Chapter 434: With a Fresh Start (4)

Thanks to Marquis Barandiga’s enthusiastic cooperation, discussions about the marriage between Ainter and the Marquis’s daughter, Shati, progressed rapidly.

“His Majesty said he’d send Prince Ainter to our faction during the New Year’s audience. Under the pretext of building camaraderie with the new nobles as a royal, it should proceed without a hitch.”

— I’ve told Shati it’s just social activities. If I mention marriage, she’ll hide away and refuse to come out…

Although the discussion is proceeding purely strategically without the opinions of those involved, this world operates on a class system. It’s an era where arranged marriages are more common than love marriages. It’s not particularly strange for marriage talks to happen without the knowledge of those involved.

Of course, even with arranged marriages, it’s generally preferable to match people who’ve known each other since childhood, as they’re still human relationships. It’s better if the future couple is already close. But since both Ainter and Shati are already considered adults, it’s more efficient to create the justification and circumstances for marriage rather than giving them time to get close.

Should I really be doing this?

I looked up at the ceiling after finishing yet another discussion, losing count of how many we’ve had. Certainly, this isn’t something that should be done by someone who’s autonomously dating six lovers, not for political reasons.

Especially not when I’m setting up someone who was unrequitedly in love until just last year.

I’m trash.

Thinking about it that way, I felt a heavy sense of self-loathing. Am I really trying to match a man whose unrequited love ended just a year ago with another woman? And I’m the one who ended that unrequited love?

Objectively, it’s a trashy thing to do, but I can’t help it. I’ve already received the sweet down payment of a month’s vacation.

…Ainter will like it too, right?

I desperately tried to think positively. As a member of the royal family, Ainter is likely to marry according to the wishes of the head of the imperial family, the Emperor, rather than his personal desires. If he’s going to have an arranged marriage anyway, it’s beneficial to have a strong in-law family.

And a marquis family is more than sufficient as in-laws. Although there’s the drawback of being newly ennobled, the title of marquis easily outweighs such minor flaws. Moreover, since Marquis Barandiga only has Shati as a child, Ainter’s child could become a marquis.

It’s a good marriage. Ainter, understanding the importance of strategic marriages as a royal, will gladly accept it.

Surely he will.

Please.

He must. If Ainter vehemently refuses the marriage, it’ll be troublesome for me and the Emperor. Not to mention Marquis Barandiga.

So if Ainter just quietly agrees to the marriage, I’m willing to give him a “Use Karl 3 Times” coupon as a wedding gift.

While enjoying the vacation granted by the Emperor and waiting for the New Year’s audience, I suddenly received a summons from the Retired Emperor.

Even a summons through someone else would make my heart sink, let alone a direct summons from the Retired Emperor. It was terrifying enough to instantly dispel the lingering drowsiness of the morning.

However, with the drowsiness gone, my mind started working quickly.

Is it about Ainter?

I quickly guessed the reason for the Retired Emperor’s summons and managed to calm my nerves.

Ainter’s marriage is the wedding of the Retired Emperor’s youngest and bringing in the last daughter-in-law. Even though the Retired Emperor has stepped back from all duties, it’s something he can’t help but be interested in. Whether it’s paternal affection or the interest of a former politician.

So I headed to the Imperial Palace, skipping breakfast. The Retired Emperor said to come when convenient, but going when truly convenient would be tactless.

What the…

But in my haste, I forgot something obvious.

That His Lordship the Chicken was an animal raised by the Retired Emperor. Which means various animals would be gathered in the Retired Emperor’s living space.

Woof! Woof woof!

Squeak, squeak!

As soon as I set foot in the Retired Emperor’s residence on the outskirts of the Imperial Palace, five little rice cakes came running at me.

It’s awkward. These tiny things I could hold in one hand are scurrying around, and I don’t know how to react. Ignoring them and walking on might result in stepping on them as they linger near my feet, but forcibly removing them might break something.

What should I do? In a way, this is a more effective sealing technique than most spells.

“Come here, all of you. You’re troubling our guest.”

At the low voice that suddenly resonated, the rice ca—no, puppies wagging their tails near me ran towards the source of the voice.

I was hoping they’d leave, but such a quick abandonment left me feeling a bit hurt. Was I just a momentary amusement for you?

“I’ve shown an embarrassing sight to the Minister. These little ones are quite friendly with people, so they must have been excited to see the Minister for the first time.”

As I stared blankly at the four puppies that had left my side and looked up, I saw the Retired Emperor standing there with a calm expression, holding a small sack.

“It’s an honor to be welcomed by creatures blessed with Your Majesty the Retired Emperor’s care.”

I instinctively blurted out a flattering response and quickly tried to prostrate myse—

Woof!

…lf, but I froze at the sound coming from right beside me.

Come to think of it, why are there only four near the Retired Emperor? Weren’t there five at first?

“It seems that one has taken a liking to the Minister.”

At those words, I carefully looked down at my feet.

A bright yellow rice cake was panting and wagging its tail happily.

“Let’s go inside first. It’s too cold to stay out here.”

“Ah, yes, Your Majesty.”

I hurriedly followed the Retired Emperor, who had already turned towards the building. Fortunately, with only one creature lingering near me, walking wasn’t a problem.

But as we headed towards the building, the Retired Emperor scattered something from the sack he was carrying, and suddenly three chickens appeared, pecking at whatever he had spread.

Unbelievable.

So that sack was full of feed? No, more importantly, why are the chickens being raised free-range? No wonder one escaped to the Imperial Palace.

With mixed feelings, I shifted my gaze from the chicken trio to the Retired Emperor’s back.

He was inscrutable even during his reign as Emperor, but now he’s unfathomable in a different way.

As morning came, news arrived that the Retired Emperor had summoned the Minister. It’s the first time since his abdication that the Retired Emperor has met with a current official.

He’s quick.

Although he’s officially retired, he’s still privately our father. I had already informed him that the Minister was leading Ainter’s marriage arrangements.

It seems he wants to hear directly from the person in charge about how his last remaining child’s marriage is progressing. Even he, who treated his children coldly, showed deep interest in marriage matters.

Marriage, huh.

I took a sip of tea and looked out the window. Suddenly, I recalled when I first told the Retired Emperor about my marriage to the Empress.

It was the only time that cold, rigid person showed a hint of surprise. Anyone would be shocked if the dying First Prince suddenly brought home a duke’s daughter as his wife, but I never thought I’d see him surprised in my lifetime.

Of course, it was a very faint, fleeting emotion.

Will he be surprised this time too?

A slight smile crept onto my face. How will the Retired Emperor react to the fact that I, who once sought Ainter’s life, chose a marquis family as his in-laws, and that this marquis family is part of the Minister’s faction, so I won’t have to discard them? Will he be pleased at the reconciliation between brothers, shake his head at the Emperor acting emotionally, or show no reaction at all? I’m curious.

Of course, I have no intention of asking directly. It’s a question I’ll ponder alone and then erase from my memory.

Still, I hope he thinks well of it. It’s the first time I’ve made a decision about imperial family matters on my own since becoming the head of House Livnoman.

“Your Majesty, the Minister of Inspection is here.”

He’s arrived.

As I continued sipping tea and admiring the scenery, I heard the news of the Minister’s arrival from beyond the door.

I hadn’t originally planned to meet the Minister, but if he had a private audience with the Retired Emperor, that changes things. I should at least know what the Minister said to him and how he reacted.

“Enter.”

With those words, the door carefully opened—

Woof!

?

I instinctively turned my head at the unexpected sound.

There I saw the Minister with an expression mixing bewilderment and resignation, and in his arms, a yellow puppy looking around curiously.

What’s this?

My mind went blank. I’m used to encountering animals outside the Solar Palace. Just yesterday, didn’t I see a chicken perched on a black horse’s head? I even get excited wondering what creature I’ll meet next.

But I never expected to see an animal inside the building. No matter how excited I was, this wasn’t the situation I had hoped for.

“Long live the Emperor. The head of House Krasius—“

Woof woof!

“…Carl Krasius of Tailglehen comes before the noble Sun of the Empire.”

“…”

Despite the Minister’s greeting, I couldn’t utter a word.

It’s chilling. Though my head is bowed, I can physically feel the Emperor’s gaze.

And proportional to that gaze, the rice cake in my arms started whining and struggling as if feeling cramped.

Please stay still. If I put you down and you start rummaging around, I’ll be held responsible.

“Minister.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What is that in your arms?”

I couldn’t open my mouth at the genuinely puzzled voice. I couldn’t understand why I was holding this pup either.

But I managed to summon the courage to speak. Not answering the Emperor’s question would be disloyal.

“His Majesty the Retired Emperor said this little one was very attached to me… and told me to take it home and raise it.”

Though my words were full of courage, sadly, the Emperor fell silent again.

Damn it.

Suddenly, I resent the Emperor. He just had to summon me on my way back after receiving this pup, making me show up like this.

I couldn’t go back to the mansion and then return to the Imperial Palace after receiving the Emperor’s summons. But I couldn’t entrust the Retired Emperor’s gift to just anyone either. Even the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Knights outside the door waved me off.

“…It’s a cute little thing.”

“…Thank you, Your Majesty.”

I’m not sure what I’m thankful for, but I just responded that way.

Afterwards, for a while, only the pitiful whining of the rice cake echoed through the room.