"…Are you implying that, since I haven’t shared my thoughts with Your Majesty, you won’t share yours either?"
“Well, I wouldn’t phrase it quite like that.”
The Emperor chuckled, his tone almost playful.
"Perhaps you did tell a few things, but I simply chose not to rember them."
"…"
I had no response to that.
No, wait—I did have sothing to say.
Seriously? You’re the Emperor. The man at the pinnacle of this vast empire. In the original story, you were the ambitious figure who declared you’d bring the entire world to heel and create a perfectly equal society under your rule.
And yet, you’re sulking because your daughter didn’t share every little thought with you? Even if you truly believe we’re your real children, as you claim, you’re an Emperor first and foremost. It’s not like anyone else knows about your supposed paternal sentints.
"Hmm."
Though I tried my best to maintain a neutral expression, the Emperor seed to catch a flicker of dissatisfaction.
Well, considering how long he’s known —longer than Alice, even—it wasn’t surprising that he could read my face.
"If we both start speaking freely, there will be much to discuss. Let’s exchange information one piece at a ti. May I ask the first question?"
He was going to ask regardless of my permission, so I nodded stiffly. The Emperor smirked mischievously before speaking.
"Why did you bring so much luggage on the train?"
"What luggage are you referring to?"
"I’m talking about the items you personally hid. You leveraged your status as a princess to enlist the help of Imperial knights and smuggled in an arsenal. So of those items are far too excessive for use against people."
The Emperor stroked his well-grood golden beard, his voice laced with intrigue.
"What? You brought weapons?"
Alice, who had been silently listening to our conversation, gasped in shock.
"…"
When I glanced away, avoiding her gaze, Alice’s expression grew even more incredulous.
"Wait. Are you telling you smuggled unauthorized weapons into another country? Weapons beyond what the knights and we might use in combat? And you did this while attending as Charlotte’s guest?"
Um…
Well, when she put it like that…
"I had no intention of using them against the Kingdom of Belvur."
"Yet you brought them into Belvurian territory," the Emperor interjected smoothly.
"…How many weapons are we talking about?"
Alice asked the Emperor before I could stop him from answering.
"Quite a few. A massive rifle with a custom-forged barrel designed to handle rounds that could shatter an elephant’s skull. Ammunition made of marmaros that could likely blow a hole through a building’s wall."
Alice’s jaw dropped.
"And so peculiar armor. It resembled jack chains at a glance but was equipped with chanical enhancents. Springs, hydraulic systems, even slots for mana stones and marmaros. It seed far too complex for simple defensive use."
Even with marmaros ammunition providing most of the destructive power, the sheer force required to propel it was no joke.
Naturally, wielding such a weapon was physically demanding. And if I intended to use it effectively, I’d have to move and fight while carrying it.
That’s why, in my spare ti, I approached Browning with an idea. I asked if it was possible to create a device that could augnt strength by distributing force using springs and gears.
…Browning, with an excited glint in his eyes, dove into his workshop and returned with what he called an "exoskeleton."
I didn’t fully understand its chanics, but it supposedly used steam generated from heated water powered by mana stones to enhance physical strength. The device had hydraulic chanisms and springs, and the boiler sat on the back, designed to avoid burns. During testing, I hadn’t felt any heat, and the water reservoir was compact enough not to be cumberso.
The equipnt looked like it had countless potential points of failure, but, as is typical in worlds like this, such devices tend to function remarkably well. So I brought it along.
"Even if I don’t know exactly what that armor is for, judging by the ammunition alone, it’s clear that you’re prepared for a large-scale conflict. With all those bombs and enhanced bullets, it wouldn’t be surprising if you started a war singlehandedly."
Alice whipped her head toward .
If I knew how to whistle nonchalantly, I would’ve done so while looking elsewhere.
"And yet, you claim you have no intention of using them in Belvur? Should I assu you’ve arranged for a ans to transport this arsenal elsewhere?"
"…"
That wasn’t the plan, but…
The Emperor, Alice, and even Damien—all three of them were staring at now, their gazes heavy with curiosity.
"Isn’t this a little intrusive, Your Majesty? Taking such an interest in your daughter’s private affairs?"
"Are you saying you possess the sensitivity of a typical teenage girl? Because the teenage girls I know don’t bring enough firepower on vacation to start a war."
The Emperor’s remark left montarily speechless.
Even Alice, usually at odds with her father, nodded in agreent.
Unable to withstand their combined scrutiny, I sighed deeply and relented.
"Even within Belvur’s territory, there are places that aren’t technically under Belvur’s jurisdiction."
"Are you referring to an embassy?"
"Sothing like that. I intended to investigate the Saint Latina Cathedral in Lutetia."
"…"
Silence fell over the room.
Alice inhaled sharply, her breath trembling as she exhaled. Then, marching up to , she grabbed my collar.
"What were you thinking—!"
"I simply intended to… gather… information…"
Alice shook so hard that my words ca out fragnted.
"Gather information?! Gather infoooormaaation?!"
"Alice, calm down," the Emperor interjected.
Alice reluctantly released my collar and took a step back, though her breathing remained heavy.
…Maybe I should’ve told her beforehand?
Then again, she probably would’ve insisted on coming with —or tried to stop . Judging by her current reaction, the latter seed more likely.
"I’ve answered your question, Your Majesty. It’s your turn now," I said, steadying myself.
The Emperor shrugged nonchalantly.
"Ask away. If it’s sothing I can answer, I will."
I wanted to ask if there was anything the Emperor couldn’t answer but held back. After all, I hadn’t disclosed everything either, and he knew it.
So I decided to address the most pressing matter.
"Is Your Majesty’s presence here preparation for war?"
Alice’s jaw dropped further, as if it might unhinge.
Her fingers twitched slightly, as if she was debating whether to lunge at her father next. Then again, he was her father.
"No," the Emperor said firmly.
"Are you certain? You’re not planning to start a world war?"
"How could I, when you’re here watching my every move? Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if you’d already uncovered all of the Empire’s military secrets. Even if I tried to keep plans from you, you would’ve found out. And if that happened, do you think I’d still be sitting here talking to you?"
"…"
He had a point.
"Of course, I once thought about it. Ten years ago, I considered the possibility that unifying the world under my rule might bring peace. Whether it was feasible or not, I believed there was a chance."
Sothing felt off.
This didn’t align with what I rembered from before.
The words were similar, but the tone was different.
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