Chapter 42
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Chapter 42
"Hahahaha!"
The Tower Master laughed with unbridled delight.
Then he hooked his arm through the Minister of Justice's, who wore a sullen expression, and hauled him to his feet.
"Now then, Minister of Justice, you should get back to your duties! I've kept you from them long enough, haven't I? Eh? Ahahaha! Let me escort you back to where you came from!"
Come to think of it, the Minister of Justice had only come this far because of the Tower Master's unauthorized intrusion in the first place.
Though everyone had forgotten that fact.
The Tower Master lifted the Minister of Justice up with enthusiasm. Truly, this old man possessed remarkable strength.
"I'll just take this gentleman back and return! And I have additional business with the Scroll Department Director—I mean, Namia Loapi—so wait just a moment!"
Before the Minister of Justice could protest, the Tower Master hoisted him onto his shoulder and strode out of the Empress's Chamber.
Only we and the Aide remained.
"Phew."
The Emperor exhaled softly while gripping the Empress's hand firmly.
"It felt like a whirlwind just passed through."
I agreed with that sentiment. My mind was completely scattered.
I nodded carefully and gazed at the Emperor and Empress's clasped hands.
For a middle-aged couple, their affection was remarkably strong.
No matter how I looked at it, the Emperor seemed slightly jealous that the Tower Master and Empress had exchanged a high-five.
'The Baron and Baroness only ever fight over money.'
I'd never even seen my own parents get along like this, so it was honestly quite fascinating.
The Emperor, noticing my fixed gaze, spoke with some embarrassment.
"Ah, well... dragons tend to be rather possessive of their mates, you see."
Ah, I think the original work mentioned something similar.
The Emperor squeezed the Empress's hand tighter as he continued.
"That's why forgetting one's first love is... truly not an easy thing for a dragon. I tried very hard myself, but ultimately failed."
"Kehehehe, kihyahyak, kehihihyakak!"
The Empress, embarrassed by the Emperor's sappy words, burst into flustered laughter. The Aide's workload had just increased.
"In that regard..."
Not knowing what to say, I simply rolled my eyes, when the Emperor continued with a gentle smile.
"Namia Loapi, you'll soon receive your director's appointment... but before that."
Before that?
Was there something else to do?
The Emperor, unable to contain himself, shrugged his shoulders and turned his gaze toward Crown Prince Kiaros.
"Kiaros, there's still something you haven't said, isn't there?"
Unlike the Emperor, who couldn't hide his excitement, Crown Prince Kiaros appeared perfectly composed.
"Yes. There is. I shall do so now."
Crown Prince Kiaros nodded with an elegant expression.
"Namia Loapi."
The Emperor and Empress tensed, gripping each other's hands tightly.
Meanwhile, Crown Prince Kiaros, showing no sign of agitation, spoke in his usual flawless voice.
"Do you remember the price you demanded of me when I saved you all those years ago?"
* * *
Crown Prince Kiaros took a sip of tea amid the chaos.
Though various complications had arisen along the way, my business with Namia Loapi was far from concluded.
He had already anticipated her response.
[I want to marry a man with an absolutely, absolutely, absolutely enormous fortune!]
Fifteen years ago, the young Namia Loapi had said precisely that.
[It meant I wouldn't marry such an old man no matter how rich he was.]
The present Namia Loapi, too, had stated that she preferred someone her own age, regardless of wealth.
And when he posed a question born of the slightest, most fleeting curiosity, she gave an answer exactly as he had foreseen.
[Well, if Your Highness the Crown Prince were to ask, I suppose I could marry you given my current circumstances....]
So the answer was essentially predetermined. Perhaps that was why he felt no tension whatsoever.
Everything would unfold rationally, precisely as he had calculated.
"Ugh, ahem."
"Your Majesty, are you unwell?"
"No, Fron. Ahem. It's just... I'm feeling rather anxious...."
While the Emperor displayed an exaggerated reaction, Crown Prince Kiaros cast a sidelong glance at Namia Loapi.
'She appears intelligent and sharp enough to become an excellent member of the Imperial Family.'
Crown Prince Kiaros and Namia Loapi could make a formidable pair. Even as Empress, she would likely prove remarkably capable in managing state affairs.
Moreover... she seemed to possess considerable ambition for power.
'The very fact that she covets positions like Tower Master or Minister speaks volumes.'
So she would certainly accept the position of Crown Princess. Exactly as anticipated.
Crown Prince Kiaros regarded the expressionless Namia Loapi with his usual indifference and spoke with leisurely confidence.
"You certainly said you would grant me everything I desired."
"Yes, that's correct."
"And you said you wanted to marry a man with an enormous fortune."
Namia Loapi's eyes had grown somewhat distant now.
It was quite different from the eager demeanor she had displayed when the ministerial position was mentioned. Yet Crown Prince Kiaros chose not to misinterpret her.
Contrary to appearances, even Kibon Altes had cherished this woman deeply in his heart.
"And among your contemporaries, I possess the greatest wealth."
"Yes, that's true."
"Aware of this fact, I have deliberately refrained from becoming engaged...."
By now, the Emperor had seized the Empress's hand firmly, breathing heavily.
"So if you wish it, Namia Loapi, I can marry you."
Crown Prince Kiaros, entirely untroubled, took another elegant sip of tea before asking:
"What do you say? Shall we marry?"
* * *
Hmm.
I blinked, regarding Crown Prince Kiaros as though he were a marble sculpture.
There was not a single flaw in his logic.
'Now that I think about it, I'd already heard that she grants everything I want. And here I was, struggling so desperately without knowing that.'
But seeing the Empress brimming with vitality, I didn't feel like my efforts had been wasted.
Saving an innocent person was rewarding in itself.
'In any case, that's why she hadn't been engaged all this time....'
Back then, as a child, I had been obsessed with the "Cinderella Operation."
The debt created by marriage should be repaid through marriage—that sort of thing.
When Huan Loapi Sr. heard that, he scolded me terribly. Marriage, he said, was something you did with someone you loved.
'Honestly... nothing good came from listening to Dad's advice....'
I paused to think.
After all, Dad had ruined his life by marrying for love.
My father, who repeated choices filled with good intentions, only to fail each time....
Should I really follow Dad's final piece of advice?
'If I married Crown Prince Kiaros right now....'
Becoming Crown Princess would grant me tremendous authority, which seemed appealing.
Attending various events as a distinguished guest also seemed suited to my temperament. I'd eat plenty of delicious food and wear fine clothes every day.
But when I actually imagined married life....
[Your Highness, it seems we must produce an heir.]
[Of course. I shall do my utmost at your command.]
It felt like I'd be living with my superior all day long.
[Your Highness, it seems we must produce another child.]
[Understood. If you would tell me what was lacking last time, I shall correct it to the best of my ability.]
A life with no end to the workday.
And most critically.
'She said she'd find Dad, and that she'd spare him even if he were involved in a crime....'
I no longer had any reason to curry favor with the Royal Family.
'Besides, fifteen years ago, I essentially saved Crown Prince Kiaros, didn't I? If he had any conscience, he'd spare my father no matter how serious his crimes were. I saved him twice.'
Of course, just thirty minutes ago, if he'd offered to make me Crown Princess, I would have nodded eagerly.
I needed to maximize my opportunities to see Crown Prince Kiaros.
'But I'm a Minister now, aren't I? If I have something to say, I can visit him anytime I want? I'm not a subordinate anymore?'
In other words, marriage to Crown Prince Kiaros was no longer something I truly needed....
"Ah."
Crown Prince Kiaros didn't seem to have any feelings for me either. He was merely bestowing the favor of "marrying me."
It was only natural.
As a child, he'd never even seen my face, and as an adult, this was only the second time we'd had a proper conversation.
So I answered without any hesitation.
"No."
The Emperor, who had been holding his breath with soft sounds, suddenly dropped his teacup with a thud.
With a sharp clang, the cup shattered on the floor.
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