1st Princess’s realm, a mansion larger than an average castle.
whoosh
Inside, an unexpected game of tag was underway.
“Teacher, it might be good to slow down a bit, don’t you think?”
“…I said let’s talk! Talk!”
swish
Ezekiel hastily fled, laying down an ice path.
Of course, Ether was hot on his heels.
“Shouldn’t we stop to have a conversation?”
“You touched my body!”
“I just casually brushed against you. Can’t we just have a boring conversation?”
whoosh
The speed of the 1st Princess, Ether, was truly astounding.
It was an incredibly strange sight.
Of course, Ether had soaked her body in the Sun Elixir since she was little, and her talent was that of an exceptional warrior. So, it wasn’t surprising that she could move at such incredible speed, but…
…the problem wasn’t the speed.
‘Why has Ether’s movement become so precise?’
The mansion was filled with expensive pottery and decorations, and she wasn’t smashing everything like the old Ether during the chase.
This indicated her energy mastery level had increased.
“…Ether, you’ve grown even more.”
“The teacher’s movements were quite beneficial. I reflected on that precision and reviewed it. Is this also feelings of affection?”
Just learn as much as I taught you, please. Ezekiel thought desperately as he darted around.
“Teacher, I told you to slow down!”
“…”
“Fine. From now on, for every step you take to run away, I’ll add one more child. Run as much as you like.”
“…?”
Ezekiel subtly turned to look at Ether.
What he met was…
“…!”
Ether’s face was etched with veins. It was truly a look that could only be seen when someone held genuine feelings.
“Haah…”
Ezekiel helplessly stopped, giving up.
“Good. You’ve finally calmed down.”
Ether effortlessly pulled a chair and table as if they were feathers and seated Ezekiel. She quickly prepared a glass and poured a drink with an orange hue.
“Teacher, just gulp it down.”
“…What is this?”
“It’s called Lava Wine, and it suits you quite well.”
Ezekiel had certainly heard of Lava Wine. They said that even amidst the biting cold of the Northern Region, just one cup of this would keep you warm all day.
Out of the blue, she caught him and handed him something nice.
She was certainly an unpredictable woman.
‘But….’
Is this really Lava Wine?
A short scene flashed in Ezekiel’s mind.
He remembered drinking, dozing off, and waking up in the same bed as Ether…. Given who she was, all kinds of thoughts rushed through his mind.
“…Aren’t you going to drink? It’ll get cold and lose its fun.”
“Uhhm.”
Reluctantly, he gulped down the Lava Wine.
The temperature was hot, yet it filled him with a hearty sensation, bringing a refreshing feel. It was an indescribable feeling of fullness.
Ether smiled as if pleased.
“How does it feel? Is your stomach feeling better?”
“It surely lives up to its name.”
“Good. Now we can have a calm conversation. Why does the teacher keep running away from me?”
“…”
Ezekiel narrowed his brow.
‘It’s not that you’re lacking. You’re just way too impressive…’
Goddess of War, the strongest… just glancing at a few titles associated with the 1st Princess was enough to realize her greatness. In fact, her exceptional qualities were the problem.
“Is there something lacking in my appearance?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Then, is it that my abilities and power are lacking?”
“Not at all.”
“Then it should be only natural to welcome me with open arms. Why do I keep seeing behavior that defies common sense?”
Indeed. It was an incredibly joyful situation.
A fortunate occurrence, akin to divine fortune.
If only Ezekiel had written a letter to just one person.
Yes, if he had only proposed to the 1st Princess…
…what on earth had he been thinking, sending proposal letters to all the princesses? He himself was quite curious.
“Ether.”
“Right, I’m listening carefully.”
“I currently have many tasks at hand.”
“Leisure is something that appears only when you intend to make it, just like in wartime, where new life can be born.”
“It’s an urgent matter.”
At that, Ether quietly nodded.
“I know what your urgent matter is.”
“Hmm?”
“You’re trying to find a way to absorb the Sun Elixir.”
“Ah.”
Come to think of it, the Emperor had mentioned he would deliver it to the 1st Princess. So that seemed to have already taken place.
Seeing Ezekiel not deny it, Ether lifted her chin with a slight smile, as if she were sure.
With her white hand, she gently took Ezekiel’s hand.
It was so soft, it was hard to believe it was a warrior’s grasp.
“Teacher, am I not right in my thinking?”
“…It’s right, but.”
“You need not worry about my purity. It was never something anyone could take but you. Just trust in me.”
“….”
“Every night, I will make you aware of my allure.”
Caught in a dilemma.
Meanwhile, Ezekiel had something weighing on his mind.
“Ether, even if we were to marry, returning to the North should be a priority. The warriors are waiting all day in the snow—this isn’t how a leader should act.”
“Aha.”
Ether nodded as if she understood.
“Did I appear to be a woman who irresponsibly threw away everything in favor of only my own feelings? I seem incompetent even in your eyes, Teacher.”
“Are you saying you have some other intention?”
“Indeed. I have a plan.”
Ether replied with a seriousness that was unusually intense.
“The current North is overly dependent on me.”
swish, the empty cup was filled with Lava Wine. Ezekiel and Ether silently finished an additional glass.
“It may seem like I’m simply using marriage as a pretext to hold on, but I intend to build the warriors’ self-reliance while weeding out those with ill intentions.”
I see.
So that was her deeper intention.
“…But why did you take off my shirt?”
Ezekiel tried to resist with his hands, but found himself unable to push against her strength. Moments later, with a rip sound, Ezekiel’s shirt was torn completely off.
Ether’s lips twisted into a crescent smile.
“For that reason, I plan to hide here for a while, so let’s occupy our time by colliding our bodies. They say the more you rub together, the deeper the bond gets.”
“…No, what’s the conclusion?”
crash, the chair broke. At that moment Ether climbed on top of Ezekiel who had fallen to the floor.
It was the moment Ether pressed down on Ezekiel’s stomach.
“…Your Highness.”
“Hmm?”
Ether’s head spun around as if the messenger didn’t know where to focus his gaze.
“I have something important to convey to the Inspector.”
“Of all times, now?”
Ether looked at the messenger intently.
The look was meant to imply that unless it was something significant, he should scram; yet the messenger held strong against that intimidating gaze.
It was only natural. The matter at hand was crucial.
“This is a very important issue.”
“Hmm.”
The 1st Princess glanced at Ezekiel, who was pinned beneath her. She licked her lips like a predator.
“Is it really that urgent?”
“It’s related to the warriors. It’s urgent.”
“Well, it can’t be helped. Even fruits ripen better when they wait calmly for the right moment, don’t you think?”
Still locked in position, Ether slowly leaned toward Ezekiel and began to whisper softly in his ear.
“Teacher.”
“…What?”
“After finishing with the messenger, return to my mansion immediately. Otherwise, all the Sun Elixir you’ve obtained might just disappear, you know?”
“…”
“Didn’t you know? I’d be glad to spoon-feed you, yet here we are.”
“…Fine, I get it.”
With a pale expression, Ezekiel left the mansion.
After arriving in the audience chamber, the messenger observed carefully.
“…You seem to be going through a lot.”
“No, it’s my doing.”
“What on earth did you do?”
Ezekiel merely sighed deeply without giving an explanation.
He had proposed to five princesses simultaneously, and explaining would be more of a problem than finding a solution.
“Anyway, let’s get right to the point.”
The messenger recounted everything that had transpired with the warrior Brogar in detail. It took quite a while, but fortunately, the Inspector understood it well.
A while later.
After finishing his explanation, the messenger exhaled heavily.
“…And that’s how it went.”
The messenger gauged Ezekiel’s reaction. He wasn’t sure how Ezekiel would react, and in fact, he wouldn’t have been able to say anything even if Ezekiel declared he wouldn’t participate.
However.
Ezekiel’s expression was more serious than he had imagined.
“…So.”
Ezekiel rubbed his chin.
“You’re saying there’s been this issue in the North for a while, and I’m put in a position to solve it just because I was chosen by the 1st Princess?”
“…Yes. That’s right.”
“Have you lost your mind?”
At Ezekiel’s blunt reaction, the messenger shrank back. In truth, there was nothing to counter that response. Ezekiel had been pulled into this against his own will…
But.
Ezekiel was voicing it against the Emperor.
‘Emperor, you crazy bastard…’
The Emperor couldn’t have been unaware of the entire situation.
No wonder it seemed like he was so readily offering up the purity of the 1st Princess. Internally, he must have aimed to rope Ezekiel into resolving this whole affair.
bang!
Ezekiel abruptly stood up.
“W-wait, Inspector…?”
The messenger didn’t know how to react.
“Stay here.”
Ezekiel made his way swiftly.
“Inspector! W-where are you going?”
“To the Audience Chamber.”
This was no longer like the past.
There was not even a hint of hesitation in his steps.
In the Emperor’s Audience Chamber.
“…”
The Emperor looked down at the ground, dumbfounded.
“What the hell are you doing?”
The scene before his eyes was nothing short of shocking.
Ezekiel was lying face down on the floor, hands respectfully clasped over his chest. Beside him lay a sword that had been sharpened from ice.
“Ah, just forget everything. I’m ready to die.”
“…What?”
The Emperor reacted as if he couldn’t believe his ears.
“Go ahead and kill me. I won’t do anything anymore.”
“…”
The Emperor silently smoothed his apology.
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