Chapter 179
Chapter 179
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 178. Empire's Greatest Sword Selection Tournament (1)
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The Empire's Second Imperial Princess, Irina.
After holding a meeting with the other princesses, she slipped out of the garden.
“Haah…. Haah….”
Panting heavily, the princess hid behind a pillar.
―――.
She whistled, summoning one of the messenger pigeons that had accompanied her.
Then, she quietly began writing a note.
To the prime minister, Mosian, her closest advisor.
“Go on ahead.”
It was an expensive messenger pigeon she had purchased after her influence had grown considerably.
The bird cleaved through the sky at high speed, heading toward the capital's center.
“…”
However, even after sending off the pigeon, Irina paced restlessly.
Standing alone with her hands clasped behind her back, she circled the area.
Like a nervous silver wolf.
Some time passed.
A reply arrived from the prime minister.
「You may visit His Majesty in his chambers tonight.」
Irina breathed a sigh of relief at the thought of seeing her father.
She tucked the note into her bosom and hurried back to her palace.
“You've returned, Your Highness—!!”
“Congratulations on officially securing military authority!”
Dasha and Allen were waiting for her at the northern palace.
They welcomed their lord with joyful hearts.
“Thank you, everyone….”
Dasha wiped at the corners of her eyes, visibly moved.
“I knew it. I knew Your Highness would succeed….”
“Me too! That's why we've followed you from the start, isn't it?”
Irina looked fondly at her retainers.
“It's all thanks to everyone's efforts.”
In the past, she hadn't had such precious people around her, which made her feel unexpectedly touched now.
“What do you plan to do next?”
The Second Imperial Princess had taken her first step toward her grand ambition.
Her retainers eagerly awaited her next move.
Expanding the knight order?
Establishing a dedicated intelligence unit for the fight over the throne?
They fixed expectant gazes on the princess's lips.
At that moment….
“For now….”
Irina answered them with utmost seriousness.
“I'm going to the kitchen to make hamburg steak.”
“…?”
Hamburg steak.
At those soft, fluffy words, her retainers' faces went blank in unison.
“W-what steak…?”
“Hamburg steak.”
The princess kindly repeated herself.
“It's my father's favorite dish. Mother made it for him often.”
“Aah… So you're planning to serve His Majesty a meal made with love…?”
Dasha tried her best to frame it positively.
Irina replied with a bright smile.
“Yes, so for now, everyone, please focus on your own duties.”
Her characteristically pure and beautiful face passed by her retainers.
The princess then entered the central chamber alone.
“…”
Dasha and Allen could only stare blankly at her retreating figure.
――――――.
She flung open the kitchen doors with all her might.
Her eyes met those of the head chef, who had been wiping down the tables.
“Your Highness…? Is there something you'd like to eat?”
“No, I'm here to cook myself.”
Irina removed her outer garment and hung it on the rack.
She rolled up the sleeves of her dress and approached.
“What dish…?”
“Hamburg steak.”
The head chef was startled by the name of a dish that was more challenging than expected.
“Oh dear… What if oil splatters on those delicate hands? No, that won't do…!”
He fussed as if she were about to wield a sword herself.
Irina chuckled leisurely.
“If the Empire's princess is too afraid of oil to even cook, how much would people mock her?”
She expertly gripped a kitchen knife and onion.
She peeled it simply and began slicing.
“Don't worry about me and step aside for a bit?”
“Ah, yes….”
The head chef retreated as instructed.
Yet he watched Irina anxiously, unable to hide his unease.
“As I learned…. As I learned….”
Irina tied on an apron with practiced ease.
She tossed onions and olive oil into a wok and stir-fried them.
Then, she mixed ground meat with flour, breadcrumbs, egg, and milk.
She shaped them into round steaks and grilled them with care.
“Phew….”
Finally, the completed round hamburg steaks.
The princess divided the cute patties into two lunchboxes, along with mashed potatoes, and packed them up.
“My goodness…. Your Highness, you could get married right away!”
The head chef, who had been watching in a daze, let out a gasp of admiration.
But realizing it might be disrespectful to his sovereign, he hastily apologized.
“No, I mean, your skill is truly remarkable….”
“Hehe, thank you.”
The princess responded graciously.
However, her fingers were covered in scars from diligently practicing cooking.
Irina carefully hid those scars as she placed the lunchboxes in a basket.
‘Come to think of it….’
Lately, she felt like she'd learned more about housework and how to support a husband than state affairs.
“Marriage….”
Irina suddenly noticed herself becoming more domestic and gentle.
It didn't suit a ruler, but thinking of one man who came to mind made her smile.
Because he mattered more than state affairs now.
“I'll be off to see Father for a bit.”
The princess left the kitchen and boarded a carriage.
Normally, she would have ridden off like the wind with her exceptional horsemanship.
This time, however, she demurely took the carriage, careful with the lunchboxes.
The time was already 5 p.m.
She had prepared dinner, knowing her father always ate late around 8 p.m.
Finally arriving late at night at the emperor's chambers, the Heavenly Palace.
Having secured military authority and truly become a sovereign, the princess reached the main gate without hindrance.
“His Majesty says to enter.”
“Thank you always, Mosian.”
Prime Minister Mosian smiled and opened the heavy doors to the chambers.
Irina then gracefully entered, holding the lunchbox basket in both hands.
Noble marble tiles covered the floor.
They stretched out vast as a parade ground.
“I greet Emperor His Majesty.”
The Second Imperial Princess stood in the center and spoke politely.
「Irina, you've come.」
A majestic voice filled the chambers.
「The sun has set, yet what brings you here so late?」
Leonhardt sat at his desk, wearing a monocle.
With state affairs concluded, he welcomed his daughter with a gentler expression.
“I have something to give you.”
Irina smiled brightly.
At that pure smile, the emperor unwittingly felt his lips curve upward.
A pure and beautiful countenance like a cluster of hydrangeas.
It gladdened him that such a woman was his daughter.
「Come in, my daughter. I am most curious what you've prepared.」
Leonhardt had recently finished reading a book called *Good Dad, Cool Dad*.
He awkwardly led his second daughter to the desk with an unnatural voice and smile.
“…?”
Irina tilted her head at her father's awkward demeanor.
Then, she demurely approached his side.
「What a delicious aroma…. I can smell it from afar….」
The emperor took a long breath.
He swallowed deeply at the familiar, savory meat scent.
“Yes, I thought you might not have had dinner yet, so I prepared this.”
Irina opened the carefully packed lunchbox lid.
A rich fragrance tickled the emperor's nose.
「Could this be…. hamburg steak…?」
“Yes, Mother said she made it for you often.”
The silver-haired princess smiled sweetly.
The emperor gazed at her smile intently.
Longer than he savored the tasty dish.
「How did you know it was my favorite….」
“Mother said you always looked like a child, so happy whenever you ate it.”
Irina picked up a fork and knife.
She began cutting the meat herself.
“And every time she told that story, she seemed so joyful….”
The princess speared a piece of steaming meat with her fork.
Then….
“That was when I realized. How much Mother truly loved you.”
She carefully offered it to her father.
“So I learned to cook because I wanted to serve you as well.”
The princess's blue eyes softened.
At her fresh, smiling eyes, the emperor let out an involuntary chuckle.
「Then, your recent cooking lessons were….」
The light faded from Irina's blue eyes.
She answered her father with slightly unfocused eyes.
“Yes, all for you, Father.”
「Ahh…. I see, so that's how it was….」
Only then did the emperor resolve his misunderstanding about a certain man receiving a lunchbox before him.
He realized that man had merely been a test subject before him.
「….」
Leonhardt took the steak his daughter offered and put it in his mouth.
The moment he chewed….
「…!!」
Sweet demi-glace sauce.
Accompanied by the rich meaty aroma and texture.
And even his wife's taste.
The warmth of Estina, who had truly cherished him, filled his mouth.
「Delicious….」
The emperor exhaled deeply.
Then, he gazed steadily at Irina.
「You've inherited your mother's exceptional cooking skills, Irina.」
“No need for such praise…. I'm still far from matching her.”
The princess waved it off.
However, Leonhardt spared no compliments today.
「No, it's nearly identical. Your future husband will be quite envious.」
Husband.
At that word, Irina's unfocused eyes flashed.
“A husband…?”
「Yes, you'll find a partner someday…. Thinking of that makes it taste all the sweeter, yet bittersweet.」
The emperor chuckled wryly as he kept eating the steak.
To him, Irina cautiously posed one question.
“If I bring my husband later, you might be disappointed.”
「Haha… If you both like each other, how could a parent object? I'd only test him a little, that's all.」
Irina nodded quietly.
As if guiding her father to that answer.
“Then, Father. What… would be the criteria for that test?”
The emperor, immersed in the steak.
He naturally replied in the warmed atmosphere.
「Well….」
Leonhardt gazed steadily at Irina.
His softened blue eyes were like a serene lake.
「Someone who can protect you, no matter what happens in the world.」
「A righteous, faithful man would be fine by me.」
Irina pouted at the vague words.
Then, she changed tactics….
“Father—, I'm not well-versed, so could you explain in a bit more detail—?”
She asked in a nasal, coquettish voice she'd never used with him before.
「…!!」
She sidled up and hooked her arm through his thick one for good measure.
The emperor, who had always kept his daughters at arm's length, was stunned by his daughter's aegyo for the first time in his life.
From Irina, no less, who was usually the most pitiable and pure!
「W-well…. I'll have to think more on that, hahaha…!!」
The emperor closed his eyes tightly.
As if wanting to savor this touching moment forever, he took a deep breath.
「A strong ‘knight’ would be good. Someone on the level of the Empire's Greatest Sword….」
Empire's Greatest Sword.
Anyone else might have scoffed at such an absurd statement.
But Irina inwardly rejoiced at those words.
The man she had her eye on was truly worthy of that title.
“Hmm…. Then, would first place in the second-half knight evaluation tournament be enough?”
Irina subtly cut a piece of steak and held it to her father's mouth.
The emperor laughed heartily and accepted it.
「Yes, a man of that caliber could truly be called close to the Empire's Greatest Sword.」
He folded his arms alone.
The second-half knight evaluation tournament included not only regular knights but also prospective captains.
Taking first among them meant, in effect, the Empire's strongest.
“I see, understood…. So if he's strong enough for first place, status doesn't matter?”
Irina demurely poured warm tea.
The emperor nodded leisurely.
「Hoho…. Have you ever seen me discriminate by birth for talent? As long as character and skill are superb… anyone will do.」
Leonhardt raised a finger.
And emphasized one crucial point.
「Ah, of course, that includes ‘true love’ between you two.」
True love.
Irina's face went blank for a moment at those words.
“Love….”
What was the easiest way to confirm each other's true feelings?
The princess swallowed deeply as she recalled a method.
From trying to align her body with his in a nun's habit.
To a deep, profound kiss to verify sincerity.
Memories flooded back, and Irina's lips curved unwittingly.
Just a little more, and she could finally confirm that ‘sincerity.’
“Father.”
「Speak, Irina.」
The emperor chuckled as he looked at his second daughter.
At that moment.
“If that kind of person you described appears, I can bring him right away, right?”
He faced Irina, who had surpassed mere purity and taken on a subtly alluring air.
“If we're in ‘true—love.’”
「…?」
The emperor tilted his head at his daughter's question.
An inexplicable unease gripped him as he drained his tea.
「Of course, what father would oppose the man his daughter chooses? As long as the conditions are met, I'll always be on your side.」
After Irina left.
The emperor retired to bed.
Perhaps because he ate steak late at night before sleeping.
Or due to the creeping unease.
The emperor dreamed.
A beautiful silver wolf within his fold.
A lion with radiant golden fur.
Even the leopard that had growled at him.
Of the cherished animals he had raised following a fox that appeared from the wild mountains.
Chasing after that damned creature's fluffy tail as if entranced.
「What in the world is this dream…!!」
It made the emperor's tightly shut eyes fly open.
「A truly strange dream….」