Chapter 4
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Marry My Daughter
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After encountering Sena, Yujin kept his face coldly set the entire time.
"..Sena Marilsian"
My former fiancée.
The one who had given him comfort amid painful times. Even though she had become engaged to him—a bastard born—due to her family's circumstances, she had treated him not as a bastard, but as a full person.
The woman who had looked at him without prejudice.
His beloved fiancée, who had left deep memories despite their short time together.
..At the same time, she was now just a source of regret.
Because from a certain point onward, the distance between her and Yujin had begun to grow.
..Why hadn't she listened to my story?
Why had she believed others around her but not my words?
Why had she trusted another man's words more than her fiancé's?
Why hadn't she sent even a single letter to me while I was on the battlefield?
Why had she unilaterally declared the broken engagement without even trying to talk?
She knew full well how hard it was for me, so why had she been so one-sided..
..Had she found me that untrustworthy? Was it hard to keep a bastard by her side? Were those smiles directed at me all fake? Had she really only gotten engaged due to her family's situation, with no feelings for me whatsoever?
..Was I just a passing connection?
Exactly why.
Kwak—
"..Hoo."
Yujin bit his lip and let out a small sigh.
'Yeah. A connection that's already passed.'
Today was just a chance encounter; he wouldn't cross paths with her again. They had no relationship left anyway. If anything, they were worse off than strangers.
..Of course, they might meet at official events, but he could just pretend not to know her and move on.
She could stick with the guys fawning over her like the romance novel heroine she was, so there was no reason for her to get involved with him.
..For some reason, that thought twisted his guts, but he dismissed it as an illusion.
'..Tch.'
Best not to dwell on it. He didn't want to end up as the villain like in the original story by getting tangled with her, nor did he want to feel like he was sinking into a quagmire.
It was a cleanly severed relationship through the broken engagement. There was no reason to meet or interfere with each other anymore.
They could just go their separate ways.
Yeah.
That was enough.
At that point, Yujin had overlooked the fact that Sena was the romance novel's heroine.
..Completely unaware of what might happen in the future.
Yujin arrived in front of the audience chamber to meet the Emperor. The imperial guards stopped him.
He spoke in an emotionless voice.
"Yujin Banus."
The guards stepped aside and bowed their heads upon hearing his name. They probably hadn't blocked him out of ignorance of his face.
Even before the war's end, he had met with the Emperor once or twice.
'Back then, I met His Majesty as a knight whose name was starting to spread.'
That was how their connection had begun. So the guards before him had seen Yujin multiple times and naturally knew his name, face, and voice.
They had simply followed procedure as imperial guards sworn to protect the Emperor and the imperial family.
"We greet the hero of the Empire. His Majesty awaits Your Excellency inside, so you may enter right away."
Nod—
He gave a curt nod and entered the audience chamber.
The first thing he saw upon entering was a vast space stretching straight ahead, flanked by neatly arranged massive pillars. At the far end sat the enormous throne.
Upon the golden throne lounged the absolute ruler of the Empire, Hess Argentus—blond-haired with crimson eyes—propped on one elbow, wearing a laurel crown.
Utterly bored eyes.
A tremendous presence that dominated the chamber, befitting the ruler of a vast empire.
Imperial guards filling the space around the Emperor, loyal to a fault.
The Emperor, whom he hadn't seen in ages, truly cut an imposing figure as the Empire's sovereign.
..Imposing enough that one could never offer too much loyalty.
As their eyes met, the Emperor welcomed him with a voice tinged with amusement.
"It's been a while, Marquis."
"..Yes, Your Majesty."
"That stiff tone of yours has been missed too."
"..Yes."
Pfft—
The Emperor let out a small chuckle.
"I'm just teasing. No need to be so rigid. It's just between us—you and I."
Half of those words were sincere, half false.
It was true that the Emperor favored Yujin, but the gap in their statuses was insurmountable.
Even if he had devoured his family and become a marquis thanks to the Emperor's grace, he wouldn't treat the Empire's ruler casually.
That was his way of repaying the Emperor who had taken him in—and his pledge of loyalty.
"..How could I treat Your Majesty casually? You are the Empire's sovereign. As a vassal, I cannot."
The Emperor waved his hand dismissively, as if exasperated by Yujin's formality.
"Fine, fine. So stubborn for someone so young. I know full well, so come closer."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
He approached without protest. Even as the distance to the Emperor shrank, the guards held their positions unmoving.
Their purpose was absolute obedience to the Emperor's commands and protection of the imperial family.
Thus, they stood like shadows.
'..The knights are still elite troops.'
From his first meeting with the Emperor to now, post-war audiences, the guards' discipline had never wavered, and their skill as knights remained exceptional.
'It'd be weirder if they'd regressed in the meantime.'
Of course, compared to Yujin, a Sword Master, they were mere fledglings—a fact everyone knew—so no need to dwell.
The Emperor tapped the throne armrest a few times before slowly speaking.
"Now, before we get to the main point.. You must have run into the Marilsian Lady on your way here."
Indeed. On the way here, the Marilsian Lady...
"...??"
"Ah, Marquis, I didn't mean to bring up anything uncomfortable. It just occurred to me that you two were once engaged."
"..."
Yujin lowered his head.
Not uncomfortable, my foot.
The topic itself was uncomfortable. Anyone would feel uneasy hearing about their past dredged up.
Especially a past built on bad memories.
'..I endure it because it's His Majesty.'
The man who had given him a chance, the only one who had believed in his talent and that he could become a hero.
Yeah.
So things like this were nothing.
'Hoo.'
Still, how did the Emperor know he'd met Sena?
"Judging by your expression, Marquis, you're wondering how I knew."
"..Forgive me, but yes."
"It's nothing. I am the master of this palace, after all. Besides, the Marilsian Lady was on her way to meet the Crown Prince."
..
"..You mean His Highness the Crown Prince."
"Yes."
Sena had gone to meet the Crown Prince?
..Ha.
'Switched already, huh.'
It had been years since the broken engagement. He'd been dragged to war and dumped not even a month later, so yeah, she might've found someone new by now.
'Didn't expect the Crown Prince.'
Impressive taste.
'Or is it just because she's the romance novel heroine?'
Could be. Then the Crown Prince was probably the male lead, or one of them.
..What a ridiculous story.
But against his will, his expression soured.
"You're not asking why?"
"..Though the Marilsian Lady and I were once engaged, that's in the past. So whoever she meets is none of my concern."
"Quite cold words."
"..."
"Well, not wrong. If anything, you're right."
"..Yes."
The Emperor chuckled softly.
"But one thing's off. It seems my Crown Prince has unilaterally set his sights on your former fiancée. So don't worry too much."
Right.
Saying not to worry, but his tone all but urged him to.
'..Hmm.'
He just kept his head bowed.
No point hearing more; it'd just make him uncomfortable.
Pfft—
Noticing his mood, the Emperor smoothly changed the subject.
"Anyway, Marquis."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"The reason I summoned you today is to discuss your family and future."
His family and future?
"..I am grateful to Your Majesty for granting me the chance to avenge my family even amid the war. I still consider it an opportunity beyond my station, and I vow to devote my loyalty to Your Majesty and the imperial family—"
The Emperor shook his head, cutting Yujin off.
"Not about that. You're now the head of a proper house, Marquis. Don't you need to worry about an heir? I don't want the blood of an excellent swordsman like you to end."
..Ah, that direction.
Then bringing up the former fiancée earlier was...
'Build-up for this.'
How...
'..Cunning.'
He'd chosen to pledge loyalty to this Emperor himself, but moments like this showed how crafty he was.
'Do you have to discard half your humanity to become Emperor?'
Was he mad because he was Emperor, or Emperor because he was mad?
Tough question.
'..Haa.'
"..I will do my utmost, Your Majesty. But to continue the line, I need a partner—and that's no easy task."
"That's why I called you. I want to help with that."
Help..?
"Let me be direct."
The Emperor leaned forward slightly, gazing at Yujin with serious eyes.
"Marry my daughter."
"..Pardon?"
"I shall wed you to the Princess."
..?
"Your Majesty, what do you—"
Before he could retort, the Emperor looked somewhere and spoke.
"Princess, enter."
At that moment, the doors opened, and someone entered the audience chamber.
..A beauty with the same golden hair and crimson eyes as the Emperor.
She walked gracefully past Yujin to stand beside the Emperor.
"Allow me to introduce her formally."
The Princess gazed at Yujin with a bewitching smile.
"My one and only daughter, Princess Lucia Argentus."