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Chapter 5
“Aah… I heard I was allowed to take a walk.”
I didn’t sense anyone approaching.
That was strange.
Usually, after having an attack, his senses became even sharper.
Karion relaxed the tension between his brows.
“It is rather early.”
“I usually wake up early.”
Without saying anything else, Karion turned around and walked away. Lea quickly followed behind him.
“Your Highness!”
Just as she caught up with him, he suddenly stopped and turned around, almost causing the two of them to collide.
Karion quickly caught Lea by the wrist as she stumbled backward.
After she regained her balance, an awkward silence settled between them for a moment.
Karion released her and asked,
“…I heard there are two princesses in Zephyros. Which one are you?”
“I am the only princess of Zephyros.”
“That isn’t what I heard.”
“There is only me now.”
The information Karion had about the Kingdom of Zephyros was several years old.
Did something happen in the meantime?
“I need to take this walk alone right now. I would appreciate it if you would leave.”
“…Yes. I won’t disturb you.”
After she left the courtyard, Karion turned around.
He looked down at his hand and slowly clenched and unclenched it.
What was that feeling?
The moment he grabbed her wrist, a refreshing energy had spread throughout his body, making it easier to breathe.
Was it merely his imagination?
Karion suppressed the sudden urge to chase after Lea and grab her again to find out.
The Zephyros delegation arrived at the Echo Fortress in Poema, one of the Imperial military bases in the northeastern region of the Empire.
They quietly entered the fortress accompanied by the Commander-in-Chief’s guards, who had come out to greet them from a distance.
Only a few members of the delegation were escorted to the residence to meet Lea.
“Princess!”
“Penny!”
The two embraced each other, delighted to see one another again.
“You worked hard, Penny. This is your first time leaving the kingdom and coming this far, isn’t it?”
“Are you worried about me? You’re the one who has never traveled this far before.”
“Hm? Ah… That’s true. It’s my first time too.”
“Are you really all right? You came all the way here alone. You didn’t run into any trouble, did you?”
“I’m perfectly healthy, and I’ve been doing fine here. I left a letter telling you not to worry.”
“One letter isn’t enough! I was worried sick the entire time I was coming here.”
Lea comforted Penny as she poured out her complaints, then turned toward Kasim.
Looking at him, Lea felt sorry. He looked as if he had aged ten years in the meantime.
Kasim let out a deep sigh.
“I can only thank the gods that I have found you safe and sound, Princess. If my presence displeases you, please ask His Majesty to dismiss me. I would rather step down in disgrace than commit the disloyalty of failing to protect you.”
“What are you talking about? You are the sword and shield of our royal family and kingdom. Do you have any idea how much I trust and rely on you? It was because I trusted you that I dared to do what I did.”
“I am relieved to hear that you at least realize you caused quite an incident.”
Lea smiled brightly and linked her arm through Kasim’s, just as she had when she was young.
Kasim tried to remain stern, but his expression had already softened.
“Princess. Did you manage to take care of the important matter that required you to come to Poema first?”
“Ah, that…”
Lea smiled awkwardly.
“It is still in progress. I’m sorry for acting on my own.”
“His Majesty entrusted the entire mission of this delegation to you, Princess. We are simply here to follow your orders.”
If not for Lea, the Kingdom of Zephyros would have been destroyed in a miserable manner.
Therefore, Kasim had no objection whatsoever to Lea being the representative of the delegation carrying out a mission that would determine the kingdom’s fate.
“Sir. I need your help with something.”
“Just tell me what you need.”
“Request an audience with His Highness the Fourth Prince and arrange a meeting. However, I will go there alone.”
Karion headed toward the meeting room with only three of his closest aides.
Since the Zephyros delegation had requested an audience, he had to meet them at least once.
But this would be the first and last time.
“As soon as the audience is over, assign a few soldiers and send the entire delegation to the capital.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The moment Karion opened the meeting room door and entered, he stopped.
Rustle…
A gentle breeze brushed across his face.
He felt a sense of déjà vu.
He had definitely experienced something similar recently.
Just like before, he turned his head in the direction of the wind.
Karion’s brow twitched.
The Zephyros princess was standing in the direction he was looking.
She had been sitting alone at the table, but now she stood.
“Your Highness. His Majesty the King of Zephyros has entrusted me with the entire mission of this delegation. I am the delegation itself.”
Karion stared at her with an uncomfortable expression before walking over and sitting across from her.
His adjutant Cedric, intelligence officer Orbin, and captain of the guards Luke entered with him and stood at an appropriate distance.
“I have only one thing to say to the representative of the Zephyros delegation. I will provide an escort to ensure that you arrive safely at the Imperial capital.”
“Will Your Highness be accompanying us?”
“I will not.”
Karion answered quickly. He did not want to give that princess any room for misunderstanding.
“Are you serious when you say that you have no intention of getting involved at all while the Kingdom of Zephyros goes to offer its flag to His Imperial Majesty?”
“I have already made my position clear to the princess, and I have no intention of changing it.”
“The Kingdom of Zephyros has symbolic significance. Our becoming a vassal state would complete the glorious Empire. If Your Highness acts as the mediator, it will be a great achievement for you. Surely you know that.”
“I have already made it clear. Making achievements is of no interest to me.”
“Then please put it precisely. Are you saying that you would rather give up an achievement than marry me?”
For a moment, Karion was startled by the force in Lea’s voice.
However…
He had no intention of seeking achievements.
He did not want to catch the Emperor’s attention or attract notice.
Karion had no attachment whatsoever even to his position as Commander-in-Chief of the Northeast.
He had only accepted the position because he knew that if he had nothing in his hands, people would come from every direction to tear him apart.
That was simply how things were for one of the Emperor’s five sons when there was no clear heir.
He only had to answer yes to her question.
It would be the best way to end this troublesome confrontation.
He knew that.
Yet the words would not come out.
He could not shake the memory of encountering her in the courtyard at dawn.
What was that strange sensation?
Would I understand it if I grabbed her arm again?
“…It has nothing to do with marriage.”
Lea thought his words made no sense.
He really doesn’t want to make achievements? He says he has no interest in power, so why don’t his words and actions match? He clearly does his job well.
Ten years later, the future she knew showed that the northeastern region of the Empire was being managed stably, unlike the southwest, which had experienced several rebellions.
In the northeast, the Commander-in-Chief was an object of awe, regardless of the strange nicknames people outside the region gave him.
That was why Enoch, who became Emperor, had killed him.
His reputation as Commander-in-Chief of the Northeast had begun to show signs of threatening the Emperor’s authority.
“You simply have no interest in making achievements… You’re reckless and selfish.”
Gasp.
The three men standing behind the prince unconsciously drew startled breaths.
“Your Highness has an achievement within easy reach simply by extending his hand, and you refuse it. Does that make you feel proud? Is it just self-satisfaction?”
“Princess.”
“If I join hands with another prince, that prince will gain something, and Your Highness will lose something. And you won’t be the only one who loses. The people serving you will lose as well. A Commander-in-Chief of the Northeast isn’t alone, is he? You need to think about the people whose fate is tied to yours.”
Karion spoke coldly.
“You certainly aren’t afraid, Princess.”
“They say there are three kinds of people who are the worst when they stand above others. First, a coward. Second, someone who refuses to listen to honest advice.”
Bang!
Karion slammed his hand down on the table and stood.
He left the meeting room.
Cedric hurriedly followed him.
Orbin watched him leave and thought,
How strange. His Highness actually reacted that emotionally.
Lea let out a deep sigh and covered her forehead with both hands.
Her disheveled hair slipped through her fingers.
Haa… I came here to persuade him, but I only made him angrier.
“May I ask you one question?”
Lea raised her head and looked at the particularly large man.
Luke asked without thinking,
“What was the third of the three worst kinds?”
“Ah… Well, I don’t know. I just said whatever came to mind. Should I think of another one too…?”
Orbin looked at her in disbelief, then could not hold back his laughter.
“Heh.”
“Can I ask something too? Does His Highness have a lover?”
“He doesn’t have anything like that.”
Orbin tried to say something with his lips to Luke, who had answered so readily, but eventually just closed his mouth.
“Oh! Then does he perhaps like men?”
“Absolutely not!”
Orbin answered with a completely serious expression.
