"Give your... seed of the Imperial family."
At Serenades words, my mouth fell open. What the heck?!
My goodness gracious! What is this woman saying?!
Its improper, young lady!
In this fantasy world, the Red Dragon might be the supre, but, hey?! Where I co from, its the Confucian Dragon that reigned supre! Be careful with such dialogue, or youll be in big trouble!
The amount of cold sweat suddenly shooting up my back doubled.
I avoided Serenades earnest gaze, dripping with sweat. Oh dear, oh dear, how embarrassing! I cant even et her eyes!
And as I avoided her gaze, Serenades voice grew suddenly heavy.
"Youre always like this, my lord."
"Huh?"
"Day in and day out, you, a lascivious person spreading rumors with other noble daughters, for so reason, have never held even once."
Serenades head hung low, her fists clenched tight.
"No, not just holding , but even looking into my eyes like now, youve always hated."
"No, this is..."
This is just because Im shy, you know...
"Do you dislike young girls that much?"
"No, I, I dont dislike..."
"Because Im from a lowly rchant family? Because I bought the position of your fiance with money? If you embrace , do you think Ill sll like dirty tal?"
Sothing trickled down Serenades pale cheek. Huh?
It was a transparent droplet.
Serenade was... well... crying.
I froze.
Great heavens! I really dont know how to handle this kind of situation at all!
"I never expected your love from the beginning."
Serenade looked up at , weeping without even wiping her tears.
"I know. You must dislike mixing the pure blood of the noble imperial family with such a lowly and filthy woman like . But even if its a contractual relationship, even if the adults arranged it, we still promised to beco a couple, didnt we?"
"..."
"Im offering everything I have to you, my lord, so why dont you... look at just once?"
I wanted to comfort her sohow, but the situation didnt allow to easily speak up.
Ash and Serenades relationship was foreign to , a strict relationship between strangers.
As a player who had rely taken over this body, could I interfere in this relationship?
Would it later turn into a greater wound for her?
While I hesitated, frozen, Serenade turned away, wiping her tears.
"Im tired of begging you for attention and affection, my lord..."
"..."
"Im sorry for whining and acting spoiled, and for possibly boring you."
"No, thats not it, I an..."
"Seeing you after so long, I must have gotten overly excited, and my emotions got the best of . I apologize."
Serenade waved her hand, calming her breath.
The captain steering the yacht turned the bow towards the harbor.
"Its getting quite late. Even though the Imperial Capital is relatively safe, its dangerous for a mber of the Imperial Family to wander the streets alone. Ill prepare a carriage, so please take it ho."
"..."
"If you need anything, just send a ssage. The festival is approaching, so the Imperial Capital will beco hectic. Please dont wander around at night like this for a while..."
Serenade stopped, caught in her words.
"Right, you hate when I nag."
"..."
"Ha ha. How odd. How can I be so mismatched with your tastes, my lord?"
I remained silent, and the boat soon returned to the harbor.
"Im sorry for being brash today, my lord."
Serenade bowed deeply towards .
"Please forget about today, and feel free to visit anyti... whether its for money or a drink."
"..."
"Well, take care."
With tear-stained cheeks, Serenade smiled.
"I was happy to see you, my lord."
***
Inside the carriage returning to the Imperial Palace.
I was still lost in thought.
I had secured the architect and trade line I intended to get in the Imperial Capital.
With the Silver Winter Trade Line, the largest in the empire, it should be reliable enough.
I could easily proceed with the Crossroads tourist city plan, the independent magical stone distribution line as well.
But only one thing.
People.
An unexpected problem had arisen.
People are always troubleso.
Such issues had never crossed my mind in Crossroad.
Since nearly all my relationships with others had begun from a zero base, built up by .
It was about , not Ash.
However, in the Imperial Capital of New Terra, all relationships were Ashs.
The Emperor, the princes, court officials, servants, and even the fiance I t today; these were all relationships Ash had cultivated and built.
Could I really tamper with them?
Even if I were to intervene, could I guide them in the right direction?
Relationships between people are like a Jenga puzzle.
You dont just pile them up endlessly; you remove the pillars from between and place them on top.
If you build as high as possible and then stop, that human relationship remains stable.
But now, I was pondering whether to touch the precarious Jenga puzzle that Ash had built.
Whether the tower grows taller or collapses altogether, problems could arise on either side.
What should I do...
I wrapped my head in confusion, pondering the matter.
- Why wont the Lord even look at the girl properly?
I recalled the image of Serenade, who was crying teardrops from her silver eyes and lanting pitifully.
Huh.
This isnt just Serenades problem.
I have co to the Imperial Capital, and I must keep clashing with Ashs people. Then I must clearly determine my stance.
Either not to interfere at all.
Or...
To bear everything of Ash... myself.
I clenched my mouth shut.
Either way, I had regarded Ash as soone else so far. I had thought of him as a separate person.
Can I really accept that strangers life as wholly mine?
Do I truly have the resolve for that?
Thats when it happened.
Thud!
Suddenly, the carriage stopped.
"Huh?"
I looked out of the window, puzzled.
The imperial palace was not visible. It was a dark back alley. Whats going on? Did the carriage break down?
At that mont, the coachman who had descended from the coachmans seat ca walking back.
"Hey, whats the matter..."
Bang!
Before I could even ask the coachman what was wrong, she flung the carriage door open, grabbed by the collar, and pulled out.
"What?!"
At the sa ti, she threw .
I involuntarily scread as I floated in mid-air.
Wooaahhh?! What is thiiiis?!
Thump!
Perhaps due to all the ti I had spent wandering in dungeons and tumbling in defensive battles, I managed to straighten myself in the air and land upright. Thud!
You, who dares-!
I stopped mid-shout as I looked forward.
Rumble...
In front of stood a woman in a maids outfit, holding a massive polearm.
Elize.
It was Serenades subordinate, the one who was driving the carriage to take to the palace.
And from her whole body emanated a terrifying fighting spirit.
The materialized energy stirred up a wind, fluttering her maids apron.
"Ash, Crown Prince."
Elizes chilling cobalt eyes were filled with creepy determination.
Like a finely sharpened blade, that determination.
"You are trash."
"Ex, excuse ?!"
I unknowingly responded with respect. Why, why suddenly like this?!
"Ten years ago, after becoming engaged to you, my mistress devoted herself to you. She lent you money for gambling, served you the finest wines from around the world. Most of your wasteful extravagances in the Imperial Capital were cleaned up not by the Imperial Family, but by our Silver Winter rchant Guild.
Crunch.
Elizes teeth were ground together, fiercely.
I hated seeing you like that, but I endured it. It was the wish of the previous rchant Guilds head to shed the disgrace of a poor rchant family by forming a connection with the Imperial Family, and...
Whoosh-!
Elize aid the massive polearm she was carrying at her back forward.
Because my mistress, Lady Serenade, loved you.
...
But, I can no longer tolerate this. You are only causing harm to our rchant Guild. Above all, you only wound my mistress.
Elizes emanating fighting spirit beca even more vivid.
To repay the kindness shown by the previous head of the rchant Guild, and for the remaining life of my revered mistress.
And then, Elize said,
You must die here.
She was going to kill a royal.
He had declared that the battle would be fought here.
Whether it was a twisted act of loyalty or sothing else, I didnt know, but I hurriedly drew my staff from my possession.
Damn it! How do I calm this situation down?!
I had already learned that Elize was an SSR-grade character from the rcenary guild. Even if I didnt know, she must be quite strong.
First, lets subdue her!
But I, too, had defeated countless monsters, and had grown through various hardships in the dungeon beneath the lake.
An SSR-grade character who had been comfortably living here in the Imperial Capital without experiencing real battles should be easy to subdue.
...Or so I thought.
Bang!
Elize slamd her coffin, which she had been holding like a club, into the ground.
I opened my eyes wide. Huh? Whats she doing?
Then,
"Sword Coffin, deploy."
At the sa ti as Elizes murmur, the coffin opened to the left and right.
Shwoosh-!
And inside the coffin, there were all kinds of swords stored by type.
Greatsword. Longsword. Dagger. Rapier. Curved sword. Broad sword. Short sword. Tae sword...
All of them were at least SR-grade weapons.
Damn, this is insane?!
Only then did I realize who Elize was, and my mouth fell open.
I thought I hadnt seen Elize in the ga. But that was not the case.
I hadnt recognized her just because the maids outfit was unfamiliar.
Why is the Funeral Swordmaster, Elizabeth, here...?!
A monster that ranks among the strongest sword characters in all of "Protect the Empire."
The Swords Funeral Director, Elizabeth.
She had appeared in the ga wearing a dark funeral directors outfit and a funeral directors hat, so I hadnt recognized her at all in her current maids dress...!
Damn it, Lucas! You have to speak clearly!
The unexpected catastrophe was not my fiance, Serenade Silver Winter.
It was this woman, Elizabeth, Serenades escort!
"I will make your end painless."
Selecting a sword from the Sword Coffin, Elizabeth ominously intoned,
"Thats out of consideration for the man who almost beca my masters husband."
Imdiately after, Elizabeth pulled out a saw-blade sword, its blade jagged and uneven.
"Ah, this looks good."
No, that looks extrely painful, that thing-!
Whether I was alard or not, Elizabeth drew the saw-blade sword and charged at .
She was truly intent on killing .
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