Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Engagement (2)
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The thought that crossed my mind upon hearing the Emperor's words wasn't one of doubt or bewilderment.
Squeeze—
I immediately reached out and tightly grasped Ariel's hand.
"……."
Ariel's eyes turned pure white for a moment before settling back down.
As expected.
Given Ariel's recent state, I'd figured she wouldn't stay quiet upon hearing the word "engagement."
So, to prevent her from causing any trouble before I could even react, I'd taken her hand in mine.
And sure enough, my prediction hit the mark. The faint surge of energy rising from her subsided, and she became docile.
Phew.
At least we've avoided the family being branded as traitors.
Though, if that had happened, the only outcome left would have been Ariel sweeping the Empire away.
"May I ask what you mean by that?"
I asked without ever letting go of Ariel's hand.
The Emperor gazed at me with a relaxed smile.
As if he had no idea—or perhaps knew full well—that his life had nearly ended in an instant.
Maybe he was the type who wouldn't flinch even if he knew.
Was this the Emperor's seasoned demeanor?
"Think back on our conversation so far. I want to treat you, who can handle calamities, as a precious asset. Enough to ignore the nobles' discontent."
"Yes."
"But mere words of trust aren't enough, are they? The surest way to bind noble to noble is through shared blood. An age-old custom among the nobility."
"So, to make me a true loyal servant of the Empire, you're suggesting I mix blood with Her Highness Adelheit."
"Sharp mind. I like that."
The Emperor's expression didn't change.
Not even a twitch, despite deciding on a fiancée for the Third Imperial Princess, the highest rank imaginable.
Did such matters not weigh heavily on him?
Or did he value me that highly?
"Personally, I hold Adel quite dear. And I don't want to cast aside the man who saved her life. So, I thought of pairing you two. What do you say? Does it pique your interest?"
"……."
I sorted my thoughts in that brief moment.
Reasons to accept this engagement.
My fondness for the girl named Adel.
The benefits it would bring the family.
The responsibilities that would follow.
But truthfully, none of that mattered.
The Emperor had said it.
He wanted my loyalty to the Empire.
And the reason was my little sister.
In that case, what I needed to secure from this engagement was clear.
"Then allow me to ask something in return, Your Majesty. You refer to my sister as a calamity and seem to view her as the Empire's strategic weapon. But to me, she's nothing more than a cute little sister I wouldn't mind poking my eye out for."
"That's how it seems, yes. And?"
"Malicious rumors about Ariel won't vanish anyway. So why not grant her some leniency in her actions? My sister simply hasn't developed enough social skills yet. Give her time to grow, and she'll become a fine member of the Empire."
"Ho ho."
The Emperor's lips curved up at my words.
Whether he saw it as audacious or commendable, I couldn't tell.
"I see. It seems you have no particular desires. No need for the gold, jewels, or titles beyond your family's wildest dreams that come with the imperial name. No wish to elevate your house further. All you want is for your sister to grow up safely. That's it."
"Yes."
"Very well."
And with that, it was done.
The Emperor of the Empire.
The man at the pinnacle of this world nodded crisply at my words.
"Fine. I grant your plea. From this moment, you and your sister are granted special privileges for your actions."
"Thank you. For example?"
"Well, if you go abroad and act on your own, we'll cover it under the Empire's name as much as possible. Satisfied?"
"Yes."
Why frame it specifically as covering rampages abroad?
It felt like he was expecting me to do just that.
Hey, does this guy really think Ariel is some kind of nuke?
Our sister isn't like that.
"Then we should start preparations for the engagement."
The Emperor rose from his seat.
Having no further business with me, he left the room.
Left behind were just Ariel and me.
The attendants hadn't entered yet, perhaps waiting for us to leave first.
"……."
I met my sister's gaze.
Ariel's white eyes stared silently at me.
Eight years as Ariel's big brother.
At this point, I could read her thoughts like an open book.
She's sulking.
"Why'd you do it?"
"Do what?"
"The engagement."
"You don't like me getting engaged?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Because you're mine."
"Haha."
Still living in her own little world.
But that's fine.
That's Ariel.
I hoped she never lost that unique color of hers.
Of course, some minimal adaptation to blend into society would be necessary.
"Can't you break off the engagement? You don't need another girl."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I want you to be happy."
So I shook my head firmly.
If I truly cared for Ariel, I couldn't indulge her every whim.
Ariel was still young.
Both actually young and stunted in growth due to that inner world of hers.
Would she remain forever this isolated, alien existence, detached from society?
I didn't want that.
"I want you to grow up safely. To learn common sense, make friends, and become part of society."
I met her eyes.
Emphasizing my words into those pure, untainted white depths.
"It won't be easy. People will fear you, obstacles will arise. I might not be able to shield you from everything. Even the Leonhart family might fail to protect you."
"……."
"That's why—I'm borrowing others' strength so you can grow up normally. If an engagement is needed for that, I'll do it anytime."
"……Like you said, if I grow up that way... Won't I have to leave your side?"
"Maybe. That's what growing up means."
"Then I don't want to."
Ariel shook her head vigorously.
Her usual tantrum.
She thought whining would get her way.
Ariel was acting cute with me.
Fidgeting her fingers, rubbing her head against me.
"Don't meet other girls. Okay? I'll do everything for you. I'll clear away anything that gets in the way. So don't get engaged."
She didn't understand.
The moment Ariel started clearing obstacles herself, the peace I wanted for her would never come.
On the contrary, I needed to create a world where she faced no threats without lifting a finger.
"No."
So once again, I firmly shook my head.
How long had it been?
The last time I didn't give in to her sulking and cuteness.
This might be the first time.
"As your brother, I'm saying no."
At my stern words, something seemed to dawn on her.
Ariel pursed her small lips tightly.
Then fiddled with her fingers.
"……For real?"
"Yeah."
She whispered like a soft sigh and nodded.
"Fine. If that's what you want, I'll allow it."
"Phew. Thanks, little sis."
Who was allowing whom here?
Still, for Ariel, it was commendable, so I patted her head.
She peeked up from under my palm and asked,
"But."
"Yeah?"
"You don't like that girl or anything, right?"
"Huh?"
"You're doing it for me. So it's not because you like her?"
"……."
Uh— well?
Fondness for Adel as a person.
….
…….
……….
To be honest…… yeah, I do!
"Ah. Oppa lied. You said it was for me."
"No, Ariel. It's like... I don't want an engagement I don't want either. As a man, it's natural to like a pretty girl—"
"Idiot. Dummy. You have a wise wife right in front of you. A childhood sweetheart. How could you look elsewhere? Player."
"Ahem. Where'd you learn that?"
"From a book. Don't change the subject."
"……."
Appeasing Ariel would take a while.
The Empire's eastern region. Aonia's graveyard.
Thud— thud—
A man walked through it.
The air vibrated with the foul stench of blood and rotting corpses.
Blood and filth dripped from him with every step.
He flung them casually onto the graves.
Splatter!
The dirty liquids splashed across the graves.
And shortly after.
Rumble rumble……
With the sound of something writhing, the graves began to crumble from the inside.
"Heh heh."
The man—Crimson Blood Cult's 4th Division Leader, 'Graver'.
It had been quite some time since he began this task.
Wandering Aonia's graveyard in secret, resurrecting the corpses.
All because of an order from the Cult Leader.
'Bring Aonia to ruin.'
Preliminary work for that.
Destroying a nation wasn't easy, even for a Crimson Blood Cult division leader.
But he wasn't alone.
He just needed to build an army from the corpses that followed him.
Repeat this enough times, and fulfilling the order wouldn't be hard.
Besides, there was another reason he'd specifically received the mission targeting Aonia.
"I'd like to meet her once."
His daughter.
A familiar born through reproduction, despite being a vampire.
He could feel it. She was wandering this country.
How had she grown?
No need to ask.
Miserable like him, cursing her life, no doubt.
It had to be that way.
A vampire's symbol was red eyes.
Unless hidden, she'd only face hatred from people her whole life.
By now, she'd probably learned to conceal them cleverly.
"Wherever she is…… I'm looking forward to our reunion."
Graver chuckled and headed to the next grave.
He still had plenty of time.
No interlopers either.
Come to think of it, that fool Blooded got herself killed by some kid not even an adult.
'Idiot bitch.'
He wouldn't make such a stupid mistake.
The Cult Leader had warned that Kline Leonhart might come, so be prepared.
As if he'd lose.
Graver sauntered on leisurely.