Gaiden 1. Who wins the battle for retirement? (4)
Finally, the banquet ceremony began.
As many people expected, beauties flocked from all over the world.
But it wasn’t just that they were pretty.
Kariel’s personality doesn’t help her work and she’s just pretty?
There was a high probability of being rejected.
This is because the quartet, who are immediately called the best beauties in the western continent, were also people with the highest level of work ability.
So, even if she was aiming for the empress, she had to excel in her work skills.
“Well… … Everyone is great.”
“Iknow, right.”
Looking at the specifications of the women who applied for the election ceremony, I stuck out my tongue.
Ignit’s qualifications created as the continent stabilized again.
In particular, it was not enough just to pick things that would be helpful for the work of the imperial palace, but many women with practical experience appeared.
As it is a continental event, she has accumulated high specifications because she knows that she cannot become an empress simply by being pretty.
Women who had built up specs more than most bureaucrats were lined up in the capital.
“Midnight tonight! The first banquet for the housewarming dinner will be held!”
“Who will win the Emperor’s heart?”
As the first banquet for the banquet was held, all eyes were focused on the imperial palace.
Many people thought that Kariel alone would attend the banquet and monopolize the attention of many women, but the content of what was announced was different.
“Jim is going to have a lot of bureaucrats I care about at this banquet. I want to give a chance to the poor elite, who are not yet married because of their work.”
Although it was a banquet for a banquet, many people were moved by Kariel’s compassionate heart to give opportunities to singles who were not married like Kariel.
But those with a keen eye have already noticed.
“Are you skipping already?”
“I know.”
“Certainly, if this is the case, more and more people will give up.”
The article described it as ‘the emperor’s consideration’, but people knew that this announcement was the first test for a banquet ceremony.
It means to give up in advance if it seems impossible.
Needless to say, the officials attending this banquet are all elites of the Ignit Empire.
Apparently, a lot of young high-ranking officials were going to attend.
If they were the only ones, they wouldn’t have said it was the first test of the pick-and-place method.
“her… … Sir Seriel will also attend?”
“Is that all? The Prime Minister, Prince Luther, is also said to be present.”
Seriel, the head of the military, and Luther, the head of the administration, who can be seen as the core of Ignit, will attend.
This alone was worth turning their eyes to.
“It’s too late for you guys.”
“What else?”
“Tsk tsk! Sir Glenn is also attending this time.”
The eyes of those around him were filled with astonishment at the official’s words.
A swordsman who is said to be the world’s strongest attends?
There was a high possibility that all those vaguely aiming for the empress would flock here.
“her… … It’s not called the first test for nothing.”
“I mean.”
Is it because of this banquet that all the best people in Ignit attend?
Those who attended as envoys from various countries fell into confusion.
“What should I do with this?”
“I know. Sir Glenn attending!”
“How about Lord Luther?”
“Lord Seriel isn’t bad either.”
They weren’t as good as Kariel, but all of them were talents worth looking forward to in the next rank.
And it wasn’t just them.
The famous Kariel’s bodyguards also attended, and it was rumored that Tarion, the head of the intelligence department, was also forced to attend.
In other words, this banquet was not simply for the election ceremony, but meant that it was a place of opportunity to marry the core talents of Ignit.
“Operation change!”
“Me too!”
Those who were vague at first immediately changed their strategy.
Is it because it was suddenly announced?
Confused about who to target, everyone invited to the banquet hall was confused.
And Kariel, who caused this confusion, was amused while letting out a sinister laugh behind her.
“As planned.”
Tarion sighed as he heard the report and saw Kariel smiling.
“But did you really have to include me?”
“then!”
“I’m too old to fit in there… … .”
“What about Marston? Your face looks young!”
Tarion is getting younger and younger after actually becoming a master.
He was already young enough to be only in his 30s physically.
“That’s what’s important… … .”
“Is it because of your age? Knowing that, I invited a middle-aged woman too, so take good care of it. Tarion must start a new life.”
At Kariel’s words, Tarion sighed.
People knew it was the first test of the election ceremony, but in fact, it was just a groundwork to get rid of Kariel because it was annoying.
But there was a more important reason than this.
It was just to confuse Luffiel.
In fact, there were quite a few young bureaucrats among Luffiel’s forces who were unable to date because of work, but Kariel used this banquet as a way to lure them out.
In the case of Luther, he had to be compelled to attend, but when he put it on the list of attendees, he seemed to be looking forward to it.
In other words, with this single move, Luffiel’s proud power was half-destroyed.
“… … You are cruel.”
“You have to grow strong.”
Kariel said with a smile.
Compared to the hardships he had suffered in his previous life, the difficulty he faced now was nothing but hemostasis.
Although Rufiel was young, he was leading the country well. In fact, he was evaluated as a talent that would rank high among all emperors.
But, of course, the current emperor was Kariel.
“You must grow up strong, brother!”
Tarion made a bewildered expression at the sight of Kariel speaking while clenching his fists.
Knowing that the day he would inherit the throne was short, he intended to pressurize Rufiel one last time with the intention of raising him to be strong.
The plan was to instill a sense of despair by dissolving the forces that Rufiel had and destroying his plans one by one.
In a situation where he fell to the bottom like that, if he ascended the throne by force, he would develop even further.
“By the way, who do you think the empress is?”
“Well… … For now, I’m thinking of excluding the Marquis of Chardonna.”
“… … Yes?”
At Kariel’s words, Tarion tilted his head.
Although she was a bit older, she still boasted an overwhelming beauty.
True to her nickname of iron wall, her strength, which ranks high among the masters, also enhances her charm.
Excluding her?
“Someone likes her.”
“Isn’t it faster to find a man who does not admire the Marquis Chardonnay?”
At Tarion’s words, Kariel sighed.
“Are you the head of the intelligence department?”
“Yes?”
“Tsk tsk! What everyone else knows, only Tarion doesn’t notice.”
Seeing Kariel talking as if pathetic, Tharion mumbled with an absurd expression on his face.
‘Still, I dated a lot when I was young. Marriage too… … ‘ Tharion muttered.
But the reality was that he was getting old in loneliness.
“Anyway, except for the Marquis of Chardonnay.”
After saying that, Kariel started preparing to go to the banquet hall.
As expected by others, Kariel also intended to make the empress know people.
He was thinking of choosing between Ayla and Marnier, who had often visited the imperial palace, and the Saint of Lundia, who had recently cooperated with him.
“Who will come first?”
After muttering that, Kariel headed for the banquet hall.
“Your Majesty Kariel Friedrich von Blaser is here!”
With the roaring voice of the banquet attendant, the performance stopped and the huge door opened.
All the good men and women gathered in the Grand Hall bowed their heads looking at Kariel, and Kariel headed to the center receiving their greetings.
The place he was heading to was where Tarion, who had a shit-chewed expression, and Luther, who was looking expectant in the opposite direction.
“Let go of your impressions. I made a seat for you… … .”
“Your Majesty, my age… … .”
“Tsk tsk! Will you die of old age alone for the rest of your life? Then don’t whine about being lonely. Tarion, you must grab one here and bring him. This is an order.”
After defeating the frowning Tarion, he looked at Luther and Glenn.
Unlike Luther, who was full of anticipation, Glenn had an expressionless expression.
It was like that in his previous life, but he didn’t have much interest in anything other than swordsmanship, so he didn’t seem very interested in this banquet.
“You too will find a mate.”
“… … Yes?”
“The Grand Duke is very worried.”
“ah… … .”
Glenn slightly frowns when he hears that the Archduke is worried.
Looking at him like that, I looked around with the words to find a mate even if it’s annoying.
With everyone looking at her, Kariel calmly opened her mouth.
“This banquet, as everyone knows, will be a banquet to find a mate for Jim. But wouldn’t it be a pity to only find Jim’s mate after we’ve gathered at most?”
After saying that, Kariel smiled and said.
“Everybody, don’t just look at Jim, look around you. All of them will lead Ignit’s future, so there will never be a shortage.”
After saying that, Kariel gave a signal to the orchestra with a wink.
Then the music started playing and the mood in the banquet hall changed.
The banquet hall filled with Ignit’s best grooms, befitting a place where only the best bridesmaids from all over the world gathered, created a strange atmosphere as they immediately met each other’s eyes.
“What if everyone else passes it on?”
As Tarion sneeringly approached, Kariel’s expression crumpled.
In a strange atmosphere, couples meet each other’s eyes and move to a corner seat.
However, no one has approached the main character, Kariel, yet.
The main character of the banquet was himself, and the justification was the election ceremony, but there was no one.
“… … Why?”
“Isn’t it because of the empress candidates?”
Cariel stared at Tarion, who seemed to be laughing.
In such a situation, a woman who finally had the courage to appear.
When no one approaches Kariel, a woman walks towards her because she wants it to be just this time.
The problem is that when you stand in front of it, you are so embarrassed that you can’t open your mouth properly.
Finally, the woman walks away crying.
And it was the same with other women.
“why… … ?”
No matter how many candidates were nominated for the Empress, Kariel didn’t mean to choose only them.
If the woman he really liked appeared, he was going to marry an arranged marriage, and it would be a love marriage.
But looking back at the situation, it seemed impossible.
“Could you ease the pressure?”
At Tarion’s words, Kariel tilted her head.
“A feeling of intimidation?”
“after… … It would be difficult for most women to handle the atmosphere that His Majesty implicitly exudes.”
At Tarion’s words, Glenn, who was nearby, nodded.
Ministers and high-ranking officials were used to it because they had been through it for a long time, and so were their younger siblings.
There was also the fact that the people around Kariel were so elite that Kariel’s sense of coercion was not able to exert its full power.
But others were different.
Why would you shed tears or bow your head in emotion when Cariel gave a speech in the square?
“The Greatest Emperor Ever”
「The hero who protected the continent」
“Messenger of God”
Nicknames that symbolize Kariel are titles that are difficult for most people to bear, and even the sense of intimidation that Kariel herself has was no joke.
He had shown charisma to dominate the ministers since he was crown prince, and his charisma had increased even more during the war.
“… … .”
“Just wait for the ‘candidates for empress’ to come.”
Kariel makes a complicated expression while watching all the women leave crying.
In the end, I had no choice but to sneak into a corner for fear of disturbing the atmosphere of the banquet.
“It’s too much.”
Kariel became bitter when he saw the banquet hall, where the atmosphere improved as if he had been waiting for him to change his seat.
Clearly, the plan to turn the attention focused on himself succeeded.
But why is it so bitter?
“after… … .”
It was a time when he was composing his complicated mind as he watched the moon shining brightly on himself today.
“your majesty?”
A beautifully dressed woman approached Kariel.
“Ayla?”
Ayla bowed her head gracefully as she smiled roundly at his call.
“Your Majesty, would you like to make a contract with me?”
Kariel tilted her head as she saw Ayla, who came to visit her without hesitation and offered a contract.
At her, Kariel smiled like she was having fun.
“Where should I listen?”
Cariel looked at the bold woman with a smile on her face with her arms crossed.