Ch.8787. It would be no different from a prison without bars.

“Did I startle you by calling you so suddenly?”

Just like before, I found myself in another private audience with the Emperor.

A cold air permeated the reception room.

Everyone at the banquet must have been so surprised…

Understandably so.

The Emperor had approached me first, greeted me warmly, and invited me for tea.

Especially, Leonard’s frustrated expression was quite a sight to behold.

“Not at all. It’s an honor for me.”

“Your silver hair was quite eye-catching in the banquet hall.”

“Haha, thanks to what I inherited from my father.”

“How is Baron Byron?”

“Yes, he’s doing well. When I told my father that Your Imperial Majesty had asked after him, he was so delighted… He drank quite a lot that day.”

The Emperor stroked his beard and let out a hearty laugh.

“Ho ho, if he was that pleased, I should invite him to the Imperial Palace sometime.”

“My father would truly be delighted.”

“Ah! I noticed you were conversing with some ladies earlier. I hope I didn’t interrupt a pleasant time?”

“They simply approached me, so I was merely responding.”

“May I ask what they said to you?”

“They asked which family I belonged to.”

“With your outstanding appearance, you must be popular everywhere.”

Why am I receiving so many compliments about my looks today?

As my mood improved, the corners of my mouth naturally turned upward.

“Thank you.”

“Sairin’s face was burning red. Who knows what might have happened had I not intervened.”

“Princess Sairin?”

“She seems to have taken a liking to you. I understand why. You’re probably the first person who hasn’t treated her like a princess.”

“T-that was because you deceived me, so I had no choice.”

“Didn’t you already know from seeing the imperial emblem?”

Conversing with the Emperor gave me a feeling similar to the Etherian Princess.

Blood doesn’t lie, they say…

Similarly, it felt like being interrogated.

“I had to pretend not to know, fearing the Princess might be uncomfortable.”

“Hmm, then what do you think of Sairin?”

“I think she has a lively personality.”

“And what else?”

“She seems thoughtful and shows deep consideration for others.”

Emperor Malius appeared lost in thought again, fidgeting with his teacup before continuing.

“I asked before, but what do you think of the Etherian Princess now?”

“While her image might seem cold, I believe she’s warm-hearted inside.”

“W-warm-hearted, you say?”

Emperor Malius stammered for the first time, seemingly taken aback.

I tilted my head in confusion.

“Yes, I think she’s a warm person, but is there something wrong with that?”

“I was just talking about Sairin, not Etherian.”

“I was also speaking about Princess Etherian.”

“Haha! You’re quite the jokester.”

I understood the Emperor’s perspective.

In the original story, the Etherian Princess was truly a “villainess.”

With the sole purpose of becoming queen, she ordered murders without hesitation and maintained her characteristic expressionlessness even as people died before her eyes.

But.

Whatever changed the Etherian Princess, her personality was vastly different from what I saw in the original story.

Could it be that her near-death experience with the assassin changed her?

In the original story, “Selden Alphonse” never visited the Imperial Palace.

However, with my appearance, an assassin emerged, and the Etherian Princess nearly got assassinated.

After facing a near-death experience, one’s thoughts would naturally change.

I wondered if she had come to think everything was meaningless.

Moreover.

Her desire for a life without competition and full of comfort further confirmed this.

It wasn’t something that would come from the mouth of someone who had been racing like a racehorse, solely focused on becoming queen.

Perhaps feeling a bit more at ease during this second meeting with the Emperor, I ventured a mischievous joke.

“Haha! Your Imperial Majesty seems to know less about Princess Etherian than I do.”

“Then would you like to take her?”

“…Pardon?”

“If you know the Etherian Princess better than I do, wouldn’t it be right for you to take her?”

Why is the atmosphere turning strange again?

He’s talking as if she’s someone else’s daughter.

I gave a smile tinged with pretense.

“The Princess is too good for someone like me.”

“Don’t say that. As her father, I know precisely. No one but you can accept my daughter’s personality.”

“I appreciate your consideration, but I have things I need to do.”

“Is it because of Sairin?”

The flow of the conversation was bewildering, to say the least.

I shook my head vigorously to maintain my composure.

“No, it’s about duties I have for my family.”

“Hmm, if it’s for your family, wouldn’t marrying a princess be beneficial?”

“If Princess Etherian were to find out that I married her for my family’s benefit, it would deeply hurt her.”

“As I felt before, you’re quite eloquent. I can see why both Etherian and Sairin are fond of you.”

I honestly wasn’t sure about them having feelings for me.

Princess Sairin might feel close due to our treasure hunting memories, and Princess Etherian might think of me more specially since I saved her life.

Could one of the princesses actually like me?

I don’t want to marry anyone.

No matter how beautiful or authoritative they might be, it wouldn’t be a sweet life.

It’s already burdensome being confined to a place of exile, let alone living in the Imperial Palace for a lifetime…

It would be no different from a prison without bars.

“I’m not just saying the right words; I’m sincere.”

“I respect your intentions.”

“Thank you.”

“By the way, I’ve heard rumors that you’re talented not only in swordsmanship but also in magic?”

“It’s nothing special, but I’ll show you directly.”

I controlled my magical power and chanted “Fireball” to create a gentle flame on my fingertip.

But I was startled by a feeling of blockage, and Emperor Malius laughed heartily.

“Haha, magic can’t be used inside the Imperial Palace. I’ve already blocked it.”

“Do you have a control stone?”

“If assassins were to infiltrate, especially mages, they’d be troublesome. Don’t most families also install control stones?”

Having only been in exile, how would I know?

I only knew from the knowledge of the original novel.

“I must have forgotten since I’ve only been in exile. I’ll show you another time when there’s an opportunity.”

“Well, I have a feeling I’ll be able to see your magic soon.”

“…Pardon?”

“I look forward to it. Now, I’ll take my leave.”

Just like the previous private audience, Emperor Malius rose after making some strange remarks.

I also stood up from my chair and bowed.

“It was a pleasant conversation.”

The Emperor paused at the door of the reception room upon hearing my words.

He turned to look at me and revealed his white teeth.

“I should meet your father as soon as possible.”

*

“Mr. Selden Alphonse? You’re so entertaining!!”

“Yes, I didn’t know you’d be this amusing.”

“I heard the youngest of the Alphonse family was handsome, and the rumors were true.”

I hadn’t said anything.

After finishing my private audience with the Emperor and returning to the banquet hall, people approached me from all directions.

Then, women gathered closely and giggled uncontrollably.

And all I did was greet them.

“You must be close to His Imperial Majesty. I’ve never seen him call someone separately before.”

“Can’t you tell us what you talked about?”

Hiding my bewildered expression, I scratched my head.

“My father was an Imperial Knight, so he has connections with His Imperial Majesty. I just had a brief conversation as his son.”

Moreover.

The woman who had blushed and said “You’re handsome” at the beginning of the banquet, but whose expression had hardened when she heard “I’m the youngest,” now boldly approached me through the crowd.

“M-my father was also an Imperial Knight!!”

Power certainly has its appeal.

Even with the modifier “the rogue from the edge of the Eastern Continent,” people’s attitudes changed 180 degrees just because I had a private audience with the Emperor.

If they knew it was the second time, they might be even more shocked.

Managing my expression with difficulty, I nodded.

“Ah, is that so?”

“Earlier, I was surprised when you were suddenly called by His Imperial Majesty while we were talking. I was worried something might be wrong.”

“Ah… thank you.”

“My father might have been acquainted with Baron Byron.”

Her intentions were so transparent that it actually reduced my wariness.

However, no matter how hard I tried to end the conversation, she showed no intention of letting go.

“Selden!”

At that moment, Rohan Brix appeared like a savior and firmly grabbed my forearm.

“…Huh?”

“We had a promise, we need to go quickly.”

Led by Rohan’s hand, I escaped from the banquet hall.

As I let out a sigh of relief, Rohan patted my shoulder.

“Being handsome is quite tiring, isn’t it?”

“It’s not that. His Imperial Majesty suddenly called for me, and people are curious about our conversation.”

“I saw it earlier, from Princess Etherian to His Imperial Majesty… It seems I’ve made quite an extraordinary friend.”

“Anyway, thanks for saving me. Being surrounded by so many people was making me dizzy.”

“Shall we go to the terrace for some fresh air then?”

“Let’s do that.”

When we went to the outdoor terrace, Leonard was sitting alone on a bench.

Even with my arrival, he seemed lost, staring into space.

Is he acting like this again because I went to talk with the Emperor?

Well, he’ll probably recover soon as time passes.

After looking at Leonard with sympathetic eyes, I turned my gaze to Rohan.

“Is Sophia still talking with the Princess?”

“Yeah, with Lina joining them too, I became the only loner.”

“Haha! Let’s just chat, the two of us.”

Just then, someone hugged me from behind with a soft “thump.”

Looking down at the fingers, they were clearly feminine.

Given the level of intoxication, I thought it might be Lina.

She had shown quite a bit of aegyo when drunk last time.

Feeling an inexplicable guilt towards Rohan, I raised my head again.

Then, Rohan opened his mouth with an astonished expression.

“P-Princess?”