While looking down at Yuliana, who had not shrunk away and managed to say everything she wanted to say, Rudolf pronounced in a chilly voice, “You have done well, Yuliana.” For the first time, a small smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. “With this, I now have a pretext to launch an invasion on the Kingdom of Alsbeit.”
Yuliana was dumbstruck. Sharlo also swallowed his breath.
After a quick glance at Shouzou, the only person who did not react at all, Rudolf continued, “Chop off the heads of the pig and large man, pickle them, and send them back to the kingdom. Accompany the package with a letter declaring war.”
“I-I beg a moment, Father Emperor! What are you saying?!”
“That pig is a coward who ran away from the throne, and he is also so incompetent that the kingdom did not bother to chase after him, is that not true? To try to push such a piece of trash into tainting our lineage is nothing but an insult toward me and our empire.”
Yuliana could not stop trembling from rage. However, she swallowed it down to attempt to speak reason. “As I said just now, King Alsbeit has yet to be informed of our association.”
“The fact that that pig is present here, right now, is all that matters.”
“Th-The surrounding countries might think that it was m-me who enticed Prince Sharlo and brought him to the imperial capital.”
“And what of it? This matter was arranged through unofficial channels. Both sides could insist on their version of events all they like, as there’s no evidence either way. We simply have to insist on our account and win the war. Then the surrounding countries would fall silent. If there is still any of them foolish enough to direct false accusations toward us, then we can just destroy that country too.”
“......Do you really think victory is possible?”
“Without a doubt.”
“You must have a truly remarkable ace up your sleeve to be so confident. However,” Yuliana smiled provocatively, “That wouldn’t happen to be the magic beast unit that could not kill even a single teenage girl, right?”
Rudolf fell silent. However, his frosty expression remained unchanged.
Thinking this to be the time to press her case, Yuliana opened her mouth to—
“?!”
She found herself pinned down with a gaze so cold it made her freeze up.
“Yuliana, my daughter. It appears that you may have misunderstood your position. If you had simply stayed silent and obediently allowed me to use you as a tool, you might have prolonged your life just a bit.” The emperor glared directly at Shouzou. “And yet, not only have you allowed yourself to be won over by the kingdom, here you are trying to deceive me!”
Armor clanked noisily. The soldiers all pointed their spears and drew their swords. Emperor Rudolf merely had to raise his hand, and the soldiers would immediately assault Shouzou and company.
In this tightly wound up atmosphere, Shouzou—
“Ha ha ha! Goodness me, this is quite troubling indeed.”
—raised his voice in lighthearted laughter.
Rudolf’s hand froze halfway up. “You finally open your mouth, and this is what comes out of it, Onigawara?”
“To think you already know my name. I am truly honored.”
“The rumors about you have reached my ears. Supposedly you are so sharp and capable that, despite being a mere guild staff member, you have risen up the ranks to become an aide to King Alsbeit. Was Giel’s mental trauma not also your doing?”
“How strange. In regards to Giel-dono, all I did was offer him my idea of hospitality. But well, let’s put that aside for now.” Shouzou cleared his throat exaggeratedly. “How about we return to the matter at hand.”
“By which you mean......”
“Indeed. As Princess Yuliana previously stated, we are here to ask Your Imperial Majesty to approve of the association between these two youngsters.”
“You...... have you not been listening just now?”
“I’m quite ashamed, but the conversation between Your Imperial Majesty and the princess suddenly got so complicated halfway through that I was not able to follow it anymore. Ohh, is this a kind of joke popular in the empire? Is that was it was? Ha ha ha!” Shouzou scratched his head sheepishly.
The expression on Shouzou’s face was meek, but his eyes were dead serious. “However, there seemed to be a misunderstanding which I believe requires correcting. Prince Sharlo is not a coward, and he is also not incompetent.” Treating the pressure emanating from Rudolf as a mere spring breeze, Shouzou continued, “As of a few hours ago, several magic beasts mysteriously managed to get into the city. It was a whole pack of very vicious hellhounds. However, His Royal Highness put his very life at risk to protect Her Imperial Highness from them. Without considering his own safety, he conducted himself very admirably. In addition, although it was due to a misunderstanding, he even managed to overturn incredible odds and defeat a Platinum class adventurer. There’s no way His Royal Highness is a coward or incompetent, not after having proved himself capable of all that.”
Sharlo felt very itchy suddenly being praised so much.
“There was indeed a time when His Royal Highness despaired at the realization that he was not of the caliber to take up the throne and locked himself up in his room. However, he is a changed man, and he resolved to make a fresh start as an adventurer. At the moment, the reason why His Royal Highness has no intention of succeeding the throne is entirely different. Namely—” Shouzou clenched his fists and declared passionately, “It is because he wishes to protect the person that he loves!”
Is that true?! thought Sharlo, who was the most surprised at hearing this.
“The two of them have only just barely gotten to know each other. Although they are considering marriage down the line, time is needed when it comes to nurturing love. Would you not consider first approving of their relationship and warmly looking over them?”
Shouzou bowed his head respectfully, but Rudolf merely spat, “Out of the question.”
Having expected this answer, Shouzou quickly returned, “From the point of view of an ordinary person such as myself, romance is a matter solely between the two individuals involved. However, in light of the identities of these two personages, naturally, the intentions behind both countries must also be put into consideration.”
“Are you saying that that pig over there has value?”
Shouzou nodded in agreement, then rubbed his chin in a natural way. That was the signal for—
Craashhh! A large figure burst through the skylight and rushed into the hall. Even Rudolf could not help but to widen his eyes, and the soldiers holding spears and swords rushed toward the throne to protect the emperor. The intruder paid them no mind, instead coming to land next to Shouzou while flapping its wings. It was Puru the blue dragon.
Puru rubbed its head against Shouzou, who responded by patting it lovingly.