* * *
No matter what was happening outside, the garden of the Emperor’s Palace was peaceful.
Even an emperor who was always overworked had to have time to rest, and that was today. It was also an opportunity to receive the report on events in the desert from Lacius, the Archduke of Schweiden.
“So those guys called Fata-Morgana weren’t really that real.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I feel relieved that the matter has been resolved. You have done well.”
The Emperor smiled wryly and stroked his beard. Just then, the servants cleared the table and set down a new dessert. The chamberlain stood next to the emperor and gave an explanation in a low voice.
“Madame Torte has sent word that she has developed a new cake.”
“Oh, really?”
“She says it’s filled with apricot jam and coated entirely with chocolate. It’s been tested, so please eat comfortably.”
“Okay, let’s try it.”
Madame Torte was a powerhouse in the culinary industry. She would always send her newly developed desserts to the royal family first; if the emperor liked them, they would be released to the public, and if not, the recipe would be scrapped. The chamberlain, tasked with relaying the Emperor’s opinion, watched the Emperor’s throat intently.
“Hmm… What do you think of the taste?”
After taking a bite, the Emperor looked back at Dioles and Lacius.
“It tastes quite good, Father.”
“I think the same thing.”
With both opinions being positive, the emperor nodded as well.
“Yes, I feel the same way. What is the name of this cake?”
Asking for the name indicated he was quite pleased. The chamberlain, smiling with satisfaction, promptly answered.
“They say it’s called Sacher-Torte.”
“Very well, it would be nice to taste it again soon.”
“I will relay that message, Your Majesty.”
The chamberlain took a step back and bowed deeply. After savoring a few more bites of the Sacher-torte, the emperor wiped his mouth with a napkin. Then he sighed, as if telling them to listen.
“Phew, you should take over the throne soon, so I can relax and have a good time playing Hwatu.”
“That’s very nice of you to say, but I can’t do that right now. I need more time, so hurry up and get to work.”
“Tsk, tsk. I want to go to Makarten and have a good time! All you have to do is take care of it for just one week.”
“A week?”
Dioles snorted.
“You say that, but once you’re in the Makarten casino, I doubt you’d return in just a week.”
“Don’t you trust your father?”
“Well, don’t ask me. Ask the chancellor over there, who’s been crying since earlier.”
Dioles pointed to a corner of the garden without hesitation. There, at a separate desk, the chancellor was buried under a mountain of paperwork, looking utterly distressed. Despite being in the same space, the atmosphere around the emperor’s table and the chancellor’s desk seemed worlds apart.
The emperor laughed and quickly looked away. Then he picks up a cookie with strawberry jam and munches on it. Each bite the emperor took made the chancellor’s hands tremble. On the third bite, the chancellor’s quill snapped with a sharp crack. … .
“Aaaah! Your Majesty!”
In the end, the chancellor exploded. The Emperor made a sound like ‘Eek’ and quickly stood up.
“Alright, well, I have heard your report. Go enjoy your meal some more, Lacius.”
“… Your Majesty, do you really intend to go to Makarten?”
“Ahem, hmm. I have my plans. I shall take my leave first.”
The sight of him running away from the chancellor, who now resembles a fire-breathing dragon, was indeed unbecoming of an emperor. The current emperor’s greatest strength was that he was quite humane and warm, and his greatest weakness was that he was lazy.
“Ugh, Your Royal Highness. Please take over the throne quickly…!”
The chancellor didn’t dare to run after the emperor but simply clung to the princess. Dioles flicked her long black hair back and replied nonchalantly.
“Not yet.”
“Pardon? No, His Majesty also wants to hand it over like that, so as soon as possible… … !”
“Not yet. You’ll have to wait.”
Dioles smiled softly, but it contained sternness. Not yet. Only she knows what those words mean. Dioles, who was trying to swallow her words, sighed lightly as she looked at the chancellor, who was almost on the verge of tears.
“Don’t cry. I have no hobby of appeasing you.”
“However… Your Royal Highness, look at all the documents piled up over there! His Majesty doesn’t work much these days!”
“Still, it won’t work. I’ve only found one thing I’m looking for.”
Lacius, who had been quietly holding his teacup, stopped at Dioles’ meaningful words. His gaze lingered on the side of Diores’ face for a moment, then slowly drifted away. He could only think of one.
Why did her words immediately bring to mind the bells of Dragonas? As Lacius was a descendant of a god, his intuition was quite good. And he had enough sense not to reveal his thoughts.
A little while later, the chancellor loaded the documents into a cart and disappeared. Dioles, slouched in her chair, suddenly remembered something and spoke up.
“Oh right, when are you going to get married?”
“I don’t know. I guess whenever Nia wants.”
“Then wait a moment. Do it after my birthday banquet.”
“I don’t really mind, but why?”
Lacius asked calmly. Dioles shrugged her shoulders and answered as if it were no big deal.
“Something surprising might happen around then.”
“Something surprising?”
“It wouldn’t be fun if I told you now.”
Dioles said, her eyes narrowing into a mysterious smile. Lacius raised his eyebrows when he saw Dioles strange response. This was exactly what he didn’t like about her. There were so many things she kept to herself and wouldn’t tell him.
It had been that way since she was very young. She may seem immature, running around with a short whip, but she is actually very mature. Of course, Lacius had never cared about other people, so he ignored the feeling of discomfort that arose at first glance, but now it was obvious. Dioles sometimes made facial expressions that did not match her age. At such times, Lacius felt as if he had become a child. Strange.
“Well, I’m sure you’ll be so busy with work that you won’t have time to prepare for the wedding.”
Dioles muttered that and looked up at the sky.
Ah, what a beautiful day.
Dioles’ eyes narrowed as she whispered meaninglessly.
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