It Seems the Princess's Father Likes Me
Sure, she might not have been all that lovey-dovey, but his fiancée was undeniably pretty. Akion had somehow managed to sweet-talk her into leaving.
"Thirty-one years younger is a bit much for a wife. It's just too realistic..."
"Mm-hmm. As expected, it has to be over a thousand years like with this lady—"
"Elder."
- Clang!
After stuffing her with even the emergency electric heater he'd been saving, and laying on the charm,
Isirel's face turned beet red, and she stormed off on her own.
"He scored, he totally scored."
"Isirel sis? Scored? Nah, that doesn't fit..."
And just like that, rumors spread like wildfire through the Energies County.
"The young master scored!!"
"What the—?!"
Akion had dazzled everyone with his slick tongue and sent Isirel packing right in front of them all!
It wasn't wrong.
Just... heavily distorted!
"Even the Seventh Princess's head maid left with a smile on her face...! The young master must have incubus blood running through his veins!!"
"What nonsense is that, you mutt."
Akion couldn't help slipping into dog insults at Goldie Heritage's nonsense after so long.
He was that dumbfounded. What kind of scoring had he done?!
"Hmm. Come to think of it, lately this lady's dragon heart has been fluttering every time she sees Akion. Perhaps—"
"That's, uh... sigh. If it's age gap issues, the Tower Master is so beautiful and healthy that... Huh? What? Why are you blushing?"
"Y-Young master. How did you notice the Tower Master blushing before even Goldie...?"
"This is what scoring looks like!!!"
What was scoring about that? It was just brotherly concern for a colleague.
As he shut up the Tower Master, Akion vowed to clear his name.
Though he'd coaxed his fiancée away, in truth, something far bigger had come crashing down on the Energies family—and the entire empire.
"What does a youngest son like me, who's even given up on succession, need...?"
"Now, now, Akion. Even off the official stage, there are people around. Mind your words."
The Millennium Founding Festival!
It had been exactly a thousand years since the Khalid Empire's founding, and to commemorate it, coinciding with harvest season, the imperial family planned a grand celebration.
And so Akion had been dragged to the capital for the festival...
"And the incandescent bulbs are thanks to you. If the contributor isn't here, it's an insult to the throne."
"What's that crime? More importantly, do you know how brutal the deadline was? Some artisans legit collapsed..."
Unlike past festivals every five years, the imperial family aimed for unprecedented splendor and glamour.
From the banquet hall to the streets, everything sparkling.
"Three imperial seals stamped on it..."
"Heh heh. Even this father broke out in cold sweats receiving it."
Right around when he imagined the Seventh Princess trying out the hair dryer,
an order arrived for Energies stamped with three imperial seals, delivered via special transport with the full mobilization of imperial mages.
The first was the Seventh Princess from before, the second the crown prince who'd crossed paths with Huan Energies.
The last was...
"Why would the emperor stamp it? He always used magic lighting for festivals."
"Even Father doesn't know. Maybe His Majesty took a liking to the bulbs."
The ruler of the Khalid Empire and the greatest sovereign on the Illyas Continent.
The emperor's seal.
For reference, even Delpord Energies had freaked out more than ever upon receiving it.
Imperial commands were solemn, but this was too solemn.
"At least we met the deadline thanks to that."
"If they hadn't paid handsomely, the artisans would've all bolted."
"Heh heh, yes, yes."
Of course, the historically wealthiest imperial family had opened its coffers wide.
Akion recalled the artisans assembling until dawn on the day of departure, then collapsing into sleep.
Even with fat stacks of cash, exhaustion leads to desertion...
He was endlessly grateful to his workshop staff who trusted and followed him.
"Here, over here!"
"This way, Father, Akion."
The other Energies family members who'd come ahead to coordinate schedules.
Countess Lucrecia Energies, his eldest brother Huan, and third sibling sister Hermione awaited in front of the banquet hall.
"Yes. No particular issues?"
"Nothing aside from inquiring after Father's health."
"It seems like matters only Father himself can handle."
"Mm. You all worked hard. And the countess?"
"Ho ho, I went around promoting Akion's magic tools."
"Why would you do that?"
In the past, such harmonious family scenes would have been impossible.
All this happiness Delpord had lost—surely thanks to the son he'd once deemed incompetent.
I need to create a stage for Akion to shine.
That's why he'd dragged Akion to the Millennium Founding Festival.
Whether holed up in his workshop or not, social prestige and connections would aid him someday.
The Seventh Princess's seal on the bulb order? Likely her way of backing him after the favor he'd done her.
The banquet hall entrance was guarded by two imperial knights, as always.
They only moved for two reasons.
One: emergencies.
The other, ordinary one...
- Thud thud!!
"Someone's coming."
"We saw Energies folk leaving earlier... Could it be them?"
When a great house entered worthy of slamming sword sheaths and spears to focus all attention.
The descendants of the primordial hero who laid the empire's foundations alongside the empire's founder, yet humbly declined noble seats to prove loyalty to the throne!
The grand mage Elena Energies, who forsook the ducal coronet at the empire's founding to remain a count, prioritizing only the empire's safety and the throne's peace! A prestigious house that has inherited that resolute honor and pure spirit unbroken through a millennium!
Among the empire's five dukes, Energies County was the only one ever mentioned.
Some wondered why not marquess...
But hearing the first Energies, Elena's words, moved them.
"If a vassal holds too much power, the nation's foundations shake. The people suffer. So for me... count is enough."
Elena Energies, who relinquished the ducal seat for the nation's peace.
Thanks to her, it became the virtue all Khalid nobles should uphold.
Though no one does these days. Anyway.
Count Delpord Energies, Countess Lucrecia Energies, and their noble kin who inherit that high purpose enter! All, show due respect!
- Bam-pa-bam~!!
With the orchestra's resounding fanfare, the silver-haired Energies family—all except the purple-haired countess—entered.
"Whoa. All of them... Oh, the second daughter isn't here again?"
"More than that, the young man right behind the count... Wait. I recognize Huan the heir and Lady Hermione, but that youth is new."
"Could it be that Akion Energies?"
The great house of grand mages.
...or rather, now famous for inventing the incandescent bulb.
"Impressive work."
"Heh heh heh. Finally doubting this big brother's skills no more. Good. If I reclaim the headship, I'll remember this and forgive you."
And that splendid chandelier on the banquet hall ceiling was the masterpiece Akion and his siblings had completed amid tears and blood.
Huan's shaping, Hermione's glass orbs, Akion's final assembly!
For reference, finished five hours before heading to the capital. Then all three passed out in the carriage.
"Yes, sis."
"Akion, you little...!"
"Ahh, sis. Don't scold the baby brother so much~!"
"You're next later..."
The masterpiece's creators following the count naturally drew eyes.
Thus, the Energies crossed the hall...
- Click.
To the highest seat, akin to the head table.
Before the empire's rulers, they knelt.
"For the eternal prosperity of the empire, Energies pays respects."
The countess and Hermione lifted their skirts, while Akion, being male, knelt.
My knees hurt... Should I invent knee pads someday?
As engineering thoughts swirled in his head,
"Raise your heads."
Guh...?!
A solemn voice filled the vast hall.
His body trembled at the power in that voice, reminiscent of the Tower Master's.
"Rise, Count Energies. With the empire's cornerstone present, tonight's founding moon shines brighter."
"Your Majesty's undeserved praise leaves me at a loss."
The red-haired emperor, known only from portraits, looked younger than expected.
Akion recalled he was in his fifties, but appeared barely forties.
"The ducal seat your ancestor declined still awaits its lord after a millennium. Count Energies?"
"Energies finds even the countship overly generous."
Delpord had explained: it was routine WWE.
The throne felt sorry for rejecting Elena's ducal promotion,
Energies: "Nah, keep it. You'd just burden us."
Complicated, so complicated.
This was the emperor bolstering Energies... Though after that Kozachev incident, it felt bittersweet.
"And you, Delpord's youngest... Akion Energies?"
Huh?!
Akion hadn't expected the next question for him.
He nearly blurted "Yes?", but bit his tongue and powered through.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Akion Energies pays respects."
"Mm. So it is."
Thanks to etiquette drilled in by the head butler to the countess.
The watching countess sighed in relief unseen.
"You presented that hair dryer magic tool to the Seventh Princess, yes?"
- Creak! Thud, thud.
But why was the emperor rising, descending to stand before Akion?!
Countess Lucrecia felt her lifespan shortening.
"Flair smiled. Touching her silky hair like old times, joyful... It had been so long."
Suddenly, those in the hall with parental hearts noticed.
The paternal love in the emperor's eyes.
- Chin.
"Your curious magic tools feel more precious than any spell to Us."
"H-Huh...?!"
Then he placed a hand on Akion's shoulder.
The countess, Hermione, Huan—all gasped.
This was overt praise! Perhaps...!
"Akion Energies. You restored light to the empire's seventh blessing and joy to Us as a father. We anticipate the next miracle under Energies' name..."
- Snap!
"First, praise for your merits."
With the emperor's finger snap, an imperial attendant brought two fine parchments.
"Akion Energies. We are convinced your magitech engineering is the key to the empire's future. Thus, here and now, We grant you two rights."
Exclusive Rights and Free Trade for Magitech Inventions. The Khalid Imperial Family eternally guarantees intellectual property rights to all magitech magic tools and designs conceived by Akion Energies of House Energies. Furthermore, in production and distribution of said magic tools, independent business rights free from interference by any house or organization are approved in Our name.
"Whoooaa?!"
Copyrights granted to all Akion's engineering products.
No one could interfere with Energies' distribution anymore.
Other territories making knockoffs? Need Akion's permission, maybe royalties.
And Energies monopolizes distribution.
Great nobles and merchant guilds would have to grovel to Energies.
"Y-Your, Your Majesty's boundless grace...!"
The emperor smiled warmly at Akion fumbling the parchment.
His delicate features resembled his birth mother more than Delpord—suited for Flair, oddly.
Shaking off the stray thought, the emperor unfurled the second parchment.
"Guaranteeing rights alone isn't enough."
"Pardon?"
Akion slipped here.
But no one called it out.
It was justifiable shock. And it wasn't over.
Imperial Direct Support and Special Budget for Magitech Advancement. Research by Akion Energies in magitech engineering shall be deemed an imperial national project. Accordingly, the Imperial Central Bank shall partially bear quarterly research costs for Akion Energies. Furthermore, priority mining rights to numerous imperial mines under direct crown control are granted to House Energies County.
"Yes?!"
"Th-The central bank directly funding?!"
"Priority mining rights too—?!"
The emperor's bold support, spotting magitech's potential.
Akion's workshop was now effectively a government research institute.
Akion to Delpord, countess, siblings.
Even the hall's nobles couldn't hide shock before the emperor.
"Delpord Energies' youngest son. We are convinced your magitech will bring a brilliant future to the empire. Henceforth, devote yourself solely to research."
"Gr-Gra-Graciously... Your Majesty's boundless graaaace—!!"
Akion nearly wept from joy.
Back then, I'd write hundred-page proposals just to get shredded by reviewers!!
Past life: reviewers rejecting everything.
Now: the head of state directly: "Fund this guy fully."
Trembling, Akion clutched the two parchments,
"Visit the palace after the banquet."
"Guh."
The emperor's whisper "See me." nearly made him faint.