Chapter 134
Chapter 134
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Norton Full Course (2)
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“The Bakal Empire’s diplomatic delegation arrives in the Leon Empire.”
Newspapers emblazoned with massive headlines were scattered across every street.
The capital’s citizens buzzed with activity to welcome the mighty nation that could become either an enemy or an ally.
Sweeping and scrubbing the roads.
Preparing tourist goods.
Repairing buildings to receive the battle-hardened folk descending from the north.
This grand event was crucial for the coexistence of the two nations.
Thanks to that, no one in the capital dared to let their guard down.
The knights and nobles were no exception.
Everyone plastered on smiles to greet the imperial family and diplomats from Bakal.
But not everyone was focused solely on diplomacy.
“This is the place.”
While her brothers headed to the Central Palace for the summit,
one woman made her way north with just two knights.
Christina Bakal arrived at the entrance to the Northern Palace.
“Compared to the Central Palace, the north is surprisingly modest.”
The woman with flowing radiant silver hair
gazed at Irina’s palace with icy blue eyes like a glacial mountain range.
“Your Highness, the Leon Empire’s Second Imperial Princess will be out shortly.”
The white-armored centurions escorting her bowed their heads.
They were among Bakal’s elite forces, assigned as her guard captain and vice-captain for this solo outing.
“I see. There she is.”
The princess watched the silver-haired princess emerge alongside the verdant knights.
A woman who had never once appeared in public among the imperial family.
Yet, through meticulous growth and planning, she had risen meteorically—the Holy Sovereign Irina. The princess eyed her intently.
“Still, Your Highness... may I ask why you chose the north?”
The guard captain inquired as the approaching Leon knights drew near.
“Well, as I’ve said over and over, I wanted to sightsee Leon’s cities.”
“If it’s sightseeing, the capital center has far more to offer.”
When the captain pushed back, the princess smirked.
Then, she replied with a chilling gaze.
“This place is a vital chokepoint that must be breached in any invasion of Leon. Better to survey the terrain with my own eyes in advance.”
Christina was undoubtedly the pampered youngest daughter in Bakal, treated like a jewel.
However, she was also one of Bakal’s most capable architects.
She had contributed to countless siege engines and campaign plans, and now she was here to scout the terrain in preparation for any potential war.
“For now, act like it’s just simple tourism.”
At the princess’s order, the generals nodded.
“Well, aside from scouting the terrain...”
Christina half-closed her eyes with a sly glint.
Her predatory gaze fixed on the approaching verdant knights.
“When we conquer Leon, I figured I’d get a preview of the men I’ll claim.”
She was clearly a delicate northern beauty with a slender figure.
Yet, somehow, an intimidating aura like that of a general emanated from her.
“Welcome, Christina.”
Amid the men in navy uniforms, a woman in a silver dress stepped forward.
A lady with hair as lustrous and mysterious as fine silk.
Irina greeted Bakal’s princess with a bright smile.
“Oh...”
The northern princess regarded Leon’s Second Imperial Princess with keen interest.
“Pleased to meet you, Irina. The rumors don’t do you justice—you’re truly stunning.”
Was it because she was used to seeing only burly northern men and women?
The princess found her first glimpse of Irina quite captivating.
“And you, Christina, are the epitome of grace. I’m quite envious of that hair, beautiful as snowflakes.”
Irina deftly lifted the mood with practiced flattery.
Pleased, the northern princess smirked as well.
“Call me Tina. It’ll be more comfortable for both of us.”
“Oh, shall I?”
Tina exuded the relaxed confidence befitting a nation’s ruler.
She pulled a pair of glasses from her bosom and slipped them on, scrutinizing the men up close.
“Leon Empire lives up to the hype, doesn’t it?”
Her gaze lingered especially on the knights’ representative, Acting Captain Allen.
Radiant blond hair and confident green eyes.
Satisfied with his handsome features, she nodded approvingly.
“I’ve heard there are plenty of handsome men and beautiful women. Looks like it’s true.”
“High praise indeed.”
Allen turned away from the ice queen’s piercing stare.
“Thank you...”
Even a scoundrel like him sensed it instinctively.
Among all the women he’d met, Tina’s gaze was the most lethal.
If he were a foul-tempered wolf,
Tina somehow felt like a massive northern she-bear, eerily intimidating.
“Hehe... Even your shy look is cute.”
The princess chuckled leisurely.
“Now, shall we head inside? I’ve prepared a nice tea setup.”
Irina politely gestured toward the Northern Palace with an open palm.
But Tina shook her head, saying it was fine.
“No, I’d like to tour the city first.”
“The city?”
Nobles typically preferred lounging comfortably in palaces.
Irina swallowed hard at the unexpected request for a city tour.
‘They say she has fantasies about the north...’
“This is the setting for that famous novel, right?”
Novel.
Yes, Christina was the type who’d learned about romance from books.
She’d always been buried in strategy rooms, drafting maps and measurements.
Thus, her sole hobby was reading.
Especially during her phase of intense curiosity about men, she’d devoured romance novels.
“Ah, the novel...?”
Irina nodded at Tina’s words.
She pondered for a moment.
What famous novel was set in the capital’s north, renowned even in Bakal?
“Hmm... You probably haven’t heard of it. Here it is.”
Tina took her bag from the guard captain.
She rummaged inside and pulled out the very novel in question.
“Ah...!”
A thick tome with a worn cover from constant reading.
It was none other than...
“Northern Archduchess and the Slave Knight: All-Ages Edition”
“This novel’s set right here in the capital’s north, isn’t it?”
The princess beamed like an innocent girl oblivious to everything.
As if she were merely a fan on a pilgrimage.
“Yes, I enjoy it too. Nice to meet a fellow fan.”
The Second Imperial Princess smirked at the familiar cover.
Relieved to see a human side to Tina despite her appearance, she relaxed inwardly.
“The novel describes the Norton area as especially beautiful.”
Her icy demeanor had long vanished.
Like an excited girl, she declared boldly.
“So, I want to tour the place and savor the story again.”
This was the moment the reason for her solo visit to the uneventful Northern Capital was revealed—while her brothers attended the summit at the Central Palace.
“You never know, I might even meet my fated slave knight here.”
Tina smiled brightly, clutching the returned book.
She casually tucked away her glasses along with it.
“Understood. Let’s head out right away.”
Irina agreed with a kind gaze.
She mounted her beloved steed and rode side by side toward Norton.
“Allen, did you check when the patrol knight will join us?”
Irina asked the accompanying verdant captain.
He nodded.
“Yes, they woke him from his nap on the bench in front of the office. He should join us in the city soon.”
“Good work.”
Irina smiled at the thought of the patrol knight she’d see shortly.
“Fated partner...”
Irina recalled Tina’s words as she spurred her horse onward.
Her expression was one of smug satisfaction, as if she’d already found hers.
「――――――.」
However, her smile soon faded.
Because, sooner than expected...
“Hmm... Disappointing...”
Princess Tina’s tastes were exceedingly particular.
“This is no different from our outer cities in Bakal.”
She muttered as if deliberately needling Irina’s feelings.
Arms crossed, she wore a cold, impassive expression.
“They’re not as burly as us... but they look too ordinary.”
Irina watched the princess calmly.
As a fellow ruler, she patiently drew her out.
“Haha... Is there a type you’re looking for?”
“You know, the kind you want to raise up?”
Tina’s sharp eyes gleamed.
She described the man she desired.
“Not overweight, but packed with lean muscle—with captivating eyes.”
Captivating eyes...
Irina thought of one person but held her tongue for now.
“Hmm... Maybe I should just head back to the Central Palace.”
Irina sighed inwardly at the princess’s dissatisfaction with the tour.
She flashed her emerald eyes cleverly and handled it smoothly.
“How about we visit a famous dating spot from the novel instead?”
“A dating spot?”
Tina, mid-scheme on how to complain, tilted her head at Irina’s suggestion.
“Yes, the cafe where the slave knight took the archduchess on their first date—it’s nearby.”
The Second Imperial Princess subtly guided her toward her own trap.
She led Tina with a mature smile.
“You mean Monté Cafe?”
“Yes, a cup of coffee there will let you soak in the novel’s atmosphere even more.”
Tina nodded readily to Irina’s proposal.
“Hmm—sounds good. Might as well check it out while we’re here.”
In the novel, the slave knight and archduchess had gone on a tense date there, anxious about being spotted by commoners.
Thus, Tina expected the place to be bustling.
But...
“What’s this? Why is it so quiet?”
The Monté Cafe they found was utterly deserted.
Every table stood empty.
“Probably cleared out because word got around that a princess was coming.”
Allen blurted out thoughtlessly.
“This kills the novel vibe entirely.”
Tina sat with an expression as cold as her homeland’s glacial peaks.
“But isn’t the cafe just like in the book? This is the exact seat the archduchess took.”
Irina soothed the princess with a mature look.
“Well, thanks for going that far. I can tell you’ve studied the novel closely.”
“Of course—fellow readers share a bond.”
The Second Imperial Princess chuckled, deftly building rapport.
Tina, her mood somewhat eased, nodded.
“...”
But nearby, the impassive Allen continued guarding.
Irritated, Tina called him over.
“You don’t seem to know the Northern Archduchess and Slave Knight? I heard it’s required reading in Leon.”
Allen coughed awkwardly at Tina’s already burdensome question.
“Yes, I’m not much for reading.”
“What a shame. Men are always so oblivious to this stuff.”
Irina had kindly told Allen to wait outside with the guards, sparing him.
He expressed boundless gratitude and finally escaped Tina.
But the Second Imperial Princess’s real trial was just beginning.
“Coffee’s here.”
The cafe owner personally served espresso—his signature brew.
As it hit the table, Tina squinted at it.
“What’s this...?”
Irina smiled and picked up her cup first at the silver-haired woman’s question.
“It’s coffee—the owner’s specialty.”
Irina had requested his best shot, so she brimmed with confidence.
“Hmm, I see...”
Tina tilted her head dubiously.
Back home, they never served coffee in such tiny cups.
“Shall we give it a try?”
The princess lifted the cup with suspicion.
She took a bold sip—and
“Urk...!!”
The overwhelming bitterness made her gag.
It was so hard to swallow that she nearly spat it onto her dress.
“Are you alright...?”
Irina couldn’t hide her fluster.
The cafe owner felt the same.
Watching from afar, his legs gave out, and he collapsed.
The guards at the entrance glared as if ready to behead him.
“Ah... I’m fine. I know this... In the novel, the slave knight tastes this bitter coffee and spits it out.”
Tina forced a casual tone.
But her lips were already smeared with the stuff like poison.
“Well, with my dress like this, I should head back.”
The princess spoke pitifully, as if saddling Irina with a debt.
Even the hitherto composed Second Imperial Princess coughed awkwardly.
If Tina returned to her palace now, the tour plan would be a total failure.
“I’ll go take a half-bath and rest.”
As the silver-haired princess rose from her seat,
the verdant knights and Irina watched in dismay.
Just as the northern princess moved to leave indifferently,
tap.
“...?”
Someone approached her table and set down a drink.
“What’s this?”
The princess stared blankly at the pristine glass before her.
Inside was coffee brimming with ice as cold as Bakal’s glaciers.
“It’s coffee inspired by Your Highness’s beautiful silver hair.”
Tina looked up, following the voice.
Her eyes met those of a patrol knight in black uniform.
“Who are you?”
“I’m Veil Mikhail, patrol knight responsible for Norton’s security.”
I, arriving fashionably late, flashed a bright eye-smile.
“On page 124 of Northern Archduchess and the Slave Knight...”
I politely pointed at the coffee with a finger.
Guiding her naturally back to her seat.
“There’s a scene where the archduchess adds ice water to the bitter coffee for the dazed baron.”
I recited from Leah’s book.
“I recreated that moment.”
“You... read the novel?”
She’d never met a man who’d read her favorite book.
Her face went slack at the sight of me rattling off details.
“Yes, I’m a fan.”
I’d skimmed it, but the situation called for bold-faced confidence.
“It moved me so much, I even met the archduchess and baron in person.”
“Oh? Is that so...?”
Tina crossed her arms alone.
She scanned me up and down silently.
Sleek uniform, fox-like sharp eyes.
Yet, unflinching boldness under her gaze.
“Quite intriguing.”
The northern powerhouse smirked, amused by me.
“But I can’t drink coffee like this.”
Tina gestured to her soiled dress with weary eyes.
The cafe was empty, no sights to see—her tour plans already ruined, it seemed.
No words would lift her gloom now.
She shook off her dress to leave indifferently...
“Ah, I see. Then what about this...”
Her eyes soon widened round.
“I prepared a book too, in case the cafe felt too quiet.”
Irina was no different.
Both ladies gaped like schoolgirls at my welcome gift.
It was none other than...
“Northern Archduchess and the Slave Knight: Signed Limited Edition.”
The hot topic novel, bearing the archduchess’s personal autograph.
“H-how did you...!”
I smiled at the princess, who looked as if she’d encountered a holy scripture.
Clasping my hands like a sycophant.
“There’s a special illustration at the end too.”
Tina cautiously opened the final page.
Her face flushed at the risqué drawing.
Like a strategist discovering an unknown world.
“You... what unit did you say again...?”