Ch.225Chapter 225: Germination

After the diplomatic delegation representing the Solarium Empire arrived in Nakyeol, the capital of the Golden Moon Empire, following a four-day journey,

The first day’s schedule ended without any special activities as they recovered from their journey—though there was hardly any fatigue to recover from, thanks to the innovative airship that made their travel incomparably comfortable compared to other times.

From the next day, a six-day diplomatic marathon between Golden Moon and Solarium would commence.

For the Golden Moon Empire, which had spent the year without major incidents, this was the busiest moment of the year as they welcomed distinguished guests from afar.

Elite troops of the Imperial Guard were stationed at key locations to prevent any subversive elements from causing physical harm to the foreign envoys.

Ensuring the delegation’s comfort and providing various conveniences during their six-day stay was also a matter requiring attention, making it anything but an effortless affair.

Regardless of their origin, welcoming a diplomatic delegation was naturally an important matter requiring extreme care from both the dispatching and receiving nations.

However, this particular delegation didn’t require the mobilization of significant national resources to accommodate.

This was because the capabilities of Luca Bright, the Third Prince of Solarium who led the delegation, and

The young Emperor Wei Taiping of the Golden Moon Empire were more than sufficient to handle such diplomatic events without any issues.

The talks, scheduled to last six days, reached an agreement just two days after they began—a testament to how smoothly the negotiations had progressed.

Of course, since the talks were held in the Golden Moon Empire, where press control was stricter than in Solarium,

The detailed outcomes of the meeting would only be fully revealed after the delegation returned to Solarium.

Nevertheless, those who observed the talks between the representatives of both nations from relatively close proximity would feel reassurance and hope.

After the Great Holy War that occurred a thousand years ago,

The purpose of this meeting was for representatives bearing the full authority of the two powerful empires, Solarium and Golden Moon, to gather and prepare countermeasures against signs that the thousand-year-old calamity threatening humanity’s prosperous existence was awakening again in the northern part of the Central Continent.

It was obvious that Solarium, the hegemonic power of the Central Continent where the Demon God would establish its foothold upon awakening, would be desperate to prevent it.

Given that the Golden Moon Empire was geographically beyond the Demon God’s sphere of influence, it would have been understandable if they had shown a lukewarm response to Solarium’s request for transnational cooperation.

Before the talks began, it would not be an exaggeration to say that among the delegation members, no one except Prince Luca, who volunteered to lead the delegation, was optimistic about the outcome of this meeting.

However, Prince Luca led the talks by presenting prepared materials with logical coherence and a gentle attitude, and

Emperor Wei Taiping declared that if the Empire of the Sun, which was like a brother to his nation, were to fall, it would naturally follow that the radiance of the moon shining in the night sky would also disappear.

The talks concluded with his proclamation that he would spare no military or material support in case of emergency.

Thus, the Solarium Empire gained a reliable ally for any potential crisis,

And the Golden Moon Empire, despite having established equal diplomatic relations, publicly demonstrated that it had the capacity to rebalance the scales of power that had been tilting toward Solarium due to advancements in magical engineering.

Both countries sufficiently secured what they could gain, making it a productive meeting with nothing wasted.

Who could worry about the future of both nations after seeing the expressions of firm trust displayed by the two representatives upon their declaration?

In any case, since it was quite a lengthy topic,

Contrary to expectations that the talks would require the full six days to reach any conclusion, they ended after just two days.

Suddenly, the diplomatic delegation, having fulfilled their primary mission, found themselves spending their remaining time touring Nakyeol, a city renowned worldwide for its beauty.

Initially tense as they set foot on foreign soil for the first time, the young officials and lower nobles of the delegation became fully immersed in this tourist atmosphere.

Even the knight escorts, though unable to openly become tourists, naturally relaxed in Nakyeol where there were no threats to the delegation.

The cheerful atmosphere among the delegation visiting Nakyeol needs no further elaboration.

However…

“On behalf of Solarium, I, Lucius, express my gratitude for Your Majesty’s boundless kindness in declaring unconditional cooperation for our country.”

“Hmm, Luca… no, Lucius, about that matter I mentioned before…”

“…I told you last year that I refuse.”

“Ah… how can you reject it so abruptly without even listening further?”

“If you were in my position, would you not refuse such a request… no, not even a request, but such a notification?”

Unlike the talks that strengthened relations between the two countries, the private conversation between Luca… no, Princess Lucius and Emperor Wei Taiping was quite different…

“If I… if I were you, I would have accepted on the spot.”

“Sigh… When I heard those words last year, I barely suppressed my dizziness and responded calmly, but now I feel my composure slipping considerably.”

“You have a pretty face, but you often fail to understand people’s feelings, which must cause those around you to feel disappointed.”

“Ha, how amusing. Have you not considered that people might be hurt by your attitude, believing that everything will naturally fall into place because of your position when you make such notifications?”

“It is not a notification but a request.”

“Regardless, it’s a request I cannot grant. If you keep bringing this up every time we meet, I’ll have no choice but to send one of my other brothers or sisters as the representative for the annual delegation visits.”

“Hmph. It matters not. Then I shall visit Solarium and ask you again.”

“Oh my, how impressive.”

“Hmph.”

“Hmph.”

The two people seated in the guest room where the Emperor personally received distinguished guests were engaged in a conversation that was neither amicable nor exactly cold, but rather of an ambiguous atmosphere.

The appearance of the two, devoid of the dignity and solemnity they displayed when representing their nations, had several noteworthy aspects.

Princess Lucius was not wearing the magical device she used when disguising herself as a prince, her external cover identity, though she still wore men’s clothing.

“I was resting comfortably in my room before leaving, and you suddenly called me here to talk nonsense again.”

She was expressing various complaints to Emperor Wei Taiping, who had summoned her while she was fully displaying her female appearance.

Wibel, the knight who always accompanied her like a shadow, slightly nodded in agreement with the princess’s words as he escorted her.

Though his expression couldn’t be discerned due to the mask concealing his face,

Judging by how skillfully he was calming the displeased princess without saying a word, it was clear that his face must have shown a sense of awkwardness.

In any case, had any of the three Imperial Knights assigned to her protection among the Solarium delegation witnessed this scene, they would have been shocked.

But the same could be said for any Golden Moon Empire personnel who saw their sovereign, Emperor Wei Taiping.

His attire was so modest that no one would think he was the supreme ruler of the Golden Moon Empire, a power comparable to Solarium.

Accompanied by just one guard warrior whose face and entire body were completely covered by a mask, similar to Princess Lucius’s escort,

Judging by appearances alone, no one would recognize them as imperial royalty and an emperor who had conquered an entire continent.

At any rate, though they weren’t fighting by violently clashing emotions, the somewhat tense atmosphere between the two seemed likely to continue.

“Tch, I came in believing that this time I would finally hear words of acceptance from you, even bringing engagement wine, but I’ve drawn a blank again.”

The tension eased somewhat as Taiping revealed signs of self-defeat.

“‘Again’? Use that wine to console yourself and look for another marriage prospect.”

It almost became rigid again with Lucius’s immediately shooting back a spirited retort.

“Fine. Fine. I yield. You may withdraw now.”

As Wei Taiping, unable to get what he wanted, didn’t wish for the conversation to continue, their dialogue was gradually coming to an end.

“Farewell, and make sure to manage your expression well at tomorrow’s farewell ceremony.”

Sensing that the harassment from the Emperor was finally ending, Lucius spoke in a normal tone, having removed the sharpness that had colored her voice until just now.

The Emperor, who had risen from his seat and was about to leave the room without lingering attachments, turned toward where the princess was and said,

“Let me ask one thing.”

He posed a question to completely shed the attachment he had almost discarded.

“I’ll answer if I can.”

“Do you reject my proposal because you deem me unsuitable as your partner?”

Though his tone was quite light, the Emperor’s expression showed incomparable seriousness as he questioned Lucius.

His face looked so precarious that he might collapse with a devastated expression if harsh words came from Princess Lucius’s mouth in response to his question.

There’s no need to elaborate on how desperate his feelings were in this question.

“Your Majesty…”

The guard warrior, looking worriedly at the Emperor, slowly opened his mouth.

During the conversation between the imperial princess and emperor of the two nations in the guest room—a conversation that was neither long nor short—this was the first time another person’s voice was heard, a very gentle and soft voice.

However, the guard warrior’s mouth did not open further as the Emperor raised his hand toward her without a word.

“Someone like you would not be bad… no, you would be an excellent partner.”

Upon hearing Lucius’s words, the Emperor’s expression began to brighten, moving away from his previous desperation.

“But I can’t. I already have someone I like.”

With Lucius firmly drawing the line by saying she already had someone she liked, an even deeper despair than his previous desperation instantly overshadowed the Emperor’s expression.