In front of the carriage about to depart for the Black Magic Tower.
“…Huh? What do you mean by that?”
Agnes tilted her head.
“You want me to leave for the Black Magic Tower first?”
“Yeah, you heard me right. Just do it.”
Zekiel’s face turned pale as he said that.
He thought he was finally ready to set off for the Black Magic Tower, but suddenly disaster struck him.
It was the 1st Princess, Ether; she was the cause.
Dressed as if for battle, the princess was elegantly chasing him like a ghost. So far, he had managed to escape.
But if she caught him, well…
…He couldn’t guarantee what would happen.
Of course, Agnes had no idea about this whole situation.
“I’d rather wait as well. Let’s go together.”
“Agnes.”
“Yes?”
“I’m not joking. Hurry up and depart.”
Just then, someone poked their head out from inside the carriage. It was Tether, the personal secretary of the 2nd Princess, Hedera.
“Huh? Are you saying you’re leaving separately?”
The rabbit-like girl tilted her head.
“It seems like the 2nd Princess will be quite disappointed. I’ve heard the Inspector was hoping you’d arrive as soon as possible!”
Agnes nodded in agreement.
“That’s true. The Inspector specifically asked to bring him back without any issues before leaving.”
“….”
Zekiel quietly chewed on Sunweed and thought to himself.
‘…That’s exactly why it’s a bigger problem.’
Both Hedera and Solana had laid out their own conditions just before leaving. The common point was that they wanted to talk again after the exchange meeting.
But what would happen if he got caught as Ether’s husband? It would escalate to the worst scenario.
“Agnes, just you hurry up and leave. You might actually be surprisingly favored by the 2nd Princess.”
“Do you really think I would catch her eye?”
“Well, that’s true.”
“…Huh?”
Agnes’s eyebrows twitched, but Zekiel just backed away quickly. Watching his retreating figure, Tether suddenly muttered quietly.
“Anyway, it’s quite fascinating.”
“What do you find fascinating?”
“Have you ever seen anyone not care at all even after the princess expressed she wanted them to come quickly? At least, this is the first time I’ve seen it.”
Thinking about it, Agnes nodded.
“Normally, no matter what they were doing, they’d stop as soon as they hear the princess is waiting. They’d rush to meet her.”
“…Now that I think about it, that’s true.”
“One way or another, he seems to have a remarkable ability. He easily gains the interest of the princesses and treats it as if it’s completely normal.”
Suddenly, Agnes couldn’t help but tilt her head.
“…Wait a moment.”
Tether referred to ‘princesses’ and not just ‘the princess.’
“Does that mean the other princesses are also showing interest?”
“Didn’t you know? All three of them have visited the Inspector in the infirmary. It’s quite a significant event.”
Agnes tilted her head in confusion.
Indeed, it was obvious that Zekiel had been a great help to the 2nd Princess with the interpretation of the Ancient Dragon Language. But why were the other two showing interest?
“Do you happen to know why they are interested?”
“Well, maybe his face? His character?”
“….”
Seeing Agnes’s deadpan face, Tether hurriedly corrected herself.
“Um, I mean, that’s probably not it.”
Clearing her throat with a cough, Tether continued.
“Really, if you think about it, you’re the one who’s been next to the Inspector the longest, right? You should know better than to ask me!”
“…What I know?”
Agnes suddenly opened her notepad.
[ You’re not my type. ]
[ Out of your mind. ]
[ No idea why she’s acting like that. ]
“….”
She quickly closed the notepad without a sound.
“Well, anyway…”
In the end, she could only state one fact.
“Whether through praise or insults, you’re just out of your mind.”
…Well, that one thing was definitely certain.
“…Hmm, she’s completely hiding now.”
Ether said, tossing her hair back with her hand.
The messenger beside her cautiously opened his mouth.
“Your Highness, the timing doesn’t seem right.”
“Shut that mouth.”
Ether clicked her tongue as she spoke.
“Well, I can understand why she’d want to hide.”
“Yes. The Inspector has an urgent exchange meeting─”
“It must have been quite embarrassing for her.”
“….”
The messenger quietly closed his eyes.
‘Yeah, it makes sense to think that way…’
In fact, when looking back at Ether’s life, it was normal and natural to think like that.
Beautiful women tend to attract capable men, but Ether was a woman who had capabilities herself. She had always grabbed what she wanted.
From long ago, everyone who faced Ether was courteous and submissive. There were no exceptions.
Failures, defeats, heartbreaks…
Ether had lived too distant a life from all of that.
It was only natural she would think that way.
“Maybe you’re not happy with this situation?”
“A man who hates me. Is that even possible?”
Ether chuckled.
“Though they might fear me, they can’t really hate me. That’s just who I am.”
The messenger sighed and thought.
‘Something’s off here.’
It seemed rash and impulsive on the surface, but the Ether he knew was always a clever princess who knew how to strategize.
So why was she so insistent on this very moment now?
“Did you really like the Inspector that much?”
“Messenger.”
“Yes.”
“Have you ever seen a wild beast that doesn’t like the fields?”
“….”
The messenger thought quietly.
‘Messenger’ as a title.
Messenger, soldier, emperor… Ether had a way of treating those around her familiarly while always keeping a certain distance. There were clear boundaries.
But calling herself a wild beast and the Inspector a field… What kind of gargantuan affection did she have for Zekiel?
“Your Highness, I still don’t understand.”
However, there was still one part he found incomprehensible.
“If you’re so interested in the Inspector, shouldn’t you approach him carefully and cautiously?”
“Foolish one.”
Bam!
Ether struck the messenger’s head with the hilt of her sword.
“When is the time with the highest success rate for hunting?”
…When you’re out hunting with the 1st Princess?
The messenger nearly said that but restrained himself.
“I don’t know.”
Bam!
Ether hit the messenger’s head with the hilt again.
“…When they are caught off guard.”
“Are you saying you’ll wait for the Inspector to let his guard down?”
“No, the Inspector never lets his guard down.”
Ether smiled lightly.
“It means I’ll take advantage of the other women when they’re off guard. I need to catch him at a moment no one expects. Love isn’t that different from hunting.”
“Love is like hunting….”
“Right. Once you catch it, just make sure to seal the deal.”
“…Uh, you’re quite the expert.”
Then he suddenly had a thought.
“By the way, have you ever been in love?”
Ether quietly grasped her sword at that.
Not the hilt, but the blade was aimed at the messenger.
“I haven’t. Why, is that a problem?”
Ether’s brows twitched, veins visible on her forehead.
“…You little brat, am I not allowed to love the Inspector?”
Her eyes were ablaze.
Shudder.
He could feel the tension rising.
“…I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it like that!”
The messenger hurriedly changed his words.
“Well, anyway, if love is like hunting, there wouldn’t really be a reason to wait for other women to let their guard down. You could just go after it anytime.”
“Success must be hurried. Because of the Emperor.”
Ether’s face turned serious.
“Messenger, have you ever seen the Emperor take care of anyone who isn’t his flesh and blood?”
“Um, never.”
The messenger recalled the events in the Northern Region.
Even when major figures from the North were in pain and had the gall to advise, nothing came down. But when it came to matters related to Ether, supplies were generously sent. The Emperor was like that.
The meaning was very clear.
While others didn’t care how important they were regarded, the Emperor would take care of Ether.
“It’s true that the Emperor responds well to my requests, but that’s only as an Emperor. It’s his feelings as a father, not as an Emperor.”
“Certainly, he weighs public matters more heavily.”
“But what if the Inspector becomes my man?”
“Ah….”
The messenger finally understood something.
“Are you saying that after making the Inspector a part of the royal family, the Emperor would take care of him directly?”
“Exactly.”
Ether nodded.
“This exchange meeting mission is dangerous. But I cannot intervene between the towers. I must make sure the Emperor pays attention to the Inspector’s safety.”
“….”
The messenger suddenly felt humiliated and fell silent.
What Ether was currently doing wasn’t for her own selfish desires but for the sake of another. She had already judged this matter very carefully.
‘So there was a deeper meaning behind it.’
After a moment, the messenger nodded.
“…I hope the Inspector understands this deep meaning. They should repay it with love.”
Bam!
Ether hit the messenger’s head again with the sword hilt.
“Ah!”
Trying to escape, he got hit again.
Bam!
“You little brat, what foolishness are you speaking?”
“No, why can’t I say it nicely…!”
“I won’t allow you not to love me!”
Ether continued.
“Who am I?”
“The 1st Princess of the Empire, Goddess of War, Queen of All Cures….”
“Right. The Queen of All Cures.”
The Queen of All Cures.
In other words, the king of all remedies.
“…I am also undeniably a woman. I have the confidence to utilize weapons that can make a man love only me.”
“Um….”
What could that possibly mean?
Could she be talking about acting cute?
…Acting cute? The 1st Princess?
The messenger trembled at the chilling thought.
“Messenger.”
“Yes.”
With a bandage wrapped around his head, the messenger replied.
“Now do you understand? Be proactive.”
“Yes, yes….”
At that moment, Zekiel came into view of the two.
Ether’s eyes widened.
“I found you! Now, catch him!”
“Quick, catch him~!”
The two boldly raced down the ground.
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