What a completely, utterly sweet person!
“One gold coin at the auction? I wasn’t called for that. I was actually feeling good thinking of you because of your dazzling skills, which reminded me of Blossom.”
The Emperor, resting his chin on his hand, chuckled and waved his hand dismissively.
Such a big-hearted person!
Truly a warm-hearted Emperor!
The Emperor poked a piece of apple with his fork and handed it to a waiting maid. The maid returned to the table and handed the apple fork to Pastel.
“Try this too. It’s an apple from the Camelot family, perfectly ripe since it’s in season.”
“Wow!”
Pastel’s pink eyes sparkled.
“I love Melissa’s apples!”
“Melissa?”
The Emperor seemed to recall an off-topic subject.
“Oh, the next great mage? She’s performed well on her investments. I’m glad it’s a variety you like. Enjoy!”
“Yes!”
Pastel was flushed with the kindness at the meal. Dipping the apple slice in the gem powder on her small plate, she took a bite. The crisp sound echoed. The sweet and sour flesh filled her mouth.
Wow! Wow!
It’s apple! Apple!
A full, satisfying feeling washed over her.
The salmon steak was delicious!
The tomato soup was great too!
Not to mention the assorted green salad—that sauce was utterly fresh and tangy and delicious!
Though she was too embarrassed about the auction to expect such a feast, this was precisely the royal banquet she’d wanted!
A meal made with top-quality ingredients and a top-notch chef pouring all his experience and life into customized dishes!
It was a feast that made her tongue react as if it had been waiting a lifetime for this!
She felt a sense of satisfaction, as if she’d finally received the treatment she deserved!
Gasp.
Pastel realized with wide eyes.
Maybe I’m royal material.
Why was I born into the Marquis family? Shouldn’t I be among the royals? Preferably as the first in line for succession.
She couldn’t understand her own origins.
“You eat well. It reminds me of Blossom while camping, and it’s nice to see. If I had known, I would have invited you sooner.”
The Emperor smiled with his chin resting on his hand.
Pastel chewed the apple thoughtfully.
“I’m always happy to come!”
More and more dinner invitations!
“Should I?”
“Yes! Yes, please!”
Yay!
The Emperor chuckled.
“But doesn’t Marquis Pastel have much to do on Sky Island?”
“That’s true.”
Indeed, it was.
“That’s true.”
Pastel’s mood slightly dampened.
If she had known how kind the Emperor was, she wouldn’t have settled in the remote Sky Island because of low gem prices; she’d have rushed to the Imperial Palace for help.
This seems a bit like the Demon Lord’s misjudgment.
Puff puff.
If the Emperor had suggested asking for help, many problems would have been solved smoothly!
No need to deal with the Demon Lord’s detested smuggling!
Indeed! Indeed! Puff puff—!
Of course, she knew that relying on someone else’s mercy could easily lead to being taken advantage of, but with such a kind Emperor, that wouldn’t happen!
Wasn’t the Demon Lord just enjoying watching her struggle?
Puff.
Although she made friends and had fun, life juggling with her hormone friend wasn’t solely happiness.
If there was an easier path, shouldn’t they have at least informed her of its existence?
Puff puff.
A sudden surge of rebellion rose.
Hadn’t the Demon Lord said something about bringing food?
Since she was full anyway, she wouldn’t eat a single bite!
Hehe.
“Eat while you talk.”
As the Emperor waved, the maid brought a whole plate of apple slices.
Fresh, fresh apple!
She twisted the gem pepper shaker, sprinkling the powder, and poked with her fork. Waah~! She took a bite.
Crisp!
“Originally, I called you not for the railroad concession but because something happened with the Bellamont family, and I needed Marquis Pastel’s cooperation.”
Huh?
The sudden mention of the Bellamont family.
Elshire Bellamont seemed to say something, and Melissa pricked her ears, as if paying attention to the apple friend in her mouth too.
So Pastel just continued crunching on her apple friend.
Apple friend: Aaaah!
The apple friend shattered, tumbling down.
Sorry!
But it would be chaotic if the apple friend joined in on this conversation! Just quietly go into my belly!
Yes, yes!
She swallowed the apple remains.
“Is something happening with the Bellamont family?”
“They’re still hiding it, but…”
The Emperor wore a sad expression.
“Our eldest son is dead.”
Whaat?
If he’s the eldest son, he must be the next head of the family, right?
Someone like that has died?
Whaaaat?
The Emperor shook his head.
“Although the exact reason is still under investigation, the eldest son had requested radical demons to assassinate Elshire Bellamont.”
Radical demons—the scary people who shot with shotguns?
“But it seems they didn’t expect it to escalate to a full-on academy terror; they cut off trade right after the attack, and in retaliation, the demons came and assassinated the eldest son. They turned him into a meat paste with their wild gunfire.”
Whaaaat?
Meat paste…!
Pastel trembled, her hands shaking. The apple fork in her grip trembled with her.
Such terrifying people!
The Emperor’s expression turned regretful.
“I don’t particularly hate demons, but this means I’ll need to crack down on the radicals, which is why I called for Marquis Pastel.”
“Me?!”
A smile crept onto the Emperor’s face.
“The Marquis has been actively involved in rebuilding the family, selecting the acting headmaster of the academy, and organizing the Knight Order. It’s fitting, given that it’s something the Craft family used to do!”
With great power comes great responsibility.
With great authority comes great obligation.
But! But!
Doing something scary like cracking down on radicals who take joy in using shotguns isn’t something I want to do!
“But originally, I summoned you also to see if you resemble Blossom. A small purpose.”
The Emperor received a letter from the maid.
It looked familiar.
Specifically, it seemed similar to a coded letter Elly had been drafting to secretly inform the moderate faction of the (fake) Demon King discovery.
Oh dear.
Pastel felt a cold sweat coming on even though she hadn’t even heard yet.
“An urgent report came in while the Marquis was on the way.”
The letter fluttered.
“The late emperor eliminated about a million newborns, yet the Demon King still hasn’t died. Moreover, the demons have secured their pawns.”
Despite his sad expression, his golden eyes looked cold and indifferent.
“This is no longer a trivial matter.”
Aaaaah!
Elly!
Confidential information is leaking out?!
Is there a spy in your faction?!
Pastel’s pink eyes shook.
Panicking, she exaggeratedly clapped her hands.
“This is a HUGE deal!”
The wicked Demon King!
What a truly big deal!
So big!
So huge!
The genuinely kind Pastel could empathize a million-fold. She felt a strong urge to run back to Sky Island right then.
Demon King Pastel, help me…!
“I’m worried. The Marquis may not know, but the prophecy states that with the rise of the Demon King, the Empire will crumble.”
The Emperor sighed lethargically.
“For the collapse to happen overnight, someone among the great nobles of the Empire must ally with the Demon King, as it cannot happen solely from the Demon Realm; I can’t figure out who it is.”
Gasp, betrayal!
Pastel’s face hardened in an instant. She pounded the table with her tiny fist.
Bang-!
“What a bad person!”
She thought it would be best to find that wicked betrayer before finding the Demon King!
“Indeed. A bad person. But still, it’s fortunate. We’ve called upon the right person. There’s no one safer than the Craft family for the search for the Demon King.”
Huh?
The Emperor smiled thoughtfully, leaning on his chin.
“Even if you want to ally with the Demon King, you can’t, due to past events. It’s ironic that a task left unresolved by Blossom has come back around.”
The Emperor rose from his seat.
When Pastel stood up instinctively, a knight who had entered handed him a sword and stood before Pastel.
“I am resurrecting the Governor position of Sky Island and appointing Marquis Craft to that role.”
Huh?
“And I grant the Governor the authority to manage the mercenary forces of the Demon Realm Trading Company along with all related affairs. Focus on hunting down the Demon King on Sky Island and in the Demon Realm.”
The Emperor’s sword was handed over.
Gasp.
Pastel’s heart raced.
Governor Pastel.
A true power recognized by the highest authority.
A power that could not be denied legally, institutionally, or politically.
Her cheeks flushed.
From today onward, Governor Pastel!
The daunting future where she would confront demons who were passionate about shotguns vanished from her mind like smoke.
What remained was a future filled with rosy pink, fitting for her pastel self.
Her pink eyes became dreamy.
As she had heard somewhere, she knelt on one knee and accepted the Emperor’s sword with both hands.
“I shall obey your command.”
She felt the weight of the sword in her palm.
It felt heavy, like the weight of the power she had just inherited.
Pastel was deeply moved by that weight.
Long live the Emperor!
Long live!
How could the Emperor be born so magnificently? She had always respected him, and now he was granting her this opportunity!
He had a discerning eye for recognizing loyal subjects!
Admiration sprang forth naturally.
If only I could be a ruler like that!
I will serve faithfully for life!
Unwavering loyalty!
Demon King!
To make that kind Emperor feel a sense of urgency!
Wicked Demon King!
With due reverence, I will capture you!
Yap! Yap!
In Pastel’s mind, the word “betrayal” did not exist even a little as she made her steadfast resolution.
Wicked Demon King!
This loyal subject Pastel will not forgive you!
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