Ch.436Modern Era: The Age of Grand Anastasia (34)

* * *

“You just need to meet a woman prettier than me. And she can’t have parents or grandparents with dementia.”

“Why dementia?”

“I think I heard that dementia is mainly hereditary.”

I wonder if there’s really a need to add all these tiresome conditions for dating, but I consider these important factors to prevent future children from suffering.

“While dementia may be mainly hereditary… a woman prettier than Your Majesty?”

That would be difficult, wouldn’t it? How many women prettier than me exist in this world?

Probably almost none, right?

“Well, if you marry someone unattractive, it becomes a problem for the children. Before marrying for love, what happens if your child is born with an unattractive face and gets bullied growing up?”

“Oh, that sounds exhausting but makes sense.”

“Exactly. Appearance is ultimately important. Could you handle it if your child asks why you made them so ugly?”

At the very least, I don’t want to see such a future.

As a man, my appearance is fine. I just need to find a pretty woman.

“Are there any beautiful people in the world besides Your Majesty?”

“These days there are plenty of attractive ordinary people, so I might find someone if I look hard enough.”

Of course, it would be difficult to find, but if I search the whole world thoroughly, I might find at least one. But would there be?

There must be at least one if I search hard enough.

“If she’s more beautiful than Your Majesty, what are the chances she’s single?”

“You’re right about that.”

There wouldn’t be many such women, and I can’t be certain they’d be single. Usually pretty young women are popular, right? A woman’s youth alone makes her value skyrocket. So she’d have many men pursuing her, and while I might be somewhat successful, such women usually already have partners.

Don’t forward-thinking women catch good men early and get married young?

But they can’t pair me with an older woman either.

It has to be a young, pretty woman! That’s how it should be. But that would be hard to find, wouldn’t it? What a shame.

“I guess I’ll just have to take her in myself.”

“Oh, finally as a husband prospect?”

Why is she so excited? Do women remain interested in romance regardless of age?

Unfortunately, I have absolutely no such thoughts.

“No, no. I could just make her immortal like me.”

Then we wouldn’t need to have children, right? It’s not like we’d be getting married.

Besides, realistically speaking, it doesn’t make sense for me, over 100 years old, to develop feelings for a young person.

“But Your Majesty is too precious, so perhaps you shouldn’t get married after all.”

“You think so too?”

“Your Majesty should stay with us. Even though you’re a man, I can’t let that Choi Si-yoon have you.”

Wow, showing possessiveness here? That’s appreciated.

Certainly, without Maria, I wouldn’t have made it to this position.

Besides, we should hear that guy’s opinion too. Eventually, I’ll have to come out as the Tsar. I wonder how he’ll react then?

Even setting aside the coming out, marriage to a Tsar over a hundred years old?

If I were him, I might hesitate even if I were as pretty as I am.

Of course, this world is quite lenient toward the Tsar, so it might not matter whether I’m over a hundred or a thousand years old.

But that’s separate from me. Whether he likes me is a different matter.

Above all, wasn’t I originally against marriage?

Now that I think about it, that’s true.

“Come to think of it, that guy is probably against marriage.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“I’m not sure now that he’s successful, but he at least said he disliked marriage because it costs too much.”

Getting married and having children in modern South Korean society? You’d have to live without ever saving money.

People talk about dying alone, but rather than struggling with money until death, it’s much better to live comfortably alone in this era.

In such times, I simply chose to live comfortably by myself.

I seem to remember something like that.

“But don’t you make daily appointments with Si-yoon?”

“That’s meeting with myself.”

Now that success is certain, perhaps he wants to have children.

Maybe I should meet him once?

* * *

The usual meeting time at the café.

I decided to ask Si-yoon.

“Hey. Aren’t you going to get a girlfriend?”

“Why are you suddenly asking if I’m getting a girlfriend?”

Why are you making a face like I said something strange?

“Well, you know. A decent-looking guy like you—though it makes sense if you’ve fallen for me instead.”

Tell me honestly if you’ve fallen for me.

“It costs money.”

When I asked him directly, his answer was about money.

Money? Is money really an issue? I don’t think so. If this guy set his mind to earning money, he could certainly afford to date.

“You’re already on the path to success, so what’s the problem? When dating, you could even split the bill.”

If you don’t want to bear all the costs alone, that’s reasonable.

Anyway, if a man is above average, women don’t expect him to pay for everything while dating.

In the end, women spend money on dates when they’re attracted to a man’s appearance rather than just his wealth.

That’s what I think. There’s a saying that you marry a pretty woman according to how much you study in your youth, but it’s ultimately about appearance.

When women are instinctively attracted to good looks, they’re willing to spend money too.

This guy is at least above average in appearance.

He’s different from someone whose looks are so poor that only money can compensate.

With good looks and a bright future, he can’t help but be popular with women.

Everything’s been set up for him.

Of course, I’m not sure what I’d do if he actually started dating, but let’s cross that bridge when we come to it.

“If you date, you’d eventually have to get married, right? Unless you plan to break up.”

“That’s true.”

Usually, people date to get to know each other and then decide whether to marry or do something else.

But why is he bringing this up?

“I believe that dating should lead to marriage.”

“Oh, I didn’t know you were that kind of guy. Impressive.”

I can’t believe how innocent he is.

Isn’t it standard these days to date multiple people before choosing one?

“No, it’s like… how should I put it? Unless there’s a problem with the woman, I want relationships to lead to marriage.”

I understand what he means. He doesn’t want the hassle of finding another partner, so that’s what he wants.

“And I need to have children too, but I hate when kids whine. Plus, after experiencing my sister, I don’t have that… you know.”

He has no dreams or hopes regarding women.

But can a young man typically be like that? It doesn’t seem right.

“Really? A young man in his prime?”

A guy who should be full of vigor has that mindset? Is that normal?

“No, it’s not that I have no interest in women at all. But my absolute limit is dating.”

In this world, the expression “Maginot Line” is surprisingly common.

It comes from the Reds’ last line of defense, a life-or-death defensive line, making it a much more desperate expression than the original Maginot Line.

Poor thing. Truly pitiful. I wonder if my alternate self in this changed history might be impotent.

No matter what, one should be able to say, “To hell with it! Let’s try dating!” But that’s not the case?

“Should I teach you about women?”

“What are you thinking, saying you’ll teach me about women?”

Look at this guy being lewd. As if I’d teach you physically.

He seems obsessed with AI; this needs fixing.

“No, I mean like dating education? Anyway, something to make you feel that heart-pounding sensation when you see a woman?”

Maybe I should assign a welfare teacher for sex education, or call a professional counselor to explain men and women. This makes me sound like I have too many issues, but whatever.

Perhaps introducing him to an incredible woman who changes men daily might work.

“You’re going to do that?”

“I can’t because I’m the Tsar, but if you work hard, I might specially go on a date with you.”

This big sister can be generous enough to do that.

You should be grateful to me for this.

“Isn’t dating usually about eating together and having fun?”

“I suppose so?”

“That’s what you and I are already doing.”

Ah, that’s true. So that’s meaningless. Wait, is it possible this is actually my fault? Did he develop immunity to women because of me?

How long have I been with this guy? At most about two years.

I did find out his location, downloaded a friend app looking for a foreign friend, and became close with him. Ah, is that why?

He went to all-boys middle and high schools and probably thought he’d date in college, but instead met someone who’s pretty but not particularly feminine, neither here nor there, and a Tsar impersonator he doesn’t like.

“Ah, so that’s how it is.”

I nodded with a serious face without realizing it.

This is actually sad. I can understand it, but still. Him saying this now means he’s fallen for me, doesn’t it?

“Just to be clear, I don’t have any special feelings.”

“Come now, men and women can’t truly be just friends.”

I gave him a stern look, telling him not to talk nonsense.

Does he really have no thoughts about me?

Having been a man, I know. Usually, men are attracted to and aroused by women with good faces and figures. Does he really have no thoughts about me?

At my words, he looks straight at me.

I slightly lowered my head as if to show off.

He stares at me very intently, as if appraising me, carefully examining my face from my forehead down.

“No, seriously, I don’t have any special feelings. I know you’re pretty, but since you’re my friend, my standards have been normalized by your appearance, so other women don’t catch my eye.”

Oh, that’s a serious problem.

So because I’m his friend, I’m too pretty, and somewhat ambiguous as a woman, he doesn’t think of dating, but using my appearance as a standard, his standards are so high that no one else appeals to him?

Is this all my fault?

“Well, that’s flattering, but isn’t that a bit much?”

If this guy becomes impotent because of this, it’ll be my responsibility. Seriously, isn’t his view of women dangerous?

It’s not like I acted like a man; I was just a rich young lady impersonating the Tsar. I acted like a woman, that’s what I’m saying.

“Is this really a problem? Come to think of it, it is your fault.”

Why do I feel like I need to take responsibility when I hear it put that way?

If that’s really the case, I might have to help him out. But still, I have feelings too.

“Wow, you’re still pretending to be the Tsar. You really…”

“Think about it. Everything I’ve shown you so far.”

With arms outstretched, like a villain in a movie revealing their identity, I proudly declared.

“I know you’re from a wealthy family, but beyond that…”

His face is slightly crumpled, as if saying I don’t resemble the Tsar at all.

No, think about it. This guy lacks imagination right now.

“What if I’m really acting all of this?”

“Honestly, I don’t understand.”

“Think about it. The truth is I miss civilian life, so I’m living like this.”

Let’s think about it. Let’s spread the wings of imagination.

The Tsar disliked the noble lifestyle. So the Tsar disguised as a commoner to try something new, lowering themselves to experience ordinary life.

Doesn’t that sound plausible?

“Oh, that’s actually possible.”

“For instance, I could take you to the Kremlin Palace from here.”

Should I really take him? I’m secretly looking forward to seeing what face he’ll make.

“Ah, that’s a bit crazy.”

“Fine, let’s say that’s true. What would I expect from you?”

This kid has no imagination. Usually, you know, one could consider various premises.

Can’t he even slightly consider the possibility that I might actually be the Tsar?

“Besides, I’m not particularly popular.”

“Really? You seem quite popular to me, that’s surprising.”

I’ve investigated this guy’s social relationships, but asking directly might yield different results than what I’ve found out, so I’m testing the waters.

From what I know, there are quite a few girls who like him. Does that make sense?

My other half glares at me and points accusingly.

“That’s because of you. Because of you. It can’t be helped.”

“I don’t understand why that’s my fault.”

“Well, you’re the only woman around me, so naturally, how could any woman approach me?”

I see, so ultimately this is all thanks to me.

The situation seems more serious than I thought. It’s pitiful that a young man in his prime can’t even have one relationship.

At this rate, dating in college would be impossible.

It’s already difficult for a Balhae person to date Russians, so he’d need to date another Balhae person, but is that possible from my other half’s perspective? Because of me?

Moreover, if my hanging out with Si-yoon looks like dating, then no girl at the university might approach him in the future.

No, wait.

I’m confused because I’ve lost my sense of time, but he’s already graduated, hasn’t he? This is bad.