Chapter 253
Chapter 253
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Proposing an Alliance
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Originally, I'd heard that the people of the Empire are innately greedy and domineering.
That was why Lize, thinking my secret visit harbored impure intentions, swallowed deeply.
“Wh-what’s in there…?”
Lize pointed at the blanket and plate I'd brought as she asked.
The plate was covered with a tin lid, making it impossible to see what was inside.
‘What on earth has this woman seen growing up to be like this…'
I lifted the lid right in front of her eyes.
Steam rose gently as I pushed forward the herbal tea and watermelon.
“According to ancient texts, elves mainly consume fruit and tea.”
Lize stared blankly down at the dessert I offered.
Her elf-specific blue eyes scanned the food, checking for poison.
I let out a deep sigh and said,
“Nothing's poisoned in it, so just drink. You're already under submission—why would I poison you now?”
“Eek….”
Her body flinched at the command to drink.
She obediently brought the cup to her lips.
“…”
A warm tea time that soothed the mind.
Her empty stomach filled softly, and the elf's long ears slowly drooped.
“This is watermelon….”
After drinking the tea, she picked up the watermelon as ordered.
“What, you know it.”
“Watermelon's a southern specialty—how could I not? Besides, I'm the Great Sage.”
Lize mumbled as she gripped the watermelon tightly with both hands.
The aura from our first meeting had long vanished.
Up close, she seemed no different from any beautifully formed woman.
“Oh, right. I forgot because you got caught so stupidly.”
“What?! That was just your special case!!”
The Great Sage huffed indignantly.
Her long ears even flapped at that moment.
Elves' emotions could apparently be gauged roughly from their ears.
“Still… it tastes good… tastes like home.”
“Watermelon's common in the south, huh.”
I entered the cell with her and sat on the lone chair.
I watched Lize munch on watermelon while sitting atop the fluffy blanket.
Fortunately, her wariness seemed mostly eased.
“So, you're not here just to bring me this… What's your real purpose?”
As expected of the Great Sage, Lize had seen through my intentions.
She asked back in a now-calm voice.
“I'm curious why you're so obsessed with lifespan-extension drugs, even using the Crown Prince.”
“…”
Lize set down the watermelon she'd been eating vigorously.
After a moment of contemplation, she obediently recited what she'd have to say anyway due to the submission spell.
“The current center of the Southern Nations Alliance is the Hawson Kingdom.”
“I know. The largest kingdom led by King-Emperor Hodrian.”
I'd heard of it even in my previous life.
Its king was the man who unified all the city-states under a banner of justice.
“Yeah, but Hodrian's already over seventy. He probably won't last five more years…”
“You can gauge that too?”
I looked at the elf with curious eyes as she estimated a human's lifespan.
Lize quietly nodded.
“You can tell by listening to their heartbeat. Their life force.”
Lize stared intently at my left chest as she spoke.
My heartbeat must sound quite strong to her.
“Plus, his son is only ten. If Hodrian dies within five years, the prince would be fifteen at best—internal strife is inevitable…”
Usually, even with a young king, the queen or other royals handle regency.
But Lize's words suggested heavy influence from the vassal states.
“With the Crown Prince blocking local provocations, and the King-Emperor aging, they must be in quite a bind.”
“Are you teasing me right now?”
I shook my head at Lize's sullen expression.
To the elf who seemed to desperately wish for southern peace, I replied flatly.
“Just summarizing the situation. How to ensure the Empire stays peaceful 'during my lifetime' from here.”
The Hawson Kingdom was like the alpha of beast packs.
If their cold responses to the Empire were just posturing to maintain position…
“This might resolve more easily than expected.”
Lize perked up one ear at my words.
Like a curious pet.
“What?”
“Never mind. I'm heading out.”
I waved loosely and rose from the chair.
I turned to leisurely leave the cell.
“Wh-what are you plotting?!”
“Something like that. You just sleep well.”
“Y-you can't leave me hanging like this and expect me to sleep… Eek…”
Due to the submission magic, drowsiness overtook her.
She looked uneasy.
“What about my disciples? I told you everything!”
“No blocking spells on the holding cells, so ask them yourself.”
I vaguely told her to use telepathy on her own.
Then, hands behind my back, I ascended the stairs leisurely.
“…”
Once I left, Lize forced her eyes wide to fight sleep.
Even drowsy, she resisted with her innate powerful magic.
*Baal, Emil. Are you alright? Answer if you hear me!*
The half-elf concentrated her mind to send telepathy.
The first reply came from Emil in the adjacent cell.
*Yes, Master. I'm fine. Urgh…!*
Emil let out a strange groan.
Lize asked back in surprise.
*Wh-what?! Are you being tortured?!*
*I-I'm not sure. Feels like torture… but also refreshing…*
Emil was also a beautiful half-elf boy.
Lize worried he might be toyed with by Empire women.
But she soon sensed something off in his response.
*Wait… You just said 'refreshing' at the end?*
*Yesss… They're kneading my back so hard… Ahh!! Right there, I love it!!*
Lize's face soured.
Realizing Emil was receiving lavish massage treatment, her long ears drooped too.
*You said your body was shivering earlier, so the Third Imperial Princess sent extreme hospitality since hostages can't be harmed.*
Instead of the pleasure-dazed elf boy, reliable Baal replied.
*Baal, you're alright too, right?*
*Yes, well… Haha…*
The sound of pages fluttering came through.
Baal reported his situation in an awkward voice.
*The Second Imperial Princess lent me a grimoire from Cornell. Sir Veil gave me warm tea and watermelon too…*
*I see… That's fortunate.*
Lize wore a dumbstruck expression at her disciples faring better than her.
She'd heard the Empire was full of greedy folk.
Yet even the imperial family was caring for them.
Compared to the suspicious southerners who only pretended well, this foreign land felt oddly comfortable.
“…”
Perhaps because of that.
With her mind eased, Lize finally yielded to sleep after a long while.
「―――――」
The next day.
I visited the Celestial Palace, the Emperor's office, to report.
Leonhardt had recovered remarkably; the office door stood wide open to all visitors.
No guard knights waited at his main entrance.
“Marquis Veil Mikhail greets His Imperial Majesty the Emperor.”
*Come in, Sir Veil.*
Emperor Leonhardt sat at the office desk, wearing a monocle.
Seeing me, he greeted with a gentler voice than before.
*I heard about last night's events. A fierce battle, eh?*
“Fortune favored us, and it resolved well.”
I bowed humbly with a smile.
The Emperor chuckled and removed his monocle.
*Sit. I wanted to discuss this very matter.*
Leonhardt rose from his chair to offer the sofa.
His health had improved further; his once-stooped back stood straighter.
It highlighted his robust bearing.
Explaining where Lea and Irina's figures came from.
Of course, Lydia's graceful athleticism too.
*So, how do you plan to leverage this situation?*
Perhaps informed beforehand via the Prime Minister.
The Emperor cut straight to the point.
“We'll end the unnecessary cold war with the irrelevant southern kingdoms through this.”
*Intriguing. Continue.*
Leonhardt crossed his arms alone, perhaps testing my diplomatic skills.
I humbly laid out my prepared thoughts.
“Yes. From the submission spell, Hawson Kingdom currently faces threats to its leadership in the southern alliance.”
*Hm, old Hodrian's seventy this year. But as 'King-Emperor,' is his position that shaky?*
The Emperor stroked his chin.
I spread my fingers into a 5 and replied.
“Word is he has less than five years left. An elf's judgment—reliable.”
*With the crown prince only ten, and Hodrian suppressing all other royals, no suitable regent either.*
As expected of the Emperor, versed in international affairs.
Emboldened by the rapport, I made one proposal.
“So, how about releasing all the lifespan-drug elves back south?”
*The ones who dared hypnotize my son?*
His eyes flashed with Leonhardt's signature chill at such matters.
He clearly despised the elves for targeting the Crown Prince.
“We use them this time. We hold their king's exact lifespan weakness.”
I pulled the lifespan-extension ingredients from my pocket.
The radiant golden mushroom and various mystical materials.
“We let them make the lifespan drug too.”
*And what do we gain?*
To the Emperor's question, I pressed my palms together.
Then interlocked them like a handshake.
“We bestow favor on King Hodrian and make him our ally.”
*Ally, eh.*
Leonhardt cleared his throat, still unsatisfied.
I continued calmly.
“He's provoked us locally before but never shown true war intent. He doesn't want to sour relations.”
I pointed to the world map on the office wall.
The vast Empire at the continent's center, dotted with minor southern city-states.
“Holding all their weaknesses yet demanding alliance over threats— what better guarantee of trust?”
The largest among them was Hawson Kingdom.
“A revitalized King-Emperor lasts another ten years easily; by then, the crown prince is twenty, so Hawson maintains power smoothly.”
I narrowed my eyes slyly like a cunning fox.
“Hodrian's said to be just by nature. With this favor, he'll handle internal policing without threatening us.”
*True, decent old man at heart.*
The Emperor nodded flatly.
Gazing at the minor states on his map, he added.
*Leading that many multi-ethnic nations… hate him at times, but you gotta respect it.*
Leonhardt disliked their provocations but acknowledged their ability.
His guess aligned well.
Even during the Purge Day, Hawson never invaded the Empire.
This suggested King Hodrian could indeed be an ally.
“How about dispatching a delegation? Include the elf prisoners secretly for release.”
*Hmm… Not bad, but let me mull it over.*
I swallowed deeply at the cautious Emperor.
Lize's prolonged absence would surely raise suspicions in Hawson.
「….」
I fidgeted anxiously.
My long rest's final puzzle was southern peace.
After prolonged silence.
Stiff military boot steps echoed outside the office.
“May I enter?”
*Oh, Lea. Come in.*
The office door swung open at the Emperor's words.
The Empire's First Imperial Princess appeared in her crisp white uniform.
“I came regarding yesterday's incident with something to say.”
*I heard plenty about your exploits too.*
Leonhardt gazed fondly at his eldest daughter's impeccable attire.
Standard military boots and army-issued women's stockings.
Plus the firmly fitted uniform cap.
Her noble, refined look was utterly endearing.
*What is it you wish to say?*
“I overheard outside—you're forming a delegation.”
Lea placed a hand on her ample curves.
She spoke matter-of-factly.
“I wish to lead that delegation.”
*My eldest, you?*
The Emperor's eyes widened at Lea.
It wasn't strange.
Among the three princesses, Lea usually handled diplomacy.
But volunteering for a cold-war nation?
As a father, it weighed heavily.
“Yes. I agree with Sir Veil's view too.”
Lea glanced at me.
Before the Emperor, her eyes were coldly soldier-like.
*Hmm…*
Leonhardt's silence lengthened.
A golden chance to ally with troublesome south, but sending his daughter? No.
Yet for major alliances, imperial blood was fitting…
The Emperor finally sighed deeply.
He glanced at me and chuckled.
*Sir Veil, you're fully noble now.*
“Yes…? What do you mean….”
As I smiled questioningly, Leonhardt chuckled and clapped my shoulder familiarly.
The pain felt like a lion pressing with its paw.
*Means you know how to use connections. Praise, praise-.*
His laughter stopped; he steadied his voice.
With the Conqueror King's solemn gaze, he told Lea.
*So be it, but on one condition.*
Resolved, the Emperor raised a finger.
“What is it?”
“…?”
Lea and I turned to the Conqueror King.
Then, his finger…
*Sir Veil escorts as guard.*
Pointed squarely at me.
'Huh…?'
I'd suggested just the delegation.
Why add me as escort…?
*Sorry, Sir Veil. I know Lea's skill, but still uneasy.*
The Emperor knew I hated hassle.
But for his daughter's safety, a Grand Master escort eased his mind.
*I can entrust her to you.*
Leonhardt alternated glances between Lea and me.
Lea's gaze at me was utterly icy.
Seeing that, he figured our 'relationship' was safe.
“Uh…, well….”
“If it's Your Majesty's will, I shall obey.”
As I hemmed, Lea crisply replied first.
While the Emperor headed to his desk for delegation papers…
“I think it'd be reassuring with Sir Veil too.”
She glanced at me with a sly eye smile.
Her hand fiddled with a strong-magic item in her inner pocket.
Something round like an orb…