Chapter 82 : Overseas Travel (3)

The start of my overseas trip was approaching.

Before I knew it, I had woken up from my sleep and was munching on the cookies the head maid had given me while watching the servants busily carrying the luggage.

“…Mmm.”

A sweet, crispy cookie with a soft and moist center.

A happy smile naturally spread across my face as I puffed up my cheeks and enjoyed the snack.

“Delicious.”

“Minho, swallow before you speak.”

“Yes.”

I had stuffed my mouth full of cookies and tried to talk, only to be scolded by my mom.

But I wasn’t particularly upset since I had already been warned to watch my manners in the Empire.

If I didn’t start being careful now, I would definitely cause trouble once we arrived.

Even though we had killed the Emperor, I had heard that the Empire’s public sentiment toward our kingdom was surprisingly good.

It seemed that the previous Emperor had been both foolish and cruel, enough to make people glad he was gone.

“I’m done eating…”

Just as I finished off a whole box of cookies and was about to open the next one, Dad swiftly moved it out of my reach.

“We’re saving this to share on the way.”

“…Okay.”

I was a little disappointed, but it couldn’t be helped.

After all, I needed something to snack on during the trip.

Since this world didn’t seem to have rest stops, I could only stare longingly at the cookie box and endure.

‘Yeah, a trip without food just isn’t right.’

With that thought, I turned my gaze to the lunchbox sitting on my lap.

It was wrapped in a pink cloth decorated with a cute Uha character.

‘…Ugh, what is this?’

Honestly, I felt a strong sense of rejection.

It wasn’t to my taste at all.

My preferences weren’t like those of a typical young girl.

But the elderly ladies, my mom, and the head maid had all clapped and cheered about how cute and fitting it was.

I had no choice but to carry around this embarrassingly designed lunchbox.

“…It’s ugly.”

“You really don’t like it that much?”

Mom chuckled and gently patted my head.

“…No, it’s fine.”

“Your cheeks are all puffed up, though?”

“Ot.”

Even though I said it was fine, my dissatisfaction must have slipped out without me realizing it.

Mom, smiling mischievously, began poking my puffed-up cheeks.

When I tilted my head at her, sensing she was holding something back—

“Ugh… I can’t resist anymore!!”

“Uwah?!”

She suddenly pulled me into a tight hug, squeezing me in her arms.

Since it all happened in an instant, I was a little startled, but the fact that it was my mother’s embrace quickly calmed me down.

“Albi, do we really have to start being careful already…?”

“Haa… I suppose there’s no helping it.”

It seemed that even my mother was holding herself back to avoid acting recklessly.

Since she was originally a simple country girl, it must not have been easy for her.

I squirmed slightly in her embrace, feeling a little suffocated, and she loosened her hold just enough for me to breathe.

“…Phew.”

“Hehe, sorry, Minho.”

“It’s okay.”

Snuggled in my mother’s arms, I swung my legs back and forth, waiting for our departure.

‘I’m excited.’

This was my very first overseas trip.

Including both this life and my past one.

In my previous life, my parents had been too busy for travel, and by the time I became an adult—well, being paralyzed and having cancer pretty much ruled out any chance of a trip.

It was a bit disappointing that we weren’t flying, but—

‘…I can fly now, so I guess it doesn’t matter?’

The thought that I could take to the skies whenever I wanted quickly erased my disappointment.

The servants, who had been bustling about, had now begun boarding the carriages one by one.

There were already seven prepared, not counting the one reserved for our royal family.

It seemed we would be staying in the Empire for quite a long time.

At that moment, a servant came running toward us from a distance, handing over a letter.

But surprisingly, the recipient wasn’t my father—it was me.

“…Huh?”

“A letter has arrived for Your Highness, the Princess.”

Blinking in confusion, I looked to my father, who took the letter and briefly thanked the servant.

With a small bow, the servant turned and hurried back toward the castle.

“It’s from the Empire.”

“The Empire?”

“It seems the imperial princess has sent you a letter.”

The imperial princess sent a letter to me?

The one who was about to become Emperor was reaching out to me personally?

Curious, I accepted the letter from my father and hurriedly opened it.

The contents were written in dragon script.

Startled, I turned to my father, who chuckled and explained that members of the Empire’s royal family were taught dragon script from a young age.

Apparently, it was essential for diplomatic relations with us.

Finding it fascinating, I slowly read through the letter.

[To Her Highness, Princess Minho Laskaris of the Dragon Kingdom,
Greetings.

I am Ariel Cria, the First Imperial Princess of the Empire, and soon-to-be Emperor following the upcoming coronation.

I write this letter to express my sincere apologies for past wrongdoings and to ask that you view the Empire’s future with kindness.

I have heard that you will be attending the coronation, and I eagerly await your arrival with great anticipation.

There are many things I wish to discuss with you, but I assume that by the time this letter reaches you, you will be busy preparing for your journey.

Thus, after your arrival and once the coronation has concluded, I plan to host a tea party.

I sincerely hope you will attend.

Sincerely,
Ariel Cria, First Imperial Princess of the Empire]

Since it all happened in an instant, I was a little surprised, but being in my mother’s embrace quickly calmed me down.

“Albi, do we really have to start being careful already…?”

“Hah… There’s no helping it.”

It seemed that my mother was also holding back a lot to avoid acting too recklessly.

Perhaps because she was originally a simple country girl, it wasn’t easy for her.

I squirmed slightly in her arms, feeling a little suffocated, and she loosened her hold to let me breathe.

“…Phew.”

“Hehe, sorry, Minho.”

“It’s okay.”

I swung my dangling legs back and forth while still in my mother’s embrace, waiting for our departure.

‘I’m excited.’

This was my first overseas trip.

In both my past life and this one.

In my previous life, my parents had been too busy to take me on any trips abroad.

And after I became an adult… well, I was paralyzed from the waist down and had cancer, so traveling was out of the question.

It was a bit disappointing that I wouldn’t be flying on an airplane…

‘…But I can fly now, so does it really matter?’

The thought that I could fly if I wanted to quickly erased my disappointment.

The once-busy servants had finished their work and were now boarding the carriages one by one.

There were already seven prepared.

That number didn’t even include the royal family’s carriage.

It seemed like we would be staying in the Empire for quite some time.

Then, at that moment, a servant came running over from a distance, carrying a letter.

But instead of handing it to my father, he handed it to me.

“…Huh?”

“A letter has arrived for Your Highness, the Princess.”

I stared blankly at my father, who took the letter and thanked the servant with a brief, “Thank you.”

The servant bowed politely before heading back into the castle.

“It’s from the Empire.”

“The Empire?”

“Looks like the Imperial Princess sent you a letter.”

The Imperial Princess sent a letter to me?

The person who would soon become the Emperor sent me a letter?

Curious, I took the letter from my father and hurriedly opened it.

Inside, the letter was written in dragon script.

I was startled, but my father chuckled and explained that the Empire’s royal family was taught dragon script from a young age.

It was essential for diplomatic negotiations with our kingdom.

Fascinated, I began reading the letter carefully.

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[Greetings to Minho Laskaris, Third Princess of the Dragon Kingdom.]
[I am Ariel Cria, the First Imperial Princess of the Empire and the soon-to-be Emperor following the upcoming coronation.]
[I wish to express my apologies for the mistakes of the past and hope that you will look kindly upon the Empire as it changes for the better.]
[I heard that you will be attending the coronation, and I am eagerly awaiting your arrival.]
[There are many things I wish to discuss, but by the time this letter reaches you, you will likely be busy preparing for your journey to the Empire.]
[Therefore, once the coronation is over, I plan to hold a tea party.]
[Please do attend.]
[Sincerely, Ariel Cria, First Imperial Princess of the Empire.]

She was using extremely formal language and was appealing for me to look favorably upon the Empire.

I tilted my head in confusion.

Why would she go to such lengths for a mere one-year-old baby?

My father let out a small chuckle.

“Our Minho is the next ruler. Of course, she wants to stay on your good side.”

“…Huh? What about my sisters?”

“Half-bloods can’t inherit the throne.”

So I was the rightful heir to the throne.

“…Eh?”

“You didn’t know? How cute~”

My mother giggled and pulled at my cheeks.

While I was still dumbfounded, a maid came running up to inform us that everything was ready for departure.

An extravagant carriage arrived, and the three of us boarded it.

The head maid stood outside, bidding us farewell.

“You’re not coming with us, Head Maid?”

“No, Your Highness. I must stay behind to assist the elder council.”

I felt a little disappointed.

Traveling with her would have been fun.

“…That’s a shame.”

“There is no need to be disappointed, Your Highness. Once you enter the academy, we will be together plenty.”

The head maid smiled warmly at me, and I nodded.

When I enrolled in the academy, she would temporarily entrust her duties to a junior and accompany me.

It was my parents’ way of ensuring I was looked after by someone they trusted the most.

“I’ll bring you a present when I return!”

“I will look forward to it.”

Even while working, the head maid still wore a gentle smile.

Giggling, I waved at her continuously through the window as the carriage began moving.

Meanwhile, the Empire was in an uproar.

From high-ranking nobles to ordinary peasants, everyone was buzzing about the upcoming coronation.

Looking at the massive crowd gathered, the Imperial Princess Ariel smiled in satisfaction.

“The Empire will gain a new name and be reborn today.”

“It is time to correct the mistakes of the past.”

Speaking to her closest aide, Ariel, dressed in her most elegant attire, stood up.

“How do I look?”

“You look beautiful.”

“Good.”

Despite the emotionless response, Ariel smiled slightly.

“Good.”

“The weather is wonderful too.”

As if foreshadowing the Empire’s hopeful future, the sky was clear and bright.

She smiled as she gazed upon the gathered citizens of the Empire.

One by one, honored guests began arriving.

For the first time in the Empire’s history, even the Demon King himself had come in person from the Demon Realm.

Ariel had expected him to send an envoy at best, so she was briefly surprised by his unexpected visit.

“…If they’re coming, then mere demons have no reason to stay hidden in the Demon Realm.”

With dragons attending in person, how could demons not show themselves?

Ariel turned her attention away from the Demon King and announced:

“I will rename the Empire as the New Cria Empire.”

She had discarded her old imperial surname and created a new one, thus renaming the Empire itself.

“Once the coronation is over, we will begin purging the corrupt nobles one by one.”

There were more than enough corrupt nobles who needed to be dealt with immediately.

They were all former relatives of the previous dynasty.

Since Ariel had been born to a commoner mother, she had no ties to them.

And any connections she might have had had already been severed when they scorned and abandoned her long ago.

“…Even if I have to go to extremes, as long as it makes life easier for the people.”

The opposition to the corrupt nobles had already been secretly swayed to her side.

The nobles still had no idea.

“I will also need to honor my promise to the elves soon.”

Among those opposing the corrupt nobles was Silvader.

His daughter had successfully escaped the Empire, but his wife had recently died after prolonged torture.

“She was the Princess’s friend… so I will ensure a suitable price is paid for her suffering.”

If the Empire was to regain its former glory, then enduring humiliation was inevitable.

Ariel was ready to bear that burden.

Just then, news arrived that the carriages from the Dragon Kingdom had entered the Empire.

“…They’ve finally arrived.”

With a faint smile, Ariel headed toward the coronation venue, accompanied by her closest aides.