10. Isn

 

 

 

 

Contrary to her grumbling, Moae kept talking to me.

 

“Do you see that cloud?”

“…I see it.”

 

 

What’s she going to say now?

Aran responded with a weary face.

 

 

I can roughly guess.

Probably something like, ‘It became that shape because of its beauty, blah blah blah.’

 

 

“Do you know why the clouds fly so high?”

 

Aran racked his brain as much as possible.

 

 

“Isn’t it because they’re light?”

“Hehehe.”

 

 

She laughed.

 

 

“That’s just the cloud’s excuse.”

“I thought it was a magical research result??”

“They just manipulated it to hide the truth. The truth is different.”

“….”

 

I can guess.

That’s why I didn’t want to listen.

 

 

“It’s because if they see my beautiful face up close, they’ll feel self-loathing and end their lives.”

 

Just as I thought.

My prediction was spot on.

 

 

“Sometimes I miss my face and come down a little, and when I do, I’m so overwhelmed that I shed tears.”

 

This isn’t just a severe case; it’s a straight-up incarnation.

 

 

‘What should I call this disease? It’s not just princess syndrome; she’s a freaking Imperial Princess.’

 

 

When Aran, lost in bewilderment, didn’t say anything, she interpreted it as she pleased.

 

“As expected, Aran-nim is also moved by my beauty. But please don’t shed tears. It’ll make it seem like I made you cry. Well, it’s true though.”

“…Don’t worry. That won’t happen.”

“Hoh ho ho! You’re a funny person.”

 

 

Is she taking it as a joke?

She doesn’t seem to believe Aran at all.

 

 

He thought that if he stayed like this, he would have to listen to her self-praise for hours, so he quickly changed the subject.

 

 

“More than that, the Imperial Palace is very large. Splendid. Every sculpture, every pattern is full of elegance.”

“Isn’t it? So, whenever a guest visits, I always have them tour this Imperial Palace before seeing me.”

“…Why?”

 

She twirled around.

She made eye contact with Aran.

 

 

“Because I am the sun.”

“….”

 

 

Hancock, wrapped in cloth, twitched as if having a seizure.

It seemed like she couldn’t stand it anymore.

 

 

But Moae, unaware of this, continued confidently.

 

 

“Originally, if those who lived in darkness suddenly see the bright light of the sun, they go blind. They must first experience light of an appropriate intensity. It’s the same thing.”

 

 

She spread her arms and pointed to the Imperial Palace.

 

 

“This Imperial Palace is the light that must be experienced before seeing me, who is like the sun.”

 

Aran strode past her.

 

 

“W-what is it? That reaction!”

“No, I just wanted to become a cloud too.”

“Ubeubeu (Let’s go together).”

 

 

Hancock followed.

 

 

“Hehe. As expected, Aran-nim can’t handle my beauty either. I thought so. That’s normal. That’s the material of this world.”

 

 

Doesn’t she get tired of it?

Moae stuck next to Aran and preached about her beauty all day long.

 

The funny thing is that people other than Aran and Hancock don’t get tired of it at all.

 

“Ah, but that doesn’t mean you can propose to me now. Because I have no intention of marrying you.”

“…I don’t either.”

“That’s a relief.”

 

The ultimate my-pace.

I don’t know why all the royals are like this without exception.

The Persian royals starting from Cornelia, and Moae Yuen, a severe case of princess syndrome.

They’re truly strange people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aran, who barely managed to change out of his women’s clothes, was invited to dinner.

It wasn’t a banquet, but an invitation to the meal of the Mei Empire’s royals.

 

“Eat a lot of delicious things.”

“…Will it even go down my throat?”

 

Hancock took care of him here and there.

As if she were his wife.

 

 

“Would you rather go with me?”

“Aww. How could a woman like me join a meal between royals? Have a good time.”

“Okay. Then.”

 

Aran just tried it out.

 

“By the way, they say the banquet starts tomorrow, so His Highness’s hunt will begin again.”

“Hunt?”

“A noble journey to embrace a virtuous noblewoman!”

“….”

 

As if proving that a person’s personality doesn’t change, she spewed out obscene jokes.

 

“If the atmosphere is ripe like a banquet, gently put your hand into your clothes on the terrace overlooking the city’s night view, and then the soft skin…Kyaa~♥.”

“Don’t fantasize.”

“Fantasies are my main energy, Your Highness.”

“Anyway, I’ll be back. If there’s anything uncomfortable, don’t think about your image and ask for it.”

“Hehe. Is that okay?”

“…Just don’t do anything weird.”

 

Aran, feeling uneasy for no reason, asked that.

 

 

“Hehe. I will never do anything that would tarnish Your Highness’s reputation.”

 

She followed with a cute salute.

 

“Have a good time!”

 

Aran nodded and left the room.

 

 

When he opened the door, two court ladies were waiting.

 

 

“We will escort you.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

.

.

 

 

 

 

 

“Your Majesty, is what this lowly subject has heard true?”

 

Before the meal,

Seo-rae Yuen’s husband, ‘Geum-sa Yuen,’ asked with a worried expression.

 

 

He heard that they were strongly pushing for the marriage of his daughter, ‘Moae Yuen,’ but sending her off to a mere barbarian was unacceptable.

 

 

“What?”

“It’s about Moae’s marriage!”

“Ah. You mean that.”

 

 

Seo-rae answered nonchalantly.

 

 

“That’s right. If possible, I’m going to make Prince Aran her husband.”

“H-how can you say such a thing…!”

 

 

He was shocked.

 

 

“She is the Mei Empire’s first Imperial Princess, and our beloved daughter! Yet you’re bringing in a barbarian prince as her husband!!”

 

He frowned deeply, saying that it was absolutely impossible.

 

Women with mana don’t experience aging until they die, but unfortunately, men don’t have that, so even though he took care of himself, he looked like a middle-aged man.

 

 

Seo-rae glared at him as if she didn’t like him.

 

 

“Tsk tsk tsk. That’s why you’re not developing. Isn’t this mess because you simply regard Vasa as barbarians? If you had gotten rid of that prejudice and properly looked into it, this wouldn’t have happened.”

“Your Majesty! That’s sophistry!”

“What’s sophistry? And, an Imperial Princess must think of the country and make sacrifices.”

“But…”

“Enough. The kids are coming. Be quiet.”

“….”

 

He closed his mouth as if he was resentful.

 

 

The Imperial Princesses, who had just entered the dining room, had awkward expressions due to the strange atmosphere.

 

 

“Did you fight again? Stop fighting.”

 

The second Imperial Princess whined.

 

“We didn’t fight. There was just a difference of opinion. And we never fight. We have such a good relationship.”

“You fight every day. 365 days a year, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes, 31,536,000 seconds without fail.”

“…Are we golems? To fight that much.”

“Numbers don’t lie.”

“I’m telling you, that’s not it.”

 

Seo-rae grabbed her head.

All of her daughters are strange.

 

 

‘I knew raising daughters was meaningless.’

 

 

“Mother, please be patient. The second Imperial Princess is just twisted because she feels inferior to my beauty. Please look at her kindly.”

 

 

Moae said with eyes full of benevolence.

Of course, the second Imperial Princess, ‘Soi Yuen,’ was furious.

 

 

“Can you stop saying weird things? Who feels inferior to whom?”

“You, to me.”

 

 

She was even more furious at her appearance of pointing and explaining with her finger.

 

 

“Why would I feel inferior to an older sister who is useless for anything other than her looks? It’s the opposite.”

“Shut up. Both of you. A guest is coming soon, what is this behavior?”

“It’s your own fault, Mother. We learn because you two always fight.”

“Keung….”

 

If only she couldn’t talk back.

 

As she pressed her head, Aran entered.

 

 

Seo-rae spread her arms and welcomed him greatly.

 

 

“Ooh! Welcome, Imperial Prince.”

 

 

Perhaps to make him feel better, she called him ‘Imperial Prince’ instead of ‘Prince.’

 

 

“…Welcome, Imperial Prince-nim.”

 

The two daughters also welcomed Aran, calling him Imperial Prince.

 

 

“…Welcome, Prince.”

 

Only Geum-sa stubbornly called him Prince.

Seo-rae’s sharp glare was directed at him, but he ignored it.

 

 

“Thank you for the welcome, Your Majesty the Emperor.”

“What. It’s natural for a state guest.”

 

 

She quickly scanned Aran’s whole body.

It was like looking at prey.

 

 

‘His face isn’t bad, and his frame looks good. His thighs are firm, so he must have good stamina as I’ve heard.’

 

 

She finished assessing him in about 3 seconds.

 

 

“Okay, sit down.”

 

Aran sat down.

 

The table was lined with food that looked expensive at first glance.

 

 

‘This…is it mithril? Are they out of their minds making plates out of that expensive mithril??’

 

 

All the tableware was made of mithril.

Even the table was mithril….

 

 

‘I could buy a decent territory with just one of these plates….’

 

 

Mithril is very expensive.

Most nobles can’t even dream of it.

Even the Persian Imperial Family couldn’t afford such absurd luxury.

 

 

‘So this is the Mei Empire….’

 

 

The place where all the wealth of the East Continent gathers.

Aran felt the power of the Mei Empire firsthand.

 

 

“Do you like it? You can have it. There’s a lot.”

 

Is she trying to intimidate me? Seo-rae said coolly.

Aran shook his head.

 

 

“No. I’ll gratefully accept your heart.”

“Is that so? Suit yourself.”

 

When she picked up her fork, the Imperial Princesses picked up their forks, and then Geum-sa picked up his fork.

 

“There’s not much prepared, but enjoy your meal.”

“Yes…I will enjoy the meal.”

 

 

Aran was confused.

 

 

There are many things, but above all, the Emperor’s tone.

He couldn’t get used to that tone.

 

Even ordinary nobles wouldn’t use that tone…isn’t it like the tone of commoners?

 

“By the way, I heard you rejected our Moae. Is there a special reason?”

 

Not only is she speaking informally, but she’s also being direct.

Aran was stunned for a moment, but soon opened his mouth.

 

 

“Reason….”

 

 

There are several reasons, but the biggest one is the Great Kingdom.

Thanks to Cornelia’s considerate order, Aran was able to establish the Great Kingdom. Of course, there’s no way he can go as a son-in-law.

 

 

‘Should I say this?’

 

 

It’s a secret even in the country.

 

He hesitated, but decided not to say it.

It was a secret, and even though they welcomed him like this, they were still enemies. He had no obligation to answer.

 

 

“It’s just…I have a lot of women. How could Her Highness the Imperial Princess marry a flawed man like me?”

“Yeah. I know the Imperial Prince has a lot of women. It’s okay.”

“Your Majesty!”

“Mother!”

 

 

Geum-sa and Moae shouted at the same time.

But she didn’t care at all.

 

 

“Regardless of gender, capable people attract the opposite sex. I heard you’re a Tier 6 knight? That’s good enough even with flaws.”

“Haha….”

 

 

Aran smiled awkwardly, and Seo-rae smiled slightly.

 

 

“Yeah, you must be saying no because of the Great Kingdom, right?”

“That’s…….Huh?”

“But you proposed quite a while ago. When I sent Duke Yuri…before the King was captured? So, was the Great Kingdom already decided back then?”

“W-what are you talking about…hahaha.”

 

 

Aran was sweating.

 

 

Seo-rae chuckled and leaned her body towards Aran.

 

 

“Don’t be so reserved. I know everything. Who do you think I am?”

“….”

 

 

So this is the Emperor of the Empire.

Even the Persian royals don’t know the story properly, but the Emperor of the Mei Empire knows….

 

 

Aran realized the power of the Mei Empire for the second time.

 

 

“The Great Kingdom…that’s…?”

“You conquered Srodia, right? You’re going to negotiate and get as much land as possible, and then build a Great Kingdom there. Right? Imperial Prince-nari.”

“….”

“I-Impossible! A mere barbarian prince and a ‘Great Kingdom’! This is too much of a disregard for the home country! Even Srodia remains a kingdom!”

 

Geum-sa said as if he was about to vomit blood.

Aran’s expression wasn’t good at the part about barbarians, but he didn’t care.

 

 

“Besides, how can you call a mere barbarian an Imperial Prince! We should be grateful that you’re calling him Prince! I don’t understand Your Majesty’s intentions at all!”

“…Geum-sa, we have a guest. Do you have to be like this?”

 

 

She said annoyedly and sat up straight.

Then, the Imperial Princesses started to stop Geum-sa as if their feet were on fire.

 

 

“T-that’s right, Father. There’s delicious food here.”

“Wow! It’s delicious! This is really delicious!!”

 

 

She deliberately tore off the meat and ate it gluttonously.

 

 

‘…What? What is this atmosphere?’

 

 

Aran couldn’t adapt to the rapidly changing atmosphere.

What the hell is going on?

 

 

Geum-sa knelt in front of her.

 

 

“Your Majesty! Isn’t what I’m saying right? This man is the Prince of Barbarian Vasa! He started a war for ridiculous reasons and invaded Srodia, our vassal state. And he slaughtered innocent people! How can you give such people the title of Imperial Prince and marry Moae to him!! This lowly subject cannot accept it!!”

“Hoo…let’s just eat. Sorry. I asked a pointless question. Come on, eat. This is Korean beef from the Western Regions. It’s very tender and delicious.”

 

 

Seo-rae recommended the meal and cut and ate her own steak.

The Imperial Princesses hurriedly put it in their mouths as if they were embarrassed, and Aran also put it in his mouth with an awkward feeling.

 

 

“Your Majesty! Please reconsider! I can’t bear to see my daughter marry a barbarian!!”

“…I said let’s eat.”

“Isn’t she Your Majesty’s daughter! A daughter who wouldn’t hurt even if you put her in your eyes! Are you really going to sell your daughter to a barbarian….”

“…Shut that mouth.”

 

She finally started to express her anger.

 

It’s okay to think that way in your heart, but why do you have to do it in front of a guest?

 

 

“F-Father, please go in…Mother, thank you for the meal. I’ll go in first.”

 

 

Moae hurriedly got up.

 

 

“Sit down.”

“Yes, Mother.”

 

 

Boogleg boogleg.

Heat haze was visible around Seo-rae.

It wasn’t a metaphor; it was literally visible.

 

 

“If you have to do it no matter what…kill this lowly subject!”

 

Kwang!!

 

 

Seo-rae punched the table with her fist.

The table, made of mithril, was neatly split in two.