Ch.328328. ····Is It Predetermined?

“If I was going to be called to the Imperial Palace this quickly, why did they summon Etherian and Sirin to Lake Territory?”

I tilted my head questioningly toward Emperor Malius as I sat on the sofa in the imperial reception room.

“…I didn’t summon them. Besides, neither of them sent me any letters, so I didn’t even know they were coming.”

At that, Emperor Malius flinched and cleared his throat.

“Ahem! I see.”

“If they had sent letters in advance, I would have certainly told them not to come.”

Seemingly embarrassed, Emperor Malius hastily changed the subject.

“By the way, how did Prince Leonis end up sending assassins to Lake Territory?”

“There was some friction when I went to the Western Continent last time.”

“What kind of friction?”

If I told the truth that I went for a walk with Princess Joanna and encountered rebels, it would cause another misunderstanding. I calmly thought as hard as I could.

“I encountered rebels while out for a walk in the Western Continent.”

“So the rebels attacked you first?”

“Yes, the rebels attacked first, so I had no choice but to fight back.”

“Hmm, so that’s why Prince Leonis sent assassins to Lake Territory.”

“That’s right.”

Emperor Malius straightened his back and folded his arms heavily.

“But why are you leaving out the person who accompanied you on that walk?”

Sigh…

So he knew.

Did I underestimate imperial intelligence?

It felt like being caught in a sting operation.

Barely hiding my flustered expression, I brazenly opened my mouth.

“…Didn’t I just mention that I was with Princess Joanna?”

“I don’t believe I heard that.”

“Haha, I must have been so distracted that I ‘completely’ left out Princess Joanna’s part. I apologize.”

As I bowed my head with feigned innocence, Emperor Malius fixed me with an intense gaze.

“Why were you walking with Princess Joanna? As the father of Etherian and Sirin, I believe I have every right to ask.”

“Princess Joanna developed trauma after the recent war, which prevented her from leaving the palace, so she asked for my help.”

“Who did?”

“His Majesty Emperor Callian.”

“Why would he ask you?”

“Am I not trustworthy?”

I shrugged my shoulders, but seeing Emperor Malius’s reddening face, I quickly bowed my head and continued.

“…Honestly, how could I refuse… it was a request from Emperor Callian himself.”

“Why couldn’t you refuse!?”

I made an aggrieved expression at Emperor Malius, who had raised his voice.

“How could I possibly say, ‘Since I’m supposed to marry an Eastern Continent princess, I don’t think I should go for walks with other women’?”

“I think if you had said that, Emperor Callian wouldn’t have pressed the issue.”

“He might not have pressed, but he would have asked which princess I was marrying—Etherian or Sirin. I couldn’t very well say, ‘One of the two, but it hasn’t been decided yet,’ could I?”

“…Then he would ask why it hasn’t been decided yet.”

I clutched my chest as if frustrated and continued.

“Yes, I wanted nothing more than to speak honestly.”

“Then the person you’ll marry should be decided quickly, shouldn’t it?”

“Y-yes, that’s right.”

“Then we should determine which princess you’ll marry as soon as possible. People should at least know that Selden Alphonse is a member of the Eastern Imperial family. Am I wrong?”

“Wrong? You’re absolutely correct.”

It seemed I had managed to get past this hurdle.

Emperor Malius’s expression appeared to have improved somewhat.

“By the way, I saw the intruders briefly earlier, and they were in terrible shape. It’s rather surprising they’re still alive.”

“Ah… they broke into my mansion and nearly killed my loyal butler and my eldest brother who was visiting Lake Territory. That’s why my emotions got a bit heated.”

“Well, I can understand that. Now, what would you like me to do?”

I adjusted my posture and continued.

“First, I’d like your permission to cross over to the Western Continent and participate in the war.”

Emperor Malius nodded his chin, as if he had already anticipated this.

“And?”

“I’d like imperial support, but if that’s difficult, I’d like to take a few imperial knights with me.”

“No, if war breaks out, I will provide Emperor Callian with full support.”

“…Pardon? Isn’t that lacking proper justification at this point?”

“The justification is sufficient. Aren’t you going to become a member of the Eastern Imperial family?”

“B-but nobody knows yet that I’m going to become a member of the Eastern Imperial family, do they?”

Emperor Malius stroked his beard and smiled kindly.

“We just need to announce it throughout the Eastern Continent.”

“…Has it been decided?”

“It was decided two days ago.”

So it’s finally been decided who I’ll marry.

No wonder Patherix said that Princess Etherian and Princess Sirin looked happy when they left Lake Territory…

“I’m ready to hear it.”

My eyes flashed eagerly, but Emperor Malius inexplicably looked up at the ceiling of the reception room and sighed before murmuring.

“You’ll find out soon enough anyway.”

“…Pardon?”

“I’ve already summoned them here.”

I only asked which princess I would be marrying, but he’s drawing this out?

Irritation welled up inside me, but I couldn’t openly show my expression to Emperor Malius, so I forced an awkward smile.

“Although it began as a mistake, I will live without shame regardless of which princess I marry.”

“As you should… But do you really want to live outside the imperial palace?”

“Even after marriage, I will make sure to visit the imperial palace frequently with the princess to see Your Majesty.”

Perhaps overcome with sadness as a father with daughters, Emperor Malius sighed again repeatedly and nodded.

“Very well. Now I’ll ask you just one thing.”

“Please do.”

“Since the princess you’ll marry has already been decided, tell me honestly which one you would have preferred to marry—Etherian or Sirin.”

No matter how much I might have preferred one princess over the other, what fool in this world would candidly reveal that to his future father-in-law?

Especially when he hasn’t even told me who I’m marrying.

Of course, even if I were to answer honestly, my answer would be the same.

“As I’ve said several times before, both princesses are wonderful people, so my answer remains the same.”

“…Then you won’t be disappointed with your marriage partner?”

“How could I worry about that now when I don’t even know which princess I’ll be marrying?”

This was truly an intense battle of wits between a prospective father-in-law and son-in-law.

But I couldn’t back down.

One wrong answer, and Emperor Malius looked ready to tell immediately.

If that happened, I’d suffer throughout my married life.

I held firmly to my resolve.

Emperor Malius smiled slightly at my determined gaze.

“You’ll see who you’re marrying soon enough, so why the rush?”

“Haha, I suppose I’m just excited at the thought of marriage.”

“…So you won’t tell me, then.”

“I’ve already told you, but seeing you ask again makes me think Your Majesty has a specific answer in mind.”

“I just find it hard to believe. Normally, a person’s heart should lean one way or the other, shouldn’t it?”

“Then let me ask you in return. Between Princess Etherian and Princess Sirin, which one does Your Majesty prefer?”

“Sirin.”

I gaped at Emperor Malius, who answered without even taking a breath.

“…Pardon?”

“At least Sirin is cute, while Etherian is too stoic, isn’t she?”

“Doesn’t each have her own charm?”

After staring at me blankly for a while, Emperor Malius gave a faint smile.

“So as Sirin said, you truly don’t care who you marry.”

“Yes, that’s what I told Princess Sirin when she asked before.”

“…Don’t regret it.”

“Both Princess Etherian and Princess Sirin are wonderful people, so what would I have to regret?”

Anyway.

I came here because of the issue with Prince Leonis, but somehow we’ve been talking endlessly about marriage.

Just as I was about to steer the conversation back to the Western Continent, a knock sounded at the reception room door.

Knock knock!

Am I finally going to find out who I’ll be marrying?

I was curious.

I wondered what conversation had taken place between the princesses who had refused to give up on marrying me, even at the cost of renouncing the throne, that led them to decide so quickly.

Creeeeak! Clunk!

As the reception room door opened, Princess Etherian appeared.

‘So it was decided to be Princess Etherian after all.’

As I rose to greet Princess Etherian, I tilted my head in confusion.

Princess Sirin also appeared behind her.

‘Is there really a need to announce the marriage candidate with both of them present?’

As I blinked in embarrassment, Emperor Malius suddenly spoke with a voice full of emotion toward the princesses.

“The princess who will marry Selden Alphonse, please sit beside him.”