances took place between the two.
“As expected, your eye is still great, Sylvia.”
“The princess too.”
I finally couldn’t hold back and asked.
“… In the end, are you two close friends or not?”
Silvia and Asteria answered at the same time.
“Friendly.”
“We’re not close.”
They looked into each other’s eyes and answered once again.
“Actually, we’re not close.”
“Actually, we are close.”
“……”
It’s a relationship that you really don’t know even if you know it.
As the carriage moved along, the sight of the imperial palace was visible through the window.
Britannia Empire.
A brilliant empire that directly rules 1/3 of the continent, with more than half of it under its influence.
Befitting its name, it is a majestic, splendid, and magnificent imperial palace.
The gold decorated throughout the building catches the sunlight and shimmers brilliantly like a sea.
“…Oh.”
A scenery that makes me exclaim with exclamation without even realizing it.
The carriage glided gently into the splendor.
◆
The carriage stopped at the main temple of the imperial family.
The main hall is a place where you can meet the emperor.
Normally, we would have had to walk in from a long time ago, but it was possible because the carriage we rode had the seal of a direct member of the imperial family.
“You have to be careful about everything you do when you enter this place. If you don’t want to disappear into the dew of execution.”
Contrary to Sylvia’s harsh advice, the parish building was majestic and beautiful at the same time.
Just when we thought we were in the center of the empire, a knight knelt before us.
“I will guide you, Princess.”
We entered the main temple under the escort of a knight.
The inside of the main temple was wide and open. As I walked down the long hallway lined with famous paintings on either side, I saw a noticeable blue line drawn on the floor.
“It’s a sword line. From now on, even direct descendants of the imperial family cannot possess any weapons.”
The princess took out her own rapier and her staff in a familiar manner and handed them to her knight.
“You, too, be careful not to cross the border with weapons.”
The princess walked into the sword line again and again, as she was used to.
Silvia and I soon followed suit.
A tremor in the body’s mana circuit that is felt as soon as the sword line is crossed.
‘… It’s a magic barrier.’
Inside the sword line, no mana element was felt.
“Please wait here. I am sorry, but the daughter of the Laurent family has been called by His Majesty the Emperor…”
“I know. I’ll just wait here.”
“Thank you.”
Asteria was munching on the snacks on the table with a relaxed expression, and Sylvia was sitting calmly in her chair.
‘I think the normal route was to stick with Emilia and attend the prince’s birthday banquet.’
This is the starting point of a quite different scenario, as he has turned into a clear enemy with Emilia.
“You’ve waited a long time.”
Asteria and I walked following the knight’s guidance.
A huge door that appears to be three stories high opens one after another.
A red carpet spread out on the floor and a towering throne beyond.
The ruler of the empire sat arrogantly on the throne.
“Asteria. And Ian Black Angus.”
A low-pitched voice like that of an old beast was heard beyond the bowed head.
“Raise your head.”
Emperor of the Empire, Lemnus Estrid.
The fluttering yellow eyes were scanning me as if they were swallowing me up.
is it possible for Ian to bypass the inspection while Lunar steel is absorbed into his body?