Ch.8281. Not-So-Ordinary Daily Life (6)

# 81. Not-So-Ordinary Daily Life (6)

“You don’t like sushi, do you?”

“You know that too?… I wonder if there’s anything you don’t know about me.”

I could certainly pride myself on knowing more about her than anyone else.

She continued with a genuinely curious expression.

“Albert likes sushi, and last time we ate what I like, so it’s fair now.”

I followed her into a restaurant which, ironically, was famous for its sushi.

‘How did she know I like sushi?…’

As I asked myself that question, one person came to mind.

To be honest, besides myself, there was only one person who could have told her such a fact.

“Just so you know, I heard about you liking sushi from Aelin.”

“I figured as much…”

That confirmation shot made it even more certain.

“I feel like I know too little about Albert, while you seem to know everything about me…”

“We can get to know each other slowly from now on. We have plenty of time. And there are quite a few things I don’t know either.”

There was as much I didn’t know as what I did know.

But we had enough time to transform those unknowns into knowns.

“Things you don’t know…?”

“Yes, for example, I don’t know how you talk and act with your boyfriend.”

There would certainly be new aspects of our relationship that differed from our past life.

And I wanted to discover those aspects slowly.

Preferably over a very long time.

“I know well how you think of and treat your subjects, and what level of capability you have as a leader, though.”

“I’m curious about that… How was I? Did I do well?”

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

Whether it was because the empire was at its strongest during her reign as emperor, or because she was the emperor during the period with the most wars since the founding, in later generations she would be praised as the most excellent leader.

“If Albert says so, that’s somewhat reassuring.”

“More importantly, aren’t you going to eat? There are quite a few other menu items besides sushi…”

She had been quietly watching me eat sushi without touching any food herself.

I could understand her not eating sushi if she didn’t like it, but this place offered more than just sushi.

Yet she hadn’t ordered anything.

“It’s fine. I feel full just watching Albert eat.”

“That sounds like something a mother would say.”

It was quite a touching statement, to the point where I wanted to return the sentiment to her someday.

“Do you like that kind of nurturing approach?”

“I don’t dislike it. I’m lacking in various aspects, after all.”

Though I said that, I honestly didn’t mind either way.

I liked ‘her’ regardless of what style she had.

Whether my tone or expression revealed that fact, she seemed to understand my thoughts.

“You sound like you don’t care either way?”

“You know me well.”

“It’s written all over your face, like ‘I really don’t mind~'”

She imitated my tone and voice quite naturally.

“Was that supposed to be an impression of me?”

“Yes.”

“Oh… I see.”

“Ah! That’s right.”

As we were chatting, she seemed to remember something.

“There’s something I forgot to tell you on Monday.”

“Oh… what is it?”

For some reason, I felt a bit uneasy.

“I told Father about us dating, on Saturday.”

“I see…. Wait, what?”

“Was that too hasty?”

“No, it’s fine. He would have found out eventually anyway.”

Just the two of us sitting here talking like this would already cause rumors to spread quickly.

That’s how the world works when internet and smartphones exist.

The emperor hearing those rumors was just a matter of time… or rather, it would happen in an instant.

Perhaps it was better that she had already told him, as she did.

“How did His Imperial Majesty react when he heard?”

How the emperor felt about it was a hundred times more important than the fact that he knew.

“Whether it’s because I explained it well or because Mother has been viewing Albert favorably, I’m not sure, but he seems to be thinking about it rather positively. At least that’s how it appears to me.”

“That’s a relief…”

I knew from the title conferment ceremony that Her Imperial Majesty the Empress viewed me favorably, but I didn’t know that had changed His Imperial Majesty’s view of me, which was fortunate.

If the emperor’s view had been unfavorable, things similar to my past life could have happened.

But perhaps because I saved the empress, the situation was turning out quite well.

“It’s all thanks to Albert.”

“I didn’t do anything special though?”

“You risked your life and almost died saving Mother, and you say you didn’t do anything?”

“It’s just a figure of speech.”

As we discussed these somewhat heavy topics lightly, time passed quickly, and before we knew it, I had finished all the sushi we had ordered initially.

“Let’s go now.”

We got up and headed to the counter to pay.

I blankly watched her naturally take out her wallet.

“I ate, but you’re… paying?”

“It doesn’t matter, it’s just pocket change.”

“That’s true…”

She took out her card and paid with it.

It was a scene that made me feel quite guilty, but what could I do…

Having finished my—not our—meal, we left the restaurant.

“Now let’s go buy that.”

And finally, we headed toward the Clock Tower to get the couple rings, which was the reason for our date.

‘The Clock Tower… it’s been a while since I’ve been there…’

The Clock Tower was like a paradise for mages where research on items and skills, especially magic-related skills, was actively conducted.

Most of the items they dealt with there were mages’ staffs or archers’ bows.

So I, who only used swords, had no particular need to visit the Clock Tower.

At most, I had only gone there occasionally to request something from Dren’s shop.

“You haven’t been to the Clock Tower much, right?”

“No, I can count the times on one hand.”

“Actually, I don’t go there often either.”

“You usually stay in the palace, dormitory, or places like the library, and don’t go outside much.”

“You really do know me well.”

She was quite the homebody, more than I expected. Apart from training, she hardly ever left the palace, and when she did, it was only to go to the library or to check on how the citizens were living while disguised as Diana.

Of course, I wasn’t much different.

Even this date was probably one of our rare outings, happening maybe once a month if that.

“We’re here, this is it.”

The appearance of that huge Clock Tower had something about it that overwhelmed people.

‘Did they cast some kind of spell on it…’

It felt that way.

We entered that majestic and solemn-feeling Clock Tower.

Inside, people presumed to be mages wearing various types of robes were entering different shops to purchase items.

And there were quite a few people glancing at us from the corner of their eyes.

‘This feels unpleasant…’

The stares were so obvious and blatant that it made it even worse.

Nevertheless, we ignored those stares and took the elevator to the 12th floor where Dren’s shop was located.

-Ding!-

When we arrived at the 12th floor, it wasn’t as crowded as the first floor.

There were barely 20 people including us.

‘It’s definitely an expensive place, so there aren’t many people…’

In the Clock Tower, shops that deal with more expensive weapons are located on higher floors.

The Clock Tower has shops from the 1st to the 12th floor.

From the 13th floor up are important places like research labs and power distribution centers.

“This is Dren’s shop.”

Dren’s shop, which dealt with the most expensive items even on the 12th floor where the most expensive items were sold, caught my eye immediately.

‘It’s still the same…’

Somehow, this shop always maintained this same appearance.

Even as times changed, this shop remained consistent.

We entered the shop with its nostalgic appearance.

We were greeted by a dwarf with a very small stature, not even reaching my knees, who appeared to be middle-aged, and who welcomed us—or more precisely, her.

“What brings the precious princess to a place like this? And who’s this boy beside you?”

“I’m just here to buy an item, and this is my boyfriend.”

“Oh… you’re quite bold. Usually, royalty is quick to hide such relationships…”

It’s rare for royalty to publicly acknowledge their lovers like she did. There have been cases of assassination, and the fame can make things difficult.

“He’s actually really strong.”

“I know that. He’s probably as strong as you or stronger.”

Dren’s eye for warriors, having seen countless of them, was indeed remarkable.

Dren looked me straight in the eyes and asked.

“You’re a warrior, yet you have a high amount of magical power?”

“That’s turned out to be quite an advantage.”

“So what kind of item do you need?”