Ch.215#215. Hospital Visit

“Prepare accordingly. In the future, you will become my royal consort.”

Seraphina smirked, released Gilbert’s collar, and stepped back.

Her confident and bold behavior suddenly gave Gilbert a headache that wasn’t there before. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to think that things had gone terribly wrong.

There had been an incident where the possessed Demon King hacked the status window, causing the sub-scenario to become strangely distorted, which negatively affected Seraphina and others.

Once he became aware of this, the system recovered itself, and the abnormally displayed sub-scenario returned to normal. Right after that, several incidents occurred in succession, preventing him from leisurely checking the sub-scenario, which seemed to be the root of the problem.

With the confident Seraphina standing before him, he hurriedly opened the sub-scenario window.

<Sub-Scenario – Casanova>

Type: Sub

Clear Condition: Complete conquest of target subjects

Conquest Targets: Seraphina, Briana, Camilla, Brynhild, Veronica

Reward: Reward grade determined by progress (A+)

Progress: 80%

Information:

– You have unconsciously attracted multiple members of the opposite sex. Your path truly resembles that of the legendary Casanova.

What the hell is this?

Gilbert immediately realized that the content he had checked before had changed significantly.

First, three more names had been added to the conquest targets besides Seraphina and Briana, and the progress had reached nearly 80%. This could be considered almost the final stage of conquest.

Gilbert, who had never taken any actions for conquest, had no idea why the progress had increased. He had only been rushing around trying to handle the main scenario, not comfortably trying to seduce women.

Yet the status window indicated that all his actions had been for conquest, showing 80% progress. Gilbert felt extremely wronged.

However, thinking about it carefully, the progress wasn’t incomprehensible. Just look at Seraphina in front of him, talking about becoming a royal consort.

Camilla had also clearly expressed her feelings, and Brynhild had followed him to the Empire, so that made sense. Briana had also been mentioned in the distorted scenario, so that wasn’t surprising either.

But he couldn’t understand why Saint Veronica had been added. His connection with her was recent.

He had only met her in the Holy Empire as a point of contact to communicate with the system through divine revelation. It made no sense that she was suddenly judged as a conquest target.

Of course, he didn’t deny the system just because he didn’t understand it. Thinking about it differently, he recalled how she had fixated on the word “hero” and said strange things.

Anyway.

Gilbert turned his attention back to Seraphina, who was still wearing a confident smile.

When he had met her recently to get permission to go to the Holy Empire, she had shuddered at the mere mention of becoming a royal consort. Why had her reaction changed?

“Besides, you already gave your answer. You told me not to worry about going to the Holy Empire. You said you wouldn’t be late for the royal consort appointment ceremony. Since you’ve already agreed, saying I haven’t heard your answer is somewhat incorrect.”

Oh damn it.

Gilbert belatedly realized what he had done to get to the Holy Empire as quickly as possible. In his rush to learn the truth about why he came to this world, he had used every card available, and now it was choking him.

“Of course, I don’t intend to proceed hastily. Currently, it’s time to stabilize the Empire, which is in chaos due to rebellion. But once all that is over, I will proceed immediately, so be aware.”

Gilbert couldn’t bring himself to say he understood. Since he was full of thoughts about returning to his original world after dealing with the possessed Demon King, rashly agreeing here would cause many problems.

But he had no grounds to refuse, and it was the consequence of his own actions. As he was stuck between a rock and a hard place, the door to the hospital room opened.

“Lord Gilbert. It’s time for your examination.”

Saint Veronica entered with her usual bright smile, but her expression changed when she saw Seraphina. Seraphina also scrutinized her, puzzled by the saint’s appearance, which differed from her usual demeanor.

A suffocating silence.

Gilbert really didn’t appreciate this situation.

However, he couldn’t let this situation continue indefinitely, so he quickly reminded Veronica of her reason for coming.

“Saint Veronica. Didn’t you say you were going to examine me?”

“Of course I should. I’m responsible for your health, Lord Gilbert.”

“Responsible?”

What words displeased her?

Seraphina glared at Gilbert.

“Priest. It seems you’ve developed quite a deep friendship with Saint Veronica.”

“Hehe.”

Why are you happy about that?

Gilbert inwardly screamed at Veronica’s smiling face.

Seraphina’s gaze had become not just intense but fierce, and Gilbert, who was receiving that gaze fully, felt like he was dying. That gaze was like a wife looking at a husband caught cheating.

But Gilbert could only feel wronged. His connection with Veronica was merely that of a hero and a saint; they weren’t lovers who had deeply shared their hearts or anything similar.

“Well then, Crown Princess Seraphina, would you please leave? I’m planning to examine Lord Gilbert now.”

“Don’t mind me. It’s only natural that I check the health of the man who will become my husband.”

“Husband?”

Veronica’s eyes narrowed. She was directly expressing that she had heard something she didn’t like.

Naturally, the perceptive Seraphina immediately noticed Veronica’s state. This proved that there was something between them that she didn’t know about.

Seraphina, who was genuinely thinking of accepting Gilbert as her royal consort and husband, didn’t like this. The thought that her future partner, who would become the sovereign of the Empire, might be involved with another woman ignited her characteristic desire for talent and possession.

“Yes. Gilbert also has enough intention to become my royal consort, so it’s not inappropriate to call him my husband.”

“Lord Gilbert. Didn’t I tell you before?”

Veronica’s gaze turned to Gilbert. Her eyes seemed to say that a hero and a saint should be together.

Gilbert had much to say about this, but he refrained. The gazes of Seraphina and Veronica were too piercing.

As he swallowed hard in this dilemma, unable to choose either option, the door to the hospital room burst open. It was Yanik, Seraphina’s guard knight who had been waiting outside.

“Crown Princess!”

“Yanik. I’m sure I told you to wait outside.”

“I apologize for entering suddenly, but I had no choice but to be rude due to urgent news from the Imperial Intelligence Department!”

Yanik was completely different from his usual calm self. Seeing Yanik’s urgent demeanor, Seraphina shed her previous light-hearted appearance and returned to her role as the Crown Princess of the Infractus Empire.

“Speak.”

“War. It’s war!”

Before the shadow of rebellion had fully faded, the flames of war had risen.

***

Seraphina, her expression hardened at the mention of war, left the hospital room and urgently convened a meeting. Influential nobles of the imperial family, members of the intelligence department, and military nobles entered the palace one after another.

Taking her seat, Seraphina barely suppressed a sigh. Ascending to the position of Crown Princess, followed by rebellion and now war—at this point, she wondered if the gods were testing her.

But she quickly dismissed such weak thoughts. She was the Crown Princess of the Infractus Empire. Showing weakness was absolutely forbidden.

After confirming that all the nobles had filled the conference room, Seraphina called for the head chamberlain. During the civil war, she had received all rights to solidify her position as successor, but this time she couldn’t do that.

The head chamberlain, receiving Seraphina’s order, went somewhere and soon returned with the Emperor of the Infractus Empire, Julius Nerva Infractus, who entered the conference room.

Seated at the highest position in the conference room, he surveyed the attendees with sharp, fierce eyes.

“You say there is war.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Five kingdoms, excluding our allies, have formed an alliance and declared war.”

“What justification have they given?”

“They say they cannot stand by and watch the Empire’s tyranny disrupting the peace of the continent.”

The Emperor closed his eyes and fell into thought as he listened to the Intelligence Minister’s words. He had ended the bloody conquest wars that had continued since previous generations and sought stability for the continent. It was a conclusion reached out of consideration for the imperial subjects and the people of the continent who had suffered from the long war.

However, as peace continued for 10 or 20 years, people seemed to have forgotten the terrible madness of war, and those seeking their own gain appeared, wanting to wage war again with absurd justifications.

The Emperor couldn’t imagine how many more people would die in this war. It would end with just one word—”march”—but that order carried the lives of countless people of the continent.

It would be a lie to say it wasn’t heavy.

But he was the Emperor.

An Emperor who must not waver.

“Listen. Show these rogues who dared to declare war on the Empire exactly what the Empire’s power is. This war will not end until all enemies are subjugated, and it will be a warning never to bare their teeth at the Empire again.”

All nobles in the conference room, whether imperial or aristocratic faction, bowed their heads, as if pledging to uphold the order of the august Emperor of the Empire.

“Crown Princess Seraphina, listen. As Emperor of the Empire, this is my first order to the Crown Princess, the legitimate successor. Bring the five kingdoms to their knees before the Empire.”

“I will obey your command, Your Majesty.”

Seraphina, who had been called, bowed deeply.

The next day, the Empire sent an ultimatum to the alliance of kingdoms that had declared war and began preparations for war.