Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: This World is a Dating Sim #3
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Prior to heading to the Academy, there was one place I needed to stop by first.
"This is the imperial treasury..."
A breathtaking sight unfolded before us—endless rows of rare treasures.
Even Valerian, the pampered flower of high society who wanted for nothing, couldn't help but gasp in awe.
"Why are we here?"
"If we just stroll into the Academy as is, it'll be a disaster."
I might blend in if I looked ordinary.
But going in without a second thought? The whole place would flip upside down.
"Is this... an immortality elixir?"
"Treasures straight out of legends, everywhere you look."
With the two women buzzing excitedly at my side, I toured the treasury.
It had to be around here somewhere.
"Here it is."
I pulled out a small box.
Opening it revealed a pair of rings nestled inside.
"Rings...?"
"They disrupt recognition."
Rings of Anonymity.
In the story, Theodor grabs these to go on a date with Serena.
Being in the imperial treasury, their performance was guaranteed top-notch.
I slipped one on.
"How do I look?"
"Just like Your Majesty as usual."
"No change."
Why wasn't it working?
"Maybe it's because we've been looking at you all along?"
"I do feel like your features are a bit blurry. Strangers probably wouldn't recognize you."
Seemed that way.
Preparations for the Academy complete. Time to go.
"But why the Academy, Your Majesty? You're already so busy."
"How could we possibly fathom the depths of Your Majesty's intentions?"
"Fair enough."
There were no deep intentions. What was she talking about?
It was burdensome.
I'd rather just slack off as emperor.
But the world was doomed to end...
Haa.
We'd arrived at the Academy.
Lily was in civilian clothes, while Elisabeth wore her old student uniform for the first time in ages.
So many people.
I scowled at the bustling crowd.
"It's been ages since I was at the Academy."
"You were a student here, weren't you, Lady Elisabeth?"
"If His Majesty hadn't summoned me, I'd be in class right now."
"Heh, do you miss it?"
"A little? Back in my student days, all my lovely friends trailed after me. The desserts at that café over there are divine."
"Let's grab some later."
Unlike me, drained by the headache of it all, the two women seemed genuinely thrilled.
Elisabeth glanced my way and flashed a grin.
"Your Majesty?"
"What?"
"You brought us here for a reason, right?"
Of course.
Why else would I drag busy Elisabeth along?
"Now that we're here, why not tell us? What's at the Academy that made you bring me—your closest aide—and Lily?"
Fair point. Better to explain.
But it wasn't easy to say.
There's this woman named Serena. My brother, the Northern Grand Duke, and the Tower Lord all need to woo her, or the world ends.
Conversely, if those three fail to win her over, the world still ends.
So I came to check if they're on track.
...Wouldn't that make me sound insane?
Especially the part where a prince, grand duke, and tower lord all chase one woman. Utterly disastrous.
I rubbed my face.
"Sigh. I need to find a woman."
"A woman, yes. What kind of woman?"
"Well, she's a vibrant beauty, for starters."
"...Right. And?"
What else defined Serena?
"Bobbed hair, always smiling. They say it's a smile that warms the heart. Surprisingly tall for such a gentle face. Slender build."
"..."
"How's that? Ring any bells?"
I thought it was a solid description.
Elisabeth or Lily should spot her easily.
"Yeees. I think I know who you mean."
Why the tone?
I couldn't pinpoint it, but the mood had chilled.
"Hmmm. Hm. Hmmm..."
"..."
Their stares poked at me relentlessly.
"Ahem."
I averted my gaze hurriedly.
That's when I spotted the café Elisabeth mentioned—the one with the great desserts.
"...Let's grab something to eat first, then talk."
Sweet treats ought to smooth things over.
Aquitaine chewy cookies were all the rage lately.
I bought two and passed them around.
"Nom."
"Mm. These are good."
Thank goodness. The dessert offensive worked.
Their sullen expressions softened into warmth.
"So, what makes this woman so special that Your Majesty needs her?"
Elisabeth asked curtly after sipping her coffee.
"It's about the woman Theo likes."
"Prince Theodor?"
Elisabeth's eyes widened.
"I thought His Highness had no interest in women."
Classic romance fantasy trope.
The male lead ignores all women except the heroine.
True to form, Theo must've been a total block of wood normally.
"Unlike Your Majesty, who's cut from different cloth."
Meanwhile, the doomed emperor?
Infamous playboy to the point where it was a miracle no illegitimate kids had popped up.
At least after remembering my past life, I'd sworn off women like stone.
"Hmmm."
"Your Majesty, it's fine. Feel free to indulge as much as you want."
Elisabeth, arms crossed as she eyed me.
Lily, subtly leaning against me.
Tough to stay stone-faced around women like these.
"Cut the jokes."
This attitude would doom the empire!
No, not just the empire.
The whole world was at stake.
Lily pulled back as I spoke firmly.
Anyway.
"I get that it's about His Highness. What exactly do we do?"
"The problem is..."
Damn.
How to phrase this?
"...Northern Grand Duke Siegfried and Tower Lord Ian have to like her too."
I blurted it out with my eyes shut.
"...Pardon?"
Yeah.
I think it's crazy too.
But if not, the world ends.
"...Well, if Your Majesty says so, there must be a reason."
Elisabeth nodded reluctantly.
Thanks for believing me.
"So, you're saying Prince Theodor likes this... what's her name?"
"Serena Enfield."
"Lady Serena. That's confirmed, right?"
I nodded.
He likes her, alright. The guy even came to me for advice on wooing her.
Following my tips alone should've boosted her affection by at least 30 points.
...So why was it still borderline?
I'd ask Hecate when she showed up.
"So our job is to nudge things along between His Highness and Lady Serena while connecting her to the Grand Duke and Tower Lord too?"
"Exactly."
"I'm out."
Elisabeth's face hardened.
"Wait."
"Let me go."
I grabbed her as she stood.
"Don't go."
"Wh-what?"
"I need you. Don't go."
"H-hmm. Alright?"
A peek showed her lips twitching upward.
The embodiment of validation-seeking.
"Just this once. This once."
Elisabeth sat back down primly.
"Your Majesty, what about me?"
"You're needed too, Lily. Obviously."
"What? Teasing me? You said I was the only one."
Anyway.
Persuasion successful. Operation time.
"Shall we lock all four in an inescapable spot and seal them until bonds form?"
"Eek."
Lily recoiled at Elisabeth's casually terrifying idea.
"Not very feasible."
"Can't Your Majesty make it happen?"
"You think I'm omnipotent?"
I'm a physical-type. No dice on that.
"Mm. Too bad."
What was there to regret?
"Then."
Lily mustered her courage.
What wild idea from the yandere stalker assassin maid?
"Your Majesty frames all four for treason, then clears a path for their lovers' escape."
"Even for you, that's a no."
"Isn't it?"
Elisabeth shut it down.
Yeah, definitely not.
Theo had to become emperor next, after all.
"We can't move forward because we don't know what the Grand Duke and Tower Lord think of Lady Serena."
"True."
Elisabeth agreed with Lily's mumbling.
But cornering the Northern Grand Duke or Tower Lord outright?
-So, what do you think of Serena?
Not happening.
"They'd be suspicious."
"Yeah..."
My bad rep was a real issue.
The infamous womanizer emperor drops by casually, mentions a woman he's into? Yeah, no.
Hm.
"Wouldn't drawing their suspicion be good?"
Because.
If they guarded against me and started fixating on Serena instead? Perfect.
My image tanking? Business as usual.
Sorry to Theo, but I'd make him emperor later.
"Lily, scout it out."
"Would His Grace be at the Academy? Shouldn't he be in his duchy...?"
"Now that you mention it."
Elisabeth murmured, realizing the oddity.
But that's the worldbuilding for you.
Lily vanished into the shadows.
Moments later.
"He's really here...? In the plaza. Waiting for someone."
"Let's go."
We headed to the plaza.
"There he is."
A young man with ash-gray hair stood tall.
Siegfried von Reinhardt.
The legend who'd single-handedly held the northern beast front for six months.
No one dared approach the Grand Duke who belonged up north, smack in the plaza's center.
This was its own kind of public nuisance.
Just then, a girl approached from afar, beaming a smile like sunshine.
"Here she comes."
"That must be Lady Serena."
"Let's observe how His Grace views her first."
She'd been so reluctant at first.
Now she was more hyped than me, plotting away.
Guess it was kinda fun.
Watching others date was entertaining, after all.
No wonder dating shows were popular.
I smiled contentedly at Lily and Elisabeth, staring holes into Serena.
Solid team.
Elisabeth could feel it.
This woman named Serena.
She was undeniably attractive.
A charm that Elisabeth herself lacked, or so it felt.
Her instincts screamed that if they'd met in society, Serena would've been a formidable rival.
Is this His Majesty's type...?
'Ugh.'
A strange itch prickled in her chest.
Why?
Elisabeth found herself caught in an inexplicable mood...