*Haa…*
Institution, Imperial Palace.
Gustav’s deep *sigh* resonated softly.
While it was still uncertain whether the Trud Kingdom would support the rebels, it was clear that the Great Forest was actively supplying them with resources and troops.
He was about to make a ‘request’ to halt this, but choosing the right words was proving difficult.
*Ugh…*
At a time when the army had not even fully restructured due to the war with the Trud Kingdom, he did not want to turn against the Great Forest completely.
However, having committed acts that directly opposed the Empire’s exercise of power, he couldn’t just let it go.
How could he pose a significant threat to the Great Forest without mentioning the word ‘war’?
He was in a dilemma over this issue.
“Your Majesty, Schlus Hainkel has arrived at the palace.”
“….”
Gustav rubbed his throbbing temples.
As if he wasn’t already dealing with enough headaches, the most troublesome guy had just walked into the palace.
“But, Your Majesty…”
“What is it?”
“I did not request an audience with Your Majesty.”
“Huh.”
Coming all the way to the palace just to meet the Crown Prince and ignoring the request for audience entirely?
The intent was so painfully obvious that Gustav couldn’t help but let out a *chuckle*.
He could understand why rumors were circulating that Schlus Hainkel was revealing his true nature.
Ignoring the ailing Emperor who was meant to die soon, he aimed to curry favor with the Crown Prince, who would soon hold the throne.
“Shall I call him?”
“….”
Schlus Hainkel was surely walking a tightrope right now.
Only yesterday, he was hailed as a hero for defeating Crow Henderson.
Now he was taking risks that could make everyone forget that reputation altogether.
The grand magic at Whist Forest.
And the defeat of Crow Jin were just part of that.
A court magician or knight sworn to loyalty to the royal family wielding mana at an immeasurable level…
From the standpoint of maintaining peace and stability on the continent, it was something that couldn’t be overlooked.
In the worst-case scenario, blood would flow like a river.
According to reports from the royal laboratory, to defeat Schlus Hainkel, they would need to expend an entire division of the Imperial Army.
Not a feasible loss just to capture a commoner.
“Bring him here. In the name of the Emperor.”
“Understood.”
Before it got to that point, he had to try whatever he could do.
Though it was clear he, or rather whoever was backing him, would likely refuse.
*
Damn it.
He had completely forgotten.
“Schlus Hainkel. Let him have an audience with the Emperor. It is a command.”
“….”
The palace was not just occupied by the Crown Prince.
If he hadn’t neglected his courtesy, he should have requested an audience with the Emperor.
His mind was so cluttered that he hadn’t even considered the Emperor.
He had concluded in his mind that the Emperor was already dead.
“Schlus Hainkel. The Crown Prince requests your presence.”
“Once my meeting with the Crown Prince is done, I shall proceed to the audience chamber.”
“What…?!”
His meeting with Aria was scheduled first.
No matter how powerful the Emperor was, he couldn’t suddenly change the agenda at such short notice.
He waved dismissively at the courtier who seemed to be watching him and entered the meeting room.
Emilia, who had been reading the atmosphere, followed him closely behind.
“I see the Crown Prince.”
“How noisy. It seems you were called upon by His Majesty.”
“Isn’t the one who called supposed to wait?”
“You bastard…”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Aria had a bit of a sharp tongue.
Perhaps it was a slightly intense way to express that she had some backbone.
By the way, Aria’s beauty seemed even more pronounced today.
Had she done her makeup a bit more intensely?
Maybe not makeup, but there seemed to be a noticeable change in the overall vibe…
“You wanted to discuss the ring, correct?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“This room is soundproof. You may reveal your true intentions.”
“….?”
Reveal my true intentions?
Did she notice that I was hiding something?
But there should only be one or two things to hide.
I had no clue what Aria was talking about.
“What are you implying…?”
“Were you always like this? I don’t recall you as the type to beat around the bush.”
“I had no intention of dodging the topic.”
“Very well. If you’re going to be like that, I shall speak. I feel a bit sorry for you. You hold a great misunderstanding.”
“….?”
“You must understand, there are no factions within the royal family. That much I would like for you to remember.”
“What do you mean…?”
“Haa. To put it simply, there’s no actual conflict between His Majesty and me.”
“….?”
It was Aria who had a tremendous misunderstanding.
What on earth had gotten tangled up where?
It seemed like I was positioning myself to bypass the Emperor and align with the Crown Prince.
If the Emperor took it that way, that would be a serious problem.
“It’s a misunderstanding, Your Highness.”
“A misunderstanding? You say I am mistaken?”
“Yes. While it’s true that I look forward to Your Highness’s ascension, it absolutely does not mean I wish for His Majesty’s passing.”
“Hmm… Do you understand the words you’re saying?”
“Yes. Even if there were factions within the royal family, I have no intention of siding with either. I will follow His Majesty, no matter who is involved.”
If there were misunderstandings, they had to be corrected.
Rectifying things directly without beating around the bush was essential.
With this, it shouldn’t be taken that I dared to overthrow the Emperor.
“Hahaha. You’re truly insane. No matter what winds you blow into my direction, I won’t poison my grandfather or anything ridiculous.”
“I’ve never even imagined such a thing.”
…That was a joke, right?
She smiled as she said it.
It must have been that way.
For a moment, Aria, who had been resting her chin in thought, suddenly smiled and spoke.
“I heard you died and came back to life.”
“I didn’t. I just looked like I was dead.”
“What’s the difference?”
“If you put it that way, it raises religious issues.”
“Hmm. I hadn’t thought about that. Still, anyway. You looked like you were dead and then came back. Why did you take so long to contact me?”
I thought it might have been a joke, but seeing Aria’s serious expression, it seemed not to be.
“I didn’t feel obliged to.”
“Obliged? Good. Then how about creating that obligation?”
“Creating an obligation…?”
Suddenly, the Crown Prince’s face turned red.
Was it hot or something?
I felt completely cool.
Looking back at Emilia, she didn’t seem to feel hot either.
“Yes. I was planning to formally propose it. Engagement…”
“That’s right, Your Highness. That is why I requested the meeting.”
“W-What?! It truly was about engagement?!”
“Yes. I heard some rumors going around. That you and I are engaged. Have you heard of it?”
“….”
Aria, who had briefly jumped to her feet in excitement, crossed her arms and sat back down, looking somewhat displeased.
“Never heard of it.”
“I figured so. If you had, you would’ve taken some action. I realized it quite late.”
“Heh, heh. I don’t somehow grasp why such ridiculous rumors are spreading. The one who spread it should be apprehended and dealt with severely.”
“I do have a suspicion about who it could be. Please uncross your arms.”
“No. Are you ordering me now?”
“Please uncross your arms and show me your left ring finger.”
“…Tsk.”
Aria uncrossed her arms and extended her left hand onto the desk.
I placed my left hand next to hers.
Two rugged silver rings stood side by side.
Wait, what the hell?
These aren’t similar rings, they’re identical rings!?
I was shocked and immediately used *Identify*.
[Ring of Miracles Replica]
[Status: Clean]
[A counterfeit created to mimic the Ring of Miracles. It holds none of the same functions, but…]
Thankfully, it wasn’t like there were two Rings of Miracles.
I was genuinely surprised.
Who would have thought there would be replicas?
Before the text finished appearing, I dispelled the ability.
“Huh. Quite the similar ring. Pure coincidence.”
“I believe this is the cause. If either of us were to take off one of these rings, we might be able to quell the rumors to some extent.”
“Are you telling me to take it off?”
“If you don’t want to, I could take mine off.”
“Ah, no. Wait a moment.”
Just as I was about to take off the ring…
Aria’s white hand suddenly grasped my index finger.
There was an urgent urgency in her touch.
“I’ll take it off. I—”
Then she removed the ring from her own finger.
I hadn’t expected that.
It was the first time I had seen someone as stubborn as Aria yield in some way.
Was this even the right way to say yield?
“It’s perfectly fine if you want to directly deny the rumors with an announcement.”
“An announcement? Why do you say that?”
“Isn’t it bothersome? There are rumors going around that you’re engaged to a mere commoner. I know you find that very uncomfortable.”
“Ah… Is that how it appears? No, it doesn’t seem too bothersome. I believe removing the ring will suffice to counter those rumors.”
I achieved what I wanted.
No further rumors should spread from here.
It was strange that such blasphemous rumors hadn’t been denied until now.
As if the royal family had either known and ignored it deliberately…
But that wouldn’t be the case.
Since Aria herself didn’t know, it showed that the royal family was surprisingly deaf to rumors circulating among the nobility.
“It was nice seeing you again, Your Highness.”
“Are you leaving already?”
“Yes. Do you have any other business?”
As I stood up, the Crown Prince sounded somewhat flustered.
Did he have more to say?
I stood still for a moment, waiting, and he couldn’t meet my eyes as he stammered.
This was a new side of Aria.
I didn’t recall her appearing like this even in the original work.
It was almost like…
“No, you may go.”
“Yes. I’m sorry for bothering you with trivial matters.”
“Right. Make sure you’re a bit more sorry.”
What a shy little girl.
But that was merely my misunderstanding.
I shouldn’t foolishly try to read a woman’s mind.
I learned from Emilia that I completely have no idea about a woman’s heart.
You only get to know that after having dated more than two people in your life.
In that regard, I was truly hopeless.
I offered a brief greeting to Aria before turning away.
Emilia rushed ahead, reaching for the door handle just as I was about to leave.
“Schlus Hainkel.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
I turned at the husky yet enchanting voice.
Aria stood up, staring me down with a face as if she had come to a resolution.
“If, if by any chance, I were to propose… what would your answer be?”
“I would decline.”
“What? What?! Think a bit more seriously! I am the one proposing! Not some arrangement by His Majesty!”
“But that was a hypothetical scenario, right?”
“Yes, a hypothetical one. If it were to happen…”
“I would still decline.”
This must have been some sort of joke from Aria.
It seemed she wanted to fluster me, but if that were so, she failed.
“May I ask why?”
“I do not engage with children. After the coming-of-age ceremony, propose again. At that time, I shall accept without hesitation.”
“Get lost. I don’t want to see your face.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
I don’t look at minors.
Knowing that jokes didn’t work, Aria’s mood seemed to sour behind me.
As Emilia opened the door, I stepped outside.
Now it was time to see the Emperor.
…
…
…
“You little bastard…”
The Crown Prince, face down on the desk with her arms covering her face, was met with courtiers who could only exchange anxious glances among themselves.
“I’ve mustered the courage to say it… you little bastard…”
Despite the humiliation, she had made a proposal.
But Schlus Hainkel just mocked her, responding playfully.
Saying he’d rather not marry a brat…
“Ughhh…!”
The expression filled with that teasing laughter kept replaying in the Crown Prince’s mind, causing her to clench her teeth in frustration.
It was infuriating.
She had stated it was hypothetical.
It was merely a hypothetical conversation, so why was she getting so upset?
“I’ll make you beg. Schlus Hainkel…”
That unexplainable anger had slowly turned into a desire for revenge.
She intended to turn the tables on him.
Schlus, begging for an engagement while she would happily refuse.
At that moment, none of that hypothetical situation would matter.
She planned to give him embarrassment a hundredfold more than what she felt now.
As she turned her gaze, one ring sitting on the desk caught her eye.
“Haa…”
She was about to throw it away, but—
“Haa…”
She lowered her hand again.
On her open palm lay a rugged silver ring.
A ring she could never wear again.
“I forgot…”
That reminded her she was supposed to ask.
Who on earth was Han Ah-reum.
She’d forgotten to ask what that name meant to him.
