Episode 47

No matter how absent the master is, how could things come to this?

Before me, the three untamed colts were glaring at each other, engaged in a silent battle of wits.

Rubbing my throbbing forehead, I asked, “What is your problem? Why are you always at each other’s throats whenever you meet?”

They shifted their gazes to each other, delaying a response, until Lian, with his silver tongue, spoke up.

“Because we want the same thing.”

“I know you all wish to break free from the bonds of the pact. But—”

“That’s not it.”

Lian interrupted me, rising to his feet.

I had no idea what he meant, but Aiden and Vitrain, though looking displeased, seemed to agree with Lian and stood up, staring at me.

“What do you mean, that’s not it?”

“Have you already forgotten? The three of us desire to become Your Majesty’s consort.”

Without realizing it, my gaze turned to Aiden.

He had once confessed that he didn’t mind if the mark of the dog was not removed, as long as he could marry me. I still hadn’t responded to his confession.

Since then, Aiden hadn’t brought it up, and I had been pretending not to notice it.

Aiden, who had shown his true feelings, was staying silent, so I couldn’t understand why Lian was saying this now.

They wanted to marry me to become emperor and find a way to remove the mark of the pact, right?

They all knew I didn’t intend to take a spouse, let alone a pet. Why bring this up now?

Though I couldn’t outright declare that I had no intention of marrying, listening to their increasingly absurd talk was frustrating.

“So, can we really get along? The jealousy of men is both ugly and frightening.”

“Lian.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Lian answered with a smile that seemed capable of melting eternal snow.

Come to think of it, he always tries to smooth things over with a smile.

“Stop talking nonsense and get along from now on.”

Lian blinked, his frozen smile still plastered on his face.

“With these two?”

“Yes, that’s an order.”

Apparently shocked, Lian couldn’t respond, so Vitrain stepped in with a troubled expression.

“Your Majesty, we’re not children. Getting along isn’t so simple…”

“Precisely because you’re not children, you should be able to manage it. Don’t fight; get along. Understood?”

“Well, that’s…”

Vitrain couldn’t bring himself to respond, his words trailing off. I then turned to Aiden, who looked like he had received a carrot instead of meat at dinner.

“Aiden, you can manage it, right?”

He swallowed hard, as if downing a huge carrot in one gulp, and replied, “I won’t bite.”

It wasn’t the most satisfying answer, but compared to the stubborn snake and eagle, the obedient dog seemed preferable.

I smiled brightly at him, praising Aiden.

“I knew you’d follow my command. It would be good if you also refrained from drawing your sword without reason.”

Seeing my smile, Aiden’s previously sour expression brightened.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will get along with these two.”

Aiden nodded obediently.

Behind him, I almost imagined seeing a tail wagging.

Lian, looking at Aiden with disdain, sighed deeply and said, “I will follow Your Majesty’s order.”

“I will also… try to get along.”

Vitrain added reluctantly.

Vitrain followed Lian, answering with a worried expression.

Satisfied, I looked at the three of them.

Whether bound by leashes or not, these three were the pillars holding up Belpator.

I couldn’t help but wonder if these pillars were in a fit state to support the empire, but they were pillars nonetheless.

It would be ideal if they could get along and cooperate.

Despite their uneasy expressions, I was confident that the three would become friends soon. Surprisingly, they had a lot in common, like their questionable sanity and their polished exteriors hiding deeper issues.

With the beasts seemingly calmed, I returned to the question I had been trying to ask earlier.

Whether Belpator should intervene in the war between Byerson and Dyron was a significant issue that I couldn’t decide alone.

Before addressing it in the state council, I wanted to know the opinions of the three beasts.

Lian, now looking a bit more serious, spoke first.

“Even if you ask again, I am against it. There is too little to gain for Belpator by deploying troops. Even if Enser occupies Dyron and begins preparing for a major war, we have forward bases to be concerned about.”

“Forward bases? Does Belpator have such a thing?”

“Thanks to Your Majesty, we now do.”

I tilted my head, not understanding what he meant until I realized what Lian was referring to.

A place at a reasonable distance from Belpator and sharing a border with Dyron—Dirmil.

This conniving serpent! I may have little attachment to my homeland, but saying such things in front of me?

“The people of the Kingdom of Dirmil have done no wrong.”

“That’s not my concern…but, they indeed have done no wrong.”

Lian hastily changed his tune upon seeing my expression.

This guy seriously has issues, though it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what.

Lian cleared his throat and continued.

“Even if Enser takes Dyron, they won’t immediately provoke Belpator. We can wait and see how this war unfolds, and if they invade another small kingdom, we can act then.”

“Another small kingdom, like Dirmil, for example?”

I asked with a sour expression.

Given its proximity to Dyron, Dirmil would be an appealing target for the Enser Empire.

Lian began to nod confidently but stopped short, noticing my expression.

Though he had many character flaws, he wasn’t completely oblivious, so he clamped his mouth shut.

I looked at him with the contempt he deserved and spoke.

“I’ve heard the Chancellor’s opinion that there is nothing to gain from Belpator intervening in this war. Vitrain, I’ve heard your thoughts earlier. Aiden, do you share the same view?”

“I also don’t think Enser will immediately reach for Belpator. An inadequate response could escalate the war. It’s better to conserve our strength. However…”

“However?”

“It’s necessary to gauge their strength. There are troops who need real combat experience and training, and they’re currently idle.”

“Idle troops? Ah, the Imperial Guard?”

Indeed, a high-ranking military group was currently embroiled in internal conflicts.

It seemed like a viable idea. I wasn’t well-versed in war, but a knightly group should be capable of reconnaissance, at the very least.

Considering it was better than doing nothing, I began to lean towards this idea when Lian objected.

“Sending a unit created to protect Her Majesty abroad. Are you out of your mind, Duke Tilender?”

“In their current state, they’re less than useless. Instead of protecting Her Majesty, they’d be a hindrance if something happened.”

“They’ll stabilize once the command structure is established after the tournament.”

“I’ve heard the tournament is just a pretext for factional battles. There’s also talk that the knights from House Zernia are particularly united.”

“Perhaps they are motivated by their desire to protect Her Majesty.”

“Do you think knights from other houses feel the same way?”

Aiden and Lian began growling at each other, forehead to forehead.

I rubbed my aching temples with my fingers and asked.

“Are you two fighting?”

They both turned to me simultaneously with broad smiles.

“No, Your Majesty.”

“Of course not.”

Then they glared at each other again.

I couldn’t understand why they didn’t get along when they seemed so similar. Was it some kind of mutual disdain among their kind?

Aiden, having regained his serious expression, spoke more firmly than before.

“What the Imperial Guard needs right now is an external enemy to unite them. Once the command structure is in place, we should deploy them outside Brincia, Your Majesty.”

Lian still looked dissatisfied, but Vitrain’s reaction was different.

“It seems there’s another reason.”

Aiden exchanged glances with Vitrain before nodding slightly.

They might clash swords, but there seemed to be some mutual understanding among the military men.

Turning back to me, Aiden’s face was more serious than ever.

“For the time being, it’s best not to station the Imperial Guard in places where they can easily return to their original knight orders.”

Aiden wouldn’t say this without a reason. Perhaps he had made progress in his investigation into those two incidents.

Knowing his genuine concern for my safety, I thought it wise to heed his words.

Lian didn’t object further.

Deciding to discuss Aiden’s suggestion at the state council, I parted ways with the beasts and returned to my chambers.