Ch.332332. I Feel So Good I Could Fly

“Ha·····”

Despite bringing members of the Imperial Knights and his subordinates from Lake Territory to the Western Continent, Emperor Kallian’s sighs could be heard repeatedly.

After taking a sip of water, he tilted his head and spoke.

“Your Imperial Majesty, what troubles you?”

“I wanted to arrange your marriage with Joanna, but… I gave the porridge to Emperor Marlius.”

“You should phrase that correctly. Emperor Marlius almost had his porridge stolen by Emperor Kallian.”

“….Somehow, when I went to Lake Territory looking for Joanna, I should have guessed when I saw Emperor Marlius there….”

“I feel somewhat apologetic.”

When I slightly bowed my head, Emperor Kallian smiled gently.

“By the way, you’re much more capable than I thought.”

“….Pardon?”

“The Etherian Princess and the Sirin Princess too…. Isn’t this unprecedented in the Eastern Continent’s imperial history?”

“Y-yes, that’s true.”

“Then consider Joanna as well. There’s hardly any difference between two wives and three.”

I let out a short sigh toward Emperor Kallian.

“….My heart still pounds just thinking about marrying the two princesses, so I’d appreciate if you’d stop joking.”

“It’s a joke. As if I would allow Princess Joanna to marry a man who already has two wives?”

“….Thank you.”

When I bowed my head once more, Emperor Kallian slightly furrowed his brow.

“When you thank me, I feel my heart becoming a bit twisted. I might really permit your marriage to Joanna—”

“Ah, what a shame. If I had known Princess Joanna before meeting the Etherian Princess and Sirin Princess, things would certainly have been different.”

“….That’s right. But, putting myself aside, why does your expression look so unpleasant?”

I forced the corners of my mouth to curl up toward Emperor Kallian.

“Me? I feel like I could fly with happiness.”

“Was I mistaken?”

“Yes, you were mistaken. I’m about to marry two princesses—how could I possibly be in a bad mood?”

Emperor Kallian slowly nodded.

“Anyway, I’m sorry.”

“….Pardon?”

“The assassins Leonis sent to Lake Territory—wasn’t that because I asked you to take a walk with Joanna?”

“What’s already happened doesn’t matter.”

“Thanks to you, I feel very reassured. The subordinates I saw at Lake Territory and even the Eastern Continent’s Imperial Knights…. I don’t know how to repay this gratitude.”

I straightened my back gracefully and smiled gently.

“It’s fine. Instead, I hope we can end this war quickly.”

“Hmm, are you so eager to hold the wedding?”

“N-no, that’s not it. Since we’ve brought so many people, I just think we should resolve this matter decisively.”

“You’re right. The longer this drags on, the more disadvantageous it is for our side with the larger numbers.”

“Fortunately, Emperor Marlius said he would provide ample supplies, so you needn’t worry too much.”

At my words, Emperor Kallian’s eyes widened slightly.

“He’s providing supplies as well?”

“Yes, but in return, he asked for definitive results.”

“….By definitive results, I suppose he means Leonis’s head.”

“Your Majesty, the entire Eastern Continent, including myself, is in the same boat. If you happen to capture Prince Leonis, I hope you won’t show mercy.”

I had to speak honestly.

If Prince Leonis were spared, who knows what might happen in the future.

He was the biggest obstacle to my sweet life.

I spoke somewhat strongly because I needed to eliminate variables before marriage.

Emperor Kallian seemed to understand my meaning and gave a bitter smile.

“I’ll do that.”

“Thank you.”

“Ah! And I heard your family came along too? They say someone strangely offered to torture captured enemies during the war?”

“Yes, she’s married to my second brother, and she’s certainly specialized in torture.”

“Usually men handle torture…. that’s certainly unusual.”

“You can trust her. It was thanks to her that we discovered Prince Leonis was behind the assassins who infiltrated Lake Territory.”

Emperor Kallian nodded and continued.

“By the way, Emperor Marlius announced your marriage to the princesses quickly for legitimacy, right?”

“….That’s correct.”

“Then you’ll hold the wedding immediately after the war ends?”

“Well, I suppose so.”

“I have a curious nature, may I ask you just one thing?”

“Please inquire.”

“How did you manage to charm both the Etherian Princess and the Sirin Princess simultaneously?”

Emperor Kallian leaned forward, genuinely curious.

I dropped my shoulders as if giving up.

“….To be honest, I met the Sirin Princess first, but somehow I also developed a connection with the Etherian Princess.”

“And then?”

I couldn’t possibly admit that the three of us drank together, fell asleep in the same bed, and were caught by Emperor Marlius, so I gave a vague answer.

“And that’s how I ended up marrying the princesses.”

“It seems like you’re omitting quite a lot?”

“….I was in a situation where I had to choose between the two princesses, but Emperor Marlius said he couldn’t bear to see his daughters competing.”

“Ah…. so that’s why Emperor Marlius gave his permission.”

I adjusted my posture facing Emperor Kallian.

“Now that things have turned out this way, I plan to live diligently after the war ends.”

“But weren’t you someone without ambition for power?”

“Emperor Marlius has permitted us to live outside the imperial palace even after marriage.”

“Wh-what about the princesses?”

“They’ll live with me, of course.”

“Then who will inherit the succession rights?”

Even as I spoke, I found it absurd.

How could I speak about children who weren’t even born yet inheriting anything?

I shook my head slightly.

“I’m not sure about that, but Emperor Marlius seems to have something in mind.”

“Hmm…. you won’t be bored for a while after the war with Leonis ends.”

“….Pardon?”

“You’ll be receiving news from the Eastern Continent up close—how could you possibly be bored?”

“Haha…. now that you mention it, you’re right.”

The meal had already ended, and despite wanting to leave, Emperor Kallian continued talking incessantly.

“But why did you instruct the Eastern Continent’s Imperial Knights and your subordinates to hide in the mountains after bringing them all the way to the Western Continent?”

“Well, we needed to set a trap for Prince Leonis.”

“A trap…. could you explain so I can understand?”

“First of all, there’s a high probability that Prince Leonis has spies in the Western Imperial Court, correct?”

“Ah…. so you’re trying to deceive the spies? That makes sense. If Leonis hears that the Eastern Continent has joined forces, he might hide even deeper.”

I maintained a proper posture and continued.

“Yes, deceiving the spies is part of it, but we’re also provoking Prince Leonis’s impatience.”

“Impatience?”

“From Prince Leonis’s perspective, it’s as if he sent assassins against someone who’s about to become a member of the Eastern Imperial family. He must have also heard the news that I’m going to marry the princesses.”

“….I suppose so.”

“Then he’ll anticipate that the Eastern Imperial Court might send support to the Western Continent. So he’ll likely attack first, before we can unite our forces.”

Hearing my explanation, Emperor Kallian exclaimed and slapped his knee with his palm.

“Then instead of searching for Leonis, we just need to defend the imperial palace?”

“That’s why I asked you to strengthen the palace defenses as soon as I arrived.”

“….When did you start thinking about this?”

“Since Emperor Marlius announced my marriage to the princesses. What’s done is done, so we might as well make good use of the spilled water, right?”

I curled the corners of my mouth, and Emperor Kallian laughed helplessly.

“The more I see you, the more impressed I am by your intelligence.”

“Once Prince Leonis knows I’ve come to the Western Imperial Court, and if the spy reports this visit, he’ll become even more anxious about the Eastern Continent’s support and will try to attack immediately.”

“Then shouldn’t we be preparing for war right now instead of sitting here!?”

I winked at Emperor Kallian, who looked urgent.

“Don’t worry. The Eastern Imperial Knights and my subordinates are not weak. And didn’t I personally train the Western Imperial Knights? You can trust them.”

Bang bang-!

Just then, a knight entered the imperial banquet hall after knocking.

Gasping for breath with veins bulging in his neck, he announced:

“P-Prince Leonis is leading rebels toward the imperial palace!”

Leaving the surprised Emperor Kallian behind, I stood up as if I had been waiting for this moment, straightening my clothes meticulously.

Then I bowed respectfully toward Emperor Kallian.

“I earnestly request the Star of the Western Continent, Emperor Kallian, to permit me to march out immediately.”