A Blend of Romance and Fantasy - Chapter 38

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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38.
Unlike the other concubines who maintained their youth through magic, Emperor Yukal retained his aged appearance.
Yet his gaze was oppressive, and his physique appeared at least ten years younger.
He was truly worthy of the title of Hegemon who unified the Great Empire.
I quickly glanced at everyone around me, then bowed slowly according to Blake’s etiquette.
“Thank you for welcoming me, Your Majesty.”
“My son marrying soon—surely this is a momentous occasion between nations, wouldn’t you say, Empress?”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
The Empress beside him maintained her youth through magic, or so I’d heard.
Her blue hair braided and fastened with golden ornaments gave her an air of nobility.
The Empress, smiling as she agreed with the Emperor, soon cast a cool gaze toward us both.
“Making Blake become in-laws with Sincester—your Sixth Prince certainly has impressive abilities.”
So the verbal sparring was beginning at last.
I glanced sideways at Leonard beside me.
He had already lifted his chin, wearing a smile that was not merely arrogant but positively insolent.
“I merely fell in love—there’s no ability involved in that.”
“And that love just happens to be the Princess of the Elysium Holy Kingdom? Your luck is quite remarkable.”
“I don’t believe in luck, but if we must speak of it that way, I suppose I could view it as another destiny bestowed upon me.”
“Destiny?”
“Yes, the destiny to bear responsibility for the Empire’s future. Wouldn’t you agree, Charlotte?”
The sudden question caught me off guard, but I quickly responded with composure.
“Of course. I’m sure my brother, the Pope, would think the same.”
“…So I’ve heard.”
As Leonard smiled with ease and provoked her, the Empress’s lips twisted slightly.
It seemed impossible that anyone wouldn’t feel the tense current between them.
The Emperor, growing bored with the exchange, clicked his tongue.
Then the Former Crown Princess, the Emperor’s elder sister, stepped forward.
“Yukal. The Princess seems weary, so I shall escort her to the Royal Palace assigned to us first.”
“Ah, if you would do so, I am grateful indeed.”
The Emperor nodded and turned his gaze to Leonard.
“Sixth Prince, I have matters to discuss with you. Come along. And Princess, the welcoming reception is in three hours. We shall see each other then.”
“Understood, Your Majesty.”
“Your Majesty, I shall—no. I will escort Charlotte. Please wait a moment.”
Leonard rose in apparent surprise, flustered by this turn of events.
The Empress then spoke with derision.
“Must my son personally escort her? The Princess is hardly a child. Besides, our Royal Palace is as safe as Sincester, so please don’t worry.”
“That is…”
“I can find my way alone, Your Highness. Please don’t concern yourself.”
I leaned close to Leonard and spoke in a low voice.
“Don’t worry. I’ll see you in a bit.”
Leonard wore a deeply worried expression before letting out a long sigh.
“…Yes. Still, Alex will follow along, so rely on him. He’s my brother, and he’ll protect you.”
Alex, the Sixth Prince.
I gazed at the man Leonard was pointing to in the distance.
He was a handsome man with golden hair resembling an abundant autumn wheat field and violet eyes, bearing a gentle impression.
And since he was the one destined to become Emperor in the novel, he was surely capable.
“Understood. I’ll see you in a bit.”
* * *
The Former Crown Princess, who had appeared so docile before the Emperor, fell silent the moment we entered the Palace Corridor.
After walking some distance, she suddenly turned around and spoke to me as if giving an order.
“Since the Third Prince is following along, there’s no need for me to accompany you further. I’ll see you at the Banquet Hall.”
“Yes.”
I thought she expected me to cling to her.
When I coolly nodded my head, the Former Crown Princess’s eyes widened in apparent surprise.
“Then do take care.”
“Yes… of course.”
I bowed respectfully to the departing Former Crown Princess, bending at the waist.
Then Alex, who had been quietly following behind, approached with a chuckle.
“You’re quite refreshingly straightforward, sister-in-law.”
His voice was light with laughter underlying it. He approached his sister-in-law without hesitation.
His character became apparent at once. There seemed to be no need to maintain formal distance.
I lifted the corners of my mouth slightly before the grinning Alex.
“Leonard said that most of the imperial family wouldn’t be favorably inclined toward me anyway. I had no expectations.”
“Oh. You call your brother-in-law by his name?”
“Ah, well.”
Before Alex, who was looking at me with amusement, I coughed a couple of times awkwardly.
“Since we love each other, it’s only natural that I use his name.”
“It’s fortunate that there’s finally someone in the Empire who can call my brother by his name.”
“Are you saying there was no one who could call Leonard by his name until now?”
“Of course, His Majesty the Emperor can. What I mean is those who call him with affection.”
Alex matched my pace and walked alongside me with a laugh.
“No one dares to call my brother by his name alone. Most address him as ‘Your Highness’ or ‘the Sixth Prince.'”
“Still, his family should call him by his name, shouldn’t they? The Blackwood Family?”
At my words, Alex’s footsteps came to an abrupt halt. He laughed with a slightly awkward expression.
“Has my brother not told you anything about the Blackwood Family?”
“I’ve heard much about its history, traditions, and territories. Though I haven’t memorized it all yet.”
“Hmm….”
He drew out his words.
“Well! If my brother didn’t mention it, there must be good reason. You’ll come to understand gradually once we reach the territory.”
“What could that ominous remark mean?”
“It’s fine. Your brother must cherish his wife dearly, so there shouldn’t be any discomfort in the Territory.”
That makes no sense.
I quickly covered my mouth to stifle an involuntary laugh and shook my head.
“Leonard does love me, but I wouldn’t say he’s desperately attached to me.”
“How could that be? The fact that your brother fell for you at first sight and proposed spread throughout Blake, turning the entire place upside down. He was someone who treated women like stones, after all.”
“He… was like that?”
“Yes. And he’s the Sixth Prince, no less. There were over dozens of women trying to sneak into his bed, but when he found a woman hiding in his room, he would immediately—”
Alex suddenly stopped mid-sentence and let out an awkward cough.
I wondered if the ominous tone of what he was about to say was just my imagination.
“Why don’t you go inside and rest?”
The room Alex showed me was decorated far more grandly and magnificently than anything in Sincester.
My pride was slightly wounded, but then I noticed Eric and William standing before the entrance.
“Why are you two here? Do you have something to say to me?”
“No. We have something to say to the Sixth Prince.”
At Eric’s words, an uneasy feeling swept through me.
“Surely… Leonard and I aren’t sharing the same room, are we?”
But Alex’s gaze that met mine was filled with bewilderment instead.
“Of course you are. The wedding is coming up soon—why would we assign separate rooms?”
Well, that’s true!!
As my face flushed with embarrassment, Alex chuckled.
“Your emotions are written all over your face, my lady. Ah, you’re definitely the type worth protecting.”
“Our Sixth Prince will protect her, so you don’t need to worry, Alex. We’ve brought in plenty of dancers—go find yourself a woman there.”
“That’s harsh, William. I’m not so depraved as to lay a hand on my sister-in-law.”
Watching the two bicker, exhaustion suddenly washed over me.
I quickly slipped through the open door.
“Sixth Prince, please take a look around.”
I knew it was impolite not to wait for a response, but I couldn’t help it.
I was thinking of my ally who must be waiting for me desperately.
“Ignis. You can come out now.”
A tiny magical circle appeared in the air, and from within it, a small red dragon popped out.
“Bed! Where is the bed?!”
It was Ignis.
* * *
“One month after your wedding, the succession war will begin.”
As soon as Leonard entered the Office, the Emperor bluntly announced what was still an undisclosed schedule, yet Leonard’s expression remained unchanged.
“Understood.”
“Not even surprised. How many eyes and ears do you have in this Imperial Palace?”
“Isn’t it rather strange that I wouldn’t know, given that you summoned the Four Great Nobles’ elders to the Capital with such fanfare?”
Emperor Yukal laughed heartily and poured wine into the glass on his desk.
“About five years ago, did you know why I acknowledged you in place of James, even though I knew you weren’t of royal blood?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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