There was a bit of a commotion, so Georg’s banquet wrapped up in a chaotic manner.
As Georg left the table to take some measures, Acella stood up, saying she had something to discuss with him.
It seemed like she was planning to leverage today’s events for some blackmail.
“Seriously, I’m so peeved. I’m hungry.”
Lauga complained to Georg, but Heike remained quite calm.
“Are you alright, Your Highness? Do you suspect this incident was intentionally orchestrated by the Second Prince?”
“What? Georg is the kind of guy who could handle that.”
“Well, that’s true.”
“The reward for today’s event can just be sent in writing. There’s no need to ruin the atmosphere at such an important time.”
Heike was looking at the bigger picture.
She had tried to eat the fugu first, so it truly must have been an accident.
“And if anything dangerous happens, Teacher Gothberg is here, right?”
Lishe added with a comment.
“No matter what, I can’t bring back the dead. Be careful usually.”
“Yesss.”
Lishe smiled broadly.
A moment later, Georg returned, clapping his hands clap clap.
“Can’t believe we’ve made a mess in front of our distinguished guests. Brothers, since I inconvenienced you, take plenty of gifts with you.”
Heike and Lauga stood up without a word and left. As soon as they disappeared from sight, Georg wiped the smile off his face and sighed as if he had aged ten years.
“Thanks to you, I survived, Gothberg. We almost ended the empire’s history here.”
“Well, that’s why there’s an attending physician, isn’t there? You should quickly hire a new one, Your Majesty.”
“Finding a talent like Falkenhayn isn’t easy. I’ll definitely repay today’s debt.”
“Hmm, talking about debt, huh?”
When I recalled the time when we clashed in the duel, he had indeed become more mature.
He knows how to repay his kindness.
He’s quite influential among the royal family. If he moves as I wish during important times, he could be very useful.
“I want to confirm something, but do you still have a strong will to inherit the throne, Your Majesty?”
“Haha, what a strange question. Isn’t it natural? Who else would fit to be the next emperor but this Georg?”
“Indeed. Your fighting spirit truly suits you, Your Majesty.”
“Yeah. You do recognize it.”
As I watched Georg nodding away in self-absorption, I had a good idea.
“Have you already planned the full schedule for that major struggle?”
Georg’s gaze sharpened.
He understood what I was hinting at.
Military actions for succession.
In other words, a coup.
“Isn’t the reconstruction of the palace a priority first? The time isn’t right yet.”
Georg indirectly refused. That’s only natural; the Emperor is still watching closely.
I also needed to express that my comments wouldn’t be seen as treasonous.
“Of course, as long as the empire’s peace is maintained, such things should not happen. However, if the foundation supporting the empire disappears, someone must take its place, right?”
“That’s a valid point.”
“If I provide the timely information, would you consider my suggestions seriously?”
“Oho.”
Georg showed interest.
“I didn’t think I would meet my demise after eating that poison dish. I’ve tasted poisonous mushroom stew from the outside before.”
He had some significant survival experience it seemed.
“But without hiring an attending physician, you treated the Third Princess first, so anything could happen. So…”
Georg winked at me suggestively.
I nodded, but dodged the incoming wink.
“I might consider giving you half a life as compensation.”
“That’s more than enough.”
It was an unexpected gain. As long as Georg was in the Imperial Palace, he would be a good insurance for me.
“Georg, are you ready for the deal?”
By now, Acella had approached and started to speak. Georg gestured, and a servant brought in the documents.
The head maid took it and showed the contents. Acella scanned it rapidly and asked sharply.
“You forgot the trade tax rights.”
“Haha, you don’t leave any gaps, do you? Take it.”
Georg signed the additional document and covered it.
From what I could see, it was about transferring the economy-related duties that the Emperor had delegated to Georg to Moonlight Palace.
The institutional office could indeed collect taxes from most nobles, meaning they could handle an enormous amount of money.
That’s tremendous power.
And he managed to extract that just from a single accident?
“The business is done. Let’s go back, Lars.”
She grabbed my arm.
“Ah, me too…”
While Lishe, who had been hesitating at the back, tried to follow us, Acella suddenly pulled away and interjected between us.
“You’re not coming.”
Acella glared at Lishe firmly.
Lishe, unlike usual, looked somewhat deflated and weakly complied, hunching her shoulders.
“…I’ll go back separately.”
“Didn’t you understand? You can’t come to the Moonlight Palace.”
“W-what? Why?”
Acella showed Lishe the document.
“Do you see this? I don’t know what it says, but I exchanged you. From now on, you’re responsible for the Second Prince.”
At Acella’s announcement, Lishe seemed shocked, her mouth hanging open.
“Are you saying you sold me?”
“Yep, sold you. Just like a slave. Don’t even think about stepping foot in the Moonlight Palace again.”
“I don’t want to! I like the Moonlight Palace.”
“Hah, so what do you intend to do? The Moonlight Palace is my palace.”
Lishe turned to me.
It was a plea for me to persuade Acella.
“Just wait a little.”
“There’s nothing to wait for. Let’s go.”
Acella pulled my arm.
“Selling? That’s a poor way to phrase it. Hero, you’re just temporarily changing residences. I will assist you in your activities so that there’s no difference from now on. If you need anything, just let me know. Oh, Gothberg, take your gifts with you.”
Georg tried to settle the situation, but Acella wouldn’t give him a moment and continued walking.
In the carriage back to Moonlight Palace, I said to her.
“You could have given me a heads-up.”
“You wouldn’t have agreed anyway.”
“I might not, but if Your Highness’s reasons are valid, I wouldn’t have strongly opposed it.”
“Lars, I’ll warn you.”
Acella shot me a look of warning.
“From now on, no matter what happens, even if there’s a war with the kingdom, absolutely. Do not meet the Hero ever again.”
I couldn’t understand why.
In her shadow illuminated by the moonlight, it felt as if I was seeing the Emperor Acella I once knew.
“Your Highness. If you’re worried that the Hero likes me, I’ve already identified the reasons for his similar behavior, and even if I don’t make contact directly, I need to keep track of the developments…”
“Don’t do it! Is that so hard?”
It seems now isn’t the right time.
It’s just not my period yet.
Talking more now would only provoke her. I decided to keep my mouth shut and wait for a better time.
But after that, Acella became busier continuing the Emperor’s duties, and I found myself swamped with tidying up my own inner palace.
As the heat of summer began to subside, the grand martial arts conference hosted by the kingdom finally approached.
*
“Greetings. I sincerely welcome you to my room, Your Highness.”
As I stepped out of the teleport gate, Duke Schwarzschweik bowed his head.
Beside him, Princess Freda was also standing quietly with proper etiquette.
I arrived at the Duke’s territory, the westernmost part of the empire, with Acella.
This was to cross over to the more western kingdom for the martial arts conference.
Moonlight Palace was assigned to be in the advance party with the Forbidden Palace, setting out a month before the event.
With the teleport gates in the empire, our timeline was feasible, but I heard that places like the Kingdom of Law already organized their expedition four months ahead.
With Heike and the Emperor planning to arrive soon as the rear guard, the Duke stayed behind while Acella, Lauga, and I traveled with Freda.
“Welcome to the kingdom.”
Seeing the central gorge that was usually heavily fortified had opened up was certainly fascinating.
The journey to the capital city took just over two weeks.
“The Third Princess really, I didn’t recognize you at first. When did you become so beautiful? Prince Gothberg has quite the eye.”
Acella must have been a thorn in everyone’s side; at first, she seemed annoyed by Freda, who was as talkative as Lauga, but gradually began to appreciate her conversational skills.
She probably thought that if she tamed her well, Freda would become a useful ally in the social circle later on.
“The kingdom is so lively.”
Once we entered the capital, the previously quiet Tanya couldn’t hold back her excitement.
The buildings made of logs and bricks appeared very haphazardly, with all kinds of races present: elves, dwarves, beastmen, and even a few lizardmen.
It must have been quite a spectacle for Tanya to see.
Passing through the city gates, I felt a pleasant sense of attention, possibly because of the emblem of the imperial knights.
“I’ll guide you during the martial arts conference.”
The attendants prepared by the kingdom were also elves.
How modern! I appreciated the cultural sensitivity.
But as Valen saw the elves outside, he instantly scowled.
“By the way, I still don’t understand why we came all the way here.”
“Right? We were definitely trying to get back home.”
It seems Pamhelm and Valen finally realized they had been tricked, but it was too late now.
After feeding them some local street food, Valen quieted down again.
“Finally, some rest.”
As we entered the hotel room prepared by the kingdom, Acella dropped her behind onto the large bed and relaxed.
“Thank you for your long journey. I will be waiting in the next room with the attendants, so if anything happens, please call.”
“Oh dear, what does that mean?”
Acella patted the empty space beside her on the bed.
“Your room is also here.”
“Really?”
“All the allied countries are gathering. Even the guest rooms are running short. We have no other choice.”
“I’m fine with it.”
“Try to be a bit happier.”
“Oh joy.”
Seeing my response, Acella scoffed incredulously.
Knock knock, there was a knock at the door.
When I opened it, a guard informed me of a request for an audience.
“The distinguished guest requests an audience.”
“Her Highness just sat down to rest. Tell them to come later.”
“Well, the guest is also a distinguished one, so we need to confirm.”
“What distinguished guest?”
Before I could check, suddenly a beautiful woman with vibrant red hair peeked through the guard’s body.
“Did I come at a bad time? Even so, seeing a noble is imperative.”
I didn’t recognize her face.
“Did you come to see Her Highness?”
“Oh my goodness, how careless of me not to introduce myself. I am the First Princess of the Kingdom, Persiya.”
She was a princess.
A person who wouldn’t exist in the future, so it made sense I wouldn’t know her.
“I apologize. Greetings, Your Highness. I am the attending physician of Her Highness, Gothberg. I have a report to convey, so if you could wait a moment…”
“Oh my! It’s you!”
Suddenly, Persiya came closer and revealed a bright smile like a blooming flower.
“I didn’t expect you to be so young, Doctor Gothberg. Actually, I came to see you, not the princess.”
“Me? How interesting. How do you know me, Your Highness?”
“Fufu, how could I not know? Do you know what’s currently the hottest item being imported to the kingdom?”
The nuance was understood.
Previously, a general mentioned how Gothberg’s medicinal products were being exported to the kingdom.
“Um, Dr. Gothberg.”
To my surprise, the princess’s hand was now resting on my shoulder.
The kingdom really has few boundaries when it comes to touching.
“I have a lot of interest in you… could we chat for a moment?”
It seemed like a business conversation.
Indeed, with all the notable figures from across the continent gathered, it made sense that some were conducting business even during this time.
“Haha, Your Highness…”
As I started to sort the situation, suddenly bang.
A hand dropped down on the threshold.
“Hey.”
The startled gaze of the First Princess turned toward my back, where the voice had come from.
“What’s with you?”
She furrowed her brow.
Being from a major nation’s royal family, she couldn’t simply remain calm after hearing casual language.
“That’s rather rude. I am a bloodline protector of the Free Plains of Williams and…”
“I don’t care who you are; what’s your deal?”
Acella said, wrapping her arm around my neck with a fierce expression.
“I’m their fiancé.”
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