Black-Haired Dad Isn’t Something You Reap - Chapter 104

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

Chapter 104. The Maximum Speed of a Shuttlecock at Any Given Moment Is 330 km/h (6)
“We have a guest present. Mind your conduct.”
“My apologies, Empress Mother.”
“Hmph!”
So that’s how it was… The First, Third, and Fifth Princes were born of the Empress, while the others came from different Imperial Consorts? It’s easy to distinguish since the odd-numbered ones except the Seventh are the Empress’s sons.
Now that I think about it, this Emperor and Empress had an extraordinarily strong bond. I remember thinking it was remarkable that she bore five children alone, while the other Imperial Consorts brought in for political reasons apparently only fulfilled their duty once each to produce a single heir.
“Hmm?”
Come to think of it, Hisperon is the only child the Emperor fathered with a woman who was neither Empress nor Imperial Consort. There must be a reason for that.
“Nanac should also seek forgiveness quickly. Nanac still has a chance at redemption, but the Second Prince’s situation is entirely different, is it not?”
While I wasn’t paying attention, the Empress silenced both of them with a single remark. Her words suggested to Croa and me that we might end up torn apart, and she was implying that the Second Prince had utterly failed in some way.
Nanac, understanding her meaning perfectly, bowed with exaggerated courtesy and then uttered another ingratiating comment.
“You speak truly, Empress Mother. I was shortsighted. I shall accept whatever punishment you deem fit.”
Nanac, you’re exactly like your mother. How do you manage to scratch and claw so prettily with that face of yours?
The Second Prince’s face flushed crimson with anger, but he couldn’t raise his voice before the Empress, so he left the hall accompanied by the ladies. I was about to say something to reassure Croa that our marriage alliance remained steadfast, but the Crown Prince interjected and lashed out at Nanac.
“That remark sounds precisely as though you believe you have other opportunities as well.”
“That is not my intention, Elder Brother. I merely—”
“Darius, you know Nanac harbors no such designs.”
It seems the brothers here simply don’t get along. The Empress judged Nanac’s words to be correct, after all.
More importantly, that earlier conversation—it wasn’t about castration at all, but about succession to the throne. With the Empress having five children, no matter how much of a prince the Second Prince is, the imperial throne is beyond reach for a son born of an Imperial Consort. After all, legitimacy is paramount in matters of succession.
“Be cautious, Princess Vishnabel. That man is cunning.”
Honestly, Nanac made a mistake in building an intelligence network throughout the Empire with the ability he possessed. If he were going to do it, he should have done it from the start in complete secrecy so no one would know. By spreading rumors about having information, of course his brothers would move to check him.
“Thank you for the counsel, Crown Prince.”
But I’ll manage my own friendships, thank you very much. I’m already a respectable ten years old, after all. I subtly conveyed that I would merely listen to what he had to say, and the Crown Prince snorted dismissively before leaving the hall.
Different mothers or not, the First and Second Princes are truly brothers. They act identically.
“Pisha…”
Croa poked my hand repeatedly, so I turned to see a sorrowful boy standing with a sorrowful expression. Oh no, I’d missed my timing to mention that Media and I had a solid alliance.
I hastily declared to the Empire’s Empress that Croa and I would spend a hundred years together in harmony, and the Empress gave me an ambiguous look before patting Nanac’s shoulder.
“You seem to be living under her thumb. Nanac, is there no hope for you?”
“On the contrary, it’s fortunate. If I were to take her, I would live under her control anyway.”
“Hmm, your words have merit.”
Excuse me, could you please say such things when our Croa isn’t listening? Will you take responsibility if his personality deteriorates? Because if it does, I’m the one who has to live with him for life! Please refrain from irresponsibly influencing someone else’s character!
“Hohoho, since we’ve met the Crown Prince, it’s now the First Princess’s turn, is it not? If we don’t hurry, our child will sulk.”
My, how skillfully the Empress slipped away like an eel. I had no standing to complain, so I simply followed her with a yes, yes. The Chief Chamberlain and Choco, who had been watching everything that happened since entering the banquet hall, were crunching on fried snacks and making a strange wager.
“Who do you think will win?”
“Well, surely Prince Croa, yes? They’ve already formed a marriage alliance.”
“Having served Kisomalos for the third time now, I believe both of them will lose.”
“Eh?”
Eh, what in the world is she talking about? I was about to cover Croa’s ears to prevent him from hearing more strange remarks, but he rejected my hand and listened intently to the Chief Chamberlain’s words.
“Helbatro was snatched away by Lutia and defeated, but do you know why Helga was unable to form a marriage alliance with Media?”
“Helga, you mean Pisha’s paternal grandmother? What happened?”
The Chief Chamberlain let out a high, delighted laugh, puffing out her chest with pride as she spoke confidently.
“Those sons of that household fought each other over who would marry Helga, and they destroyed themselves in the process!”
Ah… now that I think about it, Media’s open break with Kisomalos and alliance with Astiages probably happened around that time. I can only imagine how furious the King of Media must have been watching his descendants squabble over Kisomalos’s descendants. No wonder he went straight for my throat when he saw me.
“I see. So if I could accomplish even half of what Lutia has done, then perhaps Pisha wouldn’t look elsewhere either….”
“Don’t you dare learn such twisted ideas!”
Where else would you learn them but from what my mother did? You’re already frightening enough as it is. I hissed a warning at the Chief Chamberlain and dragged Croa along. As the Little One followed me obediently with soft pattering sounds, I introduced her to various people, and before long, she had made acquaintances with all the notable members of the Imperial Family.
“Oh! Your Highness the Princess, it has been quite some time!”
Thus we were finally able to converse with the local dignitaries. The Media Governor Deputy gave a brief report on administrative matters, and Count German, who had come as the representative of Media’s nobility, fawned and flattered the Chief Chamberlain with honeyed words.
…Why was that fellow buttering up our Chief Chamberlain like that?
“Count, you don’t seem particularly accomplished, yet why do you speak with such a loud voice?”
Since I had the opportunity to meet the Count, I asked what had genuinely puzzled me. It was strange that he had led the charge in betrayal during Media’s occupation, and it was equally strange that he had been elected as the representative of Media’s nobility this time.
If he were an influential nobleman, I would have heard of him. But he didn’t seem to be one. He wasn’t wealthy like the Emperor, nor did he command military power like Lorowi. He looked young, wasn’t a relative of the king—so why did everyone trust and follow him so readily?
As I listed several reasons for my suspicion, the Count laughed heartily and said something astonishing.
“Your Highness, if one has lived many years? Well, people tend to show respect regardless of accomplishment!”
“What? The Count is old?”
Even at most, he looked to be in his late thirties.
I was surprised by that statement, Croa was surprised, and Nanakda was surprised too, but the Count continued to flatter the Chief Attendant Grandmother, spouting something cloying like “I’m only revealing this to the beautiful Tania.”
As the Count whispered something into the Chief Attendant Grandmother’s ear, she widened her eyes in shock.
“We’re the same age?!”
What?! Count German Tania is the same age as Grandmother?! There seemed to be at least fifty years of difference between them!
I was so startled that I cried out to the Chief Attendant Grandmother, “Fifty years lost to time!” but then Tania flicked me on the forehead.
“Is it a matter of constitution? Or does it relate to your family’s divine blessing?”
“My ancestor deity is an alchemist who pursues immortality, and I’ve managed to imitate it somewhat. I’ve successfully developed a beauty elixir that preserves youth.”
So that’s why the bloodline called to me—this family was also alchemists. But wait, developing a beauty elixir like that is quite remarkable, isn’t it? If anyone could become young, they would have made an astronomical fortune.
It seemed the Count had some affection for the Chief Chamberlain, and I began negotiating, thinking that if he sold it cheaply, I could purchase a bottle from the Princess Palace budget and give it to the Chief Attendant Grandmother. But the Count regretfully declined the transaction.
“One bottle requires a dragon’s tongue.”
“Dragons have been extinct for ages!”
How on earth did this old man obtain a dragon’s tongue in the first place?! Did he acquire dried quantities from the Southern Continent? Or perhaps frozen ones from the Land Beyond the Northern Sea?
“Rare items can only be crafted from rare materials. That is the nature of alchemy.”
“Hmm.”
Yet Lorowi produces joint pain remedies by the handful from roadside weeds. Is it because she’s different from ordinary alchemists? Perhaps because she represents the very essence of alchemy itself, rather than being an individual practitioner?

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